Leadership: How the Gilroy Garlic Festival Became Synonymous with Garlic Presented to: The Hawai`i Tourism Authority May, 2008

Gilroy Garlic Festival Association2 What is the Garlic Festival The annual 3 day celebration of garlic Heading into its 30 th year Roughly 100,000 attendees for the 3 days Volunteer concept has not changed in 29 years! Movie Time

May, 2008Gilroy Garlic Festival Association3 Mission of the Gilroy Garlic Festival The Gilroy Garlic Festival is established to provide benefits to local worthy charities and non-profit groups by promoting the community of Gilroy through a quality celebration of Garlic.

May, 2008Gilroy Garlic Festival Association4 How do we accomplish this? Foster a spirit of community service and pride by encouraging volunteerism Pursuing the highest standards of quality for all aspects of the Festival- especially food, entertainment and activities Work with the City of Gilroy and other agencies to improve the Festival grounds, service and facilities to the benefit of the visitor and create a permanent recreation asset for the city of Gilroy

May, 2008Gilroy Garlic Festival Association5 Successful Volunteerism Four critical success factors for our volunteer program Organization & Structure Volunteer Culture Volunteer Recognition Policies & Procedures

May, 2008Gilroy Garlic Festival Association6 Organization & Structure Organized environment = security Organization empowers volunteers to think and make suggestions Ownership = motivation We train and equip our volunteers 4 Year Program Clear expectations Become ambassadors

May, 2008Gilroy Garlic Festival Association7 Gilroy Garlic Festival Organization President of the Board Board of Directors 9 Directors Exec Director Staff 24 Committee Chairs 24 Assistant Chairs Elected from Chairs 1 Strategic Planning 1 appointee 1 in charge of Advisors 4 Year commitment 10 member Advisory Committee Total Operation of Festival Manage Volunteers/Organizations 2 Person Staff Office staffed F/T

May, 2008Gilroy Garlic Festival Association8 Volunteer Culture In order to be successful, volunteers must Know their opinion counts Know their job matters Be committed to quality Know what is expected of them Have the equipment they need Opportunity to do what they know how to do Know their ‘supervisor’ cares about them personally

May, 2008Gilroy Garlic Festival Association9 Volunteer Recognition They are the key to success and the reason for the festival. The Festival spends > $100,000/ year on volunteers Hospitality Admission Volunteer Recognition Day Volunteer of the Year Our success is built on exceeding expectations

May, 2008Gilroy Garlic Festival Association10 Volunteer Policies & Procedures Train Volunteers Area, tasks, procedures Lead by Example Avoid Empire Building 2 yr Chairman, 2 year Assistants, ½ roll over “But we’ve always done it that way” Change is GOOD!

May, 2008Gilroy Garlic Festival Association11 Volunteer Magic Quadrant SMART UNTRAINED LESS MOTIVATEDENERGETIC We WANT to motivate you! We WILL Teach you!

May, 2008Gilroy Garlic Festival Association12 Gross Proceeds Volunteer Equity in Action -= Hourly Rate Pay BillsNet Proceeds Total Vol Hrs /= X Charity Hrs Worked Total Charity Pay Out = $1,000,000 $700,000 $300,000 40,000 hrs $7.50/hr $ Hrs

May, 2008Gilroy Garlic Festival Association13 Branding -15 years in the ‘making’ Festival chef availability- SakaBozzo, Pyros The Great Garlic Cook Off NY Times, CNN, CBS, Food Network- 2 X 60 min features of the Finals Other Promotions 1997 Garlic Kiss Off- Darla Haun 2000 Ted Williams- Garlic enhanced Vision Montel Williams- Hometown Festivals Garlic Showdown- 2 nd year

May, 2008Gilroy Garlic Festival Association14 Festival Results Donated almost $8,000,000 to date ~160 Charities benefit annually ~4000 volunteers per year Generational Volunteers Micki P. Rebekah Children’s Home (IOOF) 29 Festival Added…….programs etc.

May, 2008Gilroy Garlic Festival Association15 Find out more Go to: Call the Gilroy Garlic Festival Association Contact the Executive Director: Brian Bowe, Ed Struzik,