Reality Rally

The Lake Elsinore 2016 Team  with their Reality Star from The Amazing Race.....Tiffany Torres.

I sat down with Gillian for lunch the other day, and we got to chatting about one of her (many) favorite components about Reality Rally—how it brings all the surrounding cities together.

When Reality Rally first started out, Gillian saw it not only as a way to corral reality celebrities for a cause, but city councils and city officials as well. 6 years ago, the first ever Reality Rally was set to take place, and thinking that nearby towns would like to participate in the race, Gillian approached the city councils/officials of Temecula, Menifee, Murrieta, Fallbrook, Lake Elsinore, and Perris.

“I thought it could be fun and friendly intercity competition,” Gillian said. “Their towns would know that they are part of something fun.”

By attending every city council meeting in those areas, Gillian pitched her idea. Participants didn’t even have to be city council members, she explained. They could be people running for assembly seats, administrative positions, or City Management in any city department to represent their city.

Of the 6 cities, three decided to join in. Lake Elsinore was especially enthusiastic.

“They hopped right on it,” Gillian commented.

With gumption and a friendly, competitive spirit, Lake Elsinore took to social media and the web to challenge other cities. Temecula took them up on the challenge, as did Murrieta.

Temecula won the race in the city division our very first year, and was awarded the now coveted Floating Pink Gnome trophy (floating because it is must be given to the new winner every year, pink to honor breast cancer patients, gnome because…well…no one really knows what the gnome represents. Shhhhhh). The trophy is engraved every year with the new city winner’s name, and presented at their city council meeting.

After Temecula’s victory, Lake Elsinore vowed never to be squashed again. And so…a legend began.

Lake Elsinore won. And won. And WON. And kept winning! Ever since then, Lake Elsinore has won their division (“The Intercity Challenge”) in our famed race for the past 5 years. Every year, they are loyal and willing to sign up, and are always the first to sign up amongst the cities. They rally enthusiasm by challenging other cities on Facebook, telling them to step it up and garnering even more support and participation for Reality Rally. Steve Manos and Brian Tisdale who are alternately Mayor and City Council Member for Lake Elsinore are always on board, riling up their competitors with jesting boasts about previous victories.

This year, 5 cities were represented in the race, due in great part to Lake Elsinore’s efforts to rouse excitement. In fact, one of Gillian’s most convincing comments which she uses to persuade cities to sign up is: “Are you going to let Lake Elsinore beat you AGAIN?” Temecula and Lake Elsinore came very close this year, with Lake Elsinore winning by only two minutes, but it was another victory for them nonetheless. Lake Elsinore has even suggested that the trophy no longer be called the “Floating Pink Gnome”, because it has not “floated” for some time. It has sat, quite stationary, and quite resolutely, in Lake Elsinore’s city hall for 5 consecutive years.

The camaraderie, friendship, and deeper gumption that Gillian’s vision has brought is evident. When Temecula beat Murrieta the first year, Murrieta was asked to present the trophy to the winners. They arrived wearing t-shirts which said “MURRIETA”. Temecula didn’t hesitate, swiftly pulling out baseball hats that said “TEMECULA” on the front. Gillian laughed over the incident, recalling how much it displayed fun competition and city dedication.

We always make it a point to bring the city councils on live stream at the event, with a goal of promoting their cities and area through their participation. Lake Elsinore especially loves the promotion that the race offers because it ties in with their city theme—health and fitness. Overall, Gillian’s vision for the cities is to involve them in something fun, connect council members from separate cities, strengthen city pride and promote the cities through our Live Stream. And it seems she has does done just that.

Taryn Murphy

(P.S. Be sure to check out my Valley News interview of Steve from the Lake Elsinore City Council! Link below.)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1_YGItXojOWd2FMWU52YVNoc1U/view