Where are the singles?

September 8, 2006

By LEILA KHEIRY

Frontiersman

WASILLA - Are there no single people in the Valley?

It may seem that way to organizers at the Red Cross and Rotaract, who have been trying to set up a speed-dating event to raise money for the cash-strapped Red Cross, and

have been forced to postpone the event twice for lack of

participants.

The first event was scheduled for July 27, but with only three women and one man signed up, organizers switched the day to Sept. 7. Nancy Hall of the Valley's Red Cross guessed at the time that everyone was out fishing, and hoped a fall date would be more popular.

However, as of Wednesday, seven women - four ages 35 or older, and three ages 21 through 35 - and two men - both 35 or older - had signed up. The rules require an equal number of men and women, with 12 in each age category.

So, with less than 20 percent of the 48 spaces filled, organizers decided to postpone again, this time without naming a new date.

Tarabeth Armstrong of Rotaract said she's pretty sure the lack of response doesn't indicate a lack of single people. She knows several, she said, and people she's talked to also know single Mat-Su residents.

A brief visit to the online dating site match.com confirms there are plenty of single-and-looking residents in the Valley. A search for single men and women ages 35 to 45 brought up almost four pages of men, and an almost equal number of women from Wasilla and Palmer.

Many of them sound like potential speed-daters, such as 36-year-old &#8220Alaskannn,” who claims he is very easy to talk to and truly likes people. Then there's 44-year-old &#8220Dancin4joy,” who says she is genuine, honest, romantic and loyal to a fault.

Why wouldn't they sign up?

&#8220I think it's an unknown thing and people are afraid to try something new,” said Hall.

Armstrong agreed.

&#8220It sounds like the scariest, weirdest thing in the world, but it's fun,” she said, adding that some people have told her they would be more willing to participate if they heard more about it from someone who has tried it.

The speed-dating event calls for 12 single men and 12 single women in the two age groups to spend about five minutes of one-on-one time getting to know each other before moving on to the next person. According to the rules, no last names are given, and at the end of the evening, participants let the organizers know who they are interested in getting to know better.

If that person also is interested, the organizers provide the contact information.

Hall and Armstrong stressed that speed-dating is a low-pressure way to meet others.

&#8220It's not the meat market that the bar scene is,” said Hall. &#8220You don't have to give your name, you get a chance to talk to everybody.”

When meeting others at bars, she said, people tend to base their decisions on appearances. With speed-dating, you talk and get to know everyone, very quickly.

Armstrong said she participated in a speed-dating event while in college, and enjoyed the experience.

&#8220You get to meet people, and if you don't like them, don't mark them down,” she said. &#8220You have control over it, and you could get a couple dates. And, if nothing else, you make some friends.”

Participants might not meet their life partner, she said, but they could find somebody fun to go to the movies with.

And they'd be helping Red Cross, which is in need of funds, especially after the August flooding, which stretched the organization's resources. Proceeds will benefit Red Cross primarily, said Armstrong, with Rotaract - an offshoot of Rotary International - receiving enough to cover costs.

Armstrong said the registration Web site will remain open, and people can continue to sign up. The site will change, however, and will not ask for a payment from those who register. Once a new event date is decided, she said - probably in the winter - organizers will contact those who registered to see if they're still interested and to set up payment.

For more information about the event, go to the registration Web site at www.susitnaspeeddating.com, or contact the Red Cross at 357-6060.

Contact Leila Kheiry at

352-2270 or at leila.kheiry@

frontiersman.com