It’s July in Iowa and that can only mean one thing…it’s RAGBRAI time!! Now, if you’re not from Iowa or an avid cyclist, I’m sure you are thinking, “What is RAGBRAI”? RAGBRAI stands for the Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa. This biking event started in 1973 and has become the longest, largest and oldest bicycle touring event in the world. In the past 36 years over 275,000 riders have participated. This year’s ride began on Sunday with riders dipping their back tire in the Missouri River in Sioux City and will end one week (442 miles) and over 50 towns later in Dubuque where they will dip their front tire in the Mississippi River.

This will be my fourth year participating in RAGBRAI and I will be riding the last two days. I’m disappointed that I can’t ride more but I know I will still manage to do RAGRBAI the “right” way by eating more pie (a staple of RAGBRAI) than I can actually burn off and will see my fair share of costumes from the banana man to Elvis to Tarzan. However, there is one big difference for me this year compared to my previous years – the training (or lack there of) that I have done. This year, between the inclement weather and a hectic schedule, I have only managed to get on my bike approximately six times for a grand total of less than 150 miles – not good. Most individuals who ride the entire week will get at least 500 – 1000 miles on their bike prior to starting.

This realization has given me a giant wake up call. The lack of training, hard work and effort on my end is not going to provide me with the same results as in years past. The way you approach your planned giving program can be thought of in the same way. You can’t build a website or solicit your donors once a year and expect outstanding results – you will only be disappointed. If you are not consistently communicating with your donors, they will likely lose interest in you due to your lack of interest in them. Regular communication reminds them of their importance to you and the success of your organization.

Perhaps, like me, you realize you could be doing more to improve the results of your program. I’ll be suffering the consequences of my lack of training in a few short days, but you don’t need to. Take this chance to re-evaluate how you engage your donors and see what work still needs to be done.

HItting the road during RAGBRAI 2009.

Jessica Samuelson, production coordinator, The Stelter Company