Ames businesses will have the chance to show their support of an alcohol-free Veishea by signing a pledge for the second year in a row.

Thomas Hill, vice president for Student Affairs, said his office will soon be in contact with city officials to finalize plans to get the pledge to businesses.

“I’ll be getting in touch with the mayor, and we’ll find a time when we can do it,” Hill said. “We think it’s very important. We cannot have Veishea without the support of the community.”

Last year, dozens of businesses signed the pledge, promising not to offer beer specials or advertise excessively during Veishea weekend.

Hill said there are no plans to change the wording of the pledge, which was first used last year after several alcohol-related incidents marred past Veishea celebrations.

“Businesses were very cooperative last year. We were very pleased with the response,” he said. “If we get what we got last year, we are in good shape.”

Hill said the late start on the process this year is not a concern, since the pledge already is written and businesses are familiar with it.

Veishea leaders also said they hope businesses will sign the pledge again.

“We like to see the community backing up what we are trying to do,” said Scott DeSotel, co-chairman of the Veishea Central Committee.

“For the most part, everyone has been willing to help out,” he said.

DeSotel, senior in agricultural business, and co-chairwoman Aimee Lee, senior in public service and administration in agriculture, have been urging businesses to sign the pledge again this year.

DeSotel said Veishea Central Committee members have spoken to business leaders, including the Campustown Action Association and the Ames Chamber of Commerce. They also are working with city leaders, he said.

“When we go to solicit donations from [businesses], they say they’ll sign the alcohol-free pledge again,” DeSotel said.

Pat Greene, owner and manager of Cy’s Roost, 121 Welch Ave., said his business plans to take the pledge again.

“The no specials, no advertising — we’ve always done that,” he said. “There has never been a need for us to run a special. We’ve never advertised for Veishea.”

Greene said the dry pledge may help keep Iowa State students and Ames residents out of trouble, but problems often arise when visitors come from out of town.

Cy’s Roost usually serves older clientele coming into town for the weekend, he said.

“Last year was a little slower, but it was still better than a regular weekend, so I am not complaining,” he said.

Greene said he is strict about checking identifications during Veishea weekend and plans to have extra staff on hand to reduce problems.

“I think [the pledge] is a great idea, just because Veishea should not be an alcohol-related occasion,” he said. “Maybe it makes people aware of how much they drink.”

Mike Lee, store manager of Cub Food Store, 3121 Grand Ave., said his store plans to take the pledge again, even though it hasn’t been pushed as much this year.

“We want Veishea to be a success for many years to come,” Mike Lee said. “If alcohol causes problems, then we need to stop it. Veishea is a good thing for the community.”

Mike Lee said he viewed last year’s Veishea as a success.

“It was nice not to see Ames on the national news having problems,” he said.