FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sisters Bring Bingo to the River

New Monthly Event Debuts at Famed Lazy Bear Weekend

By James Longacre

July 18, 2003 --Guerneville, CA.   I have heard many stories about the Russian River Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and their fund raising antics over the last couple of years. This group definitely puts the FUN into fundraising!! They have done bake sales, beer busts, out house races, fashion shows in biker bars and now....Bingo?....as in granny's church hall Bingo?

I thought to myself "You're kidding, right?....but there I was, sitting in the Guerneville Odd Fellow's Hall (how appropriate) surrounded by over 100 deliriously happy Bingo fanatics. Sisters and volunteers bustled about with last minute preparations. I was a Bingo virgin...a newbie...out for a good time and maybe a cash prize if I was lucky. As I looked around me, I noticed the experienced Bingo players were studying their cards and fingering a vast hodgepodge of trinkets, or "good luck charms" as they were called.

My attention was captured by a nun dressed in a flurry of pink polka dots, who marched confidently to the front of the room. It was quite clear she was in charge here. "I am Sister Barbi Mitzvah and Welcome to Bare Bear Bingo!" she said, greeted by cheers and applause. She then explained the rules, insisting that everyone "not take themselves so seriously that they forget to have fun!" And when she got to the part about "disciplining anybody caught using their cell phone or yelling Bingo prematurely" she waved around the BIGGEST purple paddle I have ever seen. I immediately recalled my early years when a certain Sister Mary Armstrong paddled fellow classmates who misbehaved.

"Are you ready to play Bingo?" Sister Barbi called out. "YES YES !" the fans cried. With the flick of a switch the Bingo machine was fired up and the balls started flying. Little did I know that playful irreverence and much hilarity were soon to follow. A studious hush fell over the hall as devoted Bingo nuts scanned their cards, looking for "O-75" and G-58 and N-37. I had to laugh when Sister Barbi called I-22 and the crowd responded with "you wish!!". Barbi then called out "Ooooh-69" only to be answered with catcalls and laughter.

By this time several generous cash prizes had been awarded to lucky Bingo players, when suddenly it was heard.....a cell phone ringing!!! "Cell phone!...Cell phone!" shouted delighted neighbors, followed by "Spank him!...Spank him!" Sister Barbi quickly tracked down the red-faced cell phone owner with the help of a dozen witnesses. The poor soul, blushing with embarrassment, was led to the front of the room to meet his fate. Burly Sister Nova Nilla administered the paddling, every swat bringing cheers from the audience.

"OK" said Sister Barbi, "How about some more free stuff?" The crowd roared it's approval, chanting "Free Stuff !!...Free Stuff!!" Raffle prizes poured forth. CDs, DVDs, caps, toys & gift certificates. Even a DVD player!!

By the last game, called "Last Call Bingo" (named so because the Bingo pattern looks suspiciously like a martini glass) several poor souls had been spanked and armloads of "Free Stuff" had been won. Plus, seven lucky players had won cash prizes and they ALL donated part of their winnings right back to the Sisters charity fundraiser. It was clear that everybody had a good time while making generous donations to local charities.

"Yes," said Sister Barbi, "The proceeds of these Bingo games benefit many great charitable organizations in Sonoma County, like Face 2 Face, Food For Thought, The AIDS Emergency Fund, PALS & United Against Sexual Assault." She then gave me a playful little swat with her big purple paddle. I didn't win any cash prizes but I did leave feeling like a winner knowing that many people benefit from the Sisters hard work.

If you want to experience what one witness called "a fascinating mixture of Church Hall Bingo & The Rocky Horror Picture Show", then be sure to check this event out. The next Bingo Game hosted by the Russian River Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence will be at 6:30 on Saturday, August 9th at the Guerneville Odd Fellow's Hall. For more info log onto the Sisters website www.rrsisters.org.