In past years, organizers of Fourth of July street games and other competitions handed out cash prizes to winners. After some temporary confusion about whether such prizes would be allowed this year or replaced with ribbons, trophies or other non-cash alternatives, the chamber of commerce has decided to stick with tradition — cash prizes will be permitted during the Fourth celebration.
At its June 19 meeting, the chamber board heard public comment on the issue, then voted unanimously in favor of allowing cash prizes.
The short-lived ban on cash was the result of a misunderstanding on the chamber’s part about borough rules, explained chamber administrative assistant Luana Wellons.
“The money that the city gave us, they specifically said that was not to be used for cash prizes,” said Wellons. “Somewhere along that game of telephone between people, that got turned into they didn’t want us to give out any cash prizes. But then once we realized the misunderstanding, we addressed the issue and the board voted to reinstate the cash prizes.”
The borough assembly in May voted to contribute an additional $25,000 toward the chamber-organized Fourth celebration.
Much of the discussion at the chamber meeting focused on event sponsors who were concerned about where their money was going and wanted control over how it would be used. “I donated $500 for a specific event and I thought it was going to a specific event and cash prizes,” not chamber expenses, Greg Meissner gave as an example. The Meissner family is co-chairing the egg toss and street games.
Outgoing chamber Executive Director Brittani Robbins assured attendees that sponsor money would be spent only on expenses for the sponsored event, not on chamber operations.
The chamber has already spent over $300 on ribbons and trophies and chamber officials plan to either use or return these items. “It wasn’t that much money,” said Wellons. “We’re going to do a combination — most of the cash prizes will probably go to the kids and we’re going to give out the trophies and medals to the adults, except the logging show is still going to have cash prizes. If you’re an all-around logger, you’re not going to end up with a little toy trophy.”
Just under 20 community members attended the meeting to express overwhelming support for continuing to permit cash prizes at the Fourth of July street games and other activities. Speakers also made suggestions on how to increase the chamber’s transparency, make its meetings more accessible and improve its communication with residents.
Multiple members of the public suggested that cash prizes serve as an economic equalizer, allowing kids of all backgrounds to buy treats regardless of whether their parents can afford to hand them wads of discretionary cash.
Cash prizes also “support the chamber’s mission the most,” said Kristy Woodbury. “The mission is to help the businesses of Wrangell and since the money is being spent in Wrangell, I think that really supports the chamber’s mission.”
Adherence to tradition and avoidance of waste were two other oft-mentioned arguments against ribbons and other cash prize alternatives.
“After spending a couple of decades going to trade shows … and talking to the very folks that come in for our event, the conversation always is how wonderful our Fourth is,” said Meissner.
“And when you have that conversation and start breaking it down, you start to find out why it’s so grand,” he said. “Tourists roll into town to see all these events going on. They want to see the little kids running around doing this, doing that, spending money … any action you take that could stumble that at all … you start to do anything that inadvertently or otherwise hampers that, you’ll see the whole process decrease a little bit. And if the whole Fourth of July event decreases a little bit on how spectacular it is, that’s going to be a draw-down on how many people come to this town to watch it.”
Cinda Stough, who has volunteered at the street games since the 1970s, submitted a letter to the chamber, which was read by her daughter, Tammi Meissner. “During one Fourth in the 1980s, we decided to have an obstacle course and we gave out ribbons along with prize money,” the letter stated. “We cleaned up the street after the games and found three fourths of the ribbons on the ground. We decided that ribbons were a waste of money.”
The chamber has established an email list to more directly alert community members about its meetings. To sign up, contact luana@wrangellchamber.com.
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