Part 5 - What I've learned in my first six months as NRA Field Rep

Greetings,

It has been a while since I posted anything.  My fall banquet season is up and running.  We had four events in the past three weeks, and after a couple of weekends without one, will have six in another three week period.  Life is good ... busy, but good. 

There are a few more things I'd like to say about our wonderful Colorado Friends of NRA volunteers, and this will wrap up the series.  We have now completed 17 of our 25 events for 2011.  We are nearing the $500,000 net dollar amount, and things are really rolling.  The people have been great.  Even in this 'depressed' economy, their giving continues steady.  Nationally, our program is up over 4% from last year.  When the going gets tough, people stop giving randomly, and support the charities they REALLY believe in.  It speaks very highly of the Friends program that we are doing so well when others are not.  People are letting their money do the talking for them, and we are extrememely grateful!

The committee members who have stuck with this program through the tough times are tolerant, flexible, and patient people.  At every banquet, things go wrong.  Volunteers don't show up.  Credit card machines don't work.  The microphone cuts out.  The food is overcooked or cold.  An item is damaged and cannot be used.  The Rep has her gall bladder removed the day before the event and another volunteer has to fill in.  (Thankfully, this only happened once, and the volunteer did a great job!)  Our committee members just go with the flow ... they roll with the punches ... they take it as it comes and make it work.  As my mom says, "Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape." 

No matter what goes wrong behind the scenes at a banquet, we try hard to make sure that the attendees are not affected by it.  Generally, they have no idea that there were 'issues' that had to be solved.  They say they had a great time and agree to come back next year.  That is quite a testament to our volunteers.  Way to go!

I am blessed to work side by side with caring, friendly, patriotic, generous, driven, focused, hard-working people of great integrity.  It just doesn't get any better than this.  I love my job! 

God Bless you, and God Bless America!
~Gwen 

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/