Executive VP’s Report - 2004/05
Doug Holland AMA Executive VP 3517 Fernwood Dr. Raleigh, NC 27612
Contact
- Home: (919) 787-5163
- Office: (919) 787-7454
We've all heard how they do things big in Texas, and it is the truth. Here is proof.
The following article by John Reed tells how the North Dallas RC Club raised enough money to build the kind of field they wanted. It provides good examples that other clubs can use to raise money. It may not have to be done at the same magnitude this article reflects, but it is a good indicator of what can be accomplished through hard work.
Funding a New Flying Field
By John Reed
It was January 1, 1998, and I had just "won" the right to be the club treasurer. I also was retiring that year, so I had a lot of time on my hands and was about to find out where that time was going.
Our old flying field had been located on the busy North Dallas Tollway for 23 years and development was coming at a rapid rate. Our Field Search Committee had been looking for a new field for more than five years with little success. It was time to get down to business and find a new field.
With only $3,000 in our checking account and $27,000 in our Field Construction account, we were going to have to raise roughly $75,000 more before we could even think about funding a new field that would be comparable to our old field. Our club was already incorporated and held the status of a 501(c)(7) non-profit organization. Donations to our club were not deductible.
In order for some or all of our fund-raising efforts to be deductible for the donors, I set out to change our status to 501(c)(3). I felt that with the amount of effort our club puts into youth programs we would have no problems with the IRS in changing our status. To be certain I was heading in the right direction, I engaged a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) to guide me through the application process. A few months later, we received our new tax status as requested.
Our club has collected $100 initiation fees from new members (not juniors) for years. These fees have always gone into our Field Construction fund. Out of more than 300 members, we lose about 100 per year and then gain another 100 members during the next year. This provides several thousand dollars in new funds each year, but we realized that dues and initiation fees alone would not fund the new field.
Other sources would be required. A decision was made to sell life memberships. The plan allowed the sale of life memberships to adult members for $1,000 and to senior members for $500. This plan was successful and $15,000 from this sale was added to the building fund.
Someone suggested selling inscribed memorial bricks. We found a company who would sell the bricks—with custom inscriptions—for $15 each. A sale price of $115 was established, giving the club a profit of $100 on each sale. This fund-raising event added $3,905 to the construction fund. These bricks were installed in a special memorial area at our new field.
An auction was planned and the club members were asked to donate their unwanted hobby items. Mike's Hobby Shop offered to store the donated items until the date of the auction. Mike's shop even offered to allow us to hold the auction in an area normally used for indoor car races. This auction brought in $2,404. Two smaller auctions held during regular club meetings brought in another $1,000.
Many club members decided to simply make cash contributions to the building fund. Remember, these donations were tax-deductible. Their generosity added $1,500 to the building fund.
Unfortunately, two of our great club members passed away during the fund-raising period. In both cases, the surviving families asked that cash donations be made to the club in lieu of flowers. Their generosity added another $1,500 to the building fund.
Finally, the club has an ongoing raffle at each meeting. Most of the items are donated by Texas RC Modelers Hobby Shop. The raffle added another $2,200 to the building fund.
By the time construction was about to begin, our club had collected more than $96,000.
A flying site was located and leased in late 2000. Construction was started in early October 2001, and completed by July 2002, expending the entire building fund. Additional dirt work was required and extra mowing equipment was purchased.
In June 2002, our club applied for a grant from AMA and received $9,675, for which we were grateful. Our club wound up with a first-class field, featuring a 620- x 40-foot asphalt runway, a grass runway of the same length, and a 16- x 100-foot shed. A steel shipping container houses our maintenance equipment.
Surprisingly, our old flying field is still in operation and will likely be around a few more years. Lease payments on both flying fields amount to a little more than $7,000 per year. As of October 2003, we have a balance of $30,000 in our accounts and we are looking for another flying field.
For good ideas to work, they must have landing gear as well as wings.
Remember, always be courteous. Until later...
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
