Fourth secures future

“It was just one entity,” explained Nolan Hare, who has been on the committee since its inception. “We developed the events as fundraisers.

“But from the outside looking in, it appeared like we were throwing a big party together with public money. That was a misconception, that wasn’t what we were doing, and that was not our intention — but that is how it looked.” With the reorganization, the committee will continue to organize the fireworks display and participate in marketing, promotion and similar events.

It will also maintain control of the “Fort Dalles Fourth” brand and determine which events are included under that umbrella.

All financial links, however, will be separate. Festival operations will continue under the leadership of Hare, who serves as director. “I’m financially responsible for the festival, and have an agreement with the committee as to what events I’m providing,” he explained.

In addition, the committee has partnered with The Dalles Main Street to put on the events and provide nonprofit tax status for fundraising purposes.

“They have the right pieces in place to manage it long term,” Hare said. “Our volunteers, they put in a ridiculous amount of time to wrangle all this. This needs to outlast the volunteers who started it.”

Matthew Klebes, executive director of Main Street, said the fireworks event will be fully integrated into the program as part of the Promotions Committee.

The partnership allows the event to have permanent 501(c)3 nonprofit status.

All of the finances of the event will be managed by Main Street, overseen by the Main Street board and Klebes.

The Fort Dalles Fourth Committee originally had nonprofit status as a subcommittee of the Mid-Columbia Veteran’s Memorial Committee, but lost that status when they left the group.

“Getting your own 503 is a long, tedious job,” said Hare. “Instead of building an organization, we are partnering with an established organization.”

Members of the Fourth will be joining Main Street at the Oregon Festival and Events conference March 6-8, in Portland, Klebes added. “It’s a great way to show off our events.”

The fireworks show will in part replace the Jammin’ July/Summerfest event, which will not be held this year.

The Dalles City Council asked the Fort Dalles Fourth and chamber to pursue a partnership last year, and in December routed a $25,000 funding request for the 2016 fireworks through the chamber.

The chamber will help market the event regionally with a $5,000 grant from the city, and will organize and plan the Fourth of July parade.

Tiffany Hardin, marketing and communications director with the chamber, said the July 4 events will fit nicely with other regional events the chamber promotes in an effort to increase tourism.

The chamber currently promotes the Cherry Festival, Cruise the Gorge and Starlight Parade throughout the region with advertising on radio, newspaper and regional magazines.

They also make sure events are on regional calendars like that hosted by Travel Oregon, Hardin said.