Archive for the ‘fundraising’ Category

Most people here know I’m a music lover. And this time of year, I start thinking of one of my favorite seasonal songs, a fairly obscure tune called “Winter Song” by a British folk-rock group called Lindisfarne.

I love Christmas music, but as an atheist, I always feel like just a bit uncomfortable singing about the Lord and Christ being born and the like.

But “Winter Song?” I can totally get behind it. The lyrics (hope you don’t mind, Lindisfarne):

When winter’s shadowy fingers First pursue you down the street
And your boots no longer lie About the cold around your feet
Do you spare a thought for summer whose passage is complete?
Whose memories lie in ruins And whose ruins lie in heat ?
When winter comes howling in

When the wind is singing strangely Blowing music through your head
And your rain splattered windows Make you decide to stay in bed
Do you spare a thought for the homeless tramp who wishes he was dead?
Or do you pull the bed-clothes higher Dream of summertime instead?
When winter comes howling in

The creeping cold has fingers That caress without permission
And mystic crystal snowdrops Only aggravate the condition
Do you spare one thought for the gypsy with no secure position?
Who’s turned and spurned by village and town At the magistrate’s decision?
When winter comes howling in

When the turkey’s in the oven And the Christmas presents are bought
And Santa’s in his module He’s an American astronaut
Do you spare one thought for Jesus, who had nothing but his thoughts?
Who got busted just for talking And befriending the wrong sorts?

When winter comes howling in (twice)

Here’s how they performed it in 1984 in Newcastle:

So here’s the selfish (somewhat) part. “All in a Day,” our local CBC Radio afternoon show is soliciting donations for an organization called the Causeway Work Centre. Causeway does great work, giving people with mental health issues or other difficulties opportunities to do work that’s tailored to their ability. That gives them everything that work gives us all — skills, money, fulfilment, dignity… They change lives, for the better. Every day.

And the person who donates the most gets to get the amazing Sarah Harmer or Rolf Klausener do a cover song of their choice. Now, some people will try to get them to do something out of character — Black Sabbath, or Mel Tormé, or something. But I really want to hear their take on this song. And I’m willing to ask for your help to do it — and risk humiliation.

If I get this, I promise to record my own cover video version of the song and put it up on the site. But ONLY if I get this.

If you click on this link and donate, then tell All in a Day that you’ve done it, I have a chance of hearing this song covered. And most importantly, you help a worthy organization. Help a brother out, willya?

I’m really excited to announce that the new podcast PR and Other Deadly Sins is LIVE.

Mark Blevis is someone that I have a tremendous amount of respect for, as well as someone I like a lot. So it’s a kick to think that we’ll be doing this as often as we can. How often that is, we’ll figure out as we go. But for now, it’s just a thrill to get the first one out there.

Grab it at the new site PR and Other Deadly Sins. As always, thanks to Tom Hofstatter for holding my galumphing WordPress hands throughout the process.

I hope the student council takes a few moments before their next meeting to think about how they make decisions and how they manage their public image. I also think that they better ensure a record showing in Shinerama 2009. Good luck to them.

For more background, see my original post.

CBC Ottawa story, 6:05 pm November 25:

“Brittany Smyth, president of the Carleton University’s student council, said she is trying to get in touch with the cystic fibrosis foundation because she doesn’t want the group to think Carleton students are switching charities for the wrong reason. She said the clause about cystic fibrosis being a white man’s disease was not the determining factor in Monday night’s vote, but for now the council is sticking to the decision and looking for a different cause to support next fall.”

CUSA news release, from Canada Newswire, as of 11:50 am November 26:

Attention News Editors:

Carleton University Students’ Association moves to reverse decision on Shine-A-Rama

    OTTAWA, Nov. 26 /CNW Telbec/ - Carleton University Students' AssociationPresident Brittany Smyth has indicated that CUSA council will revisit themotion to change the orientation program charity from Shine-A-Rama."It has become clear that there is not an appetite at Carleton to changefrom Shine-A-Rama" said Ms.Smyth "The responsible thing to do is to reversethe decision."While the motion merely stated the students' association wouldinvestigate switching to another charity, students have made it clear thatthey do not want the change."I both respect and admire the students' commitment to the cause ofraising funds for cystic fibrosis." stated Ms.Smyth "I believe this issue hasbeen blown out of proportion but the motion was never meant to imply thatraising funds for Cystic Fibrosis research was not a worthwhile cause. I doapologize for the negative attention Carleton has received".

For further information: Brittany Smyth, CUSA President, cell: (613)261-1668

UPDATE: The CUSA release came after the publication of a message by Carleton President Roseann Runte. Her message said in part:

“The motion which was approved by the student association contained language which was not appropriate and which has raised considerable concern. I know that Carleton students are fine young scholars who wish to be responsible and considerate. I am sure that they did not intend to offend by the preamble to their motion, but I am also sure that they now understand the effects of that language. I understand that they will be revisiting this issue and that the president of the student association will be putting forward a motion to reconsider the matter. I am convinced that our students will do the right thing and take the appropriate course of action.”

Hat-tip for the Runte message to David Reevely.

Ciao,
Bob.

Since I re-joined the post-secondary world, I’ve been keeping more of an eye on education stories. This one takes the cake.

Framingham State College sent a letter to 6,000 of its alumni looking for a donation. They decided to try something different. This is different …

Now they did get 40 or so donations, totally about $2,000. But they also had to apologize, saying:

“Our decision to send you a letter containing the words ‘blah, blah’ was a misguided and embarrassing attempt to connect with alumni in a different way. A few of you thought the letter amusing; others were offended, and for that I sincerely apologize. The last thing we want to be is disrespectful to you as a valued member of the Framingham State College alumni community. I hope you will forgive our error and continue to be proud of Framingham State College,” in a letter from CHristopher Hendry, the college’s VP of advancement.

So Framingham has apologized, and likely learned a lesson, and it would be easy to laugh at them. In fact, you have to chuckle. But where I refuse to be TOO mean is in that they tried SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

We’re just starting to get a handle on how to really activate our relationship with our alumni. And while I hope we never make a mistake, I have every confidence we will. But if we are so conservative to avoid mistakes that we don’t do anything innovative, we run the risk of just boring people.

While I don’t think we will steal the copy from their letter, and I hope we don’t have to write letters of apology, I do hope we have the chutzpah to shake things up, think outside the box, blah blah blah… er, let me rephrase.

It’s easy to be boring. It’s hard to be innovative. I hope we can manage to be innovative without offending, and without ruffling feathers. But I doubt we can manage all of that all the time.

Ciao,
Bob.