My last blog was about the hand over phase where my supervisor handed over work for me to complete and continue to work on while she was away on holiday. I am happy to say that Melissa Howie, my supervisor, was very impressed by my work and happy that the fundraising department was all "Smooth Sailing" while she was away. Little does she know myself and Natalie bird (My other supervisor) had a few hiccups but nothing that we couldn't solve.
Lifeline's Stress Down Day has been and gone, Stress Down Day was my responsibility and the success of this event fell back on my shoulders and those of Nat's as well. I can happily say that we raised over $6,000!!!! Our budget that we were supposed to meet was only $500, we blew it out of the park! I could not have been happier. For Stress Down Day, the Lifeline WA offices had their on Stress Down Day activities. I organised a massage therapists to come in and treat the staff to a back and shoulder massage before we went out and became tin shakers for the afternoon. I had never tin shaked before and I actually didn't hate it, I wouldn't volunteer to do it again and thankfully Lifeline WA only tin shake once a year. I did hear many heartfelt stories that makes you proud to be working in the Not For Profit sector. Leading up to Stress Down Day I actually got to use my knowledge of PR and apply it to putting together a booklet to send to all Corporate partners and participating businesses to help them come up with ideas for fundraising and de-stressing activities for staff. Below are some photo's from Lifeline WA's Stress Down Day!
After Stress Down Day was over, so began the preparations for Black Diamond Supper Club!
The Black Diamond Supper Club is the annual ball that Lifeline WA holds every year, this year would be its third year. Despite being organised and gaining fantastic PR from the West Weekend and SHEILA Magazine, ticket sales were still really low. In the end we had to arrange a meeting with the Perth convention and exhibition centre to get them to lower our minimum limit of guests so we could meet their demand and not lose money, thank fully they lowered the guest number to 450 people. We managed to fill this and the prospect of raising money was still looking good. I was in charge of gaining volunteers to help with set up and during the evening. It was a fun task, one of my tutors, Jennifer Cornwell allowed me the opportunity to speak to her second year PR students and try to get them to volunteer and gain some inside knowledge about events. It was the first time I had ever needed to speak in front of a class besides for an assignment, boy was I nervous! Luckily though, I spoke well, I even spoke slowly enough so people could understand me! I managed to get 12 students to volunteer for both the evening and the set up during the day.
With the lead up to the ball getting closer and closer Melissa put me in charge of all social media. This meant that I was responsible for Lifeline WA's Facebook and Twitter pages, it was really exciting and a great opportunity to do some actual PR!. Besides doing the Social Media I was also in charge of getting cases of wine for our wine wall, which was another fundraising idea for the ball. I never knew how hard it was to get people to donate just one case of wine, Thankfully I managed to get over 50 cases of wine, it really does come down to who you knew not what you know though!
I was so nervous on the Friday night before the ball, I couldn't sleep. I was reading over the run sheet, volunteers info, basically every fine detail to better prepare me for the night. This was the first huge event I had ever worked on, I was so excited but also very nervous. I had actual jobs and responsibility's, I was in charge of all volunteers and making sure they all stayed on task, I was in charge of setting up the wine wall and silent auction area. Of course I had help but I was in charge, it was very exciting and rewarding. The night was a huge a success, everyone had fun, photos were taken and people danced the night away. The only truly upsetting fact about the night is that we broke even, unfortunately the generosity we had hoped for was not present and made know were near what we made last year. I did learn that this is what happens with these sorts of events, it all comes down to how people are feeling on the night.
Below are some shots from the Ball and the PR Lifeline WA gained from the Weekend West
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| The opposite image is of the Fundraising Department - Melissa Howie, Me, Natalie Bird and Exec Assistitant Gemma Scheibling - We're all dressed up in 1920's Glamour at the Black Diamond Supper Club enjoying the photo booth at the end of the night! |
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The cover of the West Weekend - showcasing a four page spread about Lifeline WA's Black Diamond Supper Club!
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As the ball was my last official day for my placement, I can say I have thoroughly enjoyed my self and have also been quietly suprised by the Not for Profit industry, I never thought I would say I enjoyed working for charity but you know what I can. I will even be looking for work in Not for Profit over the next few months. I would just like to add how thankful I am to all the staff and especially the fundraising staff at Lifeline WA for allowing me to gain experience within their organisation.
Goodbye everyone!
Karla Cavalli
