Peter Legge - Motivation From A High Profile Speaker

I was recently hired on as the Event Coordinator for the Trinity Western University 3rd Annual Entrepreneurial Forum in which Peter Legge was the guest speaker. Peter is an international best-selling author and speaker as well as the President and CEO of Canada Wide Magazines & Communications. Peter's speech was based on how to make your life a masterpiece, and was well received by an audience of 400 people. I was particularly motivated by Peter's segment regarding his personal Olympic dream. He wants to be the emcee for the opening ceremonies for the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, but there is a glitch, he is not bilingual. This however, was just a technicality, and it didn't stop Peter from trying to reach his Olympic goal. He hired a producer and put together a video with him speaking English and his daughter speaking French. Peter presented the video to one member of the Olympic Committee and has been asked to present it to the rest of the committee. Peter and his daughter may be the first father/daughter team in history to open the Olympic Games. How's that for taking a negative and turning it into a positive? Talk about motivation!!

Silent and Live Auctions ... Do Organizers Require A Licence?

In British Columbia, Canada, a licence is not required when holding a live or silent auction. Unlike raffles and 50/50 draws, live and silent auctions are not considered a "game of chance," therefore, a licence is not required. This regulation may vary in other parts of the world so I suggest you contact your local Gaming Commission for rules and regulations in your area.

BC Lions Create A "Buzz" At Fundraising Event

If you are fortunate enough to have a connection with a local hero or celebrity, take the opportunity to invite them to your fundraising event. Not only will their presence create a positive "buzz," your guests will be thrilled at the prospect of getting an autograph from someone they admire. Titans Football was fortunate enough to have coaches and players from the BC Lions attend their fundraiser last week, and believe me, their presence created at huge buzz! Here I am pictured with Dave Dickenson, quarterback for the BC Lions!

Utilizing Silent Auction Space

This photograph was taken to emphasize the importance of space utilization when setting up silent auction displays. Candle holders screwed into the wall became "hooks" to hang rugby shirts and a jacket. The bid sheets were stapled to cardboard and string was used to hang the bid sheet in front of the item. (Note: when displaying clothing it is best to hang items as opposed to having them folded on a table. Items are more easily viewed when hung, and you won't be left with a rumpled heap of clothing on the auction table!) In this photograph, instead of using tables, we utilized benches that were permanently attached to the walls. All the bid sheets were stapled onto cardboard because the benches were soft cushioned. Use your imagination when placing auction items - utilize anything and everything that will aid in properly displaying your auction items!

Prospera Credit Union - Corporate Sponsor!

It's always a good idea to offer corporate tables at your fundraising event. Titans Football sells tickets on an individual basis and also offers corporate tables at $1,000.00 per table. Prospera Credit Union has been a corporate sponsor for the past three years and their staff always look forward to attending the fundraising event. The $1,000 corporate package includes dinner for six people, a specially decorated table, public recognition at the fundraiser, a special mention in the "Program of the Evening's Events," signage and special mention at all Titans home games, recognition on the Titans website and a group picture. This year Prospera purchased a corporate table plus seven individual tickets in order to accommodate all their staff! The above picture was taken with the Prospera staff as well as Dave Ritchie, Wally Buono, Josh Boden, Rob Murphy, Gino Guidugli, Dave Dickenson and Kelly Bates of the BC Lions. When businesses like Prospera Credit Union become a corporate sponsor they not only receive good advertising, they also promote good will. Corporate tables are obviously a win-win for everyone!

White Rock South Surrey Minor Football Fundraiser - A Huge Success!

White Rock South Surrey Minor Football, known throughout the community as "Titans Football," hosted their annual fundraiser on September 19th. The event was a huge success, and over the next couple of days I will provide you with an overview and pictures of the event. I will also suggest some money-making games that are easy to organize and fun to play, as well as a list of live auction items that generated great money!

Spinnaker Recording Session - The Final Outcome!

When I originally wrote the posting about the Spinnaker Sound recording session, I thought it would make a great live auction item if we included a BC Lion in the package. At that point in time we had no other live auction donations, but as we neared the day of the event, we ended up with some amazing items that would be of greater interest to the crowd. In the end, I opted to put the recording session certificate in the silent auction. There was only one person remotely interested in the certificate and she had no competition in the bidding process. This crowd wasn't the least bit interested in a recording session or any of the art work that had been donated -- they wanted signed jerseys, football tickets and dinner with the BC Lions offensive line! Not only that, the Lions we talked to were not eager to participate in a recording session -- they did, however, jump at the opportunity to participate in a one-day training session with the SWAT team! Use your best judgement when deciding on live and silent auction items. Since you never really know what people will bid on, select the "big ticket" items for your live auction and put the remainder of the items in the silent auction.