Mariner's Memorial Fundraising
Posted by Jeff Mow
At their annual winetasting benefit held at the Holiday Inn Express on November 14th, the Rotary Club of Seward raised over $2000 to benefit the proposed Mariner's Memorial in the Seward Boat Harbor. Live music, an art show, hors d'oeuvres, and a great selection of wines provided for a fun-filled evening.
Seward Harbormaster Kari Anderson spoke on behalf of Mariner Memorial and Club President Jeff Mow thanked others in the community who contributed to the fundraiser's success: the Holiday Inn Express for hosting the event; Specialty Imports for providing the wines;, Randy Altermatt and Joe D"Entrone the musicians, Gail Richards and Mary Ann Benoit the exhibiting artists, and Shannon Thorne for providing the hors d'oeuvres.
The mission of the Mariner's Memorial is: To honor the memory of those who have lost their lives
at sea, or in some way contributed to Seward's seafaring history. The memorial will be for those who once called Seward their home as well as those who graced our shores with a brief visit. The site will offer an atmosphere of quiet contemplation suitable for a memorial ceremony, the annual blessing of the fleet, or other occasions.
According to Anderson: "Seward is one of the last port communities in the state that does not have a mariner's memorial, this project has broad community support including a variety of individuals, businesses, organizations, and the City of Seward."
Members of the Kenai Fjords Yacht Club laid the ground work for the Mariner's Memorial since its inception in 2003 and donated $1,000 to start a bank account at First National Bank Alaska under the
auspices of the 2003 Seward Centennial. Tax-deductible donations can be sent to: The Seward Mariners' Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 3544, Seward, AK 99664. If you would like to contribute your ideas for the center monument or energy to this effort, contact committee member Nancy Erickson at 224-5953, 491-1639 or email: nancye@ak.net.
Each year the Rotary club of Seward selects a community project to benefit from the fall fundraiser, in 2007 the club raised over $3500 for the Community Playground. The club currently has a number of ongoing projects in the community including: Thanksgiving Food Baskets with Seaview, rehabilitating the skatepark, hosting Rotary Youth Exchange, The Dictionary Project with local schools, Junior Achievement, and the Seward Cemetery Project. For more information about the Rotary Club of Seward visit our website at www.sewardrotary.org.