Posted 12:32 am Sunday, October 09, 2011
Texas Rose Festival President Striving To Increase Tyler Tradition's Appeal
By JACQUE HILBURN-SIMMONS
Staff Writer
Texas Rose Festival president Tom Ramey III does not seem to be the type of guy who minds rolling up his sleeves and getting into the thick of things.
He jumped into his tenure as president with the idea of reinventing some aspects of the festival, keeping several goals in mind: to build public interest and ultimately, overhaul the Tyler Rose Garden.
When the 78th Texas Rose Festival unfolds next week, the fruits of his labor will be publicly realized, for better or worse.
Ramey, the optimist, is not worried — he says times are changing and the festival must adapt if it is to survive.
“I wish I had the year to do over,” he said. “This is a cultural change for us and we voted unanimously to do this. We've taken intentional and strategic steps this year to say, ‘This is about Tyler and what makes this city unique.'”
A new goal of the Texas Rose Festival Association is making good on an agreement reached this year with the city of Tyler.
Festival organizers plan to donate some proceeds from the event to the city for the express purpose of transforming the rose garden into a community venue for arts, culture and entertainment.
This month's festival marks the first step in a journey toward a world class facility that draws people back over and over, Ramey said.
“I think we can do something materially great for the city,” Ramey said. “For the first time, the Rose Festival has a goal.”
The festival was initially created in 1933 to promote Tyler and build civic pride.
Ramey, 58, said he's been thinking for some time about the festival's relevance after hearing the same comment over and over, “Tyler doesn't grow roses anymore.”
He met with rose producers and learned public opinion wasn't entirely accurate.
Seven Tyler-area businesses process and distribute the bulk of commercial roses — about 2.5 million are shipped annually from Tyler to garden centers throughout the United States, according to Texas A&M University.
Tyler is viewed as a heavy contender in the rose industry by outsiders, but few people locally seem to realize its standing.
He worked with City Manager Mark McDaniel to craft an agreement allowing the festival to help transform the rose garden into a venue befitting Tyler's prominence in the industry.
“Every year the Rose Festival will make a contribution to the city of Tyler,” Ramey said. “We don't care about how it's spent — all we want is to have a place that identifies Tyler. We want to do something significant for Tyler.”
Ramey said he's seen a few ideas — spaces for arts, concerts and community gatherings — and believes there are options that are perfect for Tyler.
To fund the improvements, the festival needs a boost in attendance.
Ramey said he made it part of his mission as festival president to shake things up a bit, starting with Saturday's parade.
Expect an event more like the Rose Parade in Pasadena than past events — more polish, more attractions and more music, featuring some of the best military and college bands in Texas, he said.
There's free admission to the Queen's Tea, which starts immediately after the parade, as well as the rose show.
In another first, guests arriving at the Rose Garden Center will be greeted by a towering rose-themed castle, courtesy of David Austin Roses.
“We went to the people at David Austin and said, ‘Take over our Rose Garden Building — it's yours,'” he said. “They built a castle in England, shipped it to Tyler, and it is being reassembled in that room.”
After the festival, the association plans to whip out the checkbook and make its first donation to reinventing the grounds of the garden.
Ramey said he's received his share of scrutiny for daring to step outside of tradition, but he believes the efforts will be worth it, for the festival and for Tyler.
“It sickens me and nauseates me — and I say this with great boldness and passion — how people see us,” he said. “The Rose Festival should not be about a girl, a group of girls or a dress. It's about a city.”
The festival is also about community and family and bringing people together, he said.
Ramey said he's hopeful the changes will be embraced.
“If we do the right things, the future of the Rose Festival has never been brighter,” he said. “People who aim at nothing hit it every time.”
Staff Writer
Texas Rose Festival president Tom Ramey III does not seem to be the type of guy who minds rolling up his sleeves and getting into the thick of things.
He jumped into his tenure as president with the idea of reinventing some aspects of the festival, keeping several goals in mind: to build public interest and ultimately, overhaul the Tyler Rose Garden.
When the 78th Texas Rose Festival unfolds next week, the fruits of his labor will be publicly realized, for better or worse.
Ramey, the optimist, is not worried — he says times are changing and the festival must adapt if it is to survive.
“I wish I had the year to do over,” he said. “This is a cultural change for us and we voted unanimously to do this. We've taken intentional and strategic steps this year to say, ‘This is about Tyler and what makes this city unique.'”
A new goal of the Texas Rose Festival Association is making good on an agreement reached this year with the city of Tyler.
Festival organizers plan to donate some proceeds from the event to the city for the express purpose of transforming the rose garden into a community venue for arts, culture and entertainment.
This month's festival marks the first step in a journey toward a world class facility that draws people back over and over, Ramey said.
“I think we can do something materially great for the city,” Ramey said. “For the first time, the Rose Festival has a goal.”
The festival was initially created in 1933 to promote Tyler and build civic pride.
Ramey, 58, said he's been thinking for some time about the festival's relevance after hearing the same comment over and over, “Tyler doesn't grow roses anymore.”
He met with rose producers and learned public opinion wasn't entirely accurate.
Seven Tyler-area businesses process and distribute the bulk of commercial roses — about 2.5 million are shipped annually from Tyler to garden centers throughout the United States, according to Texas A&M University.
Tyler is viewed as a heavy contender in the rose industry by outsiders, but few people locally seem to realize its standing.
He worked with City Manager Mark McDaniel to craft an agreement allowing the festival to help transform the rose garden into a venue befitting Tyler's prominence in the industry.
“Every year the Rose Festival will make a contribution to the city of Tyler,” Ramey said. “We don't care about how it's spent — all we want is to have a place that identifies Tyler. We want to do something significant for Tyler.”
Ramey said he's seen a few ideas — spaces for arts, concerts and community gatherings — and believes there are options that are perfect for Tyler.
To fund the improvements, the festival needs a boost in attendance.
Ramey said he made it part of his mission as festival president to shake things up a bit, starting with Saturday's parade.
Expect an event more like the Rose Parade in Pasadena than past events — more polish, more attractions and more music, featuring some of the best military and college bands in Texas, he said.
There's free admission to the Queen's Tea, which starts immediately after the parade, as well as the rose show.
In another first, guests arriving at the Rose Garden Center will be greeted by a towering rose-themed castle, courtesy of David Austin Roses.
“We went to the people at David Austin and said, ‘Take over our Rose Garden Building — it's yours,'” he said. “They built a castle in England, shipped it to Tyler, and it is being reassembled in that room.”
After the festival, the association plans to whip out the checkbook and make its first donation to reinventing the grounds of the garden.
Ramey said he's received his share of scrutiny for daring to step outside of tradition, but he believes the efforts will be worth it, for the festival and for Tyler.
“It sickens me and nauseates me — and I say this with great boldness and passion — how people see us,” he said. “The Rose Festival should not be about a girl, a group of girls or a dress. It's about a city.”
The festival is also about community and family and bringing people together, he said.
Ramey said he's hopeful the changes will be embraced.
“If we do the right things, the future of the Rose Festival has never been brighter,” he said. “People who aim at nothing hit it every time.”
