"Were you there?"

St. Patty's Day Reverse Raffle

Fri, March 12, 2004

They say the third time's a charm and what a charming evening this was -- the 3rd Annual Carol Stream Chamber St. Patty's Day Reverse Raffle. What is a Reverse Raffle, you ask? 150 tickets are sold for $100 each. You want to win the $6,000 First Prize. You wait for a number to be pulled, but wait, it's a REVERSE raffle so the number pulled is the LOSER..as is the next and the next and the next...

So went the night, and there were moans and groans from the crowd as Chamber members and friends had their numbers eliminated. Another chance was given!! Chamber 'balls' had been set aside at a premium price and attendees were partaking in their purchase to 'stay alive'.

The Tent at the Holiday Inn/Carol Stream was filled with the warmth of food, friends, and festivity. The ever-popular Corned beef and cabbage was enjoyed as well as the Lenten substitutes of cod and lasagna. Gerry quenched everyone's thirst and the Holiday Inn once again let no one go home hungry!

Benny Parker had the honors to be the 'First Loser' which won him $100 prize and Kevin Acker had the 139th number pulled which got him $150!

Lucky recipients split the top four prizes which totaled $6,000.

How could you be there and not have fun??

Click an image below to view large version.
Nan Gudenkauf from the Chamber signs in the attendees, in this case, Dan Bird of Bird Contracting. Will he be a lucky winner?		The event begins as people arrive and mingle.
Craig Ochoa, our very own Chamber member (You're #1) and Big Ten Ref did the 'official officiating' for the Raffle.		Is this YOUR number???
Who lost, er, won first? Bravo, Benny!! Actually, Benny was the *first* number chosen and he won $100!		Hands on hips? Offsides, Ref?
Nan Gudenkauf and Luanne Triolo of the Chamber office show a bit o' Irish spirit as they greet and mingle.		Kevin Acker/West Suburban Bank was the 139th ball chosen and that meant $150 for him.
It always helps to validate an Irish event when there's a Shanahan in the house, or two, or three...		Craig gets some assistance reading numbers (and maybe a bit of heckling the losers) from Sounds Abound DJ, Tony Coix..
"But Eric, how can you leave when we are having THIS much fun?"		What is Luanne's next call? Delay of game? Illegal formation? Perhaps 'Dead ball'!