TWO SILVER ASSEGAI AWARDS for NSRI

UPDATE: 18 November 2011The NSRI’s ‘Magic Bean’ appeal letter for funds to help replace the Rescue Boat “Sanlam Rescuer,” that burned out in a shipyard in Gordons Bay, was given two Silver Assegai Awards at the Direct Marketing Association Awards Ceremony held last night at the Emperors Palace in Johannesburg.The first award was in the Individual and Company Awards for Public Benefit Organisations whilst the second Silver Assegai was presented under the category Media Awards for Direct Mail. Krista Lazzari received both awards on behalf of Sea Rescue.It was proud moment for NSRI which would not have been possible without the wonderful support of our donors and friends. ASSEGAI AWARDS 2011Four times a year we write to our supporters detailing a specific project that we are fundraising for. These letters serve as a tangible way of keeping our donors in touch with our immediate needs and give them an opportunity to play a role in the humanitarian work that we do.From time to time one particular letter stands out and the recent letter about our boat “Sanlam Rescuer” that burnt out in a shipyard in Gordons Bay was one such letter. This letter stirred a lot of emotion and we not only received many kind donations but many phone calls and personal letters as well. For a rescuer, a boat is a not just a boat....a boat holds a very special place in a volunteers heart. So to lose a boat was like losing a family member. Many of our donors could relate to this sentiment.This particular letter was entered into the Assegai Integrated Marketing Awards 2011 and to our delight has qualified for a “Leader Award” in this year’s competition. This means that the NSRI campaign will be recognised as a leader in its category and could be one of the campaigns in line for a bronze, silver or gold Assegai Award. The DMA Assegai Awards dinner 2011 takes place on the 17th November 2011.The Assegai Awards do not give honours for extravagant production values, enormous budgets or big-name companies. Rather, it points in the direction of strategy, creative brilliance and outstanding results, from mail and print to digital, mobile and broadcast.We feel extremely proud that these letters are not written by a fancy agency – the letters are written straight from the heart by Krista Lazzari, Ian Wienburg’s PA and right hand. Krista joined NSRI in 1998 and has been responsible for raising millions of Rands for NSRI. Krista will be attending the awards ceremony on Thursday night.THANK YOU to all our donors for stepping in when we so desperately needed your help. We share this honour with you.This is the letter : 'One of our worst nightmares has happened! We have to admit that we’re completely at a loss and in desperate need of your help.In the early hours of Monday, 13th December 2010 a raging fire ran rampant through three factories including a boat yard in the Strand. The cause of the fire is as yet unknown, but numerous vessels within the boat yard were completely destroyed in the flames. One of these was our 10 metre Brede Class NSRI rescue vessel ‘Sanlam Rescuer’ which had been withdrawn from service at Gordons Bay to be refurbished. Once complete she was then to be re-deployed to save lives at the Mossel Bay NSRI rescue base where their boat is now due to retire.All that remains of ‘Sanlam Rescuer’ is ash. Our plans now lie in ruin and we will have a rescue base without a rescue boat. We’re faced with the prospect of not being equipped to fulfill our life-saving work.If only we could ‘grow’ a new boat with a magic Sea Rescue Bean, it would be so incredibly easy ... what a pity it doesn’t work that way in real life!Although ‘Sanlam Rescuer’ was insured, this Brede Class of vessel (ex-Royal National Lifeboat Institution) is no longer available to purchase second hand. Our only option for a suitable replacement is a deep sea rescue vessel at a cost
we just can’t afford. R6 million!!! Our insurance will cover part of this amount ... but as for the shortfall, well, we’re well and truly stuck.With each day that goes by without a suitable replacement vessel, the possibility that lives could be lost increases. We need your support if we hope to raise the remaining amount to launch a new rescue vessel.We are scrambling to find funding and we’re really struggling. Your assistance could mean the difference between putting a replacement rescue boat in action and complete failure.In thanks for your valuable contribution, your returned completed coupon will be entered into the NSRI Magic Rescue Bean Lucky Draw. One lucky supporter will receive a Swiss-made Luminox watch, easy to read under all light conditions and used by the US Navy Seals. Water resistant to 200 metres. Worth R3 750.Time is running out! Please don’t delay; we urgently need your R375 donation coupon within 14 days so that we can order the rescue craft we so desperately need to prevent loss of life on our waters!Having a rescue base without a rescue boat is a frightening situation; please could you help us to keep you safe wherever you might be out on South African waters.Thank you. We are truly grateful for your support and friendship.'