For 53 years, the ladies of Cherokee County have concluded the dirt, girt and sweat of each league year by donning their finest attire and attending the Service League’s Annual Ball. The formal event celebrates the work of one league year, highlights members who have completed their ten years of service to the community, and introduces the new members for the upcoming league year.
The Annual Ball has a storied history. Originally, the ball was known as the Cherokee Rose Ball and was for League members and their invited guests only. In 2010, some ingenious minds within the league decided the ball could be a fundraiser. Dancing with the Children was born. The League sought local “celebrities” who were community, business or education leaders within Cherokee County. The celebrities were paired with a professional dancer to wow the crowd and raise money for the children of Cherokee County. Dancing with the Children raised thousands of dollars for the children of Cherokee County.
In 2019, after it became increasingly difficult to coax local community leaders to frolic on a dance floor in front of hundreds of people, the league decided to take the annual ball in a new direction. Prior to the pandemic, the league was planning a smaller event that would bring together league members along with business and community leaders for an evening of dinner, dancing and entertainment.
The Service League has a strong tradition of serving other non-profits in Cherokee County by providing manpower, grants and support. Continuing this tradition, in 2020, the league sought to use the annual ball to highlight and financially support another local non-profit. Give a Kid a Chance was selected as the chosen non-profit for 2020. After COVID prevented the ball from going forward as planned, the league made a donation to Give a Kid a Chance to support their mission.
Out of an abundance of caution, the league has decided to cancel the 2021 ball as well. Some of the traditions of the ball, including recognizing outgoing members and new provisional members, were incorporated in the Annual Luncheon held on May 15, 2021 at the FARM in Hickory Flat. The League looks forward to continuing the ball tradition in 2022.