[Oe List ...] Fred stories

[Jaime R Vergara]

Did not know Fred and Sarah at all.  But stories surrounding legendary Fred's fund raising audacity abounds.  "Your gone and you're here" is appropriate.  Chutzpah par excellence!


Journey on, Sarah.  Carry on. Lindsey. 


j'aime la vie



-----Original Message-----
From: Richard Alton <dick_alton at hotmail.com>
To: Order Ecumenical <oe at wedgeblade.net>
Sent: Sun, Jul 24, 2011 6:07 am
Subject: [Oe List ...] Fred stories



I did not have a lot of contactwith Fred Buss, but he holds a spot on my fund raising meditative council alongside George Lawson who took me to Texasin 1972 for a month to school me in the nuts and bolts of individual visits.
 
Fred, had just an amazing senseof being able to ask for what was needed and helping others see how they could meet that need…hemight have been fun to be around but he was very serious about the ask.
 
I went to Brussels in 1986 to work on global fundraising. I started going to the International Protestant Church of Brusselsbecause my daughter’s softball coach was the pastor and most of the girls werefrom the Church.
 
One morning before Church, alady turned to me and we started chatting. It turned out she was the Chair ofthe 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 Fredhad called up the church and asked to speak to the mission committee and wasgiven an appointment. Fred gave the committee an overview of the El BayadProject with the goals and strategies from the consult. They were fascinatedand charmed. Then Fred said I need to ask you for $300,000 to implement thisgreat plan. Well the committee was stunned. We only have a budget of $25,000and it is all committed.
 
Fred, proceeded to explainhow important this project was and could understand how little the Church hadbut that was only one source of funds. He then suggested that they take outmortgages on their houses.
 
You could tell the lady wasstill stunned by Fred’s audacity, although they did not sell their houses.. soFred sits on my council reminding me to be bold and to ask for more than theother considers possible.


Dick

 
 
 


Richard H.T. Alton 166 N. Humphrey Ave, Apt, 1NOak Park, IL 60302T:1.773.344.7172richard.alton at gmail.comDon't let the fear of striking out hold you back    Babe Ruth 		 	   		  
 
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