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BY DENNIS BROOKS, P.ENG., P.GEOPH.
Education Foundation Columnist
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Editor's Note: The APEGGA Education
Foundation, which is separate and distinct from APEGGA, serves
the professions by supporting the education and development
of engineers, geologists and geophysicists, as well as those
who might enter the three professions. It assembles and manages
funds, builds endowments and encourages donations. The foundation
distributes funds for scholarships and awards, and in support
of special projects.
Several times during my terms in office, some APEGGA staff
and Council members have expressed dissatisfaction with the
APEGGA Education Foundation's lack of effort at fundraising.
I must admit that it's an area that's also disappointed and
frustrated me.
However, fundraising is not a simple or risk-free task for
a charitable organization.
Fundraising efforts fall into two general categories: those
that increase awareness, and those that bring revenue for
the charitable work. The only two special events held on behalf
of the foundation have fallen into the first category. These
were dinners with keynote speakers, first the former federal
cabinet minister, the Hon. John Crosbie, and then the former
premier of Newfoundland, the Hon. Brian Tobin.
Both were meant to be second-category events - moneymakers
- but they didn't turn out that way. Although honorariums
were very modest (and in at least one case, donated back to
the Foundation) the ticket sales didn't quite cover costs.
APEGGA had to support these dinners, since the Foundation
had virtually no resources at that time.
Many fundraising dinners fall into this category. A recent
high profile dinner in Calgary featuring former New York mayor
Rudy Giuliano turned out to be a break-even event.Some keynote
speakers command a fee as high as $100,000 US, which requires
a high ticket price and lots of ticket sales. Settling for
less prominent speakers usually means less of a draw, so the
result is still break-even or worse.
The foundation board has not seriously entertained other fundraising
means, for various reasons. At present, the board has attempted
to increase APEGGA member awareness through PEGG articles
and inserts, and limited mail-outs.
One of APEGGA's strengths is a great diversity in membership,
and in geographic location; we have members all across Alberta,
in other provinces, and around the world. At the same time,
this diversity creates a dilemma for the Foundation; it makes
it more difficult to organize fundraising.
One popular fundraising activity of charities is to run casinos.
I've heard of an organization raising $75,000 in this way.
Casinos have become so popular that there is now a wait-list
of two years to do one, and that is for organizations with
a successful track record.
There are strict regulations for running a casino. Each one
is a two-day event, with three shifts each day. Volunteers
have to be named well in advance and substitutes are not accepted
for most positions. The Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission
recommends that 40 volunteers be available for each event.
We have only about 15 foundation members to draw upon. To
hold a casino in both Calgary and Edmonton, we would need
membership of about 160!
And of course, there is the problem that some members are
ethically or morally opposed to raising funds through gambling.
At least one credit card company provides another way to raise
funds. The credit card company donates a small percentage
of credit purchases to the charity designated. This may be
worth further study.
An ideal way for us to raise funds would be to use the Internet.
Nearly all our members are equipped and are very computer
literate.
Perhaps we could stage a silent auction. Some of our members
are skilled artists or artisans, and have a wide range of
hobbies.
Maybe you can suggest some other campaign possibilities, using
the Internet or otherwise, that would likely be successful.
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