Rotary Float Earns Trophy

 

For those of you who tuned into the 131^st Rose Parade in Pasadena on New Year's Day, you may have seen the flying penguin float representing Rotary International.  The float received the Tournament Volunteer Trophy for Most Outstanding Display of Floral Presentation with the Rose Parade Theme of "The Power of Hope."  This is an outstanding achievement as the committee has won the Princess Trophy two of the past three years.  This year's Rotary Float Committee Chair was PDG, Wade Normura of Capinteria and Brett Morey, Past President of the Rotary Club of La Jolla Golden Triangle and Founder of Surfers Unite Rotarians Fellowship served as one of the 18 directors for the Rotary Rose Parade Float Committee.

 

Thanks to the leadership of District 5340 Governor, Marta Knight, the District financially supported the efforts to build this award-winning float with a donation.  The float promotes Rotary to more than 750,000 folks, lining Colorado Blvd. and with more than 70 million viewers around the world annually.  According to Morey, "Our annual budget for the float is $170,000 a year and all financial support comes from the generosity of fellow Rotarians."  Additional contributions were received from the Rotary Club of North County San Diego 78 as well as from other clubs.  Each individual or club who donates $1,000 or more is listed as a Major Donor.  

 

Our 2020 Rotary Float outwalker representing District 5340 was Jennifer McGrew-Thompson of the Rotary Club of El Centro.  We are thankful that many folks decorated the float this year including Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Encinitas, La Jolla Golden Triangle, various Interact and Rotaract clubs as well as family and friends.  According to Morey, "We also had 16 Rotarians from the Dallas area decorating the float as we put the final roses on it Monday night."  Several members from the La Jolla Golden Triangle and SDSU Rotaract Club also attended the Holiday Diner with Rotary International President, Mark Maloney and his wife, Gay on December 30.  

 

For more information about how to get involved with the Rotary Float for next year, contact Brett Morey at bretthmorey@gmail.com or visit www.rotaryfloat.org.  The planning for the 2121 Rotary Float will begin in less than two weeks.