“It’s important to have as much fun as possible while we’re here. It balances out the times when the minefield of life explodes.” These words from Jimmy Buffet ring so true for all of us, young and old! You can forget that the world has gone nuts when you’re having fun, great fun!

This past weekend proves that Jimmy is right! Our Beach Bike Poker Run Event was a huge success and everyone who participated, young and old, had fun, great fun! The pictures posted on Facebook reveal happy faces with beautiful smiles and people sharing a wonderful time celebrating life! Life is good when together we raised enough to write a check for $15,000 to the Semper Fi Odyssey Children’s Camp! Thanks to the 243 riders, the volumes of volunteers and our stupendous sponsors for this awesome opportunity to experience loads of fun and to “Party with a Purpose!” Raise your glasses!!! Jan Hicks

The Emerald Isle Parrot Heads are excited to be hosting the 15th Annual Beach Bicycle Poker Run in beautiful Emerald Isle, NC. This year the Beach Bicycle Poker Run will again be raising money for the Semper Fi Fund’s Kid’s Camp to send children of Wounded Warriors (Marines and Sailors) to camp for a week and pair them with a mentor for a year. 

The event will take place on May 19th, 2018. Beginning at the Emerald Club (located at 8102 Emerald Dr, Emerald Isle, NC 28594). Check In/Day of Registration begins at 11:30 am.

We will be having a bike decorating contest yet again! All bikes must be registered and ready for judging by 1:30 pm. 1st place wins $75, 2nd Place wins $50 and 3rd Place wins $25. The theme this year is BUFFETT BASH! Think all things Jimmy Buffett! Use your imagination! It could win you some cold hard cash!

Register online prior to May 11th for $20. After May 11th registration goes up to $25, online registration is available through May 15th. You can always register on-site the day of for $25.

The Poker Run will kick off at 2pm sharp! You will travel to 7 of our local establishments and draw a card at each location to try and form the best poker hand! You must be back to the E-Club by 5:00 pm to turn in your poker hand. Best poker hand wins $300, 2nd place wins $200, and 3rd place wins $100!

A live auction will be taking place prior to the announcement of the winning poker hands! We have a beach bike trike, a stay in Myrtle Beach and a deep sea fishing trip you could bid on and win!

*Due to the ever changing weather in NC, should we have a rain out your entry fee will be considered a donation to the worthy cause of Semper Fi Fund.
Register and buy your t-shirt today!!! Below is our shirt design and t-shirt color.

Go to the tab for registration, at the bottom click the register here text!   Don’t wait, register now and save money and time on the day of!

The group of 24 people on 6 boats spiffed up the sound islands on April 21st. They collected 44 large garbage bags of mixed trash- approximately 325 pounds! They also picked up 6 pop up canopies, beach chairs, 3 tires, 2 rugs, 10 hats and a life vest. It was hard work, in and out of chilly water. But the wind was calm and sun warm as they continued partying with a purpose on Pelican Island afterwards. Great job all of you!

FROM THE PERCH: Jan Hicks Shares her Thoughts:
May 2018

We are family! Yep, to achieve our goals, we work together and are united in every way. You may not think that we play a part in the “big picture,” but we really do! Our volunteers make amazing things happen when we Party with a Purpose!

James and I just returned from a trip to Margaritaville at Wyndham Del Mar in Puerto Rico. We were excited about visiting San Juan, not only to experience the fun of a vacation, but to see for ourselves the state of the island and its people. Wow, what a welcome we had beginning with frozen Margaritas at check-in. During the week, when asked, folks shared terrifying stories of the hurricane, how they dealt with it and how they feel now. Let me share just a couple…
From Jami: It was devastating, everything was black, no light, no phone, no radio, nothing worked. I have a 3-yr. old and live with my mother. The hotel was closed, and we had no jobs. However, this company (Wyndham) continued to pay those who could not rotate to other jobs. I rotated to Florida and worked for 2 months until I could come back and work here. I am so grateful!
From Roberto: I rushed home to save my dogs. The house was flooding like crazy. I knew we would die if we stayed. I lost everything I worked for all my life. Hey, but I got a job, I have my children and 11 grandchildren. I rent a small apartment and I’m still here (with my puppies)! I’m good.

There were so many more stories I haven’t enough space to share with you. The most memorable part of the trip will be the experience of meeting these brave people and leaving the beautiful island knowing that they have a positive outlook on themselves, their island and their future!

I can’t help but reflect on my family of PH’s and how our work contributes to the elderly, the homeless, the children, the less fortunate, the animals, the environment and so much more. Not only is our local club ranked 5th in the world (for 2017) with 511 members, but the PH Nation together experienced $4,067,644 in fundraising and 197,965 in volunteer hours for 2017! We are so blessed!

Please keep our Puerto Rican friends in your prayers. Oh yeah, we shared our stories and pictures of Parrot Heads with them and they know how to Party with a Purpose!

The Emerald Isle Parrot Head Club will be holding a new member social on April 25th at the Island Time Tavern (across from Rucker Johns in Emerald Plantation). It will be held from 6 to 9 PM. We are inviting all new members who have joined since October, 2017, but all members are invited. You will be responsible for your drinks, but the club will provide pizza. If you did not sign up at the April Phlocking,  please contact Sue (stonesend@gmail.com) or Maggie (maggie.rauschenberg@gmail) so that we are sure to have enough pizza. Email invitations will be sent out to all new members who have joined in the past 6 months.

The EIPHC will celebrate Earth Day with  a clean-up event. This year  the Surf Riders are also doing a sound side pick up and we are hoping to coordinate with them for this event. You can choose to help with the Highway Pick Up or the Boat Based sound side pick up. Details and sign ups were available at the April PHlocking and the boats that signed up are currently full. Please contact Val Johnson at gocoastalgirl@gmail.com if you have a boat, and/or can accommodate an eager crew! Ask your friends and neighbors too!
Our tentative schedule is for Saturday April 21st from 11-1:00, starting in the ICW off the EI boat ramp, heading west, with a gathering on Pelican Island afterwards!
If that Saturday doesn’t work for you, Bogue Banks Surf Rider Organization is planning a similar cleanup on Sunday April 22nd., cleaning the sound islands heading east. Let Val know if you need contact info for them.
If you prefer the land over the sea and have an hour to spare, please let Jean Jensen know that you can help with the Adopt a Highway event, the same day. Meet at the Emerald Club at 11 am for an hour or so for the litter pick up. Jean Jensen at belguimboy@aol.com or phone him at 607-759-7159.

Hi everyone!

Need to congratulate the approximately 30 hard workers, on 7 boats, who made this year’s spring Sound Sweep so productive!

44 large garbage bagfuls of miscellaneous cans, bottles, plastic and foam were collected from the ICW islands. Also several coolers, broken beach chairs and pop up canopies, boards, rugs, hats, etc. etc!

Then the “purposeful partying” continued over lunch on Pelican Island afterwards. Great work everyone!!

Par-Tee with a purpose….
Ok guys, I’m sorry to say this, but we will have to postpone the Disc Golf Tournament scheduled for tomorrow at 10am.
Since the forecast is rainy and windy, we feel like Sunday will be muddy and slick.
So, we are rescheduled for Saturday the 14th, 10am for singles, lunch, then teams.
Any questions or concerns, text me at 919 697 3794.  Jack Synan

The EIPHC will hold our monthly Phlocking at the Emerald Club on Friday, April 7th from 7-9pm. The Phlocking will kick off a fun weekend that will include our First Annual Emerald Isle Parrot Head Club Disc Golf Tournament. The weather has gotten warmer and it’s time to get out and “Par-Tee” with a purpose. Come out on Friday to help kick off the weekend. Matt will be providing FREE food and the beverages will be cold and plentiful. The 50/50 drawing will benefit Emerald Isle Parks and Recreation to help replace the tee boxes on the town Disc Golf course at EI Woods.

On Saturday April 14th, the fun will continue as the discs fly in the 1st Annual EIPHC Disc Golf Tournament.  Jack Synan and Black Dog Provisions will be providing the food so you know it will be FANTASTIC!!  There will be Novice and Advanced categories with prizes offered for both.  Funds raised will benefit the EI Parks and Recreation to make continued improvements to the course.  It should be great event and we hope that everyone will come out to either play or support the teams.  For more information….see the previous post on the website or Facebook.  Disregard date on the image below, now April 14th

On Monday, March 26th the Emerald Isle Parrot Head Club presented the Town of Emerald Isle with a check for two thousand dollars ($2000). The money was raised at the EIPHC booth by raffling off items donated by club members and community businesses. The funds will be used by the town to purchase defibrillators for the town’s first responders. Mayor Barber accepted the check from event Big Birds – Jimi Crampton and Moh Traini. Thanks to all the volunteers working the booth and the individuals and businesses who donated prizes. The event was a great success and I’m pretty sure that a good time was had by all!!