Several hundred people gathered at the historic Pleasant Hill - Rocky School 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 “perhaps our best ever,” raising around $4,500.

“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 the Johnson City Record-Courier and the Blanco County News. 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 Dale Jones and others who helped to mow and trim the school grounds and the area nearby. Also coming in for special praise were the members of the 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. As always, Ronnie Weiershausen’s barbecue was a big crowd pleaser, as was Melvin Sultemeier’s, and Margie’s hot rolls were a hit as well. It took a crew of helpers to unload all the good food Janet and Lynette Smith brought, and many, many others delivered dishes of all kinds. Ham and turkey were popular, of course, and were in short supply at the end of the evening. 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, many with interesting stories of the day’s hunt. Everyone enjoyed the mild weather.

Sandy Reichert, substituting for husband Jack, who was traveling, was on hand to sell raffle tickets for the three guns being offered by the Johnson City Lions Club. (If you haven’t purchased your tickets yet, go by the Johnson City Bank to see the guns and help the Lions raise money for their projects.)

Many of the area residents took time to exchange memories and recall the many contributions of David Uecker, who served as unpaid general contractor and chief carpenter on practically every building or repair project the club undertook right up until his untimely death in September. He is greatly missed by all who knew him.

The club has hosted a benefit dinner every year since 1958, with the date 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. Members will be deciding later this month 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).