Our own Ray Bushnell took the mic to share his experience with the Rotary International Float entry in the Tournament of Roses Parade on New Years Day. Well, typically, the parade is almost always on New Years Day but this year it will take place on January 2, 2017 since the first falls on a Sunday and the Rose Parade does not take place on Sundays, so it will be Monday. For the past twenty years Ray has been involved with the Rotary International float working with the Tournament of Roses Float Committee. He reflected how a well known District level Rotarian (Conrad von Bibre, South Pasadena) approached him asking for a meeting to discuss how Rotarians could better communicate and stay constantly involved. Ray agreed and today still works on making the Rotary float an outstanding entry through raising funds and involving other Rotarians in decorating and awareness. Ray says the entry by Rotary is a well designed Public Relations campaign that has gone on for thirty-eight years and over that time a billion people have seen the Rotary International float each New Years Day live and on television.

The float builder, Phoenix Decorating, is an award winning float builder that constructs this “work of art”. It must be totally covered with natural material and typically costs an average of $250,000. Who pays for the float? Funds are raised from six districts in California (sustaining clubs) and accepted from all clubs in the United States and Canada. You will, no doubt, see our current Rotary International President, John Germ, riding in this years parade down Colorado Boulevard while he is in town for the three day extravaganza, Service Club Breakfast (four major service clubs) dinners with local Rotary Club guests and the Rose Bowl Football Game and Parade.

For the past thirty-eight years Rotary International has kept Rotary in the hearts and minds of millions of people through this effort of public relations. At the very least it helps people remember the “good works” that have been accomplished by Rotarians around the world each time that float passes by. Thanks Ray.

(Pat Dolphin)