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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 15, 1988)
\ State/Local The Battalion Tuesday, Nov. 15, 1988 Page 3 Bingo proceeds boost budgets of local charities By Richard Tijerina Staff Writer Local charities are getting a little help from their friends through pro ceeds donated by local organizations that play charity bingo. Because playing bingo for per sonal profit is illegal in the state of Texas, many organizations use their bingo money to help local charities. Liz Walden, associate executive director of the Brazos County Boys’ Club, said “Nobody can run a bingo for profit. “You can’t get a bingo license and use it for yourself. All bingo sessions here are charity bingos. We donate 100 percent of our proceeds to local charity.” Walden said it was impossible to tell how much revenue the organiza tion has collected so far because their bingo bank account would not be reviewed until December. The Boys’ Club, which has been playing charity bingo since August, puts all its proceeds into a bingo ac count for the Boys’ Club. Walden said no individual can ac cess the account, and none of the money in it can be used until Decem ber. The amount of money collected for the Club will not be known until then, she said. Walden said the Boys’ Club has many long-term plans for the money. “We have a lot of goals that we hope to accomplish with the money,” she said. “These include a summer camp at Lake Somerville for the kids, a new gymnasium behind the current Boys’ Club building and possibly an other Boys’ Club building in College Station.” The Boys’ Club rents a building in the Townshire Shopping Center and holds bingo sessions every Thurs day, Friday and Saturday nights. Admission is free and open to the public. Attendance varies from ses sion to session, she said, but a group of close to 200 plays regularly at each session. The only cost to play is a pack of bingo playing cards, which range from $10 to $22, depending on the number of squares, or faces, on each card. Packs come in faces of six, nine, 15 and 18. “There is a definite advantage in getting the pack with 18 faces,” she said. “You have a better chance of winning if you have 18 faces and the guy sitting next to you has only six faces, because you have more faces to work with.” Walden said it is impossible to hold bingo sessions at the Boys’ Club because it does not have enough space, and children stay there until 9 p.m. on most nights. A similar bingo program is run by the local chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. It donates to several local charities, including American Red Cross, Texas Heart Association, Boys’ Club, Girls’ Club, Salvation Army and the Brazos Food Bank. According to state law, charities that donate to themselves must give up 100 percent of all proceeds taken in from charity bingo. Fraternal or ganizations that give donations to other charities must give up 35 per cent. John Velasquez, Post Commander of VFW, said his organization often gives up most of its bingo proceeds to local charities. “Our workers don’t get paid,” he said. “We all do this on a volunteer basis. By state law, we’re supposed to give away 35 percent, but we give somewhere around 60 percent, sometimes over. The rest of it we use to maintain our expenses. We don’t rofit out of bingo as far as anyone ere.” Van Halen rocks Austin crowd Photo by Phelan M. Ebenhack Van Halen singer Sammy Hagar and lead guitarist Eddie Van Halen perform together at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin Sunday night. Austin was the only scheduled Texas stop on their tour. By Chuck Squatriglia Reporter Van Halen proved Sunday night there’s only one way to rock, and they showed the crowd they can finish what they started. Van Halen is back on the road again, and if their performance at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin was any indication of things to come, the band’s best years are still in front of them. The concert was their only scheduled stop in Texas, and the fans got more than they paid for. Van Halen hit the stage with the song “A.F.U. (Naturally Wi red)” and kept the crowd on its feet for more than two hours. Following the opening num ber, the band kept the excitement flowing with such hits as “There’s Only One Way to Rock” from vo calist Sammy Hagar’s Standing Hampton album, “Hot Summer Nights” and a rendition of “Pana ma” that had the audience sing ing along. Hagar’s melodic voice made this version better than any David Lee Roth ever sang. Michael Anthony performed a bass solo that was felt as much as heard, by incorporating a bass synthesizer to create sounds that were almost more noise than mu sic. The end of the solo was used as an introduction to “Running With the Devil,” a Van Halen classic, which the audience sang enthusiastically. The audience settled down during “Why Can’t This Be Love” and “Mine All Mine,” but Alex Van Halen’s drum solo got them going again. The solo itself was routine — it was basically the same one performed at every concert during the 5150 and Monsters of Rock tours — but was enhanced by an excellent light show, fireworks display and the fact that the drum riser rose 20 feet above the stage. One of the major disappoint ments of the concert was the ab breviated performance of “Cabo Wabo.” The song is arguably one of the best from OU812 and de served to be played in its entirety. However, any disappointment was soon forgiven during “Finish What You Started,” the latest sin gle from OU812, “5150” and an emotional performance of “When It’s Love.” Sammy Hagar slowed things down with a beautiful acoustic performance of “Where Eagles Fly” from his self-titled solo al bum. He described the song as “the most personal song I’ve ever written.” The somber mood didn’t last long, though. Hagar soon had the crowd going wild with his trade mark “I Can’t Drive 55,” easily one of the most popular songs he ever has written. Once again, the audience was on its feet, singing along and shaking their fists to the beat. Perhaps least known of the songs Van Halen performed was “Apolitical Blues,” which appears only on the compact disc format of “OU812.” Although it has re ceived little radio airplay, it did not keep the crowd from ap plauding the performance. Eddie Van Halen’s 10-minute guitar solo had every air-guitarist present going absolutely crazy. The solo featured parts of “Cathedral” and “Little Guitars” as well as a tremendous amount of improvising. The performance concluded with “Black and Blue” and “Ain’t Talkin’ ’Bout Love,” from Van Halen’s first album, and a fire works show, but the audience wasn’t ready to leave yet. After about five minutes the band de cided to give them a little more and reappeared on stage to play “You Really Got Me” and Led Zeppelin’s classic “Rock and Roll,” both of which the audience sang zealously. The band appeared to be hav ing at least as much fun as the au dience. Sammy and Eddie jumped and ran around the stage, successfully working the crowd into a frenzy. Mike and Alex seemed content to maintain a loud, pulsing beat, while letting Sam and Eddie interact with the crowd. Van Halen put forth an excel lent performance, but suffered from predictability. The individ ual solos were excessive and seemed routine. Even Eddie’s solo seemed to lack variety — it was basically the same one he has performed for the last few years. SEVENTEEN* Dillard’s and Seventeen magazine present a holiday fashion show for juniors Wednesday, November 16, 7 p.m., mall entrance Come see our holiday collection of dazzling fashions! Find out what's new in party attire! The latest trends! The hottest looks! In the spotlight: our pick hits of the season like those seen in this month's issue of Seventeen. An evening of glamour and excitement! Holiday glamour! Dramatic party dresses for juniors Our key-hole and bow back dress in black velvet and royal blue taffeta. Acetate/cotton in sizes 3 to 13. From our holiday dress collection for juniors, 80,00-120.00 Dillard’s Get up to 40% off an IBM PS/2. IBM wants to give you a break on the IBM® Personal System/2® computer. Just stop by to see us, and we’ll show you how the IBM PS/2 can help you organize notes, write and revise papers, produce high-quality graphics, and more. It’s easy to learn and easy to use . And not only will you get IBM quality and reliability, but if you’re eligible, you’ll also get up to a 40% discount. Now that’s a break you won’t want to miss. MicroComputerCenter Computer Soles aiid Supplies Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Memorial Student Center iBM jna Personal SystemOdre registered fraaernd'ks of international Business Machines Corporation Call battalion Classified 845-2611
