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On becoming a Parrot Head

4/20/2011

2 Comments

 
    When I listen to radio, it's usually Margaritaville, and when I do a CD shuffle there's probably a Jimmy Buffett album in there somewhere. Only recently, though, did I make the beach music vibe a part of my resume: I joined the Parrot Head Club of Richmond.
    My motives weren't entirely pure. Having told the publisher of my novel that its intended audience is "Parrot Heads and other escapist boomers," I decided that maybe I shouldn't toss around the avian label so casually. Maybe I should see what this group is really about before I go trying to sell them a book.
    This was no small step for me. I've never been much of a "joiner," mostly because I really, really hate meetings. For a time, my attitude meshed with my situation: When I did restaurant reviews, anonymity was essential, so not joining organizations was a good thing. Then, while I lived on North Caicos, there was nothing to join. It's a small place, so everyone knows you anyway.
    Returning to Richmond changed all that. Without either forced anonymity or instant "celebrity" (meaning that my white face always stood out in the crowd), I was free to explore both civic and special-interest groups. So becoming a Parrot Head was not only possible, but also -- maybe -- a good career move.
    OK, so what I learned might eventually sell a couple of books ... but it might also be expanding my view of my community.
    Parrot Head clubs, while glued together by a common appreciation of a certain style of music, a certain laid-back attitude and a certain escapist dream, are also philanthropic organizations. Their events are either fund-raisers for local causes or just plain boosterism for those causes.
    Here in Richmond, the club throws a weekend party in August called "Stars on the Water" to support Children's Hospital, the Alzheimer's Association and the Food Bank; collects donations at every meeting; and annually turns a swath of the Monument Avenue median into a cheering section for the 10K race. So here, in short, is how I've distilled PHCOR's purpose: Let's have fun and party, but let's make some money to help others while doing it.
    How could I not like that?
    What began as a calculated act, not far from the idea of joining the Chamber of Commerce because it's a good business move, has become something fun and enriching and personally worthwhile. I don't know these people well -- yet -- but I think it's the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

2 Comments
Tootie
4/20/2011 10:47:53 pm

Thanks Jody for a very nice blog regarding our club. We welcome you and Tom as new additions to our PHlock and hope you enjoy as much as we all do.
PHins UP! ~~~~(\~~~~
Tootie

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Cindy Ely link
4/21/2011 01:36:15 pm

I've been involved with the Parrot Head Club of Richmond since the very first meeting in 1994, and I count many of its members among my best friends. They are fun, generous, and, yes, just a little bit crazy. Like Buffett sings, "If we weren't all crazy, we would go insane!" Thanks for the positive comments. We're glad to have you in the PHlock.

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    This blog by Jody Rathgeb existed, on and off, from 2012 to 2020, changing focus  several times over the years. Its last iteration, with a focus on island living, was also posted on Facebook as Beyond the Parrot Paradise.

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