RoseAnn Hickey, left, and Phil “Bunk” Griffin, the reigning queen and king of the 2019 Saranac Lake Winter Carnival, will relinquish their crowns at the 2020 Carnival Coronation on Jan. 31. (Photo provided

SARANAC LAKE — The Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Committee is currently seeking nominations from the public for the 2020 Winter Carnival king and queen.

The king and queen selection is based upon volunteerism within the community. Candidates should demonstrate a long-term and broad-based commitment to making life more livable, pleasant, and enjoyable — both for the people who live here and for those who visit. The volunteer activities can be organized or completely self-motivated. They can be as diverse as organizing a major community event or as seemingly minor as shoveling a neighbor’s sidewalk. The committee is seeking people who help others independently, not people who are in professions that help or care for others.

Each nomination should be submitted separately and must include the candidate’s volunteer services history. It is important that the nominations be signed by the person submitting them. Nominations must be received no later than 5 p.m. Jan. 15. Submissions should be mailed to the Winter Carnival Committee, Attention: King/Queen Nomination, P.O. Box 829, Saranac Lake, NY 12983. They can also be dropped off at the Adirondack Daily Enterprise (54 Broadway), or the Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce (39 Main St.). No electronic nominations (email) will be accepted. If you have questions about the nomination, please contact Cherie Racette at 518-891-3598.

Once the nominations have been collected, all past kings and queens will be invited to an assembly where they will select the new king and queen from the nominations. This meeting is on Jan. 16 at a secret location.

The nominating materials are presented to the assembly exactly as they are received from the community. There is no pre-screening or editing that could influence the outcome. Final selection is by secret ballot, and the king and queen are announced on the first day of Winter Carnival at the coronation ceremony.

The 2020 Winter Carnival will take place Jan. 31 to Feb. 9.