THE NUMBER ONE QUESTION CURT AND I CAN ALWAYS COUNT ON BEING ASKED AT OUR RALLIES IS --
"How much do I owe?"
Our number one answer --
"Nothing."
That answer causes a range of reactions, as you
can imagine. For those who have attended our previous rallies, it's old
news. For first timers, it is always a surprise.
When Curt and I teamed up in 2006, our core group
was small, most of our members lived in Southern California, and 12-15 units at
a rally was considered a good turn-out. In discussing how we
wanted to organize "SOUTHWEST BLUEBIRDS and friends", we chose
to keep it informal with no dues, officers, bylaws, bank accounts, etc., etc.,
etc.
Our mantra was, and continues to be, "keep
it simple and informal."
Planning and coordinating our activities was
relatively easy, with low expenses that Curt and I paid out of pocket.
Today,
our group continues to grow as word spreads about SWBB, with a nationwide,
and Canadian, membership, plus one
listed member who lives in England (does that qualify us an
'international' group?). With this
membership growth, rally attendance has grown since 2006.
All this growth means higher out-of-pocket expenses. Curt and I have been paying these costs out-of-pocket; window cards and name badges, and ink for printing them; cash deposits that RV parks require to hold a block of sites; the initial name registration fee, plus the ongoing monthly hosting fee to maintain the SWBB web site; the SmugMug photo sharing website fee; set-up fees for the group merchandise (cups, koozies, jackets, etc.); a PA system; and many other miscellaneous expenses.
At our rallies, some attendees volunteered to prepare and host special meals for us. Shane Fedeli's smoked BBQ and Jim and Linda Marsh's breakfast at Quartzsite-2008; and more recently, Jim and Linda's breakfast at Flying Flags, are examples.
To pay for these costs, we could charge
membership dues, collect registration fees for each rally, or sell tickets for
the special BBQ's or breakfasts some attendees provide for us, but that gets us
into an area we don't want to go -- formalizing the organization, electing a
treasurer, keeping financial reports, etc. All this would violate the 'KISS'
principle!
Curt and I discussed the reality of these much
higher out-of-pocket expenses, and possible methods to help offset them, while
maintaining SWBB's informal, volunteer-based organization.
We've decided on what we call the "I Want to
Help" donation method.
This plan is 100% voluntary with no requirements
on anyone to donate. Curt and I believe this is the best way to maintain
a balance between allowing those who want to help and our desire to "keep
it simple and informal."
Details about the plan are below.
<<<<<<ORDER YOUR OWN PERSONALIZED WINDOW PLAQUE AND NAME BADGES>>>>>>
Printed window cards and name badges represent one of the highest individual expenses ($50.00-$75.00) incurred for each rally.
As the number of attendees at our rallies increases, so does the cost of providing printed window cards and name badges. At 'Q-2008', arrangements were made with "toocrazyladies" to produce permanent, personalized, window plaques and individual name badges, using our SWBB logo.
Click on this link to go directly to the "toocrazyladies" order page-- "Order Your Window Plaque and Name Badges" .
The window
plaque is placed in the passenger side window to help identify the coach’s
owner. When photos are taken of
each coach, a close up is always taken of the window plaque. After the photos are uploaded to the SmugMug© site, or included on a souvenir CD, it is easy to
see who owns the coach (saves time renaming the photos).
Please order a set to keep in your coach and display them when attending our rallies. The one time cost of these items is much less than we'd have to charge for membership dues, and you will help us eliminate a large recurring expense.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<"I WANT TO HELP" DONATION CONTAINERS>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
To help defray the costs of setting up and maintaining the SWBB and SmugMug© photo sharing websites, other miscellaneous expenses, and defray the costs of meat and other food supplies for our upcoming Quartzsite Rally, we will be setting up "I WANT TO HELP" donation containers at the following locations:
>>> Phil’s coach -- to help offset his cost of web site registration and monthly hosting fees, the SmugMug photo sharing site, and miscellaneous rally related expenses. At future rallies, a donation container will be set up at Phil’s coach for those who want to help offset the ongoing cost of the web site hosting fee and miscellaneous rally related expenses.
>>> Curt’s coach -- to help offset the cost he is paying for the meat/ingredients that Shane is going to smoke and BBQ at the ‘Q 2009’ Rally; and Betty's morning coffee/pastry get together; and set-up fees for group merchandise.
>>> at the location or coach of anyone who volunteers an activity that requires out-of-pocket expenses to conduct.
PLEASE NOTE: you can put donations in any one, or all containers -- the proceeds in each individual container helps offset costs for the container's labeled item or activity, only.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
REMEMBER!! IT'S ALL VOLUNTARY, FOLKS --
Donations to any of the above are entirely voluntary. There is no requirement nor obligation to donate anything and no one is excluded or prevented from taking part or sharing in any activity or meal for not making a donation.
Simply, many of you approach us at our rallies asking to contribute something towards the expense of coordinating and conducting SWBB’s activities. We believe the "I WANT TO HELP" donation method maintains a balance between your wishes to help, and our philosophy of maintaining our informal organization and relaxed rally atmosphere that are praised and appreciated by all who attend SWBB functions.
All we ask and "require" of you is that you come to our rallies to relax and have fun; meet some new friends; share your experiences; and share your BB expertise.
And, if you ask, "How Much Do I Owe?" we'll answer, "Nothing."
***************
SPEAKING OF VOLUNTEERS:
A quick word about members who volunteer to organize and conduct activities at our rallies.
During our 2008 'Q' Rally, several members stepped forward to organize and lead activities that helped make the rally a huge success. These volunteer efforts help Curt and myself concentrate our time coordinating the "big picture."
If you have an idea or activity you believe would add to the fun, and that you want to organize and conduct, feel free to submit an outline so we can include it in our rally schedules.