Rock Island Rotary is seeking the public’s help to raise the funds it needs from its cruise raffle to buy unique outdoor musical flowers for the Rock Island Public Library’s Watts-Midtown Branch grounds. The project is in honor of the late, longtime Rotarian Mary Fislar.
Time also is running out to purchase one of the 300 tickets that will be sold to cover the project’s cost. The drawing for a chance to win a $2,000 credit on a cruise of the winner’s choice on Royal Caribbean or Viking Cruise Line is set for Tuesday, Oct. 1. Tickets are $20 each for the cruise credit.
It must be booked no later than May 31, 2025, with Picture Perfect Travel, 1315 Third St., Rock Island. That agency was owned by Ms. Fislar, a former Rock Island Rotarian of the Year who died on Sept. 13, 2023, and her husband Dick Fislar.
“Rock Island Rotary has a long history of community service projects,” said Ruth Lee, the Rotary Club of Rock Island leader and cruise raffle coordinator. “This is a great way to assist the library and win a great prize.”
Rock Island Library Director Angela Campbell said she is excited about the new addition.
“When the Rotary Club of Rock Island was recently looking for a beneficiary for a cruise raffle fundraiser, I immediately thought of our outdoor musical flower project, which was a little too expensive for our budget,” she said.
“Then I heard the fundraiser was to honor the late Mary Fislar, a great library user and lover of literature, and I knew it was a great fit. I spoke to the organizers about our idea, and they also thought it made great sense,” she added.
The flower garden is destined for the Watts-Midtown Branch where, Ms. Campbell said, there is a unique outdoor space called the Mayeski Reading Garden.
“It is mostly a blank canvas, but does currently offer a beautiful patio with seating, native plants, and bird baths,” she said. “When brainstorming how to make the space more engaging to our younger patrons, the library found outdoor musical instruments that would greatly enhance the space.”
She added “There are many instruments from which to choose, but the flowers really stood out as a statement piece, which will merge musical discovery with nature. The goal is for children to have additional play opportunities to increase socialization skills among their age group, with a little hands-on music fun, too. The flowers are decorative as much as they are enjoyable and practical. We can’t wait to see them being used. If they are as popular as we think they’ll be, we hope to expand our outdoor musical instrument selection in the future.”
The cost is $20 per ticket for the cruise credit drawing. Tickets can be purchased by emailing the Rock Island Rotary at [email protected].
Founded in 1914, the Rock Island Rotary Club is an organization whose members are business and professional leaders dedicated to community and international service.
