Reach ‘em thru their stomachs
I got a call from an old friend to help out with his church’s BBQ chicken supper. It seems that several hundred barnyard birds were to be used to help support the church’s budget, and he was concerned that they wouldn’t be able to get it all done without an extra hand or two.
I think he’s kin to my wife, who never is assured that all the bases are covered, or that we will get it done on time. And that one time out of ten when her fretting was warranted, she hollers, “See!” And I wonder how many years of her life she took off from excessive worry.
Well, there were plenty of hands there, and maybe a few too many, but as happens, that just gives you more time to stand around and visit. And I got to get to know a rather good fellow who I had met before, but knew little of.
While I wondered what I could be doing that would have benefited me more early on that day, I counted it for profit as the day went on.
I called a friend, as they were worried that they might not sell out of plates, to try to sell a few more. It seems that another church was having a dinner, so he declined.
Later that day, I went to another fundraising dinner to make a photo. I supported another fundraiser dinner the next day.
I recently bought some doughnuts from a lady at the grocery store, selling for her church. When I asked where her church was, she told me it was two counties over.
One of the groups that I normally support was not raising funds this past weekend. I can only guess that they were responding to criticism from local restaurants about taking business away.
That is a common complaint. There is no doubt that a successful community fundraiser does take away from a restaurant’s business.
I also remember in small towns when you had almost no choice for where to go to eat. Even the bigger towns were complaining years back that there were no nice chain restaurants above McDonald’s. Today you have a great variety of choices, particularly if you are willing to drive just five miles down the road. And if you go 15 miles….
People are eating out more and more, and as a result, more and more restaurants are able to be successful.
One of the up-sides of being in a small community is the lack of local restaurant competition. If people want to find something locally, you’ve got a pretty good shot at them.
The down-side is when a local church or civic group has a fundraiser supper, it is going to hurt.
Given the number of people who are regularly going out to eat, and their willingness to support good causes, fundraiser suppers seem to be increasingly popular.
It also gives those who work them an opportunity to get to know one another better.
About two and a half years ago, I got a call from David Williams who was sports editor of the Goldsboro News Argus at the time. He told me he was leaving the Goldsboro paper, and asked if I might consider him for an opening we had.
I had known David for many years, as we would bump into one another at ball games particularly. When we had our basketball tournament, I’m not sure how it all came together, but David served as the announcer for several years. So, I knew him, and I knew him as a good guy.
I told him to come and we would talk. We made a decision that he would come to work for us. I haven’t regretted that decision.
David will be leaving us this week. I’m sorry to see him go, but I believe this will be best for David. He will be leaving newspapers to work for a magazine publisher in Raleigh.
During his tenure, we have changed dramatically the face of the paper, begun our web page, and advanced how we are going about things. I appreciate his hand in all of that, and he was a key player.
As this was not planned, I cannot say that I had planned for my daughter to step in to help fill his slot, but Ashley, who will be getting her master’s degree in May at NC State, will be filling much of David’s duties beginning next week.
She grew up in the newspaper, literally, as during many long nights she and her sister would be there doing their homework, or helping put inserts in the newspaper. She has helped fill in during times when we have been away, and both she and her sister have been there during summer breaks.
Again, this was not any part of any grand plan, but it makes some sense, particularly right now.
I think he’s kin to my wife, who never is assured that all the bases are covered, or that we will get it done on time. And that one time out of ten when her fretting was warranted, she hollers, “See!” And I wonder how many years of her life she took off from excessive worry.
Well, there were plenty of hands there, and maybe a few too many, but as happens, that just gives you more time to stand around and visit. And I got to get to know a rather good fellow who I had met before, but knew little of.
While I wondered what I could be doing that would have benefited me more early on that day, I counted it for profit as the day went on.
I called a friend, as they were worried that they might not sell out of plates, to try to sell a few more. It seems that another church was having a dinner, so he declined.
Later that day, I went to another fundraising dinner to make a photo. I supported another fundraiser dinner the next day.
I recently bought some doughnuts from a lady at the grocery store, selling for her church. When I asked where her church was, she told me it was two counties over.
One of the groups that I normally support was not raising funds this past weekend. I can only guess that they were responding to criticism from local restaurants about taking business away.
That is a common complaint. There is no doubt that a successful community fundraiser does take away from a restaurant’s business.
I also remember in small towns when you had almost no choice for where to go to eat. Even the bigger towns were complaining years back that there were no nice chain restaurants above McDonald’s. Today you have a great variety of choices, particularly if you are willing to drive just five miles down the road. And if you go 15 miles….
People are eating out more and more, and as a result, more and more restaurants are able to be successful.
One of the up-sides of being in a small community is the lack of local restaurant competition. If people want to find something locally, you’ve got a pretty good shot at them.
The down-side is when a local church or civic group has a fundraiser supper, it is going to hurt.
Given the number of people who are regularly going out to eat, and their willingness to support good causes, fundraiser suppers seem to be increasingly popular.
It also gives those who work them an opportunity to get to know one another better.
About two and a half years ago, I got a call from David Williams who was sports editor of the Goldsboro News Argus at the time. He told me he was leaving the Goldsboro paper, and asked if I might consider him for an opening we had.
I had known David for many years, as we would bump into one another at ball games particularly. When we had our basketball tournament, I’m not sure how it all came together, but David served as the announcer for several years. So, I knew him, and I knew him as a good guy.
I told him to come and we would talk. We made a decision that he would come to work for us. I haven’t regretted that decision.
David will be leaving us this week. I’m sorry to see him go, but I believe this will be best for David. He will be leaving newspapers to work for a magazine publisher in Raleigh.
During his tenure, we have changed dramatically the face of the paper, begun our web page, and advanced how we are going about things. I appreciate his hand in all of that, and he was a key player.
As this was not planned, I cannot say that I had planned for my daughter to step in to help fill his slot, but Ashley, who will be getting her master’s degree in May at NC State, will be filling much of David’s duties beginning next week.
She grew up in the newspaper, literally, as during many long nights she and her sister would be there doing their homework, or helping put inserts in the newspaper. She has helped fill in during times when we have been away, and both she and her sister have been there during summer breaks.
Again, this was not any part of any grand plan, but it makes some sense, particularly right now.
posted by Barry | 7:47 PM
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