Clownie Connection The Parade Company Volunteer Newsletter Mar/Apr 2017 Issue #2 Thank you to those who have joined Volgistics, our online volunteer management system. We really appreciate all of you who have attended the training and provided feedback. You all have been so helpful in improving our tracking system. If you have not yet joined Volgistics. We encourage you to please sign up! You can do so by completing the online sign up form. Training for Volgistics is Saturday, March 4, at 10:30 AM, at our Studio. To RSVP, please go to SignUp Genius. If you cannot make it to the training on March 4, don't worry! We will be offering more training dates this spring and summer. Watch your email! SHINY NEW CARS & TPC's SHINING VOLUNTEER STARS We had another great year for the Detroit Auto Show Parades! Each day of the Public Auto Show, The Parade Company produced two parades that included luxury cars, bands and our wonderful volunteers dressed as clowns or Big Heads. Thank you to the more than 200 volunteers who participated! You brought smiles to this year's record breaking Auto Show crowds!! In This Issue Auto Show Parade Thanks Volunteer Party Highlights Volunteers Needed! Volunteer Spotlight Wanted: Tour Guides!!
Good Times... Good Eats... Good Friends!!!! TPC Volunteer Thank You Party! More fun pictures from the Ugly Sweater Party!! Thanks to all who joined us!! Big kudos and congrats to all of our awardees!! (pictured above with CEO Tony Michaels)!
Volunteers Needed for Demo & Painting! VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Volunteers are needed to help with float demolition and painting. Come in the Art Studio between 9:30 AM and 4 PM, week days, during the month of March. See Eric or Alex! The Parade Company is a sponsor of the St. Patrick's Parade Corktown Race on March 12th. It is a fun event which can always use more wonderful volunteers like you!! Like most races, we need everything from early Packet Pickup helpers (March 4th 10th) to Race Day help. And, you'll earn volunteer hours for helping. To sign up, go to: http://www.hugheswarevolunteersystem.com/become_a_volunteer/2017 st patricks parade corktown race. For questions, please email: sallen17@mi.rr.com or corktownrace@gmail.com. Callers Needed! Maximize Your Volunteer Impact! Volunteers are needed to help make calls to schools and summer camps to help spread the word about TPC's tour program. Callers are needed to come in during the week anytime after 9 AM and before 4 PM (Anytime you can donate is appreciated). If you can help out, please send an email to volunteers@theparade.org. Volunteers are the heart of our organization. We could not successfully do what we do without you, and we so appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule to volunteer. Did you know that your volunteer hours could also earn grant donations for The Parade Company? Many companies offer Volunteer Grants (sometimes called "Dollars for Doers") for current and retired employees. Through these programs, you can earn monetary donations for your favorite charity by volunteering your time. Please check with your HR department to see if your company has such a program, and if so please consider supporting The Parade Company by requesting a grant for your volunteer hours. Donated funds support TPC's programs and cherished events such as America's Thanksgiving Parade presented by Art Van and the Ford Fireworks. Also, please be sure to track your hours in Volgistics. Tracking volunteer hours is just one of the ways we can demonstrate the incredible impact our wonderful volunteers make each year! Thanks again for all you do!!!
Upcoming Events March 12: Detroit St. Patrick's Parade (volunteers filled) April 29: Shell Eco Marathon 5K Run The Future June 10: Blue Cross Blue Shield River Run June 23 25: GM River Days June 26: Ford Fireworks Rooftop Party July 12: Metro Detroit Youth Day July 22: Volunteer BBQ & Summer Kickoff August 19: Cruise in Shoes 5K Run September 6: Sign up begins:america's Thanksgiving Parade presented by Art Van ******************** The St. Patrick's Parade is filled. Sign up has not begun for the other events. Watch your email in the coming weeks and months for sign up information and more details on these exciting events!u Jim helping out on the golf cart at The Parade in 2015. Melinda and Bill Gates... Jay Z and Beyonce... Kim and Kanye... You may have heard of these celebrity power couples. But, did you know that TPC has its own volunteer power couples? Meet Michelle and Jim Gruda, one of TPC's married couples who have volunteered for The Parade Company for over two decades. The Grudas may not be well known around the world, but this dynamic duo has definitely earned their claim to fame at TPC! Both Michelle and Jim have served as Captains for the Float Navigation Team for 21 years and they've done an exceptional job. "There's an enormous amount of planning and pre Parade work that goes into getting the floats from The Parade Company to Woodward, down the Parade Route on Parade Day, then back into the Studio," says Michelle. "From training volunteers how to drive and spot a float, to assigning positions to the 125 or so float navigators...it all can be very challenging at times but we love it!" Please take a minute and read the following Q&A with the Grudas one of TPC's outstanding couples who give so much of their time and energy to help make us shine on Parade Day! Q. How long have you been volunteering for The Parade Company? Did you both start at the same time? A. We both started at the same time in 1996. Q. How did you get involved with The Parade Company? What or who inspired you? A. Our friends, Bruce and Gwen Carlson, were very involved with TPC, and told us TPC was interviewing for a Float Navigator Captain. Jim went on the interview and was "hired" to volunteer. Q. What do you like best about being a part of the Float Team? A. Driving the Parade Route, we feel the outpouring of love and happiness from the people watching and appreciate all the joy being created! We feel a sense of family that comes with seeing the same volunteers year after year and enjoy meeting new volunteers who join the team. Q. Do you have a favorite vehicle or float that you really enjoy driving? A. Michelle: I always drove Art Van Elslander in a convertible and really liked how he responded to the crowd and how the crowd shouted the whole parade route, "We love you Art Van... Thanks for saving the parade," or the occasional, "I hear you're having a sale!" Jim likes driving Mother Goose. It broke down once and he had to go 30 miles an hour to catch up to the rest of the floats, kind of like in the movie, Animal House. The crowd cheered for her [Mother Goose] like it was the best thing ever!!
Q. How did you two meet? A. Michelle: In 1977, a mutual friend introduced us at a bowling alley. I didn't want to go out with him because he's "much" older than me, but he persisted and it's been a long story ever since! Q. Do you volunteer for other organizations? If so, do you volunteer as a couple? A. We volunteered for the Detroit Grand Prix in 1982, the first year it was in Detroit, and we have worked every race ever since. (Jim is a Circuit Marshall Captain and Michelle is on the Event Ceremonies team. They've towed the Grand Prix Show Car to events in Grand Rapids, Toronto, Ford Field, Mid Ohio, etc.) Q. Do other members of your family volunteer or come to the Parade? A. Michelle: I look forward to seeing about 10 of my cousins yelling at me from the side line every year. My brother and sister in law have both driven a float, and they've "roped" many friends onto the float team over the years. Q. Favorite Parade memory? A. During Roll Out on the way to Woodward, we had to stop all of the floats and police escorts, blocking traffic, and wait for one of our float drivers to go check out "what was happening in the field" for a couple of minutes! Q. Best advice you've ever been given... A. Jim: "Be responsible for your actions and own up to your mistakes." Michelle: "Life occurs on the skinny branches," and, "Expectations unfulfilled, lead to upset." Q. What advice would you give to new volunteers at TPC? A. TPC is an organization that's always changing/moving/flowing. If you have an open mind about what you're willing to do when volunteering, you'll experience magical things you never expected. Well said, Michelle and Jim! Thanks for giving TPC double the love by donating your time and talents as a couple. We appreciate you and the many other power couples at TPC!! Michelle driving Art Van Elslander & Hilary Farr at America's Thanksgiving Parade presented by Art Van in 2014
Sign up to Become a Tour Guide!!! If you love meeting new people and sharing fun facts about The Parade, then put your talents to good use and join the TPC Tour Guide Team!!! To become a tour guide or for more information, please send an email to volunteers@theparade.org. VALENTINE STUDIO TOURS Thank you to our incredible tour guides who helped make Valentine's Day extra special for metro Detroit couples. We received such positive feedback from our guests about the private tours and great compliments about our tour guides. Everyone had a really great time. Nice job!!! STAY CONNECTED!