right now, we’d be the hottest thing in the state,” Forness jokes. “We’re two weeks into (the season) and there is no place to play because the fi elds are wet and there is frost. We’re actu- ally getting calls from schools north of us asking if they can come down and play us because they have worse conditions than we do.
“Going out there and just having
to brush off the snow and play will help tremendously.”
Partnerships were a key element
ATHLETIC DIRECTOR TAKEAWAYS
• Collaboration and partnerships help develop the best projects with positive results.
• Find architects and engineers with experience in constructing athletic facilities.
Fundraising & Partnerships Shiloh Development Director Laurie Eisenbeis admits she has no experience fundraising for capital projects, but school offi cials still sing her praise with what she’s been able to accomplish.
All the money for the project was acquired through fundraising. That helps tremendously in forging relation- ships with the community, where support often wavers when tax dollars are used for capital projects.
• Private schools can benefi t from opening their facilities to public schools and community organizations.
in Shiloh’s project, and school offi - cials say they’re encouraged by the amount of support they’ve received from the community. Forness said there were meetings with the state athletic association, the chamber of commerce and the city council as Shiloh was trying to create a plan that would benefi t the community. “The board here at the school asked that I take some time to visit with not only the school staff but the entire Bismarck commu- nity,” Forness says. “We met with the state activities association too because they’re always looking
for facilities to meet the needs of district and state competitions.”
Forness and Eisenbeis agree that the key to their success in fundraising was to simply go out and tell their story. “We went to chamber meetings, various groups like the
VFW and Rotary Club and we told our story,” Forness says. “We had tremendous coverage from the media, and the positive press has made people aware of our desire to meet our needs and the needs of the community.” One of the few obstacles Shiloh did encounter on the fundraising front is that the city is also remodel- ing its own large athletic facilities. Shiloh supports the city’s project, but it presents challenges when separate entities are going to the same group of people asking for donations.
Eisenbeis says she hasn’t received any other pushback from the community. Given the size of the city and limit- ed facilities available, school offi cials are confi dent both projects serve a need. “We also think our project is necessary and worthy of
support, and together we’re better,” Forness says. “Pub- lic and private partnerships are not something that’s new and that’s a testament to what we want to be. Shiloh is a contributor to the community and we want to graduate students who understand they need to give back to their communities. That’s what it’s all about.” Eisenbeis calls her fundraising responsibilities exciting yet stressful, especially when there is a lull in donations. “Sometimes you just need to step back and take a deep breath,” she says. “It’s unbelievable with the number of good people who opened their hearts and their check- books. It’s been a blessing to work on these projects, but it’s come with its stressful days too.”
A Learning Experience Like most capital projects, the planning starts with heavy involvement from architects and engineers. For- ness says they continue to be valuable resources and he
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