Part 3 - What I've Learned my First Six Months as NRA Field Rep.

Greetings,

Integrity.

                “If you have integrity, nothing else matters.  If you don't have integrity, nothing else matters.”   ~Alan Simpson

How does one define integrity?  Morals?  Character?  Honesty?  All three of those apply.  I think the best definition I ever heard was ‘How you behave when nobody is watching.’  That is what integrity is all about.  We all do things ‘right’ when we are being observed, but what about when it’s just you?

Integrity is a word that is not employed as much as it used to be.  When my grandparents were kids, it was a huge part of politics; now it’s a joke in the political world.  When my folks were kids, it was an essential quality to succeed in life; now it’s almost frowned upon.  ‘If you are playing fair, you aren’t playing … and you aren’t going to win.’  ‘It’s only wrong if you get caught.’  What a sad commentary on our times. 

Some people are still concerned with integrity.  Personal integrity.  Professional integrity.  Financial integrity.  Those are the kind of people who volunteer for a Friends of NRA committee.  As I stated in my last blog entry, the NRA Foundation has the highest rating a charity can get on Charity Navigator (www.charitynavigator.org) and spends less than 5% of their revenue on overhead.  That’s impressive!

When we say that the money will be spent on qualifying local grants, we mean it.  Every penny promised is used to promote shooting sports on a local level.  There is a strict qualifying process that each grant applicant must go through before they are even allowed to apply for a NRA Foundation grant.  The local committees must make recommendations on whether or not each grant should be funded.  That recommendation is sent to NRA Headquarters in Fairfax, VA and the Grant Department scrutinizes each application.  Once they are satisfied, it is sent to the NRA Legal Department where it is again analyzed and if it passes the legal restrictions, it is moved along to the NRA Board of Directors for final approval. 

After the grant is approved and the merchandise has been ordered or a check has been cut, the recipients have to keep a detailed paper-trail of where every penny was spent.  They have to report back to the Grant Department with a final report before any other funds can be awarded. 

With over 3000 grants per year coming through the NRA Grant Department, and it being such a laborious process, you can imagine how long it takes to get each and every one of them taken care of  every year.  The task is monumental, to say the least.  It is performed by a dedicated group of people who are very concerned that it be done right, fairly, legally, and with all integrity.    

When we say that everyone pays the same amount to play the games and such and that no volunteer receives any compensation for their work, we mean it.  Our volunteers are just that.  Volunteers.  The very word implies that their service is performed with no remuneration, and out of the goodness of their heart.  We do not offer incentives to sell raffle tickets, we do not offer discounted game tickets, we do not provide hotel rooms or clothing, we do not give out rewards to top sales people, and we do not pay our bucket ticket sales force.  They all do it because they believe in the program.

When we say that we do our very best to keep costs low, we mean it.  Our volunteers are not afraid to ask for discounts on the venue or catering.  Any time we can get something donated rather than having to purchase it, that is more money for the local grants.  We try everything we can to make sure our net proceeds are as large as possible. 

We know that the banquet attendees give their money in good faith, expecting it to be used for what we claim from the microphone.  We understand that it is our responsibility to honor their trust in us and do exactly what we say we will do.  It’s all about integrity, and that starts at the local level with the wonderful folks who give us their time and talents because we have proven ourselves to behave in a manner consistent with the highest integrity. 

Our committee members are all allowed to see the check book at every meeting.  They can access copies of receipts for any purchase.  Every dollar raised at the banquet is counted, double counted, and signed for.  There is a system of checks and balances in place within every bank account to ensure that every penny raised is retained for grants.  The volunteers know they carry a huge responsibility, but understand it’s an honor to be a trusted part of the program.  They act with integrity every day. 

A sizeable contingent of our staff and volunteers have joined us from other organizations because they were drawn to the way we ‘do business’.  We say what we mean and mean what we say.  We attract people with integrity.  As the proverb says, ‘water seeks its own level’, and we are only as good as our people.  We have the BEST volunteers, the most committed members, and the highest level of integrity within our ‘industry’. 

Blessings,
~Gwen

http://www.friendsofnra.org/