Volunteers Still Needed For 4th of July Parade

Volunteers are wanted for the annual 4th of July parade in downtown Everett Washngton. Not only will you be able to be in the middle of the action, you get a free t-shirt! Here’s what you need to know if interested…

The Everett Office of Emergency Management is looking for volunteers to assist with Everett’s upcoming 4th of July parade. Be a part of downtown Everett’s largest event and one of the top parades in the north Puget Sound!

The Everett Office of Emergency Management works with the Cultural Arts Department to help organize the Everett 4th of July Parade every year. It takes close to 200 City employees and 80 volunteers to make sure the parade flows smoothly and make sure that parade participants and spectators alike have a safe and fun time every year.

The Emergency Management team uses this special event opportunity to do some training and exercising in Incident Command System (ICS) and basic disaster response skills for our City employees, CERT team members and local volunteers.

Volunteers are needed to help with various jobs, such as:
• checking parade participants in before the parade
• walking with the parade as Parade Ambassadors (Marshals)
• helping foster communication through HAM radio
• helping parade entrants find their place in the staging areas
• helping the parade participants get back to their cars and buses safely before leaving town
• tracking equipment and supplies
• pulling the water wagons and distributing water along the parade route

Time commitment required from volunteers:
1) Volunteers should be able to participate in three weeknight meetings in June preceding the Parade. These are critical to training and orienting volunteers to the complex event planning. The meeting schedule will be emailed to those who register to volunteer.

2) On the day of the Parade, volunteers typically put in a 7-8 hour day (roughly 6:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.)

All parade volunteers will receive:
• Training
• The newly designed 2016 parade t-shirt to wear and keep
• Refreshments and snacks the day of the parade
• A certificate of appreciation signed by the Mayor
• A special recognition dinner
• Those who have assisted the City with the 4th of July Parade for 3 or more years will receive service award pins

To sign up, please email Lynn Sterbenz at lsterbenz@everettwa.gov, or call (425) 257-8111.