Re: Fundraiser was a success, Letters (July 11)
It is with a great deal of reservation that I write this letter regarding certain practices from a organization in this town.
I have owned my company for almost three years now. A week very rarely goes by when I am not asked by some community organization to help support or donate to a cause they have undertaken. I am often amazed at the variety of causes there are — grief camps for children experiencing the loss of a loved one, auctions for volunteer fire halls, community events, fundraisers for schools in Africa ... the list goes on.
What bothers me about this organization is a belief somewhere in their board membership they feel that they are entitled to donations. No one is entitled to anything. You earn the donation. You earn it by being respectful to the businesses you are canvassing and not threatening them with spreading false statements about them because you didn’t receive a donation. When you do receive a donation, no matter how small it is, you earn it with a gesture of thanks — not trying to guilt them to give you something more. You do not earn it by putting a letter into the newspaper saying it is the business’ fault they can’t donate to your cause. And you certainly do not guilt them in that same letter by saying 49 out of 50 businesses donated from the heart. What kind of moral precedent are you trying to set here?
Please read the second sentence in the second paragraph of this letter again. Do the math, and then come to my store and tell me face-to-face that I am obligated to donate to your cause.
The businesses in Hope are extremely generous with the amount of money and goods we give up to support local charities, groups et al. Without that support, you wouldn’t see Brigade Days, Strongman competitions, chainsaw carving competitions, and Flight Fest to name a few.
I would hope in the future you realize the sacrifice it takes for businesses to give up services or product, and also understand that while we strive to support all, we can’t do it all the time.
Glen Ogren,
Hope Brewing Co.