Latitude 38 Parrot Head Club,

What's In A Name? Latitude 38 -- I wanted a unique name that would describe the areawhere we live and our freedom of attitudes. 38 degrees is our distance north of theequator. If you look up "latitude" in the dictionary, you will find one of thedefinitions to be "freedom from normal restraints, limitations, or regulations."

How Did We Begin -- I guess I was a late bloomer. I didn't know who Jimmy Buffett was until I heard his songs performed by Steve Meyer on Catalina Island one night in 1984. Irushed out and bought several of his tapes, subscribed to the Coconut Telegraph, and begangoing to concerts--the first being at Concord Pavilion August 17, 1984. When I met my husband, Wayne, I immediately introduced him to Jimmy Buffett's music and he became a fan.

I didn't discover Parrot Head Clubs until 1994 on the Internet. I immediately wrote to the National Founder of pArRoT hEaDs In PaRaDiSe, Scott Nickerson. I learned that as aClub, we would have to join and pay dues to the national organization, we would beexpected to do community and environmental projects, have regular meetings, send abi-monthly newsletter to all other national clubs, and of course, PARTY. I talked with myhusband, Wayne, and together we decided to start a club in this area.

We soon became the first (and to this date, the only) northern California Chapter ofpArRoT hEaDs In PaRaDiSe. It took a lot of work to get it going. First, I had to think ofa name for the Club, choose our Club Colors, then join P.H.I.P. by sending in anapplication along with the yearly dues. Next I had to write up a newsletter, get the wordout locally by word of mouth, mail, and over the Internet.

We became known as Latitude 38 Parrot Head Club. We chose our Club colors of Teal,Purple and Deep Pink. We held our first meeting August 30 at El Torito in Dublin. Ibelieve we had nine parrot heads show up and join our Club that evening.

Where Are We Now? -- We have been a Club for over two years now. We have become muchmore organized with several elected officers, and volunteer Committee Chairpersons. Wecurrently have close to 90 members in our organization. We work as hard as we play - andwe enjoy it.

Your Founders,

Sue and Wayne DeWitt