ROTARY-AT-HOME TV BINGO-----MONDAY, JUNE 22ND, 2009



ROTARY-AT-HOME TV BINGO

In 1993, Past President Dave Liddle came to the Rotary Club with an idea regarding TV BINGO. Dave had been visiting an uncle in Grimsby where he saw on the local cable channel a TV BINGO run by a local Rotary Club as a fundraiser.

As such, a committee was established to look at the feasibility of running a TV BINGO on our local cable channel provider. The committee was comprised of Dave Liddle, Joe MacAskill, Dino Dottori, Peter Hudson, Don MacDougall and the late Carolyn Bennett. The committee got the approval of the Board of Directors and the Club to proceed with ROTARY-AT-HOME TV BINGO.

ROTARY-AT-HOME TV BINGO started on Wednesday, November 24th, 1993. The Bingo Envelopes were $3.50 each and the total prize money was $1,000.00. At that time ROTARY-AT-HOME TV BINGO was on MacLean Hunter Cable TV. Over the years, MacLean Hunter Cable TV gave way to Rogers Cable TV; and then Rogers Cable TV gave way to COGECO Cable TV.

During the first year of operations, November 1993 to June 1994, our profit was $63,857 (and that was for thirty-two [32] weeks), a profit of almost $2,000.00 per week.

At that time, we had a Rotarian as a HOST, a Rotarian as a CALLER, a Rotarian as a FLOOR MANAGER, and two (2) Rotarians who worked in the Control Room answering the telephone, and working the Verifier.

We arranged to get our Bingo Equipment----the Verifier, Bingo Machine including the noisy blower, and Bingo Boards from Bazaar Novelty. John Krantz from Bazaar Novelty assisted us in this process. John has assisted us from day one in the distribution of the Bingo Envelopes, and the collection of monies and unsold Bingo Envelopes from the various convenience stores/lottery kiosks each week.

Arrangements were made to have the Bingo Envelopes sold in the various convenience stores and Lottery Kiosks in North Bay and Callandar. For every Bingo Envelope sold by the convenience store/lottery kiosk, it received five (5%) percent of the selling price of the Bingo Envelope. For example, today we sell the Bingo Envelopes for six ($6.00) each. The Convenience Store/Lottery Kiosk gets thirty (30) cents for each sold Bingo Envelope

In the second year, 1994-1995, of ROTARY-AT-HOME TV BINGO, the late Carolyn Bennett was the chair. We had increased the price of the Bingo Envelopes to $4.00 and the Prize Value was increased to $1,500.00. Our profit was $96,394. Carolyn stored the boxes of Bingo Envelopes in her garage. One (1) night in March 1995, Arne Schmidt was the HOST. Carolyn had flown in that day from Phoenix, Arizona. Some how, Arne had found this out. So Arne decided he would serenade Carolyn and everyone else with his rendition of the Glen Campbell song-----“BY THE TIME I GET TO PHOENIX”. Boy did the telephone lines light up, and it was not because the bingo players had winning Bingo Cards.

We have had other situations occur at the TV Studio such as the Bingo Balls coming out of the blower when the door was not shut properly, Rotarians swearing on air when the equipment malfunctioned or the Bingo Ball was put in the wrong hole, etc.; however, we will not go into any more detail.

In the third year, 1995-1996, the late Cam Gray was the chair. The price of the Bingo Envelopes was increased to $5.00. The total prize money was increased to $2,000.00. Our profit was $121,286.

During Cam’s year, the boxes of Bingo Cards were stored in the basement of his house on Premier Road. We are sure that Cam’s wife, Charlotte, was not happy about this.

In May 1996, the Lion’s Club of North Bay started their TV BINGO on the North Bay CBC TV Station on Thursday afternoons. This affected our sales and profit.

In the fourth (4th) year, 1996-1997, Don Coutts chaired the ROTARY-AT-HOME TV BINGO Committee. The price of the Bingo Envelopes was increased to $6.00 and the total prize money was increased to $2,500.00.

In the summer of 1996 Mike’s Stores, now known as the Mac’s Stores, approached the ROTARY-AT-HOME TV BINGO Committee to see if we would sell our Bingo Envelopes in their stores. Arrangements were made to do so. We were concerned about those convenience stores/lottery kiosks that had been with us since November 1993 that they might suffer in their sales from the addition of the Mike’s Stores. Therefore, we negotiated the locations of which Mike’s Stores would sell our Bingo Envelopes. There is only one (1) Mike’s Store/Mac’s in North Bay and Callandar that does not sell our Bingo Envelopes. It is the Mac’s Store in the Pine Hill Plaza at the corner of Jane Street and Clarence Street. The Pine Hill Coffee Shop who started with us in November 1993 is one (1) store away.

As mentioned earlier, the boxes of Bingo Sheets were stored at Cam Gray’s. Charlotte told Cam that she wanted her basement back. So we had to look for another storage place. Ian Martyn was gracious enough to allow the ROTARY-AT-HOME TV BINGO Committee to store the Bingo Sheets in one of the many basements at Martyn’s Funeral Home.

When the ROTARY-AT-HOME TV BINGO first went on the air, we would pick up the weekly package of material that we needed at the TV Studio including the money at Don MacDougall’s residence. The reason being was that Don was the Treasurer of the ROTARY-AT-HOME TV BINGO Committee. Don continued in this role as Treasurer to June 2008, having served as Treasurer for fifteen (15) years. This also included doing the weekly reports for City Hall that is required by provincial law. In fact, Laurie Wood, the clerk at City Hall, who we provide the reports to, keeps on asking for Don, and when he will come in to visit. For a period of time, we would pick up the weekly packages of material including the prize money at C G’s across the street from Branch #23 of the Royal Canadian Legion, and at TIP TOP Tailors at Northgate when Steve Sarlo was the manager at the TIP TOP Store.

In the spring of 1997, the ROTARY-AT-HOME TV BINGO Committee decided that we would run the Bingo during July and August of 1997. The reason being was that the Lion’s Club of North Bay was running their TV BINGO on the North Bay CBC TV Station during the summer, and hopefully we would keep our Bingo players and our share of TV BINGO monies. We did make some money that summer; however, it was decided in order to maximize our profits, and not burn out our Rotarians, we were better off to run our TV BINGO from the first Wednesday after Labour Day in September to the last Wednesday of June.

During the summer of 1997, the ROTARY-AT-HOME TV BINGO Committee was contacted by the Rotary Clubs of Gravenhurst and Bracebridge with regards to doing a TV BINGO on their local CABLE TV channel. Representatives from the Rotary Clubs of Gravenhurst and Bracebridge visited North Bay, and observed one of our productions. Later that summer, representatives from the Rotary Clubs of Gravenhurst and Bracebridge came to a Bingo Stuffing here in North Bay.

With the assistance of John Krantz who was with Bazaar Novelty, and Don Coutts, they helped the Rotary Clubs of Gravenhurst and Bracebridge get started. In November 1997, they went live with their ROTARY-AT-HOME TV BINGO, and have not looked back. The TV Station, CKVR from Barrie came up to Gravenhurst and did a news clip on air about the start of ROTARY-AT-HOME TV in Gravenhurst and Bracebridge. Several years later, they were approached by the Rotary Club of Huntsville and helped them get their TV BINGO started.

Bruce Roberts was chair of the ROTARY-AT-HOME TV BINGO Committee for 1997-1998, and 1998-1999. Bruce agreed to be the chair only if other Rotarians agreed to take on additional responsibilities. Steve Sarlo agreed to be in charge of the DUTY ROSTER, and Don Coutts volunteered to look after the BINGO STUFFINGS at the Rorab Shrine Club.

Steve Sarlo was the chair of the ROTARY-AT-HOME TV BINGO for 1999-2000, and 2000-2001. Peter Sirrs agreed to be in charge of the Duty Roster, and Don Coutts continued with the Bingo Stuffings.

When Steve left the Rotary Club of North Bay in the spring of 2001, Barry Pond stepped up to the plate and volunteered that we could pick up the weekly package of material that we needed at the TV Studio along with the money at JACKMAN’S. We continue to do this to this day, and on behalf of the ROTARY-AT-HOME TV BINGO Committee, we thank Barry and his staff for putting up with us when the designated Rotarian goes in on Wednesday afternoon to pick up the weekly package of material.

Just to let you know that Steve Sarlo has been helping out with us as Floor Manager and in the backroom manning the telephone or operating the VERIFIER at COGECO TV for several years now even though he is no longer a Rotarian.

Bruce Goulet became the Chair of ROTARY-AT-HOME TV BINGO for the next several years. Bruce was always there for us whenever we ran into unusual situations. One night we are sure Bruce won’t forget is the night that COGECO’s phones went dead temporarily. We did not know this until after twenty-five (25) balls had been called in Game #1. Usually there is a winner somewhere between the 16th ball being called to the 22nd ball being called. To make a long story short, we had twenty-eight (28) winners on Game #1. We ended up giving each winner $5.00.

The VERIFIER gave us problems every once in a while which meant that we had to manually check the winning card. We got a new Verifier in 2005 which works great.

In the early 2000’s we noticed that our sales were not as strong as they had once been. The ROTARY-AT-HOME TV BINGO Committee sought out the assistance of Dee Adrian and Bernie Penney, who were members of the Rotary Club of North Bay, to provide us with professional feedback with regards to our “ON AIR” presentation, and our advertising material. Bernie found us our “BINGO MAN” which we use on our BINGO Posters and as well for the wall mount that sits behind the HOST/CALLER during the show. Contrary to public opinion, that is not a poster of Dick Tafel. The suggestions of Dee and Bernie helped as our sales and profit jumped dramatically.

Often times the Wall Mount of our BINGO MAN and the words ROTARY-AT-HOME TV BINGO shows up whether on purpose or by mistake on other COGECO presentations. The Kiwanis Club of North Bay had their Kiwanian of the Year. It was for Brian Winkworth. A video presentation was shown. In it, it shows the staff of COGECO congratulating Brian as being the Kiwanain of the year. The staff was standing in front of our ROTARY-AT-HOME TV BINGO set and right behind them was our Wall Mount of our BINGO MAN and the words ROTARY-AT-HOME TV BINGO. The Rotary Club thought that was good publicity with the help of another Service Club.

It was suggested that we get a new “OPENING” for the start of our show. Dino Dottori took the words and music to “TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME” to “TAKE ME OUT TO ROTARY-AT-HOME TV BINGO”, and as many of our Rotarians may remember, we recorded the song at a Rotary Meeting. So if you were at the Rotary Meeting when we recorded the song, each Wednesday night from the Wednesday after Labour Day to the last Wednesday of June , you can hear yourself and others singing. You can show off to your family, friends, children, grandchildren that you are heard on COGECO CABLE once a week. Unfortunately, we don’t give out any royalty cheques when it is played As well; we pre-recorded part of our opening introduction. Marg Moody and Rob Foster did the “voice over” for our new opening.

We changed our format from a five (5) person crew to a four (4) person crew. We have combined the position of HOST and CALLER into one position as HOST/CALLER. We still have a FLOOR MANGER, and two (2) Rotarians who work in the control room answering the telephone and working the Verifier.

A couple of years ago, Craig Rodwell took over from Peter Sirrs with regards to our Duty Roster.

Rob Fraser puts out weekly as we call them the “DEAD AIR PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS”. Of course, we promote Rotary Activities and Events such as Travelogue, Rose Day, Dragonboat, when we are doing the Salvation Army Christmas Kettle at the Metro (A+P) store at Christmas time so that we can be the #1 Service Organization with the Christmas Kettle campaign. We also announce other Public Service Announcements such as volunteers needed at North East Mental Health Centre, Habitat for Humanity in their collection of pop tins, etc.

In about 2000, Ann Dicker approached Don Coutts to see if it was alright if she and a few of her friends could come out to the BINGO STUFFINGS. Don thought it would be Ann and one (1) or two (2) of her friends. Boy was Don wrong!!!!! At times, there would be Ann and eight (8) of her friends helping out at the Bingo Stuffings. They liked the fellowship, and of course, most of Ann’s friends knew a number of the Rotarians. Even after Ann’s death of several years ago, there are still a number of her friends who come out to the Bingo Stuffings. Recently Don Coutts asked them why they still come out. They say it is for the fellowship, but as well helping out Rotary and all of its activities and charities. Now that is SERVICE ABOVE SELF!!!!!

Just to let you know, we send the ladies a dozen roses on behalf of The Rotary Club of North Bay on Rose Day to show our appreciation. They really appreciate the roses.

A number of years ago, some of Chuck Verge wife’s (Joan), co-workers from the Emergency Department of the North Bay General Hospital came out to assist with our BINGO STUFFINGS.

How long have we been doing BINGO STUFFINGS? We have been doing them from the beginning. We usually have thirty (30) to forty (40) Rotarians, their family members and friends. In a Bingo Year, we have seven (7) BINGO STUFFINGS. We stuff 1,500 BINGO Envelopes per week/9000 Bingo Envelopes per BINGO STUFFING, and approximately 64,500 Bingo Envelopes per year. According to our calculations, from November 1993 to June 2009 we have stuffed just over one (1) million BINGO Envelopes.

We have had out High School Students at BINGO STUFFINGS to get credit towards their forty (40) hours of Community Work.

We now have a number of Rotary Alumni (former Rotarians as we call them) who come out to the Bingo Stuffings. Don MacDougall, and Al Wharram come out. Al brings his wife, Eileen. A few widows of former Rotarians come out-----Dorla Saari, wife of Ossie, and Mary Elliott, wife of Tom. Why do they come out? ----it is for the friendship and fellowship of Rotary that they developed with other Rotarians over the years.

A number of years ago, Don Coutts decided to bring out Jelly Beans so people could have something to munch on while doing the BINGO Stuffing. In the past several years, Peter Hudson brings out the healthy food----different types of fruit such as grapes, oranges, etc.

After we have stuffed the Bingo Envelopes, we have pizza and as Don Cherry would say, a “pop”. There is no other ROTARY CLUB of NORTH BAY event where you get Jelly Beans, fresh fruit, and as Dino Dottori calls it a free Italian Meal excluding the “pop”, and a make-up for attendance purposes at the same time.

We are the only TV BINGO in North Bay that delivers the cash prize monies to the winners within thirty (30) minutes after going off the air.

Several years ago Don Coutts came across a free publication called “WYN LIT”. You may have seen it around the city. It is found at the North Bay Public Library, several of the grocery stores, etc. Don called the publisher, a lady by the name of Maggie Lacroix to inquire about advertising in “WYN LIT”. When Don explained who he was, why he was calling, etc., Maggie informed me that the Rotary Club of North Bay would be able to advertise free in the publication as we are a non-profit organization. We have been able to advertise other Rotary events such as TRAVELOGUE, and the KID’S FIRST RADIOTHON over the past several years.

We also send Maggie a dozen roses on Rose Day on behalf of the Rotary Club of North Bay to show our appreciation.

Brian Winkworth and the staff of COGECO Community Cable 12 have assisted us greatly in our on air presentations to make ROTARY-AT-HOME TV a professional presentation.

And of course without our ROTARY-AT-HOME TV BINGO players playing ROTARY-AT-HOME TV BINGO every Wednesday night, we would not be able to provide the same measure of support to the various activities and charities that are the hallmark of Rotary Service.

As of June 30th, 2009, the Rotary Club of North Bay has been doing ROTARY-AT-HOME TV BINGO for sixteen (16) years.

On Wednesday, April 15th, 2009 ROTARY-AT-HOME TV BINGO surpassed the ONE ($1,000,000.00) MILLION DOLLAR MARK.

DATED: JUNE 30TH, 2009

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