To fill the hole left by the resignation of Ellen Brown, Bob
Beals will take over as interim executive director of the Hollister
Independence Rally Committee starting Monday.
To fill the hole left by the resignation of Ellen Brown, Bob Beals will take over as interim executive director of the Hollister Independence Rally Committee starting Monday.
Beals, a member of HIRC’s board of directors, volunteered for the post at a special meeting of the board’s Tuesday night. The board approved the motion, said board president Michael Chappelear.
“Bob graciously offered to take a leave of absence from the board of directors,” Chappelear said, noting that the leave of absence is required. “Since he’s become involved with the rally, he’s put a lot of time into it.”
Beals volunteered because he said he enjoys working with the rally.
“I wanted to make sure we continued successfully without a glitch,” he said. “I’m just plugging the hole in the dike.”
The board also opened the executive director position to applicants at the special meeting. Resumes and applications can be dropped off at the HIRC office at 334 Fifth St.
Beals said he is thinking about applying for the position full time, although he admits he doesn’t have much experience in the arena. He has mostly worked in industry – in training and contracting, he said. Beals has been involved in the rally for three years as a volunteer and served on the board for the past year, he said.
Brown resigned effective March 14 to pursue other personal and professional ventures.
“I’ve been with the rally since 1998. It’s time to look for a new venture,” she said Monday. “I’ve done all there is to do with the rally.”
Anyone who has a background in event planning should apply, Chappelear said. Applicants should be self-motivated, have some motorcycling experience if possible and have experience in how to operate a non-profit agency.
The responsibilities of the executive director include event planning, the day-to-day operations of a non-profit organization, sponsorship solicitations, bookkeeping and negotiation of contracts. Applicants should also know the job is more than a 9-to-5 job.
“This wasn’t just a job for Ellen. She put her heart and soul into it,” Chappelear said. “I don’t know if we’ll find someone like that. They definitely can’t see it as just a 9-to-5 job.”
Right now, the board’s focus is on making sure Beals is up to speed on HIRC’s day-to-day operations.
Vendors, entertainment and contracts have already been established for the 2003 rally, Brown said Monday. For the next four months, Beals will be printing posters, putting together a schedule of events, selling raffle tickets for the rally’s motorcycle raffle and organizing rally packages that will begin to sell faster as the event nears, Brown said.
Even though the 2003 Independence Rally is four months away, Brown said the average person at the rally won’t notice any change as a result of her departure.
“This rally is so large – it takes year round to develop and get going. There’s not a good time to leave, ever,” Brown said Monday. “Everything is already in place. It should be a smooth transition.”
It is possible that Beals will be interim executive director during the 4th of July rally, Chappelear said.
“I don’t want to rush to fill the position. We want someone that is thoroughly qualified,” he said.
In the meantime, the Board also plans to research competitive pay for the position.
For more information, call the HIRC office at 634-0777.
