To learn how you can travel safer, read these tips from the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA). Some of the most travel-wise people in the world, ASTA members understand that while it pays for both men and women to be educated travelers, it is imperative for women to plan every step of their trip – from packing a suitcase to choosing a hotel room – to ensure a safe return.

Know Before You Go – Learn as much about the destination as possible, especially when traveling to a foreign country. An area’s religious or cultural beliefs can directly impact you, compelling you to adapt your dress and demeanor to comply with local customs. Also, what is regarded as sexual harassment in one country is part of the social fabric of another, so avoid form-fitting or revealing clothing to prevent unwanted attention.

Welcome to Hotel Safety – Get to know the staff, who will be familiar with guests and are able to more effectively monitor who enters and exits the building. Ask beforehand if a member of the staff will be available to escort you to your room if you arrive late at night. Ask for a room on a higher floor near the elevator but away from emergency exits, stairwells, and any renovation work. Never accept a room if the clerk loudly calls out your name and room number.

While at the front desk, grab a card from the counter with the hotel’s name, address and phone number on it, and keep this card on you at all times. Once inside your room, make sure the door has a peephole and a deadbolt. If it doesn’t, make sure you don’t open the door to someone you don’t know.

Travel Documents – Make two copies of important travel documents – one set for the trip, and one for friends or family to keep at home.

Packing Smart – Pack light so you won’t be weighed down and look weighed down, both of which would make you an ideal target for pickpockets. Avoid expensive looking baggage and clothing, lock all suitcases and only use covered luggage woman writing in journal tags with your office address written on it rather than your home. Carry only one credit card, and don’t keep all your money in one place.

Transportation – Explore transportation options available at your destination ahead of time, especially if you will be arriving late in the evening. Travel agents can help determine the safest choice and make the necessary arrangements. If renting a car, carefully examine maps, write out directions in advance and bring along a cellular phone.

Know Your Surroundings – Study a map of the area you will be visiting. Learn as much as possible about getting around the streets to avoid looking like a lost tourist. Ask the concierge about where – and, more importantly, where not – to go.

The Best Vacation Memories are Good Vacation Memories – There may be safety in numbers, but there is also safety in knowledge. With some advance planning and the advice of a professional travel agent, your vacation or business trip can be safe, hassle free and memorable.

The pool area is enclosed within a 2-3 story structure with soaring timber beams, rock walls and two jacuzzis while the outside relaxation area has an infinity edge jacuzzi overlooking the woods.

Enjoy a healthy buffet lunch at the restaurant in your robe and relax with a good book in the Whisper Lounge on the ground floor.

On her personal journey of self-discovery, Liz Gilbert takes us to Italy, India and Indonesia. Brutally honest and full of self-deprecating humor, Eat, Pray, Love will have you laughing, crying and hungry for pasta.

Julia Roberts stars in the movie based on the book coming this summer 2010.

Have a favorite book that takes you somewhere?
Share it with me!

With all the media we’re exposed to—print and electronic—does it matter terribly when you mail to donors? Not really. In watching the mail for more than two decades, I haven’t found a time when it makes sense not to mail.

Indeed, one of the values of direct mail fundraising—especially for organizations receiving lots of grants or that have government contracts—is that it provides cash flow, that steady stream of unrestricted revenue that pays salaries and rent.

To be sure, there are times of the year when the flow of contributions ebbs and when donors and prospective donors seem less responsive. But in my experience these periods vary from organization to organization and from region to region. For some groups, the July-August summer vacation period does spell a slow down. Others I’m familiar with have their second-most productive giving season in July.

The prime reason to send out mailings throughout the year is that you don’t really know when your donors or prospective donors are disposed to give. Or even when they’re going to be home. The overwhelming majority of your donors are older; a narrower majority are retired or semi-retired. They often plan their travel to avoid the summer months when families are clogging the highways and byways. And who can predict when they might just pick up and go visit the grandchildren for two weeks?

One of the terrible truths of direct mail is that someone has to open your mail, so you have to mail often enough to catch someone at home. Another terrible truth is that charitable contributions come last in financial priorities. Almost all Americans give what they perceive to be discretionary income—what’s left over after food, shelter, and health care are covered. The good news is that millions of Americans—especially those whose children are grown and those with homes and other assets—do have discretionary income. The even better news is that they enjoy using that income to support causes and projects they care about.

But that good news still puts you in a bind, because many factors affect an individual’s perception of their discretionary capacity. The “revenue river” widens and narrows throughout the year, as real expenses make their demands and as pension checks, dividends, and other income sources fluctuate.

Even more challenging to the fundraiser is that surprise factors have an even greater influence. For example, illness could prompt anxiety about whether discretionary income should be saved for a long-term convalescence. Or a rise in the stock market could lead a donor to feel suddenly wealthier and more willing to write your organization a $100 check.

To account for this variability in your donors’ discretionary income, it’s important to provide opportunities throughout the year for them to make contributions. Sending mailings at least six times a year has an additional benefit. Many people—at least 10 percent and perhaps as many as 20 percent—prefer to make more than one contribution to your organization. They derive real satisfaction from supporting your work, and like to express that support more than once a year. They may also have “limits” to what they’ll contribute at any one time; they’ll gladly send four checks of $250, but never a single gift of $500.

So, it’s true you don’t have to worry about which months to mail. In fact, you should look at every month as a mailing opportunity. Of course, you don’t want to send mailings to donors who have requested to receive a mailing only once a year. And you certainly don’t want to send more than two or three mailings to those who haven’t given for some time or to those who make very small gifts.

It’s important to say, too, that even though there probably aren’t months of the year you should avoid, there are times when you absolutely should send out mailings. Americans do give throughout the year, but a larger percentage make contributions and make bigger contributions in November and December. January is a time when many gifts are sent—perhaps to express hope and commitment for the New Year. It’s ideal to mail all year round, but if you’re forced to make a choice, early November, early December, and mid-January are the times when donors need to receive your mailings the most.

Stephen Hitchcock
© 2009, Stephen Hitchcock

Windmills at Kinderdijk

Amsterdam, The Netherlands through Belgium
Avalon Artistry

Enjoy the slideshow and overview of the cruise destinations below!

Windmills at Kinderdijk – Kinderdijk is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with 19 preserved windmills. I do not know about all 19, but several windmills are inhabited and the residents offer tours inside the mills as well.

River cruising view from sky deck – On a river cruise, they say that you get to see Europe from the back door and I could not agree more. I’m looking at France river cruises for 2011. Who wants to join me?!

Bruges, Belgium – This is a must-see town for any trip to Belgium and is like stepping back in time 500 years. Known as “The Venice of the North” Bruges features magnificient medieval and Renaissance architecture with quaint old lanes and canals, all perfectly preserved.

Keukenhof Gardens – Keukenhof is the largest bulb flower park in the world with 4.5 million tulips in 100 varieties. Not to mention all the other flowers, trees and shrubs! On the drive in, we passed large flower fields of color as well.

Volendam Fishing Village, The Netherlands – I enjoyed some delicious fish and chips at a seaside cafe in this picturesque harbor town. The village behind the harbor is a maze of lanes, canals and wooden homes.

Amsterdam Canal – Amsterdam remains one of my favorite cities in Europe. The city is friendly and easily walkable with excellent museums, beautiful architectiure and, of course, the so-cool canals.

You will soon learn that I am a huge fan of resort spas. The resort spa originated in the U.S. right here at La Costa in Carlsbad, CA (San Diego County).

The Spanish-Mission style resort completed a $140 million dollar renovation a few years ago now and the results are beautiful. The property is gorgwous with lush gardens, climbing bougainvillae and fruit trees. San Diego County’s location makes this a year-round resort spa to enjoy the sun outside.

La Costa Spa exists as its own private sanctuary at the resort. It has all the amenities to help you relax before your treatment, including steam, sauna, Jacuzzi and an outdoors “Roman Waterfall” — a big sluice of water coming out a pipe to give you a shoulder massage. The Spa Cafe makes a delicious chicken salad. Enjoy!

1. Start at least 2-6 months in advance of your silent auction event date.

2. Prepare a donation request letter on your organization’s letterhead, as well as have copies of your organization’s documentation for non-profit 501(c)(3) status with the IRS.

3. Save time. Check out the store’s web site or call and speak to the store manager first. When speaking to the store manager, ask him/her how to request a donation for your silent auction. If they tell you donation requests go through the corporate office, get the necessary information: web site address, contact person, phone/fax, etc.

Donation Requests
Below is information on donation requests for some particular stores that I have worked with.  The information below is provided for convenience only.

Barnes & Noble Booksellers
Visit your local store and ask to speak with their “Community Relations Manager.”  Bring your donation request letter on letterhead and 501(c)(3) documentation.

Bed, Bath and Beyond
Visit your local store and have them complete a donation request form. Bring your donation request letter on letterhead.

Dick’s Sporting Goods
http://dickssportinggoods.sponsorport.com/

Five Below
http://www.fivebelow.com/faqs

Panera Bread: Operation Dough-Nation
http://panerabread.sponsorwise.com

Come and enjoy a dip in “Club Mud!”

Located in Corona, CA (Southern California), Glen Ivy Hot Springs Spa has one of the best deals going. Most resort spas require your to book a treatment to enjoy their spa facilities. At Glen Ivy, all they have to offer (and it’s a lot) is available to you for a day fee as little as $38 – and no reservation needed!

Dating back to the 1800′s, Glen Ivy is nestled into a canyon with a calming hillside back drop. Lush vegetation covers the 11-acre property and you truly feel like you are in an oasis.  There are 15 different areas on the property to enjoy with numerous pools and spas, spa cafe with healthy fare, as well the usual menu of spa treatments.

Some highlights…

• Club Mud—a therapeutic red clay mud bath.
• The Grotto—a body moisturizing experience in an underground cavern.
• Mineral Baths—the natural hot springs that made Glen Ivy famous.
• Under the Oaks—massages in private, wooded outdoor rooms.
• Lounge Pool—a shallow pool for lounging on floats.
• Café Solé—Glen Ivy’s own café serving Mediterranean cuisine.

Bobbi-Jo’s Tips:

• Bring your bathrobe and sandals as they are not provided.
• Rent a cabana on Sole Terrace and enjoy your own private spa and concierge.

Enjoy!
Bobbi-Jo

by Candace Millard

This amazing story is an account of Theodore Roosevelt’s expedition on the River of Doubt, an uncharted tributary of the Amazon River. The book is biography, natural history and hair-raising adventure all rolled into one. The team experiences incredible hardships and one seemingly insurmountable challenge after another; from disease, starvation and dangerous river rapids to cannibalistic Indians and murder. Roosevelt nearly loses his life and it’s hard to believe anyone survived at all. Great movie material and hopefully Hollywood will get their hands on this one.

Have a favorite book that takes you somewhere?
Share it with me!

Top 10 Year-end Fundraising Strategies to Put You Over Goal on December 31

The fall fundraising rush is upon us. You are probably deep in your year-end fundraising campaign. And this December should be a big one.

The fundraising outlook for year-end is looking more positive. Donors who were reluctant to give earlier this year seem to be feeling more generous right now.

This year your year-end campaign needs to be the best ever. Here are my Top 10 Strategies that will help you zoom past your year-end goals.

1. Identify the 10-15 major donors who have yet to give in ’09. Go see them personally, find out what is on their minds, and ask them for another commitment this year. This could be the one single thing that catapults your fundraising for the year.
2. Identify 50-100 donors and make face-to-face calls on them to ask them for their year-end gifts. If you can’t do 50 personal visits, then do 40, or 30. Enlist your volunteers to help. But you MUST include personal one-on-one “asks” in your year-end fundraising strategy if you want to zoom past your goal.
3. Don’t let reluctant volunteers hold you back. Some volunteers are saying, “Let’s just ease off the personal visit because of the recession.” Here’s what you say back: “When is it ever a great time to ask for money? There’s too much at stake. We have to ask now.”
4. Warm up your donors before the ask. Send your donors an e-mail saying, “I want you to be the first to know that we will launch our year-end campaign next week. Our goal is X. The theme is Y. The deadline is December 31. … You will receive a letter describing the campaign, and I hope you will pay close attention and respond.”
5. Don’t forget to add to your prospect list. Include your suppliers and vendors, your volunteers, past board members, capital campaign donors, and even your clients themselves.
6. Use a visual and emotional hook in your appeal letter. Use a visual metaphor such as a lunch box (food for the hungry) or a diploma (for scholarships).Don’t begin your letter with “For 20 years the xxx organization has lovingly served xxxx people in our community.” (Yawn!)Instead start like this: “Little Johnny Smith woke up Monday morning, hungry again.” Makes you want to keep reading, doesn’t it?
7. Make your appeal letter attractive and easy to read. Use white space. Short sentences. Short paragraphs. Action verbs. Pictures. Boldface headings. Wide margins. Make it readable by someone who is just skimming. Use the pronoun “you” liberally.
8. Make your solicitation obvious and easy to find. Place it in the very front of the third or fourth paragraph. And in the first few words of a sentence.By all means, don’t bury it at the end of a paragraph deep at the end of a sentence. Then most readers will totally miss your “ask” because they only skim the first part of any paragraph. And, of course, always ask for a specific amount.
9. Follow up the appeal letter with a phone call. A call can double your response. If you only send out one appeal letter, you can expect your return to be only about 15 percent. Keep communicating with non-responders until December 31.
10. Plan one or two e-mail follow-ups the very last two days of December. Studies show that 40 percent of online donors make their gifts in December, and that 40-60 percent of those donations are made December 30 and 31. Which means that your Web site needs to be updated and snappy, with a great big “donate now” button.

Gail Perry, November 2009
© 2009, Gail Perry

Gail Perry is the author of Fired Up Fundraising: Turn Board Passion into Action and founder of Gail Perry Associates, a Raleigh, North Carolina-based consulting and training firm. She has just spent the last month interviewing nine of the country’s top fundraising pundits and creating the 09 Year-End Fundraising Strategy Telesummit. She thanks Kim Klein, Laura Fredricks, Mal Warwick, and Simone Joyaux for sharing these and many other year-end fundraising strategies.