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Finger-lickin'-good food for good cause

By ANDREW SKERRITT
Published March 24, 2006

The guys from the West Pasco Sertoma Club aren't nearly so rowdy these days. They've mellowed considerably, but their passion gets really fired up this time of year.

On Wednesday evening, they were over at Sims Park getting their barbecue grill and pots and pans ready for this year's Chasco Fiesta.

This is their 35th year. Along the way, they've had their share of heartbreak, heartburn and hoorays.

In 1993, the No Name Storm hit right in the middle of the festival and the Sertomans had to throw away 5,000 pounds of meat that was cooked overnight.

But there have been far more triumphs. The barbecue is world famous, sort of. The Sertomans held the Guinness Book of World Records crown for serving the most barbecue from 1980 to 1996.

In the best years, the barbecue generated $40,000 or $50,000. Now $25,000 would be respectable, given the increased competition and the fact that they no longer serve beer (see reference to rowdy.)

A couple of things can guide you to the barbecue: the smoke and smell, and the huge brown and white mascot fiberglass bull, "Boots." On the green and white tent is the banner, "Beef and ribs so good they ought to be illegal."

For the next two weekends, the hickory- and oak-scented smoke and their trademark sauce will attract thousands of patrons.

Jeff Montgomery is barbecue chairman for the third year in a row. He's coordinating the barbecue with help from about 30 club members and another several dozen outside volunteers, including a couple who live in England and always schedule their vacations to coincide with Chasco so they can help with the barbecue.

Montgomery is looking at the weather: Cooler temperatures and rain might dampen the crowds on the first weekend. But a little rain isn't all bad. It could help lower the pollen count. He ought to know. He runs a landscaping business with his dad.

This year, the club bought about 10,000 pounds of ribs, 20,000 pounds of beef. Members are still undecided on how well folks will take to the chicken, so they'll start with about 5,000 pounds.

Chicken barbecue is a new endeavor for the club. The local Lions Club used to do the chicken, but no longer. The West Pasco Chamber of Commerce approached the Sertomans about adding it to their menu.

After some debate, club members figured that chicken, beef or ribs - it would be consistent with the real reason for the barbecue.

The West Pasco Sertoma Club barbecue isn't just about food. The long smoky days and nights are about raising money: 75 percent goes to the Sertoma Speech and Hearing Foundation to provide hearing aids.

The rest of the money raised at the barbecue goes to Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and other community organizations.

Club president Darrell Huling figures that over the years, the club has donated about $1.5-million to the Sertoma Speech and Hearing Center, thanks largely to money generated by the barbecue.

That's pretty impressive given the modest beginning for the barbecue and the hearing aids project.

The club was founded in 1970. During the early years, club members would drive folks down to St. Pete to get them fitted for hearing aids.

In 1981, club members approached All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg about setting up a facility in New Port Richey. Two years later, the West Pasco Sertoma Speech and Hearing Clinic opened. Now the clinic is part of the All Children's Specialty Care of Pasco facility in New Port Richey.

Craig McCart, a club member since 1975, runs the speech and hearing center with two other staffers. They raise money and coordinate programs offering hearing aids for newborns to the elderly.

Think about that when you're licking sauce off your fingers.

Andrew Skerritt can be reached at 813 909-4602 or toll free at 1-800-333-7505 ext. 4602. His e-mail address is askerritt@sptimes.com

[Last modified March 24, 2006, 02:15:43]