12/28/18 4pm-11pm UP Day

All aboard! Thank you for volunteering to build Harmony Through Union, the Chinese American Heritage Foundation's float in the 2019 Rose Parade. Union Pacific is our Golden Spike Sponsor! Fiesta Parade Floats is our Float Builder! PANGEA is the Harmony Through Union Team Director! Plus, there are hosts of generous others making this happen! Welcome to Our Team!

Watch our Harmony Through Union video for the history about the Transcontinental Railroad!

Harmony Through Union celebrates the 150th Anniversary of the Transcontinental Railroad, and honors the immigrant workers who helped make it possible. Harmony Through Union is likely to be the longest float in the parade. It features float riders that are descendants of original railroad workers, animated Golden Spike action, fireworks, and an escort of Chinese lion dancers. Harmony Through Union kicks off a yearlong series of special events, public information, media, and educational programs bringing light to the stories of immigrant workers who helped build America! Just as President Lincoln rallied our country after the Civil War, we are inviting a diverse populous of people and organizations like you and yours to unite and work together to achieve a common goal — the making of Harmony Through Union!

It will take 140 Generous Volunteers per day to complete Harmony Through Union on-time! Please share this unique and historic Volunteer Opportunity with family, friends, your community and your organizational affiliations! We invite all to join us! Let's go viral! Diversity works best when we team together!

Though everyone is encouraged to register for any Volunteer Shift(s) you are available, Sunday, Dec. 2 and Friday, December 28, are special Union Pacific Employee, Family and Friends Volunteer Days! We hope you can join us on these days!

Volunteer Days Available

Sunday, December 2 and Sunday, December 9 are Dry Decoration Volunteer Days. There are 2 shifts per day. Each shift is 4 hours long: 8am-12:00pm and 12:00pm-4:00pm. You can sign-up for both shifts if you'd like. Actually, it would be most appreciated. NOTE: 10 years of age is the minimum for these days.

Wednesday, December 26 through Saturday, December 29 are Floral Decoration Volunteer Days. There are 2 shifts per day. Each shift is 8 hours long: 8:00am-4:00pm and 4:00pm-11:00pm. There will be wait times, break times, and refreshment times. We provide the refreshments. There will be media present on all days. NOTE: 13 years of age is the minimum for these days.

Sunday, December 30 is our final Floral Decoration Day! There are 3 shifts for the day. The first 2 shifts are 8 hours long: 8:00am-4:00pm and 4:00pm-11:00pm. The last shift is 11:00-completion (no later than 2am). The work and excitement escalates, the closer we get to New Year's Day. NOTE: 13 years of age is the minimum for this day.

This will be a lot of intensive work, but we can do it. We are The Team! Plus, it'll be fun, and you'll be a playing a role in history! Thank you for your part!

Things to Know Before You Leave Home

• Cheryl Ann Wong/PANGEA and John Schulte/PANGEA are your contacts, if you are not affiliated with Union Pacific.

Cheryl Ann Wong -- cwong@pangeacorp.com -- 949-633-8667

John Schulte -- bigdog@pangeacorp.com -- 949-443-0666

• Lupe Valdez, Union Pacific, Director Public Affairs, is your contact if you are affiliated with Union Pacific.

Lupe Valdez -- lcvaldez@up.com -- 909-266-3686

• Cold weather, warm weather, and rain - You can expect everything from warm days to very cold nights to rain, so please come prepared. Shoes must be closed-toed and sturdy and should be waterproof!
• Clothes and glue do not mix - Old clothes are recommended since the glues used to affix flowers DO NOT WASH OUT! A baseball type of hat is recommended to protect your hair when working under scaffolding.
• What to keep at home - Please keep your jewelry and other valuables at home. We suggest you wear a fanny pack on your waist to keep your personal items, as there is no place to store or lock-up your belongings.
• What to bring - EVERY DECORATOR MUST BRING A PAIR OF SCISSORS. Some items that Volunteers find helpful to bring are plastic gloves, rags, and dish soap. Bring a light portable folding chair if you have one. All decoration materials will be provided. Cameras are allowed, however, Fiesta Parade Floats is not responsible for loss or breakage of anything you bring.

• Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the start of your shift. This allows time to park in the remote parking lot and

take our shuttle bus over to Fiesta Parade Floats. You must park in the remote parking lot.

Driving Directions to Remote Parking Lot (1111 W 3rd St, Azusa, CA 91702, USA) & Shuttle Bus

• From 210 Freeway EAST: Exit Vernon Avenue off the 210 freeway in Azusa. At end of off ramp, turn right onto W 3rd Street. Travel approximately 1/2 mile to the end of 3rd Street and turn left into the first parking lot at Northrop Grumman. Shuttle bus service is available to & from Fiesta Parade Floats.
• From 210 Freeway WEST: Exit Vernon Avenue off the 201 freeway in Azusa. Travel South and turn right at the first stop sign onto W. 3rd Street. Travel approximately 1/2 mile to the end of 3rd Street and turn left into the first parking lot at Northrop Grumman. Shuttle bus service is available to & from Fiesta Parade Floats.
• There is no parking for Volunteers except in the remote parking lot. You cannot walk to Fiesta Parade Floats: it is a freeway drive away.
• Shuttle bus service runs from 7:30am-4:30pm on Dry Decoration Days and until 11:30pm on Floral Decorating Days.

Upon arrival at Fiesta Parade Floats, please locate a Chinese American Heritage Foundation Representative or Union Pacific Representative; you will be issued an identification that allows you entry on to the Fiesta Parade Floats property. You must wear this at all times.

After you receive your identification, you will be directed where to go to receive your orientation from Fiesta Parade Floats Supervisors.

After your orientation, you will be given a Decoration Assignment. Here's a message directly from Fiesta Parade Floats:

Jobs are assigned with many things in consideration: years of experience, ability to follow directions, ability to tolerate heights and most of all – patience! Jobs are assigned as needed and many jobs do not involve direct application of flowers to the float. Jobs include (but are not limited to) sweeping and cleaning, cutting and sorting, preparing materials (combing palm bark, ironing corn husks, crushing coconut, gluing the back sides of leaves and flowers) and applying floral materials onto the float. Remember there WILL be “waiting around time,” particularly at the beginning of a shift, and this is where your patience is greatly needed and appreciated. The earlier in the week you volunteer, the more there will be to do, and the more experienced you will be for later on in the week, which better guarantees that the December 29 and December 30 shifts may be opened to you. A minimum of an 8-hour shift is required for all volunteers.

Follow the Rules

• Wear your identification at all times. It is required to enter the facility.
• Never start a new job without first being assigned & trained by your Float Supervisor.
• Never run, bounce or jump while on scaffolding. You could be putting your life, and others, in danger.
• Never move scaffolding. Your Float Supervisor will request the Fiesta Scaffold Crew to be called for such movement.
• Glue and decoration materials should never be left unattended on the float or on scaffolding.
• If glue spills occur, please immediately wipe up & cover with sawdust. Never cover with plastic or paper.
• No eating or drinking on or around the float. Spills can destroy hours worth of hard work.
• Radios, iPods, and mobile phone usage are not allowed while working on or around the floats.

Other Things Fiesta Parade Floats Would Like You to Know...

Work Environment

The decorating facility is a large warehouse (or float barn) that can range from hot to cold depending on the elements and weather outside. You will be working in a covered area, but it does not have climate control. Keep in mind that the floor is concrete and, unless your task involves sitting, you may be on your feet for extended periods.

There are portable toilets. :-)

Food

The El Matador Restaurant food booth will be located in the parking lot on December 26 – 30 from approximately 9:00 am to 8:00 pm. Meals, snacks, and hot & cold beverages will be available for purchase. You are welcome to bring your own beverages and sack meals, too.

Age Requirements

Due to insurance requirements at Fiesta Parade Floats and the need to show proof of age, all volunteer decorators must be at least 10 years-old for Dry Decorations and 13 years-old for Floral Decorations. Teenage volunteers may be asked to show a high school student identification card or driver’s license as proof of age.