Suggestions on making Bee Club events affordable for all?

[Bakersdozen]

I know some WWB members have experience will planning special education events with your local bee club.  Our local bee club  plans at least 2 events a year.  I am trying to explore ways of making these events affordable for all.  A wonderful aspect of beekeeping is that it attracts people from all walks of life.  Some club members have never attended our Beginning Beekeepers class or Funday.  Beginning Beekeeping is more affordable because our costs are lower.  Funday is not because we usually have some big names in beekeeping and have several scholars as well.  The club pays for their travel expenses and stipends.  This upcoming year, Randy Oliver will be our speaker.  In the past we have had Tom Seeley and Jamie Oliver.  Our goal is to break even, and we are usually within a few pennies of doing so.  Even then, the cost is prohibitive to some members.
I am looking for suggestions for ways that members can earn an entry, or bid at an auction,  or any other ideas you might have.  Perhaps your local bee club, or another organization you belong to, incorporates something like this already.  I would appreciate any input.

[Wandering Man]

We pretty much rely on dues, although we have also sold T-Shirts and auctioned off a donated hive.

The club in Corpus Christi recently changed their IRS status from that of a social club [501(c)(7)] to one of education [501(c)(3)].  As a non-profit educational organization they are eligible for donations.  The local grocer (H.E.B. in Texas) and Wal Mart have both donated funds and supplies to help them to attract speakers.  Last week they held their annual Honey Tasting contest, and because of the donations, sponsorships and free advertising they were able to draw in a huge crowd.

[Bakersdozen]

Thanks, WMan.  We are a [501(c)(3)], as well. 
T shirts are a fun idea and we have done special T shirts for special occasions in the past.  Perhaps taking orders for club T shirts is an idea with proceeds going towards this event?
Our dues are minimal, $15 annually.  That amount hasn't changed since I joined the club. The dues cover the cost of mailing the club newsletter, which has decreased because we have encouraged electronic newsletters!  It also covers the cost of the building at the local fairgrounds.

[CBT]

Consider a 50/50 raffle. Some groups sell tickets $1 each or 6 for $5. People donate a beekeeper item or honey and draw tickets for each item then put all tickets back in the spinner and draw for 50% of money collected. Half for the winner and half for the group. If you do it right in a year you can have some serious funding.

[apisbees]

Program book and webpage for the event. sell advertising in them. set up a commercial display space and invite equipment suppliers to attend sell them space. silent auctions and live auction on a few donated big items. send Invites to a larger area. beekeepers in neighbour states may be interested in attending. leverage a better deal with the hotel convention centre. The better the program the more attractive it is for the guests.

[Wandering Man]

It also covers the cost of the building at the local fairgrounds.

We have been fortunate in that we haven’t had to pay for meeting space, yet.

Our county extension agent let’s us use the 4-H Activity Building. When that building wasn’t available after Harvey, a local church invited us in.