Volunteers provide valuable service to Snowbird club

The Walton County Snowbirds, an organization of some 2,000 members, depends entirely upon the donated time and energy of volunteers to keep the club’s finely tuned gears greased and working. It takes one volunteer for every 17 members to provide the degree of services club members have come to expect. Many work behind the scenes, invisible to those who benefit from their contributions.

On Saturday, Feb. 20, they were all front and center, however, at Captain Dave’s on Old 98 where club president Bob Swenson feted 120 volunteers with a sumptuous lunch and talked about the importance of what they do. Swenson, who will join the ranks of past presidents on March 3 when the membership elects its slate of officers for 2010/2011, encourages others to come forward to fill the vacancies that annually occur.

Those who are considering staging a golf tournament may wonder what the key is to successfully pulling one off. Two answers for that question. The first is planning and organizational talent. The second is getting Sue Dickenson and Mike Serniuk in your corner. The two co-chaired the 2010 combined President’s Cup Women’s Charity Scramble on Feb. 15 at Fort Walton Beach’s Pines course under daunting circumstances. Things looked grim at 7 a.m. when Serniuk headed west toward the course through pouring rain and cold temperatures. He wasn’t worried, though. He knows it takes more than inclement weather to keep Snowbirds off a golf course. Two hours later, the rain was but a passing memory. Bundled against the climate, the golfers mounted four-wheeled steeds and headed out across an uninspiring landscape. They returned hours later to announce to exuberant cheers from both U.S. and Canadian golfers that the Canadian faction won the President’s cup and the foursome of Ruth Rusk, Trina Macintyre, Mary Book and Suzie Cizmar carried the day with the lowest score in the Women’s Charity Scramble. Sue Dickenson presented Michelle Sperzel of Shelter House of Fort Walton Beach with a check on behalf of the golfers in the amount of $720.

The Walton County Snowbirds final general meeting of the season will take place at 10 a.m. March 3 at the Community Church of Santa Rosa Beach, 3524 West U.S. 98. The featured entertainers will be the Snowbird Singers, Walton County Snowbirds very own 52-member strong chorus, making it an encore performance following a benefit concert for Haitian relief scheduled for 3 p.m. Feb. 27, also at the Community Church of Santa Rosa Beach.

Those who are making plans to return north will want storage drop-off dates for items delivered to Affordable Storage, 114 Sugar Drive (one mile east of 30A on Highway 98, south side). They are March 3, 10, 17 and 24 between 3 and 4 p.m. The popular program directed by Don Gehrke owes its success to a squadron of volunteers. They are Hugh Barnard, Herman Block, Bud Cole, Bob Collins, Charlie Hirsch, Ken Hofer, Bob Kane, Tony Newell, Don Tilk, and Roger Villwoch. The group stores about 450 18- to 20-gallon plastic containers each year and about 100 other objects including golf equipment, chairs, tables and bicycles. To use the facility, Snowbirds produce a membership card and $10 per container or item, $20 for bicycles. It is also a good place to drop off excess canned food; they see that it gets to Caring and Sharing, and while you’re at it, drop off a cold one for these hard working guys. Call Don Gehrke at 837-9937.

Golfers checking out play days may refer to the Web site at www.waltoncountysnowbirds.com/golf_news.htm for prices. Play Days are: Eglin Falcon – March 5, Regatta Bay – March 9, Shalimar Pointe – March 2, Windswept Dune – March 7.

The Tuesday Golf Garden League results for Feb. 16. Tuesday golf: Two teams shared the top spot at eight over quota. They were Bob and Eunice Collins, Ken Hofer and Amelia and George Richardson and Lou and Jude Sproel. Longest putt prizes went to Herman Block, David Harkness and Carol Wahl.

Thursday League, Feb. 18 at Golf Garden, First place team was Wayne and Shirley Fatchett, Stan Sass and Bill Grenier. Karen Powell scored a birdie on Hole #6 and husband, Dick Powell, scored one on Hole #7.

Crafters meet each Wednesday between 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. at Faith Assembly Fellowship Hall. Call 837-1623 for information. Vivek Likhite invites tennis players to join him at Mainsail between 9:30 and 12 any morning. It is there that you might meet Elton John (Bud) Jacobson who will turn 92 on his next birthday and still finds time to play tennis on a regular basis. He claims no expert status because his busy life didn’t allow him to find time to take up the game until after his 76th birthday back in 1995 when he first came to Destin. This native of Minneapolis, Minn., is pleased to report his older siblings are alive and well. For more about tennis, call 424-3664.

The book discussion group will hold its final discussion of the season at 2 p.m. March 4 at the Beach Retreat when it reviews and discusses The Used World, by Haven Kimmel, a book that purports to describe all of America by way of a single Midwestern town called Jonah. Even those who have yet to read the book can enjoy the lively discussion that usually occurs. This is the session during which the group will decide on next year’s books. Attendees are encouraged to bring suggestions. Call Pat Keilhau at 837-8057.

The euchre players report recent winners as Women - lst place, Betty Broderick 83, 2nd place Rita Landstoffer 77, Men - 1st place, Rich Richter 93, 2nd place, Bob Gier 78 and Bill Lewis 78.

Tom Mahar is the information officer for the Walton County Snowbirds. He can be reached at tkmahar@aol.com or 267-5441.