Promote Rotary to 75,000,000 People

With a television audience of over 75,000,000 and a live audience of over 700,000 the Rose Parade is a media gold mine and with the Float WE ARE THERE!  For the last 35 years the Rotary Rose Parade Float Committee has placed a float promoting Rotary in the parade.  The theme varies each year but polio eradication has been prominent in 2 of the last 5 years.  Other themes have included the 25th Anniversary of Women in Rotary; Literacy; YSE/GSE/Ambassadorial Scholarships; "Service Above Self"; and our International Membership and Projects.  This year’s Float theme is "Changing Lives through Clean Water" which will tell the world about Rotary's many successful projects to provide clean water throughout the world. 

The Float shows a water well with candles lighting the way to clean water.  This is just one of many ways that we reflect President Gary’s theme of “Light Up Rotary.”   The Committees’ media efforts will be on promoting the many ways that Rotarians have provided water to needy populations. Every project is a spark that will inspire other Rotarians to do something to provide another spark that will “Light Up Rotary.”

The Committee needs our help in accomplishing this project.  All of the funding comes from Rotary clubs throughout North America.  While Rotary International provides assistance, it is not financial.  This is not a project of Rotary International. Your club will soon be receiving the solicitation materials from the Committee and I ask that you respond quickly and make donation even if you just pass the hat at meeting.  Please visit www.rotaryfloat.org for more information.  No gift is too small but I hope you can be generous. 

History of The Rose Parade and Rotary Rose Parade Float Committee

Rose Parade

This unique event began as a promotional effort by Pasadena's distinguished Valley Hunt Club. In the winter of 1890, the club members brainstormed ways to promote the "Mediterranean of the West." They invited their former East Coast neighbors to a mid-winter holiday, where they could watch games such as chariot races, jousting, foot races, polo and tug-of-war under the warm California sun. The abundance of fresh flowers, even in the midst of winter, prompted the club to add another showcase for Pasadena's charm: a parade would precede the competition, where entrants would decorate their carriages with hundreds of blooms. The Tournament of Roses was born.

The Tournament of Roses has come a long way since its early days. The Rose Parade’s elaborate Floats now feature high-tech computerized animation and exotic natural materials from around the world. Although a few Floats are still built exclusively by volunteers from their sponsoring communities, most are built by professional Float building companies and take nearly a year to construct. The year-long effort pays off on New Year’s morning, when close to 700,000 attend the parade and almost 75 million viewers around the world via television enjoy the Rose Parade.

Rotary Rose Parade Float Committee.

While watching the 1979 Pasadena Rose Parade on Television, Jack Gilbert, who was President of the Rotary Club of Wilshire, in Los Angeles, California, had an idea. Rotary would be celebrating its 75th Anniversary in 1980. Jack believed that by entering a Float in the 1980 New Year's Day Rose Parade, the message of, "Service Above Self" could be communicated to millions of people worldwide. This entry led to the formation of the Rotary Rose Parade Float Committee. Although not a project of Rotary International, the Float is built by contributions from six sponsoring Rotary Districts and Rotary Clubs and Rotarians from USA and Canada.  See the history page of our website www.rotaryFloat.org for pictures and descriptions of all of our Floats.

The Committee begins its work each January by voting to enter a Float in the next year's Rose Parade. In February, the committee learns the RI President's theme for the upcoming Rotary Year and the theme of the Rose Parade. The Committee  designs a Float promoting Rotary with a theme that sends a Rotary Message and which will be approved by the Tournament.   Although not a project of Rotary International, it is recognized as a valuable public relations project by Rotary and in fact for the past four years the RI President has ridden on the FLOAT!

Each Float is built on a simple flat steel structure which has four wheels, an engine and a seat for the driver.  It is then "assembled" using wood, steel, rebar, chicken wire and then sprayed with a very light foam substance which hardens and then can be sculpted to the design.  It is then painted in the colors of the organic materials which must entirely cover the Float. The Float is "completely built" by late August or early September.  The Float must undergo road and "fire drill" testing to insure safety of the parade viewers and the Float participants (riders and walkers.) During the summer and fall months, the Committee conducts its fundraising campaign and solicits funds from Rotary Clubs in the USA and Canada.  Although Rotary International does not provide monetary support, the RI Board has authorized the Committee to solicit directly these Rotary Clubs in recognition of the immense value of this project.

The decorating of the Float starts in December with the preparation of dried organic materials and Rotarians and Interactors work three Saturdays prior to Christmas working 8 hours shifts.  The six days after Christmas the volunteers continue to work on dried decorations and start preparing the fresh flowers, fruits and vegetables that will go on the Float in the last couple of days.  Over 1000 volunteers work on the Float.  Volunteer sign up commences September 20, 2014 at 8:00 a.m. on our website, www.rotaryFloat.org.  Spaces and times fill up fast so don't delay if you wish to volunteer.  If you cannot volunteer for an entire shift but will be in the Pasadena area after Christmas, please drop by and if we can we will give you a tour of the Float and the Phoenix warehouse where other floats are also being decorated.

Last but not least, please support the Float with a donation and watch the Rose Parade and look for our Float! A list of USA and international broadcast stations are listed at the www.tournamentofroses.com.

Update on the 36th Entry of Float Promoting Rotary International in the New Year's Tournament of Roses , Rose Parade

Since 1980, The Rotary Rose Parade Float Committee has entered a float in the Pasadena Tournament of Roses, Rose Parade promoting Rotary International. The parade is seen by a world-wide television audience of over 75,000,000 and has a live audience of 700,000 who will see the float along the parade route.  This is one of the best promotional opportunities for Rotary. 

The theme varies each year but polio eradication has been prominent in 2 of the last 5 years.  Other themes have included Women in Rotary- 25th Anniversary; Literacy; YSE/GSE/Ambassadorial Scholarship Programs; Service Above Self; and, the International Membership.  This year’s Float theme is "Changing Lives through Clean Water" which will tell the world about Rotary's many successful projects to provide clean water throughout the world. 

The Float shows a water well with candles lighting the way to clean water.  This is just one of many ways that we reflect President Gary’s theme of “Light Up Rotary.”   The Committees’ media efforts will be on promoting the many ways that Rotarians have provided water to needy populations.  Every project is a spark that will inspire other Rotarians to do something to provide another spark that will “Light Up Rotary.”

For the fourth consecutive year, the Rotary International President will be riding the float.  RI President Gary and his wife, Corinna are looking forward to this wonderful public relations event!

If you would like to support this unique and valuable international public relations project for Rotary International, look for the Committee's marketing and solicitation materials that will be soon mailed to your club. This is not a project of Rotary International so they need your help to continue this effort.  Please visit www.RotaryFloat.org to learn more and to make a contribution.  Find a gift in your club funds or pass the hat at your club and help promote Rotary International.  No gift is too small but we prefer you think big.