Greetings Bear Posse!

I just received an e-mail message from Jeanne
Flemming, one of the NYC Village Halloween Parade
organizers. I told her that the “Bear Posse” is
considering returning to the 2005 Halloween Parade.
She replied, quote, "Hooray! We love you folks!"

So what do you think Bear Posse? Should we have a go
at it again? With only 17 days remaining to
Halloween, its time to get serious if we are going to
make this happen. I was hoping to get this e-mail out
earlier, but I have been home sick with a fever all
week.

Blizzard Bear and others have sent around feelers to
gauge interest. About a dozen bears responded. We
had about 50 in 2003. We need at least 30 this year
to make it feasible.

Here are the details:

PARADE:
Halloween falls on a Monday. The posse must gather at
the bus at the bus at around 7PM, before the bus gets
ready to move. More details to come.

ABOUT THE BUS:
The bus will again be set up so that bears can ride on
the roof, sit inside to rest your paws, and use the
bathroom.

COSTUME:
Pull your bear costume out of hibernation, or wear
something related! In 03’ we had Goldilox, honey
bees, rangers, and lots more! Use your imagination!
In the fine tradition of the Village Halloween parade,
look as funny as possible!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!!!

• We really, really need people to come down to the
Jersey shore the weekend before the parade (29th and
30th) to help us build, wire and decorate the bus. As
a bonus, we are taking the bus out for a haunted
hayride the night of the 29th. All are welcome to
sleep over at the Barn.

• To help assemble all the decorations on the bus
when it arrives at the village at around 4:00. More
details to come.

• We need rangers during the parade! We cannot
participate in the parade without a safety plan. To
do so, we need “bear posse rangers” to volunteer for 1
hour shifts on the roof, by the ladder, and out
roaming around the bus. Rangers will carry walkie
talkies and wear a cool badge. And get bear hugs!

• We need a DJ to pump out tunes for the bears to
dance, bounce, skate and bump to! The DJ will be set
up on the roof of the bus with his/her equipment
plugged into the bus generator. Can’t think of a more
fun experience for a DJ! You’ll be pumping tunes to
all of 6th Avenue and a huge audience!

MULA:
Will be asking for $20 a person ASAP! Money will
immediately go towards a donation to the parade
organization (hope to donate $250), bus gas and tolls,
decorations, wood, hardware, paint, etc. Any
remaining money will go towards the “SaveTheBus fund”
to help keep the buses rolling. For people who don’t
pay in advance, it will cost $30 to join the Posse on
parade day. You can Paypal money to
savethebus@yahoo.com (my account does not accept
credit card payments) or send a check to 2019 Route
71, Spring Lake Heights, NJ 07762. I will also be at
Delancy’s happy hour this Wednesday in NYC if you
would like to pay me in person.

So there you have it Posse! Please volunteer! Please
send honey! If we have 30 people and enough offers of
help, the Posse rolls again!

I'm all excited!

Andy (AKA "Bus Bear")