Why the Mangoheads are fuming

Many Mangoheads say that Glenn Terry wants to control the parade. They say that the licensing agreement would allow Glenn to control too much of the parade from who marches to what type of sound system to use.

Bill Dobson (co-founder of the Strut with Glenn) and Wayne Brehm (both deceased) were involved with the parade and ran it for years. Glenn may have started it, but he was in and out and not very active until after Bill died in 2004. Many feel that Glenn only got involved when Antoinette Baldwin pushed to become a tax exempt charity 501(c)3.

The first time the Strut attempted to get a 501(c)3 was in 1987 after the Strut incorporated King Mango Strut, Inc. The subject came up many times. In 1998, Antoinette brought it up and she did that every year after that. "We had been ask many times when seeking fee waivers and grants from the city if we were a 501(c)3 and/or when were we going to become one," says Antoinette.

Antoinette was always the one in the recent past who did most of the work, she started helping Wayne in 1995. She got the cruise prize for the raffle each year, she and others pounded the pavement and made phone calls to get raffle prizes, they sold the tickets, planned parties before and after and did whatever fundraising she could. She arranged the video and had CD's made. She dealt with the City, showed up with the proper forms for funding, got permits and actually put the parade on with the help of all the volunteers. According to others, Glenn was absent for most of this most of the time.

Mangoheads think that Glenn, a teacher, wants to use the Strut for income when he retires. They say he would like to capitalize on the name and logo while leaving out all those who do the majority of the work.

Glen says, "I came up with the parade's name and logo (the marching mango king) in '82 and have had trademark rights to both ever since. I later had these rights registered to protect the parade, not to make money for me. It seems strange that some people would think otherwise. Will I use the King Mango trademarks to fund my retirement? Worrying about this seems silly to me and it's a lousy financial plan. Like most folks, I am fortunate to have a job that will fund my retirement."

He went on to say, "I have worked harder and longer than anyone to make this great Grove tradition a success. Like everyone else associated with the parade, I have done it for free, just one of its many hard working volunteers. At one time I wanted to have some control over the future of the parade. Now I realize that it's time for a new generation to take the reins. As I have stated for the last six months, I will not use a licensing agreement to control future parades. The next group of organizers will either make it or break it on their own."

Antoinette's response to Glenn is, "The Strut belongs to no one and everyone. You lost control of the Strut the day you thought it and inspired others to strut. It belongs the original group that made the first strut happen. It belongs to all that have volunteered and participated throughout it's 27 year history. It belongs to people who went and laughed and begged for more. It belongs the city that gives us so much material to make fun of. It belongs to all the merchants and city officials that give us money to pay our bills. It belongs to all that are inspire to strut their stuff. It belong to no one and everyone."

Here is a copy of the current licensing agreement. Many issues don't make sense to the board. In #4 on page 2 Glenn writes that "all use of the Marks by USER shall inure to benefit of and be on behalf of the OWNER." If Antoinette signs that agreement and the Board wants to become a 501c3 in the future, it would go against this IRS rule.

In #6 on page 2 you can see the highlighted part where Glenn requires prior approval for everything. What would be the purpose of the board then if Glenn has final say on everything?

In #8 on page Glenn wants the board to pay his attorney fees if a third party infringes on his trademark. What if some stranger makes t-shirts and sells them with the logo without the knowledge of anyone else, does the board have to pay attorney and court costs for this?

The licensing agreement leaves lots to be desired, but Glenn did agree to revise it to accommodate the new board.

You'll notice that our new masthead is from the last Strut. The Strut is ingrained in the Grove. It must go on.

Cara is playing Barbie in the photo above, her sign means "You're in my heart Glenn," rather than "Ken."