Looking ahead from the Jun 30 quarterly campaign finances report, this campaign is on track for a total cost of $8,000.  Certainly we could have spent more – buying a larger quantity of yard signs, printing another letter to voters, or paying for billboards – but they were not in the budget.  Rather than a hardship, it was an opportunity to set an example: to set goals and stay within those limits.

It took determination, planning ahead, being innovative and on the alert for opportunities to make the best use of the funds available.  But this campaign has also greatly benefited from the voluntary efforts of numerous supporters I have met – those with whom I’ve become acquainted during the course of the campaign, and others known through years of community and military service, through foster care contacts, as well as family members, friends and co-workers who have generously contributed their time, creativity and talents.  Thank you all.

Kitchen table budgeting is a necessity with families these days – not only with the current hardship, but with the downturn in the economy.  This campaign has set the example of using muscle to replace money.  The efforts of volunteers and individuals certainly has set an example to maintain budget costs and goals.  This has been a positive learning experience for everybody involved in the campaign.

It’s something I learned from my family: you look at your options, discuss them, pray about them, and when you’ve made your decision, you stick to it.  It takes determination, but it also takes support to make them work.

No leader is successful without the support of a great team, and it is that support that motivates you to move forward – to meet those goals and hold that line.  It is the energy and support of the community that have made this campaign possible.