The Kintyre Forum

TYM wrote: ( whom we never have seen before as a customer) calls in to ask for a raffle prize.

Reading this reminded me of the time a member of a local golf club came into a shop and asked would the owner please contribute a prize for the upcoming raffle in the clubhouse. The owner who didn't golf said, "certainly I'll sell it to you at cost an I'll forego my profit"

The door closed sharply on the golfer on his way out, empty handed!

This appears to be a Campbeltown thing and as you say it is only once a year you see them when their particular fund raising event starts. If the committee can't donate, why should anyone else?

It is nothing short of intimidation and good old fashioned begging. Nothing more Nothing less. They would give the eastern Europeans on the streets of Glasgow a run for their money.

I have never yet been at an event yet where the donators were credited for their generosity. The raffle runners take all the credit for a great raffle without having to spend a penny.

The local traders association should encourage their members to put up a nice wee sign.

NO RAFFLE BEGGARS

bubbly

bubbly jock wrote:
I have never yet been at an event yet where the donators were credited for their generosity. The raffle runners take all the credit for a great raffle without having to spend a penny.

The local traders association should encourage their members to put up a nice wee sign.

NO RAFFLE BEGGARS

bubbly

I totally agree, Bubbly, that the business sponsors should get credit for their donations.

I led many a charge around town to the poor beleaguered store owners and businesses on behalf of the school children in need of new library equipment, educational and sports competition bus trips ( football, English poetry, Math ) etc...

BUT I would always tell the committees that out of the monies and merchandise collected for raffles, the amount for a full page ad in the local newspaper would be set aside first, off of the top, to thank each and every one of the contributors. Each monetary donation or prize was listed beside the name of the business or individual.

When this advertising was offered, there was rarely a refusal from the local store owners. They pay big time for advertising anyway- And it is an inexpensive way for the small store owners to be recognized.

After our success with school donations, many local organizations (including the golf club) followed our lead and published a thank you in the paper- always a full page advertisement.

This reminds me of one warm summer evening when the vessel that I was gainfully employed aboard at the time was lying at the pier at Gigha. Two of us were tailing prawns and the skipper who will remain namely, was washing the catch.

A waft of delicate perfume contrasting our own sweat, mud and damp smelling garments, momentarily distracted us from the job in hand.

Here was a well presented young mother, in a brightly coloured dress and stiletto heels, standing on the edge of the pier with her young son.

'Good Evening!' said the skipper, with only a hint of irony in his voice but the usual twinkle of mischief in his eye.

'Good evening' said the young lady in an accent that was obviously not local. ' Do you think that you could spare some of your prawns?'

To which the skipper replied: 'Certainly. What does your husband work as?'

'He's a butcher,' came the reply.

'That's fine,' said the skipper. 'Tell him to bring me a leg of lamb and a pun of his best steak mince!'

Needless to say, she soon spun on her heels and marched up the pier, passing 'Dot' the district nurse, who was purposefully heading down towards the boats with a bag of freshly baked scones.....

Dot and her family had a marine VHF radio in their house, and often acted as a relay station between the boats and the out-of-range Fish Salesmen in Campbeltown (before the advent of mobile phones). As you can imagine, Dot never had to ask and never was short of fish, clams or prawns.

dgraves wrote:
BUT I would always tell the committees that out of the monies and merchandise collected for raffles, the amount for a full page ad in the local newspaper would be set aside first, off of the top, to thank each and every one of the contributors. Each monetary donation or prize was listed beside the name of the business or individual.

After our success with school donations, many local organizations (including the golf club) followed our lead and published a thank you in the paper- always a full page advertisement.

I like the sound of that

At cost price surely, Ranald

That is a good idea from Dorian tho

Malky