Yellowknife (Sep 29/04) - Yellowknife's Rotary Club will not be holding its annual fall Rotary Roses fundraising campaign this year, due to the recent closure of the Grower's Direct flower shop in the Centre Square Mall.

The timing of the flower shop closure made it impossible for the club to find an alternate supplier of roses on such short notice.

Janet Robinson, president of the Rotary Club, says goodbye to roses and embraces the trip of the month raffle. - Pamela Corie/NNSL photo

"The club sold more than 1,000 dozen roses last year," said Janet Robinson, president of the club.

"At that late stage no local shops could help us with such a large order."

The Club is now introducing the Trip of the Month Raffle to address the fundraising shortfall.

Starting in January, a $25 ticket will give you a chance to win a trip each month of the year, plus a shot at the grand prize of a trip to Australia, Robinson said.

"Other Rotary Clubs have done this raffle successfully, so we are hoping we can too," she said.

From now until Christmas, Rotary Club tickets will be on sale at various locations around town.

"Some of the trip locations include Las Vegas, a Royal Caribbean Cruise off of Mexico, a Rocky Mountain Retreat, Canada Day in Ottawa or a golf weekend in Kelowna," said Pat McCloskey, media contact with the Club.

So buy a ticket and pack your bags, because you might just end up a lucky winner.