The count is on!  Hampton will be hosting nearly 20,000 people on July 24 during the overnight RAGRBAI event. 

Many volunteers have been working diligently for the overnight RAGBRAI efforts.  There are 20 committees involved and each committee has a focus.  It is important they not only focus on their mission, but to also communicate and work with other committees.  These volunteers have put in endless hours to work for the good of the overnight stay for RAGBRAI.  It is much appreciated that you give these volunteers credit for the work that they have done.  Please be patient with everyone involved.  In the end, everything will pull together.

Hampton RAGBRAI t-shirts are available.  It is highly encouraged that all volunteers purchase a t-shirt for $10.00.  They are available at Center 1, the local banks and varying specialty stores.  Do not leave this until last minute to purchase a t-shirt, as then the supply could be limited.  (All sizes are currently available.)  Buy your t-shirts now and participate in t-shirt Friday and get discounts at participating stores and restaurants.  The Hampton RAGBRAI t-shirt will also get you into the beverage garden for free to see Vic Ferrari!  This is a great way to show Hampton RAGBRAI pride. 

Volunteer training will be held on Saturday, July 14 at the Hampton-Dumont old middle school auditorium.  The training will be held from 9:00 – 10:00 am with questions afterwards.  The logistics of the Hampton RAGBRAI will be shared.  It is important all volunteers attend so you know the basics such as: location of showers, location of vendors, shuttle routes, campgrounds, entertainment schedule, etc.  Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend the training.  This will be a great opportunity to understand and know the layout of Hampton for July 24 and be able to answer questions when riders ask. 

Below is a brief recap of what each committee has been working on.  

Beverage Garden - The beverage garden will be located downtown utilizing the north courthouse lawn and downtown streets.  Cost to enter the beverage will be free to those with official RAGBRAI wristbands and those wearing the Hampton RAGBRAI t-shirts and $2.00 for those without the wristband and t-shirt.  The beverage garden will open at 3:00 pm and close at midnight.  Insurance and the 5-day liquor license have been purchased.  Nearly 100 volunteers are needed for the beverage garden for ticket sales, id, serve and security.  Volunteers for the beverage garden should plan to attend the TIPS training session that will be held on Monday, June 25 at 6:00 pm at the Harriman Park Shelter House.  If you are not able to attend, you must check out the video to view.  Miller Brewing Company will be hosting the training session to train the volunteers on do’s and don’ts.  The Hampton RAGBRAI Beverage Garden Committee has been working with Miller Brewing Company on specifics, as they are a friend of RAGBRAI and have been very involved with the process. 

Website Committee – Jennifer Gruelke and iStop have been working together to create an attractive and informative Hampton RAGBRAI website.  It is broken into resident and rider information.  The website is updated frequently.  Everyone is encouraged to log on to the website at www.ragbrai.hamptoniowa.org. 

Entertainment Committee – The entertainment committee has been working to schedule the entertainment for the visitors while in Hampton. 

* GAR Memorial Civil War Memorial     1:00 – 4:00 pm
* Franklin County Historical Museum     3:00 – 7:00 pm
* Pleasant Hil     3:00 – 7:00 pm
* Windsor Theatre (Evan Almighty rated G)     2:00, 4:00 and 6:00 pm showings
* Hampton Municipal Pool     7:00 am – 10:00 pm
* Hot Air Balloon Rides @ swimming pool parking lot   afternoon – weather permitting

Beverage Garden/Kum and Go Stage
* Yipitsa Polka Band     3:00 – 4:00 pm
* Miller DJ     7:00 pm
* Vic Ferrari     8:00 pm – midnight

Bandshell Stage
* Average Joe     2:00 – 3:00 pm
* Dance Groups     3:00 – 4:30 pm
* Hampton Municipal Band and     4:30 – 6:00 pm
* Riders for the Flag – US Army Ceremonial Brass Quintet
* Milk and Honey     6:00 – 8:00 pm

Budget Committee – Thanks to the following sponsors for financial support:  Kum and Go, Iowa Department of Economic Development, Hampton Hydraulics, LLC, Dean Snyder Construction, US Cellular, United Bank and Trust Company, Git and Go and Buffalo Creek Wind Farms.  Financial sponsorships are still available.  Contact Ron Raney, Hampton State Bank, at 456-2559.  Also thanks to the many businesses that have provided in-kind services.  Every bit is appreciated. 

Campground Committee – There have been 2 designated campgrounds.  The main campground is the high school with the second campground being the fairgrounds.  The big RV’s will be directed to the fairgrounds.  Only riders with wristbands will be allowed in the 2 designated campgrounds with the unregistered riders being directed to city parks and East Park.  The support vehicles will start arriving in Hampton early by 8:00 am.  The big bike clubs have already contacted the committee to find placement.  The bike shops will be located on the parking lot at the high school.  Also a RAGRBAI information center will be located in front of the high school.  The campgrounds committee is in need of approximately 80 volunteers to guide riders and support vehicles. 

Communications Committee – The command center will be located in the Courthouse parking lot.  The purpose of the communications committee is to provide communication needs among the volunteers, medical and police.  They are in need of 5 volunteers. 

Electrical Committee – The electrical committee is charged with providing electrical needs to the committees that request electrical necessities.  The downtown area only has so much current electrical hook ups. 

Food Committee – The food committee has received 40 vendor applications.  There will be a variety of food for the riders and visitors.  The food vendors will be surrounding Bandshell Park and the downtown area.  Vendors can check in and set up on Monday from 6:00 – 8:00 pm (please note that security will not be provided overnight) or on Tuesday from 5:00 am – noon.  Vendors are encouraged to bring their own garbage receptacle and drop cords.  Vendors are also encouraged to be realistic when setting serving numbers.  A person can only serve so many in a certain time frame.  The Food Committee is requesting 30 volunteers to assist with check in/out.

Hospitality Committee – The hospitality committee is responsible for making the riders feel welcomed and making Hampton festive.  Hampton will be decorated with beach balls, palm trees, kites, sunglasses, flip flops, surf boards – and more fun in the sun items.  Businesses, vendors and churches are encouraged to decorate along with the theme.  The committee has been very busy making the decorations.  Any and all help is appreciated on Tuesday evenings from 4:30 – 6:30 pm at the old middle school art room.  Just one of the things that riders remember most is the hospitality of each town.  Each and every resident in Hampton is encouraged to be an ambassador on July 24.  Nearly 200 volunteers are requested to help transform Hampton into a Hot Fun place early on Tuesday, July 24.  Decorating will start at 4:00 am and last until done – which needs to be done by 8:00 am.  If you work during the day – this is a great chance to volunteer before you head to work.  Kids, adults – this is a great way to pitch in a helping hand.  And everyone is invited to greet the riders as they enter Hampton on 12^th Avenue by the high school. 

Housing Committee – Many riders prefer to stay in a house or on a yard rather than the campgrounds.  You determine what is available for use and set any guidelines.  Many riders just want a cool place to sleep or a yard to pitch their tent.  And you can even pick a team to stay with you as they have sent in bios of their team/family.  If you are interested in housing, please call 456-5668.  The housing committee would like to house 100% of their request – can you help out?  The housing committee will need nearly 30 volunteers to help direct riders to the house in which they are staying. 

Information Center – The information center will have 3 locations where riders can obtain information.  There will be a center at each campground and downtown.  Riders can find all the information they need at the information centers.  A message board will be located at the high school for riders to communicate with their teammates.  An information booklet will be provided for the volunteers to use for reference.  They are in need of 50 volunteers to assist the riders with questions, hand out maps and give directions. 

Law Enforcement – In order for controlled chaos, law enforcement will be busy on July 24.  They are in charge of crowd control, directing traffic, security, etc.  Nearly 25 out of town officers have volunteered to help Hampton with the duties. 

Medical Committee – The Medical booth will be located at the high school in the info tech center.  Riders generally get treated for road rash, diabetic needs, heat exhaustion, sprains, etc.  The Medical Committee has been busy planning for the what if factor and staffing needs. 

Non-Food Committee – 14 non-food vendor applications have been received.  These vendors include selling of promotional products, promoting business/service, hydro-massage beds, etc.  The non-food vendors will be intermixed with the food vendors.  The non-food committee is also responsible for selling ice.  The main ice truck will be located at the post office parking lot with ice being available in campgrounds and to food vendors as well.  20# bags of ice will be sold for $5.00.  Non-food is also charged with bottled water sales.  The Hampton RAGBRAI Committee will be selling water at various locations.  It has been advised that we provide a “vendor police” to man renegade vendors that have not complied with the Hampton RAGBRAI expectations.  A city and county ordinance has been put into place and vendors that have not complied will get notification.  The non-food committee is requesting 30 volunteers to assist with ice and water sales, along with assisting vendor check in/out. 

Publicity Committee – The publicity committee has been in charge of the logo, theme, kids art contest, signs, media, mapping and tabloid printing.  There will be 10,000 tabloids printed.  5000 of them will be delivered to Humboldt (the overnight stay before Hampton) and 5000 will be available at the information center to riders and visitors.  This is one of the informational items the riders use for reference to include:  where showers are at, history of Hampton, general information, entertainment schedule, shuttle routes, map, vendor locations, which vendor is selling/promoting what, etc. 

Public Safety Committee – What happens if everyone needs shelter?  What happens if an emergency situation arises?  A crisis management plan and a severe weather plan have been organized.  The plans will be displayed at the information centers, campgrounds and other places around town.  Fire/emergency lanes have also been considered with placement and the mapping process.  The public safety committee has also been in charge of ordering golf carts and gators.  Certain RAGBRAI committees need access to move around the mass amount of people.  Golf carts are generally insured only on your home or the golf course and not allowed on the streets and sidewalks. 

Ride Right Committee – Safety is important not only to the riders but to the residents as well.  There are safety concerns and tips on the Hampton RAGBRAI website.  Plan accordingly on July 24 as Hampton will not be easy to move around in.  Plan to leave for work earlier, plan to walk further, etc.  It is also important that people not spray water to the riders unless they request it.  They carry items on their bike and may not want them wet and it also disturbs their riding ability.  The ride right committee has also ridden the route to pick out sharp turns, bumps in the road, rumble strips, etc.  They have been looking at the roads through the eyes of bicyclists.  Please be patient with the riders and cautious when driving on July 24. 

Showers/Sanitation Committee – 138 showers have been identified for the riders to use.  This includes standing showers at the high school, new middle school, fairgrounds, wellness center and swimming pool.  Auxiliary showers have been brought in and will be placed at Harriman Nielson Farm House and Harriman Park.  Riders will be charged $4.00 and $5.00 for showers.  188 garbage receptacles have been identified and placed around Hampton to help with trash control.  180 portable toilets will be brought in with 70 of them being located in the beverage garden, 30 located behind the Bandshell and the rest will be located at the campgrounds.  The committee is looking for 60 volunteers to work shifts to be on trash patrol and restock portable toilet items.  Everyone wanting to help clean up on Wednesday morning is encouraged to meet downtown at 8:00 am.  The more hands to pitch in the faster Hampton will be clean. 

Shuttle Committee – Three shuttle routes have been identified.  NIACOG of Mason City has been gracious to offer services and expertise as they have worked RAGBRAI with other overnight towns.  The shuttle routes will include churches that are serving food, showers, downtown, campgrounds and other stops.  The shuttle hub will be located at First National Bank parking lot.  The shuttle stops will be selling water to riders as well.  The shuttle committee is looking for 34 volunteers to sell water, provide guidance to riders of which shuttle they should be on to get to a certain point and to also work as tour guides to showcase Hampton. 

Volunteer Committee – Yes believe it or not there is a volunteer committee to recruit volunteers.  600 – 700 volunteers are needed to make the Hampton RAGBRAI overnight a success.  Nearly 150 volunteers have been working hard meeting 2+ times per month, making decisions, making decorations, etc.  Each committee has broken volunteer times into 2 – 4 hour shifts.  A volunteer can designate which committee they would like to help with and the time of day.  A volunteer can also work for 2 different committees for example:  work 1-3 pm at the information center and 7-10 at the beverage garden.  The volunteer committee has pulled out the phone books – we are asking people to seriously taking one shift to help out. 

Hampton RAGBRAI Executive Committee

Jennifer Gruelke, Coordinator, Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce
Pat Sackville, Co-chair, Potage Culinary Classes
Jen Stattelman, Co-chair, H-D Schools and Creative Memories Scrapbooking Consultant
Dennis Borcherding, Co-chair, Franklin County Abstract Co
Brad Staley, Co-chair, Staley Real Estate
Ron Raney, treasurer, Hampton State Bank

Committee chairs
Beverage Garden – Dan Johnson, United Bank & Trust Company
Budget - Ron Raney, Hampton State Bank
Campgrounds - Dennis Carlson, Franklin County Conservation and Sue Horner
Communications – Alan Moritz, Agriliance Service Center and Mark Whipple, Access Inc
Electrical – Brad Mulford, MidAmerican Energy
Entertainment – Traci Spear and Krista Dunt, Panache Salon and Day Spa
Food – Jane Hoegh, H-D Schools
Hospitality – Kaye Peters, Franklin County Lumber and Tami Brass, United Bank & Trust Co
Housing – Liz Carr and Tammy Schimp, H-D Schools
Information Center – Berry and Jan Johnson
Law Enforcement – Jim Wobschall, Hampton Police Department
Medical – Jane Schmitt, Franklin General Hospital
Non-food – Ron Schermer, First National Bank of Hampton
Publicity – Debbie Kalousek, Main Street Hampton
Public Safety – Russell Wood, Franklin County Dept of Planning and Program Development
Ride Right – Tom Teggatz, Jasperson Insurance and Real Estate
Shower/Sanitation – Jim Davies, Creative Solutions, iStop
Shuttle – Bill Holmstrom, Hampton Post Office
Volunteer – Doug McWilliams, Hampton Hydraulics and Carolyn Kingland-Hanson, H-D Schools
Website – Jennifer Gruelke, Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce

Thanks to all the volunteers, businesses that support their employee involvement, to those that have opened up their houses, and business support!  Looking forward to an eventful RAGBRAI overnight stay on July 24, 2007.  And remember – EVERYONE is an ambassador for Hampton!  Questions can be referred to the Hampton RAGBRAI website or to Jennifer Gruelke at hacc@hamptoniowa.org or 456-5668.