Machinists Go 'All In' With Charity Poker Tournament at Tulalip

TULALIP – Local Machinists Union members say their first charity poker tournament is a sure bet for both fun and fundraising.

Machinists Union Local Lodge 751-C will hold its first All In for Guide Dogs Hold ‘em Tournament from 3 to 7 p.m. June 2 at the Tulalip Resort Casino, 10200 Quil Ceda Blvd.

There is a $100 buy-in per person, and the field is limited to the first 100 paid entrants. There will be a $2,500 pay-out for winners at the final table.

Entry forms are available at all union halls operated by Machinists Union District Lodge 751 in Puget Sound, in Auburn, Everett, Renton and Seattle.

All proceeds will go to benefit Guide Dogs of America, a California-based charity that provides service dogs to people who are blind or have impaired vision from across North America.

This is the lodge’s first charity poker tournament.

“We thought this would be a fun way to raise money for Guide Dogs,” said Local 751-C President Ron Coen. “The people at Tulalip Casino have been great to work with, and we think this will become a successful annual fundraising event for our union.”

Local 751-C is affiliated with Machinists District 751 in Seattle. Last year, District 751 members raised more than $263,000 for Guide Dogs of America, making the union the charity’s largest single fundraiser.

Originally formed in 1935 to represent hourly workers at the Boeing Co., District Lodge 751 of the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers now represents more than 31,000 working men and women at 45 employers across Washington, Oregon and California. In 2011, members of the union’s Machinists Volunteer Program gave more than 10,000 hours of volunteer community service.

To learn more about District 751, read the Machinists News.