UW-Parkside chapter of American Marketing Association raffling of new 16GB Apple iPad2

SOMERS - The University of Wisconsin-Parkside chapter of the American Marketing Association is raffling off a new 16GB Apple iPad2 to raise funds for the student organization. Tickets are now on sale with the final drawing at noon April 13 in the Student Center Poplar Room.

Armed with a plan full of creative marketing ideas and sheer determination, David Adrian, PAMA's executive vice president, stood in line for more than six hours waiting to buy the iPad2 from a local retailer. He even camped outside the store to make sure he was the first person in line and the first person in town to purchase Apple's most desirable new gadget the moment it hit the market. Investing his own money, Adrian purchased the iPad2 for the PAMA fundraiser.

Instead of opting for the traditional car wash or bake sale, Adrian and PAMA members decided to push the limits of student fundraising with their raffle. Without sponsorship or any profit guarantees, the student organization began by forecasting how many tickets it needed to sell and the best sale price to recoup the purchase cost of the iPad2 and, hopefully, make a substantial profit for PAMA and its future members.

In Wisconsin, raffle winners need not be present to collect prizes, so the young marketers needed a creative way to involve everyone who supported the raffle, whether they were present for the drawing or not. Chapter president Sierra West suggested videotaping the drawing and posting it on the Internet. This drawing creates more marketing possibilities for PAMA students.

"If we have video, then we have the opportunity to sell commercial or sponsorship spots, which can help support the raffle itself," said Adrian.

In addition to allowing club members to attend conferences and the like, funds from the iPad2 raffle will be the nest egg for future PAMA members.

"We're going to invest the money in the legacy of the club. We're trying to establish the PAMA ‘brand' for future students. We also want to help seniors who are active in the club now by networking as much as possible, so they can reflect positively on PAMA in their future careers and in their communities," he said.

For information on purchasing tickets or becoming a PAMA raffle sponsor, call Adrian at (262) 994-3794 or email

pama@uwp.edu

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