Waukon Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Steph Dugan addresses local rumors and misinformation about RAGBRAI®, describes various committee scenarios

submitted by Steph Dugan, Executive Director
Waukon Chamber of Commerce

We have been hearing a lot of rumors flying around regarding RAGBRAI®. We have tried to keep up on top of squashing these rumors as they come up, but there are only a handful of us and we only can imagine the number of individuals starting and passing rumors on.

We thought the best way to handle this situation  and get the word out to as many people as possible would to be to start a column titled “Squashing the Rumors.” This is where we will address any rumors that we have heard and let you all know what we know. If you hear a rumor, please let us know so we can squash it.

BEVERAGE GARDEN COMMITTEE
The Beverage Garden Committee has named two co-chairs. These two co-chairs are currently working on contacting individuals that have been discussed and chosen to serve on the committee by the Beverage Garden co-chairs, their Executive Chairperson and the Advisory Board. No committee meetings have taken place, which means no decisions have been made. This committee will be focusing on setting its budget, setting its timeline, writing a supply list and setting the number of volunteers needed. We are asking that these tasks be done in the next two weeks.

Rumors: Reality
1.) The location: There has been no location choosing at this time because this committee has not met yet.
2.) There will be multiple beverage gardens: RAGBRAI suggests that each host town only offer one beverage garden to assist with police staffing. It is up to the RAGBRAI Committee to name who will be responsible for this beverage garden. Waukon’s RAGBRAI Committee has decided that the local RAGBRAI Committee themselves will be handling this beverage garden as this is a way for the committee to make money to pay bills and hopefully  have money left over to split up between community organizations after all bills are paid following RAGBRAI.
3.) Local businesses will be having their own outdoor beverage gardens: We cannot stop any business from doing anything, but we do ask that you don’t try to do this and just open your doors let the RAGBRAI Committee spend the money on bands and entertainment. We would really hate to see any business lose money because they spent a bunch on entertainment and no one stopped. We asked TJ (the RAGBRAI Director) about multiple gardens when we heard this rumor; he told us that he has seen so many businesses make this mistake and they have been left with huge bills. He suggested just opening your doors and focusing on having enough staff working that day/night.
A side note: if your business currently holds an outdoor license you will be able to utilize that space during the RAGBRAI event with no fee, we just are asking you don’t extend your license to include more area.

BUDGET COMMITTEE
The Budget Committee is set up and has started working. This committee is made up of local bank and money-wise individuals. This committee’s first task is to meet with all of the 19 sub-committees and assist with setting up their individual budgets and then meeting as a group and setting up the event's overall budget. Another large responsibility is the fundraising aspect. There is one committee member who just focuses on fundraising, which will begin as soon as all committees have their budget and needs documented.

Rumors: Reality
1.)    The City of Waukon is footing the bill: This is not true. The only thing the RAGBRAI Committee has asked from the City is in-kind donations, which include City employee overtime pay and use of their equipment. The RAGBRAI Committee hopes to make enough money on different events to be able to help offset some of the City’s cost. The RAGBRAI Committee will even carry its own insurance policy and permits pertaining to this event.
2.)    This is a for-profit group: No, this is absolutely not a for-profit group, any money made after bills are paid will be divided up between community organizations who participated and supported the event.

CAMPGROUND COMMITTEE
The Campground Committee has named two co-chairs. These two co-chairs have contacted individuals to serve on their Campground Committee that have been discussed and chosen by the Campground co-chairs, their Executive Chairperson and the Advisory Board. This committee has already started securing locations that will be used as camping locations. This committee will be focusing on setting its budget, setting its timeline, writing a supply list and setting the number of volunteers needed. We are asking that these tasks be done in the next two weeks.

Rumors: Reality
1.)    The locations: Any greenspace that is offered will be considered as a possible camping location. RAGBRAI Staff does help this committee choose the best locations.

ENTERTAINMENT & SPECIAL EVENT COMMITTEE
The Entertainment Committee has named a chairperson. That chair is currently working on contacting individuals that have been discussed and chosen to serve on the committee by the Entertainment Chair, his Executive Chairperson and the Advisory Board. No committee meetings have taken place, which means no decisions have been made. This committee will be focusing on setting its budget, setting its timeline, writing a supply list and setting the number of volunteers needed. We are asking that these tasks be done in the next two weeks.

Rumors: Reality
1.) The location: There has been no location choosing at this time because this committee has not met yet.
2.)    Who is the headlining band: Any names you have heard are just rumors. There have been many names mentioned during Executive Board meetings, but no contracts have been signed because this committee is not officially up and running. We ask you remember that just because the Entertainment Committee asks a band to perform doesn’t mean the band has to agree to it. This committee will share with the public the entertainment line-up as soon as it is finalizes because they will want you all to come. So again, no contracts have been signed!
3.)    There will be entertainment all over town: Again, RAGBRAI asks that a host town have one main stage near the beverage garden to assist with police staffing. We will have different activities going on throughout the day which may be located at different locations during the day, but we can’t confirm that for 100% fact until we know the layout of other things such as beverage garden, vendors, route, bike shops, etc.

FOOD & VENDORS COMMITTEE
The Food & Vendor Committee has named two co-chairs. These two co-chairs are currently working on contacting individuals that have been discussed and chosen to serve on the committee by the Food & Vendor co-chairs, their Executive Chairperson and the Advisory Board. No committee meetings have taken place, which means no decisions have been made. This committee will be focusing on setting its budget, setting its timeline, writing a supply list and setting the number of volunteers needed. We are asking that these tasks be done in the next two weeks.

Rumors: Reality
1.) The location: There has been no location choosing at this time because this committee has not met yet.
2.) There will be a vendor fee: Yes, there will be a vendor fee for all vendors, but that price has not been set because the committee is not officially up and running. The vendor fee is in place to help generate money to pay bills from the event. If your group is able to have a great turn-out, your vendor fee will be made up, and then some.
3.)    Business will have to pay a vendor fee: This committee will only charge a local business a vendor fee if they do something unusual (something they don’t do on a daily basis as part of their existing business). An example is a gas station selling hamburgers in the parking lot the day of RAGBRAI. That is considered unusual because they don’t do that daily, so this committee would charge that business a vendor fee. Now, if a restaurant serves hamburgers inside its establishment no fee will be charged to that business because that is what they do day-in and day-out.
4.)    Local businesses have to fill out a form: There are no forms at this time because this committee isn’t up and running at this time, but vendors will have to fill out an application because you will have to have proof of permits, tax ID numbers, insurance, etc. There are some exceptions for non-profits, but more information on this will be available when this committee gets up and running. We will urge all restaurants and businesses to advertise what they have to offer in the different town publications being planned so riders know where to stop. Again, more information on that will be available when this committee gets up and running.
5.)    Local businesses hiking up their prices: This is one mistake that some businesses/vendors make. Trust us when we tell you if you do this bikers will not stop at your business or your vendor stand. We have talked to TJ (the RAGBRAI Director) about this issue and he has seen this same situation happen time and time again where riders and even local customers “boycotted” the businesses/vendors that have done this in the past.

HOSPITALITY COMMITTEE
The Hospitality Committee has named two co-chairs. These two co-chairs are currently working on contacting individuals that have been discussed and chosen to serve on the committee by the Hospitality co-chairs, their Executive Chairperson and the Advisory Board. No committee meetings have taken place, which means no decisions have been made. This committee will be focusing on setting its budget, setting its timeline, writing a supply list and setting the number of volunteers needed. We are asking that these tasks be done in the next two weeks.

Rumors: Reality
1.) Will there be town meetings: If this committee, along with the Publicity Committee, chooses to inform businesses and locals through town meetings, they will do so. They will share information through many different types of marketing resources. This committee is not ready for a town meeting at this time, so please be patient. There are many steps to go through before the actual planning begins.
2.)    Group T-Shirts: No group will be allowed to use the RAGBRAI logo without written permission from RAGBRAI, and we have the contact information to apply for that permission. There are no guarantees that you will be granted that permission. RAGBRAI will not grant any business the rights to their logo who will profit from it. You will also need permission to use Waukon’s theme or logo on group t-shirts because t-shirt sales is another way for the committee to raise funds for its bills.
3.) The number of visitors: We have been asking the town to prepare for 25,000 visitors. This number may be on the high side, but it is better to be over-prepared than be under-prepared.

PUBLICITY COMMITTEE
The Publicity Committee has named a chairperson. This chairperson is currently working on contacting individuals that have been discussed and chosen to serve on the committee by the Publicity chair, her Executive Chairperson and the Advisory Board. This committee will be focusing on setting its budget, setting its timeline, writing a supply list and setting the number of volunteers needed. We are asking that these tasks be done in the next two weeks.

Rumors: Reality
1.)    The theme: The Committee Chair has talked about a few themes but nothing has been set in stone and won’t be until the committee is set up and has input.

SHOWERS, SANITATION & RECYCLING COMMITTEE
The Showers, Sanitation & Recycling Committee has named a chairperson. This chairperson is currently working on contacting individuals that have been discussed and chosen to serve on the committee by the Sanitation chair, his Executive Chairperson and the Advisory Board. This committee will be focusing on setting its budget, setting its timeline, writing a supply list and setting the number of volunteers needed. We are asking that these tasks be done in the next two weeks.

Rumors: Reality
1.) Trash: Yes, there will be trash but this committee will try to minimize the amount of trash scattered throughout Waukon by having enough trash and recycling bins available. This committee will also be enlisting different groups to help with trash control.

OTHER COMMITTEES
In addition to the above-described committees and clarifications, local RAGBRAI efforts also involve the following committees that have not reported any rumors being circulated at this time: Communication Committee, Electrical Committee, Housing Committee, Information Center Committee, Medical Committee, Public Safety Committee, RIDE RIGHT® Committee, Transportation Committee, Volunteer Committee, Web & Social Media Committee.
In closing, I would like to reiterate to all that we would like these visitors to come back to our town after RAGBRAI, so please let's come together as a community and work together and not allow greed to be the motivator. If you have questions about this event, please call the Waukon Chamber Office at 563-568-4110 and ask for Steph Dugan or Ardie Kuhse. We are more than happy to share any information we have at this time.