Our council runs a concession stand at Carolina Panthers football games, so we don't have to have bingo. The council at the University of Oklahoma had the easiest fundraising dodge - they just rented out the parish parking lot during games. It's incredible what people will pay to park. The whole youth group went to Rome on the parking receipts from the Rolling Stones concert.
We work parking at the Irish Festival. The parking is free, but if you go up with a wad of bills in your hand, they give you a really good tip (especially if I pull me Irish out and give 'em a bit of the mother tongue!). After about 8 pints of Guinness, they give you their entire wallet as they leave!
Also, we work parking cars at the County Fair on contract and work a few other events parking cars; we have it down to a science. Still, the old smoke filled Bingo with the old ladies is a staple event.
Francis
My council runs a bingo operation at a large bingo hall. We cover a few nights a week. We're a large council (over 400 members) and -- as a result of this -- we're able to generate well over $1,000,000 each year for charitable activities (we are a professional-type council with several CFOs, senior execs, etc.).
We use this money to support our clergy retirement home, pro-life activities, scholarships for parish children, food for the homeless, houses for the poor, a home for unwed mothers who choose life (versus slaughter of unborn babies) -- and a host of other activities.
I'm proud of the work we do...and it does bring grace to the men who do it (as well as a tight bond of fraternity).