Between three hundred and four hundred people gathered at the historic Pleasant Hill - Rocky School Building last Saturday evening to enjoy the Smorgasbord, the annual benefit dinner hosted by members of the Pleasant Hill - Rocky Community Club. James Sultemeier, club president, reported that the event was “our second best event ever,” raising around $3,500.

“On behalf of the officers and members,” Sultemeier added, “I want to thank everyone who participated in any way, including those who cleaned the building and grounds and made donations prior to the event. Others prepared and brought the food, and still others served and cleaned up afterwards. And of course we want to thank all those who came Saturday evening to support our fundraiser. We also appreciate the press coverage provided by Emily Zbytovsky and the Record-Courier. As a small group, we couldn’t succeed with an event like this without the generous support of the larger community.”

Sultemeier mentioned in particular the early help provided by Gordon Dowdy, who helped mow the schoolhouse grounds, and Dale Jones, who helped to mow and trim the area near the intersection across from the school. Also coming in for special praise were the members of the early [Early] Bird 4-H Club, who assisted by serving the tea, coffee, and water and helping with the clean-up.

Everyone enjoyed the delicious food. Ronnie Weiershausen’s barbecue was a big crowd pleaser, as was Melvin Sultemeier’s, and Melvin’s hot rolls (or were they Margie’s?) were almost all gone before he could place the large basket on a serving table. Ham and turkey were popular, as always, and for some reason this was a big year for mashed potatoes and gravy. Rounding out the menu were beans and corn and other vegetables, salads and side dishes of all kinds, loaves of homemade bread, and desserts of every description, including the ever-popular pecan, pumpkin, and buttermilk pies. Many guests lingered over tea or coffee to visit with neighbors and friends or the hunters who dropped by after sunset. Everyone enjoyed the mild weather.

Chuck McNallen from the Johnson City Lions Club dropped by to display the three guns in the raffle this year and to sell some tickets, and he found a number of willing customers. (If you missed him, go by the Johnson City Bank to see the guns and buy some tickets.)

The club has hosted a benefit dinner every year since 1958, and the date is set to coincide with the opening of deer season. The site of the dinner is the old school building, which is located about 7 miles west of Johnson City, just off U.S. Highway 290 West, on CR 205 (Rocky Road).

Membership in the club is free. All area residents are invited to become members, and visitors are always welcome.

The next quarterly meeting will be in January, time and date to be announced later. At this meeting, members will decide how to distribute the money raised at the Smorgasbord. In the past, the club has made donations to the North Blanco County EMS, the Blanco and Johnson City libraries, the Johnson City and Stonewall volunteer fire departments, the Blanco County Youth Council, Older Adult Rural Services (OARS), the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, the Hill Country Memorial Hospital Wellness Center, and other such organizations.

For more information, contact James Sultemeier (868-7323); Dorothy Uecker, vice president (868-7585); or Milton Hawkins, secretary/treasurer (868-9075).