Sporting a little love for Tony Stark…the team was sooo excited when that movie came out. A chunk of us stood in that line stretching up the stairs, past Jamba Juice and the Barnes & Noble windows to see opening night. Iron Man has grossed $537,214,903 worldwide (and an average of $6.88 per ticket) thats ….gotta bust out the TI83….78,082,980 people!! Pretty comparable to the 40+million Americans that watch the Rose Parade on TV, but no where near the estimated 400 million worldwide viewers.

Sorry Tony, looks like you can’t beat the Rose Parade. Hee hee we’re better

Shawna pulled this pic together, the latest in her promotional creative brainstorming. I’d like to get the flower/welder up here too

So, what do you think?

P.S. yes…..come build….build…build! over summer at the RoFl lab on Mt Bishop Rd. Open lab days will be posted soon.

You deserve a break….so join us at the Beach!

THIS SATURDAY First-ever Sandcastle Building Contest

Meet at the Rose Float Office (UU-209) at 11:30 am to carpool over to Avila Beach!
Bring sunscreen, snacks/lunch, your beach gear: towels, shovels & pails…etc
Sorry rules say no outside items in the contest, found objects only.

Our next information/social meeting will be on Thursday, May 8^th at 7pm. We’ll be having a “Lab Open House” meeting out at the Rose Float lab (building 50L). If you’ve never seen our lab and/or just want to learn more about Rose Float, come check us out (FREE refreshments provided). Email Breana at rfleaders@calpoly.edu if you need a ride from the dorms or elsewhere on-campus.

If you can’t make it to the meeting, no sweat! There’s plenty of other ways to find out about what Rose Float is up to…and drop-ins are always welcome!

Drop by our office (UU 209 - right next to the men’s bathroom)
Email rfleaders@asi.calpoly.edu
Check out our lab workdays on Saturday’s from 10am till ~5pm
(building 50L – http://www.maps.calpoly.edu/flashmap/CalPolyMap.html)…

Ever wanted to learn how to weld, but never had the opportunity?…or… Know how to weld and want a chance to practice/develop skills further? Just put on some clothes that aren’t synthetic (and you don’t mind getting dirty) and come out to lab on Saturday’s …we’ll even feed you lunch! (no experience necessary – all training provided J )

Listed below are the Rose Float events for the rest of Spring quarter:
April
Sat 26     Deconstruction of Open House float (10am, lab)

May
Sat 3       Sand Castle Building Contest (11:30am, carpool to Avila)
Wed 7     Float on display
Thur 8     Lab Open House team meeting (7pm, lab)
Sat 10      Lab Basics: Torching & Bolt Patterns (10am, lab)
Sat 17,18   Relay 4 Life (10am, Dexter Lawn)
Thur 22    Farmer’s Market booth (6pm, Higueara St)
Sat 31      Lab Basics: Welding (10am, lab)

June
Thur 5     Team meeting (8pm)
Sat 7        Lab Basics: Machining (10am, lab)

Going to be in SLO for the summer? Great! So are we! Check back later for more info…

Thanks to everyone who stopped by yesterday morning during UU hour to give us an idea for the 2009 Rose Float title and/or theme song. I hope that everyone enjoyed the Root Beer floats as a yummy appreciation of your ideas!

The title of next year’s float will be selected on May 3^rd and the theme song will be selected on May 15^th, so we’ll let everyone know which ideas were selected to represent Cal Poly in the 2009 Tournament of Roses Parade!

Yesterday evening, all interested parties in the Rose Float Program met in Bishop’s Lounge to learn more about what Rose Float is all about and how to can get more involved. We also played a fun “meet-and-greet” game of Bingo…now I know that Shawna is the oldest member of Rose Float, Michelle can list all of the last 10 Cal Poly floats, and Schmied can define “cocooning” (in float terms)…However, I never did figure out who has a pet fish… 

In case you managed to miss the intoxicating sense of anticipation hanging in the air and all of the last minute preparations frantically going on all over campus, this weekend is Cal Poly’s Open House…The spring weekend when thousands of people (prospective students, families, alumni, community members) flock to campus to learn about all that Cal Poly has to offer.

This is an excellent visibility event for all campus departments, clubs, programs, etc and Rose Float isn’t letting it pass us by. Bellow is an outline of our activities for this weekend:

 Friday, April 18^th
9am-1pm       UU plaza booth
4:00pm          meet at Rose Float lab to finish preparing the float
5:00pm          Saturday booth set-up begins (across from library)

 Saturday, April 19^th
7:00am          Meet at Rose Float lab
8:00am          All vehicles removed from inner campus
                    Parade line-up
8:30am          Booth complete and staffed
9:00am          Parade begins
10:30-4pm      Booth operation with high striker and float (across from library)
5:00pm          Vehicles may enter inner campus
                    Drive float back out to lab

Help is always welcome out at lab when we’re working…so if you’re not busy Friday evening come join us making final preparations (welding and painting sheets?). Please feel free to stop by and say “Hi!” at any time during Friday (9-1pm) or Saturday (10:30-4pm) when we’ll be out chill’ at our booths. The booth on Saturday will include that traditional display boards, the high striker (test your strength!), and the actual float.

If you have any questions, email rfleaders@asi.calpoly.edu  See you this weekend!

PS: You better wave to us when we pass by in the parade!

We want you input!

Submit ideas to name the next float and/or suggest it’s theme song, then we’ll give you a rootbeer float during our “Float for a Float” event at UU-hour on April 24th in the University Union Plaza.

Need inspiration? Check some of the lastest designs! conceptartposter.jpg

Can’t visit then? We are asking for ideas at our booth during Open House on Sat, April 19th (10a.m.-4p.m.). We are across from the library, just look for the big blue frame, or our tall highstriker:)

Still can’t visit? Comment here, stop by the office (UU209 on UU2ndFloor) or e-mail rfleaders@asi.calpoly.edu to enter you ideas.

In early May the team will teleconference with Pomona to decide the winning title & song. During Pasadena’s Rose Parade, the name is prominently displayed on the front and in the program while the song is played as Cal Poly’s float drives down the parade route. Hopefully your idea will cruise down Colorado Blvd on Jan 1st 2009 in front of millions!

Happy (or miserable) Dead Week to all! Only one more day! “Dead week” was phrase I had never heard before attending Cal Poly, like “crashing classes” I had to figure out what it meant. What other Cal Poly phrases have you discovered?
Stop the tangent & onto the to good stuff…

SAT LAB: BUILDING OPEN HOUSE FLOAT & more organizing
Saturday, March 15. 10am - we done having fun (6ish), Lunch Provided

Rose Float Lab off Mount Bishop Road. Look for map under, files, on rosefloatinfo webpage

This is Saturday #1 of 2 we have to build our float for the Open House Parade on April 19th. Now that our float-half is home (quick thanks to those who came by)…we will use our float skills to make a “hippie bus” as our part of “Destination: Cal Poly!” The choice was made at an earlier Thursday Team Meeting, inspired by rose floater fans of “Across the Universe.” We just acquired a couch for it too

No experience necessary! Things we might do:

• weld the steel frame that gives the bus shape
• figure out where to put the couch, so we can lounge once we’re parked
• design how/where to put windows, wheels….how does our float turn into a bus?
• hunt for sheets to paint and make the bus’ “skin”

SANTA CRUZ BOARDWALK with Pomona’s team - DAY TRIP FOR “RESEARCH”
Saturday, March 22 around 8am - 8pm

Finals are over, so let’s go play!! It’s a great chance to have fun with our Pomona team too. We will carpool up to the Boardwalk for a day of fun, gathering pictures and ideas for our upcoming Joint (SLO&Po) Design Meeting (that’ll establish what we want to have on
this year’s float). Let’s Review: Tournament of Roses approved 4 of 5 concepts we submitted and Leadership on both campuses voted to use “Seaside Amusement” as basis for the 2009 float. Two more joint meetings will “flesh out” that concept into our specific float. And we need ideas!

Pictures wanted!!!Send your fave pics/ideas for the 2009 boardwalk/seaside carnival. We want them for inspiration in our joint design meeting.
Send to bdixon@calpoly.edu by Tuesday, March 25th
Info for Boardwalk trip:
http://www.beachboardwalk.com/

• Entrance is FREE!
• You can buy a pass for rides, attractions (online discount in advance:)
• Rides open 11am - 8pm.
• Carpools leave Cal Poly around 8am. Drivers wanted
• Drive yourself on your way to spring break
• Tell us your coming, e-mail rflead…@asi.calpoly.edu so we can rendezvous
• Pack the basics: layers, sunscreen, food or money,camera, beach blanket optional

MARK YOUR CALENDAR - A Month’s Worth of Rose Float Goodness
Sat Mar 15 - LAB in SLO: Build Mini Float, Part 1. 10am @ Lab on Mt.Bishop Road
Sat Mar 22 - Research Trip to Santa Cruz Boardwalk
Sun Mar 29 - Joint Leadership Meeting in SLO: Design (team members can visit)
Tues Apr 1 - Spring Quarter Starts
Sat Apr 5 - Joint Leadership Team Meeting in SLO: DDC (team members visit)
Th Apr 10 - Team Meeting: Informational Ice Cream Social, 8pm @ UU220
Sat Apr 15 - Build Mini Float for Open House,part 2. 10 a.m. @ Lab on Mt.Bishop Road
Sat Apr 19 - Come visit us at Open House

LAST WEEKEND RECAP
Thanks to all those who came out and helped Move the float last weekend.
The crew that went to Pomona, had the temp axle on and running in 2hours! Bre napped on a box, were done by 11am Sat. They then went and researched rollercoaster building, took a mini-golf break at Scandia, and discovered headquarters for ICEE
The SLO team painted a table, cleared space, and Katie drove the float
in, first time ever!!!

Feed me…QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS
Thanks for reading!
Chrystal Tipping
Program Relations Lead

Winter Quarter winds down and whips us into a frenzy as we try to finish projects, papers and pass tests. So, it’s a perfect time to take a break from those treacherous studies and come play with us!

LAST TEAM MEETING OF WINTER QUARTER… TONIGHT
Thursday, March 06, 2008 – 8pm @ UU216
Get updated on the latest in float land, learn about upcoming events, and get involved by brainstorming the mini-float & booth decorations for Open House’s “Destination Cal Poly” OR preparations for our entry in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life this May.

THE FLOAT IS COMING HOME!!
This Saturday, SLO’s back half (including the drive engine) takes the 240 mile trip back home after almost 5 months down in Pomona. It’s the event that completes the year that was Guardians of Harmony, our first fantasy trophy. Sadly it’s been broken down (deconstructed) back to the bare frame for transport. It’s fun to watch Gary (the only man who can) untie & unload the float, and that forklift dance!! Did you know the frame rides backwards?

Help wanted preparing in Pomona:
Friday Carpools leave 4pm @ Campus Market AND 7pm @ Campus Market (Reserve by noon on Friday)

Much to do to prep the float & tool trailer for Saturday’s travel back. Grab your overnight bag and come down to the late night work party at Po’s Lab! We like the late night giddiness. More that help, faster it goes. Anyone can help, possibilities include:
~ bolting on the temp axle
~ connecting hydraulic hoses
~ hunting for SLO tools stained red
~ taking inventory of the tool trailer
~ changing tires
By noon on Saturday, everything is loaded and on the road….our duty is done.

Help receiving, designing, organizing in SLO’s Lab
Saturday, March 8th - 2pm @ Rose Float Lab on Mount Bishop Road

Join the crew that welcomes our float home! Although traffic can never guarantee when the float arrives, we want to be there waiting. Plus, someone’s gotta drive it off the truck bed and into lab! There’s always something to do at lab for everyone, possibilities include:
~ finish installing new pallet racks
~ sort out old supplies, find the keepers a new home
~ help deco/design spruce up their room
~ help plan steel structure for Open House mini-float
~ figure how to install and mount new speakers, we need music!
Doubt it’ll be a long day, peeps will likely wander away by 8pm, maybe 6pm

MARK YOUR CALENDAR – A Month’s Worth of Rose Float Goodness
Sat Mar 15 - LAB in SLO
Sat Mar 22 - Research Trip to Santa Cruz Boardwalk
Sun Mar 30 – Joint Leadership Meeting in SLO: Design 09 Float (team members can visit)
Tues Apr 1 – Spring Quarter Starts
Sat Apr 5 – Joint Leadership Team Meeting in SLO: DDC(team members can visit)
Th Apr 10 - Team Meeting: Informational Ice Cream Social, 8pm @ UU Bishops Lounge
Sat Apr 15 - Build Mini Float for Open House, 10 a.m. @ Lab on Mt. Bishop Road
Sat Apr 19 - Come visit us at Open House

Feed me…QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS
Feel free to comment/reply, e-mail, phone me

Thanks for reading (if you go this far)
Chrystal Tipping
Program Relations Lead
Cal Poly Rose Float
c/o University Union
Associated Students, Inc.
San Luis Obispo, CA 93407
o: 805.756.1268
f: 805.756.7723
rfleaders@asi.calpoly.edu

At Banquet Saturday we officially started the new year (!!) & announced a Program Relations/Marketing dept. in the Rose Float Leadership team… and I don’t really know what that means. Even after spending time with the asi marketing team, my head’s still fuzzy. What does any modern info seeker do? Google it! I found these delightful insights:

• “If a young man tells his date she’s intelligent, looks lovely, and is a great conversationalist, he’s saying the right things to the right person and that’s marketing. If the young man tells his date how handsome, smart and successful he is — that’s advertising. If someone else tells the young woman how handsome, smart and successful her date is — that’s public relations.”
• You might think of marketing this way. If business is all about people and money and the art of persuading one to part from the other, then marketing is all about finding the right people to persuade.

http://www.tenonline.org/art/mm1/9301.html

Now my brain’s not so fuzzy!! Now I have to figure out how it relates to the Rose Float program. Any ideas?

Thanks to Breana for being our Public Relations Leader this past year! Thought she might enjoy the quote

The second to last general Rose Float team meeting of the quarter is tonight at 8:10pm in UU 220…and we would love to see everybody there!
We will update everybody about current events in the program, as well as have a fun group activity and break into interest groups for planning Open House, Design/DDC, and the bookstore gallery display…Snacks will be provided.

THIS WEEKEND:
There will be a short lab day on Saturday at our lab (Bld 50L behind parking lot H1 out Mount Bishop road) to get some projects done and begin the process of welcoming our float back home (Spring cleaning!). We will meet at 10am and work till 2′ish.

Saturday evening is SLO’s end-of-the-year banquet celebration at the Spyglass Inn. Call time for set-up is 4pm, guest arrival is 5-5:30pm, and dinner will be served at 6:00pm. Please remember that this is a semi-formal event (dress accordingly) and payment will be collected at the door ($25/plate). If you need a ride, please contact Michelle at
mahls…@calpoly.edu or 661-414-6773.

If you are unable to make it to the meeting tonight, but still would like to get updated and/or have any questions, please contact Breana Dixon at rflead…@asi.calpoly.edu