The following is my farewell speech from being Captain of the
Tampa Bay Parrot Head Club – THE GREATEST CLUB IN THE WORLD! It pretty much
describes the past 14 years of my life. As you will read in the speech, if it
were not for the club, I would not have met Heidi. Thus, I would not be writing
this because I would not be sailing away with Heidi. Funny how things work out!
Thank you Jimmy Buffett! For more information about the club please go to
www.finsup.com. For more information
on Parrot Head clubs in your area please visit
www.phip.com. For more information on the music and doings of Jimmy
Buffett please visit
www.margaritaville.com.
Capt’n Harry’s Farewell Speech
“It Truly Has Been a Lovely Cruise!”
by Capt’n Harry
Versus in Blue to various songs by Jimmy Buffett with exception to the last one,
Lovely Cruise, that has been personalized some!
---------------------------
“Whoa, lookin back at my background
Tryin to figure out how I ever got here
Some things are still a mystery to me
While others are much too clear”
How we ever got here? Believe it or not it is very clear to me although some
moments are purposely foggy and fun. Back in 1974 I was in Tampa attending the
University of South Florida. I was partying over at a friend’s house and he put
on this album. I remember listening to entire side and saying that this was the
first time that I had ever listened to an entire side of an any album and I
liked every single song. It was Side B of Jimmy Buffett’s A1A with A Pirate
Looks at 40 being the first Buffett song I ever heard followed by Migration,
Trying to Reason with Hurricane Season, Nautical Wheelers and Tin Cup Chalice.
That was the moment in time when I knew who my favorite musician in the world
was and would forever be. I simply loved Jimmy Buffett music. It did something
magical to me that no other music had done before.
Over the years I remember the effect his music had on me. Now believe it or not,
I use to be a real hard working entrepreneur. At one point I had a company with
seven offices in the state of Florida and over 125 employees and I think I was
like 27 years old. The pressures were enormous at times. I remember one day
being all stressed out and getting on the Tampa side of the Courtney Campbell
Causeway. I put a Jimmy Buffett cassette into the player and by the end of the 7
mile causeway, I honestly felt 1,000 times better. It was like I took a miracle
drug. Jimmy Buffett music truly affected me in a very positive way.
Over the years any time I needed an attitude adjustment, I would just pop in
some Jimmy Buffett music. From 1974 until 1994 I would always look forward to 2
things – When would the next Buffett album, 8 track or cassette come out and
where and when was concert day. Concert day was like no other. What a fricken
blast we would always have. It was because of the fun that I had at every Jimmy
Buffett concert that one day in the summer of 1994, while laying on a couch and
reading the Coconut Telegraph, I thought to myself . . . ‘Since I have so much
fun at a Jimmy Buffett concert one day each year, why not start a club and see
if we can’t have that much fun 365 days a year?”
Thus the very first thought of the Tampa Bay Parrot Heads in Paradise Club.
So the first Teeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaam Drink of my farewell has to go out to Jimmy
Buffett. For without him and the music he wrote, we would not be here tonight. I
would not know any of you. I would have never have met Heidi. The last 13 years
although I am sure I would have had fun, it would have been nothing like the
great memories and friendships that have been created because of Jimmy Buffett
music and the Tampa Bay Parrot Head Club. So to you Jimmy Buffett, as I have
always said in the past, we may no be a fan club, but we are certainly fans of
your music and as importantly we are fans of the fans of Jimmy Buffett, thanks
for putting those songs and tropical attitude out there . . . IN YOUR HONOR,
WHAT TIME IS IT? It’s time for a Teeeeeeaaaaaam drink!
Wasted away in Margaritaville
Searching for my lost shaker of salt
Some people claim that there is a woman to blame
But I know, it’s my own damn fault
I will proudly take the blame on this one. From idea to the first meeting took
about 2 months. In the summer of 1994 co-founder and today my very dear and
loving friend, Sarah Sunshine and I worked together to find a location for a
meeting, get a small blurb about the new club in the newspaper, get a banner
made (see banner), print up some membership applications and plan our first
meeting. The day of the first meeting of the Tampa Bay Parrot Head Club was
Wednesday, September 14, 1994 and it was held at Whiskey Joe’s in Tampa. We had
10 people attend that meeting – My crazy cousin Harry, Kathleen, Jim & Loren,
Patti #1 so nicknamed since she was the first person to join, our dear friend
Capt. Tony, Dick and Jorenna and Sarah Sunshine and me. Only 10 people . . and
the rest, as they say, is history.
The whole initial purpose of the club was to put a lot of fun in people’s lives.
Over the next few months, the club started to grow . . . and grow it did. Every
meeting through friends telling friends more people would come and join. Soon we
realized that we needed to put a team together to help build and run the club.
We asked for volunteers who wanted to get more involved and we created our first
Board.
At the very first board meeting at my apartment, I remember when the club’s
heart and soul started to form. Someone brought up, why don’t we do some
volunteer work in the community. I remember asking if there was anyone who would
be interested in heading up that area, and I saw Mikeeeeeeee raise his hand up
about half way (I think it was to just ask a question) and I yelled out - we
have our new Chief Officer of Community Events. True story. I love you
Mikeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.
Now how McGill initially got involved, I am not really sure, but I think it is
because at every meeting or event we would have, she would be the only common
sense and organized voice we would have so it seemed appropriate for her to be
our Chief Officer of Operations. Thanks for being my right arm for 13 years
Sweeite. I love you McGill.
Mikeeeeeeeeeeeee, McGill & the Capt’n – when we get together we call ourselves
the three amigos. I am so fortunate to have had both of you on my team. Without
them this would have never of been possible.
And I have found me a home
Yes, I have found me a home
And you can have the rest, of everything I own
'Cause I have found me a home.
Over the years so many people made the Tampa Bay Parrot Head Club their home and
volunteered so much of their time to help this club grow and maintain such a
high standard for fun and accomplishment. I thank you all. I just mentioned
McGill & Mikeeeeeeeeeeee, but there are so many more.
The years of work put in by Sarah Sunshine to get this thing off the ground,
Diane as Chief Officer of Membership, my pal Dave Klipple running our web site,
Gail as head of the store and bounty, Karen coordinating volunteers, Lady Di for
keeping our records straight and Vera and Jerry for well, just being Vera and
Jerry and always being there for me.
Later there was Heidi Ho and all the work she did as photographer and in general
with me. I can’t thank you enough Babe. I love ya. Kelley who took over for all
of the Trips and Parties and did an awesome job, David who has headed up our
Community events and has maintained our high standard of volunteering, and of
course NanaBabe, who as First Mate did such a fantastic job, it gave me the
confidence to feel comfortable enough to turn the reins over to her. There are
many others who have given of themselves over the years and I know I may leave
some out but I want you all to know that you are very much loved and sincerely
thanked.
Over the years there have been hundreds and hundreds of people have helped out
the Tampa Bay Parrot Head Club with names like Ms. Susan, Doc Susan, just plain
Susan, Sue and Suzanne, Sara, Steve, Staccy, Scott, Scotty and Mr. Scott
- there’s Lon and Loni, Lori, Lynn, Liz, Loretta, LaDonna, Larry, Lorren,
How about Jerry, Jennifer, Jen, Jesse, Jordon, Jeremy, Judith, Jody, Judy and
Judy/Judy, Joanie, Joe, Joyce Jim, Jimmy, James, Janet, Jack, Zac and Jeff,
Joel, John, and Johnny,
Rich, Richard, Roger, Renee, Rachael, Randy along with Al, Alan, Andrew, Alex,
Annie and Andy
We had CT, TC, JB, BJ, SA, KC, RC, RJ, JR and PJ
there’s Marsha, Michelle, Mike, Michael, Marlice and Marie,
and a Patti, Peggy, Patrick, Paula, Pam and Potrice
Dorothy, Deb, Debbie, Dale, Dawn, Drew, Darlene, Darren, Dave, David, Dan, Dot,
Dotty, Diane and Diana
Rich, Richard, Rob, Ray, Bob, Robert, Bonnie, Brian, Becca, Bruce, Becky, Bill
and Billy, Frank, Fred , Norm, Nancy, Nicole Val, Valerie, Vincent and Vicki,
Yvonne Wendy & Wayne
Cathy, Carol, Cheryl, Chris, Christi, Carolyn, Chuck, Carl, Keith, Kelly, Kat,
Clint, Connie, Cindy, Chris, Charlie, Courtney, Charlotte,
Glenn, Gloria, Greg, George, Gail, Guy, Gary, Ed, Eddie, Edward, Ellen, Eric,
Emily, Eli and Elana,
and Terry, Tracy, Tom, Tim, Tommy, Todd, Trish,
we even had a Snake, some Hope, a Flipper, a Flip Flop, a Woody, an Axel, a
Grouper, a Sharky, a Cookie, a Dom, a Messy and a Dirty Dick, a Sweet Mama and a
JayBird, a Stogie, a Miami, a Queen, a Studmuffin and even a Papa & Mama Smurf.
And finally we even had help from Bubba, Rocky, Elvis, and Peter, Paul and Mary
and also a Tom, Dick and Harry and many more.
I may have left a few names out but the point is, we have had thousands of
people join this club over the years and so many people have helped top make it
great!. I would bet you there is not another club in the world – ANY type of
social club - that meets 2-3 times every week for almost 13 years and has a turn
out that has averaged over 150 per meeting. The main reason that our club worked
so well and for so long is due to the phenomenal job of so many wonderful people
who continually gave from their heart. Again, to all of those I have mentioned
and others who have also given and continued to show up, I can only say from the
bottom of my heart - thank you, thank you, thank you! Because of each of you, I
have enjoyed the last 13 years of my life beyond limits. You have provided me
the honor of continually being your Captain.
When people ask me “When you retire from the club and head off in the sunset,
what are you going to miss the most about the club?” the answer is very easy. I
am going to miss every one of you – my friends for life.
So the second Teeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaam Drink goes out to every one who has
ever been a member of the Tampa Bay Parrot Head Club, and especially to those of
you who have given of yourself over the past 13 years to help make this club so
awesome . . . in your honor, what time is it? It’s time for a Teeeeeeaaaaaam
drink!
I remember when we became the largest club in the world. A lot of people would
ask me, “Did you ever think it would grow so fast and get so large?” I would
always tell them, “Yea, I really did think it would grow fast and be large”
However, what I never considered was the quality of people that would become
members. I never knew that there would be so many wonderful, “friends for life”
made. I never knew that the club would become such an important part of the
lives of so many people. I never knew that we would truly leave the world a
little better than we found it. My only agenda (if you could call it that) was
to make FUN a priority in people’s lives. That’s it! It was just about having
fun. The friendships and our volunteer work in the community took it to a level
that was way beyond my wildest dreams.
And speaking of wildest dreams, because of the Tampa Bay Parrot Head Club, I met
the lady of my dreams, Heidi Ho who moved to Florida solely because of Jimmy
Buffett music and then joined the Tampa Bay Parrot Head Club. And now, who as my
true soulmate and love of my life will embark with me on a new chapter in our
lives, as we prepare to set sail for an adventure of a lifetime – as our pal,
Jack Mosley would sing, “We will live our lives like a Jimmy Buffett song”.
With that said I do promise you 2 things – One, we will keep in touch via web
site and we hope everyone will visit if they are near any One Particular Harbor
we are anchored. And secondly, we will have one more big ass bon voyage party
and you are all invited!!
I'm growing older but not up
My metabolic rate is pleasantly stuck
So let the winds of change blow over my head
I'd rather die while I'm living then live while I'm dead
I remember growing up that my mom and dad would, as I would assume most mom and
dads would be very proud of me if I accomplished something – good grades, did
good in sports or even business. But they ALWAYS seemed to be proudest of me
when I did something good for others. It was a little hard for me to understand
that priority then . . . but I do now. When people ask me “What is the greatest
accomplishment you have had with the club?” Again, the answer is easy. The
“friends-for-life” that I have made in this club and all of the
“friends-for-life” that so many people have made is by far my greatest
accomplishment and without question is what I am the proudest of with regard to
anything I have done with the Tampa Bay Parrot Head Club. Heck I think 20 of ya
even got married and I married most of you and none of you have gotten divorced.
The fact that I know from what so many of you have shared with me tonight, as
well as over the past 13 years, that the Tampa Bay Parrot Head Club has made
such a major difference in so many of your lives. That the Tampa Bay Parrot Head
Club has been such a positive influence on so many people and has changed the
outlook so many people had on their own life for the better. And that the Tampa
Bay Parrot Head Club has enabled them to find joy, happiness and love in so many
ways. All I can say is, my mom and dad are smiling down right down and are very,
very proud.
At this time I would like to thank a few of the main sponsors and friends we
have had over the years. There are ma y who help by these are a few of the
special people who had special places or products that always worked with us and
made sure that The Tampa Bay Parrot Head Club had a first class time. First I
want to thank– Brian & Heather with Stormans for being our home for over 10
years, I want to thank Ken, Larry, Jeff and our friends here at Jimmy Guanas and
the Holiday Inn for always being our birthday home, I want to thank Jim Jody and
everyone at Kahunas for always being our second party home and great supporter,
thank to Jeremy and Lori and our Daiquiri Deck friends, Guy and our pals at
Channelside and Stumps, thanks to Frank and everyone for our new home at the
420, I am sure Brian and Dogwater Café will be on this list soon. I want to
thank David and our pals at Margaritaville Tequila and in the past Corona for
all they did for this club.
Now I would especially like to thank 3 people who were not only great sponsors,
but are very dear friends of mine. First is Jack Newkert and all our pals who
were at NEWK’s, secondly is Rocky Brown with Storman’s and finally I want to
thank one of my best buds of all, a guy who ALWAYS has supported this club as a
businessman and more importantly as a friend, Jim Hannigan and Coastal Wine &
Spirits.
The third Teeeeeeaaaaam Drink goes out to these sponsors I have mentioned and to
all of the businesses and people who have worked with us to make sure that over
the past 13 years our club always had the best of the best of everything. IN
YOUR HONOR, WHAT TIME IS IT? It’s time for a Teeeeeeaaaaaam drink!
With a little love and luck
You will get by
With a little love and luck
We'll take the sky
In this meg a lo-modern world
We've got to try
Try a little love and luck
And you'll get by
We took the sky all right. Knowing that we have made a small difference in this
world is something we can all be proud of. We have actually lived my our motto
“Let’s Leave the World a Little Better Than We Found It . . and Had a Blast
Doing It!”
Due to our collected efforts as the Tampa Bay Parrot Head Club along with Save
the Manatee Club there are manatees that feel more protected and people are more
educated about them, there are shorelines that are definitely cleaner due to our
work with Keep Hillsborough County Beautiful and cleaning up Parrot Head Island
3 to 4 times every year, there are students that are studying real environmental
solutions with financial help from the Tampa Bay Parrot Heads in Paradise
Scholarship program at the University of South Florida College of Marine
Science, there are seabirds being rehabilitated and reintroduced to the wild
though the efforts of Save Our Seabirds, Tampa Bay is getting cleaner though our
efforts with Tampa Baywatch and through our continued work with the Lowry Park
Zoo a difference has been made in many of their programs – especially the
manatee hospital there. Again, what started out to be about just having a bunch
of fun, turned out to be something that we all can forever feel great about and
be extremely proud of.
Mother, mother ocean, I have heard you call,
Wanted to sail upon your waters
since I was three feet tall.
You've seen it all, you've seen it all.
Soon, Heidi and I plan to sail mother, mother oceans around the world. So
tonight becomes the final chapter as my role as Captain of this wonderful club.
Recently our Fruitcakes Advisory Board honored me by permanently retiring the
position of Captain. In addition, they gave me the title of Captain Emeritus –
Captain for Life – of the Tampa Bay Parrot Head Club. I want to thank them for
this wonderful honor. It truly means a lot to me.
I am so proud of where we have been and feel extremely encouraged to see the
direction our club is going. We have a very strong Fruitcakes Advisory Board
along with 4 great officers in Doc Susan, Lady Di, Bike Dude Steve and NanaBabe.
So now it’s time to officially turn the reins over to NanaBabe. More
importantly, it is time to officially turn over the microphone to NanaBabe. It
signifies the end of one chapter and the beginning of a new chapter for the
Tampa Bay Parrot Head Club.
But before I do this – not that I am stalling or anything - there are 3 things I
have to do.
First I need to hear one more BLA BLA BLA BLA BLA so . . .
Secondly, I would like to have one more Teeeeeaaaaammmmm Drink. This one is for
all of you who came out here tonight. Over the years we have laughed together,
cried together. Worked together, partied together, and most importantly we have
just been together. I sincerely thank you from the bottom of my heart for
sharing your heart with me tonight. SO IN EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOUR HONOR, WHAT
TIME IS IT? It’s time for a Teeeeeeaaaaaam drink!
And finally, I want to have my 2 main amigos up here with me. I need
Mikeeeeeeeeeeeeee and McGill up here to join me.
For I could not have done this without them with me. Doing everything we did the
past 13 years and knowing the 2 of you were always there by my side – again, it
would have never of happened without ya’ll. So as I leave, I want you by my side
for the biggest moment in our club’s history.
As I end this speech and welcome the future with my main amigos by my side and
surrounded by all of my friends and family, I once again thank everyone for
every moment we have had the past 13 years.
And if during the past thirteen years you have made some new friends, had some
good times or felt good about yourself and what you have done on this planet,
then I know everything we have put into the Tampa Bay parrot Head Club has been
well worth it.
All I ask of everyone here is to never let this club stop sailing to more and
more ports of fun. Keep this lovely cruise going forever. Get more people
involved. Let the rest of the world know that life is great being a member of
the Tampa Bay Parrot Head Club.
So - Drink it up - This ones for you
It's been a lovely cruise - I'm sorry my parts ended
It's so sad for me and many of you
It truly has been a lovely cruise
These moments were left with - May you always remember
These moments are shared by few
A few Tampa Bay Parrot Heads
There will be wind in our hair
And we won’t be wearing any shoes
Honey, it truly has been a lovely cruise
There will be new moments to capture
And please always remember –
To share these magical moments
with a few- a few Tampa Bay Parrot Heads
And those harbor lights
As they start coming into view
Now we bid our farewell much too soon
So drink it up
This one's for you
Hey Mikeeeeeeeeeeeeeey, it truly has been a lovely cruise
MaGillicuty, it truly has been a lovely cruise
Tampa Bay Parrot Head Club members
IT TRULY HAS BEEN A LOVVVVVVE LY CRUISE!
And now with a great feeling in my heart and definite tears in my eyes I
officially turn over the microphone and the Tampa Bay Parrot Head Club to
NanaBabe our Commando Babe, the new leader of our club. Good luck Sweetie. We
are all behind you!
Thanks again everyone.
It truly has truly been . . . A LOVVVVVVVE LY CRUISE!