Poker Tournament October 2012
4th Annual Poker Tournament Draws
Small but Spirited Crowd
Written by Jerry Venters
Flushes, pairs, and straights, pulled pork sandwiches and baked beans, neat silent auction items, cold beer and scotch – they were all there at the 4th annual Plaza Rotary Texas Hold’em Poker Tournament on Friday night (Oct. 19) at Visitation Church.
The turnout was light but the action was hot and heavy in the fundraiser for the club’s international service project that will provide money to build latrines at elementary schools in Malawi, under the direction of Malawi Children’s Village. Latrines at the schools are either nonexistent or in such deplorable condition that many girls don’t go to school. The lack of latrines also contributes to contamination of groundwater and the spread of disease. It costs approximately $1,500 to provide a new facility for boys and about $3,000 to provide one for girls.
Sheldon Cook, a friend of Greg Vining, was the top poker player – or was he just the luckiest? – of the night and walked away with the $300 top prize. Plaza Rotarians Drue Thomas and Wes Rogers claimed the $200 and $100 runner-up prizes.
The International Service Committee, under the chairmanship of Koji Watanabe, organized the fundraiser. Many thanks to all who helped make it a success. Preliminary results showed almost $3,500 was raised.
*Take a look at pictures of the event in the Photo Journal link!*