By Ron Carter

Kingston Rotary Club

In a community our size, who in their right mind would ever countenance the thought of raising more than $9 million? Who? A grassroots group, including Kingston North Kitsap Rotarian Bobbie Moore, did 16 years ago. Their dream was about a piece of dirt and a rundown building. It was about kids, seniors, readers and leaders. Sharing and caring. They had a dream. A vision. An inspiration. It was to spearhead a campaign to find the money. Build it. A new community center in Kingston.

There is a big, huge, large, gigantic — pick your word — celebration going on in town. This article will be submitted before April 25, the date when the Village Green Foundation expects, with 99 percent certainty, to cross the finish line on that $9.1 million dream. Opened two years ago, the Village Green Community Center is now fully paid for.

The money came from multiple sources. No tree was left unshaken. Kitsap County; grants from federal, state and tribal governments; and donations from individuals and foundations. One such group was the Kingston North Kitsap Rotary Club, with a pledge of $100,000. According to Moore, our Rotarian grass-rooter, “It is a measure of the inspiration that our little group — the Rotary Club — could do this.”

Through its annual fundraising activities — especially its annual Swing for Rotary Golf Tournament — Kingston-North Kitsap Rotary Club works tirelessly to make this a better place. The club’s goal is not to solely fund projects and activities, but rather to provide leadership to accomplish goals in collaboration with other interested parties. Such an approach has resulted in lights at Kingston High School’s football field, benches in Village Green Park, and the new electronic community readerboard at Lindvog and Highway 104. Kingston-North Kitsap Rotary Club salutes its member, its dreamer, its leader — Bobbie Moore. Everyone who has crossed the threshold of the Village Green Community Center will agree, they were in their right mind, that grassroots group. Kingston Rotary Club salutes them on a job very well done.

Swing for Rotary

This time of year, these columns cannot go without mentioning the Swing for Rotary Golf Tournament on Friday, June 22 at the White Horse Golf Club. This is the 12th annual Swing for Rotary tournament, making it one of the longest-lasting charity tournaments in the Puget Sound region. Its success derives from the spirit of the Kingston-North Kitsap community; the tireless Rotarians who toil 12 months a year to plan and produce the tournament; and the team of White Horse, sponsors and players. The reason it succeeds is simple. It is a great tournament, a great value and a really fun event that generates thousands of dollars each year for the kids of North Kitsap.

Organizers report a few hole sponsorships are still available for this year’s event. Your $450 sponsorship contribution includes your representatives on the tee box of your hole greeting a full field of golfers with logo giveaways and information about your business. Following golf, your representatives — as many as two — are invited to enjoy a first-rate awards and auction dinner at White Horse. For more information, go to knkrota rygolf.net.

Golfer alert: It is time to assemble your tournament team. The cost is $160 per player and that includes tee prizes, 18 holes at White Horse, a cart rental, range balls, mulligans, lunch, dinner and beverages at the post-tournament awards dinner. To register yourself or your team, go to knkrotarygolf.net.

Join in the fun. Do something good in your community, so that you may do well. Become a sponsor, a golfer or both.