Yoga block drink holder raffle? I'm in!
I have a couple of things I could contribute if a raffle or similar is in the offering. Money if that is the way it's heading.
Straight up money never hurts. I did not wait for the fundraiser, but I may buy a ticket or two this time if there is another raffle.
I like the idea of Canoe Tripping members contributing raffle items, especially homemade, handmade DIY stuff. I trust Doug to draw the winning names, and to video the event in his new shop, upholding the finest Robin tradition.
But I would like to propose an economizing variation. Rather than folks paying to mail Doug the raffle items, and then Doug paying to mail them to the winners, how about we eliminate the repackaging and duplicate mailing expense and have the contributor mail the prize straight to the winner after the raffle?
Postage expense between the US and Canada is a stumbling block. Worst case scenario, a Canadian shells out to mail Doug a prize contribution. Which is won by a Canadian, and Doug pays to mail it back cross border.
The maker could just send Doug a photo and glowing description of the awesome prize contribution to be awarded, which I am sure Doug could incorporate into the video, and be responsible for getting it to the winner.
Between countries it might be less expensive transfer the prize to someone planning to cross the border for them to mail. Or, better case scenario, if the contributor knows someone who has a trip or visit coming up in the next year with the winner, get it to them, offering delayed gratification but in person presentation with a flourish.
Even if that meant employing a two or three person chain of custody, and a couple of handoffs from Canoe Tripper X to Canoe Tripper Y, the backstory alone would add immediate sentimentality.
I will be making another run of yoga block beverage stabilizers, as soon as I finish with this Kapotasana, which is making it very awkward to use the keyboard. If raffle prizes were limited to incountry shipping Memaquay might never get his customized yoga block.
EDIT. On second thought, the homemade, handmade DIY stuff can take a while to create. We do not all work with Alan Gage efficiency.
How about a straight up fund raiser first, with a raffle date set for some time later in the year, giving folks time to make and build stuff.