[VABS] VABS Fundraising at State Convention

Fri Aug 25 15:30:25 UTC 2017

Chris:

Most definitely! The students are only a subset of the larger convention
constituency, and a comparatively poor one at that. Let's be honest--as most
of us know, we students are strapped for cash during much of our college
years, and younger students only get money at the behest of their parents
unless they have some kind of entry-level job. In order for a fundraiser to
turn any significant profit at a state convention, you'll definitely want to
sell something which will be attractive to all attendees.

Chris Nusbaum

-----Original Message-----
From: VABS [mailto:vabs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Christopher
O'meally via VABS
Sent: Friday, August 25, 2017 11:18 AM
To: Virginia Association of Blind Students list <vabs at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Christopher O'meally <chris.omeally at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [VABS] VABS Fundraising at State Convention

That ould actually be very interesting.  if not to sell to the students, but
to the chapter at large.  I could think of a few people in the past 13 state
conventions I have been to who dropped a bit of cash on a nicely crafted
item.

On 8/25/17, Naim Abu-ElHawa via VABS <vabs at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Dear Chris And Hello All:
> Good Day!
> These are definitely some words of wisdom, Brother! Thank you for such
> valuable input, Chris. We shall definitely keep this advice in the
> backs of all of our minds when considering ideas. Thank you much!
>
> Many Thanks And Much Respect.
>
> Sincerely,
>
>
>
> Naim Muawia Abu-El Hawa
>
> Student: Northern Virginia Community College.
> Member: Virginia Association of Blind Students.
> Member: National Association of Blind Students.
> Member: National Federation of the Blind.
>
> Email Address: nmabuelhawa at gmail.com
>
> Cell Phone Number: (202) 848-8932
>
> "It is difficult to say what is impossible, for the dream of yesterday
> is the hope of today and the reality of tomorrow."
> Robert H. Goddard
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Aug 24, 2017, at 11:04 PM, Christopher Nusbaum via VABS
>> <vabs at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>
>> Naim and All:
>>
>> This is a wonderful discussion which has spawned many great ideas.
>> I'm enjoying observing how our students in VA are thinking!
>>
>> The only input I would add is that a general best practice is to sell
>> something which is inexpensive, but which is of practical use to the
>> buyer.
>> In other words, you'll want to sell something which will be so useful
>> that a convention attendee who wasn't originally planning to support
>> VABS will do so because he/she needs or wants your item in his/her
>> home. Satisfying an immediate need--that is, a need during the
>> convention--is an added bonus.
>> Take, for instance, the Greater Baltimore Chapter in Maryland, which
>> sells portable battery packs and iPhone charging cables at national
>> convention with much success. I'm sure many of us have experienced
>> those tricky situations when our phones are about to die during a
>> convention session, but we can't get our phones charged unless we go
>> back to our rooms or borrow a friend's battery pack. Their
>> fundraiser, then, serves an immediate need among conventioneers and
>> is therefore a very sought-after item.
>>
>> In the same vain, selling earbuds for an iPhone or other devices may
>> be a good idea. They don't have to be of the expensive Bluetooth
>> variety; just the cheap wire-operated ones you can buy at Walmart for
>> $5 or $10. This, again, would serve an immediate need during
>> convention, as it would allow a conventioneer to operate his/her
>> device as needed without disturbing others near him/her with a
>> talking screen reader. I don't currently know of any affiliate or
>> division selling these, so you may be able to start a trend.
>> But no matter what you sell, I would encourage you to think about
>> that strategy as you make your decision.
>>
>> Chris
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: VABS [mailto:vabs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Naim
>> Abu-ElHawa via VABS
>> Sent: Thursday, August 24, 2017 4:33 PM
>> To: Virginia Association of Blind Students list <vabs at nfbnet.org>
>> Cc: Naim Abu-ElHawa <nmabuelhawa at gmail.com>
>> Subject: Re: [VABS] VABS Fundraising at State Convention
>>
>> Hello, All:
>> How about an assortment of fidget spinners. A collection, maybe.
>>
>> Many Thanks And Much Respect.
>>
>> Sincerely,
>>
>>
>>
>> Naim Muawia Abu-El Hawa
>>
>> Student: Northern Virginia Community College.
>> Member: Virginia Association of Blind Students.
>> Member: National Association of Blind Students.
>> Member: National Federation of the Blind.
>>
>> Email Address: nmabuelhawa at gmail.com
>>
>> Cell Phone Number: (202) 848-8932
>>
>> "It is difficult to say what is impossible, for the dream of
>> yesterday is the hope of today and the reality of tomorrow."
>> Robert H. Goddard
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>>> On Aug 24, 2017, at 10:08 AM, Christopher O'meally via VABS
>>> <vabs at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>
>>> Well, I have found that the trick is to see what is trending around
>>> membership, like a commen thing that people may or may not be
>>> interested in, or what is popular right now, and try to see if we
>>> can sell or rafle that thing.  Like I know a lot of chapters raffle
>>> for a fourth gen apple tv, and they aren't too expensive.  Some
>>> people sell flash drives, ear buds, braille uno cards, I have a long
>>> list.  if you would like me to throw out all of my ideas, feel free
>>> to request and I will.
>>>
>>>> On 8/24/17, Robert Parsons via VABS <vabs at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>> Good Morning VABS
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> This thread is to collect ideas on how you guys think we should
>>>> raise money at this year's National Federation of the Blind of
>>>> Virginia's state convention. This year, the state convention is
>>>> from November
>>>> 3-5 at the Westin Tyson's Corner in Falls Church, VA. In the past
>>>> years, we have sold cookies, shot glasses, and a 50/50 raffle. We
>>>> have also done practical fundraisers like arrest a chapter leader
>>>> and put them in handcuffs. The only way we would free the person is
>>>> if they raised $50 from the membership.
>>>> Take
>>>> some time to think about what you think may work and put it in this
>>>> thread.
>>>> Remember, to answer this thread you must hit "reply all."
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Thanks
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Robert E. Parsons Jr.
>>>>
>>>> President, Richmond Chapter
>>>>
>>>> President, Virginia Association of Blind Students
>>>>
>>>> National Federation of the Blind of Virginia
>>>>
>>>> Randolph Macon College '18
>>>>
>>>> Phone: 804 200 3275
>>>>
>>>> "Without struggle, there is no progress." -Frederick Douglass
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Very Respectfully,
>>>
>>> Christopher O’Meally.
>>>
>>> NVB of Virginia 2016 leadership fellow.
>>>
>>> Lead instructor and CEO of Access Tech Media INC.
>>>
>>> Contract Closeout Specialist, Defense Contract Management Agency.
>>>
>>> Chris.omeally at gmail.com
>>>
>>> (804)658-6668
>>>
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>>
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>
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--
Very Respectfully,

Christopher O’Meally.

NVB of Virginia 2016 leadership fellow.

Lead instructor and CEO of Access Tech Media INC.

Contract Closeout Specialist, Defense Contract Management Agency.

Chris.omeally at gmail.com

(804)658-6668

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