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The idea of greeting the new year with an icy blast of water isn't necessarily new. Hardy
-- some say crazy -- groups have been doing it for years, especially polar bear clubs in northern Europe. It's the idea of cashing in that's relatively new. When a certain type of fundraiser is successful, it's only natural that others will imitate it, but such events typically have a life cycle of waxing and waning, said Michael Nilsen, spokesman for the Association of Fundraising Professionals in Arlington, Va. For example, the 1990s saw an explosion of fundraiser walkathons, bicycle rides and running events
-- to the point where they lost some of their novelty. "When organizations see something that works in their community, they might try to copy it," Nilsen said. "At some point, they might reach the oversaturation stage." The Natural Resources Council of Maine environmental group is joining the crowd this year, holding its first polar swim fundraiser on Jan. 2 in Portland to help celebrate its 50th anniversary and to raise money for its work on global warming issues. NRCM spokeswoman Judy Berk isn't worried that there are too many polar plunges. "I think there are enough people to go around," she said. ___ On the Net: Special Olympics Maine: Camp Sunshine: http://www.campsunshine.org/
http://www.specialolympicsmaine.org/
[Associated
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