Entertainment - Entertainment News

POSTED: Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009

Emblem Club helps variety of charities

Sisters Judy Potter and Donna Hawkins and longtime friend Barbara Hanson are proud to belong to a club that works hard to support a variety of charitable causes and has a lot of fun along the way.

"Our primary purpose is charitable works in Whatcom and Skagit counties," said Hanson, who since 1982 has been a member of the 35-year-old Bellingham Emblem Club No. 489. "We do charities that don't get public funding."

The women said the club keeps a lower profile than some groups but is 76 members strong.

About the club: Emblem Club members help support the Lighthouse Mission, Agape Center, the Laurendeau Foundation and Marianne's House, which serves adults with special needs.

"This year, for the first time, we're gifting a family during the holidays through Hope House under Catholic Community Services and the Opportunity Council," said Potter, the vice president.

"We pretty much go on an as-needed basis, and organizations are welcome to contact us to see if we can help them," said Hawkins, the treasurer. "We do what we can."

Some club members volunteer at the Puget Sound Blood Center, a long-standing activity. They also participate in the group's literacy program, which gathers donations of children's books, sanitizes them and distributes them to mothers at local shelters for battered women. Members also collect donations for the Bellingham Food Bank.

The club also raises at least $1,000 each year for a college scholarship, or more than one if possible.

"What's interesting is that we've had so many outstanding local students that several have won major scholarships from our state and national organizations," Potter said.

Major events: The club's major fundraiser is a holiday bazaar every November at the Bellingham Elks Lodge, the site of most club functions. There also are two large rummage sales each year, usually in May and October.

"Those are really popular events," said Hawkins. "Hundreds of people attend every year."

The club's other major event, its annual fashion show and luncheon, will be held March 20 at the Elks Club.

"We're not supermodels," Potter said with a laugh, "but we have a lot of fun with the fashion show."

"There's fashions for all ages and sizes," Hanson said.

Member stories: "Judy Reiber is a charter member and has been president six different times," said Hanson. "She bakes the best cinnamon rolls in the county and she became a legend when someone once bid $80 during a charity auction for her rolls."

ABOUT THE CLUB

Organization: Bellingham Emblem Club No. 479.

Purpose: To raise funds for local charities that do not receive public funding.

Number of members: 76.

Year founded: 1974.

Affiliations: Supreme Emblem Club of the USA; Washington State Association of Emblem Clubs.

Meetings: The second Saturday of each month, except July and August, at 10 a.m. at the Bellingham Elks Lodge.

Confact info: (360) 733-5234 or www.emblemclub.org.

Leadership: Judy Reiber, president; Judy Potter, vice president; JoAnn Collins, secretary; Donna Hawkins, treasurer.