Top Charity Beggers Mistakes and a busy weekend kills my body and mind

// June 15th, 2009 // Uncategorized

So this morning after a very busy weekend I dragged my ass out of bed and headed to they gym for a 10km workout. This weekend was busy for lots of reasons.

Friday Night – Kingstons Biggest Bike Night (MSBN)

MSBN was a combined effort of several business and like minded persons headed by the Memorial Veterans Riders. The idea a non partisan night for all to enjoy in a public place. Any biker, fancy car or passerby is welcome to come and join in. No beefs about who’s badge is on your vest, no beefs about whos store you visit and so on. Since it’s inception it constantly has the highest turn out rate of any bike gathering in the area.

Dragonboat Races in the Morning and Diving in the Afternoon

This gathering there was a few hundred people attending and I was in took my pictures and got out just as I started to vibrate from the amount of people around. As I was packing my stuff up I got the chance to listen to an organizer talk to an other fundraiser on how to gain the status the dragonboaters got.
“Simple” he said.

1. Always send a leader with your group anytime they go fundraising, supporting someone else especially if the anyone in the group is associated with other organizations. That way you can be seen supporting the others.

2 If your organization is supporting a cause for a certian region be seen supporting and purchasing in the region this includes all your members. Don’t expect local coffiers to open up when your spending all your time and monies in another region.

3. Make sure all your members are respectfull of other agencies and groups in public Nothing will dwindle your donations and needs if you go banging on Ford’s door wearing a shirt from Toyota.

4. Don’t make rules that only you need to follow and not your supporters. like don’t tell people not to wear socks in sandels and your voluteer staff all wear socks in thiers at an event.

5. If you put all your eggs in one basket prepare to pay the price many business will not support you if you have a major sponser from out side the area and your asking them to pay the bills.

6. The coolest thing he said is that you and your representives are nothing more then buskers and in todays economy people want something in return. A simple thank you publically goes a long way, if you keep forgetting to thank the big guy on the block or pussy foot around thanking them and thier supporters, next time the pot will be empty or close to it.

7. If you and your supporters not buying locally and looking locally for funding, don’t even bother getting out of bed your wasting your time.

8. Always smile even if you don’t agree with the sponsors, your next group of sponsors are always watching.

Then some diving in the Afternoon to repair lines on the local wrecks got me thinking of this conversation this morning. Good and bad news I guess for some local agencies.

Sunday – Demo days for Harly Davidson

So I woke up vibrating and I wasn’t even going to get out of bed but I promised Jacqui that I would take some pictures for them. I grab my meds and noticed that I had indeed missed a day which now will take a couple of days for my body to forgive me on it. It was hot and busy lots of people, bikes and activities including a band for all to enjoy. Pictures from the day here.

Sean and Dan left early to go to the store when Sean lost control breaking a few ribs and pieces on his bike. Other then that he’s ok. Jamie and Fitz came up with a great idea and I have decided to throw my support behind it Kingston Area Motorcycle Association (KAMA)

Just a basic area on the web to host everyone’s rides, events and all other stuff bike related in the Kingston Area, not just the city itself. Good luck and I hope all groups will support it. The start up will be on Facebook under groups Kingston Area Motorcycle Association.