By Don Quilici
If you're an outdoor enthusiast and if you would like to have a fun-filled evening in the near future, put a great, big, red star on March 5 on your calendar.
That's the date of my all-time favorite and this area's most popular outdoor fund-raiser.
March 6 will be the date of the 19th annual Carson Valley Chukar Club fund-raiser.
That hugely-popular sportsmen's event will be held, as usual, at the Douglas County Fairgrounds. For those of you who have never attended any of the past 18 fund-raisers, you can reach the Fairgrounds by:
Driving south on U.S. 395, out of Gardnerville, to the last traffic signal light (at the 7-11 Store).
At that intersection, turn left onto Pinenut Road. Take that road for about three miles to a large metal building, located on your right side.
That's where the party will be held. If in doubt, just look for a huge number of parked vehicles.
And, as a special word of advice to anyone planning to attend this very popular function for the first time: GO EARLY!
Yep, go early, if you want to sit anywhere near the front of the huge crowd (approximately 500) that will be attending.
If you're late, you could end up sitting in the bleacher section along the wall or standing way in the back of the room.
The doors open at 5 p.m., dinner will be ready to go, and the evening's program begins at 7.
In between those two times, you will be able to visit with old friends, make new friends, wander around, look at all of the raffle prizes, drool over the many attractive auction items, buy your raffle tickets, have a cocktail (or two!), and enjoy the fund raiser's traditional, barbecued Tri-Tip steak sandwiches on hard rolls, with homemade beans and tossed salad.
All of that for just $25 per person or just $15 for anyone under the age of 18 (Note: Younger folks must be accompanied by an adult).
According to Ron Pierini, the Carson Valley Chukar Club Fund-Raiser Chairman, "We expect another full house and I want to remind everyone to get their tickets early. We can only accommodate the first 500 people with tickets. Plan ahead and purchase your tickets as soon as possible."
The Carson Valley Chukar Club, among its many activities, supports youth programs such as the annual fishing derby at Lampe Park in Gardnerville and the Hunter Education Program offered in Douglas County.
On a personal note, I have had the pleasure of attending all of the fund-raisers with the exception of one year when in Southeast Asia.
And, I can also tell you that in all of those previous years, Don Q has never won one raffle prize.
Not one! Never, never.
And, before you ask, "Yes, I buy lots of raffle tickets each year. I just have miserable luck in winning at raffles and drawings."
Some day, I am going to have one of my tickets drawn and when that happens, I will probably keel over in a dead faint.
Here are some other "Don Q" memories from past years:
1. Sneaking outside to where the barbecue crew is cooking the many, huge Trip-Tip roasts.
Those guys have way too much fun, out there in the cold, and they dearly love to pick on one another and especially on Don Q. Hmmm, I wonder if is what they are drinking or if they have been nipping at their special barbecue sauce?
2. Being harassed and teased, from the stage, by Pierini, Lance Modispatcher and Dennis Houston, the auctioneer, during the drawings for the raffle tickets and the bidding for the auction items.
They dearly love to pick on me.
Hmmm, maybe I should sit way back in the bleacher section where they won't notice me.
3. Doing a poor imitation of Fred Astaire, tap dancing, while impatiently waiting in the long, long line at the men's room.
I sure wish those beer drinkers had a rest room of their own!
4. Watching everyone around me, laughing and winning very nice raffle prizes. They always seem to win with tickets just a few numbers smaller or larger than mine.
Oh well, this could be the year!
Finally, some words of advice:
Mark March 5 on your calendar.
Purchase your tickets early.
Plan to arrive early that evening.
Plan to have a lot of fun.
And, then if by some miracle, I should finally win a raffle prize, be sure to cheer as loud as you can.
See ya there!
For information or to purchase tickets, call Pierini at 782-9903.
• Bet Your Favorite Pigeon
Bet your favorite pigeon that he can't tell you the name of the person acknowledged to be the founder of the Carson Valley Chukar Club fund-raisers.
If he grins and says, "Lance Modispatcher of Douglas County," he belongs to the club.
