Club Chat

On Thursday, August 22nd, The Lemon Bay Sunrise Rotary Club invited local organizations to their meeting for the club’s annual end of year disbursements of monies raised ($42,000) throughout Eric Howe’s year as Club President (7/1/23 – 6/30/24). Receiving monies were: Lemon Bay Cemetery, Rotary Youth Camp, Cure Alzheimer’s Fund, Jesus Loves You Ministry, Boy Scout Troupe 26, Johnny’s Dream, Englewood Youth Football, Patricia Chadwick Newton Scholarship Fund, Nancy Kay Looney Scholarship Fund, Meals on Wheels, Englewood Community Care Clinic, Kid’s Needs of Englewood, Englewood Youth Baseball, Lemon Bay Historical Society, Suncoast Humane Society, Englewood Animal Rescue, Englewood Elementary School, Myakka Elementary School, Vineland Elementary School, Lemon Bay High School, L.A. Ainger Middle School, Sky Academy, On The Spot, Young Life of Englewood, Spread Spencer’s Sparkle, Crossroads Hope Academy, St. David’s Jubilee Center, The Learning Center, Gift of Life, Operation Solid Seven, Lemon Bay Women’s Club, Hope for Lost Hearts and LBHS Football. These disbursements were the balance of the donations for the year. Total donations made by the Lemon Bay Sunrise Rotary Club for the year were in excess of $180,000.

Drag Queen Bingo
Due to sell-out success of the first Drag Queen Bingo event, the Rotary Club of Englewood is bringing it back on Sunday, September 15, 12:30 to 4:30pm, at the Englewood Elks, 401 N. Indiana Avenue. Enjoy a fun-filled afternoon of bingo fun with Drag Queen Bianca L’Amore serving as emcee. Bingo winners will receive amazing prizes and there will also be a 50/50 raffle and auction items. Doors open at noon. Tickets are $60 and may be purchased online with a link on the Facebook page Rotary Club of Englewood or at registrations.DACdb.com/register/index.cfm.

Prime Rib Dinner, Anyone?
The Englewood Elks invites you to join them for a Prime Rib Dinner served 5 to 7pm on Saturday, September 21, at the lodge located at 401 N. Indiana Avenue. The “American Music Company” will provide live music from 5 to 8pm. Tickets are $26 and must be purchased by Monday, September 16th. Tickets can be purchased in person at the lodge or online at buytickets.at/elkslodge2378/1355677. For questions, call 941•474•1404.

Oktoberfest 2024
Save the date for Oktoberfest on Saturday, October 5, 11:30am to 6:30pm, at Pioneer Plaza, 325 W. Dearborn Street. There will be craft beers, stein hoisting, live music and German food. Free admission. Your host is the Rotary Club of Englewood Sunset. You can follow this event on the club’s Facebook page.

Fall Fashion Show & Luncheon Fundraiser
GFWC Rotonda West Woman’s Club presents its Fall Fashion Show and Luncheon fundraiser on Thursday, October 10, 11am to 2pm, at the Heron Creek Golf & Country Club, 5302 Heron Creek Blvd., North Port. Fashions featured will be by Anthony’s Ladies Apparel. Your $50 ticket includes a three-course lunch. Proceeds will benefit Kids Needs of Greater Englewood and used for Lemon Bay High School scholarships. For tickets, contact Karen at 231•357•1167 or email [email protected].

Burgerfest in Paradise
Who’s got the best burger in town? The Englewood Sunset Rotary Impact Club is bringing back Burgerfest in Paradise on Saturday, October 19, 11am to 2pm, at Pioneer Plaza, 325 W. Dearborn Street. Guests can purchase tickets for samples of the contestants’ burgers, enjoy music by area bands, and purchase beverages. Other items will be for sale and along with raffle chances (credit card purchase only). For those wishing to participate in the best burger contest, there will be two team categories, business and residential, vying for the bragging rights using a charcoal grill. Entry fee is $25 residential and $45 restaurant. To sign up as a griller, request an entry form by contacting Janet Shawen at 941•882•2398 ([email protected]) or Bobbi Sue Taylor at 941•716•4417 or [email protected]. 

Auxiliary Unit 113 Craft Fair
The American Legion Auxiliary Unit 113, Rotonda West, cordially invites you to their 2024 Craft Fair on Saturday, October 26, 9am to 2pm, at Legion Post 113, 3436 Indiana Rd, Rotonda West. There will be many vendors and items to choose from. If you are interested in being a vendor, pick up a registration form at the Post or go to alp113.org, then to the Special Events page to download the registration form. Fill it out, return it to the Post, or drop it in the mail along with your payment to American Legion Auxiliary Unit 113, 3436 Indiana Road, Rotonda West, FL 33947. Each eight-foot space inside is $20, outside $25 (outside gets two parking spaces). Vendor application deadline is Tuesday, October 1st. Please direct all vendor inquiries and questions to [email protected] or [email protected]. See you there!

Artisan & Vendor Call
Calling all artisans and vendors to reserve your table now for the Rotonda Elks Holiday Bazaar on Saturday, November 2nd at the Elks Lodge, 303 Rotonda Blvd. East, Rotonda. Tables indoors and outdoors are available. The bazaar will be open to the public. Contact Nancy Craig for details at 941•457•7106.

Items appearing in this column are  accurate at time of publication. Please call the listed numbers for confirmation and further info. If you have a happening you would like to have considered for Club Chat, please email information and/or photo to [email protected].