The following was published in “Philanthropy” and serves as a good reminder of what our parents taught us - say thank you. The majority of donors to Active 20-30 clubs are middle-class. They’re our peers and co-workers. We cannot forget them and must not take their support for granted.

Please post in the comments and share your thoughts on how we can best acknowledge and cultivate our everyday donors.

Do Fund Raisers Ignore Too Many Middle-Class Donors?
By Peter Panepento
By most measures, Jill A. Warren isn’t wealthy. She and her husband, the Rev. Robert D. Schoenhals, a United Methodist minister, together have never earned more than $112,000 per year. In some years, their combined income has totaled less than $40,000.

But they are diligent givers—they donate as much as 60 percent of their annual income to charity.

They’re big givers, for sure. But they often aren’t treated that way, especially by organizations that use database-screening tools to find wealthy donors.

“We’re the folks that fly under the radar, so we don’t fit the usual prospecting assumptions,” Ms. Warren said in a live discussion today with Chronicle readers. “The most important thing—just thank us. Send an acknowledgment after each gift. A small gift might represent a significant proportion of someone’s income or assets—we’re not the one-time big-gift givers, but we give a lot over time.”

She also advises fund raisers to pay more attention to people who volunteer at fund-raising events and other activities—regardless of their professions and income levels.

“Don’t underestimate our potential for major gifts,” Ms. Warren said. “There’ve been times I’ve been part of fund-raising activities, and the development staff didn’t ask me for a gift, probably thinking that because I work for a nonprofit, I wouldn’t have much to give. I felt really hurt by that. I was there because I wanted to give.”

You can find more advice by reading the transcript of the Chronicle’s live discussion.

You’re probably familiar with the CNN Heros program - the public is encouraged to nominate and profile everyday people who do extraordinary things to make the world a better place. I’m continually blown away by the impact one person - alone or leading a group - can have on a cause close to their heart.

The stories of these heros inspire and move others to action. They cause us to see the challenges around us differently. They drive us to do more and to be more. But there are so many more hero stories that go untold.

We have many unsung heros working in and with Active 20-30 locally and nationally. Agree? It’s time to shine the spotlight on the work our members and key supporters (partner agencies, donors, volunteers, etc.) do to serve our young leaders and the special needs of children.

What makes a hero, you ask. Someone who moves you. Be it because of the money she raised or the awareness he brought to the club; the consistent, positive and inspiring attitude she possesses or the hours and hours he spend working with neighborhood kids… they all have their unique stories that make them your hero.

Please post in the comments or email me directly a little about your Active 20-30 hero and why he or she deserves to be recognized (as so many of our members truly do).

So many membership-based organizations are running into issues because their members are “graying and fading”. Their average membership age is steadily increasing and members are struggling to draw in young, fresh ones at a consistent rate.

Dick Millin, a retired accountant and member of the California organization Sons of Retirement took note. “When you don’t have a steady source of new members, attrition catches up with you.”

Active 20-30 is unique in that we can lean on our past actives when we need to for wisdom, connections and manpower. But we can’t take this for granted. We are faced with the same concerns of replacing ourselves - both in number and in talents - as we move through the organization and the years.

Please share in the comments what you are doing to ensure that Active 20-30 doesn’t gray and fade?

Facebook -

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=101140569881&v=photos&ref=ts#!/group.php?gid=101140569881

Myspace -

http://www.myspace.com/sierranevada2030

Twitter -

http://twitter.com/SierraNV2030

Sierra Nevada #730 - Welcomes Its 2010-2011 Board of Directors!

President: Megan Pieters
Vice President: Leslie Batistich

Secratary: Jennifer Cameron

Treasurer: Nicole Seguin-Riley

Membership Director: Rita Roberts

PR Director: Jacquie Manoukian

Looking forward To A Fabulous New Term!

Summer Lovin’ Speed Dating
July 31, 2010 - 6pm

Venue: Two Guys from Italy
1488 Us Highway 395, Gardnerville, NV

Date & Time: July 31st, 2010 ~ 6pm

$20.00 Registration Includes:
~ One Well Drink
~ Your Potential Soul Mate!

Benefiting Special Needs Children of Douglas County
Now accepting registrations for ages 21 & up: http://www.sierranv2030.org
Summer Lovin

A Letter From Your National President

Active 20-30ians,

I am honored to be serving as your national president for 2010-11. Thank you again for a terrific installation in Santa Rosa, as well as the opportunity to lead this great organization.

Over the last year, our Active 20-30 national association board of directors, officers and the national office have worked hard to begin building a long-term strategy for growth in the number of clubs, members, foundation revenue, grants and planning. For this year, 2010-11, we have an opportunity to continue to build on our successes from last year, and build on our future.

I want to thank Immediate past president Evan Hershey for his leadership in promoting ideas and plans that promote growth in our organization. Last year, Active 20-30 United States and Canada was able to charter four clubs in Sebastopol, California, Albuquerque, New Mexico, VacaValley, California and Petaluma, California. Additionally, there was a net increase in the national association by 250 members, and for the first time in many years, our national foundation was able to send funding to help the children of Haiti, who were devastated by the earthquake in January 2010. We saw our trademarking issues being resolved which will benefit the local clubs in how Active 20-30 United States and Canada gets trademarked.

This year, our approach is going to be very similar to last year’s but with a more aggressive approach in chartering clubs and adding and retaining new members. The growth plan for clubs in 2010-11 is chartering 13 clubs, ranging from Boston on the east coast to Monterey Bay on the west coast. Gioia Hershey, president-elect of Redwood Empire #1029 has agreed to lead the New Charter Committee again for 2010-11, and she has an experienced and diverse committee assisting her in realizing this goal.

For new and retaining members, Keith Engel of Eugene #920 has agreed to lead this committee. Keith will have a committee who will be dedicated in working with the Past Active Liaison Chair Tony Cervo, a past president of Sacramento No.1, to identify members who went past active to try and generate interest in the organization, as well as work with existing clubs to proactively work to retain members.

Work to generate revenue for the foundation will take a long-term approach and immediate past president Evan Hershey has been, and will continue to work to find national corporate entities who can assist in providing funding for our foundation. The long term goal of the foundation is to provide funding for special projects and unanticipated events, as well as be used as a mechanism for matching funds for projects with local clubs.

During the national convention in Santa Rosa, a President’s Council was held to discuss with the current clubs presidents ideas and methods for chartering clubs, adding and retaining members, growing the foundation, and developing a strategic plan for the next five to ten years. It is my intent to hold another President’s Council next summer at the national convention in Albuquerque, and also work with several key stakeholders in the national organization to develop a strategic plan that can be discussed and adapted at the next President’s Council.

I am very excited by the opportunities Active 20-30 United States and Canada will encounter over the next year. We have a very enthusiastic group of individuals in the national organization who understand the importance of growing our organization, and also understand our dependence on each other to serve one another, as well as the children of our communities. I look forward to visiting your clubs this year, to gather ideas and share in our common experiences. We are a unique organization with a unique purpose and I hope you will put into the organization, as much as the organization can give you.

If you have an interest in serving on a national committee for 2010-11, please do not hesitate to contact me. We are in need for members who can bring forth great ideas and experience to better the organization. Specifically, we still need a chairperson for national project and grants, as well as members for the sponsorship committee. Any assistance will be greatly appreciated!
Thank you for putting your trust in me to serve the greatest service organization in the world.

Win $10,000 to Improve Your Local Park

Does your community have a park that needs some sprucing up so kids can play in it? Read on!

kaBOOM! is a national nonprofit whose mission is to create great playspaces through the participation and leadership of communities. Their ultimate goal is that there be places to play within walking distance of every child in America. Pretty awesome, huh?

During this year’s Play Day 2010 (September 18-26), kaBOOM! is encouraging communities to host Play Days that include games, activities, and volunteer projects to improve local playgrounds. In conjunction with this year’s Play Day, kaBOOM! is partnering with the National Environmental Education Foundation to promote National Public Lands Day (September 25), the nation’s largest hands-on volunteer effort to improve public lands.

The National Environmental Education Foundation will help KaBOOM! Play Day sites integrate park improvement volunteer activities, and KaBOOM! will help National Public Lands Day participants engage the community with fun outdoor recreational activities.

Here’s the part you’ve been waiting for: groups that participate in both programs are eligible for grants of up to $10,000 to further improve their local park, courtesy of Mott’s and NFL PLAY 60. From what I could see, there is limited information up on the site about the grant at the moment, but you might as well get a jump on things and begin planning! To start a kaBOOM! Play Day, project go to playday.kaboom.org.

You can learn more about kaBOOM! by checking out kaboom.org, reading The kaBOOM! Blog: News for Playful People, following them on Twitter at @kaBOOM!, and liking their Facebook Page at facebook.com/kaboom.

You can learn more about National Public Lands Day by going to publiclandsday.org, following them on Twitter at @publiclandsday, and liking their Facebook Page at facebook.com/nationalpubliclandsday.

Thanks to WeVolunteer for the scoop.

Volunteers from Sierra Nevada No. 730 and Carson Valley No. 85 Active 20-30 Clubs take more than 60 school-aged children shopping for basic clothes and fashions, 6:30-8:30 a.m. Aug. 7 at Walmart on Topsy Lane. Each child is accompanied by an adult volunteer to select $100 worth of shoes and clothes to help prepare them for the upcoming school year.

This is the first year that children will also receive haircuts donated by local hair salons. Active 20-30 members will also provide each child with a hot breakfast from McDonald’s.

Information, Jennifer Motti, president of Sierra Nevada Active 20-30 Club No. 730, 267-5741, jenjenz71@yahoo.com or www.sierranv2030.org

National Involvement

The following post is courtesy of Region 3 Director, Jason Deshayes.

It was right before I was going to make my regional director speech that I realized that two years ago, I stood in front of the delegates at WOCO 2008 at the Flamingo in Las Vegas, asking for the opportunity to serve them as a regional director. I had never been involved nationally before this, and here I was asking to serve as a director! Looking back, the experience and engaging in the national association helped our club (and myself) more than I could possibly imagined.

In early 2008, Albuquerque #103 was in the midst of a major change. Our senior members all disappeared, leaving behind a club that was young, understaffed and uncertain of its future. We had contemplated going co-ed, or perhaps just closing up shop. The sense of dedication you could feel in the air at the national convention sparked a renewed and more purposeful flame within me for Active 20/30. Since then, our club is stronger than ever. Our core membership is a tight-knit group; we started a second fundraising event; and we have a stronger sense of purpose than we have had in a long time.

This is not intended to say that going to one national convention will fix all of the woes of your club. It is saying that active participation in your club, as well as the national association, can and will help strength and grow you and your club, as well as further enhance the lives of the children we impact through our work. Some ways you can get involved are:

Serve on a national committee – these are the guts of the national association. They are not overly time consuming and don’t require any traveling (i.e. cost effective!). You get a chance to work with other engaged individuals throughout the country and start building relationships with other members. You can provide important and irreplaceable value by bringing to the table your specific skills and talents. Are you a PR professional? Sign up for the Public Relations committee! Do you have a knack for membership issues? Help with the Membership Growth & Retention group!

Check out an event outside of your own club – If you happen to live in California, you are fortunate in that there are Active 20/30 Clubs all over the place. If you don’t (like myself), it takes a little more time/energy/cost, but it’s still doable. Don’t just go to the parties and events

Sit in on a conference call – the national board has a monthly conference call that you can sit in on and see what is happening in the big picture. These run about two hours and are very informative.

Go to a midterm or national conference/meeting – There are typically 2 midterm meetings a year in different geographic areas to draw all sorts of people. The national convention, held usually in July, is a 4 day event, where you get to learn from other clubs through breakouts and workshops, see what your national board is doing for you, and also have a great time socializing with your 20/30 cohorts. The next convention is in Albuquerque, NM at the Hard Rock Casino from July 13th – 17th, 2011.
We’re a part of something way bigger than our individual local clubs. Embracing that will not only help your local club, but clubs and children throughout the country!