Tri-County fundraiser basks in sun, fun
By Paul Tash
Montana Tavern Times
A gorgeous summer evening greeted a fun crowd of party-goers who attended the Tri-County Licensed Beverage Association's annual dinner-fundraiser July 20 in Helena at the Valley Hub.
The entire event was held in the Hub's beautiful outdoor facility that boasts such amenities as a stage, horseshoe pits, barbecue area, and bar. Plenty of dining tables were set out, as were several canopies for those who wanted some shade. It was a perfect setting for the laid-back crowd.
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| Loretta Boynton, left, representing the Mother Lode, and Niki Cetraro, representing First Boulder Valley Bank, are the last two sitting in the Calcutta. |
The affair opened at about 6 with a very comfortable happy hour or two, while Tri-County volunteers ran a couple of fundraisers. The horseshoe pits provided an opportunity for shoe throwers, for a $5 donation, to win $20 if they were skilled enough, or lucky enough, to toss a ringer in three tries. And a $20 donation bought a hand in a five-card stud game, dealt as always by Jorgenson's Barb Morris. No betting was allowed: the best hand won the pot.
Dennis White of Dapper D's, the fundraiser's longtime emcee, worked the microphone to encourage participation in the fundraisers. He received plenty of takers, especially after he threatened and actually began to sing.
The Tri-County group did not hold an auction this year, but did raffle off several prizes, including some cold, hard cash. Fritz Wood, of Dapper D's and Jorgenson's, was a blur selling the raffle tickets. And Kelly Harris was fortunate he purchased some from her– he won the largest prize of $500.
A barbecue was served around 7:30 and featured a variety of salads, pork, chicken, roast beef, baked potato, beans, rolls and brownies. Nobody left hungry.
After dinner, folks gathered to watch the popular Calcutta, which had the table set up on the Hub's outdoor stage.
Those businesses and individuals to have their name called and “get a seat at the table” were First Boulder Valley Bank, the Mother Lode, Progressive Gaming, East Helena Liquor, Mountain Country, Angie Wong of the Lottery, Papa Rays, Chubbys, the city-county sanitation department, insurance agent Shawn McCutcheon, and the Yacht Basin Bar.
As emcee White explained, the Calcutta now turned to a game where players didn't want their number drawn, “after hoping to hear your number called all night long in the raffles,” he said.
White then began calling seat numbers drawn from a tumbler. The first eight numbers called eliminated those players sitting in the corresponding seats, but they did received $200. The last three standing, or sitting, would finish in the “big money,” including the $2,000 top prize.
The temptation was too much for Dax Cetraro, who purchased the fourth remaining seat from East Helena Liquor for $500. He only had to survive one called number to finish in the top three, but the second he sat down his number was called. He collected $200, but had a net loss of $300. Sorry, Dax.
Players representing the remaining three – First Boulder Valley Bank, Mother Lode, and Progressive Gaming – debated at length about splitting the remaining money – $400 for third, $800 for second, and $2,000 for first, which would have netted each about $1,067. However, their gambling spirit took over and they decided to play it out.
Niki Cetraro representing First Boulder Valley Bank was glad they did. Her seat was the last survivor, winning $2,000. Niki's dad, Lee Swanson, is president of the bank. No word on who gets the dough.
The Mother Lode ended up winning second place and $800, while Progressive Gaming finished third and won $400.
Proceeds from the night's fundraising activities as always help Tri-County LBA support a variety of non-profit organizations and community events.