First Thursday in need of volunteers

As the Colfax Chamber of Commerce is preparing the final First Thursday event of the year, volunteers are being sought to help with the set up.

Colfax Unified Executive Director Valoree Gregory said no volunteers have come forward as of yet.

The last First Thursday event will be next week, Sept. 7, with Wiley Gustafson and the Wild West band as the feature attraction.

“I’ve sent it out in some eNews letters now, and I’ve called businesses,” said Gregory. “Not one person has returned my calls, and nobody has emailed me back either.”

Gregory said the struggle to find volunteers has been a consistent problem since the inception of First Thursday last year. During the first year, though, volunteers were not as needed as they are now.

“Last year, we didn’t have the big bands we have this time, so Steve Larkin and I could set up the stage,” said Gregory.

Now, bigger bands have meant that there is a need for chairs to be set up around the stage. Also, there was a volunteer to coordinate the vendors last year, and there is no longer a volunteer in that position.

“I’m in charge of the vendors, too, but now I have to do the vendors and the set up,” said Gregory. “It’s difficult to do all the things I’m doing plus check in all the vendors myself.”

During the Aug. 3 First Thursday earlier this month, all of the volunteers previously lined up backed out of the set up.

“I didn’t have anyone except for my sister from California, so thank goodness for her,” said Gregory.

It was noted, however, that people did help with the take down. Gregory theorized that it is easier for people to help with the take down after business hours.

Many of the businesses in Colfax are operated with just a few people, and it is difficult to have them leave during business hours.

Gregory said the Chamber plans to meet next week to discuss potential answers to the volunteer shortage. She pointed out the city does not allow closure of E. Spring Street until the First Thursday date, so an evening setup is not possible.

Changing to a weekend date also is not feasible.

“Businesses don’t want to do it on the weekends. When we surveyed them, every single one of them said to keep it on a Thursday ” she said

That survey also indicated that the businesses want to see First Thursday continue. Gregory said there could be a potential time change in the works for next year which could bring with it the potential of volunteers.

“I have lots of volunteers for the Haunted Hospital, so it must be the time that makes First Thursday hard,” she said.

Next week, Gregory plans to do the set up with Nancy Anderson, Downtown Association president; Sarah McKnight, SEWEDA director, and Larkin. They are still hoping people will come forward to volunteer.

As for next year, Gregory said the event will not happen if there are no volunteers. Her contract with the Chamber of Commerce states that she is not supposed to lead the events, and she also does not have the time to devote to managing the vendors, facilitating the event and doing the set up and takedown.

“We only have one employee, and I only work for the Chamber one-third of the time,” said Gregory. “I can’t spend my time setting up tents.

“I have to go do it because nobody else is going to do it, and I’m not going to let it fail,” she added. “Next year, though, they’re going to have to find volunteers.”

Another task for next year, if First Thursday is to continue, will be to secure funding in order to be able to keep bringing in bigger bands. This year, the Chamber received $10,000 from economic development and tourism funds to help pay for the bands and promotions.

“There’s lots of solutions, but it’s an event that doesn’t bring in revenue,” said Gregory. “We spent $13,000 this year on First Thursday with paying for the bands and the promotions.”

The bigger bands have helped bring more people downtown, said Gregory.

“That definitely has worked,” she said.

To volunteer for First Thursday, call or email the Chamber at 509-553-9729 or colfaxdirector@gmail.com.