Chamber’s Putts for Paws fundraiser set for Feb. 10; organizers seek volunteers, sponsors and promotion

The Chamber of Commerce’s Putts for Paws fundraiser is scheduled for Feb. 10 at Devendorf Park and Mission, organizers told the Creative Commission on Jan. 13, and they are seeking volunteers, a ninth sponsor and broader community promotion. The chamber-led event will feature miniature-golf “holes” sponsored by local businesses and promises an opening-night party and an after-party hosted by community members.

Mark, a member of the Putts for Paws committee, told commissioners the event team has established a weather contingency so the fundraiser would not be canceled if conditions worsen: “We’ve got something figured out or partially figured out that could give us a wonderful indoor situation if we had to move it,” he said. He also highlighted the emphasis sponsors place on how their hole represents their brand: “The most important thing besides the fun and all that is whatever their hole is that they are sponsoring, it needs to represent their business the way they wanna be represented.”

Organizers named eight confirmed sponsors and said they are seeking a ninth; the list mentioned during the meeting included Gallante Vineyards, Cypress Inn, Diggity Dog, Carmel Groomers, De Tiara/Pamplemousse Boutique, and a Rancho business now run by Raw Connection. Committee volunteers Kimberly, Katie, Rose Welch and Kim Stemler were identified as handling registrations, pairings and operational details. Commissioners encouraged using the chamber events webpage, the commission’s Friday letter and the commission website to circulate the registration link.

Committee members said the event aims for 50 two-person teams; registration and volunteer sign-up are available via the Chamber events page. Mark also recommended limiting animals in Devendorf Park during the event (the poster and promotion will emphasize that no cats or dogs are allowed in the park during play) and suggested drone footage for promotion—pending review of the city’s drone ordinance. He said plans include an opening-night pairings party hosted by Dawn and Jack Galante and an after-party hosted by Jeff Meacham.

Next steps the commission discussed included sharing the chamber link in the Friday letter, outreach by commissioners to potential sponsors, and the chamber filling any remaining hole if the ninth sponsor is not found. The commission did not take formal action on the event but asked staff and members to promote sign-ups and volunteer recruitment.