Fundraising opportunity for all clubs in the district, the LobsterGhost!

The Boise Sunrise club has operated a successful fundraiser called the Lobsterfest for ten years with the Nampa, Boise Southwest and Eagle Garden City clubs. Traditionally it has been a dinner auction event, recently with 450 guests and revenues of $240,000. Due to current events; it has been converted to an online event, we opened it up to all clubs in the District 5400 and we tentatively renamed it the “The District 5400 LobsterGhost”.

In the position of the District Community Service Chair I have noted that many club fundraisers have been cancelled and it is difficult for a small club to host a substantial fundraiser. This is opportunity for any District club to raise funds for their Rotary good. Please consider this event for your club.

The LobsterGhost will be an online auction; with opportunities to donate to your club, the District, Rotary International, the paddle-up charity (the Hope House) and up to ten guest charities. Participating clubs can nominate guest charities. The Expenses (approximately 5% of revenue for a professional auction management company) will be shared based or revenue. There will be no charge for a club to register or for one to visit the website. Participating clubs will have no financial risk and will not be asked to have a minimum level of participation. One or one hundred members from a club can participate. Each participant will be asked to identify his or her club. The net profits of auction items will be shared 50/50 between the donating club and the club associated with the buyer of the auction item.

During the last hour of the auction there will be a very large Zoom party to celebrate our success , some bantering and have opportunities to see faces and hear voices from other clubs. We plan to continue this format after large gatherings are allowed. When we have future live Lobsterfests, they will be mainly social events of Rotarians enjoying lobster in several regional locations; all tide together via Zoom.

The LobsterGhost will take place between October 13th to the 23rd. All club officers will receive an email invite to a virtual meeting on the event within the next few days. Karl Klokke, 1-208-412-9411 or John Wilson, 1-417-315-6138, J.wilson@icehouse.net will be very happy to discuss this concept with any interested Rotarian.

If you club is interested in no risk, very low effort, successful fundraiser, that can take place virtually; please contact Karl or John.