Unfundraiser – Colonel James Wood, II Chapter

COLONEL JAMES WOOD II CHAPTER UNFUNDRAISER

It's something that needs to be done, but something everyone hates. It's great when it works, but most of the time it turns out simply ok or worse, a complete failure. It's fundraising. Most of the time you have to sell something-candy bars, raffle tickets, gift baskets, wreaths and other items. It seems the only one who really makes out is the person providing the products that are sold.

The Col. James Wood, II Chapter has tried it share of fundraisers. We held an annual raffle with a neat twist called a 52/50 raffle. You can win and your name goes back into the bin for the drawing next week. You could win several times if you were lucky. Pretty good and profitable, but the cost of the tickets was high.

We sold the "Liberty Sprig". A clipping from a tree, attached to a brochure that told of the militia wearing sprigs in their hats so they could be recognized as friend or foe. We had to set up at strategic locations like Walmart and talk and sell.

We acquired a nice portrait of George Washington by a noted artist and again sold tickets for the raffle of the item. Each of these efforts was profitable, but was also effort that folks didn't look forward to that much.

Then came the revolution. Seeing how most of the members would buy their allotment of raffle tickets themselves and then give them away, we simply cut out the rafflizing altogether. Thus the Unfundraiser was born! And it has been great for the chapter.

Each year, the Unfundraiser Committee sends donation request letters to the members. And the members give generously to the Chapter that they love, Colonel James Wood, II. There is a mild incentive. When you exceed $100, you get a nice Chapter Coffee Mug.

The best part of it all is that we raise enough money in this fashion to cover all chapter operating costs for the year, and then some. The Unfundraiser is the life blood of the chapter. So when that time comes around again and that letter arrives in the mail, throw a few bucks into the kitty. We will put it to good use in our Patriotic fashion!