January Message from the Isle 2009 Vol. 12 idwestern atitudes • aribbean ttitudes M L C A Issue 1 www.isleofiowa.com News about the Isle Mark’s Musings Mark Hennessey — President ❖ From the Editor “...Oh the weather outside is frightful, ❖ January Monthly but the fire is so delightful; Meeting and since we’ve no place to go, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...” ❖ Parrot Head Happenings After our Christmas party in the blizzard, I couldn’t think of a more appropriate song as I wrote this column, or a more fitting way to wrap up ❖ Buffett Trivia the 2008 year as a club. Even through all the adversity this year we can ❖ Dis & Dat still come together as a group to party with a purpose. The party that evening was filled with great food and even better friendships, along with ❖ Information on the some good old fashioned gift stealing during the gift exchange. Thanks to Phlock Charlotte and Karen for decorating, Bob and Dave for taking some great pictures, and to Steve and Mary for bringing the Margarita machine they ❖ History of Our Club won at the November meeting. ❖ Member Profiles The best part of the evening for me was announcing our year-end results as a club with the help of Steve Robe who provided us with the financials. ❖ Phlock Calendar As a club of just over 160 members, we gave $9,553.75 to local charities in 2008. Add in the individual contributions raised for the Alzheimer’s Walk, ❖ Member Profile the ongoing donations to Waypoint and the Humane Society, along with the several hundred dollars we spent for presents and food we donated to the HACAP families we adopted, and we are close to $13,000.00! This doesn’t even include all the volunteer hours for community events such as the Highway Clean-Up. Talk about having fun and helping out the community! I just want to leave you with this. It is okay to brag about us as a club to others when you are asked, “What does the Parrot Head Club do besides Quarterly Charity party?” You can proudly say that you helped give back $13,000 to the January, February & community in 2008 and had a great time doing it! March I know 2008 was a rough year, but this is what is so special about this group – that no matter what, we all come together for the greater good. Thanks again for all of your efforts, and here’s to an even better 2009. American Heart Society Mark Hennessey For more pictures President and information about the club, visit the club website at: www.isleofiowa.com Isle of Iowa Parrot Head Club P. O. Box 11172 • Cedar Rapids, Iowa • 52410-1172 1 From the Editor Newsletter Contribute to the Message From the Isle Committee: Any appropriate articles such as letters, reviews, recipes, Editor: Parrot Head related stories, and/or personal experiences, are Charlotte Bonar welcomed and should be e-mailed to Sandy Young, Assistant Editor, Assistant Editors: at [email protected] Head related pictures are Linda Davenport welcomed as well, and should be e-mailed to the Editor, Sandra Kramer Charlotte Bonar, at [email protected]. Sandy Young Photographer: Deadline for articles in the monthly newsletter will be the 15th of Dave Metz each month. Any articles received after this date will be used in the following month’s newsletter. Message From the Isle is the official publication of the Isle of Iowa Parrot Head Club. Message From the Isle is published monthly for all members of the club and sent to many other chapters and contacts nationwide. The views expressed in the Message From the Isle are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Isle of Iowa Parrot Head Club, its members, or Board. For more information on our international organization of Parrot Head clubs, please go to the Parrot Heads in Paradise, Inc. (PHiP) Web site at www.phip.com. You can read their quarterly newsletter, TradeWind Times, and be kept up-to-date on Parrot Head clubs across the country and internationally. Thanks! Whenever you see an article with the by-line of Sandy Young, don’t think I’m the only one who wrote that article! I start the general idea, but Linda Davenport and Sandra Kramer polish it up, adding new thoughts and writing some sentences better so that we can present the best article we can. I truly thank Charlotte Bonar, our editor; Dave Metz, our official photographer; Bob Randklev, a contributing photographer; and Linda and Sandra for helping make the Message from the Isle a newsletter you can be proud of – at least we hope so! I also thank all of the contributing writers, especially Mark Hennessey, our president, for adding the always colorful and interesting articles. With your help, as a team we will continue in 2009 to bring you the best newsletter we can publish. Again, thank you all! – Sandy P.S. I did write this article all by myself, so if you see errors blame only me! 2 Information on the Phlock 9th Annual “Blues & Buffett” Chili Challenge Steve Petersen Fast Facts • When: February 22, 2009 • Where: Longbranch, 90 Twixt Town Rd. NE, CR • Time: 2-5 p.m. Now that we can officially put the thoughts of chestnuts roasting and Christmas stress on the back burner for another year, what’s left to get us through to the warm days of spring? The 9th Annual “Blues & Buffett” Chili Challenge on February 22 - Oh, Yeah!!! The planning is well under way and excitement is building for this year’s event. The Event Committee with members from both the Linn County Blues Society (LCBS) and the Isle of Iowa Parrot Head Club (IIPHC) will say it again that this is an important year for the Chili Challenge and the charities it supports. Both charity organizations, the H.D. Youth Center and the Boys and Girls Club, incurred catastrophic damage from the historic flood of this past June. They need our help now more than ever. The focus of the planning is beginning to shift to specific needs and commitments for the actual event day, but the Committee is asking both clubs for their support in the following areas: 1) Event Sponsorship – It’s still not too late to add your employer/business to the list of sponsors providing this event with the community commitment it needs. Many companies have local community funds that can provide small amounts of support for events of this type. The Committee has a letter to help ask for this support, as well as the non-profit paperwork that may be required. Contact one of the event coordinators if you’d like a copy of this letter. Or, if you’re not comfortable asking for sponsorship, provide us with a contact name and we will pursue it for you. Even though it’s getting late we can still use and add publicity value for any company/businesses wanting to participate 2) Contestants/Volunteers – Events of this type take the help of a lot of people to make the event run smoothly and efficiently. We will be looking for both types of help. If you’ve been a contestant in the past you will be contacted to ask f or your participation again this year. Sign-up sheets will be available at club meetings this month. 3) Silent Auction Items – A large portion of what we raise happens from the great items that are contributed. This year will be no exception. If you have interest in donating or know of someone the event coordinators can contact, please let us know. We’d like to have the silent auction items identified and collected by early February so we can promote the auction during media interviews. This event has grown dramatically from its humble beginnings eight years ago and has become a major fundraising event, as well as a source of pride, for both clubs. While the hardships of the last year (natural/economic) have stretched the community’s resources, the committee feels that this year’s event, with your support, can be the most successful ever. Thanks in advance for your support. Steve Petersen 395-9520 Kate Sanders 842-2393 Steve Springer 395-9516 Keith Wright 573-5153 Andy Dergo 393-2859 3 Information on the Phlock Parade A Success! The annual Fire and Ice Festival Holiday Parade held downtown on Saturday, December 6, 2008 was a resounding success! The IIPHC garnered Third Place for Decorated Vehicle. A special thanks to Tammy and Freddie Maneely for the use of their truck, and to Jim Roman for his creative display of lights. The number of “icy” Parrot Heads and Parapets participating in our entry was small but enthusiastic. Way to go gang!! Leftover candy was donated to the kids at Waypoint. Havana Day Dreamin’ Phlocking Fast Facts • Who: Quad Cities Parrot Head Club • When: January 24, 2009 PHiP Scholarships Available • Where: Mid River Center, Davenport, IA Amount: Three Awards: The Quad City Parrot Head Club is holding their annual Phlocking on January 24, 2009 with the band, Boat 1. $5,000 Drunks, and Coral Reefer band members Nadirah 2. $3,000 Shakoor, Michael Utley, Doyle Grisham, and Amy Lee. 3. $2,000 For further information, please go to their Web site at Eligibility: Children or grandchildren (or wards) of www.qcph.com Parrot Head Club members. Also eligible are members who are at least 21 years old at application. Top 10 2008 Concerts Criteria: High School graduates (or equivalent) attending post secondary schools.