GMG.com St. Patrick's Day Parade in Dallas

[Sound_Man]

greenjoe pm box is full

[KRAM1]

greenjoe pm box is full

Ha...funny...it has been for at least a year! LOL

PM me if you would like his email address!

[ragpicker]

I wouldn't count on the sad little Model A to be pulling anything more than an extension cord.

You are right, Green PI, we would need a backup alright, but the Model A should be there. They drove that thing down to Austin once, but it still had gasoline engine then.

[KRAM1]

OK, I just talked to the guy that does the float for the Alumni Association for homecoming. He can set the float up as we wish based on the Alumni set up with the SOW or Bowl Champion logos, etc., deliver the float to the parade stagging area and pick it up after the parade.

The cost is about $1000.00...the same as it costs the Alumni Association each year for the same float set-up, etc.

He must know if we want to use his firm no later than January 31st...at the VERY latest as he has several floats in that parade already and several other parades that same day...so, time is of the essence here folks.

So, in my opinion we are at a DECISION TIME..

1) Do we do this?

2) Do we use this firm to produce and deliver the float?

3) Do we build and transport our own float?

4) Where is the money coming from? At this point it looks like a minimum of $1500 to make this happen...and that does not include the costs of trinkets we might want to hand out, etc., etc./ or any other minor expenses.

5) Has anyone checked into insurance? Liability in case of accident to others or float participants? The threat of suit is real and we would be just a group of volunteers not shielded by any state statutes that might govern state agencies in this sort of thing.

6) Who rides? Football players...would need to be our outgoing senior class I would imagine to avoid any possible booster/player contact problems...if we use players who are still students a request form must be completed and submitted through the athletic dept's compliance office....I have a blank copy of that form

7) HOD Trophy maybe? Who contacts the athletic dept. to see if that is possible?

8) Scrappy...Cheer Squad members? Are they available due to the date and possible tournament conflict? Need to check ASAP

9) Parade application...when is the submission deadline?

10) How do we pull the float? Borrowed Van from a local dealership for PR purposes? A volunteer vehicle (I think Silver Eage has volunteered his PU), the Mean Green tailgatin' Machine bus (can it handle that trip and pull job...at what costs?)?

Lots to do...like I said DECISION TIME!

Several folks have said they will help with financial support...and volunter work...can we pull this off? Greenjoe is our leader...I think I have got the prelims down, just need to decide which way to go. Time it is a wastin' here folks!

[greenjoe]

I've made some contacts with St. P Parade people and with the Athletic Dept. Nothing yet. If anyone here would like to help with cash donations, I promise, if the parade doesn't happen, I'll refund any money donated. And I'm pretty easy to find.

I cleaned up my PM box. I didn't realize I was that backed up. I will check more frequently now.

Beat Texas

GO MEAN GREEN

[shaft]

There seems to be two very different ideas on this thread.

A fan float and some sort of official float. I think its an absolutely pipe dream to get the cheerleaders, and trophy. In short, you're wasting your time posting about the official float.

Floats don't have to be anything special for this parade. I've seen people tow boats and call it a float. It more about getting folks to split the entry cost.

[PlummMeanGreen]

The TCU Good Time Boys sends their special love to the Mean Green and 100% approval for UNT's involvement in this parade. (Coach Patterson was said to be checking on a float for Frogdom because he fears we will have some kind of recruiting inside with this "Big D" parade participation by our folks).

And to greenjoe's above post.....sorry that you've received no response, Joe, but word on the street is that they are still mailing out tickets for the HOD Bowl game.

Edited January 17, 2014 by PlummMeanGreen

[Mad Hatter]

We should OWN this parade. Every year.

Go Mean Green!

[greenjoe]

Quick update....

I was told this morning that to qualify as a "non-profit" we must product a 401©3 tax exemption. We don't have such an instrument (I'm hoping I can substitute a sousaphone). This means the entry fee is a cool $1,000. That is before we buy or decorate a float.

If we are to proceed with the "owning" of the St. P Parade, we need some donations and fast.

PM me with your pledges.

Beat Texas

GO MEAN GREEN

[SilverEagle]

Quick update....

I was told this morning that to qualify as a "non-profit" we must product a 401©3 tax exemption. We don't have such an instrument (I'm hoping I can substitute a sousaphone). This means the entry fee is a cool $1,000. That is before we buy or decorate a float.

If we are to proceed with the "owning" of the St. P Parade, we need some donations and fast.

PM me with your pledges.

Beat Texas

GO MEAN GREEN

Why can't you use the Alumni "non-profit" number?

[greenjoe]

hmmm.....I'll ask.

thanks

[KRAM1]

Have mentioned that I had a possible work around on the non-profit thing and suggested greenjoe and I sit down and chat.

[greenjoe]

I don't think this St P Parade thing is going to work. In years past I could front the thing myself and hope I could get most of my money back. This year, I just can't. And believe me, this is a bigger problem for me than for GMG.

I can get the parade float part organized, I just can't fund raise as well.

Three GMG members have contacted me so far with pledges of $250. We need between $1,500 and $2,000.

So, unless I get a bunch of commitments Brelan Chancellor quick, this project is going to have to wait until at least next St. P Day.

Beat Texas

GO MEAN GREEN

[Sound_Man]

How do you come up with that figure? 500 for entry, then use the bus or throw some crap on a trailer Everyone bring a bag of candy and good to go

[KRAM1]

How do you come up with that figure? 500 for entry, then use the bus or throw some crap on a trailer Everyone bring a bag of candy and good to go

Entry fee is $1000 unless you have verification of non-profit status.

[Sound_Man]

Why can't the alumni association number be used? Or mean green club?

[KRAM1]

Why can't the alumni association number be used? Or mean green club?

Greenjoe was heading this up. He has stated that he cannot front the costs and I am too busy to step up and head this project. If you would like to step up and front the costs, I would be happy to help all I can. Entry fee is $500 if a 501©(3), and I told Joe I had a work around for that...float costs $1000 unless bus is used.

Would probably need to set up some insurance for this for participants and the 501©(3) in case something happened to a participant, spectator, etc. I have no clue what that sort of thing might cost, but can't be too much. Parade may require proof of such insurance along with the entry app and fee. No clue, but needs to be checked. Am pretty sure entry instructions would have the required info.

If you want to front it, PM me and we can discuss how the 501©(3) thing could work for us. But, the clock is ticking on then entry date deadline.

Again, I have done a good bit of work on this already, so PM me if you would like to take this on for this year's event. I am happy to help.

Edited January 24, 2014 by KRAM1