Preparations...

As the Great Leaf Return is only 7 hours away, I wanted to bring some thoughts for you to ponder over these short hours. The GLR is not something to rush into, yet it is the most joyful of occasions, thus any fear or pressure should be banished from your minds. Instead, just sit with these thoughts, opening your mind and heart to what this holiday brings - the cheer, the love, and the costumed people riding bicycles.

**Leaves are more than just tree appendages. Instead, they represent the entirety of the tree and the entirety of life.

**The Great Leaf Return is not about a day. It is about the combination of moments a day contains.

**To celebrate the leaf is to open yourself to joy and possibility. As the leaf does not know the outcome of its life, neither do we, yet we must embrace this life for all it may bring.

So, go and prepare for the celebrations. There will be much rejoicing!


Additionally: does anyone own a flat-bed pick-up truck? We need someone to pick up the 10 foot tall LED Leaf at 7 am tomorrow, so that it can go on the GLR Queen parade float. There is also a dozen or so butter churns that need to be brought to the Portland Center for the butter churn competition (for those of you who wonder what butter churns have to do with the GLR, you obviously have not read the GLR Manifesto, laid down by our forefathers in 1804).

sara.

Last-Minute Details

Hey Everyone --

Just a quick update with some house keeping items for The Big Day. All of you should have received the GLR Volunteer FAQs in your mailboxes by now, along with your visors. Please keep your visor on throughout the day and try to be available for questions anyone may have. We'll have limited parking in the Tigard Triangle so please be mindful of our guests and park on the street if possible (as a reminder, 68th Avenue will be closed for the parade).

If you volunteered for the Parade Committee, please be at the South Building by 7:00 am. The fire department will be setting up cones and directing traffic to side streets while we clear room for the floats. There will be coffee available at the North building.

7:30 - 8:30 - Leadership Team breakfast and warm up in room 160. Calisthenics lead by Dan, announcements by Hannah. I've asked Sara to prepare a short prose piece to keep us focused and energized.

9 - 11 - Morning Parade

11:30 - Anticipatory Dance performed by the Leadership Team. Please be in your costumes by 11:15. We'll have time for one short run-through before the crowds assemble in 155 - and then it's time to shine.

12 - 1 - Luncheon hosted by University of Phoenix. Emcee will be David and he has asked each chairperson to give a brief report on the work each committee has accomplished this year. Important note: I am very excited to announce the keynote speaker this year will be The Wind and Rustle of the Leaves. Please use the time leading up to 2pm for reflection as needed. Childcare will be provided.

2 - THE GREAT LEAF RETURN

4:30 - Afternoon Celebratory Parade. Performances by GLR Leadership Team, Quest Diagnostics, and State Farm Insurance.

6 - Dinner and Closing Ceremonies. We're hoping to wrap up by 8 and tear down by 9.

Thank you so much for all of your hard work. This event would not be possible without you.

Take heart, dear friends; the leaves are on their way.

Hannah

Food for Thought

Hannah, the Co-Chief Leaf and I had a conversation earlier, and I think it can be of respite to all of us in this busy season of preparation:

Hannah Dorr:but let's not get ahead of ourselves: we have a LOT of preparing to do.

David CollettOh, definitely. Sometimes, I get really discouraged, and I think "What's the point in this leaf business, anyway?" And then I think of it. And it just becomes, it become so real, you know? The crisp wind on my face, the smell of anticipation, the subtle sway of the trees as they look forward to their reunion And those moments, rare as they are, are the most profound motivators.

Hannah Dorrso powerful, david. so powerful. thank you for sharing.

A Quick Update

Hi Everyone,

We're T-15 days from the Great Leaf Return. These next couple of weeks will no doubt be some of the busiest in our lives, but the most rewarding. Our GLR (Great Leaf Return) team, called the "BUDDies" are busier than Santa's elves, and are preparing a smorgasbord of activities. Right now the choreography is being planned.

Yet, with all the hubbub surrounding this event, I would like to challenge all of us--myself and the BUDDies included--to take a step back and realize the impact that the GLR (Great Leaf Return) will have on our lives.

I'm in the process of contacting Hallmark to get greeting cards for the event, because I haven't seen them displayed in stores. You'd think that they'd want to get those cards out much earlier than they do. I guess things have changed in our era, with the Internet and Electronic Mail and all.

I'd like to share a quote before signing off, and the quote is from me. "My purpose isn't to create a new holiday, but merely to help the world recognize one that is already in existence."

Bustling with Excitement,

David "Oak and Maple" Collett

CLO (Chief Leaf Officer)