possible bike raffle??

[LouieMCman]

See, the members here can't even decide if a raffle will work, and no one anwsered the questions like WHO, WHAT, WHERE? Ask around for volunteers to build one and see how many you get. Like I said, no one in the Dixie chapter wanted to spend thier time to do it, even though we would have made money, and it sounds like it got the same response from the national board. Again, good luck on this one.

Louie

["jb"]

another thought

I am not up on our clubs finances, or if we even need to raise any money, And what are our obligations as a non-profit? In the state of SC. I believe you can only keep 35% of any money raised but that may be a different non-profit status than we have. I don't think we should raise our membership for any reason in this tight economy. If any thing a raffle could be used to off set the cost of something so that membership dues would not be raised, This is only a suggestion, I also agree that some one may cry foul but if the Black hawk chapter sell 10,000 tickets at davenport And the Chesapke only sells 500 at Jefferson I think it is very likely that the winner would be from someone who attended at Davenport but thats not written in stone as luck would have it!! There's only one winning ticket. There's one other issue we haven't even mentioned.....Taxes Uncle Sam wants his!......If given the chance I believe some chapters would welcome a raffle while others may not want to get involved no matter how you slice it....it is buying a chance to win something..which is gambling..call it.. donating to a worthy cause or a fundraiser if you want to but I know the difference.Oh well ,I think I've probally opened Pandoras box wide enough to get a response or two..

[KNUCK]

Lets do something !

I think a raffle would be a good idea. No forced entry. Instead of a bike build have the club front the purchase of a bike that would be a popular piece to most. First time use Indian,Harley,etc. and put all profit for the club to reduce or maintain the dues. Run a big ad in the magazine and also show it at a few meets. You could even have 2nd price for a club leather jacket and 3rd for a free 1 year membership. It would be fun and different for the club to do. Pete, nice to see you in Vegas. I lost out on the 62' pan.

[B. Rodencal]

Raffle

So heres an even bigger question... Does the AMA make any money on their raffle? How many tickets do they sell? At how much per ticket?, and how much do they pay initially to get the bike? Have it restored? I know they advertise the raffle in several magazines, what is that toal cost? Say a nice Knuck Bike basket is $10,000, and $10,000. to the restorer. Plus 10 ads in various publications at $150.00 each=1500.00 People to run the booth, travel etc., we would be lucky if we could get local chapter help, as the AMA is not so lucky. Plus the cost of printing tickets, raffle banners etc. $500.00 (it all adds up!) we have $22,000. in costs that 4400 tickets to BREAK EVEN! There are a lot easier ways to make money! With a membership of 10,000 I don't think the club sells 4400 of their beautiful calenders at $8.00 each ...and they last all year and cost a lot less than 22,00 to produce. I'd just like to see the AMA's numbers, I may be totally off base. 10,000 tickets at Davenport? I don't believe it. I am there all weekend and have never seen a line in the time the AMA has been there.

["jb"]

ok lets see the numbers

I am not a board member so my opinion ways very little if any at all with How many members did you say we have? I believe it's conversvation and dialouge like this, that gets things started. It is early in the year so i think this is a good time if you want to have a program in place for next year. i would like to see a poll on this forum for starters then in the magazine is this the members club or the board elects? I think if their was enough feedback it could be gaged if it would be sucsessful or not. Thats just my opinion. Hey, We send in our dues don't we?.... why not our opinions or ideas. i agrre with some of the fine points memtioned but I don't see this as a feeding frienzy for anybody with a hand out. It's our web site , It's our magazine.... How much could some artwork , a banner and some tickets cost? I don't see the extreme cost mentioned. For a first raffle?... why would we give a way a completely restored? I didn't suggest we make a great deal either, I was suggesting that we bring others in...... those interested in restoring...., going to swaps and searching for those hard to find parts spending hours at a labor of love. Maybe I'm way off base or in la la land you be the judge Personally I have never cared what everybody thought only the majority cause their will be naysers ..You can count on it... Those few ..Been there..., Done that... It will never work...so you shouldn't even try!!! but rest assursed it will not hurt my feeling if good ideas fall on death ears..It has been my expierence with some..... that if their wasn't credit for them.... it would never get mentioned at any meeting.. Here's one last idea if we don't have the money say so..... That is not a huge hurdle have you ever heard of a turn key raffle? It starts out like a 50/50 raffle ..... can anyone see where I'm going..

[Paps]

Thanks again fellas.. The more input the better. We are really getting somewhere now. All opinions are valuable on this topic to say the least. We can iron out the majority of the ups and downs with this idea. Less for the administration to have to spend time on. Bill....No doubt advertising costs have to be reduced or eliminated. I'm thinking that many magazines would love to host the promotion just to place the event or events on their front covers in order to increase their magazine sales. How many rubs, yuppies, and vintage buffs would pass up a mag on their news stand with a sharp looking vintage bike on the cover that they may have a chance at winning? The bike doesn't necessarily have to be a basket case restored by the organization. This was just a suggestion to go hand in hand with vendor donations. Every donor would be published in the donee's list as contributors to the bike up for raffle. Great advertising for their businesses for less money. A completely restored bike may be purchased outright or bid on on Ebay in stead of all the red tape in deciding who donates what, when, and how much. The folks we see at Davenport are usually from outside and not inside the large metropiltan area of Davenport. With the advertising the folks would come from the local area and from afar. In Illinios alone I saw hundreds of newer HD's on the road while just passing through on my way to Davenport. How many other newer HD's were really in Illinios?, Iowa?, Kansas? Missouri?, every other state in the union that may decide to hit the Davenport meet this year instead of Sturgis? Heck !! They may even want to hit them both. That is a lot of bikes!! If we only recruited a small fraction of this large crowd we have increased membership considerably. The list of magazines whom I believe would glady provide free advertising would be mags like Easy Rider, Iron Horse, Chopper, and many many more. Heck....we might even get a celebrity to donate towards it ! How about Jay Leno?? Peter Fonda?? Joe Walsh?? I bet there are a few that would. HD??? NO !! They won't ! LOL !! Please keep the debate rollin fellas!! It is a very constructive discussion even if it doesn't pan out in the long run. Paps

[Paps]

JB........Thanks!! Terrific responce!! I like your turn key idea!!! Our local auto dealers use it often. Excellent points on the member survey too! Come on fellas!! Everyones two cents adds up to big money. Paps

[Kojack]

I'd have to say that the AMA is making money on their raffles just cause they keep on doing them. The British club I'm in has been doing them for around 20 years. We've found it best to just buy bikes that don't need a lot of work to be ridden and enjoyed. Some years we find a really nice bike, some years it's been a little rough. We always sold more than enough tickets to cover the expenses plus we donated the profits to some worthy charity. Bottom line: we have a good time. Laws on raffles vary state by state so that's something that will need investigated further.

[B. Rodencal]

AMA

I know we have some members who double with the AMA. I'd just like to see the numbers. Just because they keep doing them does not make it gospel that they make money. Especially with 501c-3's. I believe the AMA has just a few more members than we do! It could be a basket case ... but, I think you sell a lot more tickets to the general populus with a shiny new bike. Think you can get 10,000 people to spent $5.00 on a pile of rust they have to put $5,000. more into? last time I checked the AMA was raffling a Vincent this year, not a CB750 Basket. I just think we are mixing apples and oranges here. How about Liability? especially on a bike bought from an unknown source. Yes officer that's right, I won it in a raffle and the front wheel fell off on the way home, as soon as I am out of traction I am going to claim my real pot of gold!

[INLINE4NUT]

Sounds to me like this whole topic is just going round an round! way tooo many what ifs !if you guys want a raffle get the fingers out of your butt and DO IT way to much WINE with the cheese!Have a great day! And yes ....I approve this message!

["jb"]

round and round

I don't think so....And just to prove my point...I will issue this challange a test to any and all who have the balls..... Eustis is only a short 37 days away Send me two dollars for one ticket and I will start a 50/50... I already have a roll of tickets if you send me your address I can send you your tickets stubs, I can keep a receipt if postage gets out of hand. Each and every person who sends me money or check will recieve a recepit a carbon copy I will keep for records. I have an account already set up at my bank for just such an event if this were a year long project I could issue a monthly statment..I also have a fire proof safe at home for records. Lets see... Have I left any thing out! Oh yeah....My address is.... Jerry D. Baker 1214 South Anderson Rd. Rock Hill, SC. 29730 I will start it with $6.00 which I will write the first reciept for 3 tickets = $6.00 recieved from Jerry D. Baker. Remember this Their will be nay sayers... I don't care about that This is to prove that a raffle could be sucessful without advertising with out banners and marketing. Just by word of mouth and a few e-mails.....You don not have to be present to win not everyone can make it to Eustis....At last look their were over 280 views of this topic...

PS. It's easier to ask forgiveness.... than to get permission!! Espescially when it's a huge success. jbhome@cetlink.net

[LouieMCman]

JB put me in for a couple of them tickets, I'll put a check in the mail. See you at eterus.

Louie

["jb"]

thanks louie

two tickets = $4.00 any other pledges come on speak up call your members we have only got 37 days!!!!!

[Paps]

jb.........Now that is gambling wouldn't you say? If all the funds are part of the pot it is definately gambling. If only part of the pot is the prize and the left over revenue is not a charitable donation then it is still gambling. Isn't it?? Anyone taking bets on the SuperBowl? Same thing I would think. Paps

[B. Rodencal]

50/50 will work!

As far as a 50/50 I'll buy that . They do work, require little advert and the profits are big. Count me in for $10.00 FatDog