June golf tourney drives Rotarian initiatives

As April showers turn to May flowers, Kingston North Kitsap Rotarians are turning to their 16th Annual Swing for Rotary Golf Tournament at White Horse June 23.

This longest-running White Horse event helps support the many initiatives of the local Rotary, including: Kingston Cares Food4Kids, Kingston’s Boys & Girls Club, various North Kitsap School District programs, affordable housing in Kingston, Stillwaters Environmental Center and the recently-announced Rotary Club leadership role in developing a sports and recreation complex in North Kitsap.

Club members are proud of their role in leading similar projects in the past, such as the Kingston High School football field lights, electronic readerboard, Village Green park benches and pavilion, and deep involvement in the Village Green Community Center dream and development.

Back to the golf tournament. It is about having fun – and with that, raising money for Rotary initiatives. Organizers of this year’s event promise even more fun, with a dose of golf, too. Call to the first tee will be 9:30 a.m. After the action, golfers will be welcomed to a fun-filled awards ceremony. Entry fees include 18 holes of golf, practice range warmup, boxed lunch, two beverage tickets and a gift bag.

Put together a group – players of all abilities are welcomed. Which friends would enjoy playing? Neighbors? Family? Work associates? Reserve your group online at: rotaryknk.org, then click on the tournament information piece on the club’s home page.

There is a role for community supporters, too, by taking advantage of the many sponsorship opportunities that remain. Beverage cart sponsor perhaps? $500 (no beverages included). Driving range sponsor? $400. Lunch sponsor? $1,500. Tee sponsor? $475. And many more. Show your support of Rotary’s work to build our community better by signing up at rotaryknk.org.

In addition to financial grants made possible by Kingston North Kitsap Rotary Club auction and golf tournament receipts, Club members contribute time and labor around town. Recent examples include spring hanging – coming in May – and fall lowering of summer flower baskets, monthly park trails cleanup and maintenance, prepping and painting the Boys and Girls Club Teen Center Room, preparation and distribution of grab-and-go meals at Village Green, and providing and handling tables and chairs for Kingston events at the Port and around town, including 4th of July celebration, Concerts on the Cove, Wine and Beer Fest, Pie in the Park and more. They call themselves “People of Action.” And they are.

Ron Carter writes a monthly column on Rotary for this newspaper.