As we entered Arcadia Community Center, we found Frank Perini, camera in hand, ready to take our picture. He posed us in two different angles.

Next we found two tables on either side of the entrance to the main ballroom. On the left were Judith and Bruce Snell with the identification badges to be pinned on one’s jacket. On the right were Richard Schulhof and Sylvia Ramos checking people in and handing them play money. Once checked in Bruce brought you your personalized identification badge in playing card format.

Supervising the over-all event was Arcadia Rotary’s Vice President, Mike Ojeda.

[Suddenly my cell phone went off in my pocket (whose appropriate ring tone is “the Entertainer”). I handed it over to my wife Sharon. It turned out that our daughter Maura (who had helped present last Fall’s program on juvenile diabetes) was on her way to visit. We re-routed Maura to the Community Center where she joined us for the event. After Maura arrived and was photographed by Frank Perini, Sandra Caldero also appeared to take our picture.]

In the meantime, Jim Rider in a white dinner jacket and spats was greeting people with no less than three olives in his martini (perhaps absorbing all the good stuff). Inside we found Mike Real in similar attire. Later both Jim and Mike took charge of the drawings of tickets and the awarding of door prizes.

Entering the ball room, we found multiple gaming tables, featuring roulette, craps, and black jack. Vintage 1940s recorded music was being played on-stage by a disc jockey. There were also tables for dining purposes once the food (from the Derby) was brought in. In the meantime, included in the admission, was an open bar featuring an assortment of beverages and caterers to serve them.

No-one was eating yet so I looked on as my wife Sharon and daughter Maura were playing roulette. The croupier (also named Sharon) was giving instructions as to how to play the game properly. When Sharon and Maura went on to play craps, we heard enthusiastic voices at the other end of the table coming from Brad Miller, his son, and Brad’s friend and former college room-mate, Bill Hagmaier (who later won a bicycle). When the turn came for Brad Miller and son to roll the dice, they seemed unable to roll anything other than lucky sevens – until they finally came up with a four. (Even though we did not hear it from the stage, it reminded one of that 1956 tune by the Platters “the Magic Touch.” ) As was the case with roulette, the croupier at the craps table was there to guide the novices.

There was also a “spin the wheel” (under the supervision of , inter alia, Andrea Bundesmann, Imy Dulake, and Wendy McMonigle, where at the cost of $5 per spin one could win various amounts of door prize tickets depending upon where the wheel stopped. When it became his turn to spin-the-wheel, Mike muttered the number “40.” After passing “40” twice, on the third rotation, the wheel slowed down and came to a stop at “40.” How Mike did that, I have no idea.

Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted the Derby crew bringing out the dinner, including Caesar salad, macaroni and cheese, curried chicken, and beef strips. We all got in line, filled our plates and then looked for a table.
After dinner, there was more playing, with coffee and dessert available, the latter including bread pudding and sauce, as well as slices of mixed chocolate cake.

Finally, Mike and Jim called everyone to the back of the room where the door prizes were lined up. There were some 23 door prizes donated by Arcadia Rotarians Mike Real, Karen MacNair, Frank Hall, Erich Rail, John Wilson, Ash Rizk, Lucia Bernal, Waleed Delawari, Luther Tsinoglu, Robert Novell, Ashley Andrews, T. G. Metzger, George Fasching, Bruce McCallum, Jim Rider, David Burke, Bruce and Judith Snell, Richard Schulhof, Chris Haddow, Matt Weaver, Brad Miller, Sylvia Ramos, Paul Kalemkiarian, an anonymous donor (who will go un-named), and combinations of the foregoing.

Among the prizes were, inter alia, a thousand dollar shopping spree at Westfield Mall (won by Sherry Tay), three physical therapy sessions at Dr. Brad Miller’s chiropractic firm (also won by Sherry Tay), a scenic airplane flight over the greater Los Angeles area (won by Imy Dulake), a coffee maker basket (won by Ana Ojeda), a mystery package – which remains a mystery to us (won by Kathleen Gleason), two mystery packages – one filled with decades old Rotary ads, and the other with a $150 gift card to Westfield (won by John Wilson), a bicycle (won by Bill Hagmaier, Brad Miller’s friend and former college room-mate who stood next to the Millers at the craps table), the U.S.C. basketball package (won by Paula Real).

The assortment of prizes was designed to fit every taste (e.g., chocolates and wine in one basket, a “pamper your car” package at Fasching’s Car Wash, passes to the Arboretum , Race Track, Pasadena Play House, and a large screen TV. Etc.).

This second annual Monte Carlo Night followed last year’s suggestion for extra lighting and more tables and chairs to facilitate conversation. As for next year, Mike Real recommended getting more underwriters.

Kudos to all who contributed to the success of Arcadia Rotary’s annual fund-raising event: including, inter alia, the likes of Mike Ojeda, Jim Rider, Mike Real, Frank Perini, Sandra Caldero, Judith and Bruce Snell, Richard Schulhof, Sylvia Ramos, Erich Rail, John Wilson, Aaron Rose, Andrea Bundesmann, Imy Dulake, Wendy McMonigle, Rosie Mares (who sold door prize tickets), and all those who donated the door prizes.