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Gearing up for the Penguin Plunge |
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February 5, 2012 |
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At last
year's Penguin Plunge, buxom cheeleader
Michael Reasoner and faerie princess
Caroly Testa get sage cold-water diving
advice from Superman David Kramer.
Sadly, despite his fine style, Michael
was disqualified from the breast stroke
competition due to illegal floatation
devices. |
Organizers are busy gearing up for the
third-annual Boundary County Penguin Plunge,
everyone's chance to take a chilly dip into the
beautiful Kootenai River at noon Saturday, March
3, to raise funds for Idaho Special Olympics.
Last year, 80 Penguin Plungers raised $6,000 for
Idaho Special Olympics, and those making the
arrangements for this year's event are confident
that we'll do even better this year.
They are concerned, however, that with the way
the weather has been so far this winter, it
could be full summer by March.
This year's event has an added bonus, a Penguin
Plunge Ice Breaker at 6 p.m. Friday, March 2 at
Mugsy's Tavern and Grill, where guests will
get to meet the local Special Olympians they're
supporting, organizers of the event and the
people who'll be officiating ... who will have
the unenviable task of choosing who the prize
winners will be on Saturday, particularly, if
last year's event is an indication, in the best
costume competition.
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Judge Gloria
Chaves |
This year's emcee will be "Voice of the Badgers"
and school board member David Brinkman, and
judges are Boundary County School District 101
Superintendent Dick Conley, acting Bonners Ferry
Police Chief Joel Minor, and special guest judge
Gloria Chaves, the chief patrol agent for the
Spokane sector of U.S. Customs and Border
Protection, who is responsible for managing and
administering U.S. Border Patrol operations in
eastern Washington, Idaho and western Montana.
Organizers are once again emphasizing costumes,
the more outlandish, the better! They're also
emphasizing teams, and challenging all county
emergency service organizations and businesses
to take part.
If, however, a dip in the cold water of the
Kootenai isn't for you ... you're encouraged to
donate to the brave jumpers or come out and
cheer them on!
All Bonners Ferry plungers, who solicit pledges
for their bravery, will, for the first time be
awarded a genuine Penguin Plunge T-Shirt, and
there will be tons of other prizes, given both
at the Plunge and at the Ice Breaker.
 Prizes
will be awarded for the most money raised, for
the plunger who travels the farthest to take a
dip and for team spirit. The top three costume
wearers will also be awarded.
After the dive, plungers will be treated to
warming food cooked up by JoJo Baker, and
everyone who comes out can buy chili and other
delectables fresh off his barbecue grill.
Potential Plungers can find all the information
they need, including the official registration
form, FAQs and more, at the official Idaho
Special Olympics Bonners Ferry Penguin Plunge
site by
clicking here on the image above.
In addition, volunteers and donors, who are
still needed, can find on that site the In-Kind
Contribution Worksheet, to make sure that your
contribution is counted.
To find out more about the third-annual 2012
Bonners Ferry Penguin Plunge, call organizers
Tish Lagerway, (208) 267-6280, or Dave Kramer,
(208) 255-6073. To find out more about the Idaho
Special Olympics and the many other Idaho
communites holding Penguin Plunges, visit
www.idso.org. |
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