AWGB Raffle

[Dave Atkinson]

We'd like some feedback!

We're considering the raffle at the Seminar.  Next time the prizes will be labelled 1st, 2nd etc and people will get the prize they win, there won't be a choice.  If a winner isn't present at the draw their prize will be sent on to them.

Then we wondered whether we should price the tickets at £1 or £5 each.  If we sell at £5 we will sell fewer tickets but the chance of winning is the same.  What do you think - £1 or £5?

Then we wondered whether to open the raffle to all members and send everyone a couple of books in Revolutions for you to buy or sell on and return monies  and stubs to us.  Would you sell them or bin them? 

If we opened it out - £1 or £5 a ticket?

Should we have an annual raffle - assuming we can get prizes?

The raffle is a fund raiser for the Charity and does not necessarily offset Seminar costs.

Let's hear what you think.

Cheers Dave
AWGB Chairman

[malcy]

I recently attended the Segemnted Woodtrurners Symposium in US. A raffle was held and tickets were One dollar each they sold about 4000 to about 200 attendees, and the money was used to help the seminar costs. Prizes were a first a small Ricoh lathe going down to groups of smaller items such as DVDs or specialist books. In all there were 20 prizes. Needless to say I did not win anything. I think tickets at £1 is best. If you want to spend £5 or more that is your choice. It could be opened to all members prior to the seminar with all tickets being returned before. How well that would be received, I am not sure. I see no problem with an inhouse raffle at the seminar however. Just my thoughts. Malcolm.

[Dave Atkinson]

I should explain perhaps that we are a Charity and any raffle is seen as fundraising by the Charity for the Charity. 

The Seminar is not a charitable activity and is run by our Trading Company - AWGB Trading Ltd, which is wholly owned by the Charity.  Therefore, although we always run a raffle at the Seminar since 2013 the funds go to the Charity not the Trading Company. 

Running a private raffle at the Seminar where we sell tickets only at the Seminar and make the draw at the Seminar is easy.  Running a public raffle is more complex (legally) and before we embark on that road we thought we'd ask if anyone was interested.

I recently attended the IWG seminar and their raffle tickets were priced at 10 euros each. 

Cheers Dave

[Derek]

Personally I would not pay £5 a ticket unless it was a very substantial prize, were as at £1 I probably buy more than one giving a much bigger chance of winning and yes then I would buy £5 worth. In the end you would still get £5 from me, but as I am not going you will not.
That is just my thoughts on the question you asked.

[David Buskell]

At the AAW Symposia, raffle tickets are $5 each but then the prize is usually a big Powermatic or Jet lathe.

Give a good prize and most people will take a punt at £5.

By the way, when we had Jimmy Clewes at our club, raffle tickets were £5 each and prize was the first item he turned in the all-day demo. We sold a lot of tickets!

[Dave Atkinson]

but as I am not going you will not.

Why aren't you going Derek?

Cheers Dave

[Dave Atkinson]

At the AAW Symposia, raffle tickets are $5 each but then the prize is usually a big Powermatic or Jet lathe.

Give a good prize and most people will take a punt at £5.

I don't think we'"" get a powermatic or jet lathe David but first prize usually has a value around £250-£350.

Thanks for the input.

Cheers Dave

[edbanger]

Hi Dave

If your looking to get everyone involved I think that £1 would work best a lot of members of the AWGB are on a pension, if you have tickets at £5 each then you might be putting them out of reach for some.

I'm in two minds about putting raffle tickets in Revolutions. Putting tickets in could be a good idea as this will involve all AWGB members most of which will not be going to the seminar.  On the other hand the raffle is part of the seminar and if the winning numbers picked are to mostly people who have not supported the event it could fall a bit flat.

The raffle at UKIWS last year was for the people attending it did well and there was great fun with the banter on the raffle draw, in fact as I type this my opinion as gone in favor of the tickets being sold at the seminar.   

All the best

Ed

[Les Symonds]

I can see where Ed is coming from, regarding members on a pension possibly being reluctant to spend £5 on a ticket, but....is there any analytic breakdown of members who have attended in the past? Does the committee know what proportion of those attending the symposium were of pensionable age, and even if it does know this, would it be possible to draw any conclusions from it?
I'm 100% with Ed in keeping the raffle for those attending the symposium....there really is nothing more disheartening in a raffle-draw than discovering that half of the prize winners aren't present. It's a bit like the award for Sports Personality of the Year, or the BAFTAs, when nominees are absent!

Les

[bodrighywood]

I also think £1 tickets would be best and as said by others, sold at the seminar. Human nature would probably dictate that if they were sent out in Revolutions a lot would be trashed. Also a couple of good quality prizes (IMHO) would be more likely to attract people than loads of cheap ones. OK , maybe not a Powermatic or Jet lathe but certainly something that would be of value to turners.

Pete

[Dave Atkinson]

I also think £1 tickets would be best and as said by others, sold at the seminar. Human nature would probably dictate that if they were sent out in Revolutions a lot would be trashed. Also a couple of good quality prizes (IMHO) would be more likely to attract people than loads of cheap ones. OK , maybe not a Powermatic or Jet lathe but certainly something that would be of value to turners.

Pete

Give me a clue Pete.  What be good value for turners?  The prizes are donated by corporate members.

Cheers Dave

[bodrighywood]

I also think £1 tickets would be best and as said by others, sold at the seminar. Human nature would probably dictate that if they were sent out in Revolutions a lot would be trashed. Also a couple of good quality prizes (IMHO) would be more likely to attract people than loads of cheap ones. OK , maybe not a Powermatic or Jet lathe but certainly something that would be of value to turners.

Pete

Give me a clue Pete.  What be good value for turners?  The prizes are donated by corporate members.



Cheers Dave

Specialised wood such as some of the exotics, some of the more specialised tools perhaps, books, it is a difficult one I admit as we are all different. A selection of different finishes, polishes etc. Personally there are a lot of things that I don't bother to try or experiment with as they are too expensive just to try but would love to have a go with, different polishes, colouring agents etc,
Pete

[The Bowler Hatted Turner]

I think the seminar raffle should be just for those attending the seminar. I also feel that more money would be raised by selling tickets at £1 each or £5 a strip, most members would buy a strip and have 5 chances of winning, good odds.
I don't agree with putting raffle tickets in Revolutions but thinking outside of the box, an awful lot of clubs run a monthly raffle with moderate prizes, how about running a monthly AWGB raffle for the development fund?

[Dave Atkinson]

Running a monthly raffle is not sustainable John.  There is legislation which we must, as a charity, abide by and whilst it's technically feasible we don't have the resources, or the prize givers to run a monthly raffle on an AWGB wide basis.

Cheers Dave

[APH]

What be good value for turners?  The prizes are donated by corporate members.

Gift vouchers.
I'd guess that anyone paying lots of money to attend a seminar is very likely to already have a reasonable workshop, so specific items might not be of interest or use.
A voucher from Axminster/Record/Sorby/Crown/Chesnut etc. could be used to get what a turner would actually find useful. For the supplier it might also prove advantageous as it might be used as part of a larger sale, so getting some revenue to offset donating the prize or if not used to the full value of the voucher, less lost. Both parties win.