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Chamber raising funds to replace decorations |
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Friday, 11 January 2008 |
 The 15-year-old holiday decorations adorning Bishop’s Main Street are targeted for replacement if a Chamber of Commerce fundraising effort meets with success. Photo by Ken Koerner By Ken Koerner
Register Staff 1-10-2008 Bishop residents and visitors alike have long enjoyed the festive lanterns and garlands that brighten Main Street during the winter holiday season. Next year, if the Bishop Area Chamber of Commerce is able to garner sufficient support, bright new decorations will appear in their place.
Chamber Executive Director Tawni Thomson recently announced a fundraising campaign in order to retire Bishop’s 15-year-old holiday adornments. “Wind, weather, traffic-whipped dirt and age,” said Thomson, “have all conspired to lessen the luster and diminish the overall condition of the existing ones.”
Thomson said, “Comments that we received from the community during past weeks led us to a closer inspection of the decorations and the determination that it’s time to plan for their replacement, so this important holiday tradition can be continued for at least another 15 years.”
Due to the placement of the decorations above and adjacent to Bishop’s primary public thoroughfare, Thomson pointed out that the design and construction of such holiday icons must be selected in accordance with Department of Transportation requirements. “It’s not enough that they be attractive,” noted Thomson, “they must also meet the DOT’s criteria for aspects such as wind-resistance, overall size, plus proper mounting and attachment … and this all adds to the overall cost.”
Having begun exploring the fiscal aspects being faced, Thomson estimates the new decorations will cost $15,000 to $20,000. She made it clear that “the chamber does not have funds readily available to purchase them and that’s why we’re aiming to raise enough money to update the display for next year’s Christmas season.” Thomson added, “We realize that this project will be a year-long fundraising effort and we decided to get started now, while the current display is in place so that folks could see them.”
Though Thomson acknowledged that the chamber doesn’t have money to spend on this community project, she said she does feel it’s appropriate for the chamber to lend its support. “Our city’s Christmas display is an important part of the way we celebrate the holiday season, both for our residents and the visitors that we welcome this time of year,” she said.
“It’s important for people to know that this special effort on behalf of our community will not siphon dollars from the chamber’s operating funds,” Thomson noted. “What we do each year to benefit local residents and attract visitors to the area will not be impacted. We’re merely lending the organizations’s support to help facilitate accomplishing the goal of preserving and updating our holiday look.”
The chamber sponsors an annual “lighting of the Christmas tree” event, which also includes a visit by Santa Claus to the chamber’s building on the edge of the city park. One change that was affected this year “did not cost a thing,” said Thomson, “We moved Santa’s seat outdoors this time and found that the number of children taking their turn for a photo with Santa jumped from about 70 kids to several hundred children this year. We learned that a number of families traveling with children spotted Santa outside while cruising along Main Street and chose to give their little ones a chance to experience some of the joy of the season, Bishop-style.”
Celebrating the holidays “Bishop-style” includes enjoying the city’s signature salute to the season via the street decorations.
With the cost for each of the new pole-mounted decorations estimated to be $500 each – and Thomson targeting displays on approximately 40 poles to stretch all along Main Street – she has already begun to consider a variety of fundraising activities for the warmer months as well. “We are talking with community members about a fundraising dinner and the likelihood of a golf tournament this summer, too,” explained Thomson. “We’ll be sending out letters to all of our chamber members and to other businesses to advise them that supporters of the decoration replacement project will be honored with their inclusion on a permanent plaque to be placed in the chamber office.” Thomson noted that same recognition would be accorded to individual and family contributors, too.
Thomson encouraged anyone wishing to become a supporter of this fundraising effort to contact the Chamber of Commerce at (760) 873-8405 for more information.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 22 February 2008 )
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