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Pay a buck, say piece, get a yuck

New Tampa Rotary Club members plunk down a dollar to rib a pal or brag on a kid, and charity reaps the benefit.

By DONG-PHUONG NGUYEN
Published May 21, 2006

These little tidbits of life went on and on at the New Tampa Rotary Club meeting at the Tampa Palms Golf & County Club on Friday morning, where each week the group's members pay $1 or more to announce whatever they please, usually to a round of chuckles.

Called "Happy Dollar," this long-standing tradition of sharing thoughts, praise and mundane milestones is just one way the Rotary Club's more than 80 members raise money for charity.

And with six weeks to go before the club's fiscal year ends, they've collected a record $27,000 - all on these tiny little nuggets of life.

Over a buffet breakfast of oatmeal, scrambled eggs - and grits - they stood up, one by one, bills in their hands, to offer well-wishes to the ill, tell a joke, poke a rib.

One man stood up to announce he had sold his home. Another, a Realtor, paid a dollar to say he was happy he didn't deal with the sale.

City Council member Shawn Harrison's son graduated from preschool the night before, he announced, slipping bills to sergeant-at-arms Tom Stanton.

Later, psychologist Alan Lewis quipped to Harrison: "Did he announce he was running for student council?"

A few people celebrating birthdays or anniversaries contributed amounts equal to their age or number of years wed.

Lewis handed over a check for $100, despite turning 58. He got the customary standing ovation for donating more than $100 - and became the butt of a few jokes.

"Alan, when you go for a physical, do you have to visit an archaeologist?'' asked member Jose Martinez, who paid to tell that one.

Stanton, who went around the room to collect the money, said the club has broken its previous record by about $12,000.

Of the more than $27,000 raised so far, more than $9,000 was put in the pot in one month, after Hurricane Katrina hit.

It's hard for Rotary International to say if the figure raised is record-breaking nationwide. But district-wide, it's by far the most anyone has heard of.

"It's enormous," said Barbara Shayeb-Helou, governor of Rotary International's local district - 45 clubs in Hillsborough, Polk, Highlands and Hardee counties. "They probably have collected the most for any club I have ever seen."

She said the Happy Dollar program kicks off big for some clubs but not others.

"It depends on the ego of the person and how outgoing they are," Shayeb-Helou said. "There are a lot of extroverts in that club."

Next month, Happy Dollar money, as well as funds raised during a Pig Roast, a 5K run and a golf tournament, will be distributed to more than 25 charities, said Rotary Club president Dr. Colin Beach.

"People don't seem to have any problem giving money," he said. "We get to find out what people are doing, the good things that happen in their lives. It's a fun time."

Dong-Phuong Nguyen can be reached at 813 269-5312 or nguyen@sptimes.com.

[Last modified May 21, 2006, 08:29:40]