Saline Celtic Festival treasurer formerly worked for Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys

By Sheila Pursglove
Legal News

Terri Murphy, treasurer of the Saline Celtic Festival, previously worked as education coordinator for the Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys (MAMA), coordinating the speakers and programming at events all over the state.

“I played a key role in the establishment of the AMA—Academy of Municipal Attorneys—a certification program developed by MAMA in 2010. I’m extremely proud of that, I miss the municipal attorneys and still keep in touch” she says.

“I worked on various MAMA projects with the late Allan Grossman, former Saline city attorney, who also was involved in the Saline-Brecon Friendship Guild that led to the founding of the Saline Celtic Festival.”

A specialized organization that provides a variety of services for municipal attorneys, MAMA partners with the Michigan Municipal League (MML). Murphy, who has 25 years of professional event management and educational development experience, spent over a decade working for the MML, as a special events planner, training & events programmer, and vendor relations specialist.

She also has spent 13 years as treasurer for the Saline Celtic Festival, a volunteer position, appointed by City Council, where she is responsible for all financial records, budgeting, accounts receivable/payable and reporting, grant writing and management, and contracting of performers, vendors and service providers.

Murphy is looking forward to this year’s festival, slated for July 8 and 9 in Mill Pond Park, Saline, and returning after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic.

“Initially, former Mayor Gretchen Driskell recruited me to take tickets at the front gate, the following year I was in charge of the merchandise tent, I was meeting great folks in the community – I was hooked,” she says.

“I’ve always loved what I do—I organize things and herd cats,” she adds with a smile. “The Celtic Festival is the perfect place to use those skills—and I get to learn new things. Never in a million years did I think I’d understand the rules of the Ancient Athletics or Highland Dance, every year I learn something new.”

This year’s festival kicks off 6 p.m., Friday, July 8, with a Dance Party in the Park, featuring music from The Phoenix Theory, Ironwood, and The Codgers; free music and dance workshops; Mr. Pretty Legs in a Kilt competition; and the Ring of Steel Fire Show. The cost is $8 for adults, while admission is $5 for ages 6-17; active military free.

The July 9 all-day festival, running 11 a.m. to midnight, includes music from The Moxie Strings, Crossbow, Brother Crowe, Nessa, and the Saline Fiddlers, highland dance competition, pipe & drums, living history, music and dance performances, ancient athletics, Wee Folks Island, jousting, sheep herding, clans, textile demonstrations, Ring of Steel shows, beer tent, food vendors and merchants’ area—and “Millie the Mill Pond Monster” in the Saline River.

Tickets are: adults $15/advance; $18 at the gate; ages 65-plus $8/advance; $10/at the gate; ages 6-17 $5; age 5 and under free; active military free. Group packages are available, while free parking/shuttles also is available. Volunteers receive a free pass and a chance to win a $50 gift card.

For additional information and advance tickets, visit https://www.salineceltic.org.