PORT ARTHUR — Even though Betty S. Keith represents Women in Construction who could build a kitchen sink, she likes a basic potato salad.

“I don’t put in the kitchen sink,” she said, explaining she eschews pickles, olives and pretty much every thing  else but eggs, potato, mustard and mayo.

She urges Rotary Taste of Gumbo, Etc., visitors to give it a shot. Look for women in pink construction hats serving it up from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 13, at the Robert A. “Bob” Bowers Civic Center, off Texas 73. Tickets are $8 and support Rotary Club of Port Arthur projects. Children 5 and younger get in free.

Keith is president of Port Arthur-Golden Triangle Chapter of National Association of Women in Construction. Pamela Washington is the director of the group, which represents owners, pipe fitters, administrators, welders, contractors and other women in construction.

 The pair said they know potato salad and gumbo go together, though neither one is the kind to plop their salad in the bowl of gumbo. As a child, Keith never liked potato salad, but as an adult she developed a simple recipe. Keith offered for her group to support Taste as helpers, then they offered to cook.

Perry Snell, general manager of Jim Snell Master Plumber in Nederland, is the man they call King Gumbo. He’s in charging of rounding up restaurants and other groups to cook and serve their specialties at Saturday’s event.

“We’re going to see a wide variety of gumbo and tater salad. We’re going to hear live entertainment by Jack Flash, a guy who sings and plays piano. He’s amazing. You can throw any song you want up there and he can play it, just about,” Snell said.

The eating is good, but there’s more to Taste than eating.

“We’ll give away a lot of door prizes and we have a silent auction with some really nice items you can bid on. It’s just a fun family event,” he said. “All the proceeds go to charitable organizations that are selected based on their service to the community.”

In the past, Taste proceeds have benefited scholarships, Community Care-Prayer Outreach and other groups, Snell said.

“We are also having a bit of a membership drive for the Rotary Club, because we do fun things,” Snell said.

Through Rotary, Snell said he has done mission work in East Africa.

“Our club has outfitted a school classroom in Kenya. Another time we purchased school uniforms for an orphanage in Kenya,” he said.

Snell checked his list of Taste of Gumbo, Etc. and said the following groups are signed on to dish it out:

• McAlister’s Deli

• Southeast Texas Medical Center

• Port Arthur International Seafarer’s Center

• Floyd’s Seafood

• Hernandez & Solis

• Coastline Restoration

• Megaplay U.S.A.

• Christus St. Mary Hospital

• The Courtyard Cafe

• The Schooner

• Sartin’s Seafood

• I-Con Builders

• Jason’s Deli

• Catholic Charities Hospitably Center

• Tuffy’s

• National Association for Women in Construction

• Texas Road House

ddoiron@panews.com