On May 14th MV Advancements took part in the much-anticipated Alien Day Parade in McMinnville, an annual favorite for many, and after missing out the last 2 years due to the pandemic, it was great to be back in action.  Each year, MVA volunteer Barbara Fulham, and her family bring a presentation to share their vision of the parade’s float to the MVA team. The presentation comes with props and visual aids, several giant aliens that move and make sounds, and music to help bring the theme together. We are always amazed at Barbara’s unlimited imagination; this year was no different. Area 51 Far Out Fuel. The theme was selected prior to the pandemic, well before the recent uptick in gas prices, and seemed to foreshadow the out-of-this-world cost of a gallon of fuel.

Barbara is connected to MVA in many ways including supporting her son in employment services. Pre-pandemic, as a volunteer, she provided many donated cupcakes and other sweet treats for MVA events including dances and Valentine’s Day party.  Once Barbara retired, she started using some of her free time to design and build the Alien parade floats. She and her crew put so much time and energy into these floats, so it’s no surprise that once again, our float was awarded Best in Show!

The Alien Festival has grown over the years to where our small town is host to the largest UFO gathering in the Pacific Northwest, and the second largest in the nation! However, as these events quickly fade away and we realize what really matters. Connecting with each other. It is great to see friends we haven’t seen in a while, and it was wonderful the day of the parade was beautiful and sunny.

Photos from top to bottom: Alien Days Parade, 2007, 2013, 2022.

Human beings (and possibly aliens too?) are designed to be social and to seek real connections. This is why we continue to look for more volunteers who would like to make a difference in the lives of people. we support. While you might not be able to build a float, the good news is that we are looking for a variety of skills.

We know time is a valuable resource and we want to honor your time and energy.  We invite you to look at your own life. What are some things you are already like to do? Do you spend time at the library? What are some hobbies you like to do? Do you go on walks? Do you like swimming? Think about the things already on your schedule and then ask yourself, “Could I invite someone to join me?” If the answer is yes, let’s talk! We’d love to hear from you. Please contact us at [email protected] for further information.