By Marcia Jensen

Each year the Coos Bay - North Bend Rotary Club holds a charity auction to raise funds which support a variety of projects. Some of our hands-on projects have been the improvements made at Boyington, Mingus, Taylor-Wasson and the Newmark Center parks. Each year Coos Bay - North Bend Rotary Club give scholarships to local high school students who have shown academic and personal growth. Rotarians participate in one-on-one mentoring and reading programs. We also support SWOYA Boys and Girls Club, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, and send several area high school juniors to a Rotary leadership summer camp with other youth from all over the state.

Coos Bay - North Bend Rotary contributes to community programs which answer needs in the areas of domestic violence and HIV-AIDS. We also respond to the needs of our area senior centers. Our club actively supports and promotes the Rotary Organ Donor Program and Polio Plus Program to eradicate polio from the face of the earth by 2002. On the international level, the Coos Bay - North Bend Rotary Club has sent members to do eye surgeries and ophthalmologic services in remote areas of Ecuador. Members have helped build housing and schools for families and orphans in Colima, Mexico, and also participated in rebuilding schools devastated by Hurricane Mitch. Our charity auction is planned for April 21, 2001. It will be held at the North Bend Community Center starting at 6 p.m. The theme is "Caribbean Nights" and will feature 50 oral auction items and 150 silent auction items. There are always interesting and fun items to bid on ... from balloon rides and weekend get-aways to pressure washers and power tools. Please help us to continue our work within the community and around the world by attending our auction! Tickets will be available from any Rotary member or for further information call Tom Bennett at 888-1515 or Marcia Jensen at 756-7047.