Rotary Club not hosting Fourth at the Lake in Lodi

Fourth at the Lake is a summer event attended by nearly 6,000 people each year, but its future is uncertain following the announcement Friday that the Lodi Tokay Rotary Club will no longer host the event.

"The scope of the event has grown beyond our capacity to host a quality event, as the city deserves," said Gary Greider, president of the club and circulation manager for the News-Sentinel.

Greider said the rotary club only has 50 members, but the event requires a minimum of 100 volunteers.

"Last year, to make up for the deficiency, most of our members were working throughout the day or recruited friends and family to work the event," he said.

The committee in charge of the event also put in many hours and took a number of community complaints regarding the fee to enter the lake as well as the gate now surrounding the park, both of which have been contentious issues for more than 10 years.

"We had so many problems before we fenced off the lake, it was really the only solution to help scale down the event," Greider said.

Additionally, he said the admission fee, which has raised more than $100,000 in the 10 years the rotary club has hosted the event, goes back into the community to improve the lake itself as well as to support such groups as the Lodi Boys and Girls Club.

Greider said he doesn't know where the decision will leave the city, but said his group is willing to help with the transition period while officials figure out a way to continue and organize the event.

Mayor Susan Hitchcock said alternatives have not yet been discussed, but said she hopes the City Council will at least continue to fund the fireworks portion of the event.

However, she said the funds necessary for the larger event may not be available, meaning the day-long event may be severely scaled back or even reduced to only fireworks if no other groups volunteer to take it on.

"It's really too early to know exactly what the outcome will be," she said.

Contact reporter Rebecca Adler at rebeccaa@lodinews.com.

First published: Friday, September 1, 2006

Reader Feedback

Leonard wrote on Sep 5, 2006 4:06 PM:

" Perhaps, given the sentiment in Lodi and the nation, the US should change its symbol from the Eagle to a Fence. "

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I remember wrote on Sep 5, 2006 1:34 PM:

" I was so glad to see that they might not have the festival at the lake on the 4th - I HATE that fence. I grew up a few blocks from the lake and still live walking distance. Let it go back to families having picnics...maybe ban alcohol to decrease bad behavior and keep it family friendly. jmho (just my humble opinion) "

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Little Fact wrote on Sep 4, 2006 4:01 PM:

" One little fact .... Dorean Rice was a Rotarian and was the chairperson of the event representing her Club. Dorean's "people" were her fellow Rotarian's. "

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Mal wrote on Sep 4, 2006 3:45 PM:

" CCC- Well, I suggest you call Doreen. I know she is very active in the community, which I applaud, but I also know she was with the Credit Co., so unless she had a second job as an Event Planner...?? The point is that this event has grown beyond the scope of a volunteer group. Some of you have no idea the logistics involved in an event like this. Especially to meet the expecations of a nit-picky group like Lodi. We expect the best because we have always had the best in the past. "

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ccc wrote on Sep 4, 2006 1:02 PM:

" I am not incorrect - I worked the oohh ahhh festival for ten years. It was enjoyable and everyone showed up and did their job. The Rotary club should have left well enough alone. Doreen and her people did a GREAT JOB! The only one that looses here is Lodi. "

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punch drunk wrote on Sep 4, 2006 8:49 AM:

" You're right, Otis. The good old days are gone.And the rich white sissies buy what they want and violence makes them faint. "

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Otis wrote on Sep 3, 2006 9:58 PM:

" Put me in charge of the drunken brawls!!! Them is fun! "

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Mal wrote on Sep 3, 2006 8:16 PM:

" CCC- you are incorrect. Whyte House Productions did the "old" "Uh-Aah" Day on the 4th. As a former Corporate Event Sales & Marketing Manager I can tell you that to get volunteers for an event like this is a huge task. To get them to actually show up and work is even a bigger challenge. Lodians a spoiled. They wanted everything for free, and when a fence goes up and they have to pay $3 to get in they cry, yet they complain about the drunks & gang-bangers. You can't have it both ways folks. "

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big boss wrote on Sep 3, 2006 5:16 PM:

" Well, LRR, here's your chance. Volunteer! For the Locust Street STARS patrol, too. You love Lodi so much. Or if you're young, the armed forces recruiting office is on Kettleman Lane. "

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LRR wrote on Sep 3, 2006 1:45 PM:

" Well, Leonard, etal ...here's your chance. You've been complaining about the Rotary Club's event and now they've given it up. Perhaps you and your critical bunch can orgainize the gang fights and drunken brawls. Don't worry about organizing any children's activities because no family in their right mind will be attending. Too bad but I don't blame the Rotary Club. Too much work for too little appreciation. "

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leonard wrote on Sep 2, 2006 9:24 PM:

" Its how to see how the event on the one hand generates a $10,000 annual profit but, on the other hand is too expensive to continue. "

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ccc wrote on Sep 2, 2006 7:36 AM:

" Doreen Rice and her production company asked us to volunteer for 10 years. We worked long hours, but loved it. The Rotary club took to away from Doreen group only two ago and now we don't get a 4th. That Sucks! "

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