Coming up roses

COEUR d'ALENE - Contrary to popular belief, former Cincinnati Reds star Pete Rose did not relaunch his Hall of Fame campaign at The Coeur d'Alene Resort on Friday.

It was actually Coeur d'Alene Rotary President Ron Ouren, channeling the spirit of "Charlie Hustle" while pumping up members for this year's rose sale.

"I had to interrupt my betting to let all of you know that today is the day that kicks off the 'Pete Rose' sale," Ouren said, earning a chorus of laughter from the 100 Rotarians at the meeting.

The Rotary Rose Sale is one of two fundraisers the service organization holds each year. Those funds are then donated to scholarship programs, youth groups, local community service charities, and area projects such as the Kroc Center, Fallen Heroes Plaza and the Coeur d'Alene Public Library.

In the last five years alone, $365,000 has been given to 57 different community organizations.

"The club has done this for years and, when I became a member and it was announced, there was a collective groan amongst our members," said Lucinda Ade, a Rotarian who works as a chairperson for the Rose Sale. "So we decided to make it fun. We've been doing it for 19 years now the fun way."

Ade added that, in the 25 years the rose sale has been held, the Coeur d'Alene Rotary has raised $693,000 and distributed a quarter-million roses to individuals and organizations. The results of the sales, she said, are a testament to the concept of the sale itself.

"It's not just a fundraiser. That's what I love about it," Ade said. "It is also an opportunity to get out and meet people throughout the community. It's an opportunity to do something nice for someone else."

It's also an opportunity for members to have some fun, as showcased by Ouren's Pete Rose performance on Friday.

Another way Ade has made the sale more oriented around fun is by making it a team event. Members are broken into 10 teams, each with its own coach, all vying to sell the most roses for a good cause.

"Have fun out there," Ouren said after introducing the teams and their coaches. "And let me know who I should bet on."

This year the Rotary Club has asked some of the "All-Stars" in the community to step up to the plate as Rose Patrons. For a donation of $1,000, each corporate patron will receive 25-dozen roses to share with their clients, customers, employees, or loved ones.

These patrons will be recognized in The Press, on social media, and the Rotary website.

Only four more patron slots are available, and interested companies can contact Shawn Bassham at shawnbassham@yahoo.com for more information.

Pre-orders for roses - $28 per dozen with $18 being tax-deductible - can be made through Oct. 1. On Oct. 16, more than 1,000 bouquets will be personally delivered throughout the community.

For more information on the Rotary Rose Sale, call (208) 772-7862.