VP Jacobs says committee has already raised $35K to back upcoming events

By Josh Davis, Associate Editor

(Feb. 8, 2018) While the Ocean Pines Board of Directors this week endured several daylong meetings looking for ways to trim the fiscal 2019 budget, one area the community will apparently not need to subsidize are the events planned for the community’s 50th anniversary this year.

Association Vice President Cheryl Jacobs said Monday that the $15,000 budgeted could be zeroed out, adding “we will be returning your entire $20,000 to you” referencing seed money the board gave last year to the 50th Anniversary Committee.

“We’re not going to ask for anything else. We’re getting sponsorships like crazy,” she said. “It should be self-supporting.

“We’ve already got $35,000 [in sponsorships] and we’re expecting to make money off the golf tournament, if the second floor is ready for us,” Jacobs added. “We’re going to be in good shape.”

The second floor of the golf and country club is being renovated to create community meeting rooms and additional space for banquets.

While Jacobs said it probably is safe to zero out the budget column entirely, she asked General Manager John Bailey to check first with Marketing and Public Relations Director Denise Sawyer.

To be safe, Bailey recommended leaving $5,000 as a cushion for the 50th anniversary committee, to which Jacobs is the board liaison.

Previous anniversary celebrations in the Pines have used surplus funds to help create new amenities, from playgrounds, to the Worcester County Veterans Memorial in Ocean Pines.

Upcoming 50th anniversary events include a raffle of anniversary license plates on March 24, an Anniversary Parade and Community Day on June 2 and the Anniversary Golf Tournament on June 30.

A 5K run is scheduled on July 4, the Anniversary Beach Bash is on July 22, a Time Capsule/Cocktail Reception is set for Aug. 11, and the Anniversary Racquet Tournament is scheduled on Aug. 18.

The final event of the year, the Anniversary Winter Gala, is set for Nov. 10 at the yacht club.

For more information or for sponsorship opportunities, visit www.oceanpines.org/administration/sponsor-2018-anniversary.