Fundraising - tie it up in a down economy

I have had people asking about my fundraising program, so figured I should put it on my blog.

Fundraising - as easy as tying a bow!

Everyone buys gifts, for all kinds of occasions.

Tap into your group’s need to buy gifts and raise money at the same time.

No one has to buy something they won’t use or pay more than they normally would. Your group doesn’t have to take orders (or payments!) or make deliveries. We do all of it!

How? So glad you asked.

Ribbon Gift collections are simple to use:
The gift giver simply chooses the Ribbon Gift Collection they want to give. They order it and then give it to the recipient.
The recipient chooses the gift he or she wants online and redeems it. The selected gift is delivered directly to the recipient.
It’s that simple. And risk free, since both the gift giver/purchaser and the recipient are covered by our satisfaction guarantee.

The Ribbon Gift Collections cover all types of occasions, birthdays, weddings, new baby, hostess and thank you gifts, holidays, Valentines Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, etc. They cover popular name brands like adidas®, Sony®, Ghirardelli®, Cuisinart®, and many more. There is a huge selection including home décor, gourmet foods, electronics, educational toys, jewelry and lots more. Ribbon Gift Collections are a joy to give, a pleasure to receive. You can see more about the program at rweber1.ordermygift.com.

Well that sounds great, but how can my group make money with it?
Again, it’s very simple (you’re busy enough, right?!)
~ We send you the announcement of the program which you send out to your group. (You are welcome to add information if you want, but what we send will be ready to copy and hand out or send as an e-mail. Many prefer going green by doing all the communication online).
~ Group members then sign on to a website, register, place any order they want, and make their payment. The gift arrives when and where they want. They have a 180 day period to get a refund if they choose. There are no shipping charges to anyone, just retail price and the appropriate sales tax (which the computer figures).

At the middle of each month, we will review all orders from the previous month and determine the amount of sales and related funds which will be sent to you, along with a copy of the accounting. If you wish, we can send personalized thank you e-mails to donors as part of the monthly accounting, too.

It really is that simple. No one has to hassle anyone. You just let your group know about the opportunities to shop on line, give them the info to get registered and let the computer and us do the rest. We provide an e-mail address for anyone who wants to contact us directly, but will not initiate contact with them, so there’s no spam!
The benefits to your group members:
1) Ease of shopping (in their fuzzy slippers and robe without having to bring the kids!)
2) No gas used!
3) No need to pay shipping costs for gifts they send in the mail (and no need to insure anything either)!
4) No need to worry if the recipient really liked the gift!
5) The opportunity to have one purchase to become two gifts, one for the gift recipient and one to your fundraiser!

The benefits to your organization:
1) No need to hassle folks to buy something just to support your group
2) No administration time to keep you from doing the things you do best
3) No need to worry about handling money (or having your group members have to handle money)
4) No deadlines. Once this is set up, it can continue to generate funds for your organization year round.

While fall is the biggest shopping season of the year, this program can start anytime.

Please send me an e-mail at robin.e.weber@gmail.com for any questions or to get started.

PS – if you have anyone in your organization that has gift needs for their company, we can service them too. And that service will create even more income for your group.

And how does the newest economic news affect me?

Wow, things have been really, um, interesting, in the past two weeks. The financial sky is falling according to some, and according to others, it's just a low cloud ceiling that will break up soon. Regardless, a lot of folks are concerned.

The concern has done a couple of things. It has reinforced that the financial security of your family does not come from your employer (we learned that years ago, when companies began wholesale layoffs!). Nor does it come from your employer's "secure" retirement pensions and 401k. If the company uses loans to do business and is traded on the stock exchange, security is not available any more!

A lot of people are asking for my help in developing their financial security. The look of relief on their faces as they realize they can control their future is wonderful. It's why I do what I do!

People are also feeling very depressed that they cannot support the charities they have in previous years. In a way, they take on a guilt that they don't have the disposable income to share. I took this on as a challenge and am having a lot of fn and great success helping charities to raise funds with no stress, no hassle, no financial exposure, and no need to ask families to spend money they would not normally spend.

In short, the economy is an opportunity to serve more and I am loving every minute of it! Success is often defined as 'how many people are better off because you lived?' I hope you are finding ways to serve and give, and be successful, too. Please let me know how. And if you know anyone who has a need, would you let me know? I'd like to help!
Gratefully,
Robin

Self Fulfilling Prophecy

When I was in undergrad (Special Education at Indiana State University) I learned about the concept of the self fulfilling prophecy. In a nutshell, studies show what we all know. Kids will live up or down to what they hear you say about them. If a kid hears, "This little girl is sweet, but she probably won't be very good in school, she just doesn't have the smarts," odds are she won't be that great. And she will not think of herself as smart. The more they hear it, the higher the chance they won't succeed.
While I was in grad school I was exposed to a great book, "What to Say When You Talk to Yourself" by Shad Helmstetter/ It helped me understand more about how the concept actually works and how it is even more powerful for ourselves.
And tomorrow, I will have a great example of the truth of this principle. Tomorrow, I walk in the Walk From Obesity at Concord Mills, Concord, NC. I care about this cause because I have dropped 180 pounds in the past three years, through diet, exercise, and gastric bypass (Roux en Y with Fobi Band). But the actually journey began a couple of years before that, when I started using self talk to change my self image to be at 180 pounds (rather than the 423 that I was at when I began). I still have 60 pounds to go, but I *know* that I would not be where I am if I had not changed my self image through influencing my self fulfilling prophecy.
So I encourage you to get the book and use this to make your life more enjoyable!
To your personal success!
Robin

Who made a difference for you?

Thinking about the people who have made a difference in my life, I find a common thread. My parents, my business coaches, brothers and sisters, in-laws, significant managers, others in the family. They all believed I was more than capable of doing something special, at least in one area of my life. And they told me so. Often. I never doubted how they thought of me.

When I think of them all, the greatest gift they gave me was to believe in myself. And it has shown up in interesting ways. Going to law school in my late 30s while working full time, no problem. Starting up and running several successful businesses over the years, done deal. Having an incredible marriage because we work at it and because I believed I was worthy of being married to such an incredible man; it's a given.

The most important part, I am obligated to pass it forward. If you notice that I'm not, will you remind me please? Thanks!