Rotary Club Tailgate

Tailgating Just For The Fun Of It. And For The Sake Of Others.

- Dan Bisher

Tailgating in Michigan during January is a cool thing to do. Actually, it’s frigid. With below-zero temperatures and lots of snow. Still, where there’s a will, there’s a way. Especially when you move it indoors and make it about serving others.

Conducting a tailgate for charity during a brutal Midwest winter was the brainchild of the Coldwater Township Sunrise Rotary Club (CTSRC) in Branch County, Michigan. The group was out to demonstrate the spirit of community service, as well as the motto of Rotary International, “Service Above Self.”

“We host themed events annually to raise funds for the many projects our Rotary Club supports,” explains the chief tailgater and president of the club, Kim Hemker, who also serves as director of the Branch County Shelter House Program.

The club has organized annual creative events for 30 years. Last year, their theme was On the Boardwalk.

For this year’s tailgate fundraiser, guests were encouraged to wear their favorite high school, college or professional team’s colors. The array of teams represented ran from the University of Michigan to Hillsdale College to the Detroit Redwings.

More than 300 party-minded people descended upon the large community center set up for an evening of licensed gambling, prizes, music, lots of laughing, schmoozing, and, of course, delicious food.