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

Mike Freeman k7uij at panix.com
Sat Aug 28 21:55:23 UTC 2010


Robert:

You'll probably get as many answers as there are people posting answers. For 
me, standing on a corner with a tin cup or bucket with no literature to pass 
out or items to sell would qualify as being unacceptable. Also unacceptable 
would be banners or literature touting a fund-raiser that said things like 
"Help blind persons escape a world of darkness by contributing to the 
National Federation of the Blind of [name of chapter or affiliate]" or the 
like.

Put another way, I like fund-raisers that either sell something or through 
which we can distribute literature that tells what we do, what our goals are 
and how we plan to get there with very little effort to tug on the heart 
strings.

Let's put it this way: why did we not object to telephone soliciting 
(telemarketing) which was the backbone of fund-raising for many affiliates 
until fairly recently whereas some bridle at direct appeals? I submit it is 
simply that some of us don't like to get our hands dirty, so-to-speak.

I'll tell you of a funny incident that happened to me something like twenty 
years ago. I was at a local all-purpose shopping center selling candy-bars 
for our chapter by myself. The center had a deli and coffee shop so I went 
in and got a huge cup of coffee, it being rather brisk out in the foyer 
where I was selling. The cup had a lid with a slot on it. So I was selling 
these candy-bars and drinking my coffee. Darned if a fellow didn't walk up 
and shove a quarter in the slot of my coffee cup! What did I do? I drank the 
rest of the coffee so I could get a quarter and went and got a coffee 
reload! (grin)

Mike

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert Leslie Newman" <newmanrl at cox.net>
To: "nfbtalk" <NFB-talk at NFBnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, August 28, 2010 5:14 AM
Subject: [nfb-talk] Second go at- Question on NFB philosophy of fund raising


> 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
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nfb-talk mailing list
> nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
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