March 2006 acsrelay.org newsletter!

[Relay ForLife]

Welcome to the March 2006 acsrelay.org newsletter!  We hope that if your Relay planning comes in like a lamb, it goes out like a LION and that things are getting better and better!!!!

By now, you're in full swing and making it all happen, we're sure.  Here are some ideas this month to keep the ball rolling:

1. Entertainment/On-Site DGI'S

Entertainment at your event is a great tool to attract people not familiar with Relay, they might come out to see their favorite local band or radio personality. Keep your Relayers entertained with great music and activities to keep them there all night long. Click on the following links for some darn good ideas:

http://www.acsrelay.org/Manual/19a-g-Entertainment_On-Site-Activities_&_Ceremonies_R&R.doc
- The basic things to do for Entertainment, On-Site Activities, and Ceremonies

http://www.acsrelay.org/Darn_Good_Ideas/19-On-Site_Activities_&_Keep_Tms_All_Nite_DGIs.doc
- On site activities and ways to keep your teams around all night!!!!

http://www.acsrelay.org/Darn_Good_Ideas/19-Team_Themes_&_Names_DGIs.doc
- Team Theme ideas and Team Name ideas - one of our most common questions - give this list to your team captains to give them theme ideas for their campsite

http://www.acsrelay.org/Darn_Good_Ideas/13-Team_Day_Of_Checklist_DGI.doc
- A list of things each team should bring the day of Relay - customize for your event!

http://www.acsrelay.org/Darn_Good_Ideas/19-Food_DGIs.doc
- Ideas for food at your event!

http://www.acsrelay.org/Darn_Good_Ideas/19-Music_Suggestions_For_All_Ceremonies.doc
- Music suggestions for your ceremonies/event

2.  http://www.goodsearch.com - A Search Engine That Gives to Charity!

This search engine gives to charity for each search you do!  It's powered by Yahoo - just select American Cancer Society as the charity you want to benefit, and each search generates roughly $0.01 for ACS (one cent)... Might not sound like much, but 10,000 volunteers doing 2 searches each a day would generate about $73,000 a year for the ACS!!!  Sounds like a good deal to me.  If you have questions or comments, please e-mail rflvol...@gmail.com

3.  100,000 Visitors to http://acsrelay.org Contest!

Thanks to the 4 replies to the 100,000 Visitors And Counting Contest...  I have declared all 4 posters winners for sharing great ideas!  Visit:

http://www.relayamerica.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=160

to see their ideas!

4.  Great Idea of the Month - DETAILS ON PLANNING AND EXECUTING SPECIFIC FUNDRAISERS!

In the next few months, lots of specifics on specific fundraisers will appear - we are starting with details on how to hold a Bowl-A-Thon, a Golf Tournament, and a Motorcycle Fundraising Ride... If you have details you'd like to see on a specific event, please e-mail rflvol...@gmail.com !! !
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Go to the following links for more on the Bowl-A-Thon:

http://www.acsrelay.org/Darn_Good_Ideas/10-DGI-Bowl_A_Thon/10-Bowl-A-Thon_Planning_Tips.doc
- Tips for Planning the Bowl-A-Thon

http://www.acsrelay.org/Darn_Good_Ideas/10-DGI-Bowl_A_Thon/10-Bowl-A-Thon_Example_Sign_Up_Sheet.doc
- A sample Bowl-A-Thon sign up sheet

http://www.acsrelay.org/Darn_Good_Ideas/10-DGI-Bowl_A_Thon/10-Bowl-A-Thon_Example_Sponsorship_Sheet.doc
-A sample Bowl-A-Thon Sponsorship Sheet

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Go to the following links for more on organizing a Golf Tournament - - Thanks to Brandon and the Oldsmar Relay For Life for sharing many of these tips!:

http://www.acsrelay.org/Darn_Good_Ideas/10-DGI-Golf_Tourney/10-Golf_Tourney_Planning_Tips.doc
- Golf Tourney Planning Tips

http://www.acsrelay.org/Darn_Good_Ideas/10-DGI-Golf_Tourney/10-Golf_Tourney_Example_Oldsmar_RFL_Sponsorship_Request_Letter.doc
- Sample Golf Tourney Sponsorship Request Letter

http://www.acsrelay.org/Darn_Good_Ideas/10-DGI-Golf_Tourney/10-Golf_Tourney_Example_Oldsmar_RFL_Sponsorship_Form.doc
- Sample Golf Tourney Sponsorship Form

http://www.acsrelay.org/Darn_Good_Ideas/10-DGI-Golf_Tourney/10-Golf_Tourney_Example_Oldsmar_RFL_Take_A_Swing_Flyer.pdf
- Sample Flyer to advertise the event!

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Go to the following link for ideas to organize a Motorcycle Ride fundraiser!

http://www.acsrelay.org/Darn_Good_Ideas/10-DGI-Motorcycle_Ride/10-Motorcycle_Ride_Planning_Tips.doc
- Motorcycle Ride Planning Tips
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5.  "Sister" Relay For Life Event Program

Thanks for all those who have been interested in having a Sister Relay - As Relay For Life expands, there is a great opportunity to build relationship with other events around the nation or even the World!  Already, several events have developed "sister" event relationships (just like there are cities around the world that are "sister" cities)...  For example, Pittsboro, PA and Glascow, Scotland are sister events!  And we hear about more every day.  If you would like to be a sister event, e-mail rflvol...@gmail.com and we can match you up... Please specify if there is a particular location you'd prefer (if you are willing to be "sisters" with another U.S. event, or would prefer international events)... There are more and more international events every year, so we'll do our best.  Many events already e-mail and express interest!  See the following document for ideas on things you could do with a "sister" event:

http://www.acsrelay.org/Darn_Good_Ideas/08-Sister_Relay_Partnerships.doc


6 .  Other Reminders

• If you have any feedback on this monthly update, please let us know. Please send comments and suggestions to rflvol...@gmail.com.
• Remember to always check with your event committee and staff before applying an idea to make sure that there are not local/state considerations that you must take into account (sales tax rules in your state, particular things about your event or community that would make the idea inappropriate, etc.).
• Feel free to forward this on to others and have them e-mail rflvol...@gmail.com to be added to the distribution!
• Remember that if you are ever searching for an idea or information,
  please go to the search engine at http://www.acsrelay.org/ in
  order to find what you need:
  

  http://www.acsrelay.org/search.php
  

  Or, you can email rflvol...@gmail.com and we'll look into it!

And finally - THANK YOU! - Without you, the volunteers, there is no Relay!!!!!

There Is No Finish Line Until We Find A Cure!

Ramesh Moorthy
webmaster, http://www.acsrelay.org
Blogging About Relay at http://acsrelay.blogspot.com
Talking About Relay at http://www.relayamerica.com
American Cancer Society and Relay For Life Volunteer, Baltimore, MD
"There Is No Finish Line Until We Find A Cure"