The Banquet Programs for 2005 have been very successful. The following states have raised tremendous amount of monies for their states as well as FBU along with having a fun filled event that attendees look forward to coming back to each year.
Iowa had two separate events that cleared $24,585.00 and Maryland cleared $18,965.38 at their two events . To date the convention events have cleared: Alabama $3250.00, Montana $5850.00 Maryland $4781.48 and $22,880.63 in Indiana. I would like to thank the following states for making these events at the conventions in 2005 a success. Florida, Michigan, Alabama, New York, Illinois, PT A District 7, New Hampshire, Utah, Kansas, Arkansas, Ohio State, Maryland, Nevada, Upper Snake River, Idaho, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Iowa, Vermont, NW Ohio, Montana, Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico and also as well as Friends ofTrapperman.com. Some of these states contributed enough to have a sponsored gun at a couple of the events and Trapperman.com raised enough to sponsor one at each event including the Awards banquet. I would like to send an additional thank you to Joe Mott (AKA Fishguts) for helping me in this effort by encouraging the Friends of Trapperman.com to contribute. Because of the help from those above we raised over $37,000.00 from the conventions.
These events are so successful from the support we receive from each of you our affiliate states. I want to take this opportunity to thank you once again for your support and dedication to insure these events are as successful as can be. Thank you! In addition I would like to thank all the vendors that contributes and supplies the fill in items for the raffles at all of our events. They are all listed in each program so please tell them thank you as well when you are supporting them. These guys and gals are what helps make our events successful. If you happen to be one of those people reading this, thank you again!
I would also like to encourage each state to become active in holding these events. I have a Preliminary Detail list designed to get you started. The hardest part in hosting a banquet is getting together a committee to ensure success. Once that is tackled everything else falls into place. I will attend an organizational meeting to get new states up and going. I will assist you thru each step of the course. This is an easy an fun way to raise monies for your state and FBU.
FBU has arrangements thru Ruger to purchase a gun at cost that we use for the Gun of the Year Raffle which is engraved per event. As well as additional guns for the events for the raffle. This event alone makes approximately $1500.00 after the gun and engraving is paid for. FBU will supply you with a Print of the Year that is no cost to the event. This raises several hundred dollars for the event. This years 2006 Print features a Bobcat. FBU supplies everything you need to get going, tickets, flyers, posters, donation letters, thank you’s, raffle tickets etc. FBU has vendors that allow us to purchase items to fill in spots on consignment. This allows us to get things needed to make the event successful after donations are solicited locally by your committee and state members. If deposits are required for the event FBU handles those as well. We supply tax forms to make ease in soliciting donations that are tax deductible, credit card machine, shirts for your committee, hats and pens for each attendee. In summary you need to form a committee that will sell tickets and solicit donations for the event along with a few other details that I will work with you on. The rest of the process is simple and we assist you throughout. Including attending event to help in set up and all details to make event successful.
I look forward to working with your state and committee. Call to set up an organizational meeting. The rest is simple. Cindy Seff, Fundraising Chairman FBU 928-300-8684, AzTrappers@direcway.com. Please don’t hesitate to talk this over with me at any of the conventions coming up this next year or just pick up the phone and call or email me. Don’t hesitate to begin this task, that’s the hardest part!
For 2006 to date we already have 5 banquets under way. Three of them will be held in Iowa, one in Maryland and the fifth one in Ohio. They are all being held in the month of March.
We have began soliciting donations from the states as well as vendors for the four conventions scheduled for 2006. They are as follows: 3rd annual SE Regional will be May 12-14th in Newport, Tennessee, 5th annual Western Regional is weekend of June 23-25th Blackfoot, Idaho, 2nd annual NE Regional is the weekend of July 7-9th in LaPlata, Maryland and the 47th Annual NTA Convention will be August 3-6th, in Hutchinson, Kansas. The NTA State Representatives as well as State President’s have received a letter requesting your state contribute to these events to help make them a success. Please make sure this issue is addressed with your Board. To date the states that have responded are: New York, Utah, Minnesota, Iowa, Indiana, Vermont and Arizona. Before you know it, it will be time for the first event. I want to thank you in advance to please ensure this is addressed within your state to help in making this events successful.
Please remember you do not have to be an NTA Director or State Leader to begin working on hosting a banquet for your state. All that is needed is the desire to make it happen! If your reading this and are interested give me a call, that’s the first step. We can make it happen.
I look forward to seeing you at a banquet and or convention in 2006.
Cindy Seff, Fundraising Chairman FurBearers Unlimited
