RELAY TEAMS GET A CHANCE TO STUFF THE BALLOT BOX

Submitted by Clayton Wallace

Voters in Baldwin County are debating and preparing to go to the polls in a couple of months on the one-cent sales tax increase. Before that vote however, organizers of the 2010 Relay For Life on the Alabama Gulf Coast want to draw record crowds Thursday for another election.

“This is the second year in a row we’re going to let our Relay teams decide what our theme will be this year,” Relay Chairman Emily Stowe said. “We did this last year and the voting was a huge success.” The voting will take place at the Relay Kickoff Event at The Hangout in Gulf Shores between 6 and 7:30 p.m.

According to Stowe, each team member at the kickoff will get to choose between three themes and vote for their favorite. “The more team members that show up at our kickoff rally, the more votes a team has to influence the outcome of the election,” she said.

Along with voting on this year’s theme, team members will be eligible for door prizes, and can enjoy some great food and live music.

“I’m truly excited about letting the teams choose the theme,” Stowe said. “I think the more input you allow individual teams, the more involved and excited they become about Relay. I would also like to thank the owners, management and staff at The Hangout for allowing us to hold our kickoff at such a great place.”

At the kickoff, Relay committee members will be on hand to give team captains their materials and sign-up anyone else interested in fund-raising. “I have had people tell me they would love to participate in Relay but they don’t have a team. We’re trying something this year that has worked well the past couple years. If you don’t have a team, we will be glad to provide you a spot on a team,” Stowe said. “We want to give anyone an opportunity to participate in any way they can.”

Stowe said she wants to invite everyone interested in Relay out for the kickoff. “We want to encourage anyone and everyone who is – or even just may be – interested in supporting Relay this year to attend our kickoff event,” she said. “Who knows, this may be something you can tell your kids or grandkids about. It’s a rare occasion when you get to stuff a ballot box.”

The 2010 Relay will take place May 1 at Lake Shelby in the Gulf State Park. For more information on Relay, contact Stowe at 948-1881. “I’m excited about this year’s Relay and have many ideas about how to get more of the community involved in finding a cure for cancer,” Stowe said. “I want to let people know that their involvement in Relay can help save lives.”