The Transformative Power of Service to a Cause

As a board member for a very small 501c3 dedicated to restoring a historic house and providing arts programs to the community of Catskill, NY, I had the distinct pleasure of being among the hosts for our annual fundraiser last Saturday evening.   Each year The Friends of Beattie-Powers host a dinner,  designed to offer our biggest supporters a memorable dining experience in the house itself.  Our Executive Director, a decorator, goes to great lengths to swath the night in a visual theme that's both stylish and unique.  This year, orange table cloths were draped with Damian Hirst-inspired polka dot runners, topped with  Gerber daisy centerpieces.  But the real showstopper of the event each year without fail is the view from the house itself, which overlooks the Hudson River with Frederick Church's  Olana  just beyond the sight lines of this shot:

I love all of the actual, on the ground work we put forth to produce it -- from hustling up tickets to weeding the garden to going table to table to ask for donations for the evening's raffle.  It's a nice contrast to the strategic planning I do professionally.   And as exhausting as the evening can be for us Board members, it serves to reinforce our commitment to this organization - just as it brings us closer to our biggest donors.  There can be a lot of pride associated with events like these -- and with that a great opportunity to engage cause ambassadors!

Imagine if all of our attendees shared news of our next Bard student concert...or forwarded our year-end fundraising appeal to their employers for a matching gift? 

Or heck - what if they we could turn just a few of those attendees into active volunteers for next year's event?? 

A great cause-related experience is a terrible thing to waste.  Share it and inspire alike.

For more about the event mentioned -- follow The Friends of Beattie-Powers blog at: http://www.beattiepowersplace.blogspot.com/