On February 23rd, our Lodge held the ‘Biggest Event of the Year’. The decorations set the mood for the evening, the music “The Solid Gold Dance Band” lived up to their name, Chef Don and his crew outdid themselves with a delicious meal.
The Silent Auction was a big hit and raised over $3000.00 for the Lodge. Thanks to all the members who donated items: bottles that was used to make up 8 different baskets of cheer. The Art works, (2 Kinkade prints donated by Vic and Lil Diaz, a photo landscape by Suzane Kasven and others), a huge TV donated by Rich and Kathi Miller among other items, Lenox pieces, Handmade jewelry and other items by many donors, made for an impressive display. Of course, our heartfelt thanks go out to all who bid on these items and congratulations to those who won their chosen items.
The Big Raffle raised just under $4000.00 for the Lodge. Thank you to all who participated by purchasing or selling these tickets. And a big smile and congratulations to our winners.
As for the dinner, what can I say? The food was superb! We have received many compliments from our guests as to how much they enjoyed their dinner and the affair as a whole. The music kept you dancing; and the company made for a fun evening. The dinner and 50/50 raised another $2500.00 for the Lodge making the total monies raised at $9600.00 for the evening. We still have the second Thomas Kinkade print which we intend to auction off online to hopefully bring this number to surpass the $10,000.00 mark.
A lot of time and effort was put in making this evening happen. Work started (would you believe in September of last year?) and continued right up to the clean up the morning after the dinner.
Pat and I as chairpersons would like to thank all the volunteers, who without their help, we could not have accomplished this wonderful night.
Volunteers:
Donna Schmidt, Angie Moyer, Marilyn Mulhall, Lynn and Rich Bergeron, Robbie Friedman, Rick Clevinger, Moe Johns, Ray and Terry Ketcham, Ron Ebberly, Beth and Vern Lappenan, Rich and Kathi Miller, Mike Cambell, Carl Bauer and Nancy Roth, and our MC Jim Rannazzisi, ER and his First Lady Barbara. I know I might have missed a name or two, please forgive us if I did.
Whether you decorated, served, sold, or cleaned. Whether you worked 50 hours or 1 hour, you are all thanked from the bottom of our hearts, we are so grateful for all the friends and fellow Elks that have become family to us. The Lodge has become our home away from home and we look forward to serving you all for another year. Of course, we will need lots of volunteers, remember, they are the backbone of any organization including our beloved Elks Lodge.
Thank you once again,
Pat and Paul Diaz, PER
El Schneider Event Chairpersons
