Meeting Monday night, the Fourth of July parade committee agreed to extend the deadline for entering an auction featuring Katie Stam, the current Miss America, who will ride as grand marshal in this year’s parade. Palisades Patrol, which is sponsoring Stam’s appearance, is running a contest to help the Palisades Americanism Parade Association with its fundraising by auctioning off several seats on Miss America’s parade float. The winners (and up to four family members) will be invited to the pre-parade VIP Luncheon at the Methodist Church. They will join Miss America for lunch, have a one-on-one photo session with Stam, then ride on her float. The family members will receive four tickets to sit in the VIP reviewing stand to watch. Auction bids are being accepted by e-mail at palisadesparade@yahoo.com’between now and May 26 at 5 p.m.’Minimum bid is $500.’The two highest bids will win the extra seats on the float. Payment may be treated as a donation to PAPA, a nonprofit Section 501(c)(3) organization. Bidding is subject to the following limitations: (1) Rider must be between the age of 5 and 16; (2) Rider or the bidding adult must be a resident of Pacific Palisades, Malibu, West Los Angeles or Santa Monica (so, local grandparents can bid for their grandchildren); (3) Parents/Guardians may not accompany riders on the float (security will be provided by Palisades Patrol); and (4) No refunds will be given if the rider is unable to attend. PAPA People, the volunteer group that fulfills various tasks at the parade and the fireworks show at Palisades High, will hold its only meeting on Tuesday, May 26, at 7 p.m. at the home of Jon and Sylvia Boyd. Coffee, tea and desserts will be served. ‘We are encouraging anybody who wants to work with us on parade day to attend this organizational meeting,’ said the Boyds, co-chairs of the group within the Palisades Americanism Parade Association. ‘This way we can fill assignments and find out where we have gaps.’ ‘We know that we need help with everything from traffic control before and after the parade to people-friendly tasks at the fireworks show,’ said Sylvia Boyd. ‘People do not need any special skills to help us out, just a willingness to handle their assignment with a friendly attitude, knowing they are contributing to an important day in the Palisades.’ ‘We welcome participation by Boy Scouts and other older teenagers with community spirit,’ Jon Boyd added. For directions to the meeting and for more information, please e-mail the Boyds at syljonboyd@aol.com or call (310) 454-9556. Meanwhile, entry forms are available for individuals, businesses, clubs, youth groups, organizations, churches and synagogues who wish to enter the parade. The festivities will begin at 2 p.m. at the intersection of Bowdoin and Via de la Paz. Application are available at the Chamber of Commerce office, 15330 Antioch, and must be returned by May 29. Parade orders and staging information will be sent to accepted entries 10 days prior to the parade. As per tradition, there is no entry fee for non-commercial, nonprofit organizations, and they can apply for reimbursement of up to $500 in float expenses (excluding vehicle rental) from PAPA, the organizing committee. Float judging will be based on execution of theme, originality of design and spectator appeal. Tax-deductible donations to help PAPA defray $80,000 in expenses (for the parade and the fireworks show) can be sent to: PAPA, P.O. Box 1776, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272. Absent a large corporate sponsor, PAPA must rely every year on contributions from local organizations, residents and business owners. ‘Even in a brutal economy, our fixed expenses keep grinding upward,’ said Rob Weber, who is serving as PAPA president. ‘We have received generous donations from the Junior Women’s Club and the American Legion,’ Weber said, ‘and the response to our annual solicitation mailing has been heartening thus far. We are receiving numerous checks from people who never before donated.’
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