COMMUNITY EVENTS

• Rudyard Lions Weekly Drawing:  Raffle tickets for the 2025 draw will go on sale soon!  See a Lions member to get a ticket and be in the running each week for: First drawing $100, second drawing $25 each week from January through December 2025. There will be 52 weekly drawings plus three $250 bonus drawings, one during Summerfest, one at Christmas, and another near Easter.   Each drawing will be on Friday at 9 am.  Drawing location: Spencer Insurance Agency, 11259 West Main St., Rudyard, MI 49780. State License number is X11982 and tickets go on sale this fall.  Even if you win, your ticket stays in for the rest of the drawings! Proceeds go towards Lions sponsored community projects.  Special thanks to the ticket holders who have made this a success over the years.
• Lions Community Service Award:  Rudyard Lions Club is accepting nominations for the Russell LaPonsie Community Service Award and Scholarship for 2025.  This recognizes a Rudyard High School senior who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to community service and will be attending college or a trade school in the fall.  The award is named for Russell LaPonsie, a long-time member of the Rudyard Lions Club and a dedicated community volunteer who was passionate about helping others.  Nominations for the award can be submitted by members of the community who are not relatives of the student.  To be eligible, the student must be a graduating senior from Rudyard High School who has demonstrated a commitment to community service through volunteer work, civic engagement, or other activities that benefit the community.  Nominations can be submitted by being dropped off at Spencer Insurance Agency, mailed to the Rudyard Lions Club at P.O. Bos 173, Rudyard, MI 49780, or emailed to RudyardLions@gmail.com.   Nominations will be accepted for 2025 graduates until May 7, 2025.
• Spring Fling Drawing:   Rudyard Lions annual Spring Fling Raffle drawing took place on May 17, 2024.  Prizes included a Solo Stove, Bonfire 2.0; Patio Heater, 50,000 BTU; RTIC Cooler, 45 qt. Tough Cooler; Blackstone grill 22"; EX UP 10X10 Canopy.  We're looking forward to next year's event.  Tickets will be available from Lions members prior to the 2025 event. 
• January - March Cross Country Skiing at the Rudyard School Farm ski trails. (located 4 miles north of Rudyard on Tilson Rd. and 1 mile west on Thompson Rd.) Trails of varying length are maintained and groomed by the Rudyard Lions Club as long as snow conditions allow.
• Sixth Annual Golf Ball Drop, The 2025 raffle is scheduled for July 26, 2025, at the Rudyard Township Park, with proceeds to community projects.  Tickets will be available from Lions Club Members, at Spencer Insurance, or at the Township Office prior to the event.  
• 28th Annual Rudyard Lions Triathlon and 5K Race:  The event is scheduled for Sunday, July 27, 2025, 9:30 am.  Visit our race web site  for the latest word.
• Texas Hold 'Em:  Texas Hold 'Em fixed limit play events are on hold at this time. Held at Huck's Bar Pub & Grill, a great time is had by all the participants and funds raised support the RHS softball program and the Rudyard Lions Club. A big thank you to all of the partakers. Watch for future events.
• Community tree lighting and Santa's visit.  Santa has made early plans and will be in town again in 2024.  His pre-Christmas visit will be on Friday, December 6, at 6:30 pm at the Rudyard Township Community Center.
• Christmas Home Decoration Contest:  First Place winners for 2023 were Ron and Michelle Roe, second place was Tim and Heather Pavlat, and third place went to Louie and Korissa Krupa.  Prizes were gift certificates provided by the Rudyard Lions:  First place $75.00 to Whiskey River Inc., second place $50 to Gayler Thompson Sales and Service, and third place $25.00 to Dollar General.  Plan ahead for a great home display in 2024.