Winter  Ball  Historic  Update  and  Its  Future

Since the Winter Ball is celebrating its 20^th year, this discussion was prompted by members of the board and Winter Ball volunteers to take a good long look at how it has evolved over time and how it can change during uncertain economic times and fierce competition.

Paul Krsek gave a bit of history of the Ball and how it evolved from the pancake breakfast days netting $3,000 to the black tie event Don Heydlauf envisioned back in 1991. Thanks to Bob Trinchero's $25,000 donation that was to be made directly to the Boys and Girls Club, but instead was given to the club, we were able to make more money for not only the Boys and Girls Club but other worthy causes.  It was THE event and the ONLY large event other than the Wine Auction in our valley and has since raised over $3.1 million. 

This paved the path for future fundraising that now seems to inundate our citizens and donors alike. Events such as the St. Helena Hospital Foundation Gala, Just Imagine, and many school-related theme events now has put caps on the amount certain wineries and merchants donate as they are dispersing to all these events.  Plus many of the parents are personally involved and passionate about doing it. They have children in those schools and their events are especially personal to them. Some even have professional teams that come in solely to manage their events.

Our Winter Ball this year is March 6^th and one of four large events in our valley that same night. About 5 years ago it was changed to an early March date as there were so many conflicting events in late February also. 

John Sales, Jim Smith (co-chairs of this year's event) and Paul Krsek all brainstormed on how to take the event to the next level and these questions came up: 

Who leads these events? Who puts their time in year after year? Who doesn't participate at all?  How good of a job are we doing? Who are the few (20+) people that make it work each year?  How can we recruit our new members? How can we make it more unique?  How can we pump it up? Are we still a major fundraising arm of the Boys and Girls Club? Who are we really doing this for? Should the ball continue in its current form? 

A verbal survey then began in the room with various members voicing their opinions:

• young people cannot afford to attend as it is too costly;
• they have their own events;
• how we can recruit younger members of the community; expand corporate partner tables since macho magnums are gone;
• rebuild the culture of the event;
• make it more passionate, more vivid;
• highlight WHO we are doing this event for;
• written survey should be done for all members to give their opinions privately. 

Visiting Rotarians:  Charles Henning, Calistoga, Barb and Steve Burns, Waukegan IL Sunrise 

Guests:  Jill Monsen, Wells Fargo, guest of Pam Rubio 

Birthdays : Cynthia Kee, DeWitt Garlock, John Muhlner

Anniversaries: Jim Wright, Hendrik Smeding 

Next Week:

• Set up - Fr. Mac
• Finemaster - Paul Krsek
• Breakdown - Servaas Mes 

Announcements: 

• Dictionaries to the elementary school were being delivered today. 
• Winter Ball posters are being dispersed by Kathleen Patterson 
• Joice Beatty thanked everyone for $892 contribution to Napa State Christmas Fund 
• AAOA - Area Agency on Aging - Joice passed small flyer around with website address to go to to take a brief survey - come on all you old members in the crowd - go to:  www.aaans.org Live it up. 
• Joice also reported dismally on the status of our window covering color error - but gave us a brief demo on how to use them. 
• Lisa Marie Andersen noted our Sweetheart Luncheon Feb. 9^th at the CIA in conjunction with Calistoga Rotary. It will begin at 11:45 am with a buffet and possible music this year. The venue will be a bit different so you need to sign up online or next week sign-up sheet at meeting. 
• Donn Black advised of the St. Helena Historical Society Tour at the St. Helena Hotel which is 129 years old this year. Tour is on February 21 at 4pm. 
• Jim Smith is having a trunk show at the Wine Country Inn Feb. 13^th from 12-4pm. Vintage jewelry, clothing and Dragonfly will be on hand to outfit you and your date for the Winter Ball. 
• Suzan Sculatti noted our Interact Club was being televised on Saints in the News, channel 27 Friday morning 8:30 am highlighting their current projects. 

Finemaster - Michael Layne called for bell ringers. Nancy Levenberg praised the success of the Chamber Toga Party and Dave Brotemarkle thought he went to a remote location on vacation, only to meet a St. Helena resident on his beach.  

All fines today centered around the Mustard Festival happening this weekend.