STATE OF THE PHLOCK 2007

 

 

Welcome to 2008 and our annual "State of the Phlock" report.

By all accounts, 2007 was another banner year around the “ParrotHead Nation.”  We worked hard and we played hard … We had a lot of fun, we cavorted with old friends, we made new friends and, sadly, we bid farewell to far too many beloved friends.  What we most assuredly did, in a big way, was make a difference … a difference in our communities, a difference in our environment and a difference in the lives of our fellow man as we continue to grow and prosper.  What began with the original Parrot Head Club in Atlanta blossomed to a record 229 chapters at year end, an increase of 6% from 2006.   

Meeting of the Minds was again an unqualified success.  From a group of 80 attendees and 5 Clubs in December, 1992, MOTM has grown to 200+ Clubs and over 3000 dedicated Parrot Heads making the trek to Key West every November for four solid days of music and mirth, mischief and merriment, and above all, the friendship and camaraderie of kindred spirits from around the world.

Attendees this year enjoyed visiting with our guest Ms. Lucy Buffett who spent time in the mini-mart signing copies of her long-awaited and newly released cookbook.  

Again, our raffle and the charity auction were extremely successful, as were the annual blood drive and Toys For Tots campaign.  Parrot Heads also participated, en masse, in the annual Zonta Walk and, as a team, generated a donation of $ 10,000 for the cause. Replacing the defunct Balcony Decorating Contest for the first time was the soon-to-be-infamous MOTM Hat Contest.  In the presence of a panel of luminary judges, Parrot Heads went way beyond the call of duty, as they’ve been known to do on occasion.  Designs ranged from simple to intricate and from the sublime to the deliciously ridiculous, with every entry generating thunderous applause from the capacity crowd.   

As always, we had a few chapters fall by the wayside, but we’ve also added several new chapters to the PHiP family already this year, with more on the horizon.  At this writing, our organization stands at 227 chapters in the United States, Canada and Australia … 3 different countries, 47 states, 3 Canadian provinces and one U.S. Territory.  Our total membership remains steady with more than 25,000 dedicated, fun-loving Parrot Heads amongst the ranks.  Again, it's apparent that the "ParrotHead Nation" is not only alive and well, but thriving.  

Now, for the big news ... In 2007, Parrot Head Clubs collectively raised for and/or donated to charitable organizations approximately $ 2.9 million. Perhaps more importantly, Parrot Heads carried on the tradition of volunteerism as 2007 saw chapters worldwide donate more than 181,000 man-hours to philanthropic and environmental activities.  In this day & time, it’s easy to write a check for charity … People have more money than time. This past year, however, Parrot Heads collectively spent the equivalent of 7500+ 24 hour days on charitable, social and environmental activities … and they had a BLAST while doing it !!  

PHiP has attained National Status with both the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life program and the Alzheimer’s Association’s Memory Walk program.  In an effort to make a dent in world hunger, our Feeding Frenzy Project has gained strength and support, culminating with World Food Day in October.  Additionally, 2007 saw PHiP cement an agreement with Margaritaville Foods that should generate additional funds for charity at the local Club level.   

And, there's more to the story!  These numbers, while spectacular, do not include those efforts which are not measured by dollars or man-hours:  

* The tons of canned goods collected and donated to local food banks across the country  

* The hundreds of thousands of poptops collected for and turned into money by Ronald McDonald Houses throughout the land  

* The thousands of new toys collected and donated to Toys For Tots to provide Christmas for underprivileged children who otherwise would have nothing 

* The thousands of critical items donated to local animal shelters ... everything from food & blankets to old newspapers & leashes  

* The hundreds of gallons of blood and plasma donated to save countless lives across this great nation   

* The hundreds & hundreds of “care packages” sent to our soldiers in Iraq  

I could go on and on, but the picture is clear ... the good deeds that Parrot Heads perform for the benefit of the community, the environment and our fellow man often cannot be measured in quantitative terms, yet are so vital to the recipients and should be a constant source of satisfaction to each of us. 

So, to each and every one of you, a heartfelt THANK YOU for a job well done!  You truly are "Angels In Tropical Shirts" and you should be very proud of yourselves and your accomplishments. 

Spring is here, summer is nigh and the concert season is upon us ... Time to do what we do best:  Have fun and "Party With A Purpose!"

Till next time, may all your dreams be tropical!

Bob Heffelfinger
Director of Membership
Parrot Heads in Paradise, Inc.