As a Great Falls GSA board member, I would like to clear up some misconceptions. We would like nothing else but to participate as usual. We were unsure if this was going to happen much less when. We set our date for the GSA fundraiser in Great Falls the day after the current years fundraiser. Not knowing if or when they were going to do it this year, we could not secure a location until we knew. By then, it is too late to get our standard location. In addition, we spend an entire year getting auction items, getting sponsorships, and getting volunteers. Our GSA board is all volunteer and many still work and we did not have the time to throw it together without knowing the details. Part of why the Great Falls GSA event is so successful is that we literally work on it year around. We were unable to meet, unable to secure a location, unable to secure sponsorships, and unable to get the people who help us pull it off. Some of whom we actually pay for their services. Factor in the fact that I know of at least 2 of our board members who did have co-vid including myself. I can speak for myself that I am still not in a position to expend much energy beyond my work and my family right now.
We did discuss doing a golf outing, but time and locale did not allow us to spend the time to organize it to the point that it would have been profitable for a donation to the GSA. I too was disappointed. It is one of my favorite activities of the year. Knowing that we can support the GSA with a big check every year is awesome. We will be back and we will make it awesome.
In the meantime, might I suggest you do what I did. During the big give I donated 500 dollars to the GSA. If everyone that came to the GSA event in Great Falls donated 100 dollars to the GSA, we could match what we normally give to them. If you can't do that, do what you can. I can guarantee you that they need it more now than ever.