- The Airfix Tribute Forum -

davecov

The eagle-eyed among you will have noticed that last month I renamed the "Charity Raffle 2007" Forum to "2007 ATF Charity Fundraising". The reason for this is that I have had to cancel the raffle due to take place in July. However, other events will be organised to raise money for our chosen charities hence the new name "2007 ATF Charity Fundraising".

As you know, last year I organised a charity raffle and following it's success, decided to have another one this year. Last year's raffle was a bit rushed and I never expected to raise as much money as I did. This year as I have plenty of time to organise the raffle, I thought it best to check out all of the legalities of having a raffle as the sums of money involved could be a lot higher and there could be various thresholds which could attract duties etc. So, over the past four weeks I have spent hours phoning HM Revenue & Customs, Charities Commission, Institute of Fundraising as well as visiting web sites too! Talk about make your head spin!

Anyway, it turns out that I was breaking the law last year and if I want to go ahead with a raffle this year I have to overcome so many problems. These problems include:

- it is illegal for me to sell tickets either online or offline to non-British members including Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands!

- if selling tickets online, I have to have procedures in place to manually check that entrants are over 16 years of age

- as a raffle is a game of chance with no skill involved then it comes under the Gaming act for which there is additional legislation that must be met. This can include being subject to spot-checks to see that necessary procedures are in place and I may have to have an audit carried out (no problem there).

- having money coming in from all over the world with prizes possibly bypassing the UK completely and money going out to different countries, each with their own legislation.

So, I must cancel the "raffle" but I can raise funds in other ways such as:

Donations
I can accept donations from members of all countries without having to pay any duty.

Donations from sales of kits and other items
Members from all countries donating proceeds from sales of items on the forum (or eBay for example). For UK members, as long as they have paid VAT on their kits, then I won't have to pay VAT. For non-UK residents, then they are subject to their own country's sales tax laws.

Competitions of skill
we can charge people to enter competitions of skill and the proceeds can go to charity without any duty being paid and no involvement with the Gaming Commission. See examples below.

Example One
We charge members a fee to enter quizzes, winner gets a prize and proceeds to go the charities.

Example Two
Although I never wanted modelling competitions on this site, we could have a couple of competitions to win prizes donated by members or other organisations (I may even be able to get some sponsorship for the prizes). Just imagine "The ATF Modelling Competition sponsored by Bloggs Model Shop". There would be an entrance fee, members vote on each category and/or age group, winners get prizes and proceeds go to charity. I have been in discussion with the Moderator Team and sponsors for a while and we are trying to come up with a set of procedures and rules to see if it will be possible. More on this in a separate, forthcoming thread.

Example Three
Essay competitions. Get members to pay an entry fee to submit essays on a modelling theme with proceeds going to charity.

It is a big headache but I don't want to break any laws either on purpose or by accident. The authorities are aware of my fundraising intentions now and can "visit" any time they like. In fact, one customs bod said that they could carry out spot checks of my forum.

Sadly, this is what happens when you do the "right thing". All I want to do is raise money for good causes but the number of hoops you have to go through makes it impossible. My wife suggested I drop the whole thing but that is not an option! I have organised various events for charity for decades and I'm not going to stop now! I should emphasise again that we will still be supporting the four charities chosen by the forum members (poll for that closes this coming Sunday, btw).

So, if you can think of any fundraising ideas yourselves, please post in the thread below.

Dave
_________________
DaveCov - Site Founder, The Airfix Tribute Forum

Richard M · Posted: Tue 20 Feb 2007 11:01 am Post subject:

Could you not just run a single question quiz, with multiple donated prizes, at say UKP1 per entry with a ridiculously easy question such as "Which company recently bought the Airfix and Humbrol brands?".

If you want to enter 10 or 20 times, you do so. All correct entries into a draw for the prizes. Isn't this how those premium rate telephone competitions work?

You could also just have a donations option, but I would think reward based fundraising would raise more money.

Competitions are very subjective, and a lot would depend on presentation and photography. Then there is the whole risk of upsetting people and offending others etc.

My 2p worth.
Best
Rich
_________________
Best
Rich
---------------------------

"I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate. All those moments will be lost in time... like tears in rain... Time to die."

Visit my PORTFOLIO

davecov · Posted: Tue 20 Feb 2007 11:17 am Post subject:

We have discussed the idea of "easy" quizzes as you suggest - I just didn't mention it when I gave Example One above. There will have to be £2 minimum entry (either £2 a go or 2 at £1) otherwise PayPal fees will have an adverse affect.

As I said in my original post, I don't like modelling competitions either and if we were to have some then we must not end up getting anally-retentive about the position of a rivet on model x.

Thanks for you comments.

Dave
_________________
DaveCov - Site Founder, The Airfix Tribute Forum

skipperjjt · Posted: Thu 01 Mar 2007 20:58 pm Post subject:

Hi dave,I agree wholeheartedly with your feelings about modelling competitions online,and looking at your three examples I think i would go with option one ,I stopped writing essays when i left college, never my strong point. I like the idea that Richard has submitted,but with the question just a wee bit harder that takes away the " game of chance " aspect of it all and people just buy as many chances of their answer being drawn out as they can afford.As to prizes I am sure I would not be alone in offering something from my bulging cupboards as a prize.If I come up with any ideas over the next week i will pm you

_________________
"always going forward,still cann't find reverse"

davecov · Posted: Fri 02 Mar 2007 07:58 am Post subject:

Despite what I have said about competitions, it is still an attractive idea all the same. If it is a failure then we wouldn't do it again but at least we would have raised some money in a more interesting way than just answering a simple question. It would also get models built which is why we are here, after all.

If you do have any ideas, Skip, please post them in this thread rather than PM me. That way everybody can share your ideas without the need for me to repost them here.

As for prizes, I was meant to make an announcement about the arrangements for pledges and prizes yesterday but it will be made today.

Dave
_________________
DaveCov - Site Founder, The Airfix Tribute Forum

Richard M · Posted: Fri 02 Mar 2007 08:24 am Post subject:

Just an idea. Would ATF T-shirts or sweatshirts, baseball caps (thermos flasks and anoraks

) be an idea? Logistically it might be a pain to organise, but depending on price it might be worth it. When I was at Uni in pompey the Athletics Union organised getting shirts and rugby tops done for all the clubs. The more you do the lower the cost per item.

"ATF, I love the smell of Maskol in the morning!"

"ATF, official rivet counter"

"ATF, recessed panel lines! We don't need no stinking recessed panel lines!"

"ATF, Aircraft, Tanks and Floaty things!"
Best
Rich
_________________
Best
Rich
---------------------------

"I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate. All those moments will be lost in time... like tears in rain... Time to die."

Visit my PORTFOLIO

davecov · Posted: Fri 02 Mar 2007 09:40 am Post subject:

I have been thinking along those lines for weeks and have even got a new domain name for a website where I could sell such items. I used to sell keyrings, fridge magnets, coasters etc online. We could have a range of ATF items and as well as having ATF stuff inside, you could have your own models displayed instead (or if you really have to, your wife). I have been thinking of getting the production line up and running again as a way of raising money but would only do so if there was enough interest as I would have to get some supplies. I have been bitten once before! Here are some items I designed for my Dad's Army website a few years ago. Apologies for the poor quality photo but it's the ony one left now. Unfortunately, despite visitors to my site helped choose the designs and plenty of them saying they would buy them, when I got ready for the flood of orders, I only sold one of each!

And here is how one of my model pictures would look on a coaster - (artist's impression)!

I even thought about getting baseball caps made like the ones that the American Bureau, Tobacco and Firearms wear. As for t-shirts I was hoping that there could be some artists among us who could knockup some cartoons to go on them - along with witty slogans. They could also go into the keyrings, fridge magnets etc

Dave
_________________
DaveCov - Site Founder, The Airfix Tribute Forum

farmroad38 · Posted: Fri 02 Mar 2007 10:06 am Post subject:

I'd certainly be in for a baseball cap or T-shirt - be very handy at SMW!
_________________
Cheers,

Adrian

davecov · Posted: Fri 02 Mar 2007 10:23 am Post subject:

Funny that. I hate them and you wouldn't catch me wearing one ever - not even an ATF one!

Dave
_________________
DaveCov - Site Founder, The Airfix Tribute Forum

farmroad38 · Posted: Fri 02 Mar 2007 10:30 am Post subject:

Baseball caps or T-shirts with motifs? I have to say that baseball caps aren't really my thing, but for purposes of identification I'd wear one.

Now if you could do a polo-style shirt, with a subtle, embroidered logo, that I'd definitely go for

_________________
Cheers,

Adrian

Richard M · Posted: Fri 02 Mar 2007 11:24 am Post subject:

Dave wrote;

Richard M · Posted: Fri 02 Mar 2007 11:28 am Post subject:

farmroad38 wrote

farmroad38 · Posted: Fri 02 Mar 2007 11:37 am Post subject:

Any resemblence to an elephant is purely coincidental...
_________________
Cheers,

Adrian

farmroad38 · Posted: Fri 02 Mar 2007 13:40 pm Post subject:

How about individual members 'auctioning' off kits, with all proceeds going to the charity pot? Would we be able to do that on the site, either by open or private bidding?
_________________
Cheers,

Adrian

davecov · Posted: Fri 02 Mar 2007 13:51 pm Post subject:

Funny, I said something like that in my original post.

"Members ........ donating proceeds from sales of items on the forum"

It couldn't be an open auction as there could be problems but selling by PM as we do now in the For Sale or Wanted forum would be fine - as long as the VAT has been paid, which for most people is the case anyway.

Dave
_________________
DaveCov - Site Founder, The Airfix Tribute Forum

farmroad38 · Posted: Fri 02 Mar 2007 13:54 pm Post subject:

I think it's time for me to go and have an afternoon nap...
_________________
Cheers,

Adrian

davecov · Posted: Fri 02 Mar 2007 13:59 pm Post subject:

_________________
DaveCov - Site Founder, The Airfix Tribute Forum

Ratch · Posted: Fri 02 Mar 2007 15:15 pm Post subject:

modeldude · Posted: Sun 04 Mar 2007 14:51 pm Post subject:

Why don't we have a comp to see who can design the best ATF logo or something to go on a t-sirt. Say a pound an entry. The winner's then goes onto the t-shirt/cap the winner gets a model prize donated by someone. And a free t-shirt. We then sell the t-shirts.
_________________
Cheers Modeldude

The boys are back in town
My modelling site is updated with lots of pics and fun stuffits here.

1truegod · Posted: Sun 04 Mar 2007 14:55 pm Post subject: