It can take many hours and, in some cases, the considerable expense to plan, decorate and participate in the annual Holiday Afloat parade, on the part of Skippers, family & friends. And particularly so, to field a winning entry. Likewise, it takes literally 100’s of hours of planning, coordinating and behind-the-scenes activity to organize and stage the event. The tasks of choosing a theme, scheduling, pre-parade publicity and promotion, fundraising, securing necessary approvals, media communications and the like, fall to the Parade Planning Committee.
Comprised of volunteers from various organizations involved, the committee, operating on a very nearly year-round basis, somehow, “makes it happen” every year, in spite of budget shortfalls, impossible-to-meet deadlines, weather and/or unanticipated obstacles. A quick look at the list of organizations represented on the committee (see below) quickly reveals the “grass-roots” identity of the event and underscores the true community-based nature that has led to 56 years of success in staging the L.A. Harbor Holiday Afloat parade.
Parade Planning Committee:
- Los Angeles Port Police Aldo Morales
- Port of L.A Augie Bezmalinovich – Community Affairs Advocate
- USCGA Robert McKoy
- Wilmington Boat Owners Assoc. Donna Ethington
- Cabrillo Way Marina Dianne Sandoval
- Cabrillo Beach Yacht Club Pamela Botis
- LB-LA Women’s Sailing Assoc. Trisha Jackson
- Hurricane Gulch Yacht Club George Miller
- California Yacht Marina – Cabrillo Marina Henry Rivas – Committee Chair
- Wilmington Lion’s Club Mary Gutierrez
- LB Singles Yacht Club
- Los Angeles Yacht Club
- San Pedro Yacht Club
