A Suggestion for Schools and Fundraising

Anyone who knows us knows we like to find good deals. Ok? So what does that have to do with school fundraising? EVERYTHING!! I don't know who the genius was behind getting schools to get kids to sell their astronomically priced wares, but it is a bit ridiculous. The fact that these things come out not just once or twice a year, but over and over again makes me think: these are educators, right? They can see the silliness of all these companies who are PREYING on schools (aka: CHILDREN) to do their marketing for them, right? I mean, there is a plethora of businesses who cater to the schools' needs to raise extra funds (I have a whole other rant about proper use of funds, but that is not the concern here). My message is thus: stop sending the wrapping paper and cookie dough and overpriced bags of candies for the parents to try to help their children sell in order to make a marginal income for the school. Let's get serious. This is NOT the way to do things. There are significantly greater and more meaningful ways for schools to raise funds. I'll list a few examples and explain. Last night we attended my daughter's Open Mic Night where her grade level presented actual student work to the audience. The read poems written by themselves during school in their studies of poetry: something they were already doing anyway! Then they created a night where the parents could come and enjoy seeing their children read their poetry to an audience. Guess what this does? Builds more skills applicable in the world for our children: public speaking and the ability to create and present a project/idea. Next, they provided a simple refreshment of a cookie and a drink. The kids brought around a tip box and collected money. There were tip boxes at the door where it was easy to slip in an untold amount of cash...or even a check if you so desired! It made it fun. It made it real. It made it so we could celebrate the successes the school is accomplishing. I won't disclose the amount of money they made, but I can only imagine it was a larger profit line (dare I use such language in referring to fundraising?) than the aforementioned catalog sales. In discussing this with a friend, she told me about an event another school utilized to raise money for a particular program. The kids all worked to have two works of art to display at an Art Night. Each was fitted with an inexpensive black paper "frame" and displayed. Parents and the community were invited to come to the art show and were allowed to purchase the art. Can you imagine how great this is? Exposure to cultural arts, displaying of accomplishments of the children's work, and the materials were already a part of the school budget, meaning little to no extra cost! Again, the sum of money they were able to raise with this fundraiser was incredible. And, again, it has to be a larger profit line than the catalog sales we have become rooted in. Now, sure, maybe you can overkill it with these kinds of activities, too, but reward the community for being a little more intelligent than blindly sending out those catalogs! And please, stop trying to get the kids to buy into the incentive mind-set. When they are fundraising, they should be rewarded with satisfaction that they accomplished something, not that we are now going to dip into the funds that we just raised to give the kids some silly toy or t-shirt. Teach them that when you raise money for a cause, it is the cause you should be focused on, not the prize that Sally-Jo won because she sold more than Tommy. So, please, schools, take a moment and rethink what you are really teaching children with the fundraising. Be more creative! Let them help! They are way more creative than the rest of us adults, anyway!!

The Pro's and Con's of "More"

We live in a society focused on "more". It's become a dirty word in some people's minds, but is it necessarily evil? This is a concept I've been pondering since a wonderful Sunday School Teacher posed a question in class a few weeks ago. More is neither good nor evil. It is the intention behind the pursuit that is better or more clearly defined this way, not "more" in and of itself. "More" in pursuit of bigger cars, houses and boats when you already have something that fits the necessity of your circumstances. For me, I don't need a boat. I have no use for one, so to have one just because someone else has one is a definition of poor intent. It would be wasteful and selfish. However, let's say that I supplement my family's food by fishing. Perhaps a boat DOES have a necessity for my circumstances and, therefore, makes sense to own one. In similar manner, purchasing a home that is above my need and necessity would be a wasteful use of resources. I have a small family and don't need thousands of square feet. On top of that, neither my husband nor myself have a job that requires entertaining of large groups of people nor any other circumstance wherewith I can conceive the need for a large home. It is also ridiculous for people to brag over how MUCH they paid for a home. That isn't worthy...but, if you were able to get a good deal, that is something interesting to share...we all expect expensive things to be expensive, so putting it out there that you paid the norm is more of shouting to the world that you have more money than you know what to do with. And, I think everyone is fairly familiar with this sense of more not being a good thing. On the other hand, there are many things where the pursuit of more IS good. For instance, wanting to know more about a subject and learning as much as you can concerning it is worthwhile pursuit of "more". Serving others more and doing more good in the world are also good uses of "more". Stretching yourself to more fully follow the Savior Jesus Christ is also an excellent "more" pursuit. Of course, this comes with the sensibility that you don't completely sacrifice good things while pursuing this path. For instance, raising a family is a good thing and you can balance all of that with the pursuit of other worthy causes and desires. You just have to put things in the proper perspective. The best way to do this is to make a list of reasons you think the "more" is beneficial not just to yourself, but to your family, your friends, and your community. Thinking about others is the way we get beyond the selfish "mores" that have plagued our generation and puts things back into perspective. Just think about it: when we are not selfish, we not only improve our communities and our families, but it also knocks out things like debt, clutter, and the like. So, wanting "more" isn't necessarily bad in and of itself. Take time to think about the reasons you do something and make more of the world around you by doing so.