I wish we could Fall Back every Sunday. If I could have just one more hour this morning…
I just came off my busiest week of the year. As a fundraising professional, my year usually focuses around THE annual event. Although at AWS, it was the actual Easter Seal telethon, in most of my positions, it’s been a gala-style event. Since I’ve always worked for small, grassroots non-profits, it’s only been ONE event…. thankfully! Because I hate special events. Throwing a party that’s sole focus is to raise money is in itself a weird philosophical conflict. Oh, sure I love going to other organization’s fundraisers. I enjoy getting dressed up, mingling with people, bidding on stuff and leaving whenever I want. A no-strings-departure is crucial especially if the program is dull, the food tasteless or the booze runs out. Facilitating a special event is hard. I have to stay to the bitter end…no matter what. I always look forward to the day after the event.
I’ve been at the National Runaway Safeline for over ten years. Our annual fundraiser, Spirit of Youth, happened on Thursday. And it was fabulous! We planned on it. For a year, we discussed every aspect of past events to come up with a more festive, more lucrative, best-ever party! It’d be easiest to roll out the same party year after year but that could be financial suicide. People want to be surprised, delighted and emotionally moved to donate money. So, we strive to introduce different ways to increase revenue without increasing expenses. It’s like juggling bowling balls in a room of crystal. Hopefully, it’s impressively breathtaking. Usually, there is breakage. My role is to minimize the damage, ensure the clean-up is brisk and make sure the overall event is not compromised. Over the decades, I’ve had to contend with unpleasant shards of reality.
*Drunk people! I encourage drinking. I opt for an open bar. People give more money with a little liquid courage. It’s the drunken buffoonery that annoys me. I’ve had to break up fights in auction check-out. I’ve had a trashed staff person unable to perform her role. I’ve been balled out by a board chair that chooses to deliver her critique unattractively during the event. I’ve had to shut down a drunken auctioneer that tried to make the event his one man stand-up show. And he wasn’t even a little bit funny.
*People’s ignorant bliss! I can’t say they are being intentionally rude. Or more accurately, I choose to believe they aren’t being mean-spirited. People are just stupid and unaware of all the preparation and details that go into the event execution. It’s the people, who waltz into an event, having not RSVPed. They assume they communicated tele-pathetically their intention. For me, this behavior is even worse when it’s a sit down dinner and the person has special dietary needs. It’s amazing to me that people think they can call/email and leave a message thirty minutes before the event starts. They needed directions, decided on the fish, changed their guest lists, wanted me to fill out raffle stubs… and then they are shocked, I was unaware of their communique. I don’t just arrive at the start time. I have been at the event site for hours; schlepping boxes, running sound checks, directing volunteers. This party isn’t accidentally fabulous. It’s the result of hard work.
For all the event annoyances, I am blessed to have a cracker-jack work team. They worked tirelessly to ensure this event was perfect. And I also have and always have had the support of my friends and family. They volunteer. They are sponsors. They host beverage stations. They buy raffle tickets, event tickets, and auction items. Every year, I run an analysis of the board’s impact on the event. My parents suggested this year I critique the Katy Walsh impact. They pointed out the majority of the silent auction winners were connected to me. My people’s support was significant to the success of the event. I agree! My work for youth in crisis is fortified by my friends and family. I’m thankful for their support.