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| Number Nine, October 2002 - MONTHLY FEATURES | |
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Other Features: IPF Rule Change Proposals | Women's Team Calendar | American Open, Pennsylvania ON FUNDRAISING TO: USAPL National Governing Body Members, August 10, 2002 Meet Promoters, Members From: Larry Maile, Vice President RE: Fund Raising and Financial Support for our Federation As you are all very likely aware, at the NGB meeting held this past month in Chicago, some very meaningful discussions were held regarding growth and future directions of USA Powerlifting. USAPL has always been a grass roots, and volunteer driven organization. We have grown to our present level based on your efforts. But to continue to grow, I believe we need to see ourselves in a different light. Aside from being a democratically organized volunteer organization, we are also a non-profit, service oriented federation. And with the subtle change in our organizational focus, both our abilities and our needs for support change. First, the day-to-day tasks of running an organization our size have increased over the years. Needs for personal communication have increased, and costs and time commitments for managing finances, membership information, records, and competition-related information have easily doubled. You have generously agreed to allow the hiring of an office administrator two years ago, and this has done a great deal in allowing the organization to provide services to members. But we are now at a point that, in order to continue to provide financial accountability, member services, and timely responses, additional staffing is needed, and additional programs are required to assure our leadership in drug free powerlifting. The NGB this year approved funding a part-time bookkeeper to complete the daily tasks, which have been so time consuming to our Secretary/Treasurer. The E.C. study of these duties over the past year has reflected a time commitment of over 2100 hours needed to complete a task that our founders envisioned not to require more than 15 hours per week. Obviously, the job has grown larger than originally anticipated. You also approved quarterly financial reviews, reconciling accounts payable and receivable, to assure that errors are not made with YOUR money, that payments are received in a timely manner, and that disbursements are sent within timeframes specified in our procedures. In addition, we would like to increase our visibility, our membership, AND the recognition of our athletes. We believe that you deserve such recognition for your efforts. Several ad hoc committees of members are looking at ways to fill out our competition schedule, add members, and increase media exposure. These efforts will require seed money, and a commitment of time on every member's part. My vision, and I believe one accepted by the NGB, your leaders, is to move toward a diversely funded, broad based non-profit organization. In implementing this model, paid staff will manage day-to-day operations, and your Executive will have time to provide leadership in areas just such as those described above. Our expertise will be applied to growth, development, and relationships with sponsors and members. So, the bottom line is that we need to increase the bottom line: funding. One of our NGB members correctly noted that we have never asked for help in this area. He was right. We haven't. So, with input from a number of key members with expertise in fund raising, we are introducing a fund raising initiative to be jointly carried by your Executive and each of you. Details are provided for levels of giving, and incentives for tax deductible donations. Recognition for those giving, and those recruiting donors will be provided on a fund raising page on the USAPL website. Our Funding Discussion Group has agreed on a modest goal of $25,000 for the next NGB year; that is by next NGB meeting. With two corporate sponsors signed on for a total of $8,000 so far, we are well on our way to meeting our goal. Funds in excess of our goal will be applied to our essential programs, such as doping control, marketing, and increasing media coverage. I might also suggest a way to make your own, individual contribution to growth and funding: to run a USAPL benefit competition in addition to your already defined competition schedule. That is, host a small powerlifting, or bench press competition in your community to attract members, and modest profits might be directly donated to USAPL. A minimum of effort might yield new lifters and an additional source of revenue. With that, I offer this program, and humbly ask your assistance in solidifying the funding base of your organization, and furthering our growth. Thank you in advance for your support, Larry USA Powerlifting Sponsorship Program
All donations/ sponsorships are tax deductible and may be directed to the USAPL National Office, 124 W. Van Buren St., Columbia City, IN 46725. For further information: (260) 248-4889. | |||||||||||||||
