Community Corner
Community Update
THE GROSSE POINTE SANTA CLAUSE CHRISTMAS PARADE NAME IS BEING CHANGED.
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MEMBERS OF THE FRIENDS OF THE GROSSE POINTE CHRISTMAS PARADE HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THOSE NOW IN CHARGE OF THE PARADE THAT THE NAME WILL BE CHANGED TO:
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“THE GROSSE POINTE HOMETOWN PARADE”. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE NEW CONTROLLING BOARD HAS MADE THE DECISION TO GO FORWARD WITH THE NEW NAME.
When we asked the Chamber of Commerce "Why the name change?" they responded that "The parade needed to be rebranded”. Is the parades primary mission a Grosse Pointe Tradition to start the Christmas season or is it simply a marketing tool? For years it has brought together families and community to celebrate Christmas and the joys of small children in the anticipation of Santa Claus. What does THE GROSSE POINTE HOMETOWN PARADE mean to a five year old staring into your eyes when you are helping them write and send a letter to Santa, or when they put Christmas presents into a TOYS FOR TOTS TRAIN knowing their Christmas gift may be the only one that a poor child will receive? And what about Christmas and the baby Jesus? This is a Christian community.
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WE WERE TOLD THAT THE NEW NAME WAS PUBLISHED IN A PRESS RELEASE OVER A MONTH AGO. WE COULD NOT FIND ANY EVIDENCE OF THAT.
THIS IS VERY DISTURBING TO ALL OF US WHO VALUE THE TRADITIONS OF THE GROSSE POINTES, NONE MORE MEMORABLE, APPRECIATED OR LOOKED FORWARD TO THAN OUR OWN SANTA CLAUSE CHRISTMAS PARADE.
I SAY “OUR OWN”, BECAUSE THE PARADE BELONGS TO ALL OF US WHO LIVE HERE AND ALL OF THOSE FROM SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES WHO ALSO COME TO ENJOY IT.
WE SHOULD NOT STAND BY AND ALLOW ARBITRARY CHANGES TO TRADITIONS THAT WE VALUE. IT IS REALLY OUR DUTY TO PROTECT THEM. THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE ARE NOT OPEN TO IMPROVEMENT AND ADJUSTMENT, HOWEVER, IN AMERICA STRUCTURAL CHANGE SHOULD BE DONE IN THE OPEN WHERE THE PEOPLE OF THE GROSSE POINTES CAN BE MADE AWARE AND HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND.
THIS LETTER IS THE BEGINNING OF A NON-PARTISAN COMMUNITY EFFORT TO MAINTAIN THE NAME OF OUR PARADE AS IT NOW STANDS.
THOSE IN SUPPORT NEED TO SPEAK UP. IF YOU WISH TO HELP AND TO BE COUNTED AS A PARADE SUPPORTER PLEASE LET ME KNOW AT >dickruzzindesign@aol.com<.
I WILL ALWAYS RESPECT AND VALUE YOUR RIGHT TO A DIFFERENT OPINION.
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DICK RUZZIN / JUNE 10 / 2013
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