HOW TO ORGANISE A FUNDRAISER IN 10 DAYS
Trip Start
Sep 08, 2007
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18
23
Trip End
Dec 30, 2008
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Sydney,
New South Wales,
Australia
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Age: 35
Marital status: Lives with a partner
Job: Entrepreneur and business owner
Religion: No religion
I met Mel by chance in a hotel lobby in Delhi, 6 months ago, on the first day of my trip. We were both taken to the wrong hotel by a cheating cab driver. What a great way to make friends! And friends we became instantaneously. We traveled together for a while. Then she had to go back to Australia. Before she left, she told me with her melodic Australian accent - You know what, let me know when you are coming to Sydney. We can make a fundraiser for that charity you are supporting - Room to Read, that is.
I arrived in Sydney on March 29th, fundraiser organization already under way. Date of the event was set on April 8th, Tuesday. One of the swankiest bars on Manley's Esplanade has agreed to open their second floor for us. Mel had a big vision, I could barely follow - it has to sound like a fun night, so people turn up, and it has to be fun when they come, so they open their wallets and hand us the money! We have to have an entertainer, we have to have an auction with great prices, we have to have a few raffles, we have to have... hang on a second, I say, how are we going to do all that in 10 days?! No problem she says - my boutique will donate some clouting, so we can have a fashion catwalk, and I've secured a real celebrity to conduct the auction - the Channel 10 traffic reporter Vic Larusso. Everybody knows the weather man and the traffic reporter! All we need is an entertainer.
Melanie Norman
So it goes:
Day one: What are you doing for dinner, Mel asks me. Let's go down to the comedy club and see if we can someone to perform on the night. Two hours and couple of beers later, we have managed to persuade one of the comedians that he wants to spread some charitable laughter. .
Day two: Checking out the venue. Gosh, it looks posh! How expensive is it? Well, a cocktail goes for $16! Ouch! We need to have a drink special. Gina, the manager of the venue is not sure she can help, but after looking through some pictures I've taken in Nepal, gets really emotional and says she'd do her best. She does even better than that - they will make a special Room to Read cocktail and donate a wine basket.
Day tree, four, five: We need more prices. Mel spends the days calling around local businesses and friends. Our auction list slowly starts to build up.
Mel's friend Ukiko, who works at a local gym, says we should talk to Tom - the owner. We go down to the gym at 7 pm. Tom is already having some beers with friends in the bar next door. He is in a very generous mood - four gym memberships are handed over.
Day six: Visit to the Women's Expo. A lady who has heard about the fundraiser from Mel's sister invites us to see her boot. She is selling designer's sun protective beach wear. She wants to participate in our fashion parade. Several of the ladies in her business group are also interested. We leave the Expo with a bag full of goodies for the raffle, and the phone numbers of couple of armature models, who enthusiastically agree to do the catwalk. All free of charge of course.
Day seven: We are tired. We've been up at 6 am every morning, writing emails, making and returning phone calls, printing, cutting, designing the programs for the night, making auction list. Mel has been working full time on top of this. We need a break. Mel suggest we go to one of the busy local bubs - we can have couple of beers, meet some friends and rally the troops for the party next Tuesday. We end up having more than a few drinks. And shots too!
Day eight: Heads hurt, but moral is strong. It is really coming along! We go to the mall, to talk to one of the prospective catwalk models. Simone is a sweet looking girl, who sells luxurious handbags as a day job. She shows us some of her professional photos and we are stunned how professional they look. She smiles and says - yes, Kerry does miracles with her make up. The other woman in the shop turns out to be a professional make-up artist, who works with Simone. 10 minutes later, Kerry has committed to give us a hand at the evening. We later get a call from a photographer, who works with Kerry, and she wants to be involved too.
Day nine: We still need a stage and a projector. Melanie's partner takes things into his hands. He's always wanted to build a stage. Mel and I drive across town to pick up a projector, which I learn how to operate, only to fail to switch it on, minutes before the first presentation is due. Jennie, the Room to Read representative gracefully switches from a PowerPoint presentation to an informal speech. There are few other glitches, but by the end of the night, everyone is happy.
Day ten: Mel and I sit over coffee and count the proceeds. $2,200! Not bad for a start. Gina calls us to say that we should do it again next year. Mel says, absolutely!
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WORLD CHANGE STARTS WITH EDUCATED CHILDREN! Give a girl the life long gift of education! Support my appeal 100 GIRLS BACK TO SCHOOL! Donate at: www.justgiving.com/100GirlsBackToSchool
Hugs & Kisses, Vik
