[nfb-talk] Second go at- Question on NFB philosophy of fundraising

[John Heim]

Ray, I agree with you 100% as far as you've gone. But I'd add that, IMO, if 
the NFB says, "We can't do fund raising like everybody else because of how 
it looks", that's a step backward.

I say to heck with perception. Well, I'll admit that perception does matter. 
But you just cannot let people's ignorance dictate *your* actions.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ray Foret Jr" <rforetjr at comcast.net>
To: <newmanrl at cox.net>; "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, August 28, 2010 7:25 AM
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Second go at- Question on NFB philosophy of 
fundraising


> the long and the short of it is this.  No matter how you ask for money, 
> thee will always be some who see it as begging.  Bearing that in mind, I 
> guess that, for me at least, the line would be if I had to stand on a 
> street corner with a tin cup in my hand and ask for money;  "Alms for the 
> blind?" you know, like that.  I'd rather die first.
>
>
> Sincerely,
> The Constantly Barefooted Ray!!!
>
> A Very Proud and Happy Mac User!!!
>
> E-Mail:
> rforetjr at comcast dot net
> Skype Name:
> barefootedray
>
> On Aug 28, 2010, at 7:14 AM, Robert Leslie Newman wrote:
>
> NFBtalk members
>
> For those of you who have read the below scenario and did not find it to 
> be
> philosophically unacceptable, then I ask- where is the philosophical line 
> of
> acceptable verses unacceptable asking for a donation? (Please take a 
> minute
> and help me with this. I plan to make a chapter building exercise out of
> this and a newsletter article as well.)
>
>
>
> At 06:38 AM 8/27/2010, you wrote:
>
>> I have a question of NFB philosophy. I bring it to this list because I
>
>> know and want you all to give it to me straight from the philosophical
> shoulder.
>
>>
>
>>
>
>>
>
>> Here is the situation: There is a debate upon the acceptability of the
>
>> following method of fund raising. There are some in my local chapter,
>
>> in the affiliate in my state, in the division where I am the President,
>
>> who feel that the below method of solicitation donations is not
>
>> philosophically acceptable under NFB philosophy; some of the membership
>
>> feel that the way it is being handled is acceptable. Do read the
>
>> description I present and give us your feelings.
>
>>
>
>>
>
>>
>
>>
>
>>
>
>> I am part of the Omaha chapter and for years I have participated in the
>
>> Wal-Mart "Meet and greet." And note the title that we've given it,
>
>> "Meet and Greet."
>
>>
>
>>
>
>>
>
>> Allow me to set the scene- It is 10:00 AM, we have two six foot tables
>
>> setup: one is outside the doors from the grocery store entrance and the
>
>> other outside the general merchandise entrance. There is a large banner
>
>> stretched across the full length of the front of the table, running
>
>> just below the table-top, from the legs on the right hand side, to
>
>> those on the left. The Banner is in the NFB colors of dark blue letters
>
>> on a white
>
>> background- it reads "National Federation of the Blind, Omaha chapter."
>
>> The chapter members manning the table are also wearing NFB labeled
> clothing.
>
>>
>
>>
>
>>
>
>> On the table-top, There are stacks of a variety of NFB literature , a
>
>> large donation jar, a slate and stylist for taking notes, someone's
>
>> long white cane lying the full length of the table and a
>
>> bill-identifier (we will demonstrate and even give change). Then yes,
>
>> we will have some item to sell to the potential donator; the item
>
>> having been donated or purchased at a low price, in order that we do
>
>> monetarily gain from the transaction. (You know how this must go; this
>
>> is a fund raiser, as well as an opportunity to educate the public.)
>
>>
>
>>
>
>>
>
>> The members who "people" the table either sit behind the table or stand
>
>> to the side or out front to better engage the flow of customers coming
>
>> in and out of the store.
>
>>
>
>>
>
>>
>
>> "Would you like to give a donation to the Omaha Chapter of the National
>
>> Federation of the Blind?" Or, "Would you like to purchase a Mother's
>
>> Day Flower and support the National Federation of the Blind?" Is one of
>
>> several different types of short, quick phrases that you might hear me
>
>> or others say, as we hear new people traffic coming or going. These
>
>> customers are always speeding by on their personal business and we
>
>> learned long ago, that what ever you say needs to be quick and to the
> point.
>
>>
>
>>
>
>>
>
>> Then, as a potential donator approaches the table, you might hear,
>
>> "Would you like to help us do our work?" And/or "do you know a blind
>
>> person?" Or, "Let us tell you about the Federation and what we do."
>
>> And, knowing that most of these people are in a hurry to go about their
>
>> business, we would hand them one of each of our broachers, saying
>
>> something like "Please take these; we would like to tell you about our
>
>> organization." And of course, if the person is inclined to visit, we
>
>> will go into as much depth about blindness as possible (answering their
> questions is always the priority).
>
>>
>
>>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Robert Leslie Newman
>
> President- NFB Writers' Division
>
> Division Website
>
> http://www.nfb-writers-division.org
>
> Personal Website-
>
> http://www.thoughtprovoker.info
>
>
>
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