Snow Angels Update: No Records Broken

For those of you who have been following this story since I first announced it in January.

I left the house around nine a.m. with the intention of arriving at the University of MN-Duluth Campus by nine-thirty in preparation for an attempt at breaking the Guinness Book World Record for simultaneous snow angels. Bismarck, North Dakota, currently holds the record, just shy of 9,000. The organizers here, Duluth Rotary 25 and the Proctor DECA, had hoped to produce a new record. No doubt their experience will teach them a number of lessons about what it takes to gather masses together, and how impressive it is when large attendance for anything is achieved.

This effort was for a good cause: clean water for indigent peoples in Ethiopia. But possibly the incentives weren't there for 9,000 volunteers to give up their Saturday to stand out in the cold and brave the elements for sixty to ninety minutes.

The enthusiasm level was quite amped amongst those who did participate. It was a great social event and a fund raiser as well. The cost per family was to be ten dollars, or five per individual. In addition to their time, some people donated quite a bit more.

Officially designated volunteers were wearing yellow knit caps, and there were an abundance of these when I arrived. The plan was for these volunteers to assume responsibility for squads of fifty. Many of the participants who arrived early were ushered into the field house where they could warm up till the actual time came. The Duluth Children's Museum had set up tables with activities for young people to help them stay occupied. There were art and science projects including a table where kids could make rockets and launch them from the middle of the room. (An air launcher, not explosives, was used for this purpose.)

Crystal Taylor helped promote the event.

The fact that we had fresh snow this week was duly noted as a plus by organizers, and all participants on hand acknowledged a measure of gratitude that temps were in the teens and not minus twenty had been the case the previous Saturday.

It became apparent by 10:30 that the numbers were significantly short of the target. By 10:40 a.m. those in attendance were being urged to text friends and relatives to hurry on over in order to fill the stadium.

A little before eleven Duluth Mayor Don Ness offered up a few words of encouragement which was then followed by special music and the singing of the Star Spangled Banner. At the critical moment, which turned out to be approximately 11:15 a.m., everyone was instructed to lay on the ground to commence flapping their arms and legs to make snow angels. A helicopter was slated to appear for the purpose of documenting. Though a minute or two behind schedule it did finally arrive to make several passes above the collected masses.

Here's how it was supposed to be. We only needed the silver and blue.

The energy level remained robust as the crowd dispersed to the parking lots and drifted away. The official results? I know not. I can only testify that they did what they could and a lot of people had a good time. 

Aiming for a Snow Angels World Record. Can They Do It?

Let It Snow

It's a new year, and with it comes the popular tradition of New Year resolutions. I was asked by at least a couple of folks what my resolutions were for 2013 and I replied that I don't do resolutions. I make goals.

As a young person it seems like whenever I made resolutions I would beat myself up when I failed. The self-inflicted wounds from guilt and failure were administered pretty mercilessly sometimes, though apparently I survived.

Based on lists of the most popular resolutions, many people look to this passing from one year to the next as a prod to do what they know they should have been doing all along. Drink less. Quit smoking. Get fit. Get a better education. Get a better job. Manage stress better. Manage money better. Volunteer more. Reuse, recycle. To which I would add, floss regularly.

They're all good. But if you fail to work these into your lifestyle, don't wait till 2014 to make another stab at it.

On a related topic, what are your goals for 2013? If you're here in the Northland, do you have any plans for February 9? Would you like to help a group of people try to set a Guinness Book World Record for charity? Here are the details.

It's called Angels for a Cause and is being put on by the Rotary of Duluth Club 25 in partnership with the Proctor High School DECA program. Hopefully everyone will find a place to park as the selected location is the University of Minnesota, Duluth.

According to the press release, the gates will open at 9:30 a.m. with the making of snow angels to start promptly at 11:00 a.m. Their aim is to get 9,000 people to simultaneously make a snow angel. That will be quite an achievement, and they're talking as if this is really going to happen.

Rotary 25 and DECA are asking for a donation of $5 per person or $10 per family to participate in this event which aims to use the money for Global Team for Local Initiatives, an organization that supports the indigenous peoples of Ethiopia affected by climiate change. They expect to raise $28,000 for projects related to water, sanitation, hygiene, income generation and functional adult literacy.

Crystal Taylor, who spearheaded last summer's flash mob that made for a lively lunch hour interruption during Duluth's sidewalk days, said “We are excited to partner with students from Proctor DECA to host this extreme event for such an amazing, global cause. Our club hopes to see the entire community at this exciting, one-of-a-kind event.” Taylor is public relations committee chair for Rotary of Duluth Club 25.

Evidently they're pulling out all the stops to make this event a real happening. According to the story, "the fundraiser will include entertainment, treats and fun activities for all ages." And the usual assembly of civic-minded local celebrity guests as well including Dan Hanger, Anchor at FOX 21 News, and Kevin Jacobsen, Anchor at Northlands NewsCenter as emcees, honorary guests Mayor Don Ness, St. Louis County Attorney Mark Rubin, Senator Roger Reinert and City Councilors, Dan Hartman and Emily Larson whose joint role will be to facilitate the countdown at start of the event.

To purchase tickets and learn more visit Make Your Mark and the Make your Mark: Angels for a Cause Facebook page.

As an added bonus, attendees who purchase a ticket online prior to the event will be eligible to win $1,000.00 cash. The winner will be selected randomly on day of event.