Longest Radio Show
Five years ago, at the urging of PP Dino Dottori, the Board of Directors made a controversial decision to end a long standing association with Easter Seals. That decision brought to an end a partnership that had seen numerous successful Snoweramas, Skateathons, Skiathons & Telethons. The rationale, for what appeared to be an unpopular decision, was that too much of our hard earned dollars were going out of North Bay to cover Easter Seals administration costs. The club was now faced with finding an alternative fund raising source to meet our commitment to NADY.
Yvonne Weir jumped in and the first fund raiser, small in scope, but nevertheless a start, was held at Northgate. I don't recall exactly what the net receipts were but they were sufficient to encourage Yvonne to do it again.
The following year with the help of Steve Haws, major sponsor Wingate Lotteries and with the assistance of Scott Clark, the first radio marathon was held and a huge success it was.
Jeff Rogerson, (who, incidentally, had worked for the club as our telethon co-ordinator back in the Easter Seals days), and who had already established himself as a Rotary fund raiser "extraordinaire", having successfully run the Mayor's Gala and the Bell Osprey Golf fund raiser for the hospital, then was recruited and after successfully chairing it last year has returned as chair once again this year. Ably assisted by a great committee and the usual assistance of Dooley Ricci & NADY, this year's effort once again went over their goal of $53,000 by raising $83,771.91. Congratulations to Jeff, his committee, all those Rotarians who helped out and to Dino Dottori and those executive members who had the foresight five years ago to go it alone. Obviously, the decision made at that time was the right one.