“Endless Summer” Fun, Fun, Fun

Supporters of the Marco Island Historical Society (MIHS) became surfer girls and beach boys on Saturday night. The MIHS gala, titled “Endless Summer,” brought a Beach Boys tribute band to the Island Country Club dining room, and a host of related theme pieces, from the classic VW microbus with surfboards on the roof rack to a rendition of the society’s logo in sand art.

The evening was all about fun and fundraising, with a minimum of business and speechifying. Guests were welcomed by MIHS board president Tish Champagne and CEO Pat Rutledge, offered complimentary champagne and drink tickets – always a wise investment when an auction is in the offing – given wacky costumes and oversized sunglasses to pose in the Magic Mirror photobooth, and the chance to have their fortunes read by Madame Magali. They headed out to the verandah for the bar and to scope out the silent auction items.

Then Beach Boys tribute band Sail On came on for the first of their two sets, jumping right into the surfing ethos with classics like “Surfin’ USA,” “Surfing Safari,” and “Little Surfer Girl.” Fun fact: for all they did to promote surfing and surf music, only one original Beach Boy, drummer Dennis Wilson, was an actual surfer. And on Marco Island, that wouldn’t be a problem, as the west coast beach here, like the west coast beaches of California, features lots of sun and sand, but on the other hand, not much in the way of surf. The Beach Boys’ tunes, though, remain an enduring American classic, and you could say, part of our history.

In March, the “endless summer” theme sounds fun and, well, cool, but check back with us in September on how we feel about it then.

Before the dinner of filet mignon and sea bass, Pastor Ed Brandt gave an invocation that ranged from the historical to the hysterical.

“Long before bridges and boulevards, the Calusa people navigated these waters with wisdom and respect for the rhythms of the sea,” he said. “History is not only written in books but also shaped by the tides and the land itself. We stand on the shoulders of pioneers, fishermen, dreamers, builders, and risk takers, whose footprints in the sand washed away years ago.” That was from the historical part.

“May bidding paddles flash like lightning, and generosity lap up like waves on the Gulf shores…steady, abundant, and a little higher than expected! Help us bid in 2026 dollars, and not 1926 dollars, and unleash our desire to get what we want, no matter the price…except, perhaps, when I am bidding,” he continued, wrapping up with “in your precious name we pray. Amen.”

When the auction, conducted by veteran auctioneer Jay Zeager, commenced, it seemed the guests heeded the call, with numerous pledges of $5,000 and $10,000 during the “gift from the heart” cash call, and generous bids on the live auction items. Jim Richards snagged a signed Jimmy Buffett album, “Songs You Know by Heart.” Jim and his wife Allyson were the gala chairs, and Bill and Rosemary Albanese were the presenting sponsors.

The dollars raised go to a good cause, advancing the historical society’s multi-faceted work. The MIHS conducts an extensive round of events and displays as part of their work to chronicle, preserve, and educate about the thousands of years of human experience on the largest of the 10,000 Islands. In addition to the historical museum’s offerings, which include permanent exhibits including the Calusa Gallery, Pioneer Period, and Modern Marco rooms, there are regular additional exhibits staged. For instance, “Marco on the Move” will be closing on March 21, giving you only a few more days to experience it.

On March 19, MIHS hosts the Ed Sullivan Variety Show at Rose History Auditorium, and on March 24, “Women Who Shaped Collier County,” a lecture by Collier County Museums director Amanda Townsend.