Con: Carrie Johnston, Detroit Lakes            Pros and Cons of your chamber leading a major community event or festival Con: Carrie Johnston, Detroit Lakes Carrie@VisitDetroitLakes.com

Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce Event Policy (approved 2008)  It is the desire of the Chamber to develop, embrace, support and foster events in Detroit Lakes that attract people to the Detroit Lakes area. Chamber events will be evaluated for continued viability based on the following criteria: * How the event fits into the strategic plan of the Chamber * The profitability/feasibility of the event * Value of the event to the Chamber, its members, and the community The Chamber recognizes that events pose a financial risk to the Chamber, as well as potential reward for each event. The Chamber is liable for the losses that may occur, and event profits will be incorporated into the annual operating budget of the Chamber as non-dues revenue.  Events are defined by the Chamber:  Chamber Events: These are events that are run by a volunteer Chamber committee and there is a start and end date. The event and budget are approved by the Board of Directors during the annual budget process.  Chamber Supported Events: These are events which are not run by the Chamber. The Chamber may choose to support an event in the community: administratively, serving as a fiscal agent, donating money or time, advertising and promotion, using the Chamber name, or in other capacities. There may be administrative or other fees charged which will be determined and dependent on each specific event.

Before you say Yes or No Community Impact? Chamber Member Impact – Mission Driven & Board Supported? Volunteers Needed? Staff Time – Planning, Promoting, Volunteer Coordinating & at Event? Liability & Insurance? Permits & Regulations? One Time Event or Annual? Storage and Equipment? Finances – Cash Before Event, Rainy Day Contingency, Profits? Grants, Donor Expectations and Partnership Opportunities? Area of Chamber Expertise? (Does is use up your “favors”?)

A Dream & An Idea All members of DL Chamber

Construction

More than a Palace

500+ Volunteers = 5000+ Hours

Media Impact 65 interviews and articles in local and national media Star Tribune Minnesota Public Radio National Public Radio’s Weekend Edition Connecticut to Georgia to Hawaii Over 50% of Minnesota & North Dakota newspapers

Social Media Website: 22,600 page views! Total Harvest – Pummeling: Facebook totals over 220,000 screens Palace Lighting Facebook: 15,000 viewers Twitter: 200 engaged Palace & Fireworks Facebook: 17,500 viewers and 1,800 reactions/comments Instagram: 100 hearts Twitter: 65 engagements reaching 800 Twitter users Super Bowl Twitter Feed! Website: 22,600 page views!

Visitors – at least 18,000 # Open 9am-9pm Total Per Hour 12 Hours Per Day Week Day  50 12 600 Weekend 100 1200 Valentines Day 150 1800 Ice Harvest Ribbon Cutting 350 January 11-13, Harvest 1450 February 8 Grand Lighting 2000 Grand Lighting Friday, Feb 9 Saturday, Feb 10 Sunday, Feb 11 Monday, Feb 12 Tuesday, Feb 13 Wednesday, Feb 14  Valentine's Day Thursday, Feb 15 Friday, Feb 16 Saturday, Feb 17 3000 Fireworks Sunday, Feb 18 Monday, Feb 19 Friday, Feb 23 1000 Palace Pummeling TOTALS 18,000

By the Community, For the Community

Before you say Yes or No Liability & Insurance? Permits & Regulations? Community Impact? Chamber Member Impact – Mission Driven & Board Supported? Volunteers Needed? Staff Time – Planning, Promoting, Volunteer Coordinating & at Event? One Time Event or Annual? Storage and Equipment? Finances – Cash Before Event, Rainy Day Contingency, Profits Grants and Partnership Opportunities Area of Chamber Expertise? (Does is use up your “favors”?)