With Hollister’s revived motorcycle rally around the corner, it is most important this year to get the event off the ground while laying groundwork for the right model to sustain it for the long term.
That model – which should be up for consideration in the second year and beyond – involves establishing a nonprofit organization to run the rally and contract with a manager, a move that would get politicians and bureaucrats largely out of the motorcycle rally business in Hollister.
A recent example underscoring the need to move toward a nonprofit model was when Councilwoman Pauline Valdivia, during a meeting’s rally discussion, made a vague comment about wanting to charge an entrance fee. Though seemingly insignificant, it reflects the attitude of elected leaders that there is some need to micromanage such an event, which is less than three months away. And it is not an isolated thought or comment.
The idea for an entrance fee itself is an altogether different debate – the devil’s advocate side of which says a $5 entrance fee not only cheapens the event, but also might push away some attendees who would’ve spent hundreds of dollars in town, bringing a much more dramatic impact to the local economy than a $5 entrance fee.
The fact that there is a logical argument against the entrance fee shows the complexity of running a large motorcycle rally, or a large event. In both cases, there are plenty of examples in other cities – the Gilroy Garlic Festival down the road being one – from which Hollister officials can glean ideas on organizational structure. In its more consistently successful earlier years, the Hollister event also operated under a nonprofit umbrella and should do so again.
This first year back, though, is all about establishing a foundation and seeing what works best for rallies to come. Before the 2013 rally is here, city officials and other rally enthusiasts should collaborate about prospects for a nonprofit organization to run the event and get the idea moving forward.
