By Paul F. Vang
Butte' East Side Athletic Club, a historic, private, non-profit club (that' open to the public) designated their 2006 charitable fund-raising proceeds to help make it possible for Butte area children and parents to get medical help from Shriner Hospitals.
Phil Flannery, president of the Athletic Club, says that his organization, a small but loyal group, annually does a number of fundraising activities, including a golf tournament, darts tournament, and "gopher poker" as well as direct donations made at the bar.
"We use the money to support local charities, which in recent years have included Special Olympics, Mt. Highlands Hospice, Big Brothers and Sisters and the Paul Clark McDonald House.
"This year we elected to give the money to the Shriner' transportation fund. It' in honor of Ida Napier, a member who died a year ago. She had two grandchildren who benefitted from Shrine Hospitals, so we thought this was an appropriate way to remember Ida."
Flannery said that the club also has an annual bowling tournament and the proceeds from that go to support the annual Christmas party the club has for neighborhood kids, as well as children of members.
The original East Side Athletic Club was established in 1917 in Butte' old Meaderville area. It was re-chartered in 1945 and moved off the Butte Hill in 1965 to make room for the Berkeley Pit mine.
Elmer McGhee, Deer Lodge, Shrine Potentate, and Shriner Paul Bebo accepted the gift on behalf of the Bagdad Shrine Center of Butte.
McGhee said, "This money will be used to help children and parents get to Shrine Hospitals--primarily the Shrine Hospital in Spokane. We appreciate it very much."
Bebo added, "It' people like these that make it possible to get kids to our hospitals, where care for children is always free."
Source: The Montana Tavern Times, Nov., 2006, published monthly by Continental Communications, 125 W. Granite St., Suite 102, Butte, MT 59701.