If you are driving in the wilds of Iowa and come across a house or farm with up to twenty or so plastic flamingos on the front yard, do not automatically think "Oh my goodness, what horrible taste those people have..." and so on.
The odd custom of plastic "flamingo flocking" is a way to raise money in some churches. At this time of year, churches choose a charity or cause for money raising. Now, in those councils which choose "flamingo flocking", one is encouraged to buy "flocking insurance" to make sure plastic flamingos do not end up in one's front yard.
I imagine this is similar to mafia protection money, but as a joke and for a good cause.
So, if the parishoner pays the $20 insurance fee, his or her yard does not see the invasion of pink, plastic flamingos. This is inexpensive compared to some churches in the western part of the country which ask $35 for flock insurance.
If one forgets, ah, well. everyone knows that one did not pay for the insurance, and one has to pay to get the flamingos off the lawn. All in good fun...
I first heard about this ten years ago from a friend of mine who is a real estate agent. She had to warn people in certain areas about "flamingo insurance". Can one imagine having one's house up for sale, and forgetting the charity drive, with prospective buyers out front in a car looking at one's front yard full of plastic flamingos?
Not exactly "curb-side appeal".
