Lake Travis View

By Charles McClure
news@ltview.com
Stuart Rorer, come on down. You’ve won a new car! And it isn’t just any car, it is a 2008 Mercedes Benz, complete with a trip to Germany to see the production plant and take a test drive.
“Let it be known to all that Stuart Rorer of The Hills of Lakeway won the Rotary Raffle Car,” said Melinda Osburn, who chaired the event, who added that Rorer was surprised by the news when he was informed.

“He acted as though we were pulling a prank on him when we called him with the good news,” Osburn said.
By Tuesday, the reality had finally sunk in, Rorer said.
“I am exited and planning to go visit the Mercedes Benz dealer to find out exactly how this works,” Rorer said.
He and his wife Erika have called The Hills of Lakeway home for the last seven years. They have two young daughters and have participated in the Rotary Club raffle for the last four years.
More than 162 people showed up for the drawing, held at Carlos n’ Charlie’s. In all, 723 tickets were sold.
In addition to funding scholarships, the Lakeway/Lake Travis Rotary Club also works with local students in different ways. The club supports Project Graduation and sponsors the Interact Club, which introduces members to the Rotary ideal of community service. The club also donates new dictionaries to Hudson Bend Middle School and helps sponsor the district’s annual Special Olympics Banquet.
A portion of the proceeds are also used to help the club with its international projects, including the development of a special-needs hospital in Mexico and the donation of used and restored bicycles to children both locally and in Mexico. The club has also helped donate books and supplies to an orphanage in Bangalore, India.
The tickets sold for $100 each, but Osburn was quick to say it was the sponsors that made the difference this year.
“Drs. Steve and Angie Hernandez of Hill Country Pediatric Dental made a huge difference with a $5,000 donation. Osburn said. “And Turnquist Partners came through, donating more than they every have before. We are very thankful to these area businesses.”
According to Turnquist Partners’ Jeff Lamb, the event did well, considering the fiscal challenges presented by a tough economy.
“When you consider the stock market crashed, the banks stopped lending and the Presidential election, we did okay,” Lamb, who is the President of the Lakeway/Lake Travis Rotary Foundation, a 5013c non-profit organization. “It wasn’t a record like last year, but considering the challenges, it came out okay in the end.”