Thousand Oaks Library -- Cartwheelers Precision Book Cart Drill Team

Thousand Oaks Library Cartwheelers Precision Book Cart Drill Team

posted on: 7/26/2005

This year marks the third year of our award-winning participation in the Conejo Valley Days Parade, beginning in 2002. Our first year we were decked out in patriotic stripes and our new banner lead the way down the route. Our Library Director and Costume Designer rode along in our Conestoga wagon/golf cart, and three staff members brought up the rear holding signs saying Visit Your Library!

In 2004 we celebrated the 40th birthday of the City of Thousand Oaks, and preceded the City's birthday cake float with all the City Council members and the City Manager riding along. This time our costumes followed the party theme with balloons on the saddlebags and we wore our purple Cartwheelers teeshirts and caps with our signature logo.

	National 2nd place winners at Chicago	The Thousand Oaks Library Cartwheelers Precision Book Cart Drill Team returned from beautiful Chicago to announce their winning "Second Place" in the First ALA World Championship Drill Team Competition. We won a beautiful silver-toned 3 tier book cart from the sponsor, Demco. The competition consisted of fifteen teams from as far away as Nevada, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and of course, California. The University of Wisconsin library school student's team, known as " Dewey et al for my Baby", won the first place honors. Our Cartwheelers were only .1 point behind them with a score of 59.9! Picture the bright red and black 1930's pinup cowgirl costumes, horse decorated book carts, dedicated performers, and you have the making of an award winning team. Every routine was performed with precision and skill in the allotted 4 minutes, with Drill Majorette Chris Hendel blowing the whistle to guide the way. The large convention crowd assembled on two building levels to view the competition where they applauded and encouraged the competitors. The applause and roar of the crowd was at times deafening!! The team loved the stage atmosphere and the high level of competition. For this event, our enterprising fund raisers, Bunny Barnes and Bobbie Radford, were able to approach local businesses to offer the "adoption" of our 12 book cart "horses". Working with the Library Foundation's assistance, they were able to raise almost $7,000 to send 11 staff members to Chicago, and to help fund our Conejo Valley Days parade participation. The Friends of the Library provided the funds for our colorful costumes and also adopted a horse cart. A colorful banner was created with the names of our supporters and was carried during the parade. We look forward to challenging ourselves for the next ALA competition, hopefully at the 2006 conference in New Orleans! We are already thinking of our costume for the parade in April and coming up with new routines to delight our fans and supporters. Drill Major = Mr. Steve Brogden Banner carriers = Ms. Nancy Sevier, Ms. Nadia Dagher Drill Majorette and Choreographer = Ms. Chris Hendel Team Coordinator = Bunny Barnes Costume Designer = Bobbie Radford Drill Team Members in cart order = Ms. Sue Pelman, Ms. Bunny Barnes Ms. Jan Fletcher, Ms. Bobbie Radford Ms. Jeanette Berard, Ms. Klaudia Englund Ms. Linda Barry, Ms. Dottie Davis Ms. Lois Herman, Ms. Lois Hoffman Ms. Kristine Fuess, Ms. Robin Metoyer contributed by: Bunny Barnes Articles about the Cartwheelers Precision Book Cart Drill Team ALA Cognotes June 25, 2005 Thousand Oaks Acorn July 7, 2005 Thousand Oaks Star July 1, 2005 (Free registration required)
	'Round in 2 circles
	Marching in the Celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the City of Thousand Oaks 2004
	Celebration of the 40th Annivsary for the City of Thouasnd Oaks 2004.
	Marching in Conejo Valley Days 2002
	Group picture from Cartwheer's debut in Conejo Valley Days Parade 2002

Grant R. Brimhall Library · 1401 E. Janss Road · Thousand Oaks, CA 91362 · (805) 449 2660
Newbury Park Branch Library · 2331 Borchard Road · Newbury Park, CA 91320 · (805) 498 2139