Action Bequia Gala 2025... How did it go?
Over 200 people were there on the night of Saturday 22 February
Apart from having a great party, the urgent purpose of the gala is to raise money to help cover our annual salary bill. It's pleasing therefore to be able to report that the evening raised US$61,600 (EC$164,472) which will cover 50% of the cost of Action Bequia's environmental team including Recycling Centre Staff, Local Environmental Ambassadors and the many Collectors. For those who are curious about the figures the breakdown was as follows:
- Auction (net of local artist's 25% commissions) US$40,000
- Gala Entry Tickets US$9,000
- Raffle (700 tickets) US$12,600
- Total: US$61,600 x 2.67 = EC$164,472
Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors Mount Gay Rum and Vintages Bequia, C.K. Greaves Supermarkets, Gonsalves Liquors Ltd, Hairoun Beer, and of course the wonderful hosts Bequia Plantation Hotel, the expenses involved in running the event were less than a thousand US dollars.
The cost efficiency of Action Bequia benefits considerably from the pro bono efforts of our accountants, lawyer and website designer and here at this event were 'Kids on Pan' with a delightful hour plus of welcoming pan music, and then Carleen and Uthan McIntosh with their fabulous band 'Infinity' that caught the mood perfectly and had people dancing until close to midnight.
Volunteer help for an event like this is essential. We can't name them all, but especially prominent this year were Evie Bowyer for ticketing admin and auctioneer's clerk who had to battle for weeks with shaky internet and a payment link that didn't work very well, Russell Smith who stepped in to produce the alluring catalogue helped by Jerry Simpson's fabulous photographs, and Leandra Plantinga who worked so tirelessly on assembling the 52 raffle prizes. And of course to John Burstein for his tour the force performance as auctioneer finding buyers for all but one of the 33 pieces in a rather more cautious market then previous years.
Photography was provided by Patrick Hutchins. There is a selection of his photographs down below.
Raffle. It was especially pleasing this year to find that 52 local businesses were willing to offer some very generous prizes for us including three with valuable vouchers of EC$1000 each (Bequia Ventures, Caribbean Woods and Knights Trading). This is a morale boosting recognition that Action Bequia's efforts to help Bequia remain an appealing place to live in, work and visit are understood and worth supporting. Respect and thanks to all those who took part.
Action Bequia believes that 'Actions Speak Louder Than Words' so the speeches were kept pretty short. David Harper highlighted what our record expenditure in 2024 of approaching US$0.5 million had gone towards, whilst Lucille Cozier concentrated on some of the projects in the pipeline such as another hundred plus water tanks and repairs to the Clive Tanis Stadium Roof and Basketball Court (although these are currently held up awaiting government approval).
So all in all a great team effort and we want to thank once again all the Helpers, Sponsors and Supporters that make it possible.
Bequia Sunset. A new style from the ever popular Dinks Johnson.
Top price for the evening of US$5,000 was achieved by regular donor Sir Calvert Jones.
Click the Dropbox link to see a selection of pictures from recent Galas:
Dropbox Folder: Best of Action Bequia's Gala
(Thank you Nicola Cornwell for the Dropbox link and all the photos.)
And here are some reminders of 2023's much enjoyed evening at the fabulous Sail House:
Actions Speak Louder Than Words