Rotary Club hosts 16th annual Parrots of the Caribbean event

MADISON — More than 650 attendees of the Madison Rotary Club’s 16th annual Parrots of the Caribbean event danced, laughed and treated their taste buds under a full moon at the Insanity Complex Aug. 25.

Mike Keenan, publicity chair for the Rotary Club of Madison, said this year’s event was “possibly the largest attendance we have ever seen.” He credited Peter Alvarez and his co-chairs for pulling off another successful event.

“We have had so many positive comments and a tremendous outpouring of thank yous from the people of Madison,” Keenan said of the response. “Many thought this was the best one yet.”

Keenan said the Rotary Club always takes attendees’ comments into consideration when planning next year’s Parrots of the Caribbean. This year, the cost of food was included in the ticket price based on popular request. The venue was also back to being outdoors. In addition, Keenan said the Rotary Club has gone full circle over the years from serving food themselves to using vendors to providing heir own services again.

“We are adaptable,” Keenan said.

According to Keenan, some of the highlights of the night were the food—prepared by “tireless cook volunteers” and a “merry band of food servers”—the bottomless beer cup and the raffle prize baskets.

“The raffle baskets are always a hit, and the baskets were exceptional this year,” Keenan said.

Keenan also complimented the musical entertainment of the night provided by two bands, Calypso Vision and Juice, who “did a fantastic job of keeping everyone moving.”

This year, proceeds from the event will fund a downtown city park, as well as a host of other projects. Keenan said the Rotary Club is also in the process of creating a children’s garden at Madison’s new public library, which this year’s event will also help fund.

“Everything we take in goes right back into the community,” Keenan said.

Since its first year, Parrots of the Caribbean has grown from a Rotarians-only occasion to having hundreds of guests from across the Southeast. The event celebrates the club’s achievements in supporting the local and international community. The club credits the contributions of local businesses and families with helping them achieve these goals.

To learn more about the Rotary Club of Madison and what they do in the community, visit madisonalrotary.org.