[Rotary] Future Rotary Fundraisers ... Notes / Recommendations from the Fundraising Committee

[Bruce Lewis]

Note: these are recommendations ONLY and require Board and CLUB member approval. Your thoughts and suggestions are welcome.  With so many of our members young and working (some with children), there is a need to balance big Rotary goals with available resources (members and costs). A few carefully planned activities can result in big results for our club without burning out members. 

The Fundraising Committee (Bruce, Tom, Cornelia, Jody and John Porter with President John sitting in)  discussed and is making the following recommendations (for the consideration Board and all Club Members):

1. Continue the Golf Tournament (Kira has agreed to take over for 2015). Proceeds: $5,000

2. Casino Night (combine this with a raffle of vacations and art prizes as our major fundraiser -- no more art auction). Proceeds: $9,000, but could be a lot more with better promotion and prizes.

3. July 4 BBQ - considering the amount of resources it takes (volunteers and money) for this and small return (about $1,500), recommendation is to drop food sales at firehouse, parade participation and hold activities in Rotary Park only. Goal is to reduce club burnout caused trying to do too many projects with little payoff. Club can decide if they want to walk in parade or do Rotary Park activities (over have other suggestions). Note: Former President Team started this as a Polio Plus fundraiser. Through new  polio plus jar collection program, we can reach our polio plus committment without the stress and resource burnout.

4. Add back a Mendocino Theatre Company Night fundraiser: Former Club President Jerry Karabensh started this program several years go: we rent out the MTC for a night in 2015 at a discounted price. Club sells 77 tickets at a premium (but not exorbitant price), holds a reception with cocktails, beer wine and hors d'ouevres. Potential proceeds: $3,000-$4,000.

5. To meet our goal of giving back and making Mendo a better community, we do more hands on projects like supporting events by other non-profits and offering them use of Rotary Park or offer career counseling / advice to Interacters, other students and adults in our community.

6. Rotary Park can be the home of future fundraisers, like concerts, as a fundraising source. Selling paver stones will be a source of revenue for future improvements. 

The bottom line: with a more steamlined fundraising program, the club can raise between $20,000 - $25,000 annually, enough to offer a couple of scholarships, help out a few non profits, contribute to international needs and build Rotary Park improvements without stressing club members and resources.

Above all else, we want to keep club enthusiasm high and stress / burnout low.

Fundraising Chair Bruce Lewis
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.mcn.org/pipermail/rotary/attachments/20140905/d9d82650/attachment.html