STATE OF THE PHLOCK 2015Did you know Parrot Heads in Paradise, Inc. “officially” turns 21years oldthis year?Yes, Parrot Heads in Paradise, Inc. is “growing older but not up”Though recorded in our PHIP Parrot Head history book that Scott Nickersonfounded the Atlanta Parrot Head Club in 1989, it wasn’t until 1994 that Par-rot Heads in Paradise, Inc. became a reality!Yep! We’re pretty much still youngsters as age goes. So how could wehave turned the calendar over to begin 2015?It seems like yesterday that we were still exploring the internet hoping for some Buffett Concert news or shared Buffett stories. Westood in line or dialed in on our land lines hoping to get Buffett Tickets to any Buffett concerts. We sought out our kinfolk in parkinglots, bars and in beach towns. We collected Buffett music. We wore our Buffett concert and our Margaritaville T-shirts hoping to getnoticed by other Parrot Heads. We pillaged Concert banners, collected Parrot Head SWAG and even built tiki bars inside and outsideour homes!And here we are ... year’s later. We continue to share that same tropical dream of escape!! We all want to win that lottery and disap-pear to those little latitudes! But until then, you, the PHIP Parrot Heads continue to devote your time and energy to the organization.It’s in your Parrot Head DNA and it’s why we are all still here.Before we begin reporting the facts and figures for 2014, we would like to take a moment to remember those parrot heads we lostfrom our ranks last year. As in past years, PHIP said farewell to yet more of our wonderful family members. They were husbands,wives, mothers, fathers, sons, daughters and co-workers. They were good friends, long time club members, volunteers and peoplewith heart. They were PHIP Parrot Heads! We will remember we are less in numbers without them, but greater with heart for havingknown them. Sail on ...And now, what you’ve been waiting for ...The 2015 State of the Phlock!!At 2014’s end our annual membership statistics were reported by 227 Parrot Head Clubs, including 9 Canadian Parrot Head Chaptersand the one and only Australian Parrot Head Club down under! Our membership remained solid & we closed out the year with a re-porting of 26,500 members.Our fundraising efforts were in the millions and our Chapters reported a whopping $3,272,021making our 13 year total $39.9 MillionDollars!!!More importantly, PHIP Parrot Heads unselfishly donated 223,000 Volunteer hours in 2014 bringing our 13 year total to 3,407,000donated hours!! Those donated hours included: Adopt A Highway/Adopt A SpotCoastal clean upsEarth Day eventsFood Deliveries to the less fortunateTrees plantedMeals on Wheels deliveriesReading to SeniorsHosting Water Stops at 5K RunsCooking/Serving Meals at SheltersBut, it’s not all about work!! Let us not forget PHIP, Inc. is a social organization!! You participate in parades! You host local Chapterand Regional events! You tailgate! You support the local economy at your restaurants & bars! You support each other in good timesand you check on your Parrot Head neighbors when disaster strikes and offer assistance when possible! You boast about being aPHIP Parrot Head to anyone who will listen in the hopes they will join our ranks, put on their grass skirts, coconut bras and get in-volved.Yes, PHIP Parrot Heads, you continue to amaze and astonish those of us who know you as family! And many of you are “officiallyrecognized within your own communities because they reap the fruits of your labors!There’s still so much fun ahead in 2015 as we continue “growing older but not up”. Unleash that inner child more often and stay true toyour Parrot Head DNA!Our retired Director of Membership, Bob Heffelfinger once told me “Small voices, when combined, can deafen!”... And I believe him!!Congratulations from your PHIP Board of Directors on another stellar year!!PHlockers Magazine May 2015 Page 4