this weekend is a group of expert rainmakers. With plans that the Samuel L.

Jackson Golf Classic become an annual event, and with success depending on the perfect execution of even minor details, the efforts of mere mortals won't be enough. Only four in number, these wizards shoulder the burden of ensuring that this first-ever celebrity classic is carried off without a hitch.

According to Tom Godber, president of Canadian Connections Sports and Entertainment Events, the idea is to involve as much of Bermuda's business and resident community as possible, a method that has worked well for him in the past. "What we do is go around organising celebrity events for charities,'' he said. "It's something which a lot of people think is just an opportunity to make a lot of money. But that's never the case when you're working for charities. The idea is to help corporations use their marketing dollars to make more money for charity. We tell them, let us use your marketing budget and we'll show you how to get a marketing return which has the added kicker of raising money for charity. "Although it is very rewarding, what it is, is a lot of hard work. Our organisation has only two full-time people -- Peter Godber and Lynn Champagne. They are the sizzle part of all of this. My forte is the business marketing and the volunteer side and the fourth person involved is Maimie Hume. She has put all this together and is the real professional in the group.'' Mr. Godber said that work began with a core group of 30, half of which was Bermudian with the other half comprised of contract employees. That number has since swelled to 500 volunteers anxious to donate their support to the two charities which will benefit -- Bermuda's Council Partners and New York's Catalog for Giving. "We're trying to teach a lot of people about cause-related marketing and how to get involved as a volunteer,'' he said. "Most celebrities like to take on a cause and are very good in helping each other with whatever cause they have decided to support. Everyone who's coming is coming to help Sam. He personally did all the inviting and is very encouraged and enthused by the response. And we're having a pep rally Wednesday evening at City Hall to drum up that same spirit within our 500 volunteers.'' Bearing in mind that the idea behind the tournament is to raise cash for charities, Mr. Godber said that as much as possible was done so that every resident would have the opportunity to see the celebrities. "We tried to be as inclusive, but as exclusive as we could,'' he explained, "hence the reason we've run our programme at a cost of everything, from free -- to the corporate side, which is buying golf slots at $12,000 for two days. We do it so we can give every one the opportunity to get out and touch, and see a celebrity which is not always the case at these types of events or even in Hollywood.'' Public festivities begin with an Academy Awards like procession along Front Street to Number One Shed on Friday night where a gala dinner and concert is planned. "The concept of Front Street is to allow the public to experience, in some way, what the Academy Awards are like when the celebrities all arrive,'' said Mr. Godber. "All of Front Street will be closed off and the celebrities will arrive in cars which will stop at the corner of Burnaby Hill and Front Street. They will then walk down the centre of Front Street on a nice carpet at which time people can ask for autographs and take pictures as they head to Number One Shed. It's just another area thought out to involve the local community.'' The night will be a musical evening with performances by local band, Legacy, and Bullfrog, a band from Montreal which plays a diverse mix of jazz, funk and hip hop. Guests will include Premier, Pam Gordon, Tourism Minister, David Dodwell and Hamilton mayor, William Frith along with other local dignitaries, charity representatives and of course, the celebrities. Also on hand will be four child ambassadors -- two selected by the Catalog for Giving and two by the Council Partners. The days of the celebrity tournament -- all of which offer free admission to the public -- will emphasise fun more than golfing skill, he added. "As long as there's not a torrential downpour, it's going ahead rain, blow or shine. This will be no PGA event. It's closer to circus of the stars.'' Saturday night will be a barrel of laughs, Mr. Godber promised as, for $50, persons can attend a Comedy Night Benefit, Auction and Dessert party at Number One Shed with dozens of collectibles and special events donated by stars. "Saturday is going to be a real fun event,'' he said, "and promises lots of laughter. It will be a more relaxed evening than Friday night.'' The event will be aired on local television stations, on ESPN International and ESPN2 as well as in Australia, New Zealand, France, the UK and Canada via Showtime, Access Hollywood, BET and the Golf Channel. "Each will have a different angle and it will be the largest televised event ever for Bermuda. As big as the Merrill Lynch Shootout was last year, it only had 2.3 million viewers. This will generate over 12 million.'' FUND RAISER FNR DRUGS DGS