November 15, 2007

Second first annual Texas Hold’em tourney a success

ABA to make gift to Almaden Library

By Carol Rosen
Editor

More than 140 people trooped out to the Santa Clara County Horsemen’s Association in the rain on Saturday, Nov. 10, some to play cards and some to heckle and others to just stand around and eat and drink.

President and CEO of the Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce Pat Dando, center, passes on some good luck to poker players Jerry Greer (left) and Gary Dillon (right).

It was the perfect fund-raiser, the Almaden Business Association’s second first annual Texas Hold’em tournament, which was cancelled two years ago by the California attorney general because back then gambling was illegal, even for nonprofits.

However, the state—and later the city—has new laws on the books that allow gambling for nonprofits as long as 90 percent or more is given to charity. That’s exactly what the ABA will do this coming Saturday—present a check for a minimum of $4,100 to the Doris Dillon’s Children’s Library to provide a series of guest lectures by children’s book authors.

The actual profits were not totally tallied at press time, according to ABA President Rich Crowley. “We should have the final number at Saturday’s dedication, he added. The dedication of the Doris Dillon Children’s Library is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Nov. 17 in the children’s library, located at 6455 Camden Avenue.

It will be followed by a presentation from Robert D. San Souci, a children’s author who has written a number of books including “The Talking Eggs,” The Little Gold Star,” “Cut From the Same Cloth,” “Two Bear Cubs,” “The Reluctanta Dragon,” Little Pierre,” “Double Dare to be Scared” and “The Well at the End of the World,” among others. San Souci is the first in a series of noted children’s authors and illustrators to speak to local students.

Dillon’s husband Gary attended the event and played in the first round of poker. He chatted about his wife and her contribution to Almaden and its children. Mrs. Dillon was a teacher and librarian who spent most of her career working for the San Jose Unified School District at several Almaden public elementary schools. She passed away in 2001, after a long battle with ALS.

At least 60 people paid $100 to be part of a poker tournament that started out with about nine tables that dropped to three and finally to one as six people bluffed and battled each other until finally Eric Quesada, who had never played Texas Hold’em before, won the entire tournament.

“It’s the first time I ever played. I like it,” he said before he won the final hand from Tony Ventura. Of the four prizes available to the top winners, Quesada chose the Weekend to Remember. Ventura chose the Sony LCD, HD 19-inch television set, while third-place finisher Jerry Greer picked the Ultimate Entertainment package and Iris Wise, who also played the poker game for the first time that night, won a garage door opener that will be fully installed.

But poker wasn’t the only entertainment. There also was a silent auction offering a number of unique items including a wine basket, a weekend, family photos and a number of other gifts. Dinner was catered by Sonoma Chicken Coop with Charlie’s Cheesecake Poppers for dessert. Beer, wine, water and soda rounded out the offerings and there was plenty of room to catch up with folks and meet new friends.

Some of the hecklers moved to the bar to sit and chat. Nancy Flynn, near left, jokes with bartenders Jim Young and (Chamber VP) Rick Gerhardt while Joyce Gibson looks on.

There were even some celebrities, besides the ABA members, at the event. Former District 10 Council member and current president and CEO of the San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce was there visiting with current District 10 Councilmember Nancy Pyle.

“It’s amazing how many people show up for a worthy cause and get to laugh, see friends and have fun,” Pyle said. “You know there are 4,000 to 4,500 people that go through the Almaden Community Center and library. What better cause than to help out such with the children’s library. Doris Dillon was such a worthy woman. She brought a lot of joy to children,” she added.

People were having a lot of fun. “This was a long time coming,” said Crowley, referring to the first event’s cancellation a mere two days before it was to take place. “Next year, we’ll have the first second annual,” he teased.

The ABA spent more than $2,000 to put on the evening, with a lot of help from sponsors and volunteers as well as local businesses, Crowley said. “We got support from all our members, but Tony Thurman did a tremendous job of bringing everything together in a short period of time,” he said. Other helpful members who donated time and in some cases money for gifts were Ken Bryant of Bryant Arbitration and Mediation, James Stout of Bay Area Gadgets, Robyn Bochinni from the Garage Door Store and Jim Cable from Case Handyman.

Corporate sponsors included the Hilton Hotel in Sunnyvale and Best Buy.