By: Cassandra Ingraham              

This is the new Fund raising mythology.  Bake sales are good, fried chicken dinners are great, passing the hat still works too, however, if you want to take your fundraising to new heights,  offer the members, friends and families an exciting, memorable and affordable cruise. 

Because cruising may be new to the general membership, dont worry, a 3 day week-end cruise with church services aboard ship will eliminate any doubts for your next cruise.  In fact its the second and third fund raising cruise that usually turns the Pastor into an Independent Contract Travel Agent.

The Travel Coordinator and experienced Travel Agent of 30 years does all the work for the Pastor and the church members.  All the members have to do is get an original copy of their birth certificate and a second form of ID (this will change late next year) or a Passport and get onboard.  You will be cruising Carnival Cruise Line or Royal Caribbean, departing from Los Angeles or San Diego.   Destination:  Mexico. 

All Entertainment, food and many activities are Free once onboard.  So church members only need to pay for their cruise and transportation to Southern California and the rest is included.  Be sure that the Deacons know that there is a 24-Hour Buffet and that the ladies know that there is a 5-course meal served each evening.  There are international spa treatments that will make you feel and look wonderful, there is duty-free shopping aboard ship as well as swimming pools and a gymnasium.

Now, for those church members who live on the edge, there is a Las Vegas style gambling casino on board.  You can have one of the other church members look out to make sure the Pastor doesnt see you going into the casino.  And of course you will also want to go to the disco around 11:00 PM, just to see what it looks like!  I am not sure how the Pastor will react to the Las Vegas type entertainment (Free) in the ships Theater You may want to have a chat with the Pastors wife and see what she says!  (Dont tell the Catholic Church that the Pastor has a wife, they may get jealousy)

Carnival and Royal Caribbean has many events and activities for kids and teens.  So bring them, I am sure you wont see much of them unless you insist.

For seniors with walkers or scooters, no problem.  Dont forget to bring their medicine.   So, pack grandmas bags and bring her alone too.  Remind grandma that these mega ships are like 5-Star Floating resorts and that she will barely feel the motion of the ocean. She wont believe you, however once the ship departs, she will realize that you were telling the truth.

So for further information on how to raise funds for your church, organization or club contact:  Ms. McCree at:  eltyna@mccree.net or     510  625-9407

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