The BEnevolent Order OF the burlingman (BOTB)
What Is The BOTB?
The Benevolent Order of the Burlingman (BOTB) is a private, filial order of men and women of the Town of Burlingame, who are the organizers of The Burlingman arts festival. Our core mission is to organize and throw The Burlingman Arts Festival (and related community events under the same name), thereby:
- encouraging and supporting the community’s engagement in participating in (not just passively watching) the Creative Arts
- building community through the Arts
- raising money/donations for the Arts programs of the Burlingame schools; and
- having fun while we are doing it.
The BOTB’s Mission and Values:
Stewards of The Burlingman. The BOTB serve as the stewards, hosts and organizers of our annual “The Burlingman” Arts Festival and fundraiser, thereby:
- Encouraging people to Create
- Getting our community off their couches and Create with one another: music, poems, theater, baking, BBQ – anything.
- Driving community engagement and inclusion, while doing it.
- Fundraising in support of our schools’ arts programs. (Admission is a donation of any amount, to the Burlingame High School Arts and Music departments).
Community Engagement in the Arts: The BOTB are about Community, and their local engagement in the creation and participation in the creative arts.
Family-Oriented. The BOTB and The Burlingman are for our families. That means, our children are watching and participating. So, much as we’re throwing a big inclusive and inspiring party, The Burlingman is not some drug-fueled, hedonistic event. There will be booze (beer, wine, BYO) at this festival for those who want to make and/or partake of it; and we will comply with all state and local laws associated with alcohol being at this event. But Family First here, folks.
Inclusion: Anyone coming to the Burlingman is welcome, provided they bring a spirit of Inclusion and Respect for their fellow artists and community of Burlingame.
That said, the BOTB is itself a private organization whose founders and members are by Invitation-Only.
No Politics: There is absolutely zero politics in this BOTB organization. This is about the Arts, and nothing more.
Disclaimers: Obviously, the BOTB and The Burlingman are not affiliated in any way with the Burning Man organization or any of what it does. The name "Burlingman" is (obviously) just a pun, riffing off our town's founder, Anson Burlingame, and of course, the infamous desert arts event.
Organizational Details:
Like any great irreverent confederacy, this is a group of men and women coming together to do some good.
Who’s in charge?
These Founding Members of the BOTB
- El Chuque (Chuck Fontana) - Interim Grand Poobah
- La JJ (Jennifer Johnson) - Interim Grand Poobah
- Jeff Nix
- Coco Jones
- Ron Zaragosa
- Nicole Johnson
- Michael Higashi