The Memorabilia (Baubles & Trinkets) committee has been
expanded to "Ways & Means", which means "creative ways to
raise money". One of our good, consistent fund raisers has
been the raffle table that takes place each meeting. We have
sometimes sold close to 100 raffle tickets, when there was a
large selection of plants, some very nice ones, donated for the
raffle. In recent meetings, however, the raffle seems to have
fallen on hard times. Plant donations have been sparse, and
nice plants have been even scarcer. As a consequence, ticket
sales have been down, and many of those who bought tickets
have done so simply to help out the club, rather than any real
interest in winning plants on the table. At recent board
meetings we have tossed around some suggestions. One is to
buy plants for the raffle table, or to pull some plants from the
silent auction table at the owner's minimum price (before there
are any bids on that item) to spike up the raffle table. This
may be robbing Peter to pay Paul, as the saying goes, as it
would theoretically cut into auction profits. For now, though,
we will just try putting out a CALL FOR RAFFLE PLANTS.
Blooming-size plants are usually the best, but healthy
seedlings, divisions and keikis are good also. Please don't put
out diseased or moribund plants. While most of us know the
difference (we hope) between a healthy and a diseased plant,
we give out raffle tickets to visitors. It's a bad reflection on
our society if either a visitor or a beginner has only half-dead
plants to choose from. Other items like books, supplies,
etcetera, can also be put on the raffle table. Non-orchid plants
and items are also welcome, and will be taken if there's room.
Donations to the raffle table may be tax-deductible. If you
want a receipt, turn in a note with your name, donated items,
and their estimated value (be reasonable!), to the Raffle
Manager (see below) or the Treasurer.
The raffle table is moving! There has been some congestion
in the back of the auditorium between the silent auction, store,
speaker's plants, etc. To alleviate this, the raffle table will be
to the left front of the meeting room, and we will draw and call
raffle numbers from the podium using the microphone.
Finally, we need a RAFFLE MANAGER. That person's main
responsibility would be to inspect donated plants and cull out
diseased or undesirable ones, see that raffle tickets get sold,
make out receipts, and run the actual drawing. This could be
a job for more than one person, rotating the meetings among
two or three people would ease the work load. Any
volunteers? Please call me at 761-5859, or see me at the
meeting. And remember, support the club raffle - donate
plants, and buy raffle tickets.
Harry C. Winter