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OpEd Original Posted on Sun, Aug. 14, 2005 - The Sun News

 

GOODBYE, BIKERS?

Make May Military Appreciation Month

By Katherine Jenerette

 

How do we throw out this biker bath water without throwing out the economic baby?

 

Let's be honest: How many local elected officials, business owners or local residents would shed tears if the [Atlantic Beach] Bikefest and the Harley-Davidson rally crowd rode off into the sunset on U.S. 501, never to return to the Grand Strand? Not many, it seems.

 

For [at least a] decade, we have been wringing our hands, making plans that go nowhere, allowing our economic well-being and our family-resort reputation to be damaged for nearly a month each year.

 

Why have we waited so long to reach a tipping point in public opposition to these two events that have effectively "hijacked" the month of May from the Grand Strand's real value as a family-friendly destination? Could a certain amount of the problem be political correctness?

 

What ever the reasons, this summer, most responsible voices in our community are desperately seeking solutions from the May biker mayhem.

 

We all agree that the bikers have to go, with only a few mixed messages. How do we throw out this biker bath water without throwing out the economic baby?

 

Among other biker problems, there is the hot button race issue that seems to show up with lawsuits targeting Grand Strand restaurants, hotels and even our municipal governments at a cost borne by taxpayers of all races. How do we untie this Gordian knot [in a way that] benefits our community as a whole? Well, [what] if we approach this from ground zero and think inside the box?

 

[Here is one] solution that even the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People would be hard-pressed to find fault with: Let's declare May "Military Appreciation Month" and roll out the red carpet to armed services people on active duty, in the reserves and National Guard, as well as retirees, veterans and their families. This monthlong preseason festival could culminate with a salute to our men and women in uniform, past and present, on Memorial Day with events from Little River to Georgetown.

 

Military Appreciation Month, like Canadian American Days, could have the immediate effect of a renewable target market audience that is self-sustaining with low advertising cost and maintenance that has the added benefit of standing the race argument on its head. Veterans and their families come in all races and ethnic groups from every corner of the nation.

 

Now, local business leaders, public officials and leaders at nearby military installations who have discussed Military Appreciation Month have said that a simple cost-benefit analysis would make this plan a winner. They have stated their willingness to participate with special reduced rates and special packages for our military and their families.

 

Myrtle Beach is within vacation range of 61 military installations on the East Coast, with well over 1 million active-duty service men and women, reservists and National Guardsmen, and their families.

 

Add in tens of thousands of retirees and veterans and their families and the potential military tourist population expands even more.

 

Nearly all military installations have on-post Morale, Recreation and Welfare offices that would advertise, market and help book rooms and do the lion's share of logistical support to get soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and their families an affordable place to vacation or take R&R.

 

The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber deserves great credit for recognizing and capitalizing upon the fact that eliminating biker month is a front-burner situation. But the chamber is not alone in this; there are a multitude of Grand Strand community stakeholders who hold an equal and compelling interest in a fix for this problem.

 

A long-term solution will need a clear, unbiased perspective that includes the understanding of business, political and military leaders and a vision that would require three simultaneous actions: First, we need to tell the bikers adios. Second, we need to roll out the red carpet for our military families. Third, we blitz the market with advertising for all families in the East Coast market area to come back to Myrtle Beach and make May the family vacation month it used to be.

 

This would be no simple task.

 

Any solution would require a large round table with representation of all Grand Strand primary players and stakeholders. This group would have to include elected governmental bodies, and nongovernmental organizations like the local chambers of commerce, the Hospitality Association, Golf Holiday and veterans groups, etc.

 

If this concept is developed intelligently and cooperatively, within a few years it can gradually become the dominant May event along the Grand Strand and displace biker month with a vibrant "red, white and blue" salute to our military men and women, past and present.

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The writer, an Army veteran and former executive director of the Myrtle Beach Area Hospitality Association, lives in North Myrtle Beach.

 

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