Korey Sugg will be our Entertainment at the No Name Friday night, you remember him from House of Henry. Our charity is “The Northwest Florida Academy”. They are a school for special needs children.

Also, Friday we will start–and probably finish–registration for the Pirate Parade in October. There are 28 spots. The Port Side, the Starboard side, and the POOP deck are all $35 to ride. The Bow–only 4 positions there, is $40. Register for one of the decks, then on Parade day it’s first come first serve for that deck. You can’t change decks on Parade day unless you find someone who wants to trade with you. (either side is fun, there is no “better” side)

I misspoke at the meeting the other night, our beads have gone up. Our cost on the beads is $44, so we are charging somewhere between $45 – $50 (we will figure this out this week). Two people can make a case of beads last through the whole parade if you are judicious (like that word?). But some folks like a whole case to themselves. Ken and Sharon will travel to Mobile to pick up the beads, and you will have them on the float the day of the Parade. Staging is behind JC Penney in Pier Park, Oct 8. Jeff and those Camaros will be serenading you with an hour of so of high energy tunes. This is one of the most fun things we do. (Parades and Rendezvous are the two most fun things IMHO)

Now—here’s where we need some volunteers, reply to this email. First, we need 5 people who can handle a paint brush. This will take place on some weekend day in September, and those 5 people will be supervised by Rick Fasciglione to paint and spruce up the float. We used to have paint parties, with 20-30 folks, but the float is kept at a person’s house and we don’t want to invade their space like that. Then on parade day — this “Float Team” (Phloaters?) have to be at the float by 11:30 or so to hang decorations. This will involve climbing ladders, using anything from zip ties, to staple guns to drills. Then AFTER the parade, all that stuff has to be taken off. So while many folks are going to want to go party–these volunteers have to get the float ready to travel home. Bill Lloyd will supervise this team.

What’s in it for you?

The change to register for the float BEFORE FRIDAY NIGHT. Yes you will still have to pay, the float costs money to use. But by replying to this email–first come first serve–the first 5 people who reply that want to volunteer will be the team, and we will get you registered for the float. On Friday–the float is going to sell out fast. We have 100 people who want on it, and 28 spots.

Once you volunteer though, we are counting on you to commit to this. As you can imagine, the tough part is at the end of the parade when you are tired, maybe a little tipsy, and have to work for 30 minutes to an hour to get the float ready to travel.

ON TOP OF ALL OF THIS—we need walkers. NOT THOSE KIND, no we need Wheel walkers, at least 8 people. Some people really like walking more than riding, you give kids beads and really interact with the crowd. That is free of course, but you would still want to purchase beads. In Pier park there are a couple of spots where the float turns in that are tight and we need people to make sure kids stay out of the way.

So–first come first serve on replying to this email to be on our “Float Team”. AND–we will find some other way to reward you as well, not sure yet.