The West Liberty Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for RAGBRAI by having an open house next week.
The open house will be held at the WeLead building located at 119 East Third Street from 3:30 to 5 p.m., Wednesday, May 10.
West Liberty Chamber of Commerce Director Charles Brooke said meeting residents, community members and business members was the best way to get information out to everyone.
“When Mary (Jo Lugo, RAGBRAI committee member) discussed ways to get the word out, we talked about social media, the newspaper and face to face,” Brook said. “We knew face to face would have more of an impact and there is only so much you can post on social media before people stop reading and it becomes too lengthy.”
This will the first of many open houses the committee will have.
“We felt having multiple open houses would get people downtown to ask all the questions they may have,” Brooke said. “From pricing, locations, routes and how anyone can help.”
The next open house will be held in June after RAGBRAI officials ride the whole route, Brooke added. The tentative route coming through West Liberty will be Highway 6 to Calhoun Street, head straight down Calhoun to East Third and Fourth Streets, which will be turned into a city square.
“We are making sure our riders can get off of their bikes, hit the bathrooms if need be and head straight to food vendors,” Brooke added. “The committee is making sure it all flows and we keep vendors together and not spread them out, which will be easier for everyone.”
At the open house, RAGBRAI committee members will be there to talk to attendees. The committee members are: co-chair Mary Larson, a member of the West Liberty Chamber of Commerce Board and First Church United; Frank Wagner and Emily Geertz, Liberty Public House owners; Lisa Browning, Shop 121 owner, Kayla Stumpf, of Liberty Dance Center; Cassie Rottick, Chamber President; Lugo, who is representing in home businesses; Heather Wisman, of MidWest One Bank; Erin Ronzheimer, of West Liberty Foods; Cindy Daufeldt, of West Liberty Foods Market and Harriet Hald.
“We looked for committee members that would be an impact on our streets and that would help get the word out,” Brooke said.
The committee would like to have food vendors to start signing up to be in West Liberty Saturday, July 29.
“Bikers will hit West Liberty on their last day and will want to have breakfast or brunch depending on how late they sleep in,” Brooke said. “We would like to see a variety of food vendors from breakfast items to smoothies to quick snacks.”
Any food item such as turkey sandwiches or Latino food items that would make this stop on RAGBRAI unique is also encouraged, he added. Other vendors such as clothing for bicyclists and temporary tattoo vendors will also be in town that day.
To be a vendor for RAGBRAI that fee is $400. To be a vendor in West Liberty, if you’re a Chamber of Commerce member it’s $300 and $100 for a non-profit, Brooke said. If you need more than 10x10 square feet of space, it’s an additional $100.
The open house will also be where you can sign up to volunteer for the event.
Brooke said he hopes there are 70 volunteers to help that Friday and Saturday.
“We plan to staff information booths right next to the bike parking to get the riders information right when they arrive,” he added.