Coos Bay Mayor Joe Benetti has a blood sample drawn by Kim Harvey at the Red Lion Inn Saturday morning. World Photo by Lou Sennick

On Saturday, about 200 people went to the Red Lion Hotel in Coos Bay to register as potential bone-marrow donors during "Operation Resolution," an event staged by the Coos Bay-North Bend Rotary Club.

Rotarians helped visitors fill out forms to register with the National Marrow Donor Program, while six phlebotomists (blood technicians) from South Coast hospitals drew samples from the candidates. Turnout during the 51/2-hour event fell about 80 people short of the announced target of 250 enrollments, according to Mike Gillespie, an organizer of Operation Resolution. Because the Rotary set aside funding for up to 400 screenings, the club is planning a second marrow screening event, possibly at Southwestern Oregon Community College. Saturday's marrow drive was the Rotary's response to the illnesses of three Bay Area residents - Spence Erickson, a Coos Bay Rotarian; Juan Rodriguez, a Marshfield High School student; and Jose Sermeno, a Red Lion employee. All are being treated for cancer and require marrow transplants to recover.