Rotary Club ready stage annual lobster boil benefit

SHEBOYGAN – As its main annual fundraiser, the Sheboygan Early Bird Rotary Club’s Lobster Boil goes a long way in supporting the needs of the local, national and global community.

This year’s lobster boil is set to take place Friday, July 24, at Fountain Park in downtown Sheboygan. It is scheduled to run from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m.

All tickets must be purchased in advance by Monday, July 20. The cost is $40 per person, which includes a 1¼-pound live Maine lobster, butter, boiled potatoes, coleslaw and bread.

Clam chowder and cheesecake will also be available, along with a wide selection of refreshments and dinner alternatives.

“Once again this year, we will be offering hamburgers and brats for those people who are not interested in the lobster dinner,” said Kris Krentz, Early Bird Rotary Club member and lobster boil co-chairperson. “Proceeds from the sale of the hamburgers and brats go to support the Two Left Paws organization.”

The dinner will be held near the Fountain Park band shell. Inside and outside seating will be available.

“It is an all-weather event, so it will go on rain or shine,” said Linda Cates, Early Bird Rotary Club member.

Blues Highway Band will offer musical entertainment, from 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

“We have a new band this year, Blues Highway Band,” Cates said. “They are a very popular local blues and modern rock band. We are very happy to have them join us.”

Over the past 13 years, the event has developed a truly unique, fun and festive atmosphere.

“We offer a top-shelf lobster dinner, and plenty of other foods, refreshments, a 50/50 raffle and other special activities, which provide for an enjoyable summer evening out,” Krentz said. “People really get into the spirit of the event.”

In addition to the lobster dinner, the popular table-decorating contest returns this year, with a grand prize of five tickets to the 2010 edition of the lobster boil.

“We have been doing the table decorating contest for the past three years,” Krentz said. “Over the years people just started to make elaborate table settings that really drew attention for their creativity and uniqueness.

“After seeing that happen for several years, we decided to make it into a contest for any table of 10 people,” she said.

The event’s mascot, a lobster named Clawd, will be on hand throughout the night.

“Last year we had a naming contest for our new lobster mascot and Clawd was selected as the name,” Krentz said. “Clawd will be at the event mingling and greeting people in the crowd.”

Last year’s lobster boil netted $16,000, which went to support various local, national and international service projects.

“The Early Bird Rotary Club is involved in many communityservice projects,” she said. “In the past, funds have been used to assist local causes like the Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice and the planned Sheboygan Naval Museum and Education Center.”

The Sheboygan Early Bird Rotary Club is a part of Rotary Club International, which supports many worldwide causes.

“Rotary Club International has supported health-care projects in Mexico and earthquake-relief efforts in Italy,” Krentz said. “It is an international organization, which makes a difference for many different people on a global scale.”

The Sheboygan Early Bird Rotary Club currently has 46 members, who meet every Thursday morning at 7 a.m., at Al and Al’s Steinhous Coffee Shop and Tavern in Sheboygan.

“We have one of the fastestgrowing community-service clubs in the area,” she said. “Our club has a youthful exuberance, with a lot of spirited fun and camaraderie among the members.”

The Early Bird Rotary Club of Sheboygan is devoted to the concept of service above self.

“There are a lot of people in need throughout the world and our organization is there to help as much as possible,” Cates said. “Rotary International has worked through the years to help eradicate polio.

“The club has also been involved in initiatives to provide for clean water and improve literacy,” she said. “Fundraisers like the lobster boil help our club support these efforts.”

Krentz, who has co-chaired the event with Jan Voigt during the past two years, said the park can accommodate up to 1,000 people.

“Our limit is 1,000 and this year we are hoping to draw around 700 people,” she said. “We always draw hundreds of repeat customers, including individuals, couples, parties and large groups.

“Some come for the food and some come for the entertainment and socializing. Take-out orders are also available.”

Numerous volunteers from the Early Bird Rotary Club and the Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice help to make the event run smoothly.

“We have around 100 volunteers that make this all happen,” Krentz said. “The volunteers do a bit of everything, from setting up and taking down, to cleaning tables and cracking lobsters.”

According to Krentz, Fountain Park offers an ideal location.

“After being held at the lakefront from a few years, we moved to Fountain Park 10 years ago,” she said. “It provides an ideal location, with the band shell and the downtown setting.”

Event sponsors include Kurtz North America of Plymouth, M-B Company of New Holstein and Alliant Energy, as well as numerous in-kind supporters.

“Our sponsors have been great to work with,” Cates said. “This year, we have also been involved in a cross promotion with the Manitowoc Sunrise Club’s Lobster Fest, coming up in September.

“It has been nice to work with the Manitowoc club for the benefit of both clubs,” she said.

Tickets, which must be purchased in advance, are available from Sheboygan Early Bird Rotary Club member, or by calling the H.C. Denison Co. in Sheboygan at 457-9451 or via the Web site www.earlybirdrotaryorg.

For more information, contact Jan Voigt or Kris Krentz at 457- 5596 or 451-6923.