• Executive Directors Column
• Coordinator Expansion Underway
• Dear Booster
• Vendor of the Month - The Pasta Shoppe
• Seeking Nationwide Support
• Do-It Yourself Fundraiser
• Spotlight of the Month - Blue Heron
• Fast Facts

BUILDING SUCCESSFUL BOOSTER CLUBS
This month my article continues with the last of four topics related to addressing the four greatest areas that challenge booster clubs.

Booster Club Challenge #4: Fundraising
Regardless of the amount of time you have been involved with your booster club the topic of fundraising has probably surfaced on more than one occasion. Fundraising is traditionally the #1 priority for booster clubs.

This months article will focus on the key fundamentals to successful fundraising.

Consider the following six questions to help you choose the ideal fundraising product or program for your group:
1. How much money do you need to raise?
Come up with a goal that is based on your group’s needs not just one that sounds good.
2. What would your group enjoy selling/promoting?
The more you like the product or program, the more confident and motivated your group will be to promote and sell them.
3. What has been successful for your group in the past?
If your group has had a huge success with a certain program year after year, use this as a method for evaluating against any new fundraisers you are considering.
4. How soon do you need the money?
5. If you need to raise funds within two weeks, make sure the fundraising program you choose has a track record where groups have shown paid results within your timeframe.
6. Does the price match the income level of your supporters?
Promoting a fundraiser that offers a product with affordable prices will lead to greater success. Example: Selling a $25.00 item in a lower income area will result in fewer sales. Fit the price with the market you will be promoting too.

As fundraising plays such an important role with booster clubs this topic is being broken into multiple segments. Part 2 in January.

I wish each of you the best of success.
Happy Boostering!

Steve M. Beden
Executive Director

Enroll Your Club

Dear Booster........

The NBCA is now recruiting Area Coordinators nationwide.
- Unlimited opportunity
- No competition
- Part-time or Full-time
- Help make a difference in your community!

To find out more email us your contact information and one of our qualified staff members will personally contact you or click here to learn more: Coordinator Opportunity

Dear Booster,
About 4 months ago I was forwarded a copy of BoosterTrends and have enjoyed reading your column. As a mother of 3 very active boys, I see a big need for the booster association. I live in a fairly small community and am wondering how I can go about helping to get the support of the booster association for the boosters in our community.

Joanna D.
New Syrma Beach, FL

Dear Joanna,
Thanks for the support of BoosterTrends and the NBCA. NBCA is available to support booster clubs throughout the country including those in your town. You can access support services by visiting the online website at boostercentral.org or by contacting the association via email or phone. As the coordinator network continues to grow, so will the hands on support available to groups such as yours.

Send us your Dear Booster.... article and we will select one each month to share with the readers of Booster Trends. To submit your email send to: dearbooster@boosterclubs.org.

The Pasta Shoppe
We settled in Nashville, TN in 1994 and began a great adventure. Music City Pasta (boot and guitar shaped pasta) was our first product and inspired us to create more fun shapes for holidays, themes, and other occasions. Today, we offer the world’s largest selection of fun pasta shapes and create custom logos and shapes for other companies to use as promotional items. Noodles, who knew?!

Over the years, our product line has grown to include Fun Meals Fast – easy pasta salads and meals ready in 15 minutes. In 1998 our bakery opened and we have been busy creating Designer Sugar Cookies and other delectable goodies ever since. Our most recent product launch was “Divine Meringues” – light, airy, melt in your mouth cookies. Only 7 calories each and low fat, the incredible flavors and texture satisfy your “sweet” craving without leaving any of the guilt!

• 1998 Small Business of the Year
• Three time winner, Music City 50, fastest growing companies in Middle Tennessee

We now offer 4 separate gourmet fundraising sheets! Choose one or more when fundraising with us. We can’t wait to hear from you!
* Pasta with Personality
* Fun Family Meals
* Themed Gift Sets
* Holiday Gifts
* Getting Started Form

If you’d like to receive more information about our program, along with some free sample brochures, please visit us at www.pastashoppe.com

NBCA Advocate - This is an ideal opportunity for anyone with contacts to local booster clubs, teams and businesses. The NBCA Advocate position does not require you to make any commitment other than your interest to periodically refer the NBCA to local booster clubs, teams and businesses. NBCA Advocates receive a commission or override for simply referring the association’s services to booster clubs, teams and businesses. This is an outstanding opportunity for any person who understands the role that extra-curricular activities play in shaping our society. If you would like to register and become an NBCA Advocate, please email your contact information or visit BoosterWorld and register today.

Area Coordinators - The NBCA is now seeking individuals who would like to assist local clubs, teams and businesses. This is an ideal opportunity for anyone looking for an opportunity to work part-time, or looking to help make a difference in your community. Coordinators will receive high commissions for introducing the association’s services to businesses, schools and parent organizations. This is an outstanding opportunity for any person who understands the role that extra-curricular activities play in shaping our society. If you would like to register and become an NBCA Advocate, please email your contact information or visit BoosterWorld and register today.

Club Coordinators - The NBCA is seeking individuals who are currently working with or involved with a booster club or extra-curricular program. This is an ideal opportunity for anyone currently involved with a club, team or extra-curricular program and who would like to turn the time you are spending into an opportunity to receive prizes, awards, recognition and compensation. Club Coordinators simply do what they are currently doing, nothing more. If you would like to register for the position of Club Coordinator, please email your name, club affiliation, city and state. Email us today at marketing@boosterclubs.org

Blue Heron Ent.
Blue Heron Ent. was base in Delaware, PA in 1995. They have expanded to national exposure via the internet and raised millions of dollars for their clients.

Our goal was very simple. Give the maximum amount or return to the fundraising organization with NO STOCK! High quality discount cards provide both of those services.

We use a high quality plastic card, the same thickness as is used for credit cards. To eliminate the possibility of the cards wearing down with time and losing the offers, we laminate all of our cards. We strive for quality offers from our vendors.

Our program is designed to maximize the amount of return to your group. Profits are 65%-80%, if selling a $10.00 card.

All cards offer 12 – 15 vendors.

Let Blue Heron Ent., show you how to raise thousands of dollars with our custom made discount cards. Visit us at www.blueheroncards.com