Orpheus
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Well, believe it or not it is that time of year again. It is just a few days before the Original Krewe of Orpheus hits the streets of Mandeville. The past year has been a growing year for the Krewe. Just after Hurricane Katrina we were fortunate enough to buy 43 floats and 17 tractors previously owned by Massett and Company. At the blink of an eye, we went from just a regular parade organization to one that owns its own floats and now is in the float rental business. In addition, we had to get involved in all the typical matters that come with ownership: maintenance, upkeep, redecorating for the coming year, trying to find rental contracts, managing those contracts, among many many many other matters. I commend Kevin Flockton, Tate and Racheal Elsonsohn, and CJ for all of their work and efforts in making this happen. This year, many of us were faced with adversity realizing that the insurance carriers weren’t going to act as quickly or generously as we had hoped. We also ran into many problems with the “out of state” contractors taking our money and running, or “fixing” our homes in such a way that it became more expensive to put it back the way it was before the storm. We have all been touched in some way by Hurricane Katrina and continue to feel her effects. This past year we had tremendous turnover in the Krewe due to people moving out of state or simply not having the funds to support their Mardi Gras habit. Despite the adversity, despite the increased workload and situations that come along with it, THIS KREWE IS ROCKING. I am pleased to announce that the Krewe once again will roll with over 600 riders and thirty floats on the streets of Mandeville. WE ARE THE MEN’S SUPERKREWE OF THE NORTHSHORE! On Friday February 16, 2007 we have been invited by the wonderful City of Mandeville to take to the streets with controlled abandon. I can’t wait to see everyone at the form up area and on the streets of the City. Clay Walker, the County and Western singing phenomenon has agreed to be our Celebrity Grand Marshall. We have double dipped and gotten Hokie Gajan, former LSU Tiger and Saint Phenomenon to agree to be our Local Celebrity Grand Marshall. For the first time in history we have two truly famous grand marshals to help us support our Krewe. I personally want to thank them both for agreeing to honor our Krewe. As I am sure you have heard, we also have elected the first Spanish King in all of Mardi Gras history. King Otto Cesar Mehrgut is Orpheus XX. Congratulations to him and thanks for your huge support of this Organization. Before the first drink is drunk and before the first float is loaded, I especially wanted to thank the Board of Directors and Lieutenants for helping make this happen. Without everyone’s support, there would not be an Orpheus! Our plans for the future look bright. We have purchased property in Covington for the intended purpose of building a den. We are also looking at other options to house our floats in St. Tammany Parish. Our plan is to run this massive operation with precision, ease and comfort. I would like to see a true den built: One that would enable us to hold parties amongst our floats; one that would allow us to load our throws the day before the parade, not the day of; one that would allow the Lieutenants and others to work on their floats in the off season - to add amenities to them that other Krewes would die for. Stay tuned because this Krewe is “Moving Forward at the Speed of Light”. We are going to go “Where No Krewe has Gone Before”! I strongly encourage everyone to check out our Website. Mark Cummings and Randy Owens have spent hours updating the site to include a “Shopping Cart”. As of this writing, you can purchase your Ball Tickets and Official Orpheus Apparel online. Remember to go to Krewe of Orpheus website to see the Calendar of Events, Pictures of Recent Events, and see what items the Krewe has for sale that are sure to become a necessity for all to own! As the Krewe takes to the streets this year remember, it’s your Krewe, it’s our Krewe. With the combined efforts of all involved we will be able to have the best ride in the Krewe’s history. Remember, “We are old enough to vote, but we can’t drink - Orpheus turns Twenty”.
Your Captain,
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