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I just got a call at my office from Canadian Foster Families Association, asking me for a donation towards taking some kids on a bus to a Christmas play or whatever. I decided to give them some money, but I had an amount in mind, so I told her what I could give. But the fundraiser on the other end of the phone proceeded to try to talk me into sponsoring a whole bus of kids, then a half bus, which was more than I was willing to contribute. I told her “I said I can give X,” to which she replied, “Sorry, but we only sell these amounts in packages.” I said, “Surely you can take any amount of donation?” “No m’am, we can’t.” “That’s not very flexible, is it?” She kept talking, trying to talk me into a “package”, so I finally said, “I am at work here, and have to get back to it. Goodbye,” and I hung up on her.

This is not the way to fundraise. She could have gotten me off the phone very quickly with my donation commitment, and proceeded to call other people, trying to get the package. Instead she wasted my time and her time, and did not get any money.

Fundraisers have to make it easier for the people they call, offer flexible donation options, direct them to a website with more information, don’t insist on your own structure. All I really want to do is get off the phone once I’ve made a decision to donate. I don’t have all day to listen to explanations.

Better luck next time. I am sorry about those kids not getting my contribution, so I may just send it in anyway.

But this could have been so much easier and more pleasant.

If you see these posters around Main Street, yes, they are from StepUp. We had a grand time putting them up last night, letting go of some creative energy as well as creative frustration.

So I’ve gotten some flak from fellow designers for my job ad posting on the GDC listserv. It says:
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Junior Communication Designer for dog-free office
Does every design studio really need a dog? We say a firm no, cute as dogs are. But StepUp Communications Inc. is hiring! more »

You know how you’re supposed to be able to ski and surf in Vancouver, all in the same day?

But in reality, it’s more like “You can see the ski area while you’re stuck in traffic, all at the same time.”

One of the best things about the internet is that it provides alternate information sources that are not controlled by the large newsmedia and their corporate sponsors and advertisers. As it states on their website, “Project Censored compiles an annual list of 25 news stories of social significance that have been overlooked, under-reported or self-censored by the country’s major national news media.” Read them yourself if you dare.

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