Mayberry RFD

Ok, so I’m boring myself with this blog. I’m not normally a boring person so don’t know how I got so lost. Must be the moon … or the sun. Maybe my yin is off … or perhaps it’s the yang.

Regardless, today I’m going to talk about a fabulous 4th of July activity I’m going to attend. It’s a neighborhood parade in the true Mayberry RFD tradition (yes, I’m aging myself). The kids all paint themselves red, white and blue and put streamers on their bicycles. Moms and pops wear silly hats and put flag decals on their toenails (well, mostly the moms). The police and fire departments show up with their trucks and sirens and lead the parade. We march to the park and drink lemonade, eat hot dogs and cotton candy.

It just doesn’t get any more down-home than that. And, the fact that it goes on in Tempe, Ariz., a suburb of Phoenix, the 5th largest city in America, is really incredible to me.

This event always reminds me that Signature Events and big corporate sponsorships are great for Inc. level community outreach projects …. however, it’s the grass-roots efforts, sometimes the really simple things, which are making the most difference in the communities where our Avnet employees work, live and play.

So, as you are out celebrating this big American holiday, think about doing something for your neighborhood, a nearby park, or heck, simply the kid next door — she doesn’t have 501©3 status, but what the heck. And maybe put a flag decal on your cheek while you are at it. Don’t go there with the cheek comment!

Happy 4th.