Memorial pavers and bricks
Events, functions and fundraising activities
Pavers and bricks for a permanent club feature, (for example the clubroom, a walk of champions or an honour wall), are sold to members who would like to leave a permanent reminder of their time at the club or honour family members or friends that have served the club.
This is a unique way to raise significant funds and at the same time honour loyal members. It also serves as a reminder to those around the club of the important contributions made by past champions and volunteers over the years.
The pavers and bricks can then be personalised with writing or pictures.
Why Pavers and Bricks?
This is a fundraiser that many members will want to be involved in to ensure they are part of your club’s history. You may also find a number of past players interested in purchasing a paver or brick and is a great opportunity to make contact with these people again and invite them back to the club. The amount of volunteer time required in the lead up is also far less than many other events.
When should I hold this fundraiser?
While this fundraiser isn’t time specific, it is a great to use when your club is looking to refurbish or at a milestone time at the club. For example a ten year anniversary.
Key Activities
These are the tasks you will need to consider assigning to volunteers at your club:
Before the Day
- Firstly, source a masonry engraving specialist in the marketplace.
- Work out your core design and layout for your memorial paver. There will be variations on individual pavers but a constant theme and template will be required. Your masonry specialist should provide guidance.
- Have a ‘floor plan’ for the setting of the pavers so that buyers can choose the location for their purchased paver. Some locations are more popular than others so be prepared to charge more for highly-visible locations.
- Sell bricks or pavers
- Promote in your club’s newsletter, on social media, you website and around the club.
- Once completed – organise a special celebratory opening; those that have had pavers laid will be eager to see it all in place and the gathering presents a further opportunity to raise funds.
- Organise a Volunteers to help on the opening day
- Organise and additional fundraising activities or food and drink that will be sold on the day.
On the Day
- Organise you volunteers and run through how the day will run.
- Set up any additional activities running
- Have Fun!
- Take lots of photos
After the day
- Publicly thank everyone involved
- Announce the amount of money raised in club newsletters, on social media, website and around the club.
Who can help?
It is important to engage your members to help in the running of your fundraiser.
For a Paver and brick fundraiser you could approach them to help:
Promote and sell the pavers or bricks
Help source prizes for any additional activities you may be running like a raffle or auction
Help logistically on the opening day
You could also approach current club sponsors for any prizes you plan to use.
Recruiting your people
It is important to create a culture of volunteering at your club to help not only with fundraising but also across the day to day running of your club. For more on how to create this at your club, click here.
Using technology to make it easier
You may like to consider using technology to reduce the workload on your volunteers and increase your fundraising dollars.
You may like to sell bricks or paver online. An example of a website that allows clubs to do this is trybooking.com. This takes care of a great deal of the work usually left to volunteers and automates the selling process. It also allows bricks or pavers to be purchased at any time of the day or night.
Selling online means the event can be easily shared online by your members and supporters.
Your club may then also like to use social media, email newsletters and your club website to promote the event.
You may like to live stream parts of the event on social media for anyone who can’t be there on the night.
Financial Considerations
Engraving the masonry is the major cost. If the project is a standalone fixture, for example an honour wall or walk of champions, and not part of a bigger refurb then planning and bricklaying costs will also need to be factored in.
Your club can then sell each brick or paver at a profit. Remember to factor in any building costs.
Promotion
Promote your pavers or bricks using traditional club resources such as the club website, newsletter and social media pages. You can also consider local media and signage around your club.
It is also a great idea to make contact with past players, members and volunteers to see if they would also like to be part of your club’s history.
Communication considerations
Communication of your plans to sell bricks and pavers is important, not only for current members but also sponsors and people who have been involved with your club in past years.
You can use social media to sell bricks and pavers and to build excitement. Bricks and pavers can be bought online from anywhere in the world so social media gives you a chance to reach your community members who may have moved interstate an overseas.
You can also live stream part of the opening so that those in your community that can’t attend can still be part of the event and see their paver or brick.
Social, Moral and Ethical Considerations
Supply of Alcohol
If you have alcohol at your opening, it is important to consider whether there will be limits or restrictions set in advance. Clubs need to consider how they will manage the risks of binge drinking as well as the Responsible Service of Alcohol.
What can go wrong? (Risk Management)
Low Sales
This fundraiser relies on the sale of the bricks and pavers. It is important your club promotes this well. A great idea is also to ‘pre-sell’ the bricks and pavers to ensure you won’t go over budget.
Financial Risks
There are obvious financial risks if enough pavers or bricks aren’t sold and the cost to purchase and build is more than is made.
Participant Safety
The health and wellbeing of those who attend your event should be a focus at all times. It is important that your club takes time to consider all possible risks and how to minimise these.
Licenses and Permits
It is a good idea to check with your local council whenever any building activity is planned.
Food handling and service laws need to be considered if your opening is to include food. Liquor licencing and RSA requirements for serving drinks also need to be adhered to. If in doubt, check with the liquor licensing and food safety authority in your state or territory.
It is also important to contact your insurance company to ensure your public liability insurance policies cover the event.
Additional Factors to consider
Allergies
If catering food ensure you cater for those with allergies and these are clearly labeled. Allergies can be life threatening and need to be considered seriously.
Additional Revenue Opportunities
Revenue can be made from not only the sale of bricks and pavers but also activities held on the opening night such as auctions and raffles, as well as merchandise sales. Clubs with bar facilities can also look to make significant revenue from sales.
Suppliers/Links
Any specific suppliers or links for this particular fundraiser. Could be used for 3rd party advertising in the future.
Disclaimer
This procedure should be treated as a guide only. Your club should seek advice specific to the needs of your club and event. Seek further details from authorities and service providers; especially in regards to insurance, licences, permits, spectator and participant safety.