TheFundraiserGuy's Blog http://thefundraiserguy.posterous.com Pictures, News, and Personal Notes from Mark, The Fundraiser Guy. posterous.com Fri, 12 Feb 2010 10:54:00 -0800 Become a Fan of Bench Coach - my new iPhone app. http://thefundraiserguy.posterous.com/become-a-fan-of-bench-coach-my-new-iphone-app http://thefundraiserguy.posterous.com/become-a-fan-of-bench-coach-my-new-iphone-app

Become a fan of Bench Coach, my upcoming iPhone app. It will launch in March 2010. Go to www.benchcoachapp.com for more details. All Bench Coach Facebook fans will get exclusive sneak peeks at features, screenshots, and videos!

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/137564/mark_whitebg.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4aLAKaVzcneN Mark Kosoglow The Fundraiser Guy Mark Kosoglow Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:57:46 -0800 Should Steeler nation forgive Nate Verilla? http://thefundraiserguy.posterous.com/should-steeler-nation-forgive-nate-verilla http://thefundraiserguy.posterous.com/should-steeler-nation-forgive-nate-verilla
I found this when I got home today.

In case you don't know, the Steelers are undefeated in their last 137 games when Nate Verilla watches the game at my house (on a 50 inch Samsung plasma HDTV). However, he insists on coming up with lame brain excuses not to come over (with his wife who was my friend first) that lead to Steeler loses. For example:  his honeymoon, lunch with his parents, lunch with his pastors. As you can see, stupid stuff.

Nate and his wife know my weakness -- brownies. So they have tried to bribe me?

Should I forgive him for the Steelers 4 game losing streak?
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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/137564/mark_whitebg.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4aLAKaVzcneN Mark Kosoglow The Fundraiser Guy Mark Kosoglow Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:55:55 -0800 Should we forgive Nate? http://thefundraiserguy.posterous.com/should-we-forgive-nate http://thefundraiserguy.posterous.com/should-we-forgive-nate I found this when I got home today.

In case you don't know, the Steelers are undefeated in their last 137 games when Nate Verilla watches the game at my house (on a 50 inch Samsung plasma HDTV). However, he insists on coming up with lame brain excuses not to come over (with his wife who was my friend first) that lead to Steeler loses. For example: his honeymoon, lunch with his parents, lunch with his pastors. As you can see, stupid stuff.

Nate and his wife know my weakness -- brownies. So they have tried to bribe me?

Should I forgive him for the Steelers 4 game losing streak?

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/137564/mark_whitebg.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4aLAKaVzcneN Mark Kosoglow The Fundraiser Guy Mark Kosoglow Wed, 02 Dec 2009 07:23:19 -0800 Valentines Day Fundraiser Idea http://thefundraiserguy.posterous.com/valentines-day-fundraiser-idea http://thefundraiserguy.posterous.com/valentines-day-fundraiser-idea
VDay_LeaveBehind.pdf Download this file

Do you need a great fundraising idea to take advantage of the 2nd largest shopping season of the year (Valentine's Day)? Look over this flier and give me a call if you are interested!

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/137564/mark_whitebg.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4aLAKaVzcneN Mark Kosoglow The Fundraiser Guy Mark Kosoglow Fri, 30 Oct 2009 06:01:30 -0700 Car Insurance and Fundraising http://thefundraiserguy.posterous.com/car-insurance-and-fundraising http://thefundraiserguy.posterous.com/car-insurance-and-fundraising

As you can probably see, I am really making an effort to get in touch with all the magazine accounts in my territory. The need for this was driven home to me just the other day when I finally listened to all those car insurance commercial claims. You know, the "We can save you $478 per year by switching" commercials. How could there be so many commercials like that if they were all lying? 

I had my perfect excuse to see if the commercials were true or not when the old Mazda 626 blew up on me while driving northbound on I-99 a couple of weeks ago. After buying a new car, I thought I should look into some other car insurance companies. Now, I had been with State Farm for about 13 years for both auto and home. I had filed about 3-4 claims in those 13 years, and the agent was always nice and professional -- nothing spectacular, but very serviceable. I was satisfied, but not blown away.

Julie did the leg work and got about 8 quotes from other insurance companies and, of course, we somehow got 2 or 3 solicitations in the mail during that time. After running through all the possibilities, I ended up saving $38 per month or $456 per year on my car insurance. It is the same exact policy as I had with State Farm with a few extras (like rental car insurance and roadside assistance). That is a ton of money! I happily signed the papers and ended a 13 year relationship with State Farm with a 2 minute phone call, during which they told me they could not match my new price and thanked me for my patronage over the years.

How do car insurance and fundraising correlate?

You may have a good company that you have been with for years. You may have even had to call in a "claim" a few times and been met with nice, professional service, but when the company is not doing anything above and beyond and you have a hunch that you could make some more money with another guy, why not go for the switch? Is it uncomfortable to call the old guy and tell him you have a new deal that he can't beat? Yes, it was for me, but in the end, I am more loyal to my checkbook and my family then I am to my insurance agent.

With car insurance done, it's now time to look into a new home owners policy!

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/137564/mark_whitebg.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4aLAKaVzcneN Mark Kosoglow The Fundraiser Guy Mark Kosoglow Tue, 20 Oct 2009 06:52:02 -0700 Does Your School Have a Magazine Fundraiser? http://thefundraiserguy.posterous.com/does-your-school-have-a-magazine-fundraiser http://thefundraiserguy.posterous.com/does-your-school-have-a-magazine-fundraiser I started an important project today: setting up appointments with schools to evaluate their magazine drives. After seeing each and every school that has switched increase their profits, it is time for me to really begin a concerted effort to meet with schools so I can show them how I can improve their fundraiser.

If your principal, librarian, teacher, or technology committee runs a magazine sale of any kind (address booklet or large brochure), please forward this post to them.

"Why now?" you ask.

Simple. Meeting right after the fundraiser has concluded allows the person I meet with to give me the most accurate picture of how their sale has performed, what problems they had, what they liked about what they did, and what is fresh in their mind regarding new ideas for the future.

Here is a list of schools that have switched and their results (rounded):

School with QSP with GA/Mark Kosoglow

Chestnut Ridge MS $5000 $28,000
Everett Elem Music Dept $5000 $18,000
Claysburg Kimmel Elem $5000 $20,000
Greencastle Antrim MS $18,000 $22,500
Mechanicsburg MS $15,000 $37,000
Waynesboro MS $20,000 (*not QSP) $30,000

I have also included reference letters so you can read each school's story -- you don't have to just take my word for it.

So, take 2 minutes and send this post to the person that handles the magazine sale so I can set up an appointment to make sure they are getting everything they can out of their magazine sale.

CRM.pdf Download this file

GAM.pdf Download this file

GAM_Prin.pdf Download this file

MMS.pdf Download this file

WAMS.pdf Download this file

WAMS_Prin.pdf Download this file

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/137564/mark_whitebg.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4aLAKaVzcneN Mark Kosoglow The Fundraiser Guy Mark Kosoglow Mon, 12 Oct 2009 09:17:00 -0700 I Am in Time Magazine!! http://thefundraiserguy.posterous.com/i-am-in-time-magazine http://thefundraiserguy.posterous.com/i-am-in-time-magazine

Time_magazine_ad

I know "Fundraiser Guy" sounds like a very unglamorous job, but for the second year in a row, I have my name has made it into Time Magazine for helping schools with a project that helps them receive free reading materials. As you can see above, my name is listed in this full page ad in Time Magazine (the October 26th issue) amongst the other people in my company that make this program a priority when talking to schools.

The Time for Kids program is a way to get a weekly non-fiction grade level specific publication into the hands of kids. I have many schools that are chopping budgets and these materials are an easy one to cut. Why cut it out when your school can get it for free?

It is a very easy program that about 65+ of my schools are doing. If you would like to find out how to take advantage of this program, give me a call 814-935-4068 or email me mark@thefundraiserguy.com and I will take about 5 minutes to explain how it all works.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/137564/mark_whitebg.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4aLAKaVzcneN Mark Kosoglow The Fundraiser Guy Mark Kosoglow Fri, 09 Oct 2009 16:57:19 -0700 The Kosoglow Tooth Pulling Method http://thefundraiserguy.posterous.com/the-kosoglow-tooth-pulling-method http://thefundraiserguy.posterous.com/the-kosoglow-tooth-pulling-method

IMG_0018.mov Watch on Posterous

Well, Maqqel's bruised tooth is finally gone. It's been awhile since a Kosoglow lost a tooth, but tonight we used the tried and true Kosoglow Tooth Pulling Method to open up a nice new hole in Maqqel's smile.

She was braver than I ever was when my mom used to try to pull mine out this way.

Good job CutCo!!

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/137564/mark_whitebg.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4aLAKaVzcneN Mark Kosoglow The Fundraiser Guy Mark Kosoglow Fri, 09 Oct 2009 05:09:17 -0700 Daddy Daughter Work Day http://thefundraiserguy.posterous.com/daddy-daughter-work-day http://thefundraiserguy.posterous.com/daddy-daughter-work-day

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See the full gallery on Posterous

My kids have no school today so I proposed to Mia that she come to work with me today. I'll be posting a lot of pictures of our day together.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/137564/mark_whitebg.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4aLAKaVzcneN Mark Kosoglow The Fundraiser Guy Mark Kosoglow Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:05:49 -0700 You are supposed to have fun at the kickoff! http://thefundraiserguy.posterous.com/you-are-supposed-to-have-fun-at-the-kickoff http://thefundraiserguy.posterous.com/you-are-supposed-to-have-fun-at-the-kickoff Here's a teacher that gets it!! The kickoff is supposed to be fun. Getting the kids excited and into the fundraiser is much more fun when everyone gets involved. This was at Standing Stone Elementary.

IMG_0307.MOV Watch on Posterous

Thanks,
Mark

Sent from my iPhone so please forgive brevity and typos!
Mark Kosoglow
814.935.4068
814.684.6056
mark@thefundraiserguy.com
www.thefundraiserguy.com/mark
http://thefundraiserguy.posterous.com

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/137564/mark_whitebg.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4aLAKaVzcneN Mark Kosoglow The Fundraiser Guy Mark Kosoglow Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:43:45 -0700 Lindsay Christine Block and Kill http://thefundraiserguy.posterous.com/lindsay-christine-block-and-kill http://thefundraiserguy.posterous.com/lindsay-christine-block-and-kill We took the kids to see Lindsay play volleyball for Mt. Aloyisous (I know I spelled it wrong). They didn't come out on top but Christine has a great block and spike in this clip.

IMG_0306.MOV Watch on Posterous

Thanks,
Mark

Sent from my iPhone so please forgive brevity and typos!
Mark Kosoglow
814.935.4068
814.684.6056
mark@thefundraiserguy.com
www.thefundraiserguy.com/mark
http://thefundraiserguy.posterous.com

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/137564/mark_whitebg.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4aLAKaVzcneN Mark Kosoglow The Fundraiser Guy Mark Kosoglow Sat, 26 Sep 2009 09:44:00 -0700 Hurricane Force Winds http://thefundraiserguy.posterous.com/hurricane-force-winds http://thefundraiserguy.posterous.com/hurricane-force-winds Somebody is making a ton of money on this hurricane force wind simulator at the mall. I NEVER spend money in stuff like this but I couldn't resist. It was pretty cool.

Photo

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/137564/mark_whitebg.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4aLAKaVzcneN Mark Kosoglow The Fundraiser Guy Mark Kosoglow Wed, 23 Sep 2009 08:03:19 -0700 How to Hit a Curveball Message http://thefundraiserguy.posterous.com/how-to-hit-a-curveball-message http://thefundraiserguy.posterous.com/how-to-hit-a-curveball-message
Howtohitacurveball Listen on Posterous

There were several people that listened to the last message I posted online and said they liked it, so I decided to post this message as well.

It is from May 2009 and the title is "How to Hit a Curveball." Obviously, I am not a baseball player anymore - I stopped playing in junior high school - so I am not an expert on how to hit a literal curveball. But being a human being, I have been served my portion of life's curveballs and feel like I have learned a few techniques to knocking the figurative curveballs life serves us out of the park.

I've told many people, many times, that I am not as good at figuring stuff out as I am at stealing other people's good ideas and applying them to my own life, and this message is the amalgamation of many little stolen nuggets over the years.

Let me know what you think by commenting below.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/137564/mark_whitebg.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4aLAKaVzcneN Mark Kosoglow The Fundraiser Guy Mark Kosoglow - Howtohitacurveball Sat, 19 Sep 2009 07:57:43 -0700 Sammy working at JHouse http://thefundraiserguy.posterous.com/sammy-working-at-jhouse http://thefundraiserguy.posterous.com/sammy-working-at-jhouse This is Sammy's first handyman project. He is installing an access panel for the JHouse shower.

Photo

Mark Kosoglow
814.935.4068
814.684.6056
mark@thefundraiserguy.com
www.thefundraiserguy.com/mark
http://thefundraiserguy.posterous.com

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/137564/mark_whitebg.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4aLAKaVzcneN Mark Kosoglow The Fundraiser Guy Mark Kosoglow Mon, 07 Sep 2009 12:01:17 -0700 Last Time I Preached at KeyChurch http://thefundraiserguy.posterous.com/last-time-i-preached-at-keychurch-0 http://thefundraiserguy.posterous.com/last-time-i-preached-at-keychurch-0
Message - 8 - 16 - 2009 Listen on Posterous

Over the last couple of years, I have had many people ask me about my church and my role there. I recently remembered that the few times I have had a chance to preach it was recorded. I thought you would like to listen to some of my preaching.
 
This message is about 45 minutes long and is 3 little, mini-messages put into one longer talk. The 3 themes are: praise and worship requires giving and receiving, confess versus repent, and how to get "in."
 
Don't feel like you need to listen to all of it but let me know what you think of the parts you do hear!

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/137564/mark_whitebg.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4aLAKaVzcneN Mark Kosoglow The Fundraiser Guy Mark Kosoglow - Message - 8 - 16 - 2009 Mon, 31 Aug 2009 04:51:19 -0700 First Day of School Pictures http://thefundraiserguy.posterous.com/first-day-of-school-pictures http://thefundraiserguy.posterous.com/first-day-of-school-pictures My kids started school today. Well, 3 of them did, the little man is laying next to me squeaking away.

 This is their first year to ride the bus. No tears except from mommy!

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See the full gallery on Posterous

Mark Kosoglow
814.935.4068
814.684.6056
mark@thefundraiserguy.com
www.thefundraiserguy.com/mark
http://thefundraiserguy.posterous.com

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/137564/mark_whitebg.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4aLAKaVzcneN Mark Kosoglow The Fundraiser Guy Mark Kosoglow Fri, 28 Aug 2009 12:47:49 -0700 Great Display of Fundraising Items http://thefundraiserguy.posterous.com/great-display-of-fundraising-items http://thefundraiserguy.posterous.com/great-display-of-fundraising-items Cate Wolfe at New Bloomfield Elementary has done a great job displaying the sample items for her school's GA fundraiser. Thought some of you might like to see.

 I'll add more pictures in this album as I see more great displays.

Photo

Mark Kosoglow
814.935.4068
814.684.6056
mark@thefundraiserguy.com
www.thefundraiserguy.com/mark
http://thefundraiserguy.posterous.com

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/137564/mark_whitebg.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4aLAKaVzcneN Mark Kosoglow The Fundraiser Guy Mark Kosoglow Thu, 27 Aug 2009 14:56:32 -0700 Soccer http://thefundraiserguy.posterous.com/soccer-116 http://thefundraiserguy.posterous.com/soccer-116

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/137564/mark_whitebg.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4aLAKaVzcneN Mark Kosoglow The Fundraiser Guy Mark Kosoglow Thu, 27 Aug 2009 13:18:33 -0700 More Emmanuel Pictures http://thefundraiserguy.posterous.com/more-emmanuel-pictures http://thefundraiserguy.posterous.com/more-emmanuel-pictures Daddy has to go and coach Sammy's soccer team then work early tomorrow morning so I'll have to take these pictures with me until I get to see my little man again tomorrow :(.

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Mark Kosoglow
814.935.4068
814.684.6056
mark@thefundraiserguy.com
www.thefundraiserguy.com/mark
http://thefundraiserguy.posterous.com

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/137564/mark_whitebg.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4aLAKaVzcneN Mark Kosoglow The Fundraiser Guy Mark Kosoglow Thu, 27 Aug 2009 11:40:50 -0700 Emmanuel http://thefundraiserguy.posterous.com/emmanuel-14 http://thefundraiserguy.posterous.com/emmanuel-14

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/137564/mark_whitebg.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4aLAKaVzcneN Mark Kosoglow The Fundraiser Guy Mark Kosoglow