• Executive Directors Column
• Open Enrollment
• Dear Booster
• Disney Magic in your Fundraising
• Vendor of the Month
• Seeking Nationwide Support
• Do-It Yourself Fundraiser
• Spotlight of the Month
• The One Minute Shopper
• Fast Facts

A SMOOTH TRANSITION
I don't know where the months have gone as it seems like we just started the school year, but the date on the calendar tells me that it's that time of year again. The time when the majority of booster clubs are focusing their attention on upcoming elections and so this month I would like to offer some guidance on how to lessen the transition process and at the same time help future club officers step into a position that will offer them a natural support system.

We all know that most clubs are ran by senior level parents, meaning parents whose son's and daughters are in their last year of participation with the program. If you think about this for a moment you will realize that the club has allowed a person to take the most important role within the organization at the worst possible time. Here's an example of what I mean. Let's say we are involved with a high school basketball booster club and the president is the dad of a senior player. In his role as president he is asked to spend a great deal of time directing the booster club and its many functions. This dad is asked to focus his time and energy on the booster clubs needs at the same timeframe when he should be focused on helping his son insure he meets all graduation requirements, picks the right college, gets the scholarship he needs and yes also helps on the activity committee for the end of the year senior party.

So the first mistake we have made is to position a person in a leadership role at a time when they will have the minimum amount of time available to really lead and direct.

The year flies by and we have now approached the time when elections are conducted and as our president is leaving because his son is graduating we must find a replacement to take his position. In many cases this isn't a big obstacle. But what have we really done? We have set in place a system that provides absolutely no support to the incoming officers. You see when our "senior" club president leaves you have a 1 in 1,000 chance that he will come back to mentor the incoming officers. So I want to offer some guidance that will accomplish two goals. First, it will establish a support system for incoming officers and it will lessen the transition process from year to year. The result from this shift or change is that your club will experience stable growth year after year.

Here is my suggestion: Establish a procedure where your highest level officers (those who play important roles in your clubs growth) retire from their positions as they enter their senior or last year of involvement. By placing junior parents into leadership roles and having them only serve until they reach their last year of involvement you leave in place mentors who are still involved with your program and who provide valuable guidance, support and information. You establish a seamless transition that will enable your club to grow without a lengthy learning curve. And most importantly, you allow the senior parents the ability to enjoy the last year of their son/daughters involvement in your program.

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

Steve M. Beden
Executive Director

Enroll Your Club

Dear Booster........

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Dear Booster,
I need some help! We have a very small baseball booster club that only has 5 or 6 active members. The problem we face is that the parents who are active don't get the support from the other parents. We don't know how to get them involved and we are struggling to keep our booster club afloat. Our Athletic Director recently told us that the school district is considering cutting back some programs and baseball might be one on the chopping blocks. We appreciate any help you can provide.

Tammy L.
Chief Camptain Baseball Boosters

Dear Tammy,
With the threat of cutbacks your group must be able to step up to the plate and offer to your AD and school board a solution that they can see will help lessen their financial burden. Unfortunately there is a sad trend running across the country where many extra-curricular programs are getting chopped and cutback.

The first issue you need to face is gathering the support and involvement from your parents. Include the parents from the entire program (freshman, sophomore, jv and varsity) as you need to gain as much organized support as possible. If other programs are also at risk consider joint meetings to help organize solutions or strategies.

In order for you to gain the support of your administrators you must show them you are serious about helping provide an alternative solution. So let's start with the first 3 steps you must take before you are ready to approach the administration. Step 1: Call a meeting for the 5 or 6 active members you have and if you do not already have in place complete the following; a) mission statement of what and who is the booster club, b) membership form and include it contains an area where the parent can mark off areas they have interest or experience. c) the initial outline addressing the possible challenges of a cutback along with some possible solutions for helping delay or stop it from effecting your program, and d) design a simple flyer announcement letting the parents know of a mandatory all-parent meeting, then print off enough for all parents in all of your program levels. Step 2: After you have completed a, b, c and d. get with your coaches. Tell them you want 5 minutes of their time after a practice. Here is the goal when you meet with them, let the coaches know that you want them to support a mandatory all-parent meeting put on by the booster club to address the following issues a) the potential cutback challenge, and b) gaining the active support from all parents for moving forward with developing a plan to address the challenge. After you have the coaches support ask them to address the players about the importance of their parents attending the meeting and to hand out a flyer to every player.

You have two challenges facing your group and you must consider each in the proper order or you will not gain any ground on your problems. Be sure to organize the active parents and develop a plan of action for gaining the involvement from the other parents. When they understand the objective and can see how they can help you will gain their support. Once you have accomplished this task you can then immediately move onto the issue about the potential cutback.

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.

GOUROCK, INC.

Gourock, Inc. is a manufacturer of custom netting and rope products that has a history dating back to 1736. Formerly a global firm with worldwide locations concentrating on rope and twine products, Gourock is currently a boutique-style manufacturer assisting thousands of clients with custom netting and rope requirements. The firm is located in Ferndale, WA (about 100 miles north of Seattle), and has been privately owned for about a decade. Examples of our high-quality netting and rope products include: batting/golf cages, barrier netting, safety nets, cargo nets, backstop/spectator netting, and custom-sized enclosures and panels. Only the highest quality materials and craftsmanship are utilized, which makes Gourock a dependable and durable netting source for school districts, athletic associations, commercial facilities, and residential customers.

Being involved with the NBCA is one way in which Gourock makes itself visible to booster clubs, scholastic associations, and athletic clubs who rely on fundraising. The company goal is to provide these, and all, of our customers with the highest quality and most durable netting/rope products available. Our customers are confident in the quality of their purchases, and these features are very important to clubs that need to get the most for their money. In addition to our private customers, Gourock is the netting source for hundreds of major universities and colleges, school districts, and commercial facilities.

Gourock is a firm dedicated to providing the highest level of service and quality. The combination of product knowledge, materials, experience, and production ensure that Gourock is a booster club’s very best option for netting and rope products. We not only provide strong and durable products, but we also will manufacture them to any dimensional requirements that you have. Our firm became involved with the NBCA over a year ago, with the express intent of reaching clubs and potential clients just like you!

Always feel free to take a look at our firm at www.gourock.com or by giving us a toll-free ring at 1-800-247-7295. We always offer free netting samples and product information for immediate mailing; don’t hesitate to request them. We’re looking forward to hearing from your association, and wishing everyone success throughout this spring and summer!

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

EQUUS CANDLE COMPANY

Equus Candles are made using 100% soybean wax. They are hand-poured in the heart of Massachusetts where the first pilgrims made candles. For fundraiser groups, we offer three equine images for jarred candles, six votive's in a barn box, country enamel-ware filled with our candles, and no burn angel teddy bears for use in places where candle burning is not allowed. All of our products are offered with a variety of fragrances.

We want your organization to be successful; we are offering huge profits! Profits margins earned are 100%! You don’t have to be an equestrian group to take advantage of our product. Lots of folks love horses and country themed candles and would be willing to help your organization reach its goals.

Our products showcase American-made quality by their extended burn times, pleasant and rich fragrances, reusable jars, custom packaging, and Equus Candle Company full customer service.

Why Choose Equus Candles?
? We strive to provide the highest quality of hand poured, hand crafted jar candle
? We offer unique equestrian and country themed candles for the past 3 years
? Our candles are poured in a keepsake food quality glass jar. When finished, do not throw the jar away! Just pop the jar in the freezer for 2 hours and remove the wax and wick. Store your favorite items like candy, paperclips, cotton balls, or your horse’s keepsake tooth or lock of mane.
? We support local fundraisers and many equestrian organizational needs
? We are country folks and equestrians!
? We teach Math to inner city children at the middle school level
? We can offer help to any fundraiser organization

Why Use Soy Bean Wax?
? Non toxic and non-carcinogenic, environmentally safe
? Made from 100% natural soybeans no wax additives
? Soy beans are a renewable resource
? Supports American farmers, therefore the American economy
? Soy bean wax burns at lower temperatures that means you can burn the candle longer in your home; improved safety
? Soy bean wax burns cleaner with less soot
? Soy bean wax burns longer: Our 16 oz jar burns for 150 hrs
? Soy wax is biodegradable and water-soluble; therefore any spill will clean up easily with water.
? Candles burn with a fragrance each time they are lit! We add 7% fragrance in our candles
? We use 100% cotton wicks, no lead or metal

It is easy to do business with us. We will provide your company with our fundraiser literature with order forms necessary to make the sale. You collect the money up front and send us a check with your order. Don’t want to take orders; you have the option of purchasing each product by the case (we can offer a mixed fragrance variety by the case) and sell on demand. Thank you for considering Equus Candle Company for your next fundraiser!

One and one third million people will be told in 2005 that they are diabetics and that is just in the USA.

As a type 2 diabetic, I have read hundreds of great articles about diabetes. I’ve read information about diets, exercise, formulas to successfully live with diabetes, blood pressure, sugar, insulin, drugs and medicine, recipes for appetizers, drinks, meals and desserts, diabetes tracking equipment, useful tips, and educational stories and explanations about diabetes and they are all helpful and informative. Then I realized there is something missing. Where do people that live with diabetes purchase portioned gourmet cuts of beef, pork, poultry and fish ranging from 3-6 oz. each? Where can they get product that is individually vacuum-wrapped in a clear wrap, flash-frozen at 190? below zero for safety that is affordable and have these products delivered to their home by Federal Express or UPS, with 100% guarantee? In most cases, these services are unavailable at affordable prices. However, we have discovered an excellent alternative to supermarket or warehouse shopping that can give diabetics and people that prepare food for diabetics total convenience --“The One Minute Shopper”. Go to www.theoneminuteshopper.com for more information and be sure to click onto Sterling Silver meats and learn why The One Minute Shopper can bring you premium quality. The meats are definitely healthier, cleaner and safer than what you could purchase in a grocery store or warehouse. As an added plus, all meat and fish products are properly portioned to eliminate waste. All packaging contain the nutritional information and cooking instructions. This whole process is accomplished in one of the finest USDA meat processing plants in America, Southern Foods of Greensboro, North Carolina.

Most of the meat programs are low-fat, low-carb, high protein products. Great for controlling your diet and weight. Each program is priced from $89.00 to $199.00 and that is the delivered price to your home or office. The cost per serving ranges from $1.78 to $4.70 per portion and that’s for a variety of steaks. You will have to admit that is VERY reasonable! Very simply put, The One Minute Shopper is designed for 2 – 3 people and most of the packages are convenient and very helpful to people that suffer from diabetes.

Here is another gigantic benefit. This entire service is offered through your school’s National Booster Club. Ten percent of your purchase goes to your school’s Booster Club and that helps fund extra curricular activities for the students. Busy students that participate in sports, music, and many other types of extra curricular activities are less apt to be involved in drugs and alcohol, the number one problem in our country.

When you place a meat order for your family with The One Minute Shopper, your family wins, the school wins and the students win. With proper portions of cut meat and fish, diabetics win and people with weight problems win. Place an order with www.tomsnbca.com and everybody wins.