| Win a 2008 Harley-Davidson motorcycle and trailer | |||
|---|---|---|---|
What would be the most unique fund-raising opportunity that a service club could offer the community? An annual, yearlong motorcycle raffle. The Huron Township Rotary Club initiated this raffle several years ago and it has proved to be a successful endeavor.
An earlier fund-raiser involved floating numbered plastic yellow ducks down the township’s Huron River. Of course this involved a lot of set up: first, counting and numbering the ducks – that fell upon high school students who needed community service; preparing the waterway to receive and hold the ducks, as well as the technology to release them and send them down the water. At an appointed site the first duck through was the winner. There were also second and third places. This was a rather successful event for two years – and remember, the ducks had to be picked up, cleaned off and dried and stored till next year – did I say the number was around 10,000 ducks? This was a time consuming challenge each year too because eventually the DEQ did not appreciate the artificial fowls that were lingering along, caught between submerged branches and along the edges of the river. So there was a new idea and it came from an individual who even provided the seed money to purchase a brand, spanking new Harley Davidson motorcycle. The idea was to go to many events, beside the club’s primary sales site, the annual HT Applefest in October, and sell raffle tickets. The price was right: for $5 for a single, or $20 for five tickets; anyone could have a chance on the bike. With the help of various swap meets across the state, as well as opening up opportunities for VFW’s and American Legions to join in the ticket sale, Huron’s Rotary were able to use the income to fund many of the support opportunities that came their way. Known for their generous giving during the holiday season, representing the Goodfellows, a portion of each ticket sold went directly to that account. Using an event list for county fairs, meets, street art shows, and even setting up every weekend at Apple Charlies in rural Huron Township, the Rotary continued to market the bike by either going and setting up, or extending an opportunity for others to sell tickets for them. Some sales have taken place as far as the Soo Locks from time to time. A specially prepared power point will soon be available, and even linked to this site, for groups who are interested. At the close of the Applefest, three tickets are drawn: the first for the Harley Davidson Ultra Classic motorcycle and a trailer; the second prize is $2000, the third, $1000. All winners are responsible for the taxes on all the prizes. The following day, the new raffle begins. We invite our winners to a club meeting to accept their prizes. 
Annually the club prepares to sell 30,000 tickets – and them usually sell nearly 20,000 – with a strong majority of them during the last two days of the sale.The calendar on this website lists where the events will be held during the year. Check this site within the next couple months to view the power point. |
|||