Posts Tagged ‘Community’

As an integral part of our philosophy, we have offered incentives (aka “The BAIT”) to encourage individuals to raise money for local/regional non-profits through the Bellingham Traverse and  Olympia Traverse. With the support of local businesses (aka “Spawnsors”), individuals have raised tens of thousands of dollars for local and regional non-profits. We have supported many organizations over the years.

We thank these companies for their support, providing us with gear and goodies:
REI, Kulshan Cycles, Boundary Bay Brewery, La Fiamma, Eddyline Kayak, Necky Kayak, Delta Kayak, Fairhaven Bike and Mountain Sports, Flying Fish wine, The Alpine Experience, Bike Tech and Joyride Bikes.

As we move to incorporate ourselves into our own non-profit organization, Northwest Traverse, we are evaluating our practices to increase our efficiencies and effectiveness. We have been paying attention to how our participants have been behaving over the past with regards to fundraising (a disappointing decrease over the years) and how they also respond to the prizes that have been given out. While a noble effort to encourage the fundraising for others, it was not a message that resounded loud enough. Instead of trying to continue to sell a product that people don’t want/believe in, we are going to shift how we do things. The proposal outlines what we are going to do moving forward into 2012.

The proposal.
Local and regional organizations will be invited to submit an application to be THE ONE select non-profit for the year as the beneficiary of the Traverse. A committee will choose from the pool of applicants- to be implemented in 2013. As the THE ONE beneficiary, the chosen organization will receive a percentage of the surplus revenue for the event. They will also receive a complimentary registration to the event so they can (still) raise money on their own behalf as a fundraising opportunity for their organization.

The Traverse will no longer be providing the fundraising incentives for the individuals. Instead, the prizes will go to the “winners’ of the Traverse. The winners will be the FIRST PLACE finishers in all divisions (which is a lot of prizes). The Second and Third Place finishers will receive ribbons.

THE ONE organization will have to wait 3 years to be eligible again. More details to come.

If you have questions or comments about this shift, please contact Todd Elsworth, Director.

Over the years, we have had the opportunity to raise money and awareness for a great group of local and regional non-profits. One of our objectives was to “Connect Active People” in the community, bringing together individuals, organizations and businesses. People in both Bellingham and Olympia are regionally known for their commitments to sustainability. We are fortunate to live in communities that care as evidenced by the list of “friends” that we have made through our efforts.

Thank you to all the people who have participated in the past- your work has added to the social fabric that make our region the best place in the world to live, work and play. We are proud of our story and happy to share it with our friends and families. Scroll through and think how these organizations have touched your life. If there’s an unfamiliar one, click and learn.

Bellingham Traverse

Action for Africa

Appliance Depot 

Center for Tribal Water Advocacy 

Chuckanut Conservancy

Community to Community Development 

Conservation Northwest

Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services of Whatcom County 

Ducks Unlimited 

Evergreen AIDS Foundation

Farm Friends 

Habitat for Humanity

The Hub Community Bike Co-Op 

Kulshan Community Land Trust 

Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association 

Opportunity Council 

People for Lake Whatcom

Project Sea Wolf

RE Sources 

Save Our Wild Salmon Coalition 

Sierra Club Mt. Baker Group 

Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group 

Surfrider Foundation 

Sustainable Connections

Washington Health Foundation 

Washington Trails Association 

Washington Water Trails Association

Whatcom Conservation District 

Whatcom Film Association – Pickford Cinema

Whatcom Parks and Recreation Foundation

WHIMPS Mountain Bike Coalition 

Whatcom Land Trust 

Whatcom Literacy Council

Womencare Shelter

Olympia Traverse

Friends of Capitol Forest

South Puget Sound Salmon Enhancement Group

Olympia Area Rowing

SUP Cleanup – Olympia Chapter

People for Puget Sound

Conservation Northwest

Created for Adventure Capitalists

Our mission is to connect active people. By leveraging our Spawnsors generosity, we are able to provide BAIT as incentive for our participants, known as Spawners. You get to keep as you earn. 100% of your donation goes to the charity of your choice. At $500 you get a raffle ticket to enter to win one of the Big Catch items listed below. You must be present to win.*

$100 – Gift certificate - La Fiamma Pizza / Fiamma Burger

$250 - Bellingham Traverse Tee shirt
These are really cool. We got a bunch of second hand t-shirts and printed on them. Sustainable clothing. RE Use. (some tech tees too)

$500 -Bellingham Traverse hoodie & 1 raffle ticket to win Big Catch prizes below.
These are brand new and we’ll be taking orders for your size. We don’t have enough $$ to buy all these ahead of time. 
(You may buy extras for $25 / $30 w. shipping)

Raffle ticket to win one of the BIG Catch items:
For those that raise $500, they get a raffle ticket to win one of these great items.

REI Bellingham

Featured above from: REI Bellingham

Delta 10 kayak

Novara Buzz One

REI Base Camp 4 tent

REI Half Dome 2 tent

REI Traverse Backpack and REI Traverse Trekking poles

Contour GPS Wearable Camcorder

Kulshan Cycles - Trek Allant Bikes “HIS & HERS”  (featured below)

* Must be present to win. First ticket picked gets first choice of the Big Catch items listed above; Second; Third and so on.

Each year we work with regional Spawnsors to come up with incentives (aka BAIT) for fundraising. For the past 3 years we have been working with REI and Delta Kayaks (out of British Columbia) to offer some great prizes for those that raise $500 for the charity of their choice.

This year we have a Delta 10. It is a brand new boat design that I just couldn’t pass up trying out tonight after I picked it up. Check out the Delta 10 specs.

Here’s the view from the boat:

The Community Boating Center is bringing Cliff Mass to Bellingham. This will be a great event. Get down to the Boating Center before the season is over!!

If it smells like fish, it probably is. Please be aware of what you’re doing as you get through Fairhaven. Lots of people with Salmon on the Brain.

Saturday, September 18 || Sidewalk sale 11-5; bbq 1-4pm || $12 for bbq ; hot dogs sold separately

The Big Fairhaven Salmon BBQ & Sidewalk Sale
The Salmon BBQ is a tradition in Fairhaven each September. The menu includes Pacific Northwest King salmon – cooked by fishermen who know the best barbequing techniques. And the price includes the salmon, plus delicious sides, like coleslaw, bread, corn-on-the-cob, a beverage, and dessert. For kids there will be a separate hot-dog meal available. There will be live music on the green, too!

The Sidewalk Sale throughout the district starts at 11 am and continues till 5 pm–so you can shop and enjoy the tantalizing aromas of the bbq at the same time. Each participating store will be putting a table filled with bargains – clothing, books, shoes, pottery, art, crafts, jewelry and much more. You will find tables throughout Fairhaven. One restaurant is even selling no longer used flatware. A great day to go searching for bargains. We invite you down to the Fairhaven Village Green/Fairhaven.

Oh, the old days. Remember when we had the Red Bull Arch at the finish? If you don’t, we used to have a big inflatable arch in front of Boundary that helped people know that there was a finish line. Then, in 2008, A “new friend” gave me a piece of his mind one morning about the non-local aspect and a bunch of mumbo jumbo about sugar and caffeine (I luv spell check) destroying the youth of America. I wanted to “unfriend” him at that point, but I moved on.

Subsequently, the arch never returned.But, neither did the Red Bull babes that my dad enjoying talking with about the intricacies of the course and the challenges the volunteers face during this endurance event. What I find “cool” now is that when you search “Boundary Bay Brewery” our arch shows up. I hope that the arch we’re building this year replaces the one that ‘gives you wings’. No disrespect to the folks at Red Bull. Simon and his crew has always taken care of us and helped us on the great ride it’s been.

Looking for a great time? Want to “Be Local”? Well, look no further. The Traverse is like a kid-friendly singles bar if you’re new to town. Here’s who will be there: Salmon Lovers, Tree Huggers, Local Athletes, Super Heroes, Dignitaries, Hot Chicks and Cool Dudes. Want to hook up and put some names to faces, it’s easy- just volunteer for the Bellingham Traverse. Let April Claxton, volunteers@bellinghamtraverse.com, know where you’d like to be and we’ll plug you in.   Get Connected. Volunteer.

Volunteer Locations/Time

We need help with course marshalling, timing and crowd control. Below are the locations and times for the day of the event. It’s a long day so we need help in any increment you can give, if you can give just an hour, we’ll take it…

Friday
YMCA – Packet pickup 3 PM – 7 PM

Saturday
Boundary Bay – Packet pickup 8 AM – 11 AM
Start line 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM
Lake Padden 11:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Fairhaven Park 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Marine Park 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Cornwall Beach 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Finish 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Party setup 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Sunday
Equipment Drop Off 2 PM – 3 PM

Please contact our volunteer coordinator, April Claxton via email at volunteers@bellinghamtraverse.com

In the News:

Retired: Ken Elsworth, Marine Park Captain

Thanks to Boundary Bay Brewery- Traverse Ale that is a deep reddish-brown ale with medium to full body and a lively hop character. The hops make this beer particularly refreshing, especially for a darker style. The flavor is rich enough to stand on its own, but also goes extremely well with pastas and spicy food. (at least that’s what they told me a couple years ago)

Whether you participate in the Traverse itself or just enjoy the Traverse Ale, there will be souvenirs aplenty available at Boundary Bay: Traverse hoodies, t-shirts and pint glasses. Available for a limited time only. Take a friend, meet one there, make more and enjoy a fresh pint of Traverse Ale.

Each participant and volunteer will get a cool Traverse Ale Pint Glass: