January 12, 2005
CHS senior party fund-raiser idea features flocks of pink flamingos
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
The flamingos have arrived and area residents are being flocked.
Bunches of bright birds have been spotted on lawns since New Year's Day, resting quietly for 48 hours before moving on. In fact, two different flocks have been making their way around town.
This is not a new migration pattern or some confused wildlife, but the fundraising brainchild of Carol Turner, a member of the Traverse City Central High School senior party parent committee.
Over the holidays, the idea jumped in her head: sprinkle laws with the bright pink birds, invite the 'flocked' to make a donation and, voila, money for the annual all-night graduation party will roll in.
"We started it on New Year's Day and it was a great time because you wake up after New Year's Eve and look outside and say, 'Oh, my god, what am I seeing?'" she said. "They're a real bright pink color, so no matter whether we have grass or snow they stand out real well."
"It seems to be a positive way to ask for a donation because you put a little fun into it," Turner noted.
Turner purchased 24 flamingos and created two, ten-member flocks, saving the rest for replacements as needed. She and her son, Logan, a senior at Central High School, and three of his friends have been quietly moving them from one location to another every two days. Their after-dark stealth relocations are meant to increase the surprise of the homeowner who receives them.
"It was real cute, a real surprise, they must have come in the evening after dinner," said Chrisann Lesley, whose front yard was flocked recently. "We just didn't know they were there until my son, my senior, came home and said, 'Did you see what's in the front yard?'"
Nine of the ten flamingos per flock have a ribbon and card saying 'You're Flocked' on the front and TC Central Class of 2005 Fundraiser on the back. The tenth flamingo has a gold bow and a big baggie with a letter of instruction and self-addressed, stamped envelope inside for donations.
"Some have mailed their donations and others have called us and said to come and pick it up," Carol Turner said. "We have an extra phone line in our house that was for the computer that we never use and now that is our Flock Hotline."
If a homeowner does not want to make a donation, Logan and his friends will move the flock after 48 hours anyway. Donations have also been received from families who do not have a senior at Central this year.
The person flocked can also designate who will next receive the flamingos. Otherwise Turner has a list of names to choose from. She plans to run the fund-raiser for at least a month and is considering buying more flocks because of the popularity.
"We have more places to choose from than we have flocks to flock," said Turner, who has so far raised between $500-600 with the idea. "Most everyone has donated and most everyone has had a place that they've wanted the flamingos to go next."
The senior party is a Central High School tradition that dates back to the late 1960s. The event has evolved from a student-run party to big-budget, parent-driven affair. Parents use a variety of fund-raisers to raise money for decorations, prizes, food and other incidentals. This year's budget is $32,000, though $2,000 of that will be saved to seed next year's parent committee.
The theme for the 2005 party, which will be held from 10 p.m. until 4 a.m. on graduation night, Saturday, June 11, is Black and Gold Rush. Turner estimates that 80 percent of the senior class turns out every year, which means hundreds of students at the party. The parents provide the games, prizes and activities that keep everyone occupied and having fun until just before dawn.
"It's one of the biggest things for seniors and we look forward to it," Logan Turner said.
The Flamingo hotline is 929-1408. Turner and the parent committee welcome donations to the senior party at any time.