The What?

That's the response I get from most people when I say, "I'm the Decorator Chair for the LaCanada Tournament of Roses Parade Association."

"The What?"

Answer:  O.k., you know the big Tournament of Roses Parade that takes place in Pasadena (Southern California) each New Year's morning?  That usually results in a "Yes" or a nod of the head.

Well, the City of LaCanada (although the Tournament is a separate entity) enters one of the six self-built floats in the parade.

"Self-built" - What's that?  "Self-built" means that we are a 100% volunteer organization.  In other words, we are not a professional float builder and our float does not have a corporate sponsor.  We build on what is comparatively shoestring budget (the professionals are spending approximately $500,000 per float; we spend considerably less than half of that).  No one in our organization is paid - from concept to design through actual construction, decoration, and putting a finished float down the parade route.

Why?  Because we love it.  Because its fun.  Because, for me, I think of "float" is my second family.  They are simply the best people I am privileged to know.

Check out our website:  www.lcftra.org.

I'll add pictures as soon as I can figure out how!