I'm back from vacation and have been catching up on all my favorite blogs. A special thanks to James and Cori of the KROC Early Morning show for stimulating some interesting conversation while I was away.
Jeff Kiger's post on "Why Rochester Sucks" caught my eye this morning. Not so much for the original post, but for many of the comments that followed. It was shocking to see how so many could join in on the bashing without offering real solutions. Sure, it's easy to say "we need this" or "we need that". In reality, if there was a need for your great idea some entrepreneur would probably already be doing it. The truth is, it's probably already been tried and the business closed because it couldn't make ends meet. If it was something else (like poor management), then I encourage you to start that business and you'll be rewarded handsomely (in theory).
I'm currently the Vice President of the Rochesterfest Board and will takeover as President in November of 2007. It's one of the many ways that I try to "give back" to my community. Each month, the Board has an official meeting where we discuss Rochesterfest and how to make it better and still provide something for everyone.
First, did you know that Rochesterfest is not "managed" by the city? Rochesterfest is a separate non-profit organization that has a Board of Directors, an Executive Director and an annual budget that provides constraints. There are only a few "Rochesterfest Owned" events (events that are run by Rochesterfest), and the vast majority of events are organized and managed by local volunteers like you. As a citizen, you have the opportunity to organize a new event and add it to the list of events happening that week.
So, what events are Rochesterfest "owned"? The parade, Lumberjack, Country Night (Thurs), Friday Night Band, and the Saturday Night Street Dance. There might be a few more, but you get the drift. All of the other events are not organized and managed by the Rochesterfest Board.
When considering new events, you have to consider the following things:
1) Can the event sustain itself financially?
2) Does the event appeal to a large portion of our community?
3) Can we get the necessary volunteers for this event?
As a non-profit with limited resources, these three things are very important when we consider what events to "bring back" each year and what could be added as a new event. Keeping these three things in mind, I ask you.... What would you like to see at Rochesterfest?
As living in Rochester the last 13 years, and living within 30 miles of Rochester all my life. I am an Idealistic Person, Always looking for something new and fresh to add, and I'm a very cost effective thinker, how to get the most oout of the least. Wish i could enjoy being on the board in some way to learn more and help make Rochester Fest a Time that people want to come into from all around the states and World. We have a very vast situation for a City our size, and the name Rochester and how it is Known near and Far for it's Mayo Clinic history. i believe there are very many ways to find even more interesting ways to get everyone involved in celibrating Rochester. If we can do this on a larger scale of interest, Then we will have more people willing to fund for a better Fest for the future.
We need some top 20 ideas for the future of things that can be done as we get more funding. We need to promote this during the off season, and keep people interested in The Rochester Fest Celebration. We need a better saying thatn Rah, Rah Rochester also. It was cute, but we need something that will represent the people of Rochester, and our part of the state. The more we can get other businesses involved, the more others will want to compete to also get in.
Lets make this a Safe and Thrilling time for everyone to look forward to, and can we find other areas to involve somehow, the rest of some areas of Rochester, as very unuiqe places during the Week. More informational booths downtown wood be great for passerbuys, and even people living here most of their lives, on some of the History behind the seens of Rochester.
Again I would love to be able to set in on some of these meetings, and get involved.
I am a Top bell Ringer for the Salvation Army during the Colder times, and a Key volunteer and idea man for the Epilepsy Foundation of Rochester, where for the last 3 years we have kept doubling our funds made each of those years, and are growing our information to others in the SE. MN area, for now.
The Rochester Fest board can get ahold of me at Kevinjoker@aol.com
I would like to work on adding many ideas, and teamanship towards having a more fun time than just mostly the food courts and such downtown.
lets liven up the place.
Kevin Krenzke
507-285-5598
I as well as many others have gone to past Rochesterfest street dances where one of the bands had been rock. Nowadays, it seem the same bands play over and over...Incognito, etc. While these bands are great, couldn't we get some local bands to play? There are several to choose from...from the top of my head; Black Valentine (www.blackvalentine.us), 7 Day Weekend (www.7dayweekendrocks.com), only to name a few. These are some of the best bands around and it would be a good thing to get them to play!!