i am amused by the comment about fundraising at workplaces and harrasment...thinking of the Girl Scout Council of America.... i beleive most of their profits come from sales at workplaces

think of how you handle telemarketing calls, or your neighbor scout knocking on yuor door with mom just beside her, or amway knocking

just say NO if you dont want to buy but dont shoot the messenger or judge their actions.

Les- I think the whole demeanor of him saying we are "ridiculous" and thinking we are "noble" just may have pissed some of us off. Do we do this because we think we are being noble? NO I do it because I want my kids to have that extra stuff that they would not have without it, if people don't want to buy fine, but don't come down on people trying to help...just say no! We don't deserve to be called ridiculous and if I saw this man to my face I would probably have to be held back...and I am not a violent person I am too busy trying to be noble!
We all know the pain fundraisers are, we all know the headache of trying to decide, we all know about being hit up over and over so we don't have to be told that and since you are vp of fundraising at your school I really wish you luck that you can pick that perfect moneymaker that everyone loves! Once you do please share so we can all stop doing what we do to make that $20,000.oo without bothering anyone.

I am a VP of Fundraising for my child's elementary school and I thinkyou are being very hard on the guy!
Having been in the business world where there were parents constantly pushing brochures under my nose for their child's school, I found it intrusive in the work environment. If you dont know me well enough to call me at night on the phone and ask me to contribute, you shouldnt bother me at work.
Here are the problems that workers are faced with when fundraising is allowed in the office:
1. How do you CHOOSE whose kid to support when they are selling the same things?
2. How do you say "no" to some fundraisers and "yes" to others? Most of us couldnt afford to say "yes" to all of them. I would venture to guess with the big fundraisers, coupon books, fundraiser dinners, cookie dough, punch cards, greeting cards, candy, popcorn, coffee etc, I probably was approached at least twice a week.
3. What if the one selling the items is your BOSS?
4. What if the one selling the items is your employee?
5. How much work time is taken up by the "selling" employee? That time belongs to the employer and shouldnt be abused, but it is.
6. How much work time is taken up by the potential "customer"? That time also belongs to the employer and shouldnt be abused.
7. What if there is a delivery/payment problem? What kind of in-office problems could that cause?
8. What message do we send when we sell our kids' stuff and let them go to school and claim "their" prize?

I am about to decide on a fall fundraiser for this year and I was on the board to get ideas for companies but I really felt bad for the guy who complained. Yes, his manner was probably not the best. But dont you think we can raise the money from people we consider FRIENDS and FAMILY without subjecting coworkers to the effort?
We encourage our kids at our school not to go door-to-door and I think that implies that we want Mom and Dad to hit the office with brochures in hand.
I think we can raise the funds we need without harrassing co-workers. Then, when we mention that we are working hard on the fundraiser, those that want to participate can ask. Twisting arms is uncomfortable to the twister and the twistee.3M4H8

OOPS - correction

its probably safe to assume most pareents wish they didnt HAVE TO do ANY fundraising for a public school whose funding stems in part from taxes paid by those VERY SAME parents doing the fundraising.

its probably safe to assume most pareents wish they didnt HAVE TO do ANY fundraising for a public school whose taxes stem in part from those VERY SAME parents doing the fundraising.......................dont shoot the messenger comes to mind.

Plus lasttime I checked (I'm only 40) -- I didnt create or condone the beauracracy he (and the author) seems to confuse with Parent groups- its been around since the dawn of time (or at least since the start of formal govt) plus the parent groups in lots of instances can circumvent the beauracracy and 'red-tape' when it rears its ugly head to keep or add vital components to a school educational experience.

The piece does raise some interesting issues but I'd be interested if the author just interviewed non PTA/PTO parents or non involved parents.

I know lots that disagree with PTA's (lobbying and such) stances but still pay their $5 because they see it as a means to change their school and its community (taking the good with the bad)

I disagree with fundraising selling trinkets and such (but do like the cookies, and dough and sweets) -- but when the alternative is no supplies, no music classes, no books for library, etc.

You do what you gotta do

I for one (and maybe I just live in my own fantsy world) have never had or had a family member or friend work for a company that 'bans' employees causually distributing or asking co-workers to buy from their childs school.

I'd like to see more family/ educational activities as fundraisers other than the trinket sales but when you can raise $30,000 - 100,000 in a couple weeks with little muss or fuss- It hard to say NO.

I think most of the ones that complain really dont have a working knowledge of Parent Groups other than 'Oh its a PTA/PTO fundraiser' -(or 'Yeah they do good but so does the Red Cross, etc) - and as a sole volunteer org is doubly difficult since it takes time (which in reality is false - it doesnt take time- its a matter of priority- the time is always availble- its how that time is valued that's the problem-- ie. Idol instead of PTA mtg, soccer over PTA event, washing the car over volunteering or making that solicitation) or even realize that helping for that one hr could change a childs perception of educational experience and lasts a lifetime

Beleive you me -- I'm working on some educational programs to share with all- but like you -- If I could plant that money orchard out on the old 118 where all the SoCal orchards all- it'd be the biggest one in the world (not everything is bigger in TX )