Training and Building Your Team

Role of the Pastor or Priest

"Ye shall know them by their fruits." (Matt 7:16)

• The Run is a call to service and spiritual growth, and the priest is fundamental to the overall success of the program. He creates a "garden" of the parish with rich soil in which the RFV seed can flourish.

• The pastor should be intimately involved with the RFV activities, guiding the parish team leader and team members by helping them to prioritize and secure donations.

• Any solicitation for funds or notices to the parish bulletin must be approved by the Pastor.

Responsibilities of a Parish Team Leader

Managing a Team 

"On their return, the apostles told Jesus all they had done. He took them with Him and withdrew privately." (Luke 9:10)

• The team leader, in particular, should stay engaged with the team by supporting and encouraging them via personal phone calls or emails.

• Put gentle pressure on each team member to fundraise. This cannot be done only individually but by group activities, including bake sales, car washes, and rummage sales. Enlist the help of local restaurants by asking them to donate a portion of their sales during a designated period of time.

• Remind people that all donations are tax deductible.

• Be sensitive to other's financial abilities to donate. Find benefactors in the parish. Keep up with group and individual fundraising, and don't wait until the last minute.

Fostering Team Mentality

"You shall reap what you sow!" (Gal 6:7)

• Encourage training groups and training partners.

• Suggest group fundraising as a great way to build team spirit.

• Plan team social events in order to enlist others.

• Encourage runners and walkers to recruit friends, neighbors, and co-workers.

• Set membership goals: "Let's see if we can get 5, then 10, then 20, then 30!"

Recruiting

"Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever." (1 Cor 9:25)

• Advertise via personal invitation, church bulletins, informational meetings, phone calls, and subtle arm-twisting.

• Make it personal, using a seminarian's name: "Run for John!" or "Run for Dan!"

• Take the Bucket List angle: I'd always wanted to run a marathon or 10K…"

• If someone says, "I'm out of shape," assure them that this will be a wonderful way to get into shape!

• If someone says they are too busy to train, encourage them to walk the 10K.

• If someone can neither run nor walk, ask them to sponsor another runner or walker.

Delegating

"And He appointed twelve, whom He also named apostles, to be with Him, and to be sent out to proclaim the message." (Mark 3:1-4)

• Delegating builds team mentality, reduces the workload, increases overall efficiency and productivity, and encourages responsibility and accountability.

• Avoid micromanaging. Encourage others to use their gifts and skills, and then let them loose.

• Hold others accountable, but remember the team leader is ultimately responsible.

Run for Vocations Fundraising Ideas

• Write a letter or an email to family, friends, colleagues, faithful Catholics, school contacts, and parishioners to enlist their support.

• Advertise in your parish bulletin to solicit donations from the advertisers in your church bulletin.

• Invite family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues to a RFV fundraising party!

• Consider a wine tasting event, a ladies' fashion show or luncheon, an afternoon tea, a scotch and cigar party, Casino Night, a raffle, a car wash, a golf or tennis outing, a jewelry or bridge party, a cooking class, a jewelry show, a Spring Triple Crown Horse Race, or a yard sale.

• Organize a Catholic School Tag Day by seeking approval from the Day School principal to devote one of their Tag Day (out of uniform day) charities to benefit the seminarians during the Marathon season.

• Sell donuts after Mass or before school.

• Church Collection. Seek your pastor's approval to have a special weekend collection for a $1 donation to the RFV marathon. Last year, we had great success in soliciting funds from the parishes. You may want to ask your pastor to make an announcement to say that you will be asking for donations in the vestibule after Mass.

But, above all, don't forget to talk it up! Share your Marathon quest with everyone you know and, depending upon their ability to give, ask for donations for such a worthy cause.