By Ruth SOWBY

The Verdugo Hills Council’s 48^th Annual Big Strike Auction, titled “Adventures in Paradise,” was held on Friday, Oct. 20. The event transported guests to the Islands courtesy of the South Bay Luaus. Spirited Polynesian dances, led by Manuel Conception, began the entertainment at the La Cañada Flintridge Country Club.  

“The Big Strike and Friends of Scouting Breakfast are two of the biggest fundraisers for our Councils and Scouts,” said Assistant Scout Executive Amy Taylor.

During an appropriately themed surf and turf dinner, the silent auction lured customers away from dessert to tables holding framed item descriptions. All bids were delivered via cellphone. A favorite item was the littlest Scout – a 12-inch ceramic Cub Scout marionette from the 1940s. Just before the close of the auction, Glendale Kiwanis President Irma Villegas slipped in her $38 bid and walked away with the little guy. Villegas is planning to surprise her 14-year-old daughter with it when she comes home from Girl Scout camp.  

The live auction was introduced by Sam Engle, Council VP Fund Development, and bidding kicked off with advice from Council President Peter Ciulla.

“Bid early. Bid often. Bid high!” Ciulla said. 

Able auctioneer Caesar J. Milch kept the action moving. Following the Paradise theme, a seven-night Maui condo vacation was the favorite item up for bid.    

An estimate of the evening’s proceeds exceeded $50,000. That total represented funds raised through sponsorships, ticket sales and the silent and live auctions.  

The Scouts can be seen throughout the year at various community events.

“The Council holds Scouting for Food each year during the first two weeks of November with all units helping our community,” said Taylor.

Scouts in the BSA program (for those from ages 11 to 17 years in Troops) do community service as part of rank advancement.

“These include community clean up or trail works in Big Bear,” said Taylor, “and also when they are trying to earning the rank of Eagle they do projects at their local schools. For example, Lincoln Elementary and CV High had recent project completed.”

Other nonprofits, like Ascencia and Deukmejian Wilderness Park, also benefit from Scout projects.

Kids in the Cub Scouts program (5 to 10 years old) give back to the community by collecting items or kits for Elizabeth House, caroling at Christmas time at retirement homes, collecting and distributing tube socks for the homeless, holding holiday food drives.

“Many of our packs write cards to senior citizens or volunteer at Samaritan’s Purse filling plastic shoe boxes for the less fortunate,” she added.