The flotilla committee needs to start marketing a grand prize for the 2015 festival as soon as possible, Pres Davenport said moments after being reelected chairman of the flotilla committee by his peers during the Feb. 23 meeting.
“We need to set a budget for the grand prize, and start figuring out what we can get for that so we can start marketing that grand prize,” he said. “Even if we don’t have a sponsor right out of the gate, do it, and that may be a way for us not to be so behind the eight ball.”
The committee did not finalize the 2014 grand prize until November, an issue Davenport previously said probably contributed to a smaller boat parade.
He also briefly outlined a plan to set a fundraising goal for each month and assign every committee member a certain number of potential sponsors to reach out to.
Committee member Linda Brown said another way to lure sponsors might be to spare them the hassle of searching for parking to watch the boat parade. Davenport agreed, suggesting the committee explore the feasibility of allowing sponsors to park at Wrightsville Beach Town Hall and be shuttled to the Blockade Runner Beach Resort.
“I think that would be a huge draw,” Brown said. “Some people would sponsor flotilla just to have somewhere to park and come watch it.”
In addition to electing Davenport as chairman, the committee named Shannon Friedrichs co-chair and Katherine Dodd treasurer. Friedrich and Davenport will also lead the entertainment and communications subcommittees, while Quentin Jones is in charge of sponsorship and Brown will handle operations.
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