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Grinding Away..Things that grind your gears, part three

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Re: Grinding Away..Things that grind your gears, part three

johnnypohlfan said:
United Way came to my former workplace and spent an entire day hassling everyone in the building to donate. I told them I was not participating and they then tried to shame me into donating by loudly proclaiming how important it was, blah blah blah. The guy raised his voice and basically made it clear to everyone in the vicinity that I was not going to donate. Like that's going to make me want to fork over my hard-earned money to you? I told him to get lost.
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I have a looong memory. United Way ****ed me off about 30 years ago when they used to make a big competition between companies about who had the highest participation rate. They used supervisors to try to bully everyone into contributing. As a result I will NEVER give them a penny. (We give to Salvation Army and Catholic Charities in a big way.)
 
Re: Grinding Away..Things that grind your gears, part three

When I raised funds for LLS/Team in Training last year, I learned the hard way that I had to have something people wanted if I expected to get any donations at all. Wound up selling a lot of bracelets for $1/each.

Next year, when I run for Team in Training once more, I'm going to have bake sales, pancake breakfasts and spaghetti dinners, parties, etc. I
 
Re: Grinding Away..Things that grind your gears, part three

The weddings I have gone to this summer or will later this year. One used our hotel room as a staging ground, one involved 30+ hours of driving, we have back to back cross country weekend trips, and so on. Every one involved some aggravation.
 
Re: Grinding Away..Things that grind your gears, part three

JuveGG24 said:
The weddings I have gone to this summer or will later this year. One used our hotel room as a staging ground, one involved 30+ hours of driving, we have back to back cross country weekend trips, and so on. Every one involved some aggravation.
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Didja ever hear of this invention of the Wright brothers?
 
Re: Grinding Away..Things that grind your gears, part three

goldy_331 said:
Didja ever hear of this invention of the Wright brothers?
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Goodness, I had no idea! For you see, I have been on Mars for the last decade, in a cave, with my eyes shut and my fingers in my ears.

It was in Middle of Nowhere, WA. A flight plus a rental car equaled a lot more than driving.
 
Re: Grinding Away..Things that grind your gears, part three

goldy_331 said:
I have a looong memory. United Way ****ed me off about 30 years ago when they used to make a big competition between companies about who had the highest participation rate. They used supervisors to try to bully everyone into contributing. As a result I will NEVER give them a penny. (We give to Salvation Army and Catholic Charities in a big way.)
Click to expand...

Boy, am I glad to hear somebody other than me bad mouth United Way. This charity has the gonads to publish a chart listing my "fair share" donation, sort of like a tax table. A one size fits all approach. No matter what setbacks you've had this year "you owe us this much." Despite all the cloying bathos of the MDA telethon, their message is: send us what you can afford and thank you.

United Way comes at me through my employer, which is extortion, pure and simple. Over the years, I've had more than one organizer inform me that the big boss "won't be happy" if I don't give. Frequently they hand out printed forms with your name on it and you're required to indicate if you're giving or not and if so, how much. Who is keeping the records of those who decline to give? In a time of recession, do you really want to risk being on somebody's s**t list?

If you want a donation from me, ask ME, since my friggin' employer isn't kicking in my donation. It isn't any of his business whether I give or how much I give or to whom. If the "big cigars" at some company want to have a competition, fine, they should do so with their own money and leave me out of it.

When I was in the Air Force, it was called the "Combined Federal Campaign" and like everthing else in the military, the s**t flowed down hill. 19 year old guys just out of basic were intimiated into giving out of proportion donations by sergeants who threatened them with picking up butts around base ops for days. Since you could stipulate where your donation went, some of us used to give the money to an anti draft counseling agency run by the Quakers.

I don't care how much good United Way does, the basis for their campaigns is to extort donations and I categorically resent it and won't participate in it, period. The Salvation Army has lower costs and deals with folks who really have fallen between the cracks. And I'm pretty sure the Army will thank you for your gift, whether or not you give your "fair share."
 
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Re: Grinding Away..Things that grind your gears, part three

Old Pio said:
Boy, am I glad to hear somebody other than me bad mouth United Way. This charity has the gonads to publish a chart listing my "fair share" donation, sort of like a tax table. Despite all the cloying bathos of the MDA telethon, their message is: send us what you can afford and thank you.

United Way comes at me through my employer, which is extortion, pure and simple. Over the years, I've had more than one organizer inform me that the big boss "won't be happy" if I don't give. Frequently they hand out printed forms with your name on it and you're required to indicate if you're giving or not and if so, how much. Who is keeping the records of those who decline to give? In a time of recession, do you really want to risk being on somebody's s**t list?

If you want a donation from me, ask ME, since my friggin' employer isn't kicking in my donation. It isn't any of his business whether I give or how much I give or to whom. If the "big cigars" at some company want to have a competition, fine, they should do so with their own money and leave me out of it.

When I was in the Air Force, it was called the "Combined Federal Campaign" and like everthing else in the military, the s**t flowed down hill. 19 year old guys just out of basic were intimiated into giving out of proportion donations by sergeants who threatened them with picking up butts around base ops for days. Since you could stipulate where your donation went, some of us used to give the money to an anti draft counseling agency run by the Quakers.

I don't care how much good United Way does, the basis for their campaigns is to extort donations and I categorically resent it and won't participate in it, period. The Salvation Army has lower costs and deals with folks who really have fallen between the cracks. And I'm pretty sure the Army will thank you for your gift, whether or not you give your "fair share."
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Let's not forget the "Big Cigars" at United Way itself have a penchant for grandiose salaries for themselves, along with sometimes suspicious handling of money, and sometimes downright being found guilty of fraud or malfeasence with donations. This is not an organization I care to support in any way.
 
Re: Grinding Away..Things that grind your gears, part three

johnnypohlfan said:
Let's not forget the "Big Cigars" at United Way itself have a penchant for grandiose salaries for themselves, along with sometimes suspicious handling of money, and sometimes downright being found guilty of fraud or malfeasence with donations. This is not an organization I care to support in any way.
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Years ago, in suburban Chicago, my old man was a 5K annual donor to the "Community Chest." One year they decided a local charity in my home down no longer figured in their plans. They sent some dude to the house to argue in favor of the decision. The old man informed him the whole 5K was going to the local charity, none to the "Community Chest" and they shouldn't waste their time appealing to him in the future. We're done here.

You're point about excesses by some United Way types is well taken. Over the years I've interviewed many Salvation Army people (usually around Christmastime) and these folks are always sincere, modest and dedicated to helping the folks they work with. There may be some jerks who work for the Army, but Ive never met or even heard of one.
 
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Re: Grinding Away..Things that grind your gears, part three

ShirtlessBob said:
When I raised funds for LLS/Team in Training last year, I learned the hard way that I had to have something people wanted if I expected to get any donations at all. Wound up selling a lot of bracelets for $1/each.

Next year, when I run for Team in Training once more, I'm going to have bake sales, pancake breakfasts and spaghetti dinners, parties, etc. I
Click to expand...

Lil needs to raise $ every yr for his sports. I have found that the best thing is to email everyone in a humorous way about the calendar/ raffle/ wrapping paper or what ever usually with a goofy pic of Lil and a humorous title. I always say that I am emailing so that they can chose to delete if they are not interested. I get a great response because people aren't pressured. Have to do thatthis weekend because we got the calendars just last week. Anyone want one;):D
 
Re: Grinding Away..Things that grind your gears, part three

johnnypohlfan said:
Let's not forget the "Big Cigars" at United Way itself have a penchant for grandiose salaries for themselves, along with sometimes suspicious handling of money, and sometimes downright being found guilty of fraud or malfeasence with donations. This is not an organization I care to support in any way.
Click to expand...
There was a big scandal in Charlotte a couple of years ago over the hefty salary/pension plan that was given to the local United Way President. She got fired and I think part of the board of directors was replaced.

Luckily, at my company we don't have a United Way fund drive. :) About three times a year we do some sort of collection (ie. Toys for Tots, or a food drive) but where possible, it's set up to be anonymous. Just drop your donation in the bin sort of thing.
 
Re: Grinding Away..Things that grind your gears, part three

leswp1 said:
Lil needs to raise $ every yr for his sports. I have found that the best thing is to email everyone in a humorous way about the calendar/ raffle/ wrapping paper or what ever usually with a goofy pic of Lil and a humorous title. I always say that I am emailing so that they can chose to delete if they are not interested. I get a great response because people aren't pressured. Have to do thatthis weekend because we got the calendars just last week. Anyone want one;):D
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No thanks. Want to buy any magazine subscriptions? :rolleyes:
 
Re: Grinding Away..Things that grind your gears, part three

legal_hit said:
There was a big scandal in Charlotte a couple of years ago over the hefty salary/pension plan that was given to the local United Way President. She got fired and I think part of the board of directors was replaced.

Luckily, at my company we don't have a United Way fund drive. :) About three times a year we do some sort of collection (ie. Toys for Tots, or a food drive) but where possible, it's set up to be anonymous. Just drop your donation in the bin sort of thing.
Click to expand...

Wait, what? Nobody keeps track of who gives or declines to give? Nobody to tell you what your "fair" share of toys or food is? No big chart on the wall comparing actual with projected donations? No time off from work to hear a pitch for the drives? That's uncivilized. :)
 
Re: Grinding Away..Things that grind your gears, part three

Old Pio said:
Wait, what? Nobody keeps track of who gives or declines to give? Nobody to tell you what your "fair" share of toys or food is? No big chart on the wall comparing actual with projected donations? No time off from work to hear a pitch for the drives? That's uncivilized. :)
Click to expand...
Well, we are a bunch of attorneys, I suppose that would explain the incivility. ;) :p
 
Re: Grinding Away..Things that grind your gears, part three

goldy_331 said:
I have a looong memory. United Way ****ed me off about 30 years ago when they used to make a big competition between companies about who had the highest participation rate. They used supervisors to try to bully everyone into contributing. As a result I will NEVER give them a penny. (We give to Salvation Army and Catholic Charities in a big way.)
Click to expand...

One should always consider using different methods- since we were allowed to specify our contribution, I did give them ONE PENNY.

And the next year, when they asked for more, I doubled it. :D

After a while,when I was up to $0.20- they gave up.

I do not like the United Way- they are glorified money launderers. I give diretly to the charities of my choice.
 
Re: Grinding Away..Things that grind your gears, part three

alfablue said:
One should always consider using different methods- since we were allowed to specify our contribution, I did give them ONE PENNY.

And the next year, when they asked for more, I doubled it. :D

After a while,when I was up to $0.20- they gave up.

I do not like the United Way- they are glorified money launderers. I give diretly to the charities of my choice.
Click to expand...

If I still dealt with the folks of 30 years ago, I might do the same. The people at my current company that lead the drive are good people, just roped into a bad organization. I quickly return my pledge card with $0.00 filled in and my signature. If anyone asks why, I rant. ;)

ETA: Obviously you didn't keep doubling. ;)
 
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