Thank you for all your responses--alot of great ideas to take to the brainstorming session.

AHHHHHH Iowa, no place like home [img]smile.gif[/img]
I grew up in Carroll, Denison hosted last year or two years ago, I would highly suggested working with your town council or the commities that your town has put together to see what is needed. These people are trained but also have cash to spend on this week long vacation also there are many ametures that would just love a bottle of water! Water bottle in a catchy fun design may be that one souviner someone takes back home with them! Even if the kids sing and dance for your over night guests, or a fun cake walk really the sky is the limit! Maybe the parents and teachers can work with your hometown and have a huge tent of burgers and a colder beverage than water ! Also, host families!! Some bikers need a place to sleep...just a thought. I know you want fundraisers but this is an important roll.

I personally remember how huge this can be for any small town, I hope you can work with the town to put something great together! Oh yeah CONGRATS!! What an awesome honor!!!!!!! Here's wishing good weather and a cool breeze .

I should add, each year the RAGBRI (Register Annual Great Bike Ride accross Iowa) selects a bike route across Iowa, each route has been different with a few exceptions. It is a true honor to be chosen as a host city and I wish I could explain the excitement! The Des Moines Register is one of the sponsors but each town is really on their own to "shine" if you will. What's huge? Honestly, beer gardens/tents are really huge but depending what direction you want or how well you can work with others wanting a piece of the action is a tough one. Trinkets of your town are big too as long as they aren't too cheesy. Many of the bikers have a spouse or group of buddies traveling with them so space isn't an issue (packing wise). SO bring it on!
For many it's one huge vacation and a party they look forward too every year!

[ 02-06-2004, 11:56 PM: Message edited by: mykidsmom ]

My husband does a lot of these bike rides/races and he says that meals are usually included, so food might sell to spectators, but not the participants. The only item that he ever buys are bandanas. Riders wear these under their helments and they get sweaty and stinky so they need new ones. Maybe you could look into having your students design something to have printed on a bandana. He actually keeps the ones with cool designs on them. His favorite one has a map of the race area on it.

If these are avid bikers in the middle of a big ride, they'll already have water bottles and many of them will only custom water bottles that fit with their bike's holders.

How 'bout checking with the ride organizers. they may need local personnel to help with the feeding at night. perhaps you could put on a dinner or man a food stand of some sort.

Tim

I'm thinking water bottles, any kind of "spirit item" such as shirts, etc.

I am fairly new to this PTO stuff--in Iowa there is a bike ride (Ragbrai)through the state. The event is held in July and thousands of bikers take part. They stay over night in select cities and our city has been picked as one of the over night sites. The PTO is going to have a brain storming meeting to discuss what we could do to raise money at this event. We are a relatively small organization and do not have great parent involvement so far.... Any ideas on products we could sell or what we could do to capatalize on this event. We feel this is something we should participate in but ideas are needed- Help