Special Releases |
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Low-Cost Raffle Raises Funds And Visibility In North Carolina |
INTRODUCTION: The North Carolina Forestry
Association recently conducted a successful Log A Load For Kids fundraising raffle by
selling low-priced tickets for a Myrtle Beach Vacation Weekend for two (first prize), a shotgun (second prize), and a chain saw (third prize). GENERAL FEATURES: The raffle tickets were priced at a modest $5.00 each, encouraging participation from those unable to afford the higher-priced ($100.00) NCFA Log A Load For Kids pickup truck raffle tickets. Packs of consecutively numbered tickets, printed in a different color from the pickup raffle tickets (for easier recognition), were issued to individuals and forest product companies across the state with directions to return the money from purchased tickets, or the unsold tickets, no later than one week before the Telethon. Many forestry and logging industry personnel sold tickets to local businesses, friends, and office or site visitors. Selling tickets provided the opportunity to talk about Log A Load For Kids and to promote the industry to a diverse group of people. Ticket sales began in February 1996, and the drawing was held on June i, 1996 at a special Log A Load luncheon held just before the Children's Miracle Network Telethon began. Each ticket listed the raffle prize donors: Bob King Chevrolet in Wilmington, North Carolina donated the shotgun, and Aarow Insurance, also in Wilmington, donated the chain saw. The Myrtle Beach Vacation included a two nights' stay donated by the Best Western Dayton House Hotel, along with $200.00 in spending money, which NCFA's Log A Load Committee provided. SPECIFICATIONS AND COSTS: The two direct expense items were the $200.00 check and the cost of printing tickets, funded by NCFA. These expenses can also be handled by sponsors. The raffle raised $9,150 to benefit Children's Miracle Network hospitals. APPLICATION: A "low-cost" raffle is an alternative to the approach of selling higher priced tickets for more valuable items and can increase visibility of the Log A Load Program due to a greater number and variety of people buying tickets. NCFA plans to conduct another "low-cost" raffle in 1997. NCFA recommends that other states considering similar raffles review state and local laws before conducting the raffle. For more information, contact: Joyce Thomas, Squires Timber Company, P.O. Box 548, Elizabethtown, North Carolina, 28377. Phone: (910) 862-3533 Reviewed by: Rick Meyer, Appalachian Technical Division Forester |
| 97-L-2 Annual Golf Tourney Raises Funds For Log A Load In Georgia |
INTRODUCTION: The Georgia Forestly Association has
conducted a Log A Load For Kids benefit golf tournament annually at Jennings Mill Golf and Country Club in Athens, Georgia since 1995. The event has raised in excess of $12,000 each year. Tournament entry fees cover the cost of the event, while tee and green sponsors raise the majority of the funds. GENERAL FEATURES: The event format is a five man scramble (four man event can be substituted if extra carts are not available ) and attracts over 100 players each year. The local tournament committee designs, prints, and distributes fliers six to eight weeks prior to the event to area golf courses and forest products businesses to attract teams and sponsors. Entry fee for each golfer is $75.00, which covers lunch, green fee and cart, tee favors (three golf balls, tees, towel, and hat), and door prize ticket. Additional door prize tickets can also be sold. Sponsorships for tees and greens are sold for $500 each to a variety of businesses, both related and non-related to the forest products industry; for example, hardware stores, oil, gas, and diesel distributors, lawyers, loggers, dealers--anybody that wants to donate to their local Children's Hospital. Sponsorships involve a sign on a tee or green with the sponsor's name and place of business. Additionally, each sponsor is recognized at the beginning and end of the event. Prizes (generally gift certificates at the pro shop) are awarded to the first- through fourth-place teams, gross and net. Two long drive holes and closest to the pin on the par three's are also featured, along with a hole-inone for a car or truck sponsored by a local dealership. Door prizes are awarded at the end of the round, along with prizes for the winning teams. SPECIFICATIONS AND COSTS: The direct expense items include: green fees, cart fees, lunch, and prizes for the winning teams. Door prizes are donated, as are the tee favors, beverages, and insurance for the hole-in-one event. Donations can be collected for the beverages distributed during the round. Local distributors are generally very receptive to donating beverages of all kinds. Operating costs can also be offset by selling "mulligans" during team check in. We've had tremendous success selling mulligans for $10 each, two for $15. APPLICATION: Special attention is paid to making sure the event is "fun for all." This element helps to bring golfers back next year. We've tried to put the entry fee of each golfer back into the tournament in the form of team and door prizes. The objective is for everybody to leave with something from the tournament. Funds raised rely solely on the sale of tee and hole sponsorships, mulligans, and donations from the beverage cart. The GFA has over four tournaments scheduled throughout the state during 1997. Reviewed by: Rick Meyer, Appalachian Technical Division Forester |
| 97-L-3 Potlatch Event Raises Log A Load For Kids Funds In Minnesota |
INTRODUCTION: The Potlatch Corporation of Minnesota
recently sponsored a Log A Load For Kids fundraising event that brought together loggers,
industrial foresters, the media, logging equipment dealers, and kids. The
first-of-its-kind effort used donated timber, equipment, and labor to raise $20,000 for
the Log A Load For Kids Program in Minnesota. GENERAL FEATURES: The fund-raiser was a co-operative effort between Potlatch, local loggers, and equipment dealers. A team was assembled with representatives from Associated Contract Loggers, Inc., Minnesota Timber Producers Association, and individuals from Potlatch. Initially, Potlatch identified a twenty-acre stand of jack pine near Aurora, Minnesota and offered to donate the stumpage value to the program. However, in an effort to attract more loggers, the team contacted several equipment dealers and offered them the opportunity to show different types of machinery as part of harvesting demonstration. The dealers agreed and also hired local loggers to run the equipment. Finally, several local logging contractors offered to load and haul the approximately 300 cords of wood. The media was contacted through a series of press releases to report on the event. Not only was the Log A Load For Kids angle appealing, but it provided the forest products community with a chance to educate the news people about forest management activities. In addition, Webelos Troop 163 from Gilbert, Minnesota helped plant ceremonial red pine seedlings with Vanessa Goetz, a recent patient of Gillette Children's Hospital. Vanessa's father, Dave Goetz, is employed by Cass Forest Products in Cass Lake, Minnesota. OPERATION: The timber harvest was fully underway prior to the press conference. Four different harvesting systems were shown: three cut-to-length systems and one tree-length operation. Loggers and guests visiting the demonstration were able to view each of the four systems operating at the different comers of the site. Potlatch offered hard hats upon request for those who didn't have sufficient head protection. During the ceremonial tree planting, the logging machinery was shut off and the hard hat rule was temporarily suspended. APPLICATION: The rain that fell on the day of the event could hardly dampen the spirits of those involved. More than 30 loggers showed up to see the equipment and hear about Log A Load For Kids. Volunteers busily prepared hot dogs and coffee as the event got underway. The APA Lake States Technical Division Forester provided a welcome and overview of the Log A Load For Kids Program; Darlis Clausen, of Children's Miracle Network, told how the program was helping many Minnesota children with physical and functional disabilities; Dave Ohms, of Potlatch, explained about the site, the harvest, and Potlatch's commitment to Log A Load For Kids; and Jutta Goetz spoke regarding the benefits received by her family from Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare and Children's Miracle Network. Following the press conference, Potlatch foresters supervised the tree planting. The Webelos troop busily planted dozens of trees in a freshly harvested area. Vanessa, with the assistance of the troop, planted several of the red pine seedlings. Potlatch plans to reforest the entire area following the harvest. For more information about this operation please contact the author. Reviewed by: Paul Klocko Lake States Technical Division Forester Lorrie Firm State Coordinator Minnesota Log A Load For Kids 218/749-4659 |
| 97-L-4 Governor's Trail Ride To Benefit Log A Load In South Carolina |
INTRODUCTION: The South Carolina Forestry Association's
Log A Load For Kids program has enlisted the support of the South Carolina Horsemen's Council to donate the proceeds from its Third Annual Governor's Trail Ride to Log A Load For Kids' campaign for local Children's Miracle Network hospitals. GENERAL FEATURES: This year's Trail Ride, hosted by South Carolina Governor David Beasley, First Lady Mary Wood Beasley, and the South Carolina Horsemen's Council (SCHC), is scheduled for November 8, 1997 at the Manchester State Forest in Sumter, South Carolina. Event tickets are on sale for $15 to SCHC members and %20 for non-members. The Trail Ride provides an opportunity for families to enjoy horseback trails, wagon trails, dinner, and live entertainment. The Horsemen's Council and the South Carolina Forestry Association (SCFA) monthly journal (September-October 1997) plan to advertise the event, and the South Carolina Log A Load committee will seek additional publicity in Southern Loeein' Times and the Columbia, South Carolina newspaper. SPECIFICATIONS AND COST: The cost for food, live entertainment, and printing are estimated at $5,000. Expected attendance is approximately 500-600 people. Event sponsorships are estimated to raise $7,000-$8,000. Sponsors will be classified as platinum ($1,000+), gold ($500-$999), silver ($250-$499), and bronze ($100-$249). All sponsors will be recognized at the event by the First Lady (Mary Wood Beasley) and will be listed in publications and news releases for the event. The trail ride will be covered by the media (including television), and a log truck with a Log A Load Banner will be present. The goal is to raise $10,000 net for Log A Load. APPLICATION: The Governor's Trail Ride is an innovative approach to Log A Load fundraising because it involves the support and efforts of South Carolina's "First Family" and many other individuals outside the forest products industry. The event presents an opportunity to highlight the many positive contributions of South Carolina's timber harvesting community through this partnership with another group of outdoor enthusiasts. To purchase tickets or for more information, contact Druanne Freeman, Freeman Land & Timber Company, 4605 Justine Drive, Florence, South Carolina 29506; 803/669-1799. Reviewed by. Rick Meyer Appalachian Technical Division Forester |
| 97-L-5 Dunk A Forester For Kids
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INTRODUCTION: Attention all logging contractors. Have you ever: Had your contract changed? Been
made to suffer through changing wood receiving specifications? Had your loads culled or
rejected? Been forced to jump through burning hoops to satisfy your contract? Well, loggers attending the Lake States Logging Congress on September 4 and 5, 1997 had a chance to get even with their favorite procurement foresters by dunking them to benefit the Log A Load For Kids program. After the last ball was thrown and all the foresters were dry, the tally came in: $2,500 raised for local children's hospitals! GENERAL FEATURES: Logging Congress organizers thought the dunk tank idea would be a great way to raise money for kids and have some good hearted fun between the loggers and foresters. The tank was set up near the entrance of the exposition with a new forester ready to get wet every hour. Over twenty company foresters--and a few other brave souls--volunteered for time in the booth sometime during the two-day period. They included: Pete Grieves, Michigan Association of Timbermen; Bill Hennigan, Sawyer Lumber Company; Jon Lamy, and George Stolze, Louisiana-Pacific; Jack Thomas, Glenn Moll, Charlie Becker, and Mark Sherman, Mead; Dennis Eskrit and Dan Bobbe, Consolidated Papers; Jim Simpson and Corky Bartosz, Champion International; Doug Barncard and Lou Willis, International Paper; Scott Leonhardt, Biewer Sawmill; Scott Robbins, Stone Container; Jim Hoppe, Tenneco Packaging; Bob Maki, Nagel Lumber; Doug Scheuneman, Timber Products Co.; and finally Debby Blomberg, Lake States Women In Timber. OPERATION: Loggers and other Logging Congress participants stood approximately twenty feet from the targeted dunk tank lever and would "let fly" with their choice of either softballs or baseballs. In the name of flexibility, a two-tiered price structure was developed: one throw for $1.00 or, for a $5.00 contribution, the right to keep hurling until the forester was swimming. To attract the attention of potential dunkers, the foresters often shouted good-natured jeers to passers-by from their precarious perch. Once the target was struck, the wood buyers would fall into a heated water tank. However, the heating element broke the second day, dooming the dunkees to icy plunges. Logging contractors from around the Lake States volunteered to take turns running the booth, collecting money, and hawking further crowd participation. SPECIFICATIONS AND COSTS: The dunk tank rental, which two local companies covered, was $100.00 per day. There were two targets on the front of the tank, and a protective cage surrounded those who were getting dunked. STAFF COMMENT: Despite some recent APA member concerns over strained relations between consuming mills and wood suppliers, no hard feelings resulted from this event. The scene at the dunk tank was always jovial, and everyone seemed truly united in having a good time and raising funds for the Log A Load For Kids charity. Paul M. Klocko, Lake States Technical Division Forester |
Revised: July 06, 1998