Information on a contest for Gold Rush 2009

The Great GWTA Lexington, Kentucky Derby

The Derby is a challenge and open to all states/provinces in the organization.  To win, the state/province must have the highest points.  In addition, the state/province must also have net positive chapter growth (at least one more chapter at the end of the race than at the beginning) as well as net positive membership (not member) growth.  The state/province must have net positive chapter and membership growth to win.  Even if the state/province has highest points, if they do not have net positive chapter and membership growth, they will be disqualified.

The Derby will begin September 1, 2008, and will use the chapter and membership counts as of that day as the starting gate. 

Points will be awarded based on the following:

  1.  25 points for a new chapter that is formed in the     

       state/province.

  2.  1 point for each new membership (not each member).

  3.  1 point per every 100  2009 raffle tickets sold in the   

       state/province and turned into the region.  (No rounding – 

       1,042 tickets sold will only garner 10 points).

  4.  1 point for every five 2009 Seven Chance tickets sold in the 

       state/province and turned into the region.

Points can also be lost, however.  If a state/province loses a chapter, minus 15 points.  Lose a point for every membership drop below the amount established at the starting gate.  Late entries will be allowed, however, we will still use the chapter and membership counts as of September 1, 2008, and only credit states/provinces for tickets sold beginning from the time they enter the race.

For those states/provinces that enter the Derby, the director will notify Mike and Carol Brush of the number of tickets sold and turned in each month by the 5th of the next month.  For example, tickets sold in January will be reported to Mike and Carol by the 5th of February.  The chapter and membership reports sent out by the GWTA office will be the official document for tracking memberships and chapters.  The results of each month's point total , i.e. the position of your horse in the race, will be posted on the national web page on or about the 15th of each month. The race will end at midnight on May 31, 2009. The final post will be up on the national web page shortly thereafter.

There are prizes at stake!  For the winning state/province, the members that attend Goldrush in Lexington, Kentucky will be in the Winner's Circle.  This is seating at opening and closing ceremonies, front and center.  The remainder of the states/provinces in that region will form behind the winner's circle.  The winning state/province will also be awarded a hospitality room, to be used for whatever purpose the winning state/province can imagine.  At Goldrush, the winning state/province will be awarded a $200.00 savings bond.  The state/province that comes in second place will be awarded a $100.00 savings bond, and the third place state/province will receive a $50.00 savings bond.

To enter, notify Mike and Carol of your state/province's interest, and include the color silks you wish for your horse.   (First come, first choice of color of your silks.)

Iowa has already picked lime green.  What other colors are you states going to pick.  State Director's need to pick the color, but let you chapter's know what is going on and keep them informed as the race progresses. 

Let's see Region C kick butt

with this awesome and fun program.

Thanks,

Jen Lipe and Randy Nelson

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