by Biz Carson, EA
A group of red-eyed, bleary members of AZ and Rho huddled around a box of donuts and jugs of orange juice. It was 7 a.m. on Sunday morning when they clasped gloved hands clumsily around Styrofoam cups. It was okay if a little orange juice sloshed onto the rough beige fabric. After all, they would be dealing with much worse later. At that moment in time, it was about sugar and brotherhood. They would
need this later as they combed the grounds of Memorial Stadium picking up trash.
Under the stress of the economic recession, many IU student groups have to rework and expand their fundraising strategy. This includes Kappa Kappa Psi’s AZ chapter.
Twice this semester, the group has gathered early in the morning to clean up the tailgates trash. The piles of beer cans, hamburgers, pizza boxes, and the occasional diaper or pair of boxers equate to $1200 for the chapter. This $1200 means some sort of financial stability – the chapter can survive another year.
Traditionally, the chapter has been funded through dues and fundraisers that have been traditions since its inception. Now, Treasurer
Ryan Comerford and Sergeant-At-Arms Caitlyn Kruer (both of Delta Psi) are having to think on their feet to create new ways to keep AZ afloat in the rough economic waters.
“I haven’t seen a drop in fundraising so far this year, but I have made sure I offer things that can’t be purchased elsewhere: the Hundred car stickers and BRBB sweatshirts," Kruer says, "or activities that people may have attended other
wise: fundraiser at AppleBee’s."
Comerford and Kruer have continued to reinvent the fundraising style of the chapter. At the beginning of the semester, AppleBees sponsored a night where 10% of the proceeds benefit the group. AZ earned more than $90 through a more nontraditional fundraiser that is growing in popularity among student groups at IU.
Kruer hopes to continue this sort of fundraiser to other restaurants in town. Chains like Noodles Inc. and Qdoba often donate a portion of their proceeds to help student groups and to attract more costumers.
Outside of restaurants, Comerford also credits the success of product fundraisers.
“Fundraisers that have not been successful seem to be those that lack a tangible product. We always seem to do better when we are able to distribute actual products,” Comerford said.
The basketball sweatshirt fundraiser was open to anyone via a group on Facebook. On the event, members could post their designs to be voted on by group members. The winner would receive a free sweatshirt with their design.
Clarinet UGS Jayme Kasting submitted this winning design for the BRBB sweatshirts via the BRBB Sweatshirt Design Contest!!! facebook group. The design won with 78.5 percent of the vote.
Kruer, however, notes that their “biggest failure to date” was selling Sudler glasses.
“The company went on strike and then out of business,” Kruer said.
Kruer now looks to the new and the old fundraisers of this year to support the chapter. These include Mom and Dad Hundred sweatshirts, Hundred stickers, restaurant fundraisers, BRBB sweatshirts and CD/DVD sales.
“The current economic situation has heightened the importance of fundraising for our chapter,” Comerford said. “Specifically, our chapter was
experiencing economic conflict even before the recession hit, and now it is imperative for us to have successful fundraisers."
“We are always searching, welcoming and open to new fundraising ideas, especially given the current situation. What makes fundraising difficult is product differentiation. In what ways can we offer a better, unique or rare product to our customers that will create a competitive advantage for our chapter.”
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