Post by Johnny on May 20, 2006 8:43:05 GMT
As most of you know - we will be planning our annual sponsored walk for this September (date to be arranged later).
There are two very important things I would like to convey to members regarding this event:
1. Following last year's successful walk, we had initially thought about returning to the National Trust's Sheringham Park. However, since then - we have been informed by the NT that if we conduct any future sponsored walk at the park, then they would expect at least a 10% donation from what we raise to go towards their funds.
Both myself, and all the members of the committee have found this unacceptable, for three reasons.
Firstly, whichever charity we choose to support - we would like to see the result of all our efforts going to that cause.
Secondly, as with last year's walk - the event provides good publicity both for the NT and our dog club. Following last year's event - I mentioned the NT and Sheringham Park in EVERY email and letter that was sent to the press. Last year's event got a mention in two local newspapers, and a local radio station. It provided good publicity for the NT, and Sheringham Park.
Thirdly, what's stopping a group from turning up and conducting a sponsored walk at Sheringham Park anyway? There's no obligation that I'm aware of - for fundraisers to have to pay the NT a share of the money? So long as they pay their car parking fees - we can't see any reason why they should have to be held to account with paying the NT 10% of what they raise.
The committee feels that the whole situation is not in the club's best interests, and, to be honest - I personally think it's very unfortunate how the NT always seems to put obstacles in the way of events like these, and to not see the "bigger picture" - of how events staged at their venues, could serve as wonderful publicity opportunities for their own charity.
It's a sad reflection of todays world - to see how large charities always seem to end up looking like carbon copies of big businesses - where "profits" are at the top of the agenda on every occassion.
It was the same with the proposed dog show, that we were originally planning to stage in conjunction with the NT at Sheringham Park. Everything seemed to be running smoothly - until the NT seemed to be steering us more towards a profit-orientated show, and not the kind of event that our members had envisaged.
I am so pleased that we have taken the initiative to stage our own show at Worstead - where we have the freedom to run the show exactly as we like.
So - Have you any ideas for an alternative venue to Sheringham Park?
Thetford Forest perhaps?
Post your venue ideas in this thread.
2. Which charity do you wish to support for this year's sponsored walk?
Please do not post names of charities in this thread. Instead, please could you forward them via email or PM to either myself or Stuart, and we'll take your suggestions into account when the club decides who to support.
There are two very important things I would like to convey to members regarding this event:
1. Following last year's successful walk, we had initially thought about returning to the National Trust's Sheringham Park. However, since then - we have been informed by the NT that if we conduct any future sponsored walk at the park, then they would expect at least a 10% donation from what we raise to go towards their funds.
Both myself, and all the members of the committee have found this unacceptable, for three reasons.
Firstly, whichever charity we choose to support - we would like to see the result of all our efforts going to that cause.
Secondly, as with last year's walk - the event provides good publicity both for the NT and our dog club. Following last year's event - I mentioned the NT and Sheringham Park in EVERY email and letter that was sent to the press. Last year's event got a mention in two local newspapers, and a local radio station. It provided good publicity for the NT, and Sheringham Park.
Thirdly, what's stopping a group from turning up and conducting a sponsored walk at Sheringham Park anyway? There's no obligation that I'm aware of - for fundraisers to have to pay the NT a share of the money? So long as they pay their car parking fees - we can't see any reason why they should have to be held to account with paying the NT 10% of what they raise.
The committee feels that the whole situation is not in the club's best interests, and, to be honest - I personally think it's very unfortunate how the NT always seems to put obstacles in the way of events like these, and to not see the "bigger picture" - of how events staged at their venues, could serve as wonderful publicity opportunities for their own charity.
It's a sad reflection of todays world - to see how large charities always seem to end up looking like carbon copies of big businesses - where "profits" are at the top of the agenda on every occassion.
It was the same with the proposed dog show, that we were originally planning to stage in conjunction with the NT at Sheringham Park. Everything seemed to be running smoothly - until the NT seemed to be steering us more towards a profit-orientated show, and not the kind of event that our members had envisaged.
I am so pleased that we have taken the initiative to stage our own show at Worstead - where we have the freedom to run the show exactly as we like.
So - Have you any ideas for an alternative venue to Sheringham Park?
Thetford Forest perhaps?
Post your venue ideas in this thread.
2. Which charity do you wish to support for this year's sponsored walk?
Please do not post names of charities in this thread. Instead, please could you forward them via email or PM to either myself or Stuart, and we'll take your suggestions into account when the club decides who to support.
I think I may have to take them off our links page, I'm fed up with their constant attempts to skeem us out of our fundraising money and messing up our event planning
I already did take them off the links page!!! That will teach them!! 