East Sacramento Rotary Club president, Carroll Dudley, now has a nice clean look.  He is completely bald after the fellow Rotarians took turns shaving his hair and mustache during the most recent group luncheon.

The hair shaving was the culmination of an event in which the East Sac Rotary celebrated raising $6,144 for The Salvation Army during the 2009 Christmas Red Kettle drive. Before the holiday season began, Dudley pledged that he would go bald if the club, as bell ringers, would generate $6,000 or more.  More than 25 members of the East Sac Rotary took that challenge.

“I hadn’t had my head shaved off since 1970 when I went into the Air Force,” Dudley said.  “It’s been 30 years since the mustache has been off. In fact, my wife has only seen me once without it (mustache).”

The shaving process took about 15 minutes. Many of Dudley’s fellow Rotarians took pictures of it while cracking some bald jokes at his expense.  But for Dudley, it was well worth it.

“Can’t think of a better way to raise a lot of money for a good cause,” he said.

The East Sacramento Rotary Club has been involved with the kettle drive for over 30 years, raising more than $200,000 over that time period.

“It’s one thing to ring a bell for two hours in front of store,” said Major Tedd Lowcock, Salvation Army officer, “but it’s entirely different when you’re willing to give something up like your hair.”

The money raised from the bell ringing efforts will go to help fund Salvation Army programs in Sacramento County.  These programs include a transitional homeless shelter, assistance for families, youth and senior programs, and summer camp.