On October 28, 2011 our Reverse Raffle dinner was held at Madden's on Gull Lake.

Ticket holders received a buffet dinner for two at Madden's Town Hall that evening and a chance to win $10,000 and other prizes.  Tickets for the reverse raffle were $120 and only 300 tickets are available.  There was also a second change drawing (a $500 EL Menk gift certificate donated by Ed Menk) for those who stayed until nearly the end.

Proceeds from the raffle go to the Brainerd Rotary Foundation and support Brainerd lakes area organizations focusing on children.

There was a silent auction and many other prizes were given away randomly during the evening.  Prize donors were Penny Nelson, Bremer Bank, Becky Best, Hamad Upholstery, Tastefully Simple - Shannon Janco, Minnesota School of Diving, John Fitzpatrick, United Way, Northland Arboretum, Kummet, Larson, Bluth & Co., Central Lakes College, Menards, Mid Minnesota Federal Credit Union, Lakes Massage - Jennifer Person, NAPA, Crystal Cleaners, Lonesome Pine Restaurant & Bar, Terry Skone, James Gelbmann, Cheryl Gelbmann, Yvonne Leiser, Dave & Marsha Johnson, Andy Rangen, Ray Gildow, Nyhus Chevrolet, Liquor Depot, St. Joseph Foundation, Essentia Health, Jesse Hopkins, Brainerd Small Engine & Marine, Thumper Pond in Ottertail, Cash Wise Liquor, Bernicks, Initiative Foundation, Peoples Bank. Other prizes may have been donated which were not listed on the program and unfortunately are not included in this listing.

Silent Auction Items included

• Two night stay at Le Bourget Aero Suites donated by Le Bourget

• Fall Quilt (made by Deb Doucette) donated by Denny & Deb Doucette

• Two night stay in Lakeview Whirlpool Room at Grand Ely donated by Grand Ely Lodge Resort & Conference Center

• Two Minnesota Wild Hockey Tickets donated by Consolidated Telephone Company

• One year family membership to the YMCA donated by the YMCA

• Four passes of 18 holes of golf & cart at Eagle's Landing donated by Eagle's Landing Golf Club

• Golf for four at Ruttgers donated by Ruttgers Bay Lake

• One hour airplane ride for two in a vintage 1960 Bellanca Cruisemaster donated by Ben Thuringer

• One hour plan ride donated by Al Cibuzar/AW Research

• Two night weekend at Cragun's donated by Cragun's

• Membership on the East & West Course donated by Madden's

The last five ticket holders were called up front.  Two were not present so the drawing continued.  The last two ticket holders agreed by written ballot to split the earnings with each going home with $5,000.  Thank you to all who donated prizes and attended this great event.

The welcoming committee as you walked in the door.	Ruthie Gmeinder, on the right, designed all the space themed costumes for the evening
Our two lucky winners with the MC for the evening Kevin Thesing.	A chef in front of one of the pasta stations available at the dinner.