6 So. Cal Districts Help Make Rotary International's Rose Parade Float
Posted
on Jan 03, 2016
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The Rotary Rose Parade Float Committee is not funded by nor is it an official part of Rotary International nor is it funded by RI.
Walt Stephens writes : "As Chair of the Rotary Rose Parade Float Committee, I am given the opportunity to promote that part of my life I call Rotary to the world in forty-five to ninety seconds. As Rotarians we change people’s lives and give them hope where there is none. Many times in order to achieve our goals we must find a way to have people of different backgrounds sit down at the table and negotiate a safe environment for our volunteers to work. This year’s entry will highlight Rotary’s efforts to create a more peaceful world
Since Rotary returned to the Tournament of Roses Parade in 1980, the New Year’s Day pageant has become a highlight on the Rotary calendar. Seen in Pasadena by over 700,000 people, television coverage of the floral extravaganza reaches about 80 million more around the world, providing Rotary with the valuable opportunity to showcase our programs and activities.
“Be A Gift To The World” is RI President, K.R. "Ravi" Ravindran’s theme for this year. The Rotary Rose Parade Float Committee is a gift to Rotary. This year's Rotary International Float is Working Together for Peace. (A description of the float can be seen by clicking on the link.)
Although the float is not a project of Rotary International, the success of the float is a tribute to the dedication of the Rotary Rose Parade Float Committee consisting tof volunteer Rotarians from across North America. Our efforts, supported entirely by voluntary financial contributions from Rotary clubs across the United States and Canada, 2016 will make this the 37th consecutive entry in the Tournament of Roses Parade. The Rotary Rose Parade Float Committee is proud to provide this Rotary recognition campaign tool as a gift to Rotary International and the 1.2 million Rotarians who dedicate our lives to making a positive difference in that place someone calls home.
District 5340 is one of the districts that each year supports the Rotary Rose Parade Float with funding and volunteers who being in early December the painstaking task of covering all of the surfaces of the float with organic material. The bark, seeds and fibers are done first and then after Christmas the task of covering the float with the flower petals begins. This is when the greatest number of volunteers are needed because all of this work must be done but the end of the day on December 30th. On December 31 the floats are moved to a staging area near the start of the parade route.
On Jan 1, the parade begins at 8:00 am. RI President K.R. "Ravi" Ravindran and his wife, Vanathy, were seated on the right side in the front of the float. Various district governors from the districts in California supporting the float walk alongside the float for the entire length of the parade, over 5 miles. District 5340 Governor Janice Kurth can be seen in several of the photographs walking on the right side of the float. View a slide show of photos of the float construction and the completed float in the parade here. A list Rotary Districts supporting the float effort and a list of the float riders and outwalkers can be seen here. A total of 10 Rotary districts, 6 of which are in Southern California are included.
This float is made possible because of the efforts of volunteers that come not only from District 5340 and other districts in California, but also from around the United States and multiple foreign countries. Working on a Rose Parade float is an experience of a lifetime and is a recommended addition to your "bucket list" of things to do in your lifetime.