Please forgive me if this post is garbled and disjointed (like that isn't EVERY post!).
I have spent my entire day searching for businesses and local craft makers to donate an item, any item, to our school auction. I have never been such a sensational flop at ANYTHING! ONE person gave me a ten dollar item for the school to auction off!!!!
It used to be that I was a familiar and respected person in this community. When I was a "Top Producer" everyone came to me for a donation or to advertise in their football, soccer, baseball, cheerleading, Little Miss CA pageant, doula education calendar, newsletter, website whatever! I guess I was a total sucker and always felt that if you were a success and it was thanks to your community and sphere of influence that it was a good thing to give back to that same community or persons responsible for the referral. We are here to make the world a better place aren't we?
"Sorry, I just can't help you. We are really hurting right now."
In fact!!!! In fact!!!! I just had a former employee contact me to donate to her homestudy to adopt her grandson. What did I do? I told her I would send her a check!! Do I have tons of money? No! The last time I received a commission check was MONTHS ago. I have three children who go to an alternative school where tuition must be paid etc. etc etc. I HELP WHERE I CAN!!!!!
Is everyone ready to go under in this County?
I suppose it has to do that there are very few "mom & pop" stores or any independent anything. In the last two years we've had three Starbucks open. Walmart. Mervyn's. Applebees. Gottschalks. Longs. Albertsons. Pac N Save. Staples. None of these people will donate to a PARTICULAR school. They must "blanket" the entire community's schools. Um, our Waldorf School has NEVER received money from these corporations.
The school has reached out to the children who want and deserve an education that focuses on ethics and strives to encourage social and environmental responsibility. That means ALL kids who apply whether or not they can pay the "suggested" tuition. Our school is now in financial straits and needs help. Where are all the supporters of the environment and independent schools? There is not a one here.
I have directed people to the site http://www.awsna.org/ if they have any questions regarding the schools base and curriculum. I have also given them the website for OUR school (that I don't feel comfortable with listing here). The school is Non Profit. This donation is tax deductible!
On the main page of the school's website it states:
"SWS" is dedicated to cultivating the capacities of each child through a developmentally respectful education based on the work of Rudolf Steiner, the founder of Waldorf Education. We create an environment that respects the individuality of each child, their higher spiritual nature and their connection to the world as a whole. The "SWS" strives to create a community of caring adults who are committed to self-development, social responsibility and servant leadership.
In our children lies the hope of humanity.
How can people NOT respond to this?
I am appalled at the callousness of the business people in my HOME town.
Do our children have an opportunity for a QUALITY education anymore?
I have spent my entire day searching for businesses and local craft makers to donate an item, any item, to our school auction. I have never been such a sensational flop at ANYTHING! ONE person gave me a ten dollar item for the school to auction off!!!!
It used to be that I was a familiar and respected person in this community. When I was a "Top Producer" everyone came to me for a donation or to advertise in their football, soccer, baseball, cheerleading, Little Miss CA pageant, doula education calendar, newsletter, website whatever! I guess I was a total sucker and always felt that if you were a success and it was thanks to your community and sphere of influence that it was a good thing to give back to that same community or persons responsible for the referral. We are here to make the world a better place aren't we?
"Sorry, I just can't help you. We are really hurting right now."
In fact!!!! In fact!!!! I just had a former employee contact me to donate to her homestudy to adopt her grandson. What did I do? I told her I would send her a check!! Do I have tons of money? No! The last time I received a commission check was MONTHS ago. I have three children who go to an alternative school where tuition must be paid etc. etc etc. I HELP WHERE I CAN!!!!!
Is everyone ready to go under in this County?
I suppose it has to do that there are very few "mom & pop" stores or any independent anything. In the last two years we've had three Starbucks open. Walmart. Mervyn's. Applebees. Gottschalks. Longs. Albertsons. Pac N Save. Staples. None of these people will donate to a PARTICULAR school. They must "blanket" the entire community's schools. Um, our Waldorf School has NEVER received money from these corporations.
The school has reached out to the children who want and deserve an education that focuses on ethics and strives to encourage social and environmental responsibility. That means ALL kids who apply whether or not they can pay the "suggested" tuition. Our school is now in financial straits and needs help. Where are all the supporters of the environment and independent schools? There is not a one here.
I have directed people to the site http://www.awsna.org/ if they have any questions regarding the schools base and curriculum. I have also given them the website for OUR school (that I don't feel comfortable with listing here). The school is Non Profit. This donation is tax deductible!
On the main page of the school's website it states:
"SWS" is dedicated to cultivating the capacities of each child through a developmentally respectful education based on the work of Rudolf Steiner, the founder of Waldorf Education. We create an environment that respects the individuality of each child, their higher spiritual nature and their connection to the world as a whole. The "SWS" strives to create a community of caring adults who are committed to self-development, social responsibility and servant leadership.
In our children lies the hope of humanity.
How can people NOT respond to this?
I am appalled at the callousness of the business people in my HOME town.
Do our children have an opportunity for a QUALITY education anymore?
ps- the picture was done by a student. The school goes K-8 and also has a nursery program.
5 comments:
That is absolutely ridiculous that those large places won't contribute a thing. I'm sorry you are having such a tough time with this, and I'm sorry some people suck.
Ya know, I just don't understand. Is the people in this town becoming self centered??? I have a theory ya know, but I can't post it. Let's just say it's turning in to a little San Fran... ;o)
This sounds very stressful. I'd just offer two thoughts, the first, that you are educating the people you ask, even if they aren't ready to hear; the second (from my long-ago years in public radio when it was getting started), that people need to hear about something new to them from three to ten times before they are ready to respond. So I don't think your effort is wasted.
I know what you mean. We've had success with restaurant gift certificates - anyone that offers natural food type items, Whole Foods, Wild Oats gift certificates, Michaels, craft stores. If Waldorf parents fit in their target market, they'll give.Otherwise, there's nothing in it for them....sometimes, just occasionally the years I spent in corporate marketing come in handy in parenting :-)
My children attend a non-profit, operates on a shoestring, parent-run Montessori school. I can completely understand your outrage because we experience it here too.
I think (hope?) there will be a backlash against this homogenization eventually and people will realize the importance of community-run businesses and schools. Am I just a crazy optimist??
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