Rotary plans update to Maple Hall

The Rotary Club of La Conner wants to bring Maple Hall’s 1990s technology into the 21st century.

To do that, the club wants to contribute $12,000 for upgrades including a new router and updated wireless access and a state of the art sound system.

Club president Susan Macek said the club is asking the town to pitch in around $3,000 to cover half the cost of the projector. The whole upgrade will cost around $15,000 plus town Public Works time for installation help.

The La Conner Town Council on Tuesday unanimously and gratefully accepted the gift. Rotarian Cindy Tracey said the work will begin soon, with a goal to have it finished by Aug. 1, in time for the club's upcoming fundraiser.

For the past 10 years, the club has been holding its annual auction and dinner at Maple Hall, and the facility’s technology hasn’t kept up with the times. For example, the club has to set up a table with a projector in the middle of the room to display images of the auction items.

With a built-in overhead projector with all the wireless hookups, the club will be able to have space for more attendees at its fundraiser, club president Macek said. “This will be a good investment and we’ll get a return over the years.”

Also, she said with upgraded wireless capability, other groups using the space, such as the Arts Commission with its annual Arts’ Alive! event, will have more secure financial transactions.

Meanwhile, the town, can stop losing bookings for the hall from outfits that want modern technology available for their functions.

“It’s a win-win for the club and for the town,” Macek said.

Rotary has a history of contributing to the town. The club built the gazebo near the boardwalk, contributed lots of money to the new waterfront park, and about 20 years ago funded the kitchen in Maple Hall.

In exchange for upgrading the technology, the club is asking the town to let it continue using Maple Hall without charge for its auction, the December Santa Breakfast and for the annual Smelt Derby activities. The town has always provided the space without charge to the. Rotary.