Just put out a flier allowing folks to prepurchase for perhaps a reduced price. They send in the tear off registration with a check which allows you to put together the packet of bingo cards for when they check in. Don't forget to include door prize tickets in the packet. Then they can also purchase more packets of cards at the door.
Then allow at the door ticket purchase as well. You'll probably want to run a couple of lines.
Allow for raffle ticket purchases by those that cannot attend the event--let them prepurchase and put where they want the tickets to go.
How did you handle tickets? Our elementary school has about 500 students and we're afraid that if we send tickets home for students to sell, we'll never see the money and then someone will show at the door with a ticket that we assume was paid for. Sorry to be cynical, but stranger things have happened. Any ideas?
Thanks
As a OPT President and a Longaberger Consultant also you have to be very careful about doing a basket bingo. You need to check with the gaming commission in your state about legal gambling and a license because if you have one person turn your organization in for having Bingo with no license you can get fined very big. pjm7805
Ladies--if you do a search on Themes or basket themes there are a ton of good ideas here.
Newat this--if you have specific questions we'd love to help. My biggest tip would be communicate, communicate, communicate. Start up emails, newsletters anything you can to get the word out on your groups goals and how you are pursuing them. If folks feel like a part of the team they will usually assist as part of the team. Just be careful to keep your spirits up and not become overwhelmed when you're the only pumpkin in the patch for a while. The others will come.
mykids;144115 wrote: I am a new PTO President that needs help. We have never done anything like the Basket Bingo and I would love to try this. What are some of the more popular themes? Also, does anyone have a letter that you have used to request donations from local businesses? I have searched under the file exchange and did not see any. We have never asked for donations, but this year we are going to have to. We were left very little money in the PTO account and we need successful fundraisers. Thanks for your help.
I totally agree with you. As I too, am new at this and have not received any cooperation from any of last year's officers. I do realize that there is no "I" in TEAM and I like working as a TEAM for a lifelong investment and that's our children, if you have any ideas or suggestions on what I can do to make this year a successful year for our children and the school I would greatly appreciate any and all the help I can
We are also attempting our first Basket Bingo this year. I have attended several in the past at my "old" school before we moved here. I am very eager for this to be successful.
Our group is asking for specific donations from specific businesses for prizes, then for those businesses that may not have the desired merchandise, we are asking for cash donations to aide in purchasing the appropriate prizes. When I say "desired merchandise", I mean products that "most" people would want to win. I have attended Bingos where all of the prizes stay within a product theme such as Vera Bradley, Henn/Longaberger, Pampered Chef. If you can get cash donations from several businesses, then you can approach the appropriate vendor & ask for a discount on the products you want as their donation. Also, EVERY business -cash or product donation- needs to be recognized that evening.
Also, we have even asked several local gas stations for $20 gift certificates (Gas Cards) as runner up or door prizes. Some may even given more than one.
Every local business should be contacted. It is a lot of leg work, but if you make a list of local businesses & divide that between several people, that will make sure no one feels burned out. This also keeps more than one person accidentally going to the same business twice.
Good Luck, I would love any other advice anyone alse could give me as well.
You can email directly if you like- Paula @ This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
