RUMFORD – The Moontide Festival and Fourth of July celebration may rise again.

A special meeting of former Moontide Committee members and those who may take over the responsibility was held Friday, and by the end of the 90-minute session, six people had agreed to sit on a new board of directors. But three or four more are needed before the nonprofit status can be continued under new guidance.

Volunteering for the new board are: Arthur Boivin, a charter member of the original Moontide Committee; Matthew Plante, a member of the Eagles and Elks; Eddie Shurtleff, a former Pennacook Days organizer; Dorie Oakes, an activist in the River Valley Healthy Communities Coalition; Cheryl Doughty, Good Works Coordinator at Mexico Wal-Mart; and Rick Hardin, manager of Wal-Mart.

Those interested in serving on the board must make their desires known to the River Valley Chamber or to one of the new board members by Monday, Feb. 9.

Chamber spokeswoman Tammi Lyons said another two dozen or so people have shown interest in volunteering during the festival and July 4 events.

Potential board members were warned of the time commitment and number of responsibilities that will be required by past Moontide Committee members. They included Bill Porter, who served as chairman for several years, and former members Cheryl Dickson and Dan Richard.

“If you are thin-skinned or afraid of offending somebody, this is not the board for you,” said Richard. “It’s a lot of work.”

“We’re feeling a little bitter. We’ve done this for years and few people show up to help,” added Dickson.

Among the things that must be done immediately, said Porter, is decide whether to contract for the street carnival with Carr Shows, and contact food vendors.

“Time is running out,” he said. “Within a few days, I need to know whether to break the contract.”

That deadline, he said, is next Wednesday, and by now, he added, the committee usually has all the vendors lined up.

Neither he, nor most of the members of the original committee, plan to take part in any version of a carnival and Fourth of July activities this year.

Porter said he believes the festival should be like it has been for the past eight years, which included a street festival held a week before July 4 to help raise money, numerous musical and other events for children and adults, and a huge fireworks display held over the reflection pool of the Androscoggin River.

Boivin isn’t certain that any future celebration must be the same as that held in the past.

“We need new ideas, not that the old ones were bad, we just need new ones,” he said.

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