Infants Remembered In Silence (IRIS) - Event Details

Balloon Release

10/04/2009

IRIS Balloon Release and Potluck
Potluck at 12 noon
Balloon Release at 2pm
Kinder Park located at the corner of 17th St. and 24th Ave. in NW Faribault, MN

Kinder Park
(The IRIS Park)
Located at the corner of 17th St. and 24th Ave. in NW Faribault
(Behind the Faribault Golf Club)

Potluck at 12 Noon
IRIS will provide plates, napkins, silverware, and bottled water.
Please bring a dish to share and your own beverages if you would like something other than water.

Balloon Release 2 pm
Bring your own balloon(s) to release
Mylar (foil) balloons do not work well, are bad for the environment, and are not usually the ones found.
Please see the reversed side for more information on
balloon release tags

Balloon Release Suggestions

1. Blow up your own balloons: Purchase a small tank at Wal-Mart, Target, etc. Consider placing a hand written note to your child, flower seeds, etc. inside the balloon. (Sharp corners will pop the balloons.)

Purchasing your balloons: Call several days ahead and order your balloon. Do not release Mylar (foil) balloons. They are very bad for the environment. Tell them that they are for a balloon release and do not need to be weighted. Balloons can be ordered at most grocery stories, flower shops, and party shops. Call the office if you need help with this.

2. Place a tag on each balloon. On a computer create a special 3 ½” x 2” tag (business card size). Print the tag on plain computer paper; include your child’s name, dates, message, and a way for the person who finds it to contact you. For safety reasons and convenience, please include the IRIS info. We have had calls from people who have found a balloon several years after it’s been released and they could not read the child’s name but could read the IRIS info.

3. Cover each tag with clear contact paper before tying to balloon string. It also a good idea to reinforce the hole for the ribbon with a eyelet reinforcement label (the type that is used on notebook paper)

4. IRIS will have tags and contact paper at the balloon release if you need them.

5. Bring your balloons in a large trash type bag. Have the strings and tags inside so the wind will not tangle them. (Clear bags look nice filled with balloons)

6. Leave balloons in your car; be sure to crack your windows so the balloons don’t pop.

7. If you have questions please contact the IRIS office (507) 334-4748 or iris@qwestoffice.net

8. You may find it interesting to know that in the past 3 years only men and young boys have found balloons and have called in to the office.

One balloon was found in WI still partially frozen in the lake ice.

Balloons from the 2007 release were found in Athens PA (1,211 miles in 50 hours) and Selkirk NY (1,253 miles in 48 hours).

A Balloon from 2009 was found in Germantown Maryland (1,175 miles in 24 hours) This one is 25 miles from Washington DC.

Balloon Release

(507) 334-4748

support@irisremembers.com