Montana’s Volunteer Newsletter

CAN 100% BE REACHED IN MONTANA?-Linda Schott

Over ten years ago Ronald and I attended our first Elk Camp in Reno. As new committee members we were interested in everything at Elk Camp and signed up for all the workshops we could fit in, which included one on increasing chapter income. I remember Don Hanna, the representative for the Canadian Chapters, presented the workshop. He talked about how three of his chapters had achieved a net-to-gross efficiency rate of over 100 percent. As I listened, I kept thinking how great that would be, but figured it must have had something to do the record keeping and the Canadian currency exchange rate! Pretty naive huh? But could the rest of us really accomplish it? YOU BET! But it takes time, planning, and dedication.

As chapter Co-chair for the Vigilante Chapter (Ennis and Sheridan) last year we finished at a record breaking 96%. At Volunteer Fun Night when the awards were presented in Albuquerque I overheard someone saying that was only because of the habitat dollars that were included in our total income. Well, I guess I took that as a personal challenge, so I set out to prove that 100% net-to-gross without habitat partners could be accomplished. This year, I am very proud to say that the Vigilante Chapter did just that! How did it happen? Some people believe it’s because of rich out-of-stators – I want you to believe that it’s due to the hard work, dedication and partnerships formed with the local ranchers and landowners, merchants, sportsmen and women, and hard working folks who live here, love elk country, and want to do what they can to protect our very precious habitat. It was with the help and contributions of each of the above that enabled us to reach this level of efficiency. It’s the result of a passion that runs year long – not just during banquet season – that allows the fostering of partnerships, the continual nurturing of relationships, and projects completed on–the-ground that offer up the community support. Yes, it can be done and we owe it to ourselves and the RMEF to be as efficient as possible, to get the most out of all dollars contributed and earned at our Big Game Banquets.

Welcome to our newest District Chairs

Terry and Dana Held of Silver Star, Montana off the Vigilante Chapter have stepped up and become District Chairs in Montana. The Montana Volunteer Advisory Committee is made up of 13 current District Chairs, the two State Chairs, 1 Regional Chair, both Montana Field Directors and other staff members. If you or anyone you know is interested in becoming a District Chair, please contact Ron Schott or Al Christophersen.

CURRENT RMEF MEMBERSHIPS THRU JUNE 2001

GRAND TOTAL
	LIFE	SPNSR	OUTF	SUPPORT	TOTAL	REVENUE	ELK POP
USA	9,310	8,151	303	108,352	126,116	$14,666,485	879,928
CANADA	265	4	38	4,608	4,915	$436,780	90,227
FOREIGN	24	1	16	89	130	$31,375	0
MILITARY	9	0	0	81	90	$11,430	0
TOTAL	9,608	8,156	357	113,130	131,251	$15,146,070	970,155

MONTANA BULL SHEET Page 2 Page 2

At what cost?

The American Institute of Philanthropy suggests fund-raising expenses should not exceed 35 percent of funds raised. Below, fund-raising effectiveness measured as a percentage of actual funds raised.

Example: The Trust for Public Land spends $2 to raise $100. The National Parks Conservation Association, on the other hand, spends $33 to $41 to raise $100.

The best The worst

1. The Conservation Fund 1% 1. Sierra Club 42%

2. Trust for Public Land 2% 2. National Parks

3. Save the Conservation

Redwoods League 4% Association 33-41%

4. Conservation 3. Defenders of

International 5% of Wildlife 20-50%

5. Rocky Mountain 4. Greenpeace 26-56%

Elk Foundation 6% 5. National Park

Trust 23-74%

Note: Range indicates differences between charities' own estimates of fund raising and the highest possible estimates of the philanthropy watchdog.

Sources: IRS form 990s; American Institute of Philanthropy

Sacramento Bee / Scott Flodin

SUMMER PAC MEETING - Kirk Murphy

It's that time of year to allocate hard earned banquet dollars on the best projects in the state. The next meeting of the Montana Project Advisory Committee (PAC) is Wednesday July 18th at Fish, Wildlife & Parks office on Spurgin Road in Missoula at 9:00 a.m. and will run until done sometime in the early afternoon.

That meeting will be followed by tours of some of the previously funded PAC projects in the Philipsburg area as well as a tour of the Watershed Project near Anaconda on Thursday the 19th. Everyone is invited to come see how the PAC meeting works and the dollars are spent, just RSVP to Kirk Murphy at 406-883-1147 or Steve Decker at 406-388-4877 by July 14th so we can plan accordingly. Project tours will take place Wednesday afternoon and into the evening with an overnight camp out and tours continuing on Thursday. Please join us for a fun and informative look at some great projects you, the volunteers make happen!

				Net to		SP	Life
Chapter	Atten	Gross	Net	Gross	HP	Mbr	Mbr
Polson	297	50,883	32,286	64	0	25	0
Kalispell	453	157,466	131,180	86	28,720