Top “10” Misconceptions About FLOW Follies 2

Top “10” Misconceptions About FLOW Follies (with apologies to David Letterman)

10. FLOW FOLLIES IS A PARENT TALENT SHOW

FLOW Follies=Fundraising! Since 1985, parents of students in Franklin Lakes, Oakland, and Wyckoff have put aside their business attire to get involved both on stage and off. In other words, FLOW parents will do whatever it takes to support a wonderful musical comedy show whether it’s dancing or singing, designing or building sets, acting or scriptwriting — all in the name of scholarships for our graduating seniors.

9. KIDS IN THE FLOW DISTRICT DON’T NEED MONEY

Says who? We are living in uncertain financial times. No one is immune. Some of our FLOW families will have two or three children in college at the same time. Last year, from ticket sales, raffles, journal ads, and Friends of FLOW Follies memberships, we were able to award $40,000 in scholarships to 50 students in the Ramapo Indian Hills regional high school district.

8. I CAN’T BE BOTHERED TO JOIN WHEN THE END RESULT IS ONLY $200

Not so! Last year alone, a total of 50 graduating seniors: 25 from Indian Hills and 25 from Ramapo High School received $800-$1000 in scholarships from FLOW Follies fundraising efforts.

7. WHO HAS TIME TO DEVOTE COUNTLESS HOURS TO A SHOW?

No one does. We are all doing a juggling act to be there for ourselves, our jobs and our families. We ask that you give as much or as little time as you have. By becoming a Friend of FLOW Follies, there are so many ways to get involved. From selling tickets, to making costumes, to putting up posters, to taking out space in our ad journal, to performing a song or dance number, to attending our Kick-Off Beefsteak,  or helping design, build or paint sets.  Even by spreading the word about attending our March, 2012 production, you can support our successful scholarship program.

6. SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF WORK

Nope, it’s a lot of FUN! Just ask anyone who has been a part of a FLOW Follies production in the past and they will tell you what a terrific time they had being involved in such a worthwhile fundraising endeavor. Even if you’d prefer to sing in the shower than on a stage, you will have a blast getting to know some wonderful people who choose to spend their after-work time with FLOW Follies. Whatever you can give will make a contribution to our kids.

5. I HAVE TO HAVE SOMEONE IN HIGH SCHOOL TO PARTICIPATE

Not true! Whether your son is in kindergarten or your daughter is in college, as long as you reside in the FLOW district (Franklin Lakes, Oakland, or Wyckoff), you can be a Friend of FLOW Follies. We have parents who have been participating in one way or another for years; whether donating a raffle basket, being a part of a dance number, hamming it up on stage, helping develop the script, or placing an ad in our program journal.

4. I HAVE TO BE TALENTED

Since its’ inception twenty-six years ago, no member of FLOW Follies has been nominated for a Tony award. This is not Broadway, Off-Broadway, or even Community Theatre. This is a FUNDRAISING activity with the emphasis on fun. Whether you took dance lessons as a kid or were born with two left feet, can sing on key or off, there’s a place for you. Our goal in putting together this annual performance is to raise scholarship monies for our graduating seniors.

3.  YOU WON’T SEE ME ON STAGE! THERE’S NO PLACE FOR ME

Can you sell tickets? Put up posters? Visit some local businesses to sell space in our ad journal? Do you like to work with a hammer or get creative with a paint brush? Perhaps you like to write, do publicity or talk at your local PTO meetings about the District’s most successful fundraising event? Any way you slice it, there’s a place for you in FLOW Follies.

2. IT’S A CLIQUE AND ONLY “THEIR KIDS” GET SCHOLARSHIPS

All you need to do to insure your child is eligible for a scholarship is to become a “Friend of FLOW Follies”. The minimum requirement to join is a $25 membership fee. Although we’d like everyone who joins to participate in some way, you can become a Friend of FLOW Follies without ever being involved in the March, 2012 production. A list of ALL members, whether you decide to be on stage or not, is given to the Ramapo and Indian Hills High Schools’ Guidance Departments. The decision as to which 50 students from the two schools are to receive scholarships is made by the Guidance Departments, NOT by the people who run the show.

1. IT’S ALL ABOUT THE SHOW, NOT ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

Frankly my dear, it’s just the opposite! FLOW Follies is all about fundraising. Just look at the statistics from the past 25 years:

$402,000 in scholarship monies raised to support FLOW district students

623 scholarships awarded to graduating seniors from Indian Hills and Ramapo High School

267 parent volunteers have been involved with FLOW Follies on some level of service

Our motto: 3 towns, 2 schools, 1 show. You can make a difference just by joining our enthusiastic group of parent and teacher volunteers. The goal of FLOW Follies is to come together as a community and provide an opportunity for our children to benefit from significant scholarship funds.