“If there is a problem, try to fix it.”
- Doug Watson, Immediate Past President
Club President John Haney addressed the membership on the status of fundraising events through the rest of this calendar year. John soberly informed the Club that after a thorough board discussion, the 2019 Wild Game Dinner and 2019 Dancing with the Locals events will not be held. John then called upon Immediate Past President, Doug Watson, to present a substitute program to be held later this year.
Doug summarized the reality that the circumstances of COVID simply do not allow the Club to move forward with either event, both of which inherently require large gatherings of people. He assured the membership that the Club is financially healthy, and that thanks to the leadership of prior boards and the financial successes of previous events held by Rotary, the Club has ample reserve funds to continue to support worthy causes and organizations in Plant City, including the annual scholarship program.
Regardless of this reserve, Doug has offered to lead an effort to hold a Rotary event to raise funds for the local community this year. Doug reminded the Club of a discontinued Plant City Rotary event called the “Fall Couples Cookout,” which he believes phased out about 10 years ago when Dancing with the Locals began. The Fall Couples Cookout was a quaint, successful fundraiser and membership bonding event. Doug would like to resurrect and re-invent this event so that it a) raises funds to support the high school scholarship program, b) allows the opportunity for Rotarians to return to their mission of serving others, c) brings Rotarians together in a safe, social environment, and d) shares the mission of Rotary with potential new members.
Tentative Details of the Event:
Date: Saturday, November 7, 2020.
Time: Gates open at 3:00, and the event will go into the evening.
Location: The Cattlemen’s Association Building (6404 S County Road 39), which offers both indoor and outdoor seating.
Food: A “Wild Game Sampling,” including venison, cobs, BBQ, etc.
Entertainment: There will be live music, an informal program, and a limited silent and live auction.
Tickets: Admission will be $100 per person, and ticket sales will initially be limited to 200 Plant City Rotarians and their invited guests. (Club members are not required to purchase a ticket.)
Sponsorships: A sponsorship packet is being created.
The financial goal is to cover the scholarship fund, which is between $25,000 and $35,000.
The next planning meeting is Wednesday, September 23, at 5:30 pm at John Haney’s ACE Realty office in downtown Plant City.
The current committee is:
● Doug Watson
● Shawn Jemison
● Shaun Bryant
● Brian Griffin
● John Haney
● Jodi Stevens
● James Boyd
● Billy Keel
● Bill Hughes
Please do not hesitate contacting Doug for feedback, ideas, or direction. This event will need to come together quickly, and there will be a need for setup help on the morning of Saturday, November 7. Doug believes that tickets will go quickly, and that this event will be a success with the Club’s support.
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After Doug’s presentation, John Haney introduced Rhett Rollyson to update the Club on the Plant City High School Raiders. Rhett is chairman of both Plant City Booster’s Club and Raider Champions.
The Booster’s Club is primarily for parents who wish to support high school athletics. Raider Champions supports the entire school, including academic, arts, and sports programs. Both organizations have worthy missions and support a number of local Plant City students.
Rhett thanked the Club for its role in the community and looks forward to seeing us at future sporting and other high school events!
--submitted by Scott Gardner
