Pyrotechnics Guild International

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The Pyrotechnics Guild International or PGI founded in 1969 is an independent worldwide nonprofit organization of amateur and professional fireworks enthusiasts. It's membership is the largest pyrotechnic community in the world.

1 Its educational and scientific purposes are to:
2 The PGI accomplishes these goals through four major activities:
3 The PGI also works closely with other non-profit pyrotechnic organizations such as:
4 History
5 The Green Man
6 See also
7 External links
8 References

[edit] Its educational and scientific purposes are to:

Promote the safe and responsible display and use of pyrotechnics and fireworks.

Encourage the display of public and private fireworks in conjunction with local and national holidays as well as patriotic and other events.

Promote the production and sale of high quality fireworks.

Channel the creative energies of talented people into the design, production and display of high quality fireworks by example of the membership and through the sharing of knowledge.

[edit] The PGI accomplishes these goals through four major activities:

The PGI Annual Convention: a week-long event held in early August, in a variety of locations.

The PGI Bulletin: a quality periodical published five times per year.

The PGI Website: providing access and information both to members and the general public.

The PGI Display Operators' Certification Course: offering comprehensive classroom instruction, field demonstrations, and written testing for potential display operators.

[edit] The PGI also works closely with other non-profit pyrotechnic organizations such as:

The Fireworks Foundation

American Pyrotechnics Association

and local fireworks clubs

[edit] History

The Pyrotechnics Guild International was founded in 1969 by Max P. Vander Horck, then publisher of a monthly fireworks newsletter titled "American Pyrotechnist."

Max envisioned the establishment of an organization for fireworks enthusiasts, whose goal would be not only to educate themselves regarding pyrotechnics, but the media, politicians and public as well.

In March 1969 he announced to his subscribers that membership was available in a newly founded organization called the Pyrotechnics Guild International, and the PGI was born.

The membership expanded for a few years and in 1974 a formal charter and bylaws were drawn up, officers elected, and formal incorporation accomplished (in Illinois), and the PGI became the PGI, Inc.

Current membership stands at over 3,500. Members are from all walks of life, and range from people with just a passing interest all the way up to hard-core fireworks enthusiasts.

Many regional clubs have sprung up over the last few years and have their own agenda of fireworks related activities.

[edit] The Green Man

The "Green man" is a figure associated with the PGI. He appears on the guild's emblem and was selected from John Bate's 1635 fireworks treatise, "The Second Booke", to symbolize the long tradition of using fireworks as an essential part of festivals and celebrations - at that time led by so-called "Green men" appointed to head processions with a "Fire Club" shooting sparks. They were called "Green men" because they clothed themselves with fresh leaves to protect themselves from sparks produced by their hand-held fireworks.

Today, PGI members may refer to each other as "Green men".

“Stay Green” is a saying that refers to the Green Man wearing leaves for safety, and is a common parting among some groups of pyrotechnicians.