Breakfast Rotary Club Luau
“Fun” was the key word at the Santa Maria Breakfast Rotary Club’s annual Hawaiian Luau, also billed as a Barn Party and Auction. This five-star event was held on May 9, at where else but the big barn-like building at the west end of the Fairpark.
When I arrived at 5:30 p.m., the place was already packed. An estimated 350 to 400 people came to enjoy the gaming tables, Hawaiian menu, enticing auction items, and well-stocked bar (beer, wine, liquor, and frozen margaritas).
Tickets were fifty bucks per person for food, drinks, and entertainment.
Rotarians inspire exuberant behavior and their barn party was no exception. I can’t remember how many people came up to me and said,
“Isn’t this fun?” Yes, it was—from the moment Rotary Breakfast Club’s president Lee Carroll greeted me at the door until I left several hours later.
Ladies were given a pink ticket for a Mother’s Day basket drawing. Everyone received complimentary red raffle tickets to be deposited in front of one of several raffle items (e.g., birdhouse, wine with portable cooler) and a packet of “funny money” to be used at the gaming tables. The four blackjack tables and craps table were always busy. Winners at the tables were rewarded with even more red tickets that could be deposited in the Chinese auction buckets.
Mayor Larry and Donna Lavagnino and son Steve with his wife Marian circulated in the crowd. Former city councilman Marty Mariscal was one of the Rotarians hard at work closing silent auction tables. The Santa Maria Inn’s John Reinacher kept track of winning live auction bids. City councilman Bob and Mary Ellen Orach were busy schmoozing with friends, as were Lompoc’s Leslie Sevier and Bennie Aguilar.
Super hip George Risher wore, as earrings, the flashing lights hula dancer pins that were given to purchasers of 50-50 raffle tickets. Is that the new chic, George? Judges Art Garcia, Jim Rigali, and Tim Staffel and wives were on hand to work and to socialize.
Club member Mike Tolbert, who went to Guatemala on a Rotary International service project, brought back three of the most interesting silent auction “biddables.” These included gorgeous placemats and table runners and three enchanting acrylic-on-board paintings.
One silent auction table had nothing but manly things like cigars and spirits (the good stuff). I haven’t seen so many cigars since I had lunch with Fidel (just kidding, never met the guy).
Rotarian Jim Bray oversaw the food line. The feast included pork, chicken, rice, tropical fruit salad, green salad, a salmon salsa dish that is called lomi lomi in Hawaii, rolls, and cake.
Attorney Michael B. Clayton reminded me that he is already planning his Veterans Day barbecue lunch, and reported that there will be some new happenings at his annual community luncheon celebration.
Santa Maria’s Big Heart Report: at the end of the live auction (which brought in $40,000), the Rotary asked for donations to send to Santa Barbara’s morning Rotary group for fire relief. In 10 minutes, $3,000 was raised. The club is matching whatever donations it got from the floor, so they will be sending $6,000 to our friends down south.
The Santa Maria Breakfast Rotary Club meets every Thursday at 7 a.m. at the Santa Maria Inn.
If you want to hobnob with Helen, you may contact her at helenthom232@yahoo.com.
This article appears in May 21-28, 2009.