Some seats and open tables remain for the Friends of Lake Panorama Beach Ball fundraiser Friday, June 21. The Beach Ball will be at the Lake Panorama National Resort event center, with all seating in the banquet room. Advance reservations are required, as attendance will be capped at 225.
Registration will be 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. in the dining room. Personalized programs with names, table numbers and bidding numbers will be ready for pickup as guests arrive. A buffet dinner will be served beginning at 6 p.m. There will be a cash bar throughout the evening, which will open at 4:30 p.m.
Members of the Friends Beach Club provide additional financial support to Friends of Lake Panorama beyond the cost of the meal. Prices for 2024 Beach Club memberships remain the same as last year, and are:
Friends Beach Club - Premier: $700—includes table sponsorship, eight dinner tickets, name in the 2024 Beach Ball program; Friends Beach Club - Couple: $250—includes two dinner tickets, name in the 2024 Beach Ball program; and Friends Beach Club - Sponsor: $150—includes table sponsorship, name in the 2024 Beach Ball program.
Individual meal tickets are $50. To register, contact Susan Thompson at 515-240-6536 or staff@friendsoflakepanorama.org.
Funds will be raised with both live and silent auctions, plus a 50-50 raffle and a drawing that will use four decks of cards. At its April meeting, the Friends of Lake Panorama board voted to make the LPN Priority 1 capital campaign its main project for this year’s Beach Ball. This means a percentage of pooled funds raised, plus direct donations, will be set aside by Friends for the LPN improvement projects.
Auction items can be donated specifically for the LPN Priority 1 project. For example, Chris and Brenda Duree and Mike and Kelly Faga are donating an authentic Iowa barbecue dinner for 50 people. The menu includes baby back pork loin ribs, smoked, barbecued and shaved pork loin, bacon mac and cheese, baked beans, cornbread and coleslaw. This event could be held at the home of the winning bidder, Boulder or Sunset Beach, or other suitable local venue.
Some other auction items designated for the LPN improvements include a Traeger wood pellet grill donated by Lake Panorama Realty; two Cleveland wedges and a Masters collectible print donated by Jim and Julie Tibbles; an Iowa State University basketball signed by men’s head coach T. J. Otzelberger, donated by Jay and Sue Merryman; St. Thomas beach framed prints, donated by Mare and Rick Langel; and a gift basket donated by Local Liquor.
Of special interest will be two photographs taken by Michael Kleinwolterink, the LPN pro shop manager who has worked for the LPN since he was a teenager. One was taken with his drone on the second night of men’s league play this year. This aerial photo features the golf course with a double rainbow created by a passing rain showed. The other photo was taken during the 2023 Fire in the Sky display. Both photos are printed on metal and ready to hang.
New this year on the live auction will be a half-day adventure with Maureen Lubeck in her recently restored 1939 Chevrolet Master Deluxe four-door sedan. This package includes a cruise around Lake Panorama for up to four people. First stop will be Twin Vines for an exclusive wine tasting that includes appetizers and choice of two bottles of wine to take home. Another stop could be to show off your special “ride” to friends, or other destination of your choosing. Then to The Port where each couple will receive a $100 gift certificate to use for drinks and dinner.
Other live auction items that have been popular at past Beach Balls are offered again this year. These include a Cyclone football package for the Nov. 2 ISU vs. Texas Tech game, which includes four tickets in the ISU Athletic Director Suite with Jamie Pollard, food and soft drinks during the game, and a VIP parking pass; a piece of jewelry custom-made by Gary Youngberg, owner of Ames Silversmithing; a set of four passenger car tires for any vehicle, donated by Scott Politte, president of Stivers Ford Lincoln of Waukee; wine tasting for 20 at WineStyles in Johnston; two large inflatable Paradise Pads, donated by Mike and Austin Hayden; and a six-course gourmet meal for six with wine pairings, prepared, served and donated by Bill and Karen Fitzgerald.
Guests will find plenty of silent auction items to consider. These will include choice of two apple trees, delivered, planted and donated by Isom Tree Farms; ISU and Iowa birdhouses handmade by Steve Brannan; WeatherTech floormats from Stivers; handmade cutting boards; large potted plants; and a wide selection of gift baskets and gift cards.
Donated auction items will be accepted through June 19. Those interested in donating an auction item for the 2024 Beach Ball are asked to email staff@friendsoflakepanorama.org.
2024 marks the 10th anniversary of the founding of Friends of Lake Panorama. A video loop available for viewing throughout the evening will feature photos of past projects. Details on all past and current projects are available on the Friends website at friendsoflakepanorama.org. Friends of Lake Panorama also has a Facebook page.