Help ME! RAFFLE?

[lugerholsterrepair]

In the not too distant past, Ed Tinker and I organized a raffle to help take some of the pressure off financially. John supports this expensive site almost wholly out of his own pocket.
I know Ed is up to his ears in keeping afloat and with my recent move and the demands of my trade I am a little busy too but if someone could team up and successfully do what we have done before..run a simple raffle.. it would go a long way towards keeping all this together.
In the past I have donated what I could..and others stepped up..even with some major prizes. People who won pistols in the last raffle were very pleased indeed! I would do it again..so if there are a couple of entrepenurial types out there who would be willing..let it be known. Running a raffle isn't hard if you have a couple of traits..honesty and lots of time!

Instead of that..there really must be more of an effort to recruit contributors. Patrons are needed..hey..$10-25 bucks. Whatever you can afford without taking food off the table. Not that serious for most of us but necessary to keep the site up. Be a part of it and encourage your luger Friends to do the same..What's more important in the collecting World? Besides I know John and he puts every penny to work.

Ideas? Want to step up? Shoot me an email...Let's do what we can to turn this into a positive and turn a frown upside down!

[sheepherder]

Jerry - Thanks for reminding me! I was able to shake loose some of my SS annuity to send along to John D...

[lugerholsterrepair]

Rich..Me neither! That's why I was trying to find some other person who might have at least one of the requirements..

[roadkill1]

Don't have a lot but can give a little.....how and to whom may we donate?

[Edward Tinker]

See upper right of screen...

[lugerholsterrepair]

my profile | register | faq | search
upload photo | donate | calendar

At the top of this page..

[skeeter4206]

I have not been collecting firearms long, but it is definitly an addiction that does not have a cure for but more information and more collectables to add to the collection.

Since I got my first luger I found this website and my knowledge of lugers have grown. This is due to all the members here sharing pictures and their knowledge of these guns. This I am very much pleased of how this website is managed and operates. There are other forums out there, but not as functional as this website.

I'll do whatever I can to helpout to keep this website up and going. And to help those that spend a great deal of time keeping it up and running. I'll donate what I can to help out.

I am sure there are other members out there that feel the same way I do about this site. maybe they also can dig down deep and play a part as well.

I do thank all that does their part in keeping this website up and going, and those that actually manage the site.

[alanint]

I'll send John a donation. It's about time I stepped up.

[Neil Young]

There have been many potentially good options posted here for raising money for the Forum. However, it is still my belief that almost everyone here could afford to make a periodic donation to support John and the Forum--whatever you can afford, large or small--whatever you think is right. Lets face it, if you're collecting Lugers, you do have some mad money. The financial situation of running a forum such as this has been brought to the forefront--everyone is aware. Why don't we wait for a short period to see how much donation response comes in from concerned members. If poor, then take some more extreme measures. I'll bet that the response will be good. Of course, a periodic reminder will likely be needed.

[lugerholsterrepair]

LugerForum Patronage

The Lugerforum is free - and will remain free to any collector and Luger enthusiast throughout the world. As well, the site has no commercial Sponsors, Dealers, nor Advertising Banners flashing about which might detract from its overall intent and purpose - which is a site for collectors run by collectors. To that end - its entire operation and cost is wholly dependent on private funding and donations.

If you would like to donate and support this site and become a "LugerForum Patron" you may do so by using either PayPal (paypal address - johnd@rennlist.com) or sending your donation to:

Lugerforum
c/o John Dunkle
PO Box 111
Portsmouth, NH 03802-111
USA

Once received, you will have LugerForum Patron added to your Title and have access to several private "Patron Only" Forums - and more importantly, the thanks of collectors and enthusiasts from around the world….

With Best Regards and our thanks!

John Dunkle
Website owner and Administrator

[cirelaw]

One of our finest investments! Eric~~~

[Edward Tinker]

Well, I am not Jerry, but I have run at least as many or more raffles here than he has I can say that because Every raffle but two that I can think of was run by me and Jerry or me and Jerry in the last eight years.

To run a raffle properly, you advertise it, ask for donations, we usually got around 10 prizes + and then you either literally or figuratively set aside numbers (I have used 'tickets' but then there is cost involved) and most recently used electronic tickets.

Some one sends me money via post office or Paypal - be advised that I lost a Paypal account, and ALL bank accounts tied to it by running the raffle, evidently it is against their rules.

So, you use paypal, you do it at your own risk. I then put out my PO Box and folks send me cash, checks or money orders.

I keep a spreadsheet of every 'ticket' and amount (1 ticket is $10, 5 tickets is $40 or the like) and that ticket also has to have the persons name.

you run the raffle for a month, longer and folks get bored, sooner and you can't collect enough money.

I have had folks send me the item and then I mailed it, bad idea, thats double postage.

Since I already give enough time to the forums, any expenses are deducted, paypal fees, postage, etc. I am very practical when I do this, but of course the object is to raise money, but also have fun for the folks.

If am running it, i don't generally buy tickets.

Once the month is up, then I literally print out and cut up the ticket numbers (which has the persons name typed next to it) and put them in a box. I draw a number at a time. I have each prize numbered, then as I draw, that person won that prize. I try to make each 'prize' worth it, i.e. a $25 item like a repro holster, I would add another prize, like an original loading tool.

Once you have everything drawn, you notify the winners and paste results here on the forum.

Then you have to ensure the winners are hooked up with the prize givers.

So, the work is; getting prizes, pushing the raffle several times a week, drawing names, notifying and you're done.

Each raffle probably takes up 30-40 hrs of my time, at least...

[lugerholsterrepair]

Thanks Ed..That's pretty much it. On most of the raffles Ed was the organizer and I did what I could to advertise it where ever I could think of..Mostly other Forums although that's limeted because other Forums won't let you post an ad for a raffle. I used the Luger Forum and the P-38 Forum..both owned by John. Then I sent a notice with a hot link to the raffle page to everyone in my address book via email. Kind of like selling band candy..you ask everyone you know!
If you take on something like this you have to pay attention to many details..You don't want any ticket buyer to be upset somehow or shorted. We pretty generally kept it together with very few glitches.
It's an initiative..you jump in and do it. Announce begining and ending dates..ask for items for the raffle..stay in contact with the donors and then give the donor the name and address of the winner. Everyone has some responsibility.
I think it's better to have two guys who know each other..not absolutely necessary but it helped that Ed and I were Friends. You lean on each other for support. Or to bitch. It's not that easy...Ed says 30-40 hours and I think he's forgot the space time continuem. I would be floored if it were just 35 hours. In a month the raffle runs that would be only 1+ hour a day on average..I had several hours some days banging out ads and emails. It doesn't auto end the day the raffle closes either..you will have a week or more after catching up details..shipping receiving, money transfers etc.

[ripcord810]

I have a large double roll of raffle tickets maybe 300 or so. I would be happy to donate them if it would help?

[lugerholsterrepair]

Dave, Thanks! Pretty much the cart before the horse right now. Looks like no one is chomping at the bit to run the raffle. Without a couple of energetic and devoted blokes to run it..raffle tickets would be like a Victoria Secret Teddy for a voluptuous 23 year old blond bombshell. Ya got the teddy but where's the girl?