Save our Reunion!
Something very interesting was brought to my attention the other day at a speaking engagement of one of our very distinguished civic organizations in Mt. Pleasant. It has really put a bug in my ear. It was in regards to Midwest Old Threshers Reunion, attendance figures and keeping up with the times.
The fact is the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion numbers are not where we would like them to be, and it’s killing our local economy, plain and simple.
It took me until after the luncheon to really put my finger on it. It’s the issue of the traditional school start date currently being discussed at the State Capital. Currently, the law doesn’t allow the academic school year to start prior to September 1 unless schools have a waiver.
Recently the Department of Education granted waivers for 353 out of the 364 school districts, which is almost 97%.
By starting the school year in August, families are less likely to take vacations later in the summer. In turn, these families are losing the opportunity to spend more time together and explore new educational opportunities. It is a very big reason; an extremely big issue to the tourism industry, and it plays a huge role in our local, state and national economy.
We need to understand the importance of this issue and the effects it could have or has, not only to the people of Mt. Pleasant but to the people of southeast Iowa’s Great River Region and the State.
The Midwest Old Threshers Reunion, always five days ending Labor Day, attracts over 100,000 people through their gates during the event. It is in its 59th year and is one of the agri-tourism events in the State, as well as on a national scale.
And once school starts, families are done taking vacations. Do you see the problem?
The current waiver system keeps people from visiting our area and experiencing what we have to offer during one of the State’s biggest highlights of the year. It keeps us both secluded. It keeps us from broadening our horizons. It restricts us from sharing – and truly celebrating – our history and preservation of our rural heritage in the modern world.
I would venture to say that it even keeps our very own families from attending the Reunion. What if the academic school year started prior to the Iowa State Fair? Why do you think legislators are pushing for this not to happen? It is the same reason why we need to keep the traditional school start date of September 1 and lose the waiver, so more people have the opportunity to experience the Reunion and stimulate our economy.
There is a proposal at the State Capital that may possibly go into law, allowing the school start date to fall between August 25 and September 1 without having to use the waiver process. This proposal helps, but it does not touch the surface in saving the Reunion.
Save our Heritage. Save our Economy. Save our Reunion!
Save our Reunion by keeping the traditional school start date of September 1 and lose the waiver.
