James Semisi AKA "The Master" AKA "The Samoan Pitbull" is an American football player in the Gridiron New Zealand League. He plays for the North Harbour Pride team based in North Shore City, Auckland, New Zealand.
He plays Offensive Guard, Center, Offensive Tackle, Defensive Tackle, Linebacker, Fullback and on the special teams unit and has been a key player in the offensive and defensive schemes. Known throughout the New Zealand league as an aggressive and smart player, his opponents have never underestimated his ability despite the fact he stands only 5ft 10inchs and weighs 275lbs.
He plays Offensive Guard, Center, Offensive Tackle, Defensive Tackle, Linebacker, Fullback and on the special teams unit and has been a key player in the offensive and defensive schemes. Known throughout the New Zealand league as an aggressive and smart player, his opponents have never underestimated his ability despite the fact he stands only 5ft 10inchs and weighs 275lbs.
Overview
The Mimosa Train refers to a tradition established in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island on or around November, 2007. Every Saturday, a local restaurant prepares a big breakfast consisting of eggs, hashbrowns, beans, and various forms of pork including ham, bacon, and sausage. At the completion of the breakfast, guests will sometimes embark on the Mimosa Train which involves the consumption of Mimosas over an extended period. While the Mimosa Train has sometimes consisted of a single individual (sometimes referred to as The Conductor' or 'The Acrobat), it often brings anywhere from 2 to 10 people together to experience the joy that are Mimosas.
While Mimosas are generally made with three parts champagne and two parts orange juice, mimosa train mimosas (MTM) are typically made with 5 parts champagne and one part orange juice. Although MTM typically come in a champagne flute, larger parties have sometimes found it necessary to utilize wine glasses.
In March of 2008, the Mimosa Train was derailed by a brutish ogre. There were no casualties. Its founders, shaken but never broken, vowed to repair the track and continue on their endless journey into the unknown.
Links
Mimosa Recipe:
The Mimosa Train refers to a tradition established in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island on or around November, 2007. Every Saturday, a local restaurant prepares a big breakfast consisting of eggs, hashbrowns, beans, and various forms of pork including ham, bacon, and sausage. At the completion of the breakfast, guests will sometimes embark on the Mimosa Train which involves the consumption of Mimosas over an extended period. While the Mimosa Train has sometimes consisted of a single individual (sometimes referred to as The Conductor' or 'The Acrobat), it often brings anywhere from 2 to 10 people together to experience the joy that are Mimosas.
While Mimosas are generally made with three parts champagne and two parts orange juice, mimosa train mimosas (MTM) are typically made with 5 parts champagne and one part orange juice. Although MTM typically come in a champagne flute, larger parties have sometimes found it necessary to utilize wine glasses.
In March of 2008, the Mimosa Train was derailed by a brutish ogre. There were no casualties. Its founders, shaken but never broken, vowed to repair the track and continue on their endless journey into the unknown.
Links
Mimosa Recipe:
This article summarizes the backstory of For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston.
Story outline by year
1979
As readers first meet the Pattersons, 5-year-old Michael is having trouble adjusting to his new baby sister Elizabeth, while Elly is struggling with the stress of caring for two children — with little appreciation of her efforts from John. Elly accuses John of male chauvinism when he hires a beautiful new hygienist for his dental practice, rejecting a more qualified candidate.
1980
Elly's recently-divorced friend Connie, also the mother of Michael's best friend Lawrence, despairs of ever finding a worthwhile man and reminds Elly not to take John for granted. Elly feels inadequate compared to the young women working in John's office. John and Elly attend a cocktail party where John overindulges, waking up the next morning with a hangover.
Elly takes the kids to visit her parents for two weeks. Michael bickers with kindergarten classmate Deanna Sobinski, but fights with Lawrence for one of her school pictures. At the end of summer, the family takes a weekend camping trip.
With the kids back in school, Elly considers looking for a part-time job, but a week of filling in for John's assistant at his office convinces her otherwise. The family adopts a sheepdog puppy and names him Farley. Elly decides to take an English class at night.
Elly's brother Phil comes to visit for Christmas; Connie convinces her to introduce them, and Phil takes Connie to her office's New Year's Eve party before returning to Montreal, leaving Connie feeling spurned.
1981
Connie goes to Montreal to surprise Phil, but he fails to respond as she had hoped; meanwhile, Lawrence breaks his leg in a bicycle accident while staying with the Pattersons. Farley goes to obedience classes.
Elly and John have a major fight when Elly resists spending twenty dollars on an electric can opener—only to find that John has just bought a $2000 stereo system. She eventually forgives him when he buys her a dishwasher. John is miffed when Elly goes out on the town with friends to celebrate the end of her night school course.
The family goes on vacation to a cabin belonging to John's friend Ted; the cabin turns out to be a rickety dump, and it is not until they arrive back home that they realize they were at the wrong cabin. While housesitting, Ted strikes up a romance with Connie.
Michael and Lawrence make friends with Gordon, a new kid a year older than they are. Elly returns to night school. Michael and Lawrence join a kids’ hockey team. Michael is humiliated when his friends tell Deanna Sobinski about his crush on her.
1982
John's parents watch the kids while Elly and John take a trip to Barbados. Elly's friend Anne, mother to toddler Christopher, discovers she is pregnant.
Ted breaks up with Connie. Phil moves back to the area to take a job at the nearby university, and stays with the Pattersons while he looks for an apartment. He and Connie begin dating again; Ted's jealousy prompts him to try to rekindle his and Connie's relationship. Connie takes Ted back, leaving Phil feeling bitter. He moves out soon afterward and finds a new girlfriend named Georgia.
Elly completes first-year English. The family goes on a two-week vacation to visit Elly's parents in Vancouver, although the trip gets off to a bad start when they discover they accidentally reserved two berths on the train instead of two bedrooms. Elly enrolls Elizabeth at daycare so she can take a part-time volunteer job writing a column at the local newspaper. Anne gives birth to a second son, Richard.
Out shopping with Lawrence for Christmas presents, Michael steals a scarf for his mother, but guilt pushes him to return the gift to the store. The manager calls his mother, but only wants to reward Michael for being so honest. Elly and John throw a New Year’s Eve party, where John incurs Elly's anger by drinking too much.
1983
Elly asks to be paid for the column she has been writing, but accepts a free subscription to the paper and a parking sticker instead. Phil has begun dating Georgia and tells Elly that he's considering marriage. Elly, John, Michael, and Elizabeth have a family vacation at Bev and Danny's (John's sister and brother-in-law) Manitoba farm. Phil and Georgia move in together and Elly has a fit. Elly and Anne co-host a "Grubberware" party. John and Steve decide to scare the attendees by peeking into a window, wearing their Halloween costumes; one of the guests hits them on the head with a frying pan. Brad Luggsworth bullies Mike until Mike suggests they become friends.
1984
Elly accepts a part-time job with the library's children's program. John whines to Jean about having to make his own lunch. Phil gives Michael a trumpet as a birthday gift and tries to give him lessons. Elly holds a yard sale to raise funds for the library. Liz is hospitalized for two nights for an unnamed illness. Michael takes an airplane trip alone to Vancouver to visit Grandpa Jim and Grandma Marian. John's assistant, Jean, reveals that she is pregnant. Elly takes aerobics classes and John comments that she doesn't seem to be losing weight. John breaks his foot by dropping a 25-pound frozen turkey onto it at the supermarket.
1985
Farley wanders off and the dog catcher collects him. Elly must pay $20 to retrieve him. John replaces Jean with a new dental assistant named Louise, and tells Michael that hiring pretty assistants keeps Elly on her toes. Elly attends a workshop in Winnipeg in place of her boss at the library. Anne leaves Christopher and Richard with Elly and neglects to mention that Richard will only use his own potty. John breaks into the Nichols' house to get it and sets off the alarm; Thelma Baird calls the police. John is forced to wait in the squad car until Anne returns to confirm that he should not be charged.
Jean gives birth to a baby girl, Brittany. Elizabeth begins kindergarten and Mike goes into grade four. Connie accepts a new job in Thunder Bay. The Enjo family moves into Connie's old house across the street. Grandpa Jim and Grandma Marian spend Christmas with the Pattersons. Connie and Lawrence also visit. Ted tries to win Connie back, but she reveals that she is engaged.
1986
Ted McCauley elopes with his secretary of twelve years, Irene. Jean returns to work for John. Elly helps out at the clinic while Jean transitions from part-time to full time. Elly has a poem published in a magazine. Michael learns that Keith Enjo is a model-train enthusiast and says to John, "It must be nice having a dad who's so interesting!!"
Anne Nichols gives birth to a baby girl, Leah, who is born with six fingers on each hand. Elly reads some poetry at a library reading.
John and Phil embark on a wildnerness canoe trip and must take refuge on a remote island after suffering a wreck. They are rescued after spending three nights huddled together in a make-shift shack. Elly stages a protest to save the Town Hall Theatre. Michael gives her the idea to stage a Halloween party there and invite politicians, one of whom later announces a grant that will save the theatre. Connie marries Greg Thomas, acquiring two teenage stepdaughters, Molly and Gayle.
1987
Thelma Baird, Elly's next door neighbor, decides to sell her house. Connie tells Elly that she's moving back to town (identified then as "Scarborough", later retconned to "Milborough.") She and Greg buy Mrs. Baird's house. John and Elly take ballroom-dancing lessons. Liz gets her ears pierced.
Elly's brother, Phil Richards, marries Georgia. Michael complains about the amount of homework assigned in grade six. Ted McCauley encourages John to have an affair. Instead, John buys a sports car.
1988
Ted McCauley's wife Irene leaves him because of his infidelity. Connie Poirier struggles to parent her teenage stepdaughters, the rebellious Molly and the more agreeable Gayle. Thelma Baird, the Pattersons' former neighbor, dies. Elly decides to remodel the kitchen.
1989
Phil and Georgia buy a house. Gordon Mayes suffers from "hormone attacks" in school. John uses Elly's car to go to a dental convention in Ottawa, leaving Elly to drive his sports car. She gets into an accident that causes serious damage to the car. The accident also results in a traffic ticket, which Elly challenges successfully in traffic court.
1990
Anne Nichols, suspecting that Steve is unfaithful, confronts him. Steve confesses, cries, and vows to end the affair. Michael dances with Martha McRae at a school dance. They begin dating. John begins his model-train hobby.
Liz must get glasses. Michael gets a summer job selling hot dogs. Elly is surprised to discover that she is pregnant.
1991
Elly and John's third child, April, is born on April 1. An ice storm prevents Elly from getting to the hospital. Neighbor Carol Enjo, a nurse, assists with the home birth.
John and Elly send Michael to the farm in Manitoba for the summer, partly because Elly is concerned that he and Martha are getting too serious. Elly celebrates her 40th birthday. John has Liz wear a special appliance to stop her from sucking her thumb, and she gets teased because the appliance affects her speech. She becomes close to a teacher, Miss Edwards.
1992
Elly buys a new car. Gordon, with Michael in the passenger seat, backs into the trash and recycling bins. Michael discovers that Gordon's parents are abusive.
Elly takes Liz and April with her to Vancouver to visit with Grandpa Jim and Grandma Marian. Martha breaks up with Mike to date another guy. Pre-occupied with the break-up, Michael fails his first attempt at the driver's road test.
1993
Lawrence reveals to his friend Michael that he is gay. In the book The Lives Behind the Lines, Lynn Johnston explains that Lawrence had an old crush on his male teacher in high school. He started then going out with another boy in 1992, and in 1993 he revealed to Michael that he was different in "that" way. Lawrence's mother Connie is devastated and his stepfather Greg orders him out of the house. Michael eventually takes him back home and Lawrence explains the whole thing to his parents. Connie and Greg eventually accept, and Connie ends up naming their dog Sera.
1994
Michael completes high school and starts college in London, Ontario.
1995
The Patterson's beloved family dog, Farley, succumbs to a heart attack and dies after rescuing April from drowning. April begins pre-K, where she becomes good friends with Becky McGuire and Duncan Anderson.
1996
Michael transfers from college to university, to pursue a Bachelors degree in journalism. He becomes reacquainted with childhood crush Deanna Sobinski after learning that she is the person who almost died in the auto accident that he and Weed documented for a local newspaper. During the time that he finds himself falling in love with Deanna, he learns that his girlfriend, Rhetta Blum, has begun dating someone else. Deanna, having broken off her engagement, begins dating Michael. Elizabeth gets contact lenses and a bowl haircut, causing Michael to notice a disturbing resemblance to Deanna. Mike points out a similarly disturbing resemblance between Anthony Caine and John.
1997
Elizabeth, Anthony, and Candace get their driver's licenses. Marian Richards becomes seriously ill. April begins grade one. Gordon and Tracey become first-time parents when Tracey gives birth to Paul.
Michael and Deanna meet one another's parents over the holidays.
1998
Michael and Deanna ring in the New Year at Gordon and Tracey's party. Michael declares his love for Deanna, then climbs on the roof and refuses to get down until she promises to be with him the following New Year's Eve and admits she loves him back.
Grandma Marian dies. Elizabeth has her grade-12 graduation, but plans to complete grade 13 (which was still available in Ontario at the time). Mike and Weed travel to Quebec to interview and photograph a family for an article to appear in Portrait magazine. Over the Christmas holidays, Grandpa Jim visits, bringing his newly acquired dog Dixie, and Michael stays with Deanna at the Sobinski house in Burlington, to Elly's chagrin.
1999
Tracey Mayes gives birth to a baby girl, Rosemary. Michael graduates with honors from Western University, with a BA in journalism. Deanna, having finished her pharmacy degree, goes to Honduras for five months with a medical team. Michael and Weed travel to Ireland to expand upon their Portrait article from the previous year. Liz completes grade 13 and begins her studies at Nipissing University, where she rooms with Candace Halloran in the residence hall. Anthony has a summer job at Mayes Midtown Motors, and then enrolls at Western University, moving into Michael and Weed's (former) apartment. Gerald Forsythe makes his first appearance in the strip, at April's school.
2000
Deanna agrees to marry Michael. Jeremy Jones bullies April in school and gets hurt when he's hit by a car while trying to run down April when they're both riding bikes. Liz completes her first year of university and comes home for the summer. Elly and John purchase Lilliput's Books and Toys. Grandpa Jim moves in with the Pattersons. Liz and Anthony's relationship fizzles out and soon after, Liz meets Eric Chamberlain at Nipissing. Gramps buys April her first guitar. In December, Michael and Deanna have their secret wedding (see below, in 2001 synopsis).
2001
April begins guitar lessons. Grandpa Jim suffers a mild heart attack. Michael marries Deanna Sobinski. However, given their disdain for Deanna's mother's overbearing desire for an extravagant wedding, the legal ceremony is performed secretly at a Pastor's home with only Gordon and Tracey as witnesses (this happens the previous December; see above). To satisfy Deanna's mother with the cooperation of Michael's family who learn the truth, they also agree to a luxurious open ceremony on the pretense that this is their only wedding (September 15).
2002
Liz discovers that Eric is cheating on her and ends the relationship. She moves in with Candace and Anita. Michael and Deanna's first child, Meredith Anne Patterson, is born.
2003
April and Gerald finally become a couple; and Elly and John worry about their relationship. Liz falls for Warren but is afraid because of her recent breakup. Eddy cuts his foot on some glass and must be taken care of. Michael and Weed go to Tokyo. Liz and Warren finally become closer but separate in the spring, so Liz goes home. Michael is fired from the magazine he works for after he breaks a big fashion story and the magazine is threatened with legal action because of his article. However, the article proves to be a sensation, boosting circulation and being extensively reprinted, while disgruntled fashion designers publicly support Michael's assessment of the article's subject. As a result, the magazine editor who fired Michael is dismissed himself and Michael rehired as his replacement as a senior editor.
Mr. B finally gets buried. Anthony completes his university degree and begins his full-time position at Mayes Midtown Motors. Liz is invited to Anthony's wedding and ultimately decides to go with Dennis North, a friend of Lawrence and his partner, Nick. Later, Michael insults Deanna's controlling mother, who storms off in a huff.
April begins working at the store and deals with trust issues from Elly. Jim wakes up one night and accidentally breaks his nose. Liz gets assessed as a student teacher.
April discovers a coworker, Kortney, goofing around on the internet when she should have been working. Upon threatening to tell, Kortney threatens to hurt April. Kortney then concocts a sob-story to avoid being fired.
2004
Anthony's wife becomes jealous of Liz. Liz meets up with her old teacher, Miss Edwards. April and Becky start to break up their band, 4Evah, but their teacher offers to let them use the Band Room (January). Kortney steals from Elly's shop and tries to cover it up. 4Evah goes to compete in a local competition and makes the finals (February). April breaks a string on her guitar at the concert and blames the band's loss on herself. Elly and John go to Cancún. Michael tries to do an article on one of Weed's models, Sophia (March). John and Elly enjoy their vacation. Liz prepared for final exams and papers. When Elly and John return home, they find that Moira has fired Kortney (April).
Sophia turns down Weed's advances, but he soon realizes that he cares for his assistant, Carleen. Dee becomes pregnant again. Liz gets flustered over exams (May). Liz graduates. Weed is scared of his relationship with Carleen (June). Weed accidentally gives Carleen "Ned", one of Michael's keepsakes. Liz begins driving Gordon's motorcycle (July). Michael and Deanna's son Robin is born .
2005
April's band 4Evah breaks up as vain friend Becky causes internal tension and eventually goes solo.
April spends much of the summer at her aunt and uncle's farm in Manitoba.
During the summer, Elizabeth deals with a co-worker, Howard, who harasses her, stalks her and ultimately attempts to sexually assault her on 11 August. She is saved from the assault by Anthony, who tells her that his marriage is failing and he wants to be with her. Victim advocates criticized the story arc because the characters failed to call the police, or to take Elizabeth to the hospital to document her injuries immediately after the attack, although in one strip, Elizabeth is shown complaining that her boss told her that she'll "hafta file a report" eventually.
In the fall, Elly drives Elizabeth back to Mtigwaki. While driving home, Elly pulls over to sleep in the car and is found by Constable Paul Wright. He takes her to the constabulary to spend the night. Elly shows him pictures of Elizabeth and tells him where she lives. As she leaves, she forgets her glasses. Paul brings them to Mtigwaki as a pretext to meet Elizabeth.
The family also appeared in the 75th anniversary party of Blondie and Dagwood in the comic strip Blondie.
2006
Mira battles with Michael and Deanna's noisy neighbour (13-19 Jan). Elly considers selling Lilliput's, to be relieved of the responsibility, and be able to spend more time on herself (23 Jan-7 Feb). John talks to April, to make sure she's using the Internet in a safe and appropriate manner; she reassures him that "I can protect myself. I can choose wherever I want to go on the Internet. And you taught me to make good choices" (10-18 Feb). Paul requests a transfer to Spruce Narrows to be closer to Elizabeth, but Liz's boss begins to privately question her focus on her work with such distractions (21 Feb-1 Mar). Elizabeth supervises student teacher Susan Dokis of Thunder Bay (1-4 Mar).
John and Elly travel to Mexico, while April is babysat by Connie Poirier; April resents this, feeling she is old enough to take care of herself (5-18 Mar). Mike goes to the airport to pick up John and Elly, who have returned from Mexico (20-23 Mar). Elly's father Jim celebrates his birthday (27 Mar-1 Apr). April's band gets a new member and a makeover (3-8 Apr). Elly sells Lilliput's and starts some long-neglected cleaning (10-15 Apr). John buys a car from Gordon's dealership and sees Anthony (17-22 Apr). Anthony reveals that his wife, Therèse, has left him (24-29 Apr).
Liz starts to question living in Mtigwaki. Before Paul's request for transfer to Spruce Narrows goes through, Elizabeth reveals to him her desire to move back to the Toronto area. He tells her that he will put in a new transfer request to Toronto. Liz accepts a summer position teaching in Mississauga, Ontario. Just in time for fall, she is hired to teach grade four in Milborough. (Jul) Michael and Deanna battle the summer heat. April considers pursuing the veterinarian field while in Manitoba (Aug). (Sep) A police officer serves a subpoena to Elizabeth, who is expected to testify against Howard.
Elly goes to visit her father with some Prime Rib, and is startled to find his second wife in shock, as he sits in the chair, staring forward (). Elly believes her father may have had a stroke (). By the end of the year he is home again, with his wife as caregiver, but is still almost completely unable to speak.
Elizabeth and Anthony testify against Howard, and afterward John and Elly imply that Elizabeth should pursue a relationship with Anthony and break up with Paul. In December, a fire breaks out at Michael and Deanna's home, rendering it temporarily uninhabitable. Michael is sent to the hospital for examination for smoke inhalation after he re-enters the apartment to save his newly finished book manuscript.
2007
(January) Elizabeth finds out that Paul had just recently decided he and Elizabeth should break up, because he realized he and Susan were more compatible.
On the return trip home, Warren reveals that he knew about Paul's affair with Susan, then seeks to pick up where he and Elizabeth left off.
The pressure of being back home and no longer having a boyfriend cause Elizabeth to fall into depression.
Michael receives a package from a publisher, informing him that his manuscript has been accepted for publishing, with a $25,000 advance.
(February) When Michael visits Grandpa Jim and Iris to tell them the good news about his book, Jim, who is still feeling the aftereffects of his stroke, unintentionally swears at them.
However, Michael's buoyant mood is spoiled when his magazine's publisher wants to downsize the business and Michael is made responsible for cutting the staff. He decides to resign instead and finds Deanna, who had been pushing her husband to concentrate on freelance writing, is delighted he did. Howard is sentenced to two years in jail with parole not being recommended.
(April 2007). April turns 16. John contemplates buying a neighbor's house down the street, with Michael and Deanna contemplating buying John and Elly's house in turn.
Elizabeth invites Anthony to attend Shawna-Marie's wedding with her, but he turns her down, explaining that he has invited someone else. On the way home, she has a meltdown in the car.
Shawna-Marie gets married, and Anthony shows signs of jealousy over Elizabeth's escort to the wedding while his own escort urges him to proclaim his love to her.
(June) After seeing April being teased for hanging out with her and her friends, Shannon takes a stand in the school cafeteria - and is applauded for it by the entire student body.
After Elizabeth's date passes out at Shawna-Marie's wedding, Anthony finally musters his courage and confesses his love - and Elizabeth reciprocates.
(July) Elly, John, and April adjust to life in their new home.
Deanna and Mike begin to make changes in the house they acquired from John and Elly; Mike looks at photo albums with his children. After performing at a telethon, Becky confides in April that "maybe I was too good for my own good." Afterward, April confides in John about the misery in Becky's life, that despite her fame her dad is a control freak and she misses her mother when she's on the road.
(July 31-August 2) During an outing with Anthony's daughter, Anthony and Elizabeth recall the night they fell back in love, and their decision not to marry.
(August) Afterward, at an ice-cream shoppe, Anthony's daughter asks her dad if they can keep Liz.
Jim's irritability starts to affect Iris.
Anthony asks Elizabeth for a "lifetime commitment," and gets a positive response.
Elizabeth and Candace talk about Liz's possible future as Francie's stepmother, and what to do if Therese decides to return. Elizabeth details the story of Anthony and Therese's failed marriage to Candace, telling her how Therese tried, and failed, to change Anthony, and how it wasn't just Anthony, but Therese's parents, who wanted her to have a baby, it is also strongly implied that Therese was suffering from some kind of depression, possibly post-partum depression. Elizabeth tells Candace about the day Therese asked Anthony for a divorce, after she admitted to an affair with a coworker.
(October) Grandpa Jim's health deteriorates rapidly after suffering a second stroke.
Michael's novel receives publication for signing events and television.
April,Gerald and Eva talk about their plans for the future and the possibility of their band 4Evah breaking up.
Grandpa Jim comes home early from the hospital
(November) Michael's first book signing is hosted at Lilliput's.
(December) Anthony notices Francoise's jealousy towards Elizabeth since Therese left. Elizabeth tells Anthony that she will be patient with Francoise accepting her. Francoise reveals to Anthony that she wants him all to herself , with Anthony convincing her to come with him and Elizabeth to the mall to meet Santa Claus. While Anthony is out shopping for Francoise's Christmas gift, Elizabeth and Francoise run into Therese at the mall. Francoise tells her mother that she wants her instead of the gifts she receives after not seeing each other for a while. Therese informs Francoise that she has much to do and must leave and promises Francoise that she will call and/or visit her sometime. After Therese and Francoise say their goodbyes, Elizabeth gives the tearful Francoise a hug.
2008
April rings in the new year with Gerald, who asks her to put off discussing the future. Michael and Deanna agree that their "happy new year" means "happy new life." Elly and Connie Poirier commiserate about aging.
April visits Grandpa Jim and Iris.
Story outline by year
1979
As readers first meet the Pattersons, 5-year-old Michael is having trouble adjusting to his new baby sister Elizabeth, while Elly is struggling with the stress of caring for two children — with little appreciation of her efforts from John. Elly accuses John of male chauvinism when he hires a beautiful new hygienist for his dental practice, rejecting a more qualified candidate.
1980
Elly's recently-divorced friend Connie, also the mother of Michael's best friend Lawrence, despairs of ever finding a worthwhile man and reminds Elly not to take John for granted. Elly feels inadequate compared to the young women working in John's office. John and Elly attend a cocktail party where John overindulges, waking up the next morning with a hangover.
Elly takes the kids to visit her parents for two weeks. Michael bickers with kindergarten classmate Deanna Sobinski, but fights with Lawrence for one of her school pictures. At the end of summer, the family takes a weekend camping trip.
With the kids back in school, Elly considers looking for a part-time job, but a week of filling in for John's assistant at his office convinces her otherwise. The family adopts a sheepdog puppy and names him Farley. Elly decides to take an English class at night.
Elly's brother Phil comes to visit for Christmas; Connie convinces her to introduce them, and Phil takes Connie to her office's New Year's Eve party before returning to Montreal, leaving Connie feeling spurned.
1981
Connie goes to Montreal to surprise Phil, but he fails to respond as she had hoped; meanwhile, Lawrence breaks his leg in a bicycle accident while staying with the Pattersons. Farley goes to obedience classes.
Elly and John have a major fight when Elly resists spending twenty dollars on an electric can opener—only to find that John has just bought a $2000 stereo system. She eventually forgives him when he buys her a dishwasher. John is miffed when Elly goes out on the town with friends to celebrate the end of her night school course.
The family goes on vacation to a cabin belonging to John's friend Ted; the cabin turns out to be a rickety dump, and it is not until they arrive back home that they realize they were at the wrong cabin. While housesitting, Ted strikes up a romance with Connie.
Michael and Lawrence make friends with Gordon, a new kid a year older than they are. Elly returns to night school. Michael and Lawrence join a kids’ hockey team. Michael is humiliated when his friends tell Deanna Sobinski about his crush on her.
1982
John's parents watch the kids while Elly and John take a trip to Barbados. Elly's friend Anne, mother to toddler Christopher, discovers she is pregnant.
Ted breaks up with Connie. Phil moves back to the area to take a job at the nearby university, and stays with the Pattersons while he looks for an apartment. He and Connie begin dating again; Ted's jealousy prompts him to try to rekindle his and Connie's relationship. Connie takes Ted back, leaving Phil feeling bitter. He moves out soon afterward and finds a new girlfriend named Georgia.
Elly completes first-year English. The family goes on a two-week vacation to visit Elly's parents in Vancouver, although the trip gets off to a bad start when they discover they accidentally reserved two berths on the train instead of two bedrooms. Elly enrolls Elizabeth at daycare so she can take a part-time volunteer job writing a column at the local newspaper. Anne gives birth to a second son, Richard.
Out shopping with Lawrence for Christmas presents, Michael steals a scarf for his mother, but guilt pushes him to return the gift to the store. The manager calls his mother, but only wants to reward Michael for being so honest. Elly and John throw a New Year’s Eve party, where John incurs Elly's anger by drinking too much.
1983
Elly asks to be paid for the column she has been writing, but accepts a free subscription to the paper and a parking sticker instead. Phil has begun dating Georgia and tells Elly that he's considering marriage. Elly, John, Michael, and Elizabeth have a family vacation at Bev and Danny's (John's sister and brother-in-law) Manitoba farm. Phil and Georgia move in together and Elly has a fit. Elly and Anne co-host a "Grubberware" party. John and Steve decide to scare the attendees by peeking into a window, wearing their Halloween costumes; one of the guests hits them on the head with a frying pan. Brad Luggsworth bullies Mike until Mike suggests they become friends.
1984
Elly accepts a part-time job with the library's children's program. John whines to Jean about having to make his own lunch. Phil gives Michael a trumpet as a birthday gift and tries to give him lessons. Elly holds a yard sale to raise funds for the library. Liz is hospitalized for two nights for an unnamed illness. Michael takes an airplane trip alone to Vancouver to visit Grandpa Jim and Grandma Marian. John's assistant, Jean, reveals that she is pregnant. Elly takes aerobics classes and John comments that she doesn't seem to be losing weight. John breaks his foot by dropping a 25-pound frozen turkey onto it at the supermarket.
1985
Farley wanders off and the dog catcher collects him. Elly must pay $20 to retrieve him. John replaces Jean with a new dental assistant named Louise, and tells Michael that hiring pretty assistants keeps Elly on her toes. Elly attends a workshop in Winnipeg in place of her boss at the library. Anne leaves Christopher and Richard with Elly and neglects to mention that Richard will only use his own potty. John breaks into the Nichols' house to get it and sets off the alarm; Thelma Baird calls the police. John is forced to wait in the squad car until Anne returns to confirm that he should not be charged.
Jean gives birth to a baby girl, Brittany. Elizabeth begins kindergarten and Mike goes into grade four. Connie accepts a new job in Thunder Bay. The Enjo family moves into Connie's old house across the street. Grandpa Jim and Grandma Marian spend Christmas with the Pattersons. Connie and Lawrence also visit. Ted tries to win Connie back, but she reveals that she is engaged.
1986
Ted McCauley elopes with his secretary of twelve years, Irene. Jean returns to work for John. Elly helps out at the clinic while Jean transitions from part-time to full time. Elly has a poem published in a magazine. Michael learns that Keith Enjo is a model-train enthusiast and says to John, "It must be nice having a dad who's so interesting!!"
Anne Nichols gives birth to a baby girl, Leah, who is born with six fingers on each hand. Elly reads some poetry at a library reading.
John and Phil embark on a wildnerness canoe trip and must take refuge on a remote island after suffering a wreck. They are rescued after spending three nights huddled together in a make-shift shack. Elly stages a protest to save the Town Hall Theatre. Michael gives her the idea to stage a Halloween party there and invite politicians, one of whom later announces a grant that will save the theatre. Connie marries Greg Thomas, acquiring two teenage stepdaughters, Molly and Gayle.
1987
Thelma Baird, Elly's next door neighbor, decides to sell her house. Connie tells Elly that she's moving back to town (identified then as "Scarborough", later retconned to "Milborough.") She and Greg buy Mrs. Baird's house. John and Elly take ballroom-dancing lessons. Liz gets her ears pierced.
Elly's brother, Phil Richards, marries Georgia. Michael complains about the amount of homework assigned in grade six. Ted McCauley encourages John to have an affair. Instead, John buys a sports car.
1988
Ted McCauley's wife Irene leaves him because of his infidelity. Connie Poirier struggles to parent her teenage stepdaughters, the rebellious Molly and the more agreeable Gayle. Thelma Baird, the Pattersons' former neighbor, dies. Elly decides to remodel the kitchen.
1989
Phil and Georgia buy a house. Gordon Mayes suffers from "hormone attacks" in school. John uses Elly's car to go to a dental convention in Ottawa, leaving Elly to drive his sports car. She gets into an accident that causes serious damage to the car. The accident also results in a traffic ticket, which Elly challenges successfully in traffic court.
1990
Anne Nichols, suspecting that Steve is unfaithful, confronts him. Steve confesses, cries, and vows to end the affair. Michael dances with Martha McRae at a school dance. They begin dating. John begins his model-train hobby.
Liz must get glasses. Michael gets a summer job selling hot dogs. Elly is surprised to discover that she is pregnant.
1991
Elly and John's third child, April, is born on April 1. An ice storm prevents Elly from getting to the hospital. Neighbor Carol Enjo, a nurse, assists with the home birth.
John and Elly send Michael to the farm in Manitoba for the summer, partly because Elly is concerned that he and Martha are getting too serious. Elly celebrates her 40th birthday. John has Liz wear a special appliance to stop her from sucking her thumb, and she gets teased because the appliance affects her speech. She becomes close to a teacher, Miss Edwards.
1992
Elly buys a new car. Gordon, with Michael in the passenger seat, backs into the trash and recycling bins. Michael discovers that Gordon's parents are abusive.
Elly takes Liz and April with her to Vancouver to visit with Grandpa Jim and Grandma Marian. Martha breaks up with Mike to date another guy. Pre-occupied with the break-up, Michael fails his first attempt at the driver's road test.
1993
Lawrence reveals to his friend Michael that he is gay. In the book The Lives Behind the Lines, Lynn Johnston explains that Lawrence had an old crush on his male teacher in high school. He started then going out with another boy in 1992, and in 1993 he revealed to Michael that he was different in "that" way. Lawrence's mother Connie is devastated and his stepfather Greg orders him out of the house. Michael eventually takes him back home and Lawrence explains the whole thing to his parents. Connie and Greg eventually accept, and Connie ends up naming their dog Sera.
1994
Michael completes high school and starts college in London, Ontario.
1995
The Patterson's beloved family dog, Farley, succumbs to a heart attack and dies after rescuing April from drowning. April begins pre-K, where she becomes good friends with Becky McGuire and Duncan Anderson.
1996
Michael transfers from college to university, to pursue a Bachelors degree in journalism. He becomes reacquainted with childhood crush Deanna Sobinski after learning that she is the person who almost died in the auto accident that he and Weed documented for a local newspaper. During the time that he finds himself falling in love with Deanna, he learns that his girlfriend, Rhetta Blum, has begun dating someone else. Deanna, having broken off her engagement, begins dating Michael. Elizabeth gets contact lenses and a bowl haircut, causing Michael to notice a disturbing resemblance to Deanna. Mike points out a similarly disturbing resemblance between Anthony Caine and John.
1997
Elizabeth, Anthony, and Candace get their driver's licenses. Marian Richards becomes seriously ill. April begins grade one. Gordon and Tracey become first-time parents when Tracey gives birth to Paul.
Michael and Deanna meet one another's parents over the holidays.
1998
Michael and Deanna ring in the New Year at Gordon and Tracey's party. Michael declares his love for Deanna, then climbs on the roof and refuses to get down until she promises to be with him the following New Year's Eve and admits she loves him back.
Grandma Marian dies. Elizabeth has her grade-12 graduation, but plans to complete grade 13 (which was still available in Ontario at the time). Mike and Weed travel to Quebec to interview and photograph a family for an article to appear in Portrait magazine. Over the Christmas holidays, Grandpa Jim visits, bringing his newly acquired dog Dixie, and Michael stays with Deanna at the Sobinski house in Burlington, to Elly's chagrin.
1999
Tracey Mayes gives birth to a baby girl, Rosemary. Michael graduates with honors from Western University, with a BA in journalism. Deanna, having finished her pharmacy degree, goes to Honduras for five months with a medical team. Michael and Weed travel to Ireland to expand upon their Portrait article from the previous year. Liz completes grade 13 and begins her studies at Nipissing University, where she rooms with Candace Halloran in the residence hall. Anthony has a summer job at Mayes Midtown Motors, and then enrolls at Western University, moving into Michael and Weed's (former) apartment. Gerald Forsythe makes his first appearance in the strip, at April's school.
2000
Deanna agrees to marry Michael. Jeremy Jones bullies April in school and gets hurt when he's hit by a car while trying to run down April when they're both riding bikes. Liz completes her first year of university and comes home for the summer. Elly and John purchase Lilliput's Books and Toys. Grandpa Jim moves in with the Pattersons. Liz and Anthony's relationship fizzles out and soon after, Liz meets Eric Chamberlain at Nipissing. Gramps buys April her first guitar. In December, Michael and Deanna have their secret wedding (see below, in 2001 synopsis).
2001
April begins guitar lessons. Grandpa Jim suffers a mild heart attack. Michael marries Deanna Sobinski. However, given their disdain for Deanna's mother's overbearing desire for an extravagant wedding, the legal ceremony is performed secretly at a Pastor's home with only Gordon and Tracey as witnesses (this happens the previous December; see above). To satisfy Deanna's mother with the cooperation of Michael's family who learn the truth, they also agree to a luxurious open ceremony on the pretense that this is their only wedding (September 15).
2002
Liz discovers that Eric is cheating on her and ends the relationship. She moves in with Candace and Anita. Michael and Deanna's first child, Meredith Anne Patterson, is born.
2003
April and Gerald finally become a couple; and Elly and John worry about their relationship. Liz falls for Warren but is afraid because of her recent breakup. Eddy cuts his foot on some glass and must be taken care of. Michael and Weed go to Tokyo. Liz and Warren finally become closer but separate in the spring, so Liz goes home. Michael is fired from the magazine he works for after he breaks a big fashion story and the magazine is threatened with legal action because of his article. However, the article proves to be a sensation, boosting circulation and being extensively reprinted, while disgruntled fashion designers publicly support Michael's assessment of the article's subject. As a result, the magazine editor who fired Michael is dismissed himself and Michael rehired as his replacement as a senior editor.
Mr. B finally gets buried. Anthony completes his university degree and begins his full-time position at Mayes Midtown Motors. Liz is invited to Anthony's wedding and ultimately decides to go with Dennis North, a friend of Lawrence and his partner, Nick. Later, Michael insults Deanna's controlling mother, who storms off in a huff.
April begins working at the store and deals with trust issues from Elly. Jim wakes up one night and accidentally breaks his nose. Liz gets assessed as a student teacher.
April discovers a coworker, Kortney, goofing around on the internet when she should have been working. Upon threatening to tell, Kortney threatens to hurt April. Kortney then concocts a sob-story to avoid being fired.
2004
Anthony's wife becomes jealous of Liz. Liz meets up with her old teacher, Miss Edwards. April and Becky start to break up their band, 4Evah, but their teacher offers to let them use the Band Room (January). Kortney steals from Elly's shop and tries to cover it up. 4Evah goes to compete in a local competition and makes the finals (February). April breaks a string on her guitar at the concert and blames the band's loss on herself. Elly and John go to Cancún. Michael tries to do an article on one of Weed's models, Sophia (March). John and Elly enjoy their vacation. Liz prepared for final exams and papers. When Elly and John return home, they find that Moira has fired Kortney (April).
Sophia turns down Weed's advances, but he soon realizes that he cares for his assistant, Carleen. Dee becomes pregnant again. Liz gets flustered over exams (May). Liz graduates. Weed is scared of his relationship with Carleen (June). Weed accidentally gives Carleen "Ned", one of Michael's keepsakes. Liz begins driving Gordon's motorcycle (July). Michael and Deanna's son Robin is born .
2005
April's band 4Evah breaks up as vain friend Becky causes internal tension and eventually goes solo.
April spends much of the summer at her aunt and uncle's farm in Manitoba.
During the summer, Elizabeth deals with a co-worker, Howard, who harasses her, stalks her and ultimately attempts to sexually assault her on 11 August. She is saved from the assault by Anthony, who tells her that his marriage is failing and he wants to be with her. Victim advocates criticized the story arc because the characters failed to call the police, or to take Elizabeth to the hospital to document her injuries immediately after the attack, although in one strip, Elizabeth is shown complaining that her boss told her that she'll "hafta file a report" eventually.
In the fall, Elly drives Elizabeth back to Mtigwaki. While driving home, Elly pulls over to sleep in the car and is found by Constable Paul Wright. He takes her to the constabulary to spend the night. Elly shows him pictures of Elizabeth and tells him where she lives. As she leaves, she forgets her glasses. Paul brings them to Mtigwaki as a pretext to meet Elizabeth.
The family also appeared in the 75th anniversary party of Blondie and Dagwood in the comic strip Blondie.
2006
Mira battles with Michael and Deanna's noisy neighbour (13-19 Jan). Elly considers selling Lilliput's, to be relieved of the responsibility, and be able to spend more time on herself (23 Jan-7 Feb). John talks to April, to make sure she's using the Internet in a safe and appropriate manner; she reassures him that "I can protect myself. I can choose wherever I want to go on the Internet. And you taught me to make good choices" (10-18 Feb). Paul requests a transfer to Spruce Narrows to be closer to Elizabeth, but Liz's boss begins to privately question her focus on her work with such distractions (21 Feb-1 Mar). Elizabeth supervises student teacher Susan Dokis of Thunder Bay (1-4 Mar).
John and Elly travel to Mexico, while April is babysat by Connie Poirier; April resents this, feeling she is old enough to take care of herself (5-18 Mar). Mike goes to the airport to pick up John and Elly, who have returned from Mexico (20-23 Mar). Elly's father Jim celebrates his birthday (27 Mar-1 Apr). April's band gets a new member and a makeover (3-8 Apr). Elly sells Lilliput's and starts some long-neglected cleaning (10-15 Apr). John buys a car from Gordon's dealership and sees Anthony (17-22 Apr). Anthony reveals that his wife, Therèse, has left him (24-29 Apr).
Liz starts to question living in Mtigwaki. Before Paul's request for transfer to Spruce Narrows goes through, Elizabeth reveals to him her desire to move back to the Toronto area. He tells her that he will put in a new transfer request to Toronto. Liz accepts a summer position teaching in Mississauga, Ontario. Just in time for fall, she is hired to teach grade four in Milborough. (Jul) Michael and Deanna battle the summer heat. April considers pursuing the veterinarian field while in Manitoba (Aug). (Sep) A police officer serves a subpoena to Elizabeth, who is expected to testify against Howard.
Elly goes to visit her father with some Prime Rib, and is startled to find his second wife in shock, as he sits in the chair, staring forward (). Elly believes her father may have had a stroke (). By the end of the year he is home again, with his wife as caregiver, but is still almost completely unable to speak.
Elizabeth and Anthony testify against Howard, and afterward John and Elly imply that Elizabeth should pursue a relationship with Anthony and break up with Paul. In December, a fire breaks out at Michael and Deanna's home, rendering it temporarily uninhabitable. Michael is sent to the hospital for examination for smoke inhalation after he re-enters the apartment to save his newly finished book manuscript.
2007
(January) Elizabeth finds out that Paul had just recently decided he and Elizabeth should break up, because he realized he and Susan were more compatible.
On the return trip home, Warren reveals that he knew about Paul's affair with Susan, then seeks to pick up where he and Elizabeth left off.
The pressure of being back home and no longer having a boyfriend cause Elizabeth to fall into depression.
Michael receives a package from a publisher, informing him that his manuscript has been accepted for publishing, with a $25,000 advance.
(February) When Michael visits Grandpa Jim and Iris to tell them the good news about his book, Jim, who is still feeling the aftereffects of his stroke, unintentionally swears at them.
However, Michael's buoyant mood is spoiled when his magazine's publisher wants to downsize the business and Michael is made responsible for cutting the staff. He decides to resign instead and finds Deanna, who had been pushing her husband to concentrate on freelance writing, is delighted he did. Howard is sentenced to two years in jail with parole not being recommended.
(April 2007). April turns 16. John contemplates buying a neighbor's house down the street, with Michael and Deanna contemplating buying John and Elly's house in turn.
Elizabeth invites Anthony to attend Shawna-Marie's wedding with her, but he turns her down, explaining that he has invited someone else. On the way home, she has a meltdown in the car.
Shawna-Marie gets married, and Anthony shows signs of jealousy over Elizabeth's escort to the wedding while his own escort urges him to proclaim his love to her.
(June) After seeing April being teased for hanging out with her and her friends, Shannon takes a stand in the school cafeteria - and is applauded for it by the entire student body.
After Elizabeth's date passes out at Shawna-Marie's wedding, Anthony finally musters his courage and confesses his love - and Elizabeth reciprocates.
(July) Elly, John, and April adjust to life in their new home.
Deanna and Mike begin to make changes in the house they acquired from John and Elly; Mike looks at photo albums with his children. After performing at a telethon, Becky confides in April that "maybe I was too good for my own good." Afterward, April confides in John about the misery in Becky's life, that despite her fame her dad is a control freak and she misses her mother when she's on the road.
(July 31-August 2) During an outing with Anthony's daughter, Anthony and Elizabeth recall the night they fell back in love, and their decision not to marry.
(August) Afterward, at an ice-cream shoppe, Anthony's daughter asks her dad if they can keep Liz.
Jim's irritability starts to affect Iris.
Anthony asks Elizabeth for a "lifetime commitment," and gets a positive response.
Elizabeth and Candace talk about Liz's possible future as Francie's stepmother, and what to do if Therese decides to return. Elizabeth details the story of Anthony and Therese's failed marriage to Candace, telling her how Therese tried, and failed, to change Anthony, and how it wasn't just Anthony, but Therese's parents, who wanted her to have a baby, it is also strongly implied that Therese was suffering from some kind of depression, possibly post-partum depression. Elizabeth tells Candace about the day Therese asked Anthony for a divorce, after she admitted to an affair with a coworker.
(October) Grandpa Jim's health deteriorates rapidly after suffering a second stroke.
Michael's novel receives publication for signing events and television.
April,Gerald and Eva talk about their plans for the future and the possibility of their band 4Evah breaking up.
Grandpa Jim comes home early from the hospital
(November) Michael's first book signing is hosted at Lilliput's.
(December) Anthony notices Francoise's jealousy towards Elizabeth since Therese left. Elizabeth tells Anthony that she will be patient with Francoise accepting her. Francoise reveals to Anthony that she wants him all to herself , with Anthony convincing her to come with him and Elizabeth to the mall to meet Santa Claus. While Anthony is out shopping for Francoise's Christmas gift, Elizabeth and Francoise run into Therese at the mall. Francoise tells her mother that she wants her instead of the gifts she receives after not seeing each other for a while. Therese informs Francoise that she has much to do and must leave and promises Francoise that she will call and/or visit her sometime. After Therese and Francoise say their goodbyes, Elizabeth gives the tearful Francoise a hug.
2008
April rings in the new year with Gerald, who asks her to put off discussing the future. Michael and Deanna agree that their "happy new year" means "happy new life." Elly and Connie Poirier commiserate about aging.
April visits Grandpa Jim and Iris.
Fund Raising has been a part of peoples lives for many generations and will continue to be part of our culture for generation to follow. Here is Hawaii Fund Raising is an integral part of everyones life. Why? Because our sports programs, schools and non-profit organizations are required to perform a number of monitored functions, year in and year out, with dwindling monetary resourses. These organizations depend on additional income from outside sources so they can provide the services they are entitiled to perform.
In this article I will discuss the various elements of a fund raiser, the "Do's and Don"ts", and so much more so that your next events runs as smooth and yields great returns. Let's get started.......
Historical Background
Fund Raising has been part of our livelihood for generations. I peronally believe that their is not a living soul (here in Hawaii and abroad) that have not been touched by a fund raiser either as a consumer or seller.
As the name implies the main emphasis of a fund raising event is to raise funds for an organization that have monetary goals from a couple $100 dollars to millions. Whatever the goal is many of these organizations would not be around today if it was not for fund raisers.
Components of a Fund Raiser
Fund raising is much more complexed then years past and everyone involved in fund raising must be well informed of the rules and regulations that govern them. In this section we will discuss the various components that are necessary in order for your fund raiser to run smooth. It doesn't matter if its a small organization or a very large one, the following components we are going to discuss are necessary.
1. Setting up your Fund Raising Committee
A very critical element in your organization is your Fund Raising Committee. These people play a HUGE role on what your organization will / will not be able to do. These people need to be organized, professional and have a "go get um" attitude. Most of these fund raiser committee members will be volunteer parents who have a personal interest in the success of the fund raiser due to the fact that they probably have a child within the organization.
The committee needs to have these following elements:
1. Chairman (This person is the overall head of the fund raising committee)
2. Vice-Chairman (This person is second in command who will assist the Chairman in the overall operation of the fund raising committee.)
3. Treasure (This person is in charge of the monetary elements of the committee. This will be the monies coming in from fund raising sales as well as track expenses from the fund raising committee.)
4. Secretary (This person will be in charge of note taking / minutes at all fund raising committee meetings.)
It will be everyones responsibility in the committee to make the decision on WHAT fund raiser they will be doing and WHEN. More of this element will be discussed in further detail in this article.
2. Setting up your Fund Raising Sub-Committees
The sub-committees within the fund raising committee will be made up of individuals who will be responsible for various aspects of the fund raising event such as:
* Set Up / Break down Committee: This group will be responsible for setting up and breaking down after your fund raising functions.
* Volunteer Committee: This group will be responsible for getting parent / family volunteers for various events that your fund raising group will be putting on.
* Public Relations Committee: This group will be responsible for getting the word out to the community about your fund raising functions. This is through radio, tv, internet or any other means of advertisement. This committee will also be responsible to get support from businesses with in your community and abroad. Contact managers at various stores around your community to see if they will allow your fund raising group to sell outside their establishment. The following sites have accomodated fund raising groups in the past:
* Safeway
* Foodland
* Star Market
* Costco
* Wal-Mart
* KMart
* Daiei
* Long's Drug
3. Setting Up an organization Bank Account
An imporatnt element that your organization must do is set up a checking / savings account. Search around and see what institution (bank or credit union) can provide your organiztion the best options. One thing is a must, for any check signing or any withdrawal from this account, require that a minimum of two people must sign any check or withdrawal statement.
4. Product / Service Selection
Choosing the right product to utilize in your fund raiser is the most critical decision that you will make. Your fund raiser could be with one product OR various products, it could be for a limited time period OR run throughout the year, it could be ticket sales (pre-order) OR selling when you receive the product, it could be very labor intensive with higher returns OR not as labor intensive BUT smaller returns. So many things to think about so here is a little guideline that may help you.
First, set up a monetary goal that you want to reach with the number of participants assisting you in the fund raiser.
Second, invite a number of fund raising business groups to present to you what they can offer your organization. Remember to look for answers to the following elements when chosing a fund raising business:
* Business Track Record : How long have they been in business and who were some of your past clients so you can make a call out to these clients and see what they have to say.
* Product Choices: Are the products the fund raising business has to offer quality items? Will these items be appealing to the target market that you will be reaching out to?
* Return Policy: Does the fund raising business offer a return policy for unsold product. Note: If you are selling a food/perishable item the return policy is close to nothing.
* Incentives: Does the fund raising business offer an incentive program to the organization for the amount of items they sell? Is their an incentive for individuals as well?
Third, decide as a group what you will be doing for your fund raiser from what was proposed to you. You may decide to do a combination of sales and things like a car wash.
Forth, chart your fund raising events on a calendar so everyone knows what you are doing throughout the year.
Fifth, inform everyone involved what your plan is and then implement the plan.
Sixth, have a closing out briefing with your fund raising committee to discuss the Pro's and Con's of your fund raiser. This is critical because this is the information that will be passed down to the following fund raising committee.
5. Advertising
In today's world advertising has multiple avenues. From the traditional mailings to today's emailing, find out what your budget set aside for this element and go from their.
The following sites offer FREE postings of your events:
6. Monetary Goals
Your monetary goal for your fund raiser's will be determined by the organizations yearly expected expenses. Either its for new uniforms, equipment, awards or trips, this will be determined at the beginning of the year.
7. Target Market
When selecting the product or service that your fund raising organization will utilize, consider the market that you will be targeting. Remember that what sells well in one area may not necessarily mean it will sell well in another. Understand your surroundings and those that will be participating in the sales or services.
8. Start and End date of Fund Raising Event
A high percentage of fund raisers today have a start and end date to their event. Make sure that these dates DO NOT clash with anyone else within your organization. Especially when you are involved with a school. Various grade levels have certain fund raising periods when they can do their fund raisers so that it doesn't clash with another class. Make sure you have those dates blocked off.
9. Change Over Procedure
The change over, or passing on the baton, is very important. When your fund raising committee changes (usually every year) the incoming group needs to be well abreast in what went on in the previous year. The out going committee should have had a year end review to come up with a document that will list what went "Good" and "Not So Good" in the year. This way the incoming committee does not make the same mistakes.
One thing to remember is that the committee plays a HUGE role in the success of any fund raiser so don't be discouraged if you do the same things as the out going committee with not as good of a success. Just have to work around all of that and find a way to be as successful.
In this article I will discuss the various elements of a fund raiser, the "Do's and Don"ts", and so much more so that your next events runs as smooth and yields great returns. Let's get started.......
Historical Background
Fund Raising has been part of our livelihood for generations. I peronally believe that their is not a living soul (here in Hawaii and abroad) that have not been touched by a fund raiser either as a consumer or seller.
As the name implies the main emphasis of a fund raising event is to raise funds for an organization that have monetary goals from a couple $100 dollars to millions. Whatever the goal is many of these organizations would not be around today if it was not for fund raisers.
Components of a Fund Raiser
Fund raising is much more complexed then years past and everyone involved in fund raising must be well informed of the rules and regulations that govern them. In this section we will discuss the various components that are necessary in order for your fund raiser to run smooth. It doesn't matter if its a small organization or a very large one, the following components we are going to discuss are necessary.
1. Setting up your Fund Raising Committee
A very critical element in your organization is your Fund Raising Committee. These people play a HUGE role on what your organization will / will not be able to do. These people need to be organized, professional and have a "go get um" attitude. Most of these fund raiser committee members will be volunteer parents who have a personal interest in the success of the fund raiser due to the fact that they probably have a child within the organization.
The committee needs to have these following elements:
1. Chairman (This person is the overall head of the fund raising committee)
2. Vice-Chairman (This person is second in command who will assist the Chairman in the overall operation of the fund raising committee.)
3. Treasure (This person is in charge of the monetary elements of the committee. This will be the monies coming in from fund raising sales as well as track expenses from the fund raising committee.)
4. Secretary (This person will be in charge of note taking / minutes at all fund raising committee meetings.)
It will be everyones responsibility in the committee to make the decision on WHAT fund raiser they will be doing and WHEN. More of this element will be discussed in further detail in this article.
2. Setting up your Fund Raising Sub-Committees
The sub-committees within the fund raising committee will be made up of individuals who will be responsible for various aspects of the fund raising event such as:
* Set Up / Break down Committee: This group will be responsible for setting up and breaking down after your fund raising functions.
* Volunteer Committee: This group will be responsible for getting parent / family volunteers for various events that your fund raising group will be putting on.
* Public Relations Committee: This group will be responsible for getting the word out to the community about your fund raising functions. This is through radio, tv, internet or any other means of advertisement. This committee will also be responsible to get support from businesses with in your community and abroad. Contact managers at various stores around your community to see if they will allow your fund raising group to sell outside their establishment. The following sites have accomodated fund raising groups in the past:
* Safeway
* Foodland
* Star Market
* Costco
* Wal-Mart
* KMart
* Daiei
* Long's Drug
3. Setting Up an organization Bank Account
An imporatnt element that your organization must do is set up a checking / savings account. Search around and see what institution (bank or credit union) can provide your organiztion the best options. One thing is a must, for any check signing or any withdrawal from this account, require that a minimum of two people must sign any check or withdrawal statement.
4. Product / Service Selection
Choosing the right product to utilize in your fund raiser is the most critical decision that you will make. Your fund raiser could be with one product OR various products, it could be for a limited time period OR run throughout the year, it could be ticket sales (pre-order) OR selling when you receive the product, it could be very labor intensive with higher returns OR not as labor intensive BUT smaller returns. So many things to think about so here is a little guideline that may help you.
First, set up a monetary goal that you want to reach with the number of participants assisting you in the fund raiser.
Second, invite a number of fund raising business groups to present to you what they can offer your organization. Remember to look for answers to the following elements when chosing a fund raising business:
* Business Track Record : How long have they been in business and who were some of your past clients so you can make a call out to these clients and see what they have to say.
* Product Choices: Are the products the fund raising business has to offer quality items? Will these items be appealing to the target market that you will be reaching out to?
* Return Policy: Does the fund raising business offer a return policy for unsold product. Note: If you are selling a food/perishable item the return policy is close to nothing.
* Incentives: Does the fund raising business offer an incentive program to the organization for the amount of items they sell? Is their an incentive for individuals as well?
Third, decide as a group what you will be doing for your fund raiser from what was proposed to you. You may decide to do a combination of sales and things like a car wash.
Forth, chart your fund raising events on a calendar so everyone knows what you are doing throughout the year.
Fifth, inform everyone involved what your plan is and then implement the plan.
Sixth, have a closing out briefing with your fund raising committee to discuss the Pro's and Con's of your fund raiser. This is critical because this is the information that will be passed down to the following fund raising committee.
5. Advertising
In today's world advertising has multiple avenues. From the traditional mailings to today's emailing, find out what your budget set aside for this element and go from their.
The following sites offer FREE postings of your events:
6. Monetary Goals
Your monetary goal for your fund raiser's will be determined by the organizations yearly expected expenses. Either its for new uniforms, equipment, awards or trips, this will be determined at the beginning of the year.
7. Target Market
When selecting the product or service that your fund raising organization will utilize, consider the market that you will be targeting. Remember that what sells well in one area may not necessarily mean it will sell well in another. Understand your surroundings and those that will be participating in the sales or services.
8. Start and End date of Fund Raising Event
A high percentage of fund raisers today have a start and end date to their event. Make sure that these dates DO NOT clash with anyone else within your organization. Especially when you are involved with a school. Various grade levels have certain fund raising periods when they can do their fund raisers so that it doesn't clash with another class. Make sure you have those dates blocked off.
9. Change Over Procedure
The change over, or passing on the baton, is very important. When your fund raising committee changes (usually every year) the incoming group needs to be well abreast in what went on in the previous year. The out going committee should have had a year end review to come up with a document that will list what went "Good" and "Not So Good" in the year. This way the incoming committee does not make the same mistakes.
One thing to remember is that the committee plays a HUGE role in the success of any fund raiser so don't be discouraged if you do the same things as the out going committee with not as good of a success. Just have to work around all of that and find a way to be as successful.