Busy busy busy getting ready for CMS' 3rd Annual PxP fundraiser happening this Wed. 10/19 at Temple Beth Israel in Eugene. I've donned several hats for this event both within and outside of my duties as PR committee chair. As a latecomer to the event there was much to get caught up to speed on, and now that four weeks have passed since I've been involved I'm feeling more and more confident that the event will be successful and fun.
The program I helped compile came off the press today and looks great. Had I had more time I would have liked to sell some ads for it (a revenue opportunity that was certainly missed) but for my first year of involvement I'm satisfied with how the program turned out. I introduced CMS to Kathy Kingsbury who will act as MC for the event. Kathy and I have known each other since I opened my Anytime Fitness business in Cottage Grove nearly three years ago. I am very confident in her abilities and am happy to have her there. David and I briefly went over her script for the event but I feel as if I have to leave that mostly to David and Chip's discretion since I've never attended this event before.
I am also helping organize the "Day Of" activities with that committee including Andria and Susan. I'm grateful to my fellow Cohort 7 CRES students who are generously donating their time Weds. nite to help at the event. There are over 100 volunteers on CMS' roster and I think we'll have plenty of hands on deck.
We found out the florist who was to donate the centerpieces for the event fell thru today so at the end of my shift I went to Market of Choice to ask for their help with flower donations at Barbara Date's request. She is going to speak with the manager first thing tomorrow and with luck we'll pull out some last minute kindness. I also made signs today for the event and helped make decisions on decorations.
The more involved I get with CMS the more I learn that my acumen as a for-profit business owner is valuable in the non-profit setting. Although I'm somewhat hesitant to give a plethora of advice from my perspective as a business owner cause I'm so new (and just an intern), there are some instances when I feel I must speak up in order to have a direct effect on improving the event as a whole and increasing the amount of money made. This IS a fundraiser, after all, and I strongly believe you have to ask for money (and be ok with being turned down) if you want to make money.
For example, a large part of the income will come from the raffling of several baskets of various goodies that were donated by many generous community members/businesses. The proposed pricing for raffle tickets started at $3 for 1, $10 for 4, and so on. I strongly recommended the price for one ticket should be $5 - meaningfully cost-prohibitive. Not only does that increase the amount people have to pay (more revenue for us), it rids us of the obligation to provide change, and it encourages folks to buy more raffle tickets. (I did mention this IS a fundraiser for a non-profit, right?!). I also mentioned to Chip and David that the number of raffle tickets sold will depend a great deal on WHO is selling them (like it or not). I'm a big fan of approaching folks with "how many raffle tickets would you like to purchase?" and NOT "would you like to buy a raffle ticket?". I'm not sure who specifically will be selling the tickets at the event but if at all possible I'll attempt to help out there as well as sales skills fall into my personal "strength" category. This is a direct result of my status as a successful business owner.
I continue to be encouraged by my welcome at CMS. I realize I'm precocious and that can be a turn off for people, so as I mentioned I'm trying to tread lightly. It's a relief to work in an environment where folks seems to be open and willing to learn things outside of their area of expertise. Refreshing.
Wish us luck on Wednesday!
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