2023 Rose Parade Theme: Turning the Corner, Rotary International Float Theme: Serving with Imagination and Hope.
Rose Bowl Day! Fourteen float riders and walkers boarded our vans at 4:15 a.m.. We represented Districts in California, Arizona, Georgia, Minnesota and Nebraska/Iowa with honoree RIP Jennifer and Nick Jones. Our spouses and family were in a second van headed to their grandstand seats. We were a caravan with credentials and assigned parking weaving through Pasadena. Clearly the Rotary Float Committee were experienced in this process…..with Rotary floats for the past 47 years.
Upon arrival we had time to view other floats, ABC was present to interview Jennifer and then the exciting news was announced….we won the Princess Award for the best of the smaller floats! After our credentials were checked and identification bracelets in place, we mounted the float. Our float driver and spotter had been with the float for 19 hours. They started the move from the warehouse at 4 p.m. and six hours later the float was in place still looking beautiful with over 20,000 flowers nearly all intact. Fortunately there was no rain in the forecast for the parade.
The flyover marked the opening of the parade with Gabby Gifford leading the way as the Grand Marshall. We were the 69th entry of 80 so in a short time our music started with “Pure Imagination” from Willy Wonka: ”Hold your breath. Make a wish. Count to three. Come with me and you’ll be in a world of pure imagination. Take a look and you’ll see into your imagination.” The wait was over, and we were off to promote Rotary International to over 800,000 attendees and 45 million watching from afar. Our families and friends cheered us on from the grandstand as we approached the media blitz and turned the corner onto Colorado Boulevard. Jingles, our carousel horse, pranced along the 5.5 mile parade route without missing a beat of “Pure Imagination.”
(Read the narrative of the announcement for the Rotary Float below.)
The Rose parade was an amazing experience. There is enormous pride….and hard work by thousands of volunteers. It is a tremendous community builder and clearly an amazing marketing opportunity on so many levels. All along the route people would see “Rotary” and cheer and say thank you.
Spectators really wanted to make eye contact and be seen…don’t we all? I tried to make eye contact with the 400K on my side of the street. My eyes and arms were tired by the end, but my heart was full. I am so proud to be a Rotarian and to represent and serve with all of you in our great District 5650.
Serving with Imagination and Hope,
DG Barbara
Click here for photo album.
Narrative of the announcement for the Rotary Float:
Rotary is enthusiastically Serving with Imagination and Hope in this year's whimsical carousel ride float. Rotarians practice their motto of "service above self" by supporting local and global programs that improve the quality of people's lives. The float's 16,000 flowers shine a light on the needs of millions of children. More than five million children under the age of five die each year from the preventable realities of malnutrition, poor sanitation and inadequate healthcare.
The Rotarians riding this whimsical carousel horse have all participated in projects to save at-risk mothers and their vulnerable children with high-quality healthcare and community programs. They're just some of the many opportunities where the Rotary brings neighbors, friends and businesses together with regional and world leaders to tackle serious issues. They demonstrate their commitment by often fighting battles to get there that few may know, but their joy is in facilitating real and lasting change that makes a difference in the lives of those they serve.