My January Rant

Said family member in our home participates in a certain organization. 

Now, let's talk numbers and you tell me if this makes sense?

We pay $160 per month * 11 months = $1760 a year to participate.

On top of that we pay another $200 annual fee. 

And once a year in January, there is a large fundraising effort that is pretty much mandatory.

They want us to ask 10 people in our network of friends for money.

I guess they figure anyone can ask 10 people for $20 and viola, DUNZO?!

With 100% participation, they could raise a whopping $70,000.  

How is this done?

So, this Booster Club of moms go to a lot of trouble/hours

to rally the 350 familes,

produce templates,

schedule 3 buildings for the BLANK-A-THON,

sending tons of emails,

gathering paperwork and mail and checks,

making lists upon lists to track this information

holding mandatory family meetings,

and then has to find/buy incentives for the families to participate.

 

I can't leave out the wonderful incentives though: 

1/7 - ice cream sandwiches

1/14 - cupcakes

1/21 - donuts

free water bottles if participant gets 10 donations

free t-shirts if participant raises $200

Clearly, we can't resist such luxury! 

Give me a break people.

 Now, what did you think I did?

 Of course, I emailed the lead and basically said,

"... it seems that I can simply write a check for $200

and be done with this whole sha-bang right? 

I mean, we want to be in good standing with the group and with your the committe

but really, how can I ask people to pay for a calorie burning activity for my family member?

So please be frank and tell me if your group will consider us a 'good' family

if we use this quick pen on check method.....?"

Fortunately, she was happy to reply, that we would be viewed

as a great family if we contributed the $200, PHEW!

"Oh and 1 more question for you lady,

can we still qualify for the free water bottle incentive

even though we aren't asking 10 people for donations".

Sadly, she added, "NOPE, but at least you get the free t-shirt!"

Well, I seriously thought about submitting 10 envelopes

of cash with 10 fake names

just for the darn water bottle.

But who has time for that ridiculous time waste?

A better suggestion to this silly process:

It would be so much easier on all our lives if

each family just had a due increase of $18 a month.

For $178, instead of $160

our month of January wouldn't be burdened

 with asking 10 friends and family for money.  

Oh, and please keep your t-shirts, waterbottles, donuts, ice cream and cupcakes!

I will take a $1 per month credit back to my dues please.

Don't pull the 'some families can't afford an extra $18'

excuse which makes fundraising a necessity.

I call bull-honkey to that. 

What is to prevent the families from just asking

friends/family to fund their entire annual dues?

Heck, anyone on here just want to fund my entire yearly entertainment budget

so I won't have to make choices of this versus that?

Sorry to be frank, but everyone makes their financial choices. 

Some choose to pay for cable tv, others consider that a waste.

Some people choose to live by a strict grocery budget, yet others won't.

Some families choose to go to movie theaters for entertainment, while others say HECK NO.

Some people change their own oil, but others still pay $50 for that. 

So, if a family wants to burn calories utilizing an expensive club/team,

then make some choices and plan in advance how to fund it yourself.

So, I ask myself one final question:

"Surely, there must be something good that comes with this January activity,

because I won't take credit for being the first person to figure out this nonsense?"

Only two possible conclusions come to mind

1) good for the families to gather, have fun, play, and compete?

2) good for the community to have the opportunity to contribute dollars toward a group of people who hopefully will become dutiful citizens, thereby improving the society?

I mean, with goals like:

Physical Development

Intellectual Competance

and

Preparation for Life

who would resist throwing dollars

at local citizens simply for exercising during a 2 hour event?

I will make you all a deal: 

You don't ask me to pay for

your family to burn calories

via activities like karate, dance, ballet, triathlon, basketball, running,

gym memberships, cheerleading, wrestling, or anything else

and I won't ask you to fund my life either!

Fair enough friends and family?