Wednesday, February 09, 2011
• Spread the word – Offer up a homestay, use of a time-share, use of a holiday house, etc., for bidding to raise money for the Legacy Fund, and retain ONE THIRD of the funds for your own club!
• Last year the auction raised $13,000. It’s your chance to be a part of expanding the Friendship Force network around the globe.
• Don’t delay! Contact Board Member Andrew Stirling at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to put your travel opportunity up for auction!
Dear friends,
Each year, your personal and club donations to the Legacy Fund help us expand your network of Friendship Force Clubs. Most recently, activity in Indonesia, Morocco, Argentina and Albania has expanded, funded in part by the Legacy Fund. Wouldn’t it be great if every club could make a contribution to the Legacy Fund so we advance the mission of the Friendship Force, and we all get new opportunities to make friends?
Last year the Board of Directors instituted an on-line and silent auction as a trial run. This was very successful and added $13,000 to the Legacy Fund. The 35 auction items were given by board members themselves, by past members, field reps and some clubs that “got into the swing” early enough.
The trial run showed that if we start earlier and get many more clubs involved we can probably raise considerably more…and in a very painless way. The auction also had some unexpected benefits. Winning bidders and donors have made new friendships and are excited to meet each other. And ambassadors on pre-existing exchanges have been able to add short home-stays in nearby cities.
We have also learned that in 2011 we should have both an online and a silent auction component, because attendees at the World Conference often outbid the online bidders who were unaware of the higher bid.
To maximize the benefit for the work involved it is necessary to start early in 2011. The sooner the offers are listed, the earlier we can advise outbound ambassadors of the chance to bid on them. This is necessary because people make plans to travel and buy tickets many months before travelling.
It would be really helpful if clubs and individuals could consider making an offering to the Auction at their February or March meeting so that the items can get listed early. But if not, later offerings will be welcomed, of course.
What can you offer? Homestays, use of a time-share, use of a chalet, holiday house etc. were very popular last year and drew multiple bidders and strong bids. Though many of the bidders are in North America, offers from other countries are really valuable and particularly if made early. Last year’s offer to “Climb Mt Fuji and stay a week in Tokyo” and “Stay a week in Yogyakarta, Indonesia” were good examples of these offers.
Please put this request for help on the agenda of your next board meeting AND spread it among members for individual offers as soon as you get this letter. Send your offer to FFI Board Member and Auction Coordinator, Andrew Stirling, at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). The Auction can really help expand Friendship Force if every club and every member thinks of what they can give. (As per last year, clubs may retain one third of the funds raised for club development purposes.)
In friendship,
Andrew Stirling, FFI Board of Directors
George Brown, FFI President