Mamas earn an inaugural encore
John Parmann could be called a Red Hot Daddy, but he likes to go by “Mama’s Boy.”
The Idaho State Police trooper, and husband of Red Hot Mama Julie Parmann, has been assigned to security detail for the Mamas as they perform in President Bush’s second inaugural parade. The Jan. 20 parade will be the second go-round for the Red Hot Mamas in Washington, D.C. – and Trooper Parmann’s second tour of duty as the Mamas’ security honcho.
Lucky for Parmann, only half as many Mamas will be headed to Washington, D.C., this time. At the 2001 parade, he had to watch out for more than 70 Red Hots. This time, only 37 members of Coeur d’Alene’s craziest parade unit will participate.
“It’s challenging, but it’s a pleasure,” Parmann said as he watched the Mamas rehearse in the Target parking lot Thursday. “Corralling their enthusiasm, it keeps me on my toes.”
Head Mama Mikki Stevens said the ladies were surprised when they got picked a second time.
She was told the parade committee met in the Oval Office to pick participants for the parade down Pennsylvania Avenue. She gets giddy at the thought of the president himself watching the Mamas’ audition tape and giving them the thumbs up.
For the last parade, Stevens said pretty much anyone who wanted to participate was allowed to. A local travel agency fronted money for the tickets, and the Mamas scrambled to raise money for the trip.
Arranging travel in the post-9/11 world forced the Mamas to plan further ahead. They couldn’t just buy plane tickets this time and then pass them out to those who were able to raise enough money, Stevens said. The airlines had to have names on each ticket further in advance for security reasons.
Thirty-seven women signed up.
Since the last inaugural parade, the Red Hot Mamas have reorganized. Now they’re officially a nonprofit organization. Any donations they receive are tax deductible.
Stevens said someone had asked her why they should give the Mamas money to go to D.C. She said the Mamas do a lot of fund-raising work, performing for local charities and making appearances at benefits. The more famous the Red Hots become, the more benefit to those charities, she said.
Days before they leave for the capital, the Red Hot Mamas will have a fund-raiser to help with the $37,000 in expenses.
From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 15, the Mamas will be serving lunch at Outback Steakhouse in Coeur d’Alene. Lunches are $12 for adults or $7 for children. Outside the restaurant, they will collect drive-up donations. Anyone who donates will receive a Red Hot Mama button. Inside, a silent auction will help raise more money.
For more information, contact the Red Hot Mamas at (208) 772-7439 or visit their Web site at www.RHMamas.com.