Airsoft Team Sponsorships Available
 

As you recall when I first asked you to vote for my wife in her writing contest, I said if she made the top half my law firm would be kicking in a couple of sponsorships for Airsoft teams. As you know she make the top four and thus you guys kept up your part of the deal, so now I'm pleased to do mine.

[hypothetically speaking if my wife made the final round (top two) there might be a giveaway of some cases of hypothetical nice red wine to members over 19 in Canada, since we are not allowed to tell you if she made the final]

So I am now calling for proposals from Airsoft teams in Ontario and organizers of national events so I can give this damned money away.

This will be a usual sponsorship arrangement, and there will be three sponsorships available roughly as follows:

1) $1000 for one team
2) $500 for a second team
3) $500 for an event that is national in nature.

If I don't get a satisfactory proposal for #3 the second team will get a grand or a third team will get $500 depending on the quality of proposals.

Now I have to do this by the book. The sponsor will be the law firm of Boland Howe, which is a plaintiff only personal injury firm. If you got a problem with that don't waste my time. If the check is going to get sent to an individual an accounting will be requried on where the $ went at the end of the year, signed by somebody (I don't want your receipts just somebody to blame if I get screwed on my tax return).

Your proposal should include all of the usual stuff to try and encourage a sponsor, age of team # members, theme, photos, what benefits and/or exposure the sponsor will get etc. It may not be a lot of dough but it will be a good exercise for those teams that plan to be in this for the long run and seek broader sponsorship opportunities.

The deadline for proposals is March 15, 2007 I would expect cheques to be cut by Apr 1 or so.

If you have general questions about this opportunity post them here, if you have more private questions pm me.

I prefer hard copy proposals which can be sent to:

Russ Howe
Boland Howe
130 Industrial Pkwy N.
Aurora, ON
L4G 4C3

please mark them "Personal and Confidential- Airsoft"

If you absolutely cannot bring yourself to do a hard copy proposal, e-proposals can be sent to russ.howe@bolandhowe.on.ca

LD

Cool, and here I thought it was gonna be a free "Get Out of Jail Card"!

Very generous LD, good stuff and good luck to those teams that apply.

First off I really hope the best for your wife's publication opportunties.

Lawdog, I do have a question, you requested airsoft CANADA vote for your wife's book (i did), but now you only will provide sponsorship to Ontario teams, I assume (i cringe when I type assume) this is becuase your firm is not national and therefore western canada doesn't provide adequate exposure in correlation to $$$ given. Or, is this just the standard practice we out here have learned to accept as eastern canada giving us the finger?

No offense intended I just wanted to be more animated

No fingers intended but there are a few issues. Our firm is licensed to practise only in Ontario, and we have no right to practise or seek clients in other provinces, thus if we advertise in another province it could break some rules of professional conduct. We currently do not have any sister firms or referral arrangements with firms outside Ontario.

Secondly I am stuck with making sure there is some accountability for where our coin goes on this sort of thing, and it is a lot easier for me to check up on or drop in on, an event with an Ontario team in Ontario.

However if you have a lot of relatives who are likely to get injured in Ontario and you would send them all my way, include that in your proposal and let'er rip.

Also, the hypothetical cases of wine, in the hypothetical next round can be shipped anywhere in Canada, and would make for a nice addition to your next Airsoft social event.

And a personal thank you for your previous votes and potential future votes.

LD

Thank you i appreciate that answer

Question about the "National Event"
If the co-ordinator of such an event hosts in Ontario or BC and players come from only one other province does that qualify as a National Event? Basically how players from a minimum number of provinces makes up a National Event? Thanks LD, oh and when are you going to get your butt down for a splatters game?

I think a national event is just like pornography, I can't define it but I know it when I see it.

I don't have a firm definition, but if a proposal comes in that shows people from more than one province will be participating in the event it will be considered. If I end up with one weak event proposal, and three really strong team proposals the money will go to the teams. The goal is just to try to make sure good use comes of the funds. The idea of putting money towards a national event is really the best I can do to try to lessen the already noticed Ontariocentrism, which while unintentional is inescapable.

I actually think an event proposal has some advantage, in that if they are going to say, sell T-shirts and "sponsored by the law firm of Boland Howe" was to end up on those T-shirts (not necc in large letters) that would give us a clear and tangible benefit for our sponsorship money.

Thanks for the invite to splatters, but I get up at 5am to be at work by 0600, and my brain has to work. If I have something cancel on short notice I would like to get down to join you for a game.

LD

lol..0k
and as for Ontariocentrism, it is inescapable. Because well without ontario Canada would be stuck with Quebec calling all the shots and not just the majority :)

hmph thinking of someone saying "what's that black line at the bottom of your t-shirt?" to which the reply would be "Oh that? Thats the fine print" (Insert drum roll).

6am start? I'm fairly certain there are other players that have the same issue. what are you doing getting old or something :) see now you have to come just to shoot me mwhahaha

The first proposal is in. Looking forward to more.

LD

What kind of team are you looking for? What are some of your criteria for deciding? Team size? Ones that run events or ones that play?

Where's Droc when you need him?

I'm looking for a team that will best promote our firm. This is assessed in a number of ways. Size is a factor (isn't it always), attendence at events is a factor, what they will do for our $ is a factor (spot on the website, T-shirt, literature, will they send me stupid framed team picture), how they plan to represent the sport, all that stuff. I will be applying the same criteria to this as I do anyone else who hits us up for sponsorhip money (ie local hockey teams and such). Besides, I'm not drowning in proposals so far, so have a crack at it.

LD

YESTERDAY was the deadline for this.

If you have either mailed or e-mailed me a proposal and have not received a responding e-mail from me, please let me know ASAP. I am going to wait until next Tues or so to make sure all are in and accounted for and get down to making my decision.

Thanks to all who submitted.

LD