Dinner & Auction for CF
| First Name | Erin |
| Last Name | Thomson |
| kinerinthomson@gmail.com | |
| Club Name | Kinette Club of Timmins |
| District # | 8 |
| Number of Members | 11-25 |
| Community Size | Medium-sized community (20,000-100,000) |
| Community Type | Urban |
| Project Name | Dinner & Auction for CF |
| Type of Project (check all that apply) | Ticketed event (Gala, Princess Ball, Comedy Fest, Lip Sync Battle, Trivia Night etc.) |
| If other, please describe | |
| Was this project a fundraiser? | No |
| Description of project | A Christmas themed dinner with both a live and silent auction to raise funds for Cystic Fibrosis Research. The evening plays host to women of all ages. A table of seniors sit amicably next to a table of pre-teen girls and their mothers; amicably that is, until the bidding starts! The event brings CF awareness to the attendees; emphasis on the positive aspects of the gains CF research has made and the way that dollars raised makes a true difference in the lives of CF families, keeps the evening light and festive. Event planning each year starts with naming an event Chair and then designing the poster and ticket theme, centerpiece décor items are decided, and brain-storming sessions are held to introduce new or reintroduce old ideas. Planning for the auction is a collaboration of values passed forward from our rich Kinette heritage and fresh ideas inspired by contemporary themes. We believe firmly that the less money spent on an event translates into more dollars for CF research,and as such, each attendee at the event is asked to donate an item for auction. Items usually include,but are not limited to: crafts, baking, hand made items, local artwork, gift baskets, and Christmas decorations and décor. The cost of the meal, hall rental, and gratuity is covered by the admission ticket price. The cost of publicity and postal fees has been drastically cut with the use of social media (i.e. Facebook) and word of mouth, resulting in more funds donated to CF. We have recently been soliciting corporate sponsorship to cover the costs of décor and special activities such as our new tradition of a Candy Bar in memory and honour of a young woman in our community who lost her battle with CF. The Kinette donated, themed door prize is always a much anticipated highlight of the evening. |
| Service Hours | 21-50 |
| Did you leverage this project as a way to recruit new members? | Yes |
| If you answered yes to the question above, please explain: | Information about the Kinette Club and our Mission, Vision and Values is placed on the tables and the MC always acknowledges the Kin members by having them stand and welcomes any guest to speak with any member about Kin and what we do in the community. We also put out a call to welcome new membership. |
| How was this project promoted in your community? | The Annual Dinner & Auction for CF has a loyal following within the community of Timmins. Many guests have attended for as many years as the auction has existed. Word of mouth has been a prime promoter of this event. The past few years we have migrated from standard mail, to collecting email addresses at the tables so that an electronic invitation can be sent for the following year’s event. We also mention throughout the evening that the Timmins Kinette Facebook page will be updated with all future Kinette and CF initiatives. This drives likes to our page, increases awareness of the other CF events we hold (CF Pubb Putt, Walk to make CF History, Ride for the Breath of Life), and allows us to draw attention to Kin Canada and the Kinette Club of Timmins. The use of ‘save the date’ posters, and seats available updates are highly anticipated on social media; the one update that no one looks forward to is the ‘sold out’ poster, which we Kinettes quietly celebrate! Each year themed posters and tickets are printed in colour. The information on each year’s poster remains mostly unchanged, with the exception of the date change reflective of the calendar year and the themed graphics. The graphic themes tie together the season’s electronic mailing, poster, and ticket with a recognizable seasonal image. Examples include: pointsettias, snowmen, winter birds,snowflakes and most recently, a rustic pinecone theme. Posters are placed in high traffic areas as well as bulletin boards at establishments with a high population of female employees: Grocery stores, Government complexes, large employers, and the District Hospital. Tickets for the event are sold in advance. Each invitation and poster has the contact information of the Kinette in charge of ticket sales. In the past, most tickets were reserved over the telephone; however, recent use of the internet has allowed guests to order tickets via email using our centralized Kinette email address: timminskinettes@gmail.com. Most tickets are ordered and then paid for at a centralized, convenient location. Some tickets are reserved and paid for at the door on the night of the event. Tickets are not available at the door as attendee numbers are required to place the dinner order and set the tables; the auction has been a sold-out event for the past 6 years. |
| What were some challenges you faced with this project, and how could your project be improved? | With the growth of the event, we needed to improve our ticketing (now remedied with the common email address and ticket pick up location). We have also implemented a seating chart/reserved table system due to the large number of people now attending. |
| What was the approximate budget for this project? | No cost (ex. KINdness project, time only) |
| If the project was a fundraiser, what were the sources of revenue for this project? | Sources of revenue come from ticket sales (to off set the cost of the meal/hall and gratuity) and Auction bids. |
| If this was a fundraiser, how much money was raised (minus expenses)? | $5,000-$10,000 |
| What were the expenses for this project? | Net zero expenses due to décor and candy sponsorships and ticket fees. |
| Is there anything else you would like to share that would assist another club in duplicating this project in their community? |