Date set for annual Chamber spelling bee
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on September 29, 2008 1:32 PM
Teams are being sought for the Chamber of Commerce's annual Spelling Bee, slated for Oct. 16 at Walnut Creek Country Club.
Dr. Ken Benton, chairman of the chamber's education committee, said 11 teams have signed up, with openings for at least four more.
Teams can represent organizations, schools, corporations or clubs.
The event is in its seventh year, Benton said, and has raised more than $60,000 in teacher mini-grants.
Describing the evening, he said it will start around 5:30 with heavy hors d'oeuvres, followed by four rounds of play.
"Basically, we have adult teams ... Every team can have four people at the table spelling at a time," he said. "Anybody missing a word can buy a word for $25 and stay in the round."
Subsequent rounds get tougher -- the words are more difficult, and the price to stay in also goes up. In the second round, each word costs $50, $75 in the third round, and then in the tie-breaking fourth round, words go for $125.
"Vanna Bee" calls out the words, "Killer Bee" will be popping participants' balloons if they miss a word, and "Runner Bees" deliver money used to purchase words. Judges are called "Hive Keepers," Benton added.
And all proceeds will be divided between Communities in Schools and the chamber's mini-grant program.
"This is a community-wide fundraiser for the Wayne County Public Schools, private schools and home-schoolers," he explained. "The money's given to educators who write grants that the education committee feels are worthy of being rewarded."
Grants are typically up to $500 each.
Deadline to sign up for the Spelling Bee has been set for Oct. 10. Registration fee is $250 per team.
For more information, contact Janet Brock at the chamber at 734-2241.