SEQUIM — Judy and Steve Mobry recently awoke to find that a flock of flamingos had invaded their front lawn in the Sun Meadows subdivision.
No, flamingos aren’t migrating to Clallam County.
The plastic flamingo flocks appearing on lawns around Sequim of late are simply part of a 15-year tradition by the Sequim Education Foundation to raise funds for the annual Sequim High School graduation party.
The plastic flock on the Mobrys’ lawn consisted of three pink and one purple birds.
“A zipped pouch on the purple flamingo had a message inside explaining that we had been carefully chosen by a friend to be the recipient of the flock,” Judy Mobry said.
“The birds were a part of a larger migration that moved into Sequim as a fundraiser for the class of 2015 safe-and-sober graduation party on June 13.”
The plastic flamingos are being placed on lawns chosen by friends or family members of the residents living there by a rotating list of Sequim High seniors such as Brynn Bryce, Josh McKinney and Reed Gates.
For the students, stealth is key when placing each flock.
“We have to be sneaky,” Bryce said. “It is kind of fun to see if [the residents] are watching out of their window.”
Bryce is grateful to community members for being good sports about the tradition.
“Thank you for not being mad that there are flamingos on your lawn,” she laughed. “And thank you for donating.”
How it works
Residents who get the loan of the flamingos can agree to donate $25 to have the flock removed from their property or $35 to have it relocated to the lawn of another.
“We chose the latter,” Judy said.
“Personally, we will hate to see the flamingos go but hope to see them in many other Sequim yards soon.”
Those who choose to donate to the cause should make their checks payable to the 2015 Sequim Senior Graduation Party, P.O. Box 220, Carlsborg, WA 98324.
The donations are tax-deductible.
Graduation party
Event organizers hope to raise $30,000 to pay for a disc jockey, games, contests, food and prizes during the graduation party.
“We encourage them to stay until 4 in the morning, and each senior will walk out with $50 cash if they stay until the end of the party,” said Dennise Kettel, in-school suspension supervisor at Sequim High School.
“And they also receive prizes throughout” the night, she said.
“Every senior will receive a prize for sure.”
The party is intended to provide a safe drug- and alcohol-free location where graduates can celebrate on their big night.
The class also is selling $5 raffle tickets for a chance to win a $750 Costco gift certificate and is planning a golf tournament May 16 at SunLand Golf & Country Club.
For more information, call Stephanie Price at 477-2407.
Long-standing tradition
Sequim High seniors have been placing the flamingos on area lawns since about 2000.
“I just think it is a small community and a lot of people look forward to it,” Kettel said.
“They know that they are going to see them in their yard, and they are very supportive.”
Kettel doesn’t remember why flamingos were chosen when the tradition began but suspects it was “because they are bright.
“You can’t miss them when you walk out your front door.”
And whenever area residents see the flamingos, they almost universally know what season it is.
“Most people know what it is for,” she said. “Some people do not, but they learn very quickly.”
Seniors at Port Angeles High School have had similar flamingo fundraisers in the past but are not doing so this year, according to Tina Smith-O’Hara, Port Angeles School District spokeswoman.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Chris McDaniel can be reached at 360-681-2390, ext. 5052, or cmcdaniel@peninsuladailynews.com.
