Rotary clubs get together on centennial parade float

Float pictures and thank you letter from Ginny Roy, committee chair -

Pictures posted by Bristol Rotary

Article by Ken DiMauro, The Southington Citizen

In celebration of Rotary International's 100th anniversary, three area Rotary clubs have joined to sponsor and build a float that will be featured in this Sunday's Mum Festival Parade in downtown Bristol and the Apple Harvest Festival Parade on Oct. 2 in Southington. Dolly Chamberlin, former president of the Plainville Rotary Club and member of the club's parade float committee, said Rotarians in Plainville, Southington and Bristol have been working on the float, which is being stored at Trumbull Restoration Co. in Plainville.

Ginny Roy, chairwoman of the Southington Rotary Club's Centennial Committee, said it was her group's idea to build the float and the members invited Plainville and Bristol to participate. She said the anniversary float was a good way to publicize Rotary and its 100th birthday.

Chamberlin said the three groups have been planning the float since April. Use of a trailer was donated. The float will feature a large mockup of a four-tiered cake. Rotary International is marking its 100th anniversary and Plainville's Rotary is celebrating its 50th birthday, she said.

In addition to the cake and a large banner with the organization's motto, "Service Above Self," the float will have items of note from the three towns, including chrysanthemums and apples. The mums will be placed on the float before the Mum Parade and baskets of apples will be on the float for the Apple Harvest Festival. Covered bales of hay will be at the base of the float. Chamberlin said the float has room for three or four Rotarians, too. - complete article