Torrance Rose Float Association Captures Mayor’s Award In
2018 Tournament of Roses Parade
The Torrance Rose Float Association captured the Mayor’s Award for the most outstanding float submitted by a city in this year’s 2018 Rose Parade. The theme of the 129th Rose Parade was, “Making a Difference.” The title of the Torrance float was, “Protecting Nature…The Madrona Marsh Preserve.” The Torrance Rose Float Association committee selected the theme from designs submitted by Torrance high school students during their annual design contest earlier this year.
The Madrona Marsh Preserve is thought to be one of the last remaining vernal freshwater marshes in Los Angeles County. In the years since California’s discovery by Europeans, development has removed virtually all of our wetlands. Migratory water fowl populations are less than 50% of what they were in 1900. Many species are now designated as threatened or endangered. The Preserve is a mix of several micro-habitats including back dune, coastal prairie, alkali margin, vernal pool and vernal marsh area and is situated within the greater El Segundo Sand Dune System.
In September of 2017, I was provided the opportunity to attend the 2017 Rose Parade Float Participants kickoff meeting in Pasadena by Bev Findley, President of the Torrance Rose Float Association. The following two paragraphs were written in my September 21st, Out and About column.
Arriving at the Rose Bowl, and entering into the beautifully decorated meeting room, I felt so proud to live in the City of Torrance and to have our city represented by a float each year. I learned that the mission statement of the Torrance Rose Float Association is to preserve the tradition of delivering joy, beauty and pageantry from our hometown to people across the globe through participation in the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade on a day when the world is full of the hope of renewal.
The kickoff meeting included remarks by several individuals, as well as panel participants. I quickly learned how members of the Torrance Rose Float Association must juggle fundraising; float decorating, marketing, advertising and so much more. Each board member was enthusiastic and listened intently to the speakers.
Therefore, it is with heartfelt appreciation that the Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce thanks the members of the Torrance Rose Float Association and the many volunteers who enthusiastically and tirelessly worked on this year’s float. It was indeed beautiful.
To learn more about the Madrona Marsh Preserve, or to get involved as a volunteer, please visit www.friendsofmadronamarsh.com.