The Rotary Club of Sanibel-Captiva Hosts an Art Fair as its Major Fundraiser

On Sunday, February 16, Roving Rotarian John White attended the Arts & Crafts Festival conducted by the Rotary Club of Sanibel-Captiva Islands near Fort Myers FL.

The club was formed in 1979 and now has 69 members. Despite their relatively small size, they are now hosting their 37th annual festival. They consider it one of the top hundred in the country. It draws thousands of attendees each February. The festival even has its own website (www.sanibelartfair.org), Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/SanibelCaptivaRotary), and newsletter!

On this weekend, there were over 100 artists and craftspersons along with a silent auction and food trucks. The event boasted a 28 page newspaper filled with advertising, Rotary trivia, and acknowledgments. It documented eight major sponsors, a dozen in-kind donors, about 60 advertisers, and well over 100 contributions to the silent auction. I noted several information stations, a Shelter Box display, a membership booth, and plastic fences adorned with old trading flags. Rotary logos were present on the abundant signage.

In my conversations with various Rotarians who were wearing matching red golf shirts, “Rotarian at Work” t-shirts or lime green vests (for the crossing guards), I found that the event clears about $100,000 as part of the $130,000 they expect to be able to donate this year to various causes; internationally, nationally, and locally on their islands, in their county, and across southwest Florida. When I asked one Rotarian (a past club president) about how a club of his size could apply so much person power, he confirmed that this event was an “all hands on deck” affair but admitted they had lots of help from faithful snowbird Rotarians and that a nearby Rotary club that was handling auxiliary tasks like parking and traffic management.

All in all, a wonderful sunny and warm day filled with arts, crafts, and the spirit of Rotary!