Where Does the BGC get it's funds?? / Volunteer Opportunities

1. Leotard Sales - September through May
   The club gets leotards on consignment and sells them twice weekly. You may sign up at the Gym Bin on the volunteer board, or you may email Laurie Hickman to volunteer for the available slot of your choice. Volunteer hours are also put in ordering, pricing, returning Leos, paying bills, printing and sending our postcards, etc.
   ***This has earned up to $1500 for the club.
   
   
2. Candy Bar Sales - September through September
   This was a new fundraiser for the BGC in 2008. All monies are to be turned in quarterly (regardless of how much or little you have sold). Quarterly dates are: December 1, March 1, June 1 and August 1. If you have any questions, please email Brenda Mayer, the Candy Bar Sales chairperson.

   There is a contest for the person that sells the most each quarter! A $15.00 gift certificate will be awarded to the highest seller (each quarter) that is redeemable at the BGC leotard stand.

3. Applebees Pancake Breakfast - Typically held in March
   Held at Applebees Restaurant in Bemidji. This was a brand new event for the BGC in 2008.
   ***This earned $1300 for the club in 2008.
   
   
4. Gymnastics Circus - May 21-23, 2010
   Our biggest fundraiser (and the most work!) the circus serves as a fun activity for the both performers and those who watch. It is a great opportunity to show the community our gymnasts talent. Volunteer hours are spent in publicity, contacting advertisers/ sponsors, admissions, pictures, programs, script writing, music, announcing, concessions, decorating, set up, take down, roustabouts, costuming, & more!!
   ***This has earned up to $9600 for the club.
   
   
5. Food Stand - July or August (may discontinue)
   Selling Lemonade Shakers and Tacos in a Bag has proven to be a great fundraiser but also is a LOT of work!!!! Help is needed in food preparation, set up and tear down, organizing and running the booth.
   ***This has earned up to $4000 for the club.
   
   
6. High School Gymnastics Meets - TBA for the 2009-2010 season
   During each home gymnastics meet the BGC provides concessions. There are about 4 home meets each year. Help is needed to organize, run the stand, and provide items to sell. Homemade bars are our hottest item!
   ***This has earned up to $1150 for the club.
   
   
7. Home USAG Gymnastics Meets - October - February
   Snowflake Flip, 1/9/10 (others TBA), Fun Meets (TBA), Olympics (11/24)
   The Snowflake Flip is an Invitational Gymnastic Meet. It is non sanctioned for Level 4 and sanctioned for level 5 and 6 Gymnasts. We hope to expand that to be a sanctioned meet for levels 7 & 8 as well. In attempt to run a great meet at minimal cost to the participants, this is not considered a fundraiser but it is intended to generate enough funds to pay for itself. Workers are needed for such things as decorating, publicity, admissions, concessions, timing, running, announcing, creating march-in signs, making numbers, creating programs and more. Come help and see our girls compete!
   ***This has earned up to $2300 for the club.
   
   

Other Volunteer Opportunities :

While fundraising is vital to the club, there are many other jobs that need to be done for us to 1) function as a club and 2) provide great opportunities for our gymnasts. Please consider how you could help in some of the following areas:

1. Misc. Office Work and Other - September - September
   Photocopying, preparing for meets -- Always an option for those that need hours. Just ask Mary @ the Gym Bin what you can do!
   
   
2. Work Day - April
   This is a day that BGC members take care of miscellaneous tasks that need attention at the Gym Bin. Details are usually sent out by email and are posted on the bulletin board at the Gym Bin.
   
   
3. Advanced Gymnastic Camp - 2010 dates TBA
   The BGC is pleased to offer this home gymnastic camp for advanced gymnasts from our area and other gyms. Volunteer hours are spent preparing for camp and during the actual camp. The gymnasts work hard and snacks are needed. Maybe you could coordinate snacks for the week or provide snacks for a day!
   
   
4. Carpet Cleaning - August
   The BGC owns over $50,000 worth of equipment and in order to make it last, we need to take care of it. Once a year we have the carpet cleaned. We need volunteers to roll the carpet back, vacuum underneath it, adjust floor as needed, reposition and vacuum carpet. This must be done before the cleaners come. The more vacuums and people we have the quicker it goes!
   
   
5. Board of Directors - September - September
   The Board of Directors have a 2 hour meeting once a month. Officers have additional responsibilities. Of course, board members volunteer in each of the areas you have seen listed here -- those hours however, are listed under the appropriate headings. While being on the board is a lot of work, it is also a fun group to work with, and it is very rewarding to see the benefits that our gymnasts receive from the club! If you would consider being a board member in the future please let someone know!
   
   
6. 4th of July Float
   Join the excitement of planning and decorating a float and participating in Bemidji's 4th of July parade each year.
   
   
7. Sponsorship Incentive
   We are offering a Sponsorship Incentive which can reduce the volunteer hours for your family while still maintaining active membership status. However, because we truly do need volunteers and we feel that working together is important, we would like families to commit to working a minimum of 4 hours per year even if they take advantage of this incentive. Our Sponsorship Incentive Program is as follows:
   
   If you recruit a business/sponsor (that is not currently supporting the BGC) as a year round sponsor, we will give you volunteer hour credit as follows:
   
   ★ Copper Sponsor: 1 hour credit
   ★ Bronze Sponsor: 3 hours credit
   ★ Silver Sponsor: 4 hours credit
   ★ Gold Sponsor: 7 hours credit
   ★ Platinum Sponsor: 14 hours credit
   ★ Diamond Sponsor: 20 hours credit
   
   Credit will not be given until payment has been received for the sponsorship. You must sign up for the business that you will be contacting to eliminate duplication. After October 31, letters will be sent out to businesses not contacted and incentive will no longer be honored. Please ask for as many sponsor recruiting letters as you would like.
   
   To download a printable PDF copy of the Sponsorship Incentive, click here.
   
   
8. Is that all? Total volunteer hours:?
   NO! We have tried to give you an estimate of the hours required of volunteers each year, but by no means could we possibly cover everything. So, you see how important it is for each family to contribute what you can. We hope that you understand the importance of the BGC in your daughters life, and feel compelled to help us continue our mission of promoting gymnastics in Bemidji!