[Oe List ...] Fred stories

[Richard Alton]

I did not have a lot of contact
with Fred Buss, but he holds a spot on my fund raising meditative council along
side George Lawson who took me to Texas
in 1972 for a month to school me in the nuts and bolts of individual visits.

 

Fred, had just an amazing sense
of being able to ask for what was needed and helping others see how they could meet that need…he
might have been fun to be around but he was very serious about the ask.

 

I went to Brussels in 1986 to work on global fund
raising. I started going to the International Protestant Church of Brussels
because my daughter’s softball coach was the pastor and most of the girls were
from the Church.

 

One morning before Church, a
lady turned to me and we started chatting. It turned out she was the Chair of
the Mission Committee. She asked me what I did and I said I worked for ICA. The lady looked startled.
“Do you know Fred Buss from Egypt?"
Yes, I do.

 

Well, it turns out that Fred
had called up the church and asked to speak to the mission committee and was
given an appointment. Fred gave the committee an overview of the El Bayad
Project with the goals and strategies from the consult. They were fascinated
and charmed. Then Fred said I need to ask you for $300,000 to implement this
great plan. Well the committee was stunned. We only have a budget of $25,000
and it is all committed.

 

Fred, proceeded to explain
how important this project was and could understand how little the Church had
but that was only one source of funds. He then suggested that they take out
mortgages on their houses.

 

You could tell the lady was
still stunned by Fred’s audacity, although they did not sell their houses.. so
Fred sits on my council reminding me to be bold and to ask for more than the
other considers possible.
Dick


 

 

 



Richard H.T. Alton 166 N. Humphrey Ave, Apt, 1N
Oak Park, IL 60302
T:1.773.344.7172
richard.alton at gmail.com

Don't let the fear of striking out hold you back 
   Babe Ruth 		 	   		  
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