SHAKER CREW FALL 2009 FUNDRAISERS STROKES FOR SUPPORT – ALBANY RIVERFRONT - SATURDAY, 10/3/09 SHOP FOR A CAUSE - COLONIE CENTER - SATURDAY, 10/17/2009 CANDY BAR SALES – OCTOBER THROUGH NOVEMBER HOLIDAY WREATHS – SALES START 10/15; ORDERS DUE 11/1 Dear Rowers/Parents of Shaker Crew: What does fundraising mean to Shaker Crew? Shaker Crew has been active for 20 years – as some of you may know we were formed in 1989 as a not-for-profit organization. Each boat purchased by our club costs us $15,000 to $28,000, depending on the size and model. Our current equipment assets are valued at over $150,000. Today’s student-athletes are benefiting from the fundraising efforts of former rowers and their families who wanted to ensure a strong future for Shaker Crew. The club has also received a number of generous donations from both individual and corporate sponsors, but the bulk of our capital purchases have been made possible by the multitude of row-a-thons, car washes, flower sales, wreath sales, candy sales and the like – countless hours of volunteer effort! Fundraising is vital and it is through your efforts that our equipment inventory will be sustained and expanded. Our current inventory of equipment includes the following:         

5 race quality eights 2 race quality fours 56 sweep oars 4 sets of sculling oar F250 Ford pickup Shell trailer 4 outboard motors 4 coaching launches and trailers 5 rowing machines

Without this inventory, our team would not be as successful as it has been. We are proud to say that we currently have Shaker Crew alumni rowing at Florida Institute of Technology, Fordham, Harvard, Ithaca College, Marist, RPI, SUNY Albany, Syracuse, and Tulsa. This is a tremendous accomplishment for such a small school club. In years past, fundraising was used exclusively for purchasing new boats. But in recent years, due to the challenging economy and declining enrollment, fundraising dollars are now used to make payments on two racequality boats and supplement membership dues to meet general operating expenses. We are keeping “our head above water”, but we need to continue our efforts to obtain contributions from other sources and exceed the minimum fundraising obligation. Our boat trailer is more than 20 years old and needs to be replaced. What a 20th anniversary remembrance it would be if we could replace that this winter! We have a $5,000 pledge toward this goal and need at least another $5,000 to purchase a new one.

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It doesn’t need to be said that we owe it to Shaker Crew to “pay it forward.” Putting our money to work for new equipment will benefit our kids rowing today for college scholarships and for future rowers not yet here with our team. So, let’s do our best to a leave a legacy for Shaker Crew. We are off to a great start with recruitment efforts this year. Let’s keep up the momentum! What can I do to raise funds for this season? The minimum fundraising obligation for the Fall 2009 season is $175 per rower family. It isn’t about just writing a check but finding sources to raise the funds. There may be businesses you know who may be interested in making a donation. To meet the fundraising obligation we have two major fundraising events on October 3 (Strokes for Support) and October 17 (Macy’s Shop for a Cause) which we require rowers and coxswains to attend. There will also be required sales of candy bars and optional sales of holiday wreaths. Fundraising obligation balances will be due October 30.

Thank you for your support!

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STROKES FOR SUPPORT – ALBANY RIVERFRONT October 3, 2009 – 8:00 A.M. – 12:00 Noon STROKES FOR SUPPORT is the first fundraiser and a really fun day where crew members row 10K on the Hudson River to support Shaker Crew. All rowers must participate. Last year we raised $5,677 which was used to repair the Boys JV 8 boat – let’s see if we can beat that amount for this year! On the event day, we’ll have goodies to eat thanks to the coordination of our Food Committee. Parents, friends and sponsors are welcome to join in the festivities on that day. Please invite your sponsors! We hope to row a combined effort of 250 miles. And for your information we will be video-taping you as you row to improve our team’s technique for the upcoming season. This year we are asking you to use the enclosed Pledge Forms and Corporate Sponsorship Form to collect pledges and corporate sponsorships. The suggested donation to sponsor a rower is $1 per 1,000 meters (1K), or $10, but donations can be for any amount. No amount is too small or, of course, too large! Checks should be made payable to “Shaker Rowing Association.” A poster is attached (and available on our website) for your use should you be able to advertise the event. Please record the person’s name, address and amount of pledge and if they would like an acknowledgment letter on the enclosed form. Corporate sponsors will benefit as outlined on the form. Corporate sponsorships are due to Darlene by Monday, September 28. Individual pledges from family, friends and community are due on the event day – October 3rd.

Let’s Row for “Dough”!

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SHOP FOR A CAUSE – MACY’S, COLONIE CENTER October 17, 2009 – Ticket Selling Time and Presentation Time at Macy’s TBA We are requiring that each family commit to a minimum of 10 shopping passes and prepay $50 of their fundraising obligation for these passes. We will distribute the passes at the Parent Rower meeting on September 15th and ask that you bring cash or check for $50 payable to “Shaker Rowing Association.” Shopping passes entitle the bearer to special savings throughout any Macy’s store on October 17th and are good at ANY Macy’s store in the U.S. The passes include 20 percent off certain merchandise and for this year, for the first time, there is also a 25 percent off any one item pass. On the shopping day there will be a raffle for a $500 gift card in each Macy’s store along with other raffle prizes. Pamphlets will be printed up by Macy’s announcing the store festivities such as cooking demos, fashion show, etc. Macy’s Colonie Center will let us host a table with a slide show presentation and club material in the store for the entire day if we like. We will also be selling Shop for a Cause tickets exclusively for Shaker Crew at the store entrance for a couple hours to be decided. One of our smaller boats will be on display at that entrance with the sellers. As important as this fundraiser is, it is even better that we get this kind of exposure for recruitment for next season. Volunteers to “man” the table, assist with preparing the presentation, selling tickets and getting the boat to and from the river will be needed. Passes can be sold to family and friends at $5 each ($50 total). Certainly if you want to sell more passes that would be really fantastic because 100% of the proceeds go directly to Shaker Crew. Sales in excess of $50 and unsold passes are due to Darlene Maloney no later than Thursday, October 15th. Some helpful tips for selling passes are listed below:  When selling the passes point out that due to the great discounts, the face value of the ticket (just $5) can be recouped with one merchandise purchase.  If you know or work for a business that may be interested in purchasing a block of tickets, please let us know. Those passes can be used as incentives for employees and we can get you more!  Don’t wait to sell your passes! Spread the word now. Write Darlene Maloney ([email protected]) and she’ll get you more passes if you need them.  General information about the shopping event from Macy’s can be found at: http://www.macysinc.com/shopforacause/About.asp. You will see that we are mentioned on the website as well under Participating Charities. The Macy’s FAQs are attached. HELP will be needed with selling tickets, preparing the slide show and setting up at Macy’s including transporting the boat. Please volunteer to help to meet our goal.

Happy Selling and Shopping!! Fall 2009 Fundraising

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CANDY BAR SALES: OCTOBER THROUGH NOVEMBER Delicious chocolate candy bars from Gertrude Hawk (http://www.gertrudehawkchocolates.com/) will be our third fundraiser. All rowers are required to sell at least one box of 40 candy bars at $1/candy bar (a check in the amount of $40.00 payable to Shaker Rowing Association is due when you pick up your box of candy). The profit margin is about 45 cents per candy bar or $18.00 per box of candy. This amount will be applied toward your fundraising obligation. Candy bar boxes should be available for purchase at Strokes for Support on October 3. All rowers are required to purchase one box. Of course, if you want more that would be great! The reason for this being a required fundraiser is that it is not only an income generator for our club but also a marketing tool to further introduce Shaker Crew and rowing opportunities to fellow Shaker students. We need to raise awareness throughout the Shaker schools about our rowing club and what better way to do it than over a decadent candy bar? Each candy bar will have a custom label with our Shaker Crew logo, web address, and an invitation to fellow students to "Join Our Team and Come Crew with Us.” It is imperative that our rowers sell at least their first box of candy bars to fellow students within the school (associated school permissions will be arranged). If parents would like to help out by selling more at their offices, a second box will be available. Gary Czupil is coordinating this fundraiser and will be in touch with additional program details. Please contact him at [email protected] or 271-1845 if you have questions.

Find those Chocolate Lovers!

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HOLIDAY WREATHS and SWAGS: SALES START OCTOBER 15; ORDERS DUE NOVEMBER 1 Fresh and fragrant holiday wreaths and swags will again be offered this fall. Fragrant balsam 25 inch Christmas wreaths come decorated with white tipped pine cones, red holly berries and a gorgeous red waterproof bow! Wreaths may also be purchased for direct shipment as gifts to out-oftown friends and family. Gift card included. Exquisite mixed balsam fir and pine 24 inch swag with white tipped pine cones and red waterproof bow will also be available. Wreaths arrive fresh from Evergreen Industries (http://www.evergreenindustries.net/) just before Thanksgiving. Pricing is: 25” Wreaths 24” Swag 25” Wreath shipped out of town

$25.00 $22.00 $35.00

You would earn about a 45 – 50 percent profit margin toward your fundraiser obligation on the sale of wreaths and swags. Diane Lemieur is coordinating this optional fundraiser and distributing sales packets in mid-October. For questions, please contact Diane at [email protected].

Fundraising Chair Contacts:

Darlene Maloney, Fundraising Co-Chair, home # 783-7798 [email protected] Gary Czupil, Fundraising Co-Chair, home # 271-1845 [email protected]

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