It's 9:30 Monday morning, two days after the 2nd Annual High Hopes Hoedown and the beginning of a new fall semester. Walking to work today it’s hard to imagine that nearly 500 people were here on Saturday for games, music and food. The only giveaway is the port-a-potties that have been moved to the far edge of the parking lot!
The first few days after an event are always a little unnerving and strange for me. The adrenaline that carried me through the last week has left. Mentally, I’m a little drained but I still have to wrap up the loose ends and help Linda prepare the final $$ tally, because everybody wants to know how we did dollar wise. I feel pretty confident that we have met our budget goal, but for me that will be less than satisfactory as I always strive to exceed that goal. Fundraising these days is a whole new scenario and I’m still adjusting. 
The other remaining Hoedown task to be performed is one that I look on with pleasure, but struggle to make time for and that is to thank the army of volunteers who helped pull this event off. I know that this event wouldn’t have happened without their commitment of time and talent and that needs to be acknowledged in a very personal way. I honestly hate it when someone introduces me and says “Sara is in charge of this event and makes it all happen.” That is so untrue!! What I do is maintain a checklist and make sure somebody else does all the hard work!! To be honest working with volunteers is the only way I could perform my job and I have learned to rely on them more and more. Thank God, High Hopes has the most amazing and committed volunteers!
As I write this blog, an email message pops up on my computer from our event Co-Chairs Deb Welles & Jeff Ridgway, reminding me that we need to schedule a wrap up meeting in the next week or so. Next I take a phone call from our Development Committee Chair, John Catlett and we spend a few moments reviewing the Hoedown and then move on to the next items in our Development calendar – setting up a marketing task force, meeting with key committee members on the Annual Appeal and getting invitations out to a Leadership reception for donors to be held in October at the Cooley Gallery. Volunteer extraordinaire Jim Lewis walks in with some paperwork from the Hoedown and Patty Ganey calls to talk about a upcoming meeting for Concert in the Barn. I look forward to 2:00 today when I get to be a volunteer and lead a horse. Then it’s on to the next event!!
Tuesday morning: Yippee, just found out that the Hoedown exceeded its budgetary expectations! Great start to our fundraising year and today I am smiling!"
~Sara Qua/ Director of Development
~Sara Qua/ Director of Development
Great job! It's good to think about all the wonderful programs this event supports. Thank you, Everyone!
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