Celebrating Cultural Diversity Festival

Vendor Policy

1. The article(s) sold at your table must be ethnic and promote cultural diversity. Any exceptions to this rule must be approved.

2. There is a $45 non-refundable table fee (this fee will be waived for University affiliated organizations/departments, as well as, nonprofit external organizations [must provide documentation of nonprofit status]) which covers 1 table and 2 chairs. One additional table will be available to student organizations, University affiliated organizations/departments, and nonprofit external organizations for a fee of $10. One additional table will be available to all other outside organizations for a fee of $15. There will be a maximum of 2 tables per organization. Application and table fee payment must be submitted by 4:00 pm, Wednesday, February 13, 2008.

3. Items sold at your table should be set at fifty cent increments (i.e. 50˘, $1.00, $1.50, etc.). Tickets will be sold from three tables staffed by the University Box Office. These tickets are used in lieu of cash at the vendor tables. The tickets may be purchased for 50˘, and a special $5.00 ticket will also be available. Cash sales are allowed at the ticket tables only. Anyone that is observed taking cash, checks or credit cards, will be asked to stop selling and leave the building. Only tickets may be exchanged at the vendor tables.

4 ATTENTION STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS. YOU, AS AN ORGANIZATION, ARE THE ONLY ONES ALLOWED TO SELL AT YOUR TABLE. NO OTHER INDIVIDUALS OR BUSINESSES WILL BE ALLOWED TO SELL FROM YOUR TABLE. ALL MONIES RECEIVED FROM SALES THAT DAY WILL GO INTO YOUR ORGANIZATIONAL ACCOUNT. NO MONIES FROM THAT ACCOUNT WILL BE ALLOWED TO BE USED TO REIMBURSE AN OUTSIDE VENDOR OR INDIVIDUAL THAT YOU HAVE LET SELL FROM YOU TABLE. ANY OUTSIDE PERSONS INTERESTED WILL BE ABLE TO PROCURE A TABLE OF THEIR OWN.

Please be aware that the rules and regulations regarding reimbursements through University accounts have changed If you need to purchase items for use at the festival, please contact the Student Organization Business Office, 159 IMU, 335-3065 regarding payment/purchase procedures and prior approval forms BEFORE 4:30 pm, February 12, 2007.

5. The University Box Office staff will be available to assist you with check-out. During check-in, you will be given an envelope(s) to collect your tickets in. Checking-out consists of counting the number of tickets that you have in your envelope(s) at the end of the day. You may check-out beginning at 3:00 pm, NO EARLIER. There will be a designated table for check-out. A receipt will be given to you, indicating the number of tickets counted and the money conversion. If you are a recognized student organization or university department, this money will be placed in your university account. If you are an off-campus organization, a check will be mailed to you within four to six weeks provided you have completed a "Table Reservation Form” and a “University of Iowa Vendor Application".

6. The 5% state sales tax will be subtracted from your earnings prior to the deposit or issue of a check. In addition, all vendors, including non-profit groups will be assessed a 10% vendor fee on the adjusted gross income.

7. If you are a recognized student organization and need to purchase food, supplies, or equipment (including rentals), you must allow at least seven working days for processing the necessary financial paperwork. In some cases, a blue requisition form or a credit card permission form may be required. Please allow time for these details.

8. Close adherence MUST be given to electrical guidelines due to the power shortages that we have experienced in past years. There will be NO microwaves allowed. NO more than two outlets will be available to each organization. Please do not use power strips. Please attempt to use chafing pans if at all possible.

9. For health and safety reasons, following is a list of items and practices that will and will not be allowed inside the Field House:
You MAY use:

  • Chafing dishes with “sterno” heat source
  • Electric burners, hot plates, or electric grills
  • TVs, VCRs, radios, tape/CD players
  • Extension cords (only if you’ve requested an outlet)

You MAY NOT use:

  • Camp stoves or “cookers” using propane, gasoline, or oil as their heating source.
  • Grills or “smokers” using wood, charcoal, or propane.
  • Power strips
  • Microwaves
  • Your own generator

You may use propane, gas, wood, and charcoal cookers, grills, smokers and stoves OUTSIDE the building and then bring food items inside to sell. The CCDF committee, however, will not be providing any type of protection from the weather for groups using these cooking sources.

10. You MUST provide your own audio/video equipment, table covering, extension cords, signs, tape, scissors, etc. Bring your own carts for transporting your items.

11. In addition to free parking and shuttle service from the Rec. Building, parking is available for 80 cents per hour in nearby lots. See I.C. Press Citizen insert for details.

12 Vendors must clearly list items for sale and the cost of each item. The list must be posted where visitors can see and read it.

13. If your group is selling food, a group representative MUST ATTEND one of the two mandatory food handling meetings:
Tuesday, February 12th, 6:00 pm, River Room 1, Iowa Memorial Union
Wednesday, February 20th, 6:00 pm, River Room 1, Iowa Memorial Union
Even if your group has attended these meetings previously, they must still attend one of the meeting times listed above.  Failure to do so will prevent you from serving food at the Festival.