Christmas Parade

Chances are your community has a couple of parades every year. You know, bands, floats, cheer leaders, and vehicles carrying Miss America, Jr. Miss America, Miss Teen America, Jr. Miss Teen America, Little Jr. Miss Teen America, and finally Little Jr. Miss Fetus America.

When my children were younger, I don't think we ever missed a Christmas Parade. As the children grew older, I stayed home and watched the parade on the local cable station, while they went to the parade with friends. Hundreds, if not thousands, of people would line the streets, while more watched from the comfort of their home, to see everything from the Grand Marshal to Santa Claus.

Church, School, Clubs, etc. allows for people to see YOU, as a person, away from your business. A Christmas parade (or any parade) allows a community (a mixture of Churches, Schools, Clubs, etc.) to see YOU, your business, and your employees, dressed in non-business attire having a good time with the community. Allow for more people to see you and your "team" out of your element!

If you have a classic car or truck, build a float, rent a float, whatever, consider the goodwill and advertising. Perhaps you could load a flat bed with decorated empty 50-gallon drums? Is there a connection between a lump of coal, oil, and Christmas? Can you lube a sleigh? Safe for the Holidays? Green tights and elf hats for all techs? I don't know.

When I was in the first grade in Georgetown, Illinois, I remember TWO things about the Christmas parade that year. The first was the big guy in red (Santa), the second ... the men walking in black with the red star on their hats & shirts. They were the "Men with the Star" - Texaco.