STORY TOOLS

• E-mail story
• iPod friendly
• Printer friendly

Tell us about it

• What would you add to this story? Tell us what we missed.
• Do you have photos from this event? Documents we need to see? Share with us.
• Upload photos & videos
• More ways to get your stuff online and in the paper.

More Latest Stories

• Chef's Q & A: Charles "Chas" Milner
• A la Carte: A French Twist at the Old Marco Inn
• Chef's Q & A: Tony Flores

Share and Enjoy [?]

Everyone who attended the Fourth Annual Marco Men’s Club Hurricane Ball on Thursday, at Hideaway Beach Club, looked to be having a blast while making sure to keep Marco Island safe from any future storms.

The party was established four years ago by Marco Men’s Club member and past-president Tom Traeger to ward off any storms during hurricane season. The naming of a hurricane queen, established at the Second Annual Hurricane Ball, was added to the celebration for an extra good-luck charm.

“It was started a couple of years ago to try and ward away the hurricanes,” said Dr. Al Bozzo, Marco Men’s Club member and past-president. “It’s also a time to eat, drink, dance, party, and get together after the long, hot summers.”

“ ... I decided to have it because there was nothing else going on this time of year,” Traeger said.

The Marco Men’s Club, which currently has about 150 members, is a social club made up of various social committees which organize a number of events throughout the year.

“They throw an excellent party,” said Pat and John DeJesus, guests of the Hurricane Ball.

A portion of the Men’s Club organizes travel plans every year. This year they plan to visit the Far East in October, Cozomo and Belize in January and a Men’s Club trip to Greece is planned for June.

NATHALIE WINCH / Eagle staff

Jerry Swiacki and his wife, Linda Turner Swiacki, from left, with the new Hurricane Queen Mary Ann Carroll and her husband, Jim Carroll, and last year’s Hurricane Queen Joyce Kaelin.

“There’s something for everyone,” says Al Vacio, chairman of the Men’s Club golf committee, who joined after moving to Marco Island from San Francisco. “It’s a nice way to meet people when you’re new to Marco Island.”

His wife, Virginia Vacio, as well as a lot of Men’s Club members’ wives, happens to be a member of the Newcomer’s Club, a similar social club, but for women, who are new to the area and want to make new friends.

Linda Boston and Judy Sacher, who are both members of Newcomer’s Club and have husbands in the Men’s Club, chuckled and joked about which one of them would be named this year’s Hurricane Queen.

“Well, the crown goes with my dress,” Sacher said.

“It goes with mine, too,” Boston said.

NATHALIE WINCH / Eagle staff

Linda Boston, from left, Donna Rohrbach, Cynthia Prince, Judy Sacher and Dolly Danser celebrate at the fourth annual Hurricane’s Ball on Thursday, Sept. 27, at Hideaway Beach Club on Marco Island.

“Well I’ve already got a crown at home,” Sacher said.

“I don’t, so it’s my turn — I should get this one,” Boston said.

They both laughed.

All attendees were in good humor over the luck the newly named Hurricane Queen would bring Marco Island during the final months of hurricane season.

Three years ago, Pat Birkeland, husband of Marco Men’s Club’s Roy Birkeland, was crowned as the Hurricane Ball’s first hurricane queen.

“It was a big surprise,” she said. “It’s all for fun, but it’s a unique idea and a delightful way to celebrate.”

After the cocktail hour, and before dinner, the moment everyone had been waiting for finally arrived — the new Hurricane Queen was named at the Fourth Annual Hurricane Ball.

Last year’s queen, Joyce Kaelin, crowned Mary Ann Carroll, wife of Marco Men’s Club member Jim Carroll, with the title of the Fourth Annual Hurricane Ball’s Hurricane Queen. Linda Turner Swiacki, wife of Marco Men’s Club member Jerry Swiacki, was named as this year’s runner-up.

As queen, Mary Ann Carroll was awarded her crown, flowers courtesy of China Rose Florist, $50 gift certificate to Rick’s Island Salon and Day Spa, dinner for two at Hideaway Beach Club, two $100 U.S. Savings Bonds, courtesy of Marco Community Bank, and a bottle of wine courtesy of Marco Men’s Club.

The runner-up, Linda Turner Swiacki, received a $100 U.S. Savings Bond, courtesy of Marco Community Bank, and dinner for two at Hideaway Beach Club.

All attendees received a gift bag with tools to use while dealing with hurricanes — bottles of liquor, wine, bottled water and lifesaver candies for those category five hurricanes.

It will be up to them and the rest of those who attended the Hurricane Ball to keep Marco Island lucky and ward away storms for the rest of this year’s hurricane season.