RAGBRAI chairman: Interest is high, more news in March

On Jan. 21, the announcement was made that Clear Lake would be a Host Town for RAGBRAI XLV on July 25.  Already questions are being asked about buying T-shirts and pins, hosting riders, and lots of other things.

“If early interest is any indication of volunteer participation and event success on July 25, Clear Lake is in for a good time,” stated General Chairman for the event, Diane Thompson.  “RAGBRAI is an opportunity for area residents to work together to get ready for the event.  In 2010, the last time Clear Lake hosted a RAGBRAI overnight, over 1,000 people volunteered to help with committees – and many more were involved in other projects.  Hopefully we will have even more involved this year.  Everyone who supports RAGBRAI has a lot of fun.   Many who worked on the event in 2010 and 2014 as a pass-through town said they wished they had been more involved.”

How does the community prepare for RAGBRAI?  Thompson explains:

•First, a Steering Committee is chosen; each member of the Steering Committee is responsible for one of the 20 major segments of the event and meets bi-weekly with TJ Juskiewicz, RAGBRAI Director.  The 20 Steering Committees are Beverage Garden, Campgrounds, Chamber, Communications, Electric, Entertainment, Hospitality, Housing, Information, Law Enforcement, Medical, Publicity, Ride Right, Sanitary, Social Media, Transportation, Treasurer, Vendors, and Volunteers.    

•Each of the 20 committees involves many volunteers who are assigned tasks by the Volunteer Chairman or a Steering Committee Chairman.  The Volunteer Chairman will begin recruitment of volunteers in the spring.

•Residents can offer their homes and yards for riders and guests to stay during their time in Clear Lake.  The Housing Chairman will coordinate residents who are willing to be a host home with riders who don’t want to camp in the campgrounds.   Requests for hosts will begin in March/April.

•Public transportation throughout Clear Lake will again be offered on July 25.  Clear Lake residents will be encouraged to use the public transportation provided rather than trying to drive a car on the busy streets.  Maps will be available in summer.

“At this time, only the Host

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Towns for RAGBRAI XLV have been announced.  The route and pass-through towns will be announced in March.  Until then we do not know the route the riders will take into Clear Lake.  When we know more about the route, that information will be shared,” said Thompson.

Beginning in March, weekly information about RAGBRAI XLV in Clear Lake will be published in area newspapers.  This will be the best way for area residents to keep updated about the event.  A website will also be created in March/April which will contain updated information.  Other social media will be utilized, as well.

RAGBRAI is a great way for non-profits to have fundraisers and for businesses to have a better than average day.  Vendor applications will be available in May.  Meetings with businesses and non-profits will take place in May/June to give suggestions and answer questions.

T-shirts and pins will again be on sale.

“In the past, the community has supported these efforts beyond our expectations.  These sales contribute approximately 25 percent of event expenses and allow the Steering Committee to minimize requests for event contributions,” added Thompson.

“We will have entertainment in the downtown area on July 25.  Bands will be downtown during the afternoon and the Bandshell will be the venue for the evening performances followed by fireworks on the lake.”

The public is invited to participate in all downtown activities on July 25.

“We will encourage everyone to wear the Clear Lake RAGBRAI T-shirts so that our guests know who the locals are,” she explained. This worked really well in 2010 because Clear Lake guests knew who to ask for directions and who to thank for a good time.”

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