Garlic Festival inquiry
”
This is concerning something that’s been on my mind for a couple
years now. There was an article not too long ago about the Gilroy
Garlic Festival and all the money they gave out to the community
groups this year. I have to question, I think there were over 12
groups that earned less than $100.
Garlic Festival inquiry
“This is concerning something that’s been on my mind for a couple years now. There was an article not too long ago about the Gilroy Garlic Festival and all the money they gave out to the community groups this year. I have to question, I think there were over 12 groups that earned less than $100. I think this is the Garlic Festival’s dirty little secret. These groups are not working the festival to earn money for their groups. They’re working it to take advantage of the Garlic Festival. Their volunteer workers all get free tickets and passes. I just believe that any group earning less than $100 should not be working the festival because, again, they’re not working it to earn money for their group if they’re earning $33, $28, $15. They just want to get free tickets to get into the Garlic Festival. Thank you.”
Red Phone:
Your question, caller, assumes that some groups dole out free tickets to volunteers who then do little work in return. That assumption is based on the low donation amounts to some groups, as reported by the Garlic Festival.
But Monica Pirozzoli, the Garlic Festival’s 2006 president, explained that “there is a system of checks and balances.”
She said that individuals who promise to work a four-hour shift receive one ticket for free admission to the festival.
“If you do not show up for a shift, you either have to return the ticket or some organizations ask you to pay for the ticket,” she said.
Meanwhile, some groups on the list of fundraising recipients receive small dollar amounts, Pirozzoli said, because the Garlic Festival allows volunteers to split their hourly “wages” among any nonprofit groups of their choosing. While some direct their hours to a single group, others spread the donations across a larger number of recipients.
“That’s why some organizations only have a few hours,” Pirozzoli said. “You get to say what you’re interested in. It is a perk of volunteering that they get to designate where their hours go.”
What perks?
“In a recent paper in section C, the second page, you have an advertisement for yourself. It states, ‘If you are not a current subscriber, sign up to take advantage of the many perks of home delivery and programs open only to subscribers.’ I’ve been a subscriber for several years. What special programs are open only to me? Please tell me.”
Red Phone:
Your Red Phone sought out Circulation Manager Walt Glines for an answer.
Glines said the advertisement promotes the Dispatch’s recently debuted Newsroom Insider feature on The Dispatch Web site, www.gilroydispatch.com. The Newsroom Insider is available to readers who log onto the site. Click on the Newsroom Insider icon on the home page or move your cursor to News on the top banner and click on Newsroom Insider.
The Insider offers a glimpse of the news, sports and features you will read in the next morning’s edition. It is posted about 5pm Monday through Friday for Tuesday through Saturday editions. It gives subscribers an opportunity to receive tomorrow’s news today.
Glines said the Dispatch regularly runs coupons from local advertisers offering special discounts to readers. He added that at least four pages of classifieds ads run each day, including garage sales, help wanted notices and items for sale. Are you looking for a new or used car? A home to buy or rent? Look in your newspaper.
“We’re especially proud of the paper’s news content and award-winning photographs,” Glines said. “The Dispatch last year again was named the best newspaper our size in California.”
He added that other perks of home delivery and programs only open to subscribers are on the way.
If you’d like to subscribe, call 842-2327 or go to Subscriber Center from the Web site’s home page. If you live in the Gilroy area, you’re just a phone call or a few clicks away from having the newspaper delivered to your home.
