PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
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Dear Members,
Happy anniversary, Bizarre Bazaar! What an amazing ride this organization has had over the years, and that includes the great stories behind the success of our store. Congratulations!
I am always amazed at the creativity behind the women and men who are and have been members of Community Assistance League (CAL). The 20th anniversary celebration of Bizarre Bazaar was amazing and the raffle prizes donated by local businesses is a testament to their support for our mission. Thanks to everyone who participated in the celebration by volunteering, soliciting prizes, shopping and donating!
As we gear up for our big mission of awarding grants and scholarships, we are always anticipating the amount of funds that will be available. This year, we will have $225,000 available, with $157,500 going to Grants (70%) and $67,500 going to Scholarships (30%). Scholarships also had $10,150 carried over from last year, and an additional $3,500 from donations, for a total of $81,150 for this year.
Jan Harrison is busily gearing up for the Grant Committee to review submittals and decide on our recipients this year. Non-profits (501-c3s) serving Bonner County have until March 31 to submit their application requests (link is available on the CAL web site).
Mary Sturgis is also busy getting her Scholarship Committee together for the annual review and selection of recipients. Students have until April 10 to submit their applications to Sandpoint High School (SHS) Counseling office. The link to applications is available through the SHS website and local libraries have hard copies.
As you all know, the Crafts department at Bizarre Bazaar was struggling to find replacement leaders for Katie and Lynn. Well, there are now about five regular helpers and three seasonal helpers to keep the department organized and filled with merchandise. Those of us who are working in the department are so impressed with the way everything was organized and documented. Many thanks to Katie and Lynn for their dedication for four years. Did you know since 2021, the Crafts department has brought in $95,000 in revenue to Bizarre Bazaar? What a miracle!
If you were at the General meeting on March 18, you would have heard me mention a new trial schedule for our general meetings, due to declining attendance and the cost of rental space. The Board has made a decision starting this fall that meetings will be held September, October, November, March and April. The winter luncheon is held in December, the spring luncheon in May, and the Celebration of Giving in June. We will skip meetings in January and February because of winter weather and July and August as it is summer break. We can reassess as we go through the year.
Thanks to all of you for helping make Bizarre Bazaar successful! You and our customers are our heroes, by donating, volunteering, and shopping at Bizarre Bazaar.
