Fund Raising

[Guest guest]

To all members,

Let me preempt this to say that this post asks you for financial donation. If

this offends you, please disregard. This post is somewhat emotional and leans

towards the dramatic, that was not my intent, I could not quiet down my

passion to conquer those who said we would never achieve this. If this is

something you prefer to not read, please disregard. For the rest of you, I

ask that you humor me as you read on.

As the Executive Director of the PAI, I have found it is now time to process

the paperwork to achieve 501 © 3 status. We are setting it up as a

corporation with an umbrella clause. That means that Indiana is the home

office, but we can will up affiliate chapters that work under the auspices of

the main chapter. So anyone anywhere can donate with a tax deduction.

Becoming incorporated as a charitable organization will open up doors that

you could never dream of. We have been approached by pharmaceutical companies

that wanted to do a joint venture, but we had to decline, due to our lack of

certification. That is an IRS mandate. We have been approached by numerous

individuals who wanted to put the PAI into their wills, but we had to

decline, due to our lack of certification. We have been approached by

surviving members of Pancreatitis patients who have passed because they found

our website when they were doing a search hunting for somewhere to make a

memorial. We had to decline due to our lack of certification. We have been

approached by the hotel to offer us reduced rate rooms, but we had to

decline, due to our lack of certification.

We feel it is time to make a decision. Are we going to spread our wings and

fly to our highest heights? Or are we going to be a Yahoo based discussion

group. August 4, 1999, a vision was born. today that vision is no longer a

dream, but a reality. We cannot let fear of financial insecurity keep us from

bringing that to fruition.

The filing fees are more than we thought. We had planned on doing less than

$10,000 a year, but after thinking about it realized we would exceed that

quickly. The cost goes up to $500.00 instead of the $150.00. So we need

$425.00 Monday, then when the application is ready to be filed we will need

$30.00 incorporation fee $500.00 IRS filing fee, and the remaining $425.00.

That is a total of $1335.00.

If 267 people gave $5.00 we could do it. If 135 gave $10. If 89 gave $15.00,

if 66 gave $20, if 53 gave $25. if 33 gave $40, if 26 gave $50, if 18 gave

$75, if 13 gave $100.   But 1 person cannot give $1335.00.

We know many PAI members are on disability and/or have limited income, but we

know this can be done. Please be assured that any amount is welcome and will

benefit and further the vision and mission of the Pancreatitis Association

International and will be a step towards a cure.

We have retained, on contingency of obtaining this certification, a firm to

handle all of our future fund raising. They deal with the big bucks. That is

what they do. They take our vision, and they obtain the monies necessary to

make that happen. If we didn't apply for an anticipated budget to exceed

$10,000.00, then we would not be allowed to accept any donations that

exceeded $9,999.00. We would never be able to hire any support staff, we

would never be able to provide room and board and travel accommodations to

the Representatives so they can attend the Symposiums.

Our job is little in comparison. All we need to do is be the little train

that wouldn't quit, he kept saying, " I think I can, I think I can, I think I

can " and he kept pushing with all his might, until he said, with a smile, " I

knew I could. " So, all together, let's shout, " We think we can, we think we

can, we think we can, " Go get at least $1.00, get an envelope, go get a

stamp, put it in the mail box, " Then shout with glory, 'We knew we could. "

If I was at the lectern, you would see me tearful, nodding affirmatively. It

is emotional. Some may say, " If you want it so bad go get it yourself,

everything is fine the way it is right now. " But I stand before you, I take

your hand, I look into your eyes, and I ask you, " Don't you give up. You can

live. There are options, It is true. There are rainbows, and pots of gold,

and magic slippers, and no place like home. This is as much your journey as

it is mine. In the end, even when our wick has burned down, and the flame has

blown out, the high hopes and faith ignite the flame of the human spirit, and

that spirit is strong, and determined, and will persevere.

Though my tears have made me choked up, may they oil your tracks, may the

heart of your own engine, push with all its systole*, until on diastole*, in

the end, you, and only you, know you did.

Respectfully submitted

Karyn , RN

Executive Director, PAI

Symposium August 28 & 29, 2003

sys·to·le: a rhythmically recurrent contraction; especially : the contraction

of the heart by which the blood is forced onward and the circulation kept up

di·as·to·le: a rhythmically recurrent expansion; especially : the dilatation

of the cavities of the heart during which they fill with blood