James Bradley <<jb183>>
writes:

State Average $/donor: VT $865.63

Vermont hasn't gone overboard; Vermont is getting it done.

If we don't get much past 20% participation, the average donation has to be
$500. We are now at around 17% participation, which is already exceptionally
high for something like this and demonstrates how passionate we all are about
our sport. People all over are stepping up. And we still have to do better.

Some of us really can't do $500. No one should be discouraged; smaller donations
add up and wider participation will get the required average down. On the flip
side, a single $10,000 donation raises the average of 30 $200 donations to $500.
So if you are able to do $10,000 or $5,000 without feeling it, you can make a
very big difference here.

I’m pretty sure $10,000 is where “Founders Circle" recognition will start. There
will also be recognition levels at $5,000, $1,000, $500, and below. Every
contribution of any amount will be recognized (unless you opt out of being
listed, which you can). Individual amounts will not be shown.

If you contribute more than once the amounts will automatically be totaled to
determine your recognition level.

We have made excellent progress and we still have a long way to go. Today is a
good day to contribute whatever you can.

Charles Allen writes:

http://chgpa.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=6872

With that mentioned our sport is seriously at risk and we need to
dig deep to ensure its survival for our benefit and that of future pilots. On
12/31/2015 I made a donation of $30,000 in the form of appreciated stock in my
company BTCS Inc. (ticker: BTCS). My hope is the donated stock greatly
appreciates and helps grow the USHPA’s balance sheet. But what’s of most
interest is the tax benefits of donating appreciated stock which has been help
for more than 1 year. If you own appreciate stock that’s been held for more than
one year and are interested in making a stock donation please read the info here
http://www.fidelitycharitable.org/giving-strategies/tax-estate-planning/appreciated-securities.shtml
as there are serious tax benefits. I’ve spoken with Martin at the USHPA and they
are close to having a brokerage account open. An appreciated stock donation is a
great way to support free flight’s future and potentially get a nice refund from
the IRS.

In addition to the $30,000 contribution I have already made I will match $5,000
in individual aggregate contributions for both January and February ($10,000 in
total) from other club members. However each months $5,000 donation will be
contingent on club members donating in aggregate at least $5,000 in a respective
month. Send a note to me with the amount and date you made your donation. I will
verify them with the USHPA and I will make a matching stock contribution once
the $5,000 threshold has been met.