Speed is the name; croquet is the game and 20 teams turned out for the Rotary Club of Bellevue Sunrise’s 13th annual croquet tournament at the Redhook Ale Brewery in Woodinville on Wednesday.
At stake: bragging rights for the next year.
Last year’s team winner, the “Tax Dodgers” of Schmitz & Associates were prepared to defend their title against teams like the Grip and Rip, Old Guys Rule, and Green Machine. The defending champs won it again this year with a record time of just over six minutes.
As he prepared for his turn in the tournament, Rotary member John Dulcich spoke on the reasons he first joined the club.
“It’s a great organization and builds great camaraderie between members and the community,” he explained.
When asked about his team’s chances of winning the tournament he laughed, “All I can say is, just don’t put money on it.”
Rotary Club of Bellevue Sunrise is a non-profit community organization made up of 30 business and professional people from Bellevue and the surrounding area. The club was founded in 1988 and provides members with the opportunity to give back to the community through various projects, fundraising, and volunteer work.
The annual croquet tournament draws a large crowd consisting of members and their co-workers, friends, and family, who join together to raise donations for the Bellevue Sunrise Rotary Foundation to support many causes in the community.
In the past, the foundation has given to Youth Eastside Services, East Side Domestic Violence, Rebuilding Together, Lake Heights YMCA, Rotary First Harvest, Tyee Middle School and others. In addition to local groups, the club supports international projects including an Ethiopia water project. Last year, the tournament raised close to $30,000 for the foundation.
“This Rotary has shown me that there are needs in every community,” Beth MacDougall explained, a Rotary member for two years now. “Our club is about making people aware of various needs and projects that are right here in Bellevue as well as around the world.”
A silent auction was set up under a large tent during the course of the tournament. Guests could write their bid on any number of lavish items including a Whidbey Waterfront Weekend and a Seahawks football signed by Julian Peterson. The items on the auction block were donated by various businesses and individuals.
When not playing for the win, many sought refuge under large tents and umbrellas, shielding themselves from the hot sun.
The tournament was followed by a live auction and dinner along with an awards ceremony. A Raise the Paddle auction was designated exclusively for Backpacks for Children in Need at Tyee Middle School.
Over the course of this year, the Rotary Club of Bellevue Sunrise has provided six scholarships to students at Newport High School and donated both funds and volunteer time to the KidsQuest Museum, Science and Action Project.
The club also donated funds to purchase computers and equipment for a computer lab in Jamaica. Teaming up with Tyee Middle School and its Technology Instructor, James Berk, a group of middle school students traveled to Jamaica to help install the computer lab and programs.
“This is really a neat thing we have right in our community,” Jerry Walton said, another Rotary Sunrise member. “There are so many ways we can help overseas, but it’s important to help out in any way we can right here at home.”
Lindsay Larin can be reached at llarin@reporternewspapers.com or at 425-453-4602.
Learn more
For more information on the Rotary Club of Bellevue Sunrise or to join, visit www.bellevuesunriserotary.org.
