Fundraising brainstorming

[kickslop]

Started here: http://www.kickflop.net/autocrossbb/viewtopic.php?t=21" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; at blacksheep-1's suggestion.

Steve/Native knows better than I do what we'd like to reach, I just wanted to break this off into a separate thread for ideas from people over the long term, etc.

[Anonymous]

For me, reserved numbers would be more of a convenience for FAST than for me. IE, some type of number list is going to have to be referenced when everyone registers, end of the year points have to be hand calculated, etc.

I would never pay extra for anything at an autocross. Having said that, here are some other ideas that I would not participate in...

1. Charge for annual tech inspection.
2. Let people buy their way out of course work.

This might require that the add-ons for AXWare be purchased. IE Membership functions (keep track of numbers), automated coursework/run heat assignments (buying out of coursework).

[kickslop]

Ideas:

- $5 for 2 fun runs with course workers present. Untimed. Requires advance notice and staying an extra half hour for ~6 volunteers in the club who want to help raise money. I'd offer my time.

- T-shirts. With a bit of effort, we could design something that's more than just the FAST logo. If a club member (or club member's spouse/friend) has a local source for decent quality shirts in 2 colors, we could make up 10-20 of them for sale over the next year. Not immediate return and pretty low profit margin I bet.

- Decals. See above.

- "Get a re-run" / DNF second chance cards. Easy to make. Sell for $5. Limit 1 card per person per event. Must be handed over to start worker.

[Charles]

2. Let people buy their way out of course work.

I know from May-Aug this would be worth it to some people

[kickslop]

Oh, it'd be worth it for sure. I'd do it.

That said, I'm completely against the idea.

[Anonymous]

If you made it a high enough number, like $50. You would make more money from that than you would from the entire event itself.

[Native]

Thanks for starting the new thread - that last one did get a little highjacked...

What we'd like to reach is basically to be able to run the club the way we like, with a few conveniences like computerized timing (which should cost mostly startup - with little maintenance, I hope) and lunch, and still keep our heads above water - barely.

Budget-wise this year, assuming we can average 50 entries at SPC, and 32 at Brooksville, at $30 each, and sticking with a $3. per person lunch, and with all things generally the same as last year, we'll break even. Between the NASA refunds, and timing software, unless we come up with more than average entries, or some other fund raising/sponsorship, we'll have used up our cushion for the year.

IMHO, the easiest way to deal with this all is to sell the club and keep our entries up - advertise, chat, post threads, whatever we can to publicize and max out our entry limits. The second easiest way, I think, is to find a sponsor or two. For example, I got our tax fees comped by my accountant in exchange for an ad on the website (which hasn't been designed yet - on his side...). Saved us several hundred bucks, and only cost us (Loren) a little web-work...Conning a restaurant into providing lunch in exchange for advertising would save us $100-$150 per event. We've got a web site, a forum, and a big, white, rolling billboard that gets towed to and prominently parked at each event. Anyone know a tuner shop of some sort (or whatever) that would pay 150./month to put an ad on the side of the trailer? (or maybe $200... )

Selling decals and/or t-shirts is great - I favor the decals - smaller, cheaper, all the same size... At some point I think Kenny was gonna talk to a printing company he works with about setting us up.

We already have "permanent" numbers, at least a lot of us do - I know I expect to be 37 at our events - now just make a list and charge me for it once each January...anyone wants one during the year pays the same amount, and everyone renews in Jan, regardless of purchase date - easy!
Don't want to, fine, but you risk having your number assigned to someone else (except probably Kenny...)

The less work the fundraising is, the better. Selling off work duty at an event is fine, but we'd need to limit it, or charge enough, that everyone doesn't want to do it - no workers=not good (duh). That said, I'm against it too. Selling fun runs is a neat idea, but the way it is now, the last guy out after cleanup is usually about 5 pm - I know I wouldn't want to stay any later- 10 hours is enough. Adding runs to the end of the day only makes it longer...and I don't want to give up timed runs to get out earlier just because 6 guys want to do 2 more for fun...

Using one of our events as a "Novice Training Day" could work - hit entrants for an increased fee for a day of intense instruction and lots of practice. Charge $75, limit it to 30, and compared to 50 entries at $30 we've made an extra $750, and actually more what with fewer lunches to buy...the last time we did this was Jan 2005 - it's how I got started

[kickslop]

I'm willing to pony up a $50 donation just to do more of my part to make this club a solid reality. I was paying $40 per autocross before, and was fine with it. It's worth that to me.

I'll bring a check on 1/13. Just make it out to you, Steve?

[blacksheep-1]

It's worth $20 to me in order to keep my number for the year.
I'm not sure you should be able to buy your way out of the work process for 2 reasons, 1: It's something else to keep track of on raceday, and 2: You can actually LEARN by paying attention to driving styles (except maybe mine )
Decals and T-shirst are a grand idea, keep in mind we have a connection in the decal department (Vets).
and of course sponsorships...
I post on TB mustangs all the time about our auto-x

I might be willing to volunteer in this aspect, even though I promised myself I would not do that ever again, but, as long as it doesn't involve the administration, I would consider it.

[Native]

Kickslop, that's a mighty generous offer!
The check can be made out to FAST.

Blacksheep-1 - I love it when people volunteer to do stuff, and maybe I'm being a little dense, but just what exactly are you volunteering to do?

[Alizarin]

Don't want to, fine, but you risk having your number assigned to someone else (except probably Kenny...)

Somebody with a Scooby might take that number at an event just to spite me

[Charles]

Somebody with a Scooby might take that number at an event just to spite me

I will if you don't bring my caliper bolt to the Jan. event

[blacksheep-1]

Let's see. that would be coordinating fund raising

[Native]

Rob, it would be great if you wanted to coordinate some type of fundraising - have at it!

Let me know if you need help, and if someone wants to co-coordinate with you, that'd be great too!!

i'll catch up with you at the event about the VA/decal question...knew you did vinyl/magnetics, didn't know about decals...

[Alizarin]

I will if you don't bring my caliper bolt to the Jan. event

I thought you were ordering one! I checked the box-o-parts and don't think I saw one in there. I guess he either tossed them or shoved them somewhere in a spare parts bin.

[muddy]

I like the driving school idea. 8)

[Dave-ROR]

I like the driving school idea. 8)

As do I. Even non novices could see benefit because of the additional practice time. I haven't autocrossed much lately (used to all the time back with the old sunriders group, back when Kenny couldn't even beat my Isuzu pickup) so I'd be up for it.

Just to get the timing software, why not just ask for donations? It shouldn't be that hard to get ~250.00, I would guess that most of us have some spare money we can send over through paypal or checks, even if it's just $5 or $10. Eating top ramen for a day or two to get some timing software shouldn't be a big deal

[Loren]

I'm going to suggest putting the brakes on this thread.

If we can all keep promoting the events and keep our attendance up, we don' need no steenkin' fundraisers. One less hassle for people to worry about.

We want to keep FAST simple.

[Native]

If we can all keep promoting the events and keep our attendance up, we don' need no steenkin' fundraisers. One less hassle for people to worry about.

True.
But it would still be cool to do a skool, and folks have expressed fair interest in reserving a number...
maybe those two, and enough is enough - unless we need more.

I am looking into one more sponsor, though - gotta make a call next week. We'll see.

[Loren]

A school does not equate to fundraising. That's just a service to our community that we should do from time to time.

Perm numbers are also a topic for a separate thread.