Carefree Truth

Issue #255, June 4, 2013

 

 

 

 

Mayor David Schwan explained that a resolution was required which authorizes Town Administrator Gary Neiss to apply for funds from certain grants.  Councilman Marty Saltzman asked if the grants were targeted towards specific projects.  Mr. Neiss replied that at this point, it is "broad brush strokes" in an "organic process".  If they decide to look further, then the projects would be defined.  "This is the entry into the door."  Mr. Saltzman asked if there was a downside, and was told there was not.  "Then I like it!" 

 

 

 

Councilman John Crane asked if this were specifically for the Gila River Indian community, and if there were other communities involved in this.  Mr. Neiss replied yes, and that each community must put aside 12% of their gaming profits to donate towards economic development.  Vice Mayor Price added, "And we're writing grants to all of these tribes.  This one just happens to require a resolution along with it."  Mr. Saltzman moved to make the resolution and Mr. Crane seconded.  The motion passed unanimously. 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dvd1ljP_kTc

 

 

 

 

Mayor Schwan said that over the years, he has met with many in the community who donate funds and who raise them.  He attended a recent meeting of the Paradise Valley Community College President's Circle where donations were on the agenda.  The unanimous advice was that donation requests need to be coordinated. 

 

 

 

Each year, the Town asks for donations for the Christmas Festival, and Jo Gemmill expressed concern that her donors might also be solicited for contributions to the proposed projects.  Donors don't like to be asked by multiple sources for contributions to the same entity, in this case, the Town of Carefree.  Corporations tend to have fixed sums set aside to donate annually, and when those funds are exhausted the donations end for that year.  The corporations which donate to  the Christmas Festival have been identified. 

 

 

 

The Native American Tribes are not giving to the Christmas Festival, and so are being solicited for grants towards the splash pad and the amphitheater improvements, both of which fall under their economic development criteria. As Councilman Mike Farrar previously stated, the Veteran's Memorial is not an economic development project, so does not qualify to be included in those grant requests.

 

 

 

 

Mayor Schwan said that a Carefree citizen wants to start a program of seminars for 20 veterans each year at the Spirit in the Desert Retreat in Carefree.  The veterans would discuss their experiences, and problems in their lives stemming from their service to their country.  Donations towards scholarships for these seminars will be sought from veterans' groups and local churches.  He's done this in Montana, and wants to start a chapter in Carefree too.  While this activity will not be sponsored by the Town of Carefree, it will take place here.

 

 

 

 

Two large groups are planning to come into the immediate area asking for donations of up to $10,000,000 each for projects.  Kwianis just announced a large capital campaign.  All the local 501(c)3 organizations engage in continuous fundraising efforts.   The Mayor asked that  Mr. Farrar be cognizant of all these conflicts.  Mr. Farrar responded, "It's such a small amount, Mayor.  It's $200.  I don't really see it competing head-to-head with some of the, you know, the Christmas Festival."  Vice Mayor Price thought it would compete if he asked the same donors.  Mr. Farrar felt that donations to the Veteran's Memorial could form a marketing campaign for a business.  "This is how we spend our advertising dollars, by doing things like this for the Town.  It gives us that exposure we're looking for."  He pointed out that donations to the Town are tax deductible.

 

 

 

Comments from the audience were then accepted.  I said that while $200 seems like a small amount to Mr. Farrar, I was the person on the Christmas Festival Committee last year who solicited donations from local business owners and citizen groups.  Most contributions ranged from $50-$200.  The most common sum was $100, and even that wasn't easy.  Times are hard, and we are seasonal.  "If you keep hitting the same people, it will become problematic."  The merchants will all tell you that they are bombarded with requests.  Over the years, I have often requested donations of silent auction items for numerous local non-profits, and I am far from alone in this pursuit.  "It's not a small amount of money when there are constant requests for it."  

 

 

 

Jim Van Allen suggested setting up sales efforts in a booth at festivals.  Councilman Glenn Miller agreed, pointing out that local non-profits do that, and the Carefree Desert Gardens Photo Contest public favorite voting takes place at a Magic Bird festival each year.  He said that some promoters will even share their booth for this purpose.  Mr. Van Allen said that individuals, rather than the business community, must be the target donors for the Veteran's Memorial brick sales.  I agreed with him.  Mr. Van Allen said he solicited donations for the Christmas Festival the year before I did, adding, "That $100 was tough."              

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuzDv39b0b8

 

 

Lyn Hitchon 

 

 

 

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