La Fiesta in Santa Barbara

On The Parade Route

I had the honor of participating in the Santa Barbara la Fiesta parade last Friday.  The parade turned 90 and the Rotary clubs in Group 8 have been showcasing Rotary International with a float for 38 plus years.

We had the opportunity to walk the route beside the float.  Some of those hearty souls were PDG Wade Nomura, EAG Ross Ray, Santa Barbara North President Vanessa Patterson, Santa Barbara President Katarina Zamyatina, Santa Barbara Sunrise President Dana Goba, Carpinteria Morning President Art Fisher, brand new Rotary Club of Montecito member Conner Rehage . Christine Le Bon from Goleta Noontime and Helena Dahlin from the E-Club joined the group walking down State Street. We even had the little great granddaughter, Brooke, of the first President of the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara!

 

This year’s float was a replica of one that was in the parade in 1949 and was entirely built and decorated by Rotarians within 10 days.  Goleta Noontime Rotarian, Walt Stephens, has been building these floats for 13 years.  His experience working with our Rotary Rose Parade Float in the Tournament Roses has been a big help winning the Sweepstakes Trophy.

With deep roots in the early history of the establishment of the Santa Barbara Mission and the Presidio, this was an especially sweet experience for me.  Just another of the fantastic opportunities being Governor of this wonderful District provides and another reason I know I am “Serving with the Best”.

Parade Composit