Shallotte Rotary Club plans January Las Vegas Night

On Jan. 29, Shallotte Rotary Club will have its sixth Las Vegas Night at 101 Stone Chimney Road from 6-10 p.m.

Eight years ago, the Shallotte Rotary Club spun off from its sister club, the South Brunswick Island Rotary Club, which is a breakfast club. Having a lunch club that met centrally in Shallotte gained a lot of attention, and today the nearly 30 members of the Shallotte club are one of the strongest clubs in District 7730.

Five years ago the club was looking for an idea for an annual fundraiser when then-president Doug Terhune suggested that the club hold a Las Vegas Night. Terhune had recently attended one in Hilton Head and was astonished at how successful and fun the event was. The idea scared a lot of members, though, because the mere thought of gambling in Brunswick County was rather taboo, organizers said.

However, since only “Monopoly” type money is used and there are no cash prizes, the club forged ahead with the idea, and the first Las Vegas Night was held at the Shriners Club on Old Shallotte Road. Due to its immediate success, the venue was moved to Sea Trail for the next two years before settling on its permanent home at 101 Stone Chimney Road, the Brunswick County Association of Realtors’ office.

This year the club anticipates selling out the event, which is limited to the first 325 guests. 

At the center of attention are the professional gaming tables which include roulette, blackjack, craps, Texas Hold’em and slot machines, which are new this year. 

The event is catered, and there will be pasta and carving stations along with an array of hors d’oeuvres and a gambling cake. 

But the real highlights are the hundreds of door prizes, which took up 10 tables last year and this year will probably cover 12-14 tables. Everyone in attendance last year walked out with a door prize, and one lucky gambler won the grand prize 50-inch flat-screen TV.

The silent auction is also a big hit and includes many rounds of golf for four, artwork, dinner for four prepared in your home, a custom-made special occasion cake, vacations and much more.

According to club president Vince Bacchi, the club’s success every year depends on the generosity of business owners/store managers in and around Shallotte along with people who loyally support the club’s causes.

The Shallotte Rotary Club supports 20-30 local concerns including the Brunswick County Literacy Council, Hope Harbor, New Hope Clinic, Smart Start, CIS and numerous others.

Tickets purchased before Jan. 1, 2011, are $55 and after Jan. 1, 2011, tickets will be $60. This includes the entire evening of fun, and there will be a cash bar as well. If you are interested in purchasing tickets or learning about the club’s diamond and platinum sponsorships and/or donating a door prize, call Carolina Plantations Real Estate at 575-0075 or Union Mortgage at 842-1658.