UPCOMING ORDER DEADLINES

DEADLINE FOR NEXT ORDERS: "Notification" deadline is JULY 27; payment deadline is July 30. Which means...if you plan to order this month, please notify me via email by JULY 27 (patriotscrip "at" gmail.com). I will wait until July 30 to receive your payment, as sometimes the mail is slow. If you use PrestoPay, or would like more information on that, please email. Thanks!

SCRIP MAILING ADDRESS: For orders - please mail to Acadiana Patriots, P O Box 80625, Lafayette, LA 70598. Since this box isn't checked every day, please EMAIL if you send an order so we can make sure we have it. Thanks!

Acadiana Patriots Enrollment Code: E27795B233574.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Upcoming order deadlines

Thanks to everyone who was at last night's Acadiana Patriots meeting and expressed an interest in Patriot Scrip!  Here are a few details to keep in mind:

-- You can use a paper order form, or order online / pay with a check, or order and pay online.

-- If you switch from using a paper order form to online ordering, just let me know with an email -- patriotscrip <at sign> gmail.com.  To process your paper order forms, I will have already set up an online account as your proxy at www.shopwithscrip.com.  Let me know you want to switch to online ordering - I'll send you your login information so you can log in, change your password, and start placing your orders!  This avoids having TWO accounts for the same person.

-- UPCOMING DEADLINES & DISTRIBUTION: 
       Orders that we receive (with payment) by Sunday, August 26 will be available for distribution by Tuesday, Sept. 4th. 
       Orders we receive (with payment) after August 26 but by Labor Day (Monday, Sept. 3rd) will be available for distribution at the Acadiana Patriots meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 11.

*disclaimer*...this is presuming that the usual turnaround time will not be too greatly disrupted by Labor Day or other unforeseeable circumstances.  If scrip isn't available when we expect it, don't worry - we WILL work with you to get it to you promptly!

Distribution notes...
       We'll announce a distribution time and place (probably one of the Lafayette libraries, and probably early evening) either on this blog or via email to those who ordered. 

Questions?  Email me!

Remember, the USPS isn't always as quick as we'd like...so get those orders in quickly!  Mail to: Acadiana Patriots, P O Box 1223, Youngsville, LA 70592 (Note MAILING ADDRESS correction of the box number).

If you've mailed something to the Lafayette PO box, don't worry - that is also for Acadiana Patriots, we just won't be using it for scrip orders.  Email me if you sent an order there (or if you think you might have....) and we'll watch for it.


Saturday, August 4, 2012

Introduction to Patriot Scrip

Welcome!  Patriot Scrip is the fundraising scrip program for the Acadiana Patriots.  This blog will post information on the Patriot Scrip program, including limited time specials.

This "Introductory Post" will give an overview of what scrip is and how it works.

 What is Scrip?
The term "scrip" means "substitute money."  If you have ever bought, received, or used a prepaid gift card, you've used scrip.  When you purchase scrip, you are purchasing negotiable gift cards/certificates that are used just like cash.  You can use scrip for your own everyday purchases - like food, gas, clothes, home building supplies, dining out, etc.  With every scrip purchase, you earn revenue for Acadiana Patriots - and it doesn't cost you anything extra!


How does Scrip generate revenue for Acadiana Patriots?
Well, have you seen the "gift card kiosks" at Wal-Mart...Walgreen's...Albertson's...Lowes....etc.?  Sure, they sell their own gift cards, but they are also selling cards from many other retailers as well.  Did you know that the store that houses the kiosk - the store where you buy the card - gets a rebate?  You buy the card at face value....and the store that sells you the card gets a cut.  Well, of course! They don't sell those cards just to be nice; that is PRIME retail real estate! You bet they're gonna make some money off of the transaction (which is just how it should be, hurrah!)  You don't pay anything over the face value of the card, and boy, what a convenience when you are in a bind for a last-minute gift..... (The "Vanilla Visa" cards are not offered with the scrip program.  Just the cards you buy at face value - and there are a lot of 'em!!)

We have teamed up with the Great Lakes Scrip Center.  They act on behalf of nonprofit organizations to purchase large amounts of scrip from grocery stores, gas stations, department stores, restaurants, etc.  They are able to purchase scrip at a substantial discount. WE are able to buy scrip - again, at a discount - on behalf of our members (and their supportive friends and family), who pay face value.

The difference between the discounted price that Acadiana Patriots pays and the face value / purchase price pays is the revenue generated for Acadiana Patriots.


What's the catch?
No catch.  You pay face value, and you receive full face value of the card.  Example:  You buy a $100 card from the Patriot Scrip program for Target. You pay Acadiana Patriots $100.  You receive a $100 card at Target, which you use to buy $100 worth of groceries, clothes, back-to-school supplies, and whatever else you buy at Target.  Acadiana Patriots receives a percentage of the money you paid for the card.  That's out of Target's pocket, NOT YOURS, NOT OURS.  Target gets their money in advance, so they're happy too.

Isn't this the way Capitalism is SUPPOSED to work?  Yeah!!

So, what percentage of my purchase goes to Acadiana Patriots?
It depends on the merchant.  The average is about 5%, though it ranges from 1.5% to 16%.  Rebate percentages are listed on the order forms.

How do I order?
Email PatriotScrip <at> gmail.com and we'll email you a .pdf of an order form.  There are other ways to order, but more on that later.  Choose your cards, and send your check and order form to Acadiana Patriots at the address listed on the form (P O Box 80625, Lafayette, LA 70598).  Or hand-deliver at an Acadiana Patriots meeting.


When and how do I get my Scrip?  Do they mail it to me?
Regular Scrip distribution will be at the next Acadiana Patriots meeting unless you need to make other arrangements.  Scrip is sent in a batch via Fed Ex to Acadiana Patriots.  We WILL NOT MAIL Scrip, as it's the same as cash.


Are there limitations on how I can use these cards?
Nope.  Same as cash.  They are the same cards you would buy at the retailer themselves.

Can Acadiana Patriots really earn revenue from this?
Yes.  It really, really adds up. 

Whew!  That's a fast overview of a very big, exciting program!  Watch the introductory video for more information.  Watch this space for more info, and always - feel free to email PatriotScrip <at> gmail.com with any questions - or for an order form!