austinp
#3 Newhouse
the next fur season is never far from our minds :)
Posts: 3,008
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Post by austinp on May 27, 2015 15:59:57 GMT -5
It is my understanding that NYSTA recently gained 501(c)3 non-profit status, which means it is now possible to have a dinner banquet fund-raising program such as NWFT, RMEF, DU, Furbearers Unlimited, etc. I would be willing to organize such a fund-raising program (along with potential other programs) but before I take one step towards that learning process, I'd like to hear from everyone else their thoughts, input, potential support from district associations, etc. Couple years back I talked to Cindy Seff about an open position with FBU of such. So I have a general idea of what's involved on the effort and results potential. Their can be substantial money involved. But in order for anything to succeed, it requires a group effort from lots of people. Open to all comments and input, thank you in advance
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 28, 2015 7:19:12 GMT -5
Austin,
You got to be kidding.
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austinp
#3 Newhouse
the next fur season is never far from our minds :)
Posts: 3,008
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Post by austinp on May 28, 2015 8:08:37 GMT -5
Austin, You got to be kidding. kidding about a volunteer role for NYSTA fund-raising? OK then, my questions have all been answered
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Post by bobsheedy on May 28, 2015 10:00:09 GMT -5
Austin, I applaud your effort. There may be an opportunity for this to develope. However, I don't know how much support I could give. Let's hear from some other folks.
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wcs
Posts: 1,159
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Post by wcs on May 28, 2015 10:21:16 GMT -5
I would go if the events were not too far away. Wife is always bugging me to go out lol
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Post by SawmillCreek on May 28, 2015 14:15:23 GMT -5
Kidding?? I'd participate if within reasonable distance
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austinp
#3 Newhouse
the next fur season is never far from our minds :)
Posts: 3,008
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Post by austinp on May 28, 2015 16:29:25 GMT -5
the general overview of a dinner banquets program goes like this...
A program coordinator (myself or whomever else) locates a group(s) who is willing to host the event on the behalf of NTYSTA along with their own benefit. Let's use the fictional Muskrat County Trappers Assoc (MCTA)as an example. The net proceeds after all expenses is shared 75/25 NYSTA to MCTA ratio split.
For that, MCTA agrees to form a small committee of members who work to solicit item donations or cash for prizes, locally and/or thru other personal contacts. Said donations are tax-deductible charity gifts to the donors. In addition to that, there may be other items purchased at discount or wholesale for the event, too. Committee members are also needed to set up the selected location and perform other simple tasks involved.
The program coordinator negotiates the venue location, catering details, prizes itemization and procurement, advertising and tickets, etc a bunch of other details. Hopefully there are several similar events being organized at the same general time for various locations, hence the need for a group committee from each event host.
Tickets are presold and available at the door. A meal is served, prizes are awarded via tickets, both silent and verbal auctions move the goods, etc. Basically the local people come for a meal, raffles, ticket prizes, 50/50 drawings, auction bids and overall social gathering. End result should be some amount of net profit to be shared.
Now if several regional trapper groups and/or sympathetic groups such as other outdoors associations, local volunteer fire or ambulance depts., etc wish to host an event that can work even better. Done late winter and early fall each year, it could be a substantial income for NYSTA along with tidy sums for each individual group involved.
Needless to say such a program requires group support, not just one central person. Hence the purpose of this post. I'd be willing to spearhead such a thing, but need to gauge the level of interest and support among regional trapper groups.
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Post by papabear on May 29, 2015 7:16:12 GMT -5
Dear Mr. austinp, I'm in for fundraising.....I nominate you for coordinator.....now point me in the right direction and lets get started! Regards
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Post by slyfox74 on May 31, 2015 20:40:22 GMT -5
Great idea, any activity that raises money for the cause and promotes the organization is a great idea. My time is limited but I will help out whenever and however I can. I have a woodworking business and I would be happy to donate items for raffle or auction. PM me for details.
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austinp
#3 Newhouse
the next fur season is never far from our minds :)
Posts: 3,008
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Post by austinp on Jun 1, 2015 5:52:23 GMT -5
slyfox, I agree with your excellent synopsis of trapping and trappers in the other thread concerning our public voice, branding and growing associations, etc. But overall the major challenges that trapper organizations face is the smallest pool of licensed participants and also the most cyclical base of those, too.
Trying to raise enough money going forward from within the circle of active trappers is too small a base... the banquets concept is one way of raising money from outside the trapping world, in essence it includes literally anyone who opts to buy a ticket and attend.
papabear, this isn't something one can tackle on their own. I'll discuss it with the executive board and see how everything unfolds according to the standard process.
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paintedpaw
Retired NYSDEC Lake George Ranger
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Post by paintedpaw on Jun 1, 2015 7:39:46 GMT -5
Austin,
It is an excellant idea; some thing some of us have hoped for for years. How many raffles can you hold? These dinners, as you mentioned, must be geared not to the trappers, but to the general public, with great incentives for them to attend. I'm all for it.
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austinp
#3 Newhouse
the next fur season is never far from our minds :)
Posts: 3,008
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Post by austinp on Jun 1, 2015 9:36:30 GMT -5
Al, the number of potential events is technically unlimited. They could feasibly be held all across the state. My next step is to contact Cindy Seff, gather some info and data from her. I believe there is a book / manual out there written for this topic as well.
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austinp
#3 Newhouse
the next fur season is never far from our minds :)
Posts: 3,008
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Post by austinp on Jun 6, 2015 19:10:56 GMT -5
update: I've spent quite some time researching the various aspects of charity dinner banquets along with other fund-raising ideas. There certainly is a lot out there to choose from... lots of different offshoots to consider. at this point in time I'm exploring the details of doing day-time outdoor bbq events and/or evening dinner events similar to what churches and volunteer fire departments commonly do. It may be that bottom line results from a minimum number of volunteer staff and/or hired food preparations makes most sense in this approach. right now the main factor is attracting sufficient numbers of supporters to buy tickets and attend such events. To do so from the angle of "support trapping" only won't even start to get it done... our numbers are way too thin. But combining the events with local fire departments, ambulance services and/or other local groups could work well. By offering to do the bulk of work and promotions in exchange for a cost-free venue and some volunteer help from outside groups in exchange for a split of the profits would solve most of the challenges. In a nutshell, offer local organizations a profit-share program that only requires use of their fire hall or other facilities, some volunteer help for the event and marketing dinner tickets in exchange for half the proceeds. Use their appeal to raise donations for raffle drawings from local vendors in support. Serve a multi-course dinner buffet style, sell raffle tickets, sell 50-50 tickets, hold an auction, make it fun for everyone. Only real overhead for NYSTA is food materials, some paid food preparations (outdoor bbq events) along with food serving wear, garbage collection, insurance policy coverage, tickets and flyers production, limited local advertising. Theoretically we could hold quite a number of these type events across the state each year. A lot of time & effort on the event planner - organizer end, but that's right up my alley. I'll formulate a specific plan with some projected figures and ideas to present in Herkimer at the next NYSTA executive meeting in July. Plenty of research on my end left to do between now and then
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2015 12:47:18 GMT -5
How much of the proceeds actually goes to NYSTA? Meaning if 100 tickets for $10.00 are sold, how much goes to NYSTA?
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austinp
#3 Newhouse
the next fur season is never far from our minds :)
Posts: 3,008
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Post by austinp on Jun 9, 2015 14:24:26 GMT -5
How much of the proceeds actually goes to NYSTA? Meaning if 100 tickets for $10.00 are sold, how much goes to NYSTA? I have no figures offhand... it would be total ticket sales + other funds raised - overhead expenses = split in half equation
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Post by mole on Jun 9, 2015 16:59:35 GMT -5
Not to change the topic but;
Would on line auctions to benefit NYSTA be out of the question?
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austinp
#3 Newhouse
the next fur season is never far from our minds :)
Posts: 3,008
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Post by austinp on Jun 9, 2015 17:09:41 GMT -5
now with 501(c)3 status I believe it is legal for NYSTA to do online fund-raisers such as raffles, drawings and auctions. Otherwise I believe it is considered illegal gambling without that tax-exempt status.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2015 9:03:40 GMT -5
What are overhead expenses? Do the cordinators get paid? I've heard Cindy Seff is famous for that. Just checking. I would recommend anyone donate directly to NYSTA. At least you know that 100% of your money is going there.
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austinp
#3 Newhouse
the next fur season is never far from our minds :)
Posts: 3,008
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Post by austinp on Jun 10, 2015 9:25:37 GMT -5
What are overhead expenses? Do the cordinators get paid? I've heard Cindy Seff is famous for that. Just checking. I would recommend anyone donate directly to NYSTA. At least you know that 100% of your money is going there. AJ, I haven't communicated with Cindy or anyone else yet. I'm proposing a potential program that will draw revenue outside of the entire trapping world, into NYSTA. You are fixated on who might benefit and that is all. I don't know... does NYSTA's lobbyist get paid? Do any of the executive positions get paid? Ask those questions first. Mine is merely a proposal for solutions to a serious issue at this time, may never go any further than that. Lastly, "everyone" has been able to donate directly to NYSTA for 100% benefit since NYSTA's inception how many decades ago now? How is that insider volunteer support working out? How many commas and zeros are in the direct-donate slush fund by now, all these decades later?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2015 10:27:44 GMT -5
Hopefully more than in your pocket.
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austinp
#3 Newhouse
the next fur season is never far from our minds :)
Posts: 3,008
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Post by austinp on Jun 10, 2015 10:33:25 GMT -5
Hopefully more than in your pocket. well that would be "no" because volunteer donations are zilch. My suggestion involves attracting people from the outside world to an event where they spend money that flows into NYSTA. Those people don't know NYSTA exists, don't care, don't give a s(omething) about NYSTA and will sure as hell never donate one thin dime on their own, ever. So if you can figure out a better way than what I propose here to make such progress happen, let's hear your plan. Offer a similar solution or stfu.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2015 11:07:22 GMT -5
Austin,
Why don't you share with the public your trappers alliance venture. Wait, I will........... BEWARE!
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austinp
#3 Newhouse
the next fur season is never far from our minds :)
Posts: 3,008
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Post by austinp on Jun 10, 2015 11:18:23 GMT -5
My trapper's alliance venture made no one any money, anywhere. That was a failed attempt at individual effort.
Now AJ, I am trying to work thru group-fashion channels for the benefit and greater good of NYSTA and NYS trappers. You on the other hand are worthless to all, proposing no solutions, no ideas, no concepts that might possibly work. I have tried to make things happen... you are merely dead weight.
As for any potential "profits" on my end which by the way hasn't even been suggested by anyone but you: ALL of the revenue I suggest is possible will come from OUTSIDE the trapping world. So Mr. Accountant... what balance sheet would you rather manage the inflow of... a majority percentage of significant income revenue, or 100% of zero income revenue?
I'm not the accomplished accountant that you are, so go ahead and let us all know which scenario is best: most of something, or all of nothing.
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Post by pockets on Jun 10, 2015 11:25:29 GMT -5
Our local legion has a huge pavilion with full kitchen. It would be a great venue in which to hold one of these fund raisers. I would be willing to help Out and see what dates would be available as well as the cost of renting it out for the day. Just say the word. Austin if you would like to see the place first I can show it to you or you can just come to campbell and see it on your own.
Mike
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austinp
#3 Newhouse
the next fur season is never far from our minds :)
Posts: 3,008
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Post by austinp on Jun 10, 2015 11:41:41 GMT -5
Mike that would be ideal... exactly what I'm kicking around here in concept. But before anything happens actively, the NYSTA board has to hear, vote on and approve an action plan. Nothing that I'll do on my own
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