(From the City of Joplin)
The City of Joplin announces Freeman Health System as the host for the 2014 Christmas Parade. Earlier this month, City officials requested not-for-profit organizations to submit an application if their group was interested in hosting and managing the responsibilities of this celebrated community event during the holidays. Other organizations who had applied this year were the Downtown Joplin Alliance and Joplin Kiwanis.
The City established this process upon learning that the previous organization (Joplin Jaycees) would not be managing it this year, and had received several inquiries from interested groups wanting to serve in the role.
“With several groups interested, we developed the application process to establish a fair process in making a selection,” said Lynden Lawson, Assistant Director of Public Works for Operations. Lawson was part of the committee reviewing the applications and hearing the applicants’ presentations to make the final determination of selecting a group to provide a safe and efficient community event.
Criteria in making the selection included meeting the needs of the parade with a sufficient volunteer base, possessing strong leadership abilities to manage a large community event, and having the knowledge and ability to provide community outreach in communicating to both interested participants as well as the general public attending. In addition, the applicant’s ideas for a parade theme were considered in the selection.
This process was developed through the Joplin Municipal Code, Sec. 114-185 “Permit for parades, processions and open air public meetings”, as well as through discussions of several departments which provide assistance in public safety, street closures and other traffic-related issues to the host organization of the parade.
Lt. Darren Gallup with the Joplin Police Department also served on the selection panel and was interested in the public safety aspect of the event.
“We close Main Street as well as numerous intersections for the parade,” he said,” he said. “The Police Department wants to ensure that traffic can still maneuver safely through town as people try to attend the parade or reach other destinations. We also wanted to confirm that the organizers have a respect for our role and the pressing need for communicating traffic issues, such as parking locations, street closures, and safety measures that involve this fun community event, so early coordination is a priority.”
The annual Christmas Parade will be held on Tuesday, December 2. Freeman will be releasing more information on how interested participants of the parade can reach them to submit their entry. Freeman officials have also stated that any funds generated from the event will go toward a charitable organization, and will announce their designated charity in upcoming weeks.
The City of Joplin thanks all who applied and encourage others to participate in the application process next year.
How is it that a tax exempt hospital gets involved in all these non healthcare activities, pay large fees for various event speakers like Margaret Thatcher, take political stands on issues and likely support political candidates, and manages to keep tax exempt status? And now we have the head guy on the school board. The Chamber of Commerce is just as bad. They are tax exempt and quite openly advertise for or against many issues and regularly endorse political candidates. I have a friend that was just granted medicaid coverage, and Freeman Hospital is not even on the state provider listing. That shows me how important public service is to Freeman. All Mercy Hospital and health services accept medicaid.
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