If Lions were looking to get their message of service across, showcasing a float in a parade that reaches 16 million households via nine television networks is as good a method as any.

A 30-foot-tall, sphinx-like Lion head adorned with a medal bearing the association’s motto and flanked by Leo flag-bearers will herald Lions’ mission of service to the world during the 119th Tournament of Roses Parade this January. The float, dubbed “Lions Day With The United Nations,” will reflect the impact of Lions in the international community by incorporating this year’s parade theme, “Passport To The World’s Celebrations.”

Scheduled to step off at 8 a.m. (PST) Jan. 1 in downtown Pasadena, California, the parade will be televised on nine networks:  ABC, NBC, HGTV, Univision, Telemundo, Travel Channel, Discovery HD Theater, Sky Link TV and Tribune. The combined live and rerun broadcasts are expected to reach 16.5 million households in more than 150 countries and territories around the world.

There is a price tag for the fun. Lions Clubs International (LCI) typically pays for half of the $60,000 cost of the float, while Lions Float, Inc.—a nonprofit corporation composed of members primarily from district 4-L—covers the remaining cost, according Lions Float President Alan Adams.

Adams believes the cost of creating the float is a bargain, as the visibility the float provides for the association is invaluable. “It’s one of those situations where you know you’re putting Lions on a worldwide stage,” Adams said. “The float will be on television for close to a minute during coverage of the parade. Think about how expensive it would be to purchase that air time on one major network, let alone several of them, and we realize that we are getting it for $60,000, and some hard work.”

Former Lions Float President Jim North agrees. “The parade is a great way to get the Lions’ message out in front of people in a fun way,” North said. “It is some hard work, but it’s always worth it.”

Lions and Lions Float entered their first float in the Rose Parade under International President Donald Banker, of California, in 1992. Subsequent entries in 1993 and 1994 won best float in their category. Since 1994, Lions Float has directly handled the preparation and funding of the Lions float in the Rose Parade. Design, fundraising and coordinating the volunteer effort of decorating the float is a yearlong project, with 50 to 60 volunteers helping with final decorations every day between Christmas and January 1.

Design, development and preparation of the float takes nearly a year. After Rose Parade officials announce the theme in January, float designer Phoenix Decorating Company works with Lions Float to develop and select a design in February and March. April and May see the construction of the float skeleton, and the development of a fund-raising campaign. Lions Float’s members and volunteers use June, July, August and September to raise funds through a raffle, fellowships and the sale of newly developed Rose Parade Lions Float apparel and lapel pins. In October and November, Lions Float creates the volunteer schedule for float decoration, and members attend the Tournament of Roses photo shoot with the event’s president and parade queen.

The week before the parade is a frenzy of activity, with volunteers attaching the flowers to the float and making the necessary last-minute adjustments, Adams said. The float will be decorated in everlasting and carnation petals, yellow straw flower, crushed walnut shells and various seeds. Rose Parade rules stipulate that the entire surface of the float be covered in natural floral material.

Despite its continued success, the float has met with setbacks on a few occasions—most notably two years ago, when rain dampened the parade for the first time in nearly 50 years, Adams said.

“[Past International President Ashok] Mehta was terribly sick that year, so he didn’t ride on the float,” Adams said. “I can remember that he got off the airplane in a wheelchair, he was so sick. I felt terrible for him. Past International Director Bill Crawford and his wife took his place, and they rode on the float the whole way in the rain. The weather was certainly a disappointment.”

The float has also had its share of celebrity sightings. Hollywood film director George Lucas, the grand marshal in last year’s parade, stopped a few yards directly in front of the Lions’ float with a brigade of Star Wars storm troopers giving Lions quite a thrill, Adams said.

Having Leos carry the flags of different nations alongside the float this year has been a great addition, and will provide an exciting opportunity for Leos in the district, Adams said.
“This is the first time [tournament officials] are allowing people to walk with the float, which is outstanding for this year,” Adams said. “I think it will be very rewarding for them, as it’s always rewarding for everyone involved.”