Our oysters create opportunities
O
ysterFest owes it’s beginnings to the vision of a Shelton Rotarian – Dick
Oltman. In 1979, retired from a military career, Oltman was in the midst of a second career as a travel agent when he came across a graduate program in tourism at George Washington University. It required a thesis. Oltman framed his thesis on a comprehensive plan to enhance public awareness of the local shellfish industry and thereby increase tourism in Mason County. The plan centered on the creation of the West Coast Oyster Shucking Championship and Washington State Seafood Festival. His plan was for an event that would be important to the entire community – economically and socially – OysterFest. Dick approached Skookum Rotary Club with the idea. Tired of plant sales and cutting wood (and trips to the emergency room), Skookum said “yes” on March 10th, 1982. With less than seven months to get organized – they pulled it off with incredible results. As part of that thesis Oltman created the first OysterFest “road-map.” He included a complete operating plan and all policies and procedures – many of which are still in use today. OysterFest would take place on the first Saturday & Sunday weekend of October. The event would serve as a fundraiser for the Skookum Rotary Club and other not-for profit type local organizations wanting to participate. Private and public organizations were asked to provide hands-on exhibits. Oltman’s vision was to create an event that would bring visitors after the summer high season, extending the economic benefits of tourism for the entire community to a time of year that was typically very slow for area restaurants and lodging establishments.
Dick Oltman
“OysterFest was conceived as a family event, and it still runs that way,” said Oltman in an early interview. Family rates, day-time hours, diverse entertainment, marine exhibits, youth activities and careful monitoring make it a safe event for all ages.
He planned the event to showcase Mason County’s treasured aquaculture industry, highlighting the fact that the shellfish and timber industries can and do co-exist successfully! The Skookum Rotary Club utilizes OysterFest profits on the community: education projects including scholarships, recognition of academic achievement among students, a science fair, water quality education programs; and other local service work that ranges from food banks and homeless shelters to Music in the Park and saving the school pool. Along with the original conception of OysterFest was the idea that it would be a revenue source for nonprofits. Even now, three decades later, OysterFest’s vendors are all local groups. Many of the area’s service organizations make their yearly budget at the event. The hidden pearls of OysterFest are the volunteers who run every single aspect of the event – caring for Oltman’s vision and celebrating one of our community’s most treasured resources – aquaculture.
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2015 OYSTERFEST