Helloooo Parrot Heads! I hope you all had a wonderful Margarita Day! I also hope you are ready for some float building, because this weekend we kick off our float building for the 2017 Denver St. Patrick’s Day parade entry! We have a lot to cover, so below is all you need to know (and then some):
Float Build Starts Saturday!
Build Info for This Weekend:
This weekend we’ll be working on the float on Saturday 2/25 and Sunday 2/26 from 10AM until around 4PM or so. We will once again be building at Pete Grosskreuz’s house in Arvada. Please be aware, there is room for around 8 cars in Pete’s driveway, but once that fills up you will need to look for nearby parking in the neighborhood. We can also park a few cars at the Jordan’s Time To Eat Restaurant, which is adjacent to Pete’s back yard. Just be aware, when they are open for business you shouldn’t park in their lined spaces – save those for customers.
Usually you’ll want to enter Pete’s yard through that back gate near Jordan’s too. If that changes, we’ll post signs so you know where to go when you arrive.
Things You Need To Bring:
- Tools you may use if you plan on building. This includes things like saws, saw horses, drills, hammers, jigsaws, sanders, etc. Please label any tools you bring and keep your eyes on them so they don’t get lost. Just like luggage at the airport, many tools look alike!
- Work gloves, because splinters suck.
- Paint brushes. We will have a bunch but you can almost never have too many.
- BYO beverage of choice. This is a Parrot Head event, so yes adult beverages are allowed. Just keep in mind, if you will be working with power tools you may want to some non-alcoholic drinks too. We want everyone to leave with the same number of fingers as they arrived with.
- Food for yourself, or snacks to share.
Be advised, we will NOT be cooking lunch on site this weekend. Fortunately, Jordan’s (next door) will be open Saturday for breakfast and lunch, and they may even open for us on Sunday. The owners and staff at Jordan’s are very accommodating to us. Consider thanking them by buying a meal or two there during the build. I can tell you they make some tasty breakfast burritos and burgers… so check them out!
Things You Need To Know:
- Right now, the weekend weather looks like it will be cool but dry, and partly sunny. We all know how in Colorado that can change on a dime. Dress appropriately for whatever the weather may bring, and please don’t wear anything you don’t mind getting dirt or paint on.
- You don’t need to be an expert to help. Yes, we need builders and painters, but we also need people to hold things, carry stuff, and help with cleanup. Sometimes just being there and telling us we’re on the right track is great help! So if you can’t swing a hammer, we can still find a job for you if you want to help.
- Pete has been nice enough to let us use his yard, but that doesn’t mean you get full access to his home. Don’t let yourself inside unless Pete invites you. We will have a port-a-potty for your use when nature calls.
- You may see building supplies in the yard since Pete builds for a living. That doesn’t mean everything you see belongs to us. If you aren’t sure, ask someone before helping yourself to any of the supplies in the yard or sheds.
- Finally, please be mindful of your surroundings. Pick up after yourself, and when painting, make sure you don’t get paint on any of Pete’s property. I know, it’s basic stuff, but worth a reminder.
Please also remember… there is a lot to do, but it can take some time to organize what needs to be done and get everyone working on a project. We often have more volunteers than tasks, especially during the first couple of days. Be patient! We appreciate you donating your time so we’ll do our best to keep you busy. Still it’s a good idea to bring a chair in case there is some downtime.
Finally… listen to your build and design teams.
This year we have some folks who stepped up to help organize and lead the build and design from concept through the final product. Pete G., Ed Burgett, John Krieger and George Heinzelman have offered to be the mail build leaders, and Jill Christopher is leading up the design. If you aren’t sure what to do, one of these folks can certainly help give you some direction. If you aren’t sure who they are, please come see me. With the help of this team I think we can make this year’s build as smooth and easy as possible, so we have more time to drink beer. (Just kidding… sort of…)
Other Ways To Help:
If you can’t make it on the build weekends, we could still use your help. We will need volunteers to meet us at the staging area early on parade day for finishing touches, volunteers to check IDs and stamp hands on parade day, as well as volunteers to help with tear down on Sunday, March 12th.If you’d like to help out with either of those things, please let me know ASAP.
Need Wristbands? Need to Renew your Membership?
If you still need to renew, or if you need to pick up parade wristbands, yes, you can do this during the build. Ask for me or Chris, and we’ll help you out. Again, be patient with us. We’ll likely be busy, so just find us and know that we’ll take care of whatever you need just as soon as we can.
Did I forget anything?
If you have questions, please email me. If you’re wondering, someone else probably is too, so let me know.
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