Portland, OR. Portland Rose Festival Foundation has elected Dave Todd (pictured with his grandson, Henry) as the new president for a two-year term. Todd is a retired Navy Captain (Reserve) and recently retired from a 33-year career as a university-level teacher. Todd plans on leading a group of board members into the new year of 2021 with the theme “Hope Reigns” for the Portland Rose Festival.
Todd shared his thoughts on the transition into the new year, “All of us feel a sense of loss as we look back on the year that spun out of control and changed our Festival so dramatically. Even so, those of us who work and volunteer for the Festival remain grateful that we are privileged to be a part of the world’s best Festival. The pay-forward for that privilege is we must do everything we can to make sure that the Festival does what it needs to do whenever people are able to return to it. We want the Festival always to be an escape, a celebration, and not a reminder of what was lost.”
“Hope Reigns” 2021 Portland Rose Festival Theme
Todd also served as a Rose Festival Director for 31 years where he worked on a wide variety of committees, held all but one of the Foundation’s elective offices, and chaired multiple committees including seven terms as Chair of the Fleet Committee.
Secretary Dr. Thompson Faller – University of Portland (Retired)
Treasurer Bill Poppino – Corporate Airline Pilot
Assistant Treasurer Dayna Kirk – The Standard
The Festival board has also elected three new directors for 2021 including Steve Welch, a Senior Mortgage Banker with Guild Mortgage Company and member of the Rose Festival Clowns. Tragically on Jan. 3, 2021, Welch passed away due to a non- COVID illness.
Welch was well respected by the Rose Festival staff and volunteers not only for his wonderful antics as a member of the Festival’s clown family but as an incredibly warm and compassionate person.
The elected 2021 Directors include:
Tamara (Tam) Allison – Associate Financial Analyst at Portland General Electric
Steven Welch – Senior Mortgage Banker with Guild Mortgage Company (deceased)
Mary Abbott Young – Realtor with Coldwell Banker
Looking forward, Todd speaks on health and continuing the tradition of the Portland Rose Festival, “The health of our community and our friends around the world remains the most important thing. The Portland Rose Festival is here to stay. We continue to plan for a Rose Festival celebration when conditions allow.”
From Portland Rose Festival website: The Portland Rose Festival Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that serves families and individuals with programs and events that promote the arts, education, and volunteerism. We value environmental responsibility, diversity, patriotism, and our historic & floral heritage.
Portland, OR. The Rose Festival will honor the more than 5,000 volunteers who annually donate over two million hours to help serve seniors through Meals on Wheels People. As the 2019 Portland Rose Festival official charity, Meals on Wheels People will be featured at events and celebrations including appearances in PGE/SOLVE Starlight Parade and the Spirit Mountain Casino Grand Floral Parade.
Meals on Wheels People has been changing lives, one meal at a time, since 1970.
Volunteers provide more than a meal to thousands of older adults in the greater Portland metro area.
A bit of history: In 1970, three women got together in the basement of a church in Southeast Portland to prepare and serve a hot lunch to about a dozen seniors. From 14 newspaper-wrapped meals then, to nearly 12,000 seniors served annually today, Meals on Wheels People of Portland is now among the top 10 largest senior nutrition programs in the country, and one of the very few that has never had a waiting list for meals.
“Hunger is one of the most desperate and frightening feelings anyone, let alone an isolated senior, can experience,” says Teri Bowles-Atherton (President of the Portland Rose Festival Foundation). “The Rose Festival is proud to partner with Meals on Wheels People as our Official Charity. Not only do they take care of seniors in need, they also make ethnic dishes for this very diverse community, and offer the Meals 4 kids program serving children and families experiencing low food security.”
“We are thrilled to partner with the Rose Festival as their 2019 Official Charity,” said Suzanne Washington (Meals on Wheels People CEO). “This opportunity allows us to reach a broad audience with our vision that no senior will go hungry or experience social isolation. We look forward to joining in the many activities sponsored by the Rose Festival and sharing those with our senior participants.”
Their service not only alleviates hunger and social isolation, but allows seniors to live independently with dignity in their own homes. Aging in place reduces depression, falls and hospitalization as well as the high cost of institutional care.
From Meals on Wheels People:
OUR VISION
No senior will go hungry or experience social isolation.
OUR MISSION
We enrich the lives of seniors, and assist them in maintaining independence, by providing nutritious food, human connections and social support. We also use our expertise and capacity to serve other nutritionally at-risk populations.
OUR VALUES
Integrity – We work in a trustworthy, compassionate and and ethical manner.
Respect – We value the self-worth of our staff, volunteers and populations we serve.
Inclusion – We are strengthened by diversity.
Creativity – We are innovative and willing to try new approaches.
Commitment – We demonstrate quality performance and dedication.
Teamwork – Together we accomplish more.
Would you like to volunteer? Here’s a link to the Meals on Wheels People website: https://www.mowp.org
Portland, OR. Portlanders are getting a chance to tour several U.S. and Canada ships and meet military service members and veterans. Ship tours continue through Sunday, June 10th. The Rose Festival Court made history on June 9th when Kiara Johnson became the first student from Parkrose high school honored as Queen of Rosaria. Queen Kiara, plans on attending college to pursue a career as a veterinarian or journalist. Each Rose Festival Court member receives a $3500 Scholarship courtesy of The Randal Group to use at a collage of their choice.
Kiara Johnson and her family.
Another first was a canine Rose Festival Parade Grand Marshal named Diesel, a 2 1/2 year-old English Mastiff. Diesel was chosen in a contest benefiting the Rose Festival’s 2018 Official Charity, the Oregon Humane Society.
Diesel rode in a convertible during the parade.
The 2018 parade drew hundreds of thousands of cheering people to the 4-mile route.
The nation’s most storied marching band: the U.S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps make their first appearance in Portland since 1989.
Below is a list of the winners:
2018 SPIRIT MOUNTAIN CASINO GRAND FLORAL PARADE FLOAT AWARDS
Hillmann Lueddemann Jr. Sweepstakes Award (Most outstanding float in the Parade) Alaska Airlines
President’s Award (Most effective overall floral presentation) Reser’s Fine Foods
Queens Award (Most Creative float in the parade) p:ear
Governor’s Award (Best depiction of life in Oregon) Portland General Electric
Royal Rosarian Award (Best craftsmanship and workmanship) Fred Meyer
Rose Society Award (Most effective use and display of roses) Unitus Community Credit Union
Rose Festival Directors Award (Best depiction of volunteerism) Northwest Chinese Alliance
Rose Festival Court Award (Best example of enthusiasm and teamwork) Juega Feliz
Grand Marshal Award (Best depiction of whimsy) Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon
Theme Award (Best presentation of Rose Festival theme – Play Happy) Rose Festival CityFair
Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Award (Best depiction of community spirit) Cambia Portland Classic
Peg Roseboro Award (Most artistic design and presentation) Spirit mountain Casino
Dick Powers Picture Perfect Award (Best Mini-float) Metro Mini-Float
Parade Queen Award Westminster Hyack Festival Mini-float
Parade Chairman Award Lincoln City Mini-FloatBAND AWARDS:
Band Sweepstakes (Best Band in Parade)
Westview High School
In-State Division A (99 Members or Less)
First Place – Hillsboro High School, Hillsboro, OR
Second Place – Aloha High School, Beaverton, OR
Third Place – Lincoln High School, Portland, OR
In-State Open (100 or more)
First Place – Tualatin High School, Tualatin, OR
Second Place – Oregon City High School, Oregon City, OR
Third Place – Century High School, Hillsboro, OR
Out-of-State Division A (99 Members or Less)
First Place – Battle Ground High School, Battle Ground, WA
Second Place – Prairie High School, Brush Prairie, WA
Third Place – South Kitsap High School, Port Orchard, WA
ROSE FESTIVAL EQUESTRIAN AWARD LISTING
Vern Hulit Award for Excellence in Preparation,
Organization and Presentation
Happy Canyon Princesses
Native or National Costume, Individual/Pair
Happy Canyon Indian Princesses
Native Dress – Group
Hawaii Pa’u Riders
Rodeo or Fair Queen and Court
Pendleton Round Up Court
Here’s information on more Rose Festival events:
Join the thrill of the Dragon Boat Race Saturday and Sunday at the Waterfront Bowl area near Riverplace Marina as more than 50 teams push the traditional ornately decorated Dragons to victory. Teams of up to 20 paddlers compete in Women’s, Mixed and Student categories from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. both days.
CityFair wraps the festival with great food, extra kids fun and Funtastic carnival rides. If they went by too fast on Saturday, come down to CityFair and see them up close as the floats from the Grand Floral Parade put the brakes on and pause for photo-ops along Naito Parkway for the Grand Floral Float Showcase starting at 3:00 p.m. Saturday through 4:00 p.m. Sunday.
Also on Sunday amateur ukulele players are invited to join the first Ukulele Rose Experience and jam session. Led by local musician Rick Huddle and Introducing bass player Matt Lynch, the one hour session will be emceed by comedian & Clown Prince Angel Ocasio. Join the music Sunday, June 10, 20181:30 p.m. ‐ 2:30 p.m. on the Rose City Stage inside CityFair at Tom McCall Waterfront Park. CityFair admission is FREE with ukulele and all ages and skill levels welcome! (Bring your music stand).
Since the very beginning of the Rose Festival back in 1907, visiting ships and other fleet-related elements (like submarines) have been making their way to Portland’s waterfront. The City of Portland is known to be a favorite port of call for military (and non-military) visitors — and citizens enjoy making these visitors welcome! One of the purposes of Fleet Week has always been to celebrate and thank the active and reserve military personnel and all veterans. The Portland Rose Festival is extremely fortunate to be one of a few U.S. Ports of Call for a courtesy visit from the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, and Royal Canadian Navy. Their arrival commemorates a relationship with the Navy that has lasted more than 100 years, and over 80 years of visiting Portland during the Rose Festival. It is a significant commitment by the Navy to make the Rose Festival Fleet Week one of the premier Fleet Week events in the country.
Portland, OR. An original ‘Rosie the Riveter’ was on hand as a new memorial garden was planted to honor the hundreds of thousands of women who worked in factories, building ships, planes and armaments, during WWII. Rosarian Royal Gardener Barbara Brennan, Adeena Rose Wade, Ada Wyn Parker Loy, a 94-year-old ‘real’ Rosie, and Barbara Jensen President/Founder Oregon Spirit of 45 were all on hand for the event in the International Rose Test Garden in Washington Park.
Royal Rosarian Royal Gardener Barbara Brennan, Living history Character Actor Adeena Rose Wade plant roses.
The Rosie the Riveter Memorial Rose at International Rose Test Garden in Washington Park was supported by all seven Oregon Congressional delegates.
Marilyn Clint, Chief Operations Officer, Portland Rose Festival speaking at the Rose the Riveter Rose dedication at the International Rose Test Garden on March 21st.
Real Rosie family members and volunteers posed with Royal Rosarian Prime Minister Adam Baker and the Royal Rosarians.
Here’s more information on the program:
75 years ago, our nation was at war. As hundreds of thousands of men across our nation answered the call to serve and protect our freedoms, hundreds of thousands of women on the home front volunteered to support them in our factories, building ships, planes and armament, to support them. They become known as “Rosie the Riveters” and we are here today to honor those amazing women.
In 2010, Congress passed a resolution establishing the second Sunday of August as “Spirit of ’45 Day” to honor all those who served in WWII both those who defended our freedoms on the battle field and also honor those who were there on the home front, to support our troops on the front lines.
This year 2018, Congress passed a resolution establishing March 21, ‘Rosie the Riveter’ Day as part of Women History Month. Over 50 dedications and plantings are occurring in 21 states including Alabama, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Texas and the District of Columbia.
Oregon is a model in the country with 12 sites with at least one in each of our state’s congressional districts. These gardens are part of a National effort to create a network of “Living Memorial” rose garden across America. Working with WEEKS ROSES, the National Spirit of ’45 Organization was delighted to announce this unique rose this past January and Congress was equally pleased to swift to endorse March 21 as ‘Rosie the Riveter Day.’
These gardens in full bloom this spring, summer and fall seasons will help us to remember, honor and always be inspired by their example of courage, shared-sacrifice, ‘can-do’ attitude, spirit, unity and service.
Here’s a link to the International Rose Test Garden in Washington Park.
PORTLAND Ore. – Portland Rose Festival panned more gold from the International Festival & Events Association annual convention held in Denver September 21. The Festival picked up 14 total awards as well as recognition for the world’s best volunteer, Webmaster and parade entry wrangler Charlie M. Clint, on hand to accept her award in the Mile High City. The festival received eight gold, three silver, and three bronze for excellence in various categories including Best New Fundraising Program with Rose Festival Runners for the inaugural Rock ‘n’ Roll Portland Half Marathon.
The IFEA again awarded the Portland Rose Festival Gold for the Best Environmental Program. The Portland Rose Festival has been recognized with a gold 13 out of the last 15 years as the world leader in clean and green celebrating. Rose Festival parade fans accept it as part of the routine, but their participation in the PGE/SOLVE parade clean up makes this one greenest and cleanest festivals in the world according to the International Festival & Events Association membership.
“We’re really proud of the recognition the Festival gets for our green efforts,” says Jeff Curtis, Rose Festival CEO, “but it is not just because of the super volunteers and staff. This award would not be possible without our partnerships with PGE, SOLVE, the hauling companies, the City of Portland and most importantly, the conscientious parade fans who year in and year out take responsibility for cleaning up their own space on the street and leaving it a little bit better for the city.”
Information submitted Rich Jarvis from the Rose Festival.
International Festivals & Events Association/ Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Awards
Portland Rose Festival Foundation – September 21, 2012
Gold – Best Sponsor – Alaska Airlines
Gold – Best New Fundraising Program – Rock ‘n’ Roll Portland Half Marathon with Rose Festival Runners
Gold – Best Sponsorship Program for Individual Sponsor – KPTV/FOX12
Gold – Best Environmental Program
Gold – Best Community Outreach Program – Court/Past Courts Program
Gold – Best Children’s Programming – Fred Meyer Junior Parade
Gold – Best Public Safety/Security Plan for an Event – CityFair
Gold – Most Creative/Effective News Stunt – Packy the Elephant, Grand Marshal
Silver – Best New Merchandise – Rogue Rose Festival Ale
Silver – Best New Event – Creative Youth Awards
Silver – Best Event/Program within an Event to Benefit a Charity – Rock ‘n’ Roll Portland Half Marathon
Bronze – Best Event/Organization E-Newsletter
Bronze – Best Sponsor Solicitation Package – One Main Financial – RoZone Stage
Bronze – Best Promotion Publicizing an IFEA/Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Award
The International Festivals & Events Association (IFEA) was founded in 1956 and today isThe Premiere Association Supporting and Enabling Festival & Event Professionals Worldwide. In partnership with global affiliates under the umbrellas of IFEA Africa, IFEA Asia, IFEA Australia & New Zealand, IFEA Europe, IFEA Latin America, IFEA Middle East, and IFEA North America the organization’s common vision is for ‘A Globally United Industry that Touches Lives in a Positive Way through Celebration.'”
The Portland Rose Festival Foundation is a 501(c) (3) non-profit dedicated to serving families and individuals with programs and events that promote the arts, education, and volunteerism. The Foundation values environmental responsibility, diversity, patriotism, and our historic and floral heritage. www.RoseFestival.org
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