Supporting the Tampa World Vets

[Peach]

Just received this letter from the chair of the Veterans Committee, and thought it would be worth posting. Florida is hosting the World Veterans Championships this year in Tampa, and the last time they did that it cost them a good bit.

Dear International Veteran Fencer--

As you know, the Veterans world Championships are hosted by USFA this year in Tampa, Florida over Labor Day weekend. As a veteran competitor, you know how much fun it is and how much work goes into running such a competition. We need to raise some more money to make the tournament a success.

So I am asking each of you to take the time, NOW, to write a check to support this effort. Please send your tax deductible contribution to the USFA, to the attention of Michael Massik, and mention it is to support the Veterans World Championships. Also, if you can, send me an email advising that you have made a contribution.

So far, we have raised a sizable amount, but we need between $5,000 and $7,500 more.

Thanks for your help.
Paul Levy

[Craig]

You would think that they would have fired off letters to the "corporate members" of the USFA asking for some sponsorship dollars before going to the fencers.


Craig

[Peach]

You think they haven't? I dunno--this isn't the national office of the USFA asking for funding, it's the Tampa people, with Jim Campoli the chair, asking for the vets to help. All I know is last time the Tampa folks hosted the World Vets they were way out of pocket (I seem to remember the drug testing was the killer), but they do it because it's such a neat event.

[Allen Evans]

Peach - it's not clear that if a donation is made to the USFA that it will go directly for the Veteran effort. Is there a way to insure this?

[Peach]

Paul has told me that if it is sent to the attention of Michael Massik and marked for the support of Veteran Worlds, it will be earmarked for that--and he seems to have a pretty firm idea of exactly how much has been contributed. I don't have any reason to doubt Paul, and I've never known Michael to commit to something he isn't going to do. I can ask him if you like.

[mike morgan]

Peach - it's not clear that if a donation is made to the USFA that it will go directly for the Veteran effort. Is there a way to insure this?

Allen:

Peach is absolutely correct.

I’m on Jim Campoli’s 2005 World Veteran’s Championships Organizational Committee, and chair our fund-raising and sponsorship activities. I also work very closely with Paul Levy.

First, we have approached corporations for support and continue to do so. Paul Levy’s letter is specifically targeted to additional potential individual donors. As Paul says in his letter we have already “raised a sizable amount”—and we have. Now, we wish to broaden our fund-raising efforts.

To amplify what Paul has written:

If a donor wishes to make a contribution in support of the 2005 World Veteran’s Championships please send your contribution to Michael Massik. You may wish to use the following language.

“I am enclosing a ……. contribution to the USFA to be specifically used to support the 2005 World Veteran’s Championships which will be held in Tampa, Florida from September 2-September 4, 2005.”

Also, if posible, could you send Paul Levy an email advising that you have made a contribution.

[Allen Evans]

Thanks! I deal the best with explicit instructions. Please understand that I wasn't doubting anyone's integrity in handling the donation - I just wanted to make sure it went to the correct recipient as efficiently as possible.

[Peach]

Oh, good--Glad Mike stated that so officially--Paul got back to me this afternoon with assurances, too.