Walk-A-Jog: Class Baskets

For an overview of this large Spring fundraiser, please click here. To learn how this fundraiser rakes in the moolah, please click here.

As I mentioned in a previous post, the baskets created by each class (and coordinated by individual Room Parents and teachers) will be the sole silent auction items at this year's Walk-A-Jog. I thought it might be helpful to list the baskets that are being planned. All items must be brought to our Official Basket Prettifier on May 9th:

1) Backyard Adventure Basket (bug books, magnifying glass, butterfly net, bug catcher flashlight, trowel, small shovel, etc.)
2) Something's Fishy Basket (fish books, fish food, Nemo DVD, Petco gift certificate, etc.)
3) Summer Reading Basket (fish chair, bucket/shovel, art supplies, books, etc.)
4) Summer Fun Basket (books, outdoor activities, sunscreen, etc.)
5) Stargazer Basket (astronomy-related fun stuff)
6) Math & Science Basket O' Fun (school logo gear, microscope, experiments, math games, etc.)
7) BBQ Basket (cookbooks, sauces, tools, rubs, personalized apron)
8) Life's A Beach (towels, lotion, frisbees, etc)
9) Middle School Survival Basket (um, not sure what's in this one!)
10) Family Game Night Basket (card games, board games, etc.)

I won't know for sure until we have everything in-hand, but I'm guesstimating that we will request minimum bids of anywhere from $75 to $100 on these beauties. And there will be twenty baskets in all, so we'll raise a nice chunk of money just in this one small area.

As I write, the budget cut crisis continues. Tomorrow, a dad from school is hosting an on-campus parent meeting. The goal is to get us organized for our upcoming school district meetings, as well as with a meeting with Senator Leland Yee that's scheduled for early May.

Hmmm. Maybe I should raise those minimum bids...

Another Fundraising Don't (Please, Please, PLEASE Don't)

These Moms from rural Spain need to find my blog — quick! To raise money for a recreation center at their local school, they posed for a naughty-girl calendar. Witness:


Even worse? They overestimated the market response for their project and are now stuck with 500 copies and $16,000 worth of debt. As if posing in tinsel wasn't enough punishment...

via telegraph.co.uk

To Charge or Not To Charge?

I'm taking a brief break from my scintillating coverage of Walk-A-Jog to address an issue that we discussed at a recent parent volunteer meeting: should EVERY school event be viewed as an opportunity to raise money?

In recent years, the answer to this question was an unspoken, "Of course not." For events like our Holiday Craft Fair, International Day, and the annual Talent Show, we have often "swallowed" the expenses or charged a minimum that would only cover costs. We did this so that every family, regardless of income, could easily take part. Basically, we believed these events were opportunities for community-building, which is certainly one of the most important ways to create a positive school culture.

But with the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Budget Cuts coming, we need to re-evaluate this stance. On the positive side, people of every economic level seem eager to donate (we always have a donation box) at these particular events. After all, International Day offers an entire buffet of great food. The Talent Show makes everyone feel good, and feeling good inspires them to reach for their wallets. And at the Holiday Craft Fair, kids walk out the door with an armload of things they made for friends and families. It's easy to see the value there.

My gut feeling is that there will be no raised eyebrows if we charge for these events in the coming year, especially if we keep the message about the budget cuts in the spotlight.

Walk-a-Jog: Communicating with Teachers & Staff

Keeping teachers and staff in the loop on any fundraiser is critical to your success. When you communicate effectively, respectfully, and with that brand of enthusiasm (read: wild-eyed and slightly disheveled) unique to parent volunteers around the country, you exponentially increase your chances of victory.

With that in mind, I delivered a memo to each teacher's mailbox asking them to work with their Room Parents and students to create a Class Basket for the silent auction (I backed this up with an e-mail to Room Parents asking them to work with their teachers. OMG, I'm evah so clevah!). I also asked them to let us know what their "Teacher-riffic Time" raffle contribution would be, i.e. lunch, bowling, craft time, movie, etc. with a student.

It's was important, too, to check in with our School Secretary to ensure that she contacts the school district so that our campus is prepped for the event. In other words, no watering the grass for two weeks prior, red flags to indicate sprinklers, and no pesticide spraying!

Meanwhile, other Walk-A-Jog team members are meeting with the city, obtaining insurance, notifying all neighbors who will be affected by the course set-up, ordering t-shirts, finding family and business sponsors, and more. Way more.