The Virginia Satir Network –
Newsletter
January 2005, Volume 4, Number 1
Election of Board
Members by Mail
Larger Internet Presence / Satir Teaching / Connections
Fund Development & Fund Raising
Through the years we have gone to different changes and ideas for fund development and fund raising. Now our goal is to re-organize and focus on what is possible. And again we need everyone support even if it is in small ways. We have learn that what support groups is the individual donations, this is the most important and sustaining part of most non for profit organizations. Please read carefully and see many of the possibilities for your support. We realize that contributions are not always financial. Some of you have contributed a lot through the year with your connections, prayers and items for the auction. So respecting where we all are, here I am going to talk about specific financial contributions. At this time we want to emphasis the following:
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Dues - Avanta has always said that ability to pay dues is not a requirement for membership. At the same time we want to encourage you to pay what you can and if possible support others who may not be able to contribute. Some years we have done better than others in the support from dues. The goal for 2005 is $14,000.
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Annual Meeting Assistance Fund and Virginia Satir Scholarship Fund - Many member have contributed to this through the years. We want to encourage you to support this. I remember a year when Virginia gave me a check for $100 when she had learned that some of us where helping a member to attend. I wanted to frame the check, yet realize it needed to be cashed if I wanted to have the money. Later on under the leadership of Karen Krestensen (I believe) the Annual Meeting Assistance Fund was started. Then in the 90s a Satir Scholarship Fund was established. Please note that you can send some money each month rather than a lump sum at one time. Also in the past some members who could not attend a meeting, sent a contribution towards supporting some one else to attend. The goals for 2005 are $1,000 for each.
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Treasure Chest - Starting last year the idea of the Treasure Chest was developed to give people an opportunity to celebrate and honor people in their lives as well as a way to support Avanta. We hope that this takes on in 2005 and that each of you can see this as a possible birthday gift for family, friends, and especially children. I can only imaging how children and adults would like to see their pictures and story on an international Website. Click here to visit the Treasure Chest.
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Annual Conference Auction - Maureen Graves started and has chaired the Annual Meeting Auction since 1999. This has been a fun and successful way to raise money for Avanta. This also allows many people to participate. You can help in many ways: bring or send items; ask others for items specially anyone you know business or friend to donate items; help at the Satir Annual Conference with the auction; and do some of your "gift" shopping at the auction. There are usually many items for children and everyone. Maureen has agreed to chair the auction again this year.
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Friends of Avanta - Starting in 2002 this has become a way for people to connect with Avanta and stay connected without becoming a members. A way you can help is to ask friends and even relatives that have heard about Satir and Avanta to join this group. Click here for more information.
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Events - in the Seattle area. At first it was a Cuban Dinner. In the last two years, we did this with another group. For 2005 Wendy Edenfield, an Avanta member, wants us to do an Asian Dinner. Watch the Website www.avanta.net for more information.
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Fund Raising Activities - We are planning a fund raising initiative by mail later this year. This will go to everyone in our mailing list. At this time you can help us with names of people you feel will support Avanta, and even more by being a bridge for Avanta with other people. They can always support Avanta ina general way and/or send their contributions to specific project or programs.
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Foundations / Grants - We have done and are continuing to do some exploration in this area. At this time it appears that with all that is going on in the world, Foundations are looking more for groups that are doing direct services. If anyone of you have a connection with any foundation that you feel would support Avanta and/or some of the work we are doing please let us know.
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Sponsor / Partnership - We think that we may have better results looking for sponsors and partners in some of the activities or projects. For example there may be an individual or group that may be able to sponsor Virginia Satir' Birthday Celebration. Therefore we are asking for your ideas and connections in this area.
The Fund Development and Fund Raising Committee members are: Wendy Edenfield, Hugh Gratz, Connie Lundgren, Nancy Macdonald, and Hilda Richards with consultants Susan McFeaters, Hana Scibranyova and the staff and Margarita Suarez as chair of the committee.