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+--- Thread: Support MM: Club Donations Requested (/showthread.php?tid=7093)
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Support MM: Club Donations Requested - Goodspeed - 03-17-2008
Hello all,
Its been a fun, event packed semester so far for us current students, with many more important events to come. With a growth in membership and planned activities, we've really pushed ourselves to the limit to ensure everyone has an enjoyable, memorable experience with MM.
However, one of the biggest factors in providing for a quality experience for our members is of course funding. Beyond the remarkable personal investment of our members and officers, it is club funds that allow us to rent karting facilities, buy goods and trophies for the carshow, and pay upfront for our thousand-dollar clothing orders.
Most recently, our payment of said clothing order combined with the cost of renting G-Force for two, instead of one, hours ($1500) has put a hurting on our club account. With payments coming in for respective clothing orders, we are looking to break even, but after checking our account balance it may be somewhat of a struggle to cover karting, and have money on hand for many upcoming events.
In the past, we've been lucky enough to have the same very-generous past members and founding fathers that were glad to help the club out in any way that we have today. So please, if you can, send any donations to our paypal address at <!-- e --><a href="mailto:mmsports@hotmail.com">mmsports@hotmail.com</a><!-- e --> so that we can continue to provide a fun, enjoyable experience as a successful club. We appreciate any amount you can spare
Thank you and take care,
MM Officers
- Jeff - 03-17-2008
I knew if I put it off long enough goody would just do it... :wink: give us moneyz!
- Andy - 03-17-2008
Just for my own info, if members are paying for G-Force and our apparel and paying dues, where is it not adding up? Is the club subsidizing these costs?
- Goodspeed - 03-17-2008
Andy Wrote:Just for my own info, if members are paying for G-Force and our apparel and paying dues, where is it not adding up? Is the club subsidizing these costs?
Good question, of course any and all relating to this matter will be answered. Members are paying in full for their apparel, but we haven't gotten all payments in at one time which would be ideal. If the payment period stretches on for any reason it isn't as beneficial to the club when an immediate situation occurs.
As for karting, yes members are paying for a spot, but the club still needs to pay hundreds of dollars to rent the facility. Students/members are not covering the entire cost, we only ask them to cover a percentage.
Basically, for the time being, much of this revolves around 2 hours of karting. In the past, we've been able to rent for one hour comfortably within our means; renting for two hours (nearly twice as much money) while hardly asking much more from members has put us in the red.
- Andy - 03-17-2008
How much would G-Force be to if participants paid the whole cost?
- Goodspeed - 03-17-2008
Andy Wrote:How much would G-Force be to if participants paid the whole cost?
About 40 dollars a person. To be uncouth, MM survived for years on sizeable donations from big-baller OGs. We haven't had any such donation in a long time :wink:
- Maengelito - 03-17-2008
Andy Wrote:How much would G-Force be to if participants paid the whole cost?
i'm not sure what the prices at G-force are like but isnt it something crazy like $20 for a 12 minute sprint race? we're paying $30 for right around 30 min of seat time in the 2 hour race, correct? thats a hell of a subsidy.
- Mike - 03-17-2008
i will gladly donate, but i think the price for the karting event ought to be increased. maybe moreso for alumni.
- white_2kgt - 03-17-2008
Goodspeed Wrote:Andy Wrote:How much would G-Force be to if participants paid the whole cost?
About 40 dollars a person. To be uncouth, MM survived for years on sizeable donations from big-baller OGs. We haven't had any such donation in a long time :wink:
Maybe that will teach to not to run them off :roll:
- G.Irish - 03-17-2008
Goodspeed Wrote:Andy Wrote:How much would G-Force be to if participants paid the whole cost?
About 40 dollars a person. To be uncouth, MM survived for years on sizeable donations from big-baller OGs. We haven't had any such donation in a long time :wink:
Well you have got to put some effort into getting it. For years we've been saying we would do funds matching for fund raisers and for years no one has done anything. Ask and ye shall receive.
I also recommend that you guys try to get MM parents to send donations. Make up some letters, recognize the donors and give them some swag, make mo' $$$.
- Goodspeed - 03-17-2008
Again, please feel free to donate. If you want to give to the club, we'd gladly appreciate it. Any donations made ASAP would greatly help us out with G-Force karting this coming weekend.
The parent letters did not work in the past, but we could try it again. If you're coming to G-Force please come talk to me about any ideas you may have to raise funds, I appreciate any and all constructive ideas and criticism. Help us help you!
- JustinG - 03-17-2008
the biggest expense we had was the car show last year, we bought prizes and such and that dipped into the cash flow. We need to try and get these things donated from local vendors, but as we all know that damn near impossible.
- Goodspeed - 03-18-2008
Just a reminder, if you could donate before the Mar. 22nd karting event that would be greatly appreciated; preferably by Wednesday or Thursday.
- HAULN-SS - 03-18-2008
Is it not better to not go than go and not be able to pay? What are you other options? How, exactly, was this not noticed until the last minute?
- Goodspeed - 03-18-2008
HAULN-SS Wrote:Is it not better to not go than go and not be able to pay? What are you other options? How, exactly, was this not noticed until the last minute?
I spoke too soon, and edited my above statement to which you are referring. I just now checked our account balance, and we are 30 dollars short of covering the cost of karting (1500 dollars). Again, virtually any decent donation will cover this, and anything more you feel you can give will be greatly appreciated for covering future events.
To all - We are 110% going to G-Force. I/we feel it is better to alert our member base of situations such as this so you can be informed and help out should you decide to do so; I feel this is better than covering up situations of which you should be aware of. Take care and we'll see you at G-Force.
- Jewels - 03-18-2008
HAULN-SS Wrote:Is it not better to not go than go and not be able to pay? What are you other options? How, exactly, was this not noticed until the last minute?
I agree. Why is this all of a sudden a problem? People who haven't paid for their merchandise need to hurry up and pay is what I'm hearing. I got no problem donating money, but it sounds to me like people who owe the club need to start forking over money before those of us that are just being nice do so.
- Goodspeed - 03-18-2008
Jewels Wrote:I agree. Why is this all of a sudden a problem?
Just so everyone is clear, this was not some sort of immediate and monumental screw up. I'm perfectly happy to account for our actions to our paying, participating members but I feel you must be first rightly informed. As Justin said, we paid for some new car-show ideas last fall, to try something new and exciting for the club. We paid roughly one thousand dollars for the clothing order, and we have been recieving payments over time. And now, we had to pay 750 dollars to G-Force as one half-up front payment for karting. All of this adds up, and without the "typical" donations of past times that held up the club, the strain was put upon us to find funds to cover the plethora of events and activities this semester.
Again, simply...if you feel like donating, please do. We'd greatly appreciate your support.
- Apoc - 03-18-2008
Disclaimer: I'm not a member of the club and I've never been to an event.
From an outsider's perspective, it looks to me like the officers are basically saying "we need money, please give!" and the alum are saying "what are you doing about accountability and what's my return on investment?" I'm guessing the same holds true as to why letters to parents haven't been that successful in the past.
That said, I'd like to offer some reading advice to those who are in a position to request for donations. The book doesn't specifically talk about fund raising practices, but it can help you tweak how you ask people to help to club and probably be more successful. Donations are likely down for a reason and it may help you address that. If you don't want to read, it's probably available on CD in your local library.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Friends-Influence-People/dp/0671723650">http://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Friends-I ... 0671723650</a><!-- m -->
- CaptainHenreh - 03-18-2008
Also, as a side note, have you guys let JMU officials see our "NASA Worker of the Year" award?
I know that MM is caught in an eternal battle with JMU for legitimacy...maybe that would help?
- Jeff - 03-18-2008
As for where the money "went" I can account for that, obviously. Basically what it comes down to is doing more and different things for the club costs money. The car show was the biggest thing. We bought prizes that we hoped would generate money, but it was poorly executed. We paid a large sum of money for the trophies...only to find out that Dryft had already purchased some. These left over trophies will be re-tagged for the next show. Stickers are no longer a "Aaron gets them free" item, so we had to pay for those. Also we have had 2 t-shirt orders since I have been treasurer and I believe that came to almost $300 on its own. I guess the only surprise to fault us on was subsidizing the karting too much and allowing it to get too big for the current reserves. Once again, doing things and including everyone in a big event costs money.