Oh, the buzzin' of the bees in the peppermint trees 'round the soda water fountains

[rolanni]

So, I think I failed to mention here that, after research and consultation with the resident cats, and some really hard shopping, we ordered in a cat tree, which arrived today.  I have already declared it a success, as Mozart immediately jumped onto the box and declared himself the King of the Cats.  I will note that the cat tree is still in the box, because I need to do stuff like move the sofa and take down some pictures before I can actually build the tree.  This may happen tomorrow.  Or it may not.  Pictures will be posted, when and if.

Mostly though, I've been writing.  I really, really want to finish this draft before we head off to BEA, and, barring something Tragic, it looks like I'll be able to do that.  Phew.

Sometime in the last. . .month or so, I received a mailing from Planned Parenthood that included a "membership card" -- has anyone else gotten one of these things?  It has my name on it, and an ID number and states that I've been a "member" since 2001, which is apparently as far back as their database goes.

Here's the thing, though.  I don't consider myself a "member" of Planned Parenthood.  I support their work, but I didn't join; I wasn't aware that Planned Parenthood was a club.

Am I alone in being annoyed by this?

To top it off, Planned Parenthood has been calling (and calling and calling) for the last few weeks, because they have this matching grant thing they're trying very hard to qualify for.  I wish them well, but I really resent it when they tell me that my "usual" donation amount is $150 and can they put me down for $300 this time?  All said in the perkiest voice imaginable.

First of all, my "usual" amount is more like $25; the $150 was the result of the fundraiser Pinbeam Books did for Planned Parenthood when they were hosed by the Pink Ribbon People.  We donated the proceeds of all sales of The Cat's Job, for a month, I think it was, to Planned Parenthood.

Also?  Here at the Cat Farm and Confusion Factory, three hundred dollars is Serious Money.

So, yeah, I'm annoyed on a couple of fronts, here.  And I'm also saddened that they feel they have to adopt hard-sell tactics, which are going to lose them donors like me, who don't want to be manipulated, and who have limited funds, and more than one charity worthy of those funds.

Sigh.

* * *

Progress on Carousel Seas

73,968/100,000 words OR 74% complete

"This just come in -- express, Kate.  Ain't nothin' comes in express."

Comments

[jessie-c.livejournal.com]

More than likely this will be the result:
www(dot)memecenter(dot)com/fun/839553/cat-logic

Fundraisers

[mothadventures.livejournal.com]

You're not the only one who is annoyed. My father died YEARS ago, but I still get lots and lots mail for him from the ACLU, with membership cards and "suggested donation" and the like.

The mailings that really annoy me are the "FINAL membership notice". I've gotten at least 3 of those. Maybe they don't know what "final" means? But it's annoyed me enough that I will not donate to them. Not to mention how much money they have wasted in these, oh, once-a-month mailings over the last few years...

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

Mailing lists never die. They don't even fade away. We still get mail addressed to my father, who died well over thirty years ago.

[schulman.livejournal.com]

"Put me on your do-not-call list."

I donate much less than I used to, because I'm not just giving money, I'm signing up to be harassed for years. My goodwill rarely extends that far.

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

Heifer International also chases donors. They looked like a good idea . . .

[mothadventures.livejournal.com]

At least Heifer stopped sending things after being notified of my father's passing. The ACLU doesn't seem to get the message. I've given up trying and just toss anything from the ACLU into the recycling bin.

Planned Parenthood

[ednaemode.livejournal.com]

It makes me crazy also but I have noted that it is always the National Planned Parenthood that calls so I donate (because I really do support what they do) to the Planned Parenthood of Northern New England when it appears in my mailbox. When National calls (yes, just this week), I say I have already donated to my local chapter, thanks, have a nice day, write if you get work(not really), and then hang up.

[zola.livejournal.com]

I recently demanded to be permanently removed from the Alzheimer's Association database and I will never donate again--my godmother died and the family requested a donation in lieu of flowers, which was fine. What was not fine was the non-stop harassment asking for still more money.

It was disgraceful, and I resent the idea of some of my donation going to support this practice of harassment.

[rnjtolch.livejournal.com]

We told the PPA that we make all our donations of that type in December after we determine what is left at year's end. But even if you do not answer the 'phone, they still keep calling. Caller Id helps and is the most useful benefit of ATT U-verse (there may be another but it escapes me for now). And yes, we were also annoyed. But there is no alternative, so come year's end we will put them on the list again.

Cat Tree

[catherine ives (from livejournal.com)]

Wow just think how much Mozart is going to like that cat tree when it's out of it's box! Awesome.

As for non profit fund raising. I wouldn't take it seriously. they just send out a lot of stuff to a ton of mailing lists or call or whatever and hope to get a 2% return or whatever. Do not feel guilty if you don't give!!!In this country right now the top 1% have some gigantic amount of the money while the rest of us subsist on the not very much. I once saw the actual charts on the Rachel Maddow Show. So.....the non profits depend a lot on the 1% for their income which they should since the 1% has all the money. I get lots of those membership cards too. Doesn't mean anything. It's just a marketing technique. You might also get address labels, greeting cards and other stuff. The non profits share mailing lists with each other so if you give to one you start getting the mailings or calls or whatever from however many more.

One unsettling trend. Some have started sending me a nickel with each mailing. And just to one up those there's one that's started sending me a quarter each time! I put those nickels and quarters in my lucky money jar with all the cash I've found on the street.

I have my list of my favorite non profits. I give to them and don't give regularly to anyone else. I'll give once in a while to some others. My favorite of those is the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force which is trying to save the wildlife in Zimbabwe. I love those people! It's not even tax deductible cause it's not set up as a registered charity in the US.

I have my absolute unfavorites...Like the Boy Scouts who are thinking about letting gay boys in...just thinking about it mind you... but not gay scout masters.

Cat Tree; Fundraisers

[catherine ives (from livejournal.com)]

Wow. Must be an awesome cat tree if Mozart loves it while it's still in the box.

As for the charities. Don't pay too much attention....they all share mailing lists so if you give to one you probably will get requests from others. membership cards are a common marketing technique. So is sending address labels, greeting cards and other stuff. They are doing this to everyone so don't take it personally.

I have made a list of my favorite charities....mostly animal charities which only receive 1% of so of all charity in the US. then there are others that I give to once in a while. Funny the author should mention it...my regular donation is also $25.

Sorry

[catherine ives (from livejournal.com)]

didn't know my first comment had posted. It was too long anyway so I posted another. Only to find out the first one posted!