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A few warm thoughts
By Cam Tait
July 10, 2006
Overworked air conditioning units, Slurpees, water guns and yard sprinklers are all the rage in Edmonton right now. It's hot here. And I'm becoming very well acquainted with middle-of-the-night television because sleep is...well, just a dream. This might take a little longer to write because there's an ice cold drink waiting for me after every few words. Keep in mind, please, these cold drinks don't have any giggle juice in them. I promise. Anyway, a few thoughts...
Just wondering why some nonprofit groups use the term "Public Service Announcements" for news stories? Isn't a public service announcement like someone announcing the time and gate of an incoming or outgoing flight? People in the news business, in all honesty, don't treat public service announcements the same way they do a news release. As one of my former editors said, "Make it news and we'll treat it as news." Time for some cherry Kool-Aid.
Saw an interesting way of promoting an event in support of breast cancer. It's a walk, and the television tag line is, "the weekend to end breast cancer." Now, that's certainly what we're all striving for, one would think, but is it right to pronounce the walk as the event to end such a disease? On the other hand, it's creative marketing with rather positive predictions. And who am I to knock that? Oh, I think it's time for, perhaps...an ice cream bar?
Time for a quick question: are summer holidays a good time for fundraising events because it's a great way to get families involved? Or, is it summer time and should we leave it at that? Fire me an e-mail with some of your thoughts. Any ice water handy?
A good reporter is always looking for readers' ideas for future stories. I might not be good at it but I'll give it a try. Reporting, that is. Fall is not very far away - the way it is in Edmonton right now it can't come soon enough - and it's the start of many new campaigns. From a media standpoint, I'd like to know if you think we need to tell stories in a different way. Or, does telling the human story of overcoming tremendous obstacles make the point? What are some of the issues out there for donors and volunteers? If you were to make a few imprints on the fall fundraising season, what would they be? Please send me an e-mail and we'll have a little fun. My wife just got home with some ice cream. Be right back.
Big Sisters and Big Brothers here in Edmonton just started an initiative for people with disabilities to become volunteers. And there are some really neat initiatives coming out of it. I'm wondering if there are organizations in other Canadian cities that are doing similar things. Maybe they could share ideas with one another. Again, please shoot me an e-mail. Isn't it neat to read in NewsBytes, almost monthly, about university alumni making contributions to their university or college? A great way to give back, and it proves that a good experience can pay off in great dividends. Thanks for hanging in with me during this hot streak. Pool's open. Guess where I'm going?
Cam Tait is a sports reporter for the Edmonton Journal. He covered charitable issues for almost 20 years. Thoughts, comments, ideas or a simple hello are welcomed at cam@charityvillage.com.
Opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of CharityVillage.com®.
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