Changes Help Assure Success of Hollister Motorcycle Rally
Changes Help Assure Success of Hollister Motorcycle Rally
Editor,
The Free Lance staff, in particular Anthony Ha, has been working hard to keep the community informed as to the status of the Fourth of July motorcycle rally. I want to thank Anthony for his efforts.
Many local nonprofits, including the Hollister Rotary Club, have benefited from the annual motorcycle rally. All of the money earned by these groups during the rally goes back into the community.
In past years Hollister Rotary was able to donate over $30,000 to local scholarship programs, computers for students, medical care for the needy and other worthwhile programs.
The loss of the motorcycle rally does not hurt groups such as Rotary; it is the community that feels the loss.
It seems there has been some misunderstanding that the newly formed Hollister Motorcycle Rally Committee “took” opportunities away from local nonprofit groups such as Hollister Rotary.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Hollister Rotary fully understands that in order for this year’s event to go forward, over $380,000 needed to to be prepaid to the city to cover law enforcement and other costs.
While the amount being charged by the city has been the topic of much discussion, everyone agrees that the motorcycle rally should not cause the city financial hardship. Many communities that host events such as Hollister’s motorcycle rally request prepayment for services.
The Hollister Motorcycle Rally Committee worked very hard to solve the challenge of paying these upfront costs and making the rally profitable for the city and local groups. The committee hired a professional promoter, as well as professional food and beverage companies and merchandise vendors
These experienced organizations have the financial power to help prepay the city’s operating costs, thereby allowing this year’s rally to continue.
More importantly, the addition of these professional organizations to the motorcycle rally helps ensure the success of the event.
The Hollister Motorcycle Rally has become world-known, and can draw tens of thousands of tourists to the city. All those involved, including the city, should profit from such a large event.
Through discussions with Charisse Tyson, president of the 2006 Hollister Motorcycle Rally Committee, and the promoter, Seth Doulton of Horse Power Promotions, it has become clear that the local nonprofits have not been forgotten by the Hollister Motorcycle Rally Committee.
Local service clubs, Boy Scouts, church groups and any others who wish to participate will be offered the chance to work throughout his year’s event. Hollister Rotary has graciously been provided the opportunity to work with the rally committee and vendors in this year’s event.
We at the Hollister Rotary applaud the newly formed Hollister Motorcycle Rally Committee for their hard work and success in keeping the Hollister Motorcycle Rally alive. Further, we thank the members of the committee for keeping the local nonprofit groups, the city and the community in the forefront this year’s rally plan.
David Baumgartner
President, Hollister Rotary Club
