|
ECAR’s Golf Tournament is ready to roll. I heard Lisa Norton and Sam Kinkaid going down the checklist just today.
“Date?”
“Check – September 19”
“Location?”
“Check – Indian Bayou Golf & Country Club in Destin”
“That’s good; it’s easy for everyone to get to and we haven’t played there before.
“Sponsors?”
“Check – we’ve been blessed with generous sponsors!”
“Contests, prizes, raffles?”
“Check… check… check!”
“Players?” …
“Players???” …
“Sam!? Do we HAVE PLAYERS!!?”
At this point the scene got crazy. Tears were flowing, hair was pulled (their own, not each other’s), and papers were tossed around trying to find any lost registration sheets.
After they calmed down, they did what anyone would do in that situation. They got on the phone and called ECAR.
“Pat,” they sobbed, “do we have any players signed up for the golf tournament?”
I couldn’t hear Pat’s answer, but it must not have been good because the sobs got worse. That’s when I snuck away saying I had to go break a computer or something.
The fact is, with just over a week left before the ECAR Annual Charity Golf Tournament, only a few teams have signed up to play. The Realtor Outreach Committee is bewildered, and frankly, so am I.
ROC lowered the cost from $100 to $85. It’s tax deductable (although, I’m not a tax accountant, so consult your local tax attorney… oops, there goes the eighty-five bucks). Members can even charge the $85 to their accounts.
In years past this was the event of the season. As I write this, I can hear a voice echoing in my head (it kind of sounds like Don Dineen). “Why, in my day we used to challenge other offices to try to beat us … the sissies.” Has everyone lost their sense of camaraderie? Their sense of community? Their sense of “let’s kick their butts?”
But, I think I might have the answer as to why people aren’t signing up to play. I’ve heard a lot of talk. Let me share with you what I’ve heard, although keep in mind that my hearing may not be very good.
THE TOP TEN REASONS REALTORS AREN’T SIGNING UP FOR THE ECAR GOLF TOURNAMENT:
#10… It’s too cold in September to play golf; nobody wants to attend an ECAR event where you might need to bring a sweater.
#9… Indian Bayou’s course doesn’t have a windmill hole and they make you use all of the clubs. Not only that, but the balls aren’t pretty colors. I’ll sign up when they have one at Goofy Golf.
#8… ECAR staff always cheats so that they can win the duffer’s award. That can’t possibly be that bad every year!
#7… There is too much free beer, wine, soda, and food. I would hate to take advantage of the generous sponsors by eating their food and drinking their beer
#6… I live in Niceville and it’s not convenient to – oh wait… Niceville is close to Destin… um, I live in Seagrove Beach, and Fort Walton Beach is so far – oh wait… the tournament isn’t in Fort Walton Beach this year… um, I live in Destin and I don’t know how to get there! [Okay, that’s one I’ll buy, because we all know that Realtors sit at their desks all day long and never travel the streets.]
#5… I was saving the $85 to pay the IRS at the end of the year.
#4… It’s not the last minute yet and I only sign up for things at the last minute.
#2… Golf tournament? What golf tournament?
AND THE #1 REASON WHY MEMBERS AREN’T SIGNING UP FOR THE GOLF TOURNAMENT…
#1… I don’t want to donate to a charity that I may have to use next year if the market doesn’t pick up!
Please. Don’t make excuses. Sign up and play. It is a ton of fun. There’s food, and drinks, and prizes, and entertainment (especially if you follow the ECAR staff around… we are that bad!). And it’s for an excellent cause.
Please, fill out a form. You don’t have to know how to play. You don’t have to set up your own team. You get to spend four hours on a lovely golf course (longer if you’re behind us). And you don’t even have to have the money (in the words of Jeff Foxworthy: “a check, oh I thought you wanted real money!”)
| 
RSS Blog Feed