Fort Smith Rotary Club goes ‘dark’ to raise money

 

story and photos by Ruby Dean
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"Service Above Self" is the mission of the Fort Smith Rotary Club. Rotary is an organization of business and professional leaders united worldwide who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. The Fort Smith organization started in 1916 and has approximately 150 members.

Each year, the Fort Smith Rotary Club has a "Dark Night Fundraiser" where they rent the Fort Smith Little Theater to raise money for their nonprofit organization. Last year, they netted $6,500 from the event. Rotary officials hope to raise more this year.

For a $25 donation, you could enjoy an evening of drinks, hors d’oeuvres, a production of “Look Homeward Angel” performed by the Fort Smith Little Theatre, and a silent auction. All foods and silent auction items are donated with 100% of the proceeds going to the organization.

According to the Fort Smith Little Theatre Web site, “Look Homeward Angel” is a story was adapted for stage from a 1929 classic novel by Thomas Wolfe.

“It tells the tale of Eugene Gant, a young man growing up in the early 20th century, assessing family relationships, community, college, love affairs and ideas through literature,” noted FSLT in a synopsis.

Some of the services the Rotary Club performs includes handing out dictionaries to third graders in the Fort Smith area, Choices Program for junior high students, four-way speech contest for grades 10-12, buy fans for individuals in the summer, volunteer as Salvation Army bell ringers, and supporting international efforts to eradicate polio.

Rotarians are volunteers who serve the community, promoting ethics and leadership skills. If you think you have what it takes to become a Rotarian, they meet every Wednesday at noon at the Holiday Inn.