FORT SILL, Okla. (March 13, 2014) -- The historic Patriot Club here turned into a "speakeasy" complete with gaming, gangsters and flappers during the Fort Sill Patriot Spouses Club "Roaring '20s and Casino Night" March 8.
About 250 people attended the annual event which was the major spring fundraiser for the club. It provides education scholarships for military family members and grant funds to organizations that directly help Soldiers and their families.
"We changed up our theme for something fresh and new this year. 'The Great Gatsby' is popular right now," said Amy Heebner, PSC president. "People really got into the glamour and the costumes."
The six-hour event included non-monetary blackjack and Texas hold 'em poker tables, where winnings were redeemed for vouchers for purchases at the General Store. Store items included baked goods, kitchenware, business coupons and hand-made gifts and signs.
In the upstairs Artillery Room, a silent auction gave attendees an opportunity to bid on gift baskets and other items throughout the evening.
About 9:20 p.m. a live auction began on gift baskets created by units, friends of units and coffee groups, which consisted of military spouses.
Volunteer auctioneer Mike Dooley called out bids faster than a guncrew firing howitzer rounds during a timed drill.
Three-fitty! Three-fitty! Do I hear four hundred? Dooley shouted.
All items that were auctioned, or sold at the General Store were generously donated by businesses, including many military spouse home-based businesses, community organizations and Fort Sill units, coffee groups, friends and supporters, Heebner said. She estimated the value of the donations to be several thousand dollars.
The event could not have happened without the help of the over 100 volunteers, including Soldiers, family members and retirees, Heebner said. They came from all the brigades, tenant units, Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers (BOSS), Family Readiness Groups, PSC, and other organizations. Their duties ranged from blackjack dealers to cashiers to event organizers to running the auctions.
"I'm really proud of all of our volunteers, and I'm really appreciative of all of the support from units, brigades and the community, who have come to support us this spring and last fall," she said.
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