The Coeur d'Alene Chamber of Commerce Commodores are channeling the public's love of pirates to promote the city by the lake.

On May 2, the group of volunteers loaded up its pirate ship float and towed it to Wenatchee, Wash., where the group participated in the Washington State Apple Blossom grand parade.

Patricia Richardson, chair of the Commodores, told The Press that the 12 members who joined the festivities were well-received.

"It was so overwhelming that I wanted to cry," Richardson said. "People were screaming 'Coeur d'Alene,' people were coming up to us saying that their parents live in Coeur d'Alene and thanking us for being there."

For one member, Mary Riffe, the parade marked a return to her hometown. Richardson said Riffe's father was an officer in Wenatchee who would drive a motorcycle during the annual parades and was a member of the Applarians - Wenatchee's equivalent to the Commodores.

"It was important for her to go over there," Richardson said. "When we invited her to be a Commodore with us, that was a really emotional thing. It was a milestone in her life to be able to do that."

To be able to attend parades and other events as the goodwill ambassadors for the chamber, Commodores work at three beer booths during the Kootenai County Fair and pool their tips. Richardson said although it's not easy to support the group with the tips, the Commodores still participate because they believe strongly in the work they do for the city.

"We're like a family and one of the reasons we still do this is that we have a good time doing it," Richardson said. "Some people like to volunteer at a hospital, some people like to volunteer with children or at animal shelters - this is what we do."

Richardson has worn the blue blazer of a Commodore for 11 years now. She said the color was selected because it coincides with the color of Lake Coeur d'Alene, and being the chair this year has made her want to make things shine for her group.

The Commodores often tell those interested in joining that if they're only doing so to further their business they should forget about trying to join. For Richardson and her group, donning pirate outfits or blue blazers is about serving the community and drawing people to Coeur d'Alene.

"What we do has a big impact," Richardson said. "When those potential tourists see us at the parades in their towns, they come down to Coeur d'Alene."