Elks Lodge annual fundraiser returns Friday

October 14, 2010

Craps is one of the most popular games each year at the Elks Lodge Casino Night. For those who don’t know the basics of the game, dealers will be conducting lessons from 5:30-6 p.m. Friday. Photo by Mike Gervais

Community members are invited to lay all their chips on the table tomorrow night as they bet on a good cause.
The Bishop Elks Lodge will host its annual Casino Night, featuring traditional table games such as poker and craps, and a raffle for a slew of prizes ranging from gift certificates to a weekend get-away.
Residents can head over to the Elks Lodge on East Line Street at 6 p.m. for the event. For $10, the Elks will hand over $100 worth of chips that can be played on any number of tables, including black jack, craps, poker, BINGO and the Wheel of Fortune.
All proceeds raised at the event will go towards scholarships and other charitable works of the Elks.
“We need to raise money to support our annual charities such as the Alzheimer’s Association, Easter Seals, Sierra Breast Cancer Alliance, Bishop Elementary School’s ‘Reading is Fundamental’ program and the Salvation Army; plus many seasonal charities such as the Thanksgiving turkey dinners distributed to the poor or house-ridden and Christmas gifts for the retirement homes,” said Casino Night organizer Ian Lindsay.
Dozens of residents turn out for the annual event each year, bringing in hundreds of dollars for the service club.
“This year we have bigger and better prizes than ever, and we’re going to have all the table games, from blackjack to craps to poker,” Lindsay said.
For those who don’t know the rules to craps, Lindsay will once again provide lessons before Casino Night, beginning at 5:30 p.m.
“It’s a really fun game,” he said. “People really get into it. That’s where the energy is.”
Lindsay said that all the popular games will be available, and attendees need only request that their dealer deal their favorite game.
“Texas Hold em’ is always requested by a lot of people,” Lindsay said. “I’m sure they’ll have a table set up. If not, the dealers are really good. You can ask them. Our knowledgeable, courteous, ever-helpful dealers are anxious to assist our players. We want everyone to have fun.”
At the end of the night, residents will be invited to cash their chips in for raffle tickets and a chance to win any number of prizes that have been donated for the event.
According to Elks Exalted Ruler Dave Burnett, the Elks will be raffling off several dinners for two, donated by local restaurants, a one-day boat rental at Topaz Lake and a two-night stay at Glacier Lodge, among many other prizes.
“We got many gift certificates from local businesses, anything from hardware stores to beauticians,” Burnett said. “We’ve got everything.”