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Post by SI on Oct 23, 2009 19:46:26 GMT -5
Reading up a bit today, it seems that Run Canada is alive and well, and with people such as John Halvorsen and Jerry Tighe on the Committee, we should be well-served there... This is the committee: Run Canada Committee Purpose: to review, recommend, and evaluate programs designed to guide the development of road running as an Athletics discipline in Canada within the framework of the Multi-Year Plans of the association Members Nicole Clarke – Events Coordinator Tom Hastie (*) John Halvorsen Jerry Tighe Bernard Conway Rockford McKay Jeff Vince Tara Quinn-Smith |
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Post by ronb on Oct 23, 2009 20:01:17 GMT -5
All good ideas but I think it needs to be presented in such a way that this group or committee (association was the wrong choice of word on my part, it sounds very aggressive now that i have chilled out a bit) would take over the program for AC and run it for them. With no funding from AC or the taxpayers, this group would then be free to set up a national XC program (trials in Feb for worlds), find funding to get the selected team to the Americas champs and ultimately to worlds. If the group is going to find the funding for the team to go then they should be the ones to set standards and select teams as they see fit. Call me negative but I do not see this working any other way. Matt, It could be a sequential process. One step at a time. If it only begins as a group of people who care about distance running, and are trying to improve that part of our sport, and communicate about issues, then there is already a positive outcome. A bunch of us have said, we care, and we think that things can be better for our Canadian runners, and here is what we are trying to do about it. I could easily be wrong, but I don't perceive that we start as a "my way or the highway" situation. Especially if we are considering this as a longer term program, and not just limited to what, if anything, we can do in 2009/early 2010. |
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Post by HHH on Oct 24, 2009 3:55:39 GMT -5
Matt, It could be a sequential process. One step at a time. If it only begins as a group of people who care about distance running, and are trying to improve that part of our sport, and communicate about issues, then there is already a positive outcome. A bunch of us have said, we care, and we think that things can be better for our Canadian runners, and here is what we are trying to do about it. I could easily be wrong, but I don't perceive that we start as a "my way or the highway" situation. Especially if we are considering this as a longer term program, and not just limited to what, if anything, we can do in 2009/early 2010. Okay, first steps then? For 2010/2011 it would be nice to be able to offer athletes who make the 'America's' team funding to get to there and hopefully to worlds. I'm not sure we have enough time to do much for 2009/2010 at this point but approximately how much do we need to raise so that runners would be able to get their expenses reimburced? I would rather reimburce athletes directly then give AC a lump sum. By not actually being 'AC', each provincial section of the 'Friends of Canadian Distance Running' would be free to collect funds for the national group by either donation or putting on events etc... One possible idea would be to reincarnate the HBC run for Canada 10k on Canada day (or something similar) across a few cities and use the profits from that to send teams to the Americas and world XC champs. Obviously not HBC as the title sponsor and leave each region to find it's own sponsors to put on their event. Or a big road race in Victoria during the trials race to raise funds? If we were able to raise the funds for the 2009/2010 team, then perhaps we could 'suggest' a trial race in 2011 to AC for the team selection rather than selecting a team in December 2010. This would hopefully make the top 4 of X plus next runners from the top 8 an insignificant criteria since everyone attending a trials race in Feb would pretty much be committed to going to worlds. I believe this was Journeyman and Ron's idea which is a great idea. Long term goal would be to provide enough funding to the athletes that neither AC nor the tax payers would have to pay for anyone to get americas or worlds, it would just be covered by the Friends of Canadian distance running group. Thoughts? I do like the idea of doing this in the open so other's can contribute rather than taking it offline with just a few people contributing, I think that was Skuj's idea. |
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Post by SI on Oct 24, 2009 5:23:40 GMT -5
I would rather reimburce athletes directly then give AC a lump sum. By not actually being 'AC', each provincial section of the 'Friends of Canadian Distance Running' would be free to collect funds for the national group by either donation or putting on events etc... If you are going to want individuals to donate, then you are going to want to funnel this through AC or some other organization that has a Charitable Number. |
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Post by saskatchewan on Oct 24, 2009 11:16:45 GMT -5
Would individuals such as Matt be open to sharing here how they went about fundraising for their events, and what they learned in the process (i.e. what to do and what not to do)?
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Post by ronb on Oct 24, 2009 12:00:53 GMT -5
I nominate SI as our accountant, and also in charge of getting us a charitable number. I don't think we should use AC's number, because I see a healthy competition for funds between us, down the road (or trail, or field, or track). I nominate Steve Boyd as our Junior Development Chairperson ----  I nominate Skuj. as being in charge of arranging military flights, as well a providing high security whenever Chairman Matt is travelling... First steps could include some sort of definition of who we are, why we are, and what we hope to accomplish, in general terms at first, and then becoming more specific. |
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Post by ronb on Oct 24, 2009 12:13:13 GMT -5
"Friends of Canadian Distance Running" (or whatever name we decide)
1) Will strive to increase the number of Canadians participating in distance running, whether as a competitive sport, recreational activity, or as an expression of personal fitness. This applies to all ages and stages of development.
2) Will strive to increase and number and quality of Canadian distance runners who are striving to achieve success at a Provincial and National level, including school and University/college runners, as well as club runners, and individual athletes.
3) Will strive to provide encouragement, support and funding for Canadian distance runners to attend International Competitions, and thus raise both the number and quality of those able to access International Competition.
4) Will strive to work co-operatively and positively with all individuals, organizations, and agencies who share our goals.
Suggestions, only...
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Post by krs1 on Oct 24, 2009 12:23:58 GMT -5
Matt, For 2010/2011 it would be nice to be able to offer athletes who make the 'America's' team funding to get to there and hopefully to worlds. . There is no World XC in 2011. |
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Post by SI on Oct 24, 2009 12:52:37 GMT -5
because I see a healthy competition for funds between us, down the road (or trail, or field, or track). Not going to happen. |
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Post by krs1 on Oct 24, 2009 13:02:41 GMT -5
because I see a healthy competition for funds between us, down the road (or trail, or field, or track). Not going to happen. Also, you will be limited to sponsors who are not in competition with AC's sponsors since you would technically still be under AC's unbrella. No apparel sponsors other than Nike, no finacial services sponsors other than RBC, etc. |
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Post by SI on Oct 24, 2009 13:06:48 GMT -5
That's my point.
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Post by HHH on Oct 24, 2009 13:25:21 GMT -5
Would individuals such as Matt be open to sharing here how they went about fundraising for their events, and what they learned in the process (i.e. what to do and what not to do)? The biggest thing that I have found is building relationships within the local running community. I speak at learn to run clinics, run a lot of local road races, volunteer at a couple of road races per year and do some coaching as well. If people ask me for advice, I am open to give it and I get a lot of the more serious 'beginner' runners asking me questions about how they can get faster. So the next time you go to bash or question why a beginner runner even bothers, don't! These people look up to us faster guys and girls and actually have a lot to offer if we go about it the right way. The thing that I have found is that a lot of the walk/jog participants are big fans of the sport of running. And a lot of them are successful business people who are happy to contribute to the sport. SI brings up a good point about getting a charitable donation number but that has not affected me one bit when asking for sponsors for races. When asking for sponsorships, it's best to try and find a company that you have some sort of in with or know someone who does. Don't be afraid to think a bit 'out of the box'. With the Northlands Park 1 mile, I knew Jerry Bouma (former Villanova sub 4 miler) was involved with Northlands (a horse racing track) so I put the idea to him and asked him if he could put me in touch with people who might be able to help. Being involved with the major running companies (I am also involved in many marketing discussions with them) through my job gives me a bit of an advantage but you all know people who work for companies. For the 1 mile I sold off each age group for $500 to various companies throughout the city. That's not a ton of cash but it covered off all of my expenses so after that, each entry fee was pretty much profit. If you are lucky enough to find a sponsor who really wants to get involved (I was/am with Northlands), don't be afraid to ask big. Come up 3 different plans: Good, better, best; so at the very least, you will get the good plan. My initial ask from potential sponsors is usually something like that. There can be more than 1 level of sponsorship. You can have title sponsors, presenting sponsors, age group sponsors and then just general sponsors of the event. Anything you can get helps and comes off your expenses. Even if it's just something you can give to the final finishers or as a door prize, people like that. When it comes to putting on an event, I am of the opinion that you need to do something different. There are a ton of 10k and half marathons already out there. We did the 1 miler on a Friday night and entry fee included your dinner. Just something to make your event stand out from the other hundreds of Sunday morning 10k's. Whatever you do, try to keep it simple for your first one as there a lot of little expenses that you don't think of. Road closures are expensive, chip timing is too, if you put it on in an area without any bathrooms, you probably need to rent some port a potties (they aren't cheap either). Don't assume that you can use the shed/hut/facility that is there, cities normally charge for that stuff. Water/gatorade? Find a sponsor to help with that. Food for after? Talk to Safeway/Sobeys/Superstar. Tell them what you are doing. Volunteers? Family are friends are good choices but if you advertise with one of the local running stores, you will find people just e-mail and ask if they can help out. The Running Room and other specialty run shops are your friends when it comes to putting on events. Ask them for help, the RR really is good with helping putting on your event and do it for pretty much nothing. I'm sure the other guys are too but for obvious reasons I don't actually know. The one thing I don't think works is the mass mailing/e-mailing of sponsors asking for stuff. Personalize it and try to send it to someone who can help. Tell them what they get in return: Title sponsor, logo on the website, logo on the t-shirt, they can put something in the race kit, put up a banner at the event or even a table...What do they get for their money? To your sponsors, this is a form of advertising. So you should try and get the media involved too, don't just expect them to turnup. But if you can get them an article in the paper or a mention on the TV, than you can start to quantify what they are getting for their money. Print ads are expensive and TV is stoopid expensive! After your event, thank them with a hand written card. I did a DVD of the 1 miler and sent that to all of my sponsors with their card. I bought my 2 main helpers at Northlands a nice bottle of wine. Tell them that you appreciate their help because without them, your event will not be as successful. Also, make your course an accurate distance and put out distance markers in the correct location. Mark out your course accurately and put marshalls in places where they need to be. Runners should never have to think about where they are going. In my mind, the course is the #1 most important thing. If you can get that right, people will come back. Screw that up, and you are giving people a reason to not come back. Finally, i do think it is important to get some sort of 'elite' runner involvement. If the faster runners come out and support it, then other runners will too. Okay, that's it for now I think. Ask away if anything doesn't make sense. |
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Post by HHH on Oct 24, 2009 13:26:57 GMT -5
"Friends of Canadian Distance Running" (or whatever name we decide) 1) Will strive to increase the number of Canadians participating in distance running, whether as a competitive sport, recreational activity, or as an expression of personal fitness. This applies to all ages and stages of development. 2) Will strive to increase and number and quality of Canadian distance runners who are striving to achieve success at a Provincial and National level, including school and University/college runners, as well as club runners, and individual athletes. 3) Will strive to provide encouragement, support and funding for Canadian distance runners to attend International Competitions, and thus raise both the number and quality of those able to access International Competition. 4) Will strive to work co-operatively and positively with all individuals, organizations, and agencies who share our goals. Suggestions, only... Good start. |
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Post by HHH on Oct 24, 2009 13:28:21 GMT -5
Matt, For 2010/2011 it would be nice to be able to offer athletes who make the 'America's' team funding to get to there and hopefully to worlds. . There is no World XC in 2011. That makes 2011 easier to fundraise for already! Thanks for your input Kevin, where are the America champs in 2011? I'm sure I could look it up, hoping you might just know off the top of your head? |
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Post by HHH on Oct 24, 2009 13:35:46 GMT -5
Also, you will be limited to sponsors who are not in competition with AC's sponsors since you would technically still be under AC's unbrella. No apparel sponsors other than Nike, no finacial services sponsors other than RBC, etc. For this reason, the group needs to be a separate entity from AC, free to fundraise without having to respect the exclusivity AC's sponsors (and they should be for sure). I think the best approach would be to put on a series of events across the country with the profits from those events going into the groups pot. Each separate event would be free to get sponsors for their event as they see fit. In order to respect AC's sponsors (and again, this is important so that AC doesn't lose the sponsors they have), each event should say that profits go towards supporting the Friends of Canadian Distance Running Society (or whatever the name is). Athletics Canada should not be involved with these events or even have their name mentioned in the events in order to keep them separate. Thoughts? |
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Post by ronb on Oct 24, 2009 13:37:42 GMT -5
Also, you will be limited to sponsors who are not in competition with AC's sponsors since you would technically still be under AC's unbrella. No apparel sponsors other than Nike, no finacial services sponsors other than RBC, etc. If, as I assume, Kevin and Martin are correct, then we need to build our new group just outside AC's umbrella, and use our own umbrella when it rains We can't have sponsorship limitations, based on AC, that won't work. For 2011, at the time when Worlds are usually held (end of March), we should host a 3-nation Meet in Canada, perhaps on the West Coast or just off it, between Canada/USA/Mexico. Maybe Seniors/Open only, with 10 to run for each of Men and Women / per Country. All Canadians fully funded, of course... |
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Post by ronb on Oct 24, 2009 13:38:12 GMT -5
Also, you will be limited to sponsors who are not in competition with AC's sponsors since you would technically still be under AC's unbrella. No apparel sponsors other than Nike, no finacial services sponsors other than RBC, etc. If, as I assume, Kevin and Martin are correct, then we need to build our new group just outside AC's umbrella, and use our own umbrella when it rains We can't have sponsorship limitations, based on AC, that won't work. For 2011, at the time when Worlds are usually held (end of March), we should host a 3-nation Meet in Canada, perhaps on the West Coast or just off it, between Canada/USA/Mexico. Maybe Seniors/Open only, with 10 to run for each of Men and Women / per Country. All Canadians fully funded, of course... |
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Post by ronb on Oct 24, 2009 13:39:23 GMT -5
oooops, sorry, I wasn't actually stuttering, and I didn't really think I said anything important enough to be read twice.
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Post by SI on Oct 24, 2009 13:41:52 GMT -5
SI brings up a good point about getting a charitable donation number but that has not affected me one bit when asking for sponsors for races. That is because most of your sponsors would be businesses and would be in a position to write off what they spend. A charitable number would allow any group to go after individual donations. When asking for sponsorships, it's best to try and find a company that you have some sort of in with or know someone who does. The one thing I don't think works is the mass mailing/e-mailing of sponsors asking for stuff. Personalize it and try to send it to someone who can help. Tell them what they get in return: Title sponsor, logo on the website, logo on the t-shirt, they can put something in the race kit, put up a banner at the event or even a table...What do they get for their money? To your sponsors, this is a form of advertising. So you should try and get the media involved too, don't just expect them to turnup. But if you can get them an article in the paper or a mention on the TV, than you can start to quantify what they are getting for their money. Print ads are expensive and TV is stoopid expensive! After your event, thank them with a hand written card. I did a DVD of the 1 miler and sent that to all of my sponsors with their card. As someone who is in charge of about a 250k marketing budget, I know this all works. |
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Post by krs1 on Oct 24, 2009 13:52:27 GMT -5
Also, you will be limited to sponsors who are not in competition with AC's sponsors since you would technically still be under AC's unbrella. No apparel sponsors other than Nike, no finacial services sponsors other than RBC, etc. For this reason, the group needs to be a separate entity from AC, free to fundraise without having to respect the exclusivity AC's sponsors (and they should be for sure). I think the best approach would be to put on a series of events across the country with the profits from those events going into the groups pot. Each separate event would be free to get sponsors for their event as they see fit. In order to respect AC's sponsors (and again, this is important so that AC doesn't lose the sponsors they have), each event should say that profits go towards supporting the Friends of Canadian Distance Running Society (or whatever the name is). Athletics Canada should not be involved with these events or even have their name mentioned in the events in order to keep them separate. Thoughts? You can't be a separate entity from AC and expect to be able to compete in an IAAF event. AC will still have to 'sign-off' on the team you want to select/send. In the very best case scenario for your proposed group you would be looking to be a semi-autonomous group still under the auspices of AC. Now that doesn't mean you can't try to solicit funding for your 'events' from AC current sponsors, but I can't see AC allowing RBK to be a shoe sponsor, and TD to be a finacial services sponosor for an event the group wants to put on. Not sure if they have announced where Americas 2011 will be held yet. As for expenses, plan on budgeting at least $100,00 for WXC (before IAAF quota $'s). Add in another $10-15K for National XC, and, if you are thinking of taking over the Nat. 10k Road Champs, another 20k for that. |
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Post by SI on Oct 24, 2009 13:52:35 GMT -5
If, as I assume, Kevin and Martin are correct, then we need to build our new group just outside AC's umbrella, and use our own umbrella when it rains We can't have sponsorship limitations, based on AC, that won't work. I am guessing AC won't let it happen, for reasons explained in here: tnfnorth.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=5131&page=7#66424 edit-Kevin beat me to the punch Perhaps Journeyman can tell us if there any any limitations on the CTMRA. "The International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF) is a Patron of the World Mountain Running Association (WMRA), to whom it delegates the control of our branch of athletics. The CTMRA is similarly patronized by Athletics Canada, without financial support." www.mountainrunning.ca/history.php They seem to be under the IAAF umbrella which means the CTMRA would be under AC's umbrella. "Mountain Running is a worldwide sport and branch of traditional athletics. Traditional athletics was defined in the past as Track and Field, Cross Country, Road Running and Race Walking. In 2002 after the World Mountain Running Association (WMRA) had staged, since 1985, a successful event entitled ‘the World Trophy’, attracting entries from more than 30 countries, the IAAF congress added Mountain running to that definition. (IAAF Rule 1)." www.iaaf.org/community/athletics/mountainrun/index.htmlConflicting sponsors are not a problem for CTMRA(except there is one type of Asics shoe that is a sponsor) but does the problem exist? www.mountainrunning.ca/sponsors.php |
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skuja
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Post by skuja on Oct 24, 2009 14:02:07 GMT -5
BC Athletics, God Bless 'em......the VIRA broke away from them waaaaaaay back for a variety of reasons, right? Did the Island Series suffer or thrive? (BC talk, that.) I have nothing against BCA, some of my friends work there, I was on the Board once......
It is IMPORTANT for Canada to play on the world stage. AC has their "methods and vision", so, here we are.
We can get there, by a different route. Holding hands with AC is not an option, unless there is a huge attitude adjustment arriving there soon.
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Post by SI on Oct 24, 2009 14:04:32 GMT -5
Holding hands with AC is not an option, Are you not reading anything on this thread(and not just from me)? You can't be a separate entity from AC and expect to be able to compete in an IAAF event.Good luck with that worlds thing. |
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Post by krs1 on Oct 24, 2009 14:05:26 GMT -5
We can get there, by a different route. Holding hands with AC is not an option, unless there is a huge attitude adjustment arriving there soon. You don't get it. Holding hands with AC is the ONLY option! |
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Post by journeyman on Oct 24, 2009 14:19:56 GMT -5
Perhaps Journeyman can tell us if there any any limitations on the CTMRA. "The International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF) is a Patron of the World Mountain Running Association (WMRA), to whom it delegates the control of our branch of athletics. The CTMRA is similarly patronized by Athletics Canada, without financial support." www.mountainrunning.ca/history.php They seem to be under the IAAF umbrella which means the CTMRA would be under AC's umbrella. "Mountain Running is a worldwide sport and branch of traditional athletics. Traditional athletics was defined in the past as Track and Field, Cross Country, Road Running and Race Walking. In 2002 after the World Mountain Running Association (WMRA) had staged, since 1985, a successful event entitled ‘the World Trophy’, attracting entries from more than 30 countries, the IAAF congress added Mountain running to that definition. (IAAF Rule 1)." www.iaaf.org/community/athletics/mountainrun/index.htmlConflicting sponsors are not a problem for CTMRA(except there is one type of Asics shoe that is a sponsor) but does the problem exist? www.mountainrunning.ca/sponsors.phpYeah, we have not run into that problem although in the last couple of years we've had AC give us uniforms, so we haven't had an apparel sponsor, really. Before that we were with Brooks for two years and NB before that, when Kelvin Broad was in charge. The X-Trail Asics logo you see on the site is actually a race, not a shoe. We have close ties with Solomon, though I'm not sure if they are affiliated with any of the big shoe companies. I think this is all great discussion, and I don't mean to be negative, but the biggest hurdle on this will be finding the cash. I suspect we did not devote enough time and resources to it to be as successful as we might have been, but, still, it's hard. In my experience, joggers and recreational runners are almost bitter towards anyone with any ambition or speed. But clearly that's not the case for everyone. What we really need is a full-time, professional fundraiser. Get someone from outside the sport, and educate them about the product. Pay that person a percentage of what they can get. Membership fees: a loonie a year won't keep anyone sane. Make it a substantial fee, and throw in a magazine subscription. We work with Trail Runner. I approached Canadian Running as well, but we couldn't work it out, mostly because I didn't want to raise our membership fee too much and Trail Runner is obviously more specific to Mountain Running. But, yeah, offer race entry discounts, Canadian Running mag subscription, and coordinate it so that those who are not already members of AC (which you need to be in order to compete at nationals and IAAF meets) can become members. This last bit is more for getting road runners and non-club members to sign on, as anyone in a club is already part of AC. We've also recently gotten questions about insurance for races. There are probably provincial bodies that do this already for road races. It applies to CTMRA because there does not seem to be someone who does this for trail races. Offering insurance to races is another way to bring in members and raise revenues. Here is a wild idea (unrelated to my mountain running experience): offer wagering on the races. They do it in Europe. We do it all the time, but without money. Sit and watch the sprints and one person says, I got yellow, another says I got blue. Make it interesting, apply it to distance running, and keep some of the proceeds. What are the odds on Coldneck vs Gills at nationals? |
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Post by HHH on Oct 24, 2009 14:22:48 GMT -5
You can't be a separate entity from AC and expect to be able to compete in an IAAF event. AC will still have to 'sign-off' on the team you want to select/send. In the very best case scenario for your proposed group you would be looking to be a semi-autonomous group still under the auspices of AC. Now that doesn't mean you can't try to solicit funding for your 'events' from AC current sponsors, but I can't see AC allowing RBK to be a shoe sponsor, and TD to be a finacial services sponosor for an event the group wants to put on. [/quote] Sorry Kevin, my audatious earlier proposal to run the XC program for AC is a separate from what I am talking about here. I have been persuaded by PQ, Ron, SI and a few others to try and work with AC rather against them. (My offer still stands though I do not expect to be taken up on it). So I think what a few of us are suggesting is that we do 'hold hands' with AC but not get 'married'. The group/society would operate separately from AC, do their own fundraising separate from AC and AC's sponsors and offer up funds to the athletes to cover the costs of going to worlds or the americas champs. Basically the group would hopefully be able to reimburce/cover whatever the cost is to them to go to worlds/americas. In my mind, the group is a totally separate group from AC with the sole purpose of existing to give funds directly to Canadian distance runners. I think if it is set up like this, it can work and everyone wins. This group would obviously not have any say over how the XC program is run but SI is correct in that money talks and perhaps in the future, the group might be able to offer up 'suggestions' to AC. But initially, this would obviously not be the case. |
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skuja
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Post by skuja on Oct 24, 2009 14:25:13 GMT -5
Holding hands with AC is not an option, Are you not reading anything on this thread(and not just from me)? You can't be a separate entity from AC and expect to be able to compete in an IAAF event.Good luck with that worlds thing. "You may say I'm a dreamer......." This thread is about a lot of things. But the common thread is that there MUST be a better way. AC might bless (or even be relieved!) if another "group" handles all this, without holding hands with them.....but they'll have to rubber stamp, I guess. "Affiliated with....", but in reality, no part of. I don't know.....but it ain't gonna change with the present AC "thinking"...... |
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Post by oldster on Oct 24, 2009 14:26:27 GMT -5
Just wanted to say: Great idea to formalize an organization (and Friends of Canadian Distance Running is as good a name as any). The main benefit is to give our various local efforts a focus in this vast nation of ours. Just having a single place to put whatever funds we can scare up is probably worth the effort in itself. Every year since "self-funding" came into being, clubs across the country have held their own little fund raising efforts for the individuals within them who have qualified. Some centralization of this process would be welcome. However, as some are aware, big, energy and initiative-sapping problems remain simply due to the fact that AC will continue to control how Canadians get selected to run international X-C, and how these teams can be funded. No matter what our posture towards the organization-- confrontational or cooperative-- AC will continue to hold the most important cards. I suspect that the best that can be hoped for here is that we help raise $ to fund individual Canadians to international X-C meets, and AC agrees to amend its qualifying criteria to ensure that teams will continue to be sent. I don't see AC agreeing to allow a separate organization take over the selection and funding of a national team that fall under its organizational jurisdiction as long as it retains the power to prevent this (which it will). This means, for instance, that any money the "Friends of Canadian Distance Running manages to raise to help individual athletes pay for international competition will be, by definition, fed into a budget set by the organization (as per Kevin's $100,000 figure), meaning, for instance, that funds raised by this organization will help cover the costs of team staffs whose size we will have no control over, etc.
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Post by HHH on Oct 24, 2009 14:28:19 GMT -5
SI brings up a good point about getting a charitable donation number but that has not affected me one bit when asking for sponsors for races. That is because most of your sponsors would be businesses and would be in a position to write off what they spend. A charitable number would allow any group to go after individual donations. Yes, I know this and understand this. It's something for sure to look into if this whole thing gets off the ground. It's also something that I have looked into here in Alberta and at least here, it's not an easy (or fast) process. I'm just saying I haven't run into any problems so far so it can work without, this doesn't have to be a hurdle. But I am fully aware that with a charitable number, I could probably increase the amount of sponsorship I am already getting. |
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skuja
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Post by skuja on Oct 24, 2009 14:29:15 GMT -5
Sorry Kevin, my audatious earlier proposal to run the XC program for AC is a separate from what I am talking about here. I have been persuaded by PQ, Ron, SI and a few others to try and work with AC rather against them. (My offer still stands though I do not expect to be taken up on it). So I think what a few of us are suggesting is that we do 'hold hands' with AC but not get 'married'. The group/society would operate separately from AC, do their own fundraising separate from AC and AC's sponsors and offer up funds to the athletes to cover the costs of going to worlds or the americas champs. Basically the group would hopefully be able to reimburce/cover whatever the cost is to them to go to worlds/americas. In my mind, the group is a totally separate group from AC with the sole purpose of existing to give funds directly to Canadian distance runners. I think if it is set up like this, it can work and everyone wins. This group would obviously not have any say over how the XC program is run but SI is correct in that money talks and perhaps in the future, the group might be able to offer up 'suggestions' to AC. But initially, this would obviously not be the case. THIS is what I'm getting at. Sure....someone from AC will have to liase/bless, but we do it without their "control" if you will....they will be HAPPY, I think! Hahahaha..... |
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