TOTALLY GEEKED!

Cute. I'd rather give money than buy some overpriced crap. The school only gets a fraction of money from those catalog sales.

When the first PTO fundraiser comes along, I send in a check for whatever amount I feel donating on that particular day! The only fundraiser I let DD participate in is the walk a thon and GS cookies.

We no longer do fund raisers.

Haven't for years.

I only bought from the ones I knew where the money was going.

I hated the peer pressure put on the kids in elementary school to sell things.

And then they just got crap "rewards".

When Caitlyn was in about 3rd grade, I just told her I'd give her the money that I would have spent on the fund raisers and take her to the store to spend it.

We would got CEC or something too.

The boys did the same thing.

I once had a teacher tell them they would get a failing grade if they didn't participate in the fund raiser.

That was resolved the next day in the principal's office with a very real threat of going to the school board and media.

Now, we buy if we want the product.

I think it helped my kids learn how to say no.

huskerbb wrote:

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I've ranted about this, before.

When my kids were in school, I just wish every organization that did fund-raisers would come around and say how much money they need.

Wrestling program: $50
Post Prom: $500
FFA: $400
Band: $200

Let me write out a check for $1150 and be done with it.

Of course, then what you hear are people whining that they "can't afford it". So, you do the fund-raisers to help the dead beats out. Problem is, by and large the deadbeats don't help with any of the fund-raisers.

So, you have the people that can afford to drop $1,000 or whatever doing all the work to help out the kids whose parents can't. It's BS.

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 No kidding. If your child is involved in something, they generally have dues or playing costs. 

Everything is $25 or more.

And then you are given a list of what else you have to buy.

 

My least favorite fundraiser ever was the cookie walk. You had to bake 5 dozen cookies at Christmas time and donate them to the school/club. The parents came and purchased the cookies with all the money going to the club. Each person makes their specialty. I know for a lot of families, baking cookies at Christmas is a tradition. But I have always worked retail, and giving me something else to worry about during the holiday season is borderline torture for me. I worked about 65-70 hours a week and now I have to bake 5 dozen cookies? Not happening.

I talked to the coach and explained the situation. I asked him how much he would profit from the sale of 5 dozen cookies. When he answered $75, I rounded it up to $100 and handed him a check. He said I wasn't being fair because if everyone didn't participate with cookies, the walk wouldn't be a draw and they wouldn't make enough money. I told him if he didn't like it, we could discuss it with the principal. He seemed to get over it.

What parents need at the holidays is definitely MORE things to do. NOT.

I do try to support them for friends and relatives--we hit them up, so now it's our turn. It just chaps me that by and large the ones who need the fund raisers aren't getting much help from their parents either monetarily, or helping with the thing.

I don't mind fundraisers for non school things like Little League. But, the school is already paying for the basketball team. The provide the gym, the balls, the transportation and uniforms. So, WHY do we have to have a Booster club? I wouldn't mind if it was a "for fun" kind of thing. But, the people that run these Booster clubs are often very pushy. They tell parents that they HAVE to sell or pay, when in reality, this is a SCHOOL function and Boosters have no authority to make parents pay or do anything.

Boosters pay for equipment that the school won't cover (better quality balls, stretch bands to prevent injuries etc). Boosters also pay for team meals, hotels for regional and state games...the list goes on and on. Honestly I would rather that the teams had booster clubs rather than take school funds to do these things. School funds should be spent on things like books, iPads, teacher salaries, etc.

You can't always help. Some of us have jobs and we can't be at the beck and call of the Booster President.

I disagree that EVERYONE can help. Honestly, when I was a single mom I worked double shifts to make ends meet. I barely had time to raise my kids much less be involved in the school. Now that I am a SAHM I do a lot for SS.

No not everyone can help. Everyone doesn't work standard hours or have relativehs to help eyc.

Heck, I knew a guy whose kids were in their THIRTIES by the time I even knew him and he was still president of the Booster club where my kids went to high school--and it's not like he didn't have anything to do. He was a farmer with a diverse crop and livestock operation. He was busy ALL THE TIME--but he sold more raffle tickets for their main fund-raiser than anyone.

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:

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Who cares. You don't know what is going on in someone else's life. I have had periods of life when I couldn't help much. When my mom was ill or I was ill or whatever. Right now, I am very busy but I am able to fit some of that in. You seem to be missing one big POINT. The Booster Club is a VOLUNTARY organization. You are not compelled to join it nor are you compelled to participate. That may be true in nonsponsored School sports but the Booster Club cannot make some kids' life miserable simply because the parents can't or won't help. If the Boosters actually operated in the spirit of Booster clubs, which was to have fun and make it more fun for the kids then maybe more parents would get involved. Instead, many of these are run by a bunch of pissy Nazis.

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Fine, but then don't b!tch if your kid is the only one out on the court without the warm-ups that the booster club bought.  Don't gripe when your kid doesn't get to go on the band trip. 

 

NO ONE is a VSS.  EVERYONE has crap going on in their lives.  

For all the money I have paid in selling stupid crap, I could have bought all that stuff ten fold and bought things for the team.

Well, you can "yell" at me all you want. I have been active in all of these Booster clubs barring a few times in life. And, if I wasnt' going , then DH went so we have had a continual presence. But, most of these clubs are missing the spirit of what it is SUPPOSED to be and if that is what it was, then more parents would be willing to help rather than walking a mile around the concession stand not to be scene by the boosters.

It isn't "entitlement" if it is a VOLUNTARY organization. That means you don't HAVE to join. And, I dont' see all these so called parents whining about not getting a tee shirt.

Time and money are two different things. I always bought fundraisers from my kids. I buy them now from SS. But when I was working I just didn't have the time to devote to stuff. I always bought things when they sold it though.

huskerbb wrote:

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Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:

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It isn't "entitlement" if it is a VOLUNTARY organization. That means you don't HAVE to join. And, I dont' see all these so called parents whining about not getting a tee shirt.

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No, you don't have to join--or help--but then don't expect that your kid gets to do everything that organization supports, and by and large, they do.

 

It's not about T-shirts. It's about a LOT bigger stuff than that--basketball warm-ups, band trips, post prom, or even regular prom.   

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10% of the people do 90% of the work.  That's life.  I have bigger fish to fry than worrying about which parents helped cook French frys. 

huskerbb wrote:

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Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:

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huskerbb wrote:

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Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:

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It isn't "entitlement" if it is a VOLUNTARY organization. That means you don't HAVE to join. And, I dont' see all these so called parents whining about not getting a tee shirt.

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No, you don't have to join--or help--but then don't expect that your kid gets to do everything that organization supports, and by and large, they do.

 

It's not about T-shirts. It's about a LOT bigger stuff than that--basketball warm-ups, band trips, post prom, or even regular prom.   

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10% of the people do 90% of the work.  That's life.  I have bigger fish to fry than worrying about which parents helped cook French frys. 

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It's "life" because we allow it.  It doesn't have to be that way.  That's why school fund raisers piss me off.  I'd rather pay the $1,000 up front and let my kid go.  If some other kid's parents can't afford for their kid to go or participate because they can't afford it--tough titties.   

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There is nothing to "allow" .  If it is School Related, then the kids that play already have everything they need.  My parents never had to do that stuff when I was in School.  And, in my day, the kids themselves worked the concession stands.  Now little Junior is so fragile they can't even do that.  But, I am paying taxes and all these sports are covered in the School budget from uniforms, transportation and the gym.  We always get people who are never satisfied.  OMG, we have 4 yr olds playing soccer so we MUST have a concession stand!  Why?  Why do we need a damn concession stand for 4 yr olds playing soccer?  Oh, they play in tshirts, then that isn't good enough and SOME parent decides that now we need fancy uniforms and an astroturf stadium.  They take simple things and blow it all up into a big damn deal, then they wonder why so many kids drop out.  Duh. 

Seriously, last year, some mom organized the moms to "take turns" sending in snacks after practice for my daughter's team. Um, they were in 7th grade! They aren't 5. It is just so ridiculous. Yes, I did it. But, I am getting tired of having to march to someone else because all of the sudden they decide this is a "good idea" and then everyone else is just supposed to roll over and die and do what they say.

Well, you can all call me a bad mother or a bad person but I don't really give a flying fvck. I got no child support and I had no family to rely to help me out. I could not afford to put my younger kids with a sitter so I could work a concession stand. I helped when I could. I send snacks and/or food and drinks. But no, my BEING there was not happening. And furthermore, a lot of that chit was way overdone. 99% of it wasn't even needed. If my kid needed a t-shirt I paid for it. I bought wrapping paper for the school. But I will not sit here and feel guilty for not getting all wound up in other people's wants. I was room mother one year and the next year I offered to be room mom again. Another mom wanted to be room mom so Okay. I asked her what she wanted me to bring to the school party. She said juice. I sent grape Hawaiin Punch. She returned it the next day with a scathing note that told me it was Valentines Day and I needed to wake up and realize that we were having a color coordinated party. She would not accept non color coordinated items. I sent her the pink chit she asked for and never participated again. If you want all the control then by god have at it.

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:

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huskerbb wrote:

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Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:

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huskerbb wrote:

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Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:

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It isn't "entitlement" if it is a VOLUNTARY organization. That means you don't HAVE to join. And, I dont' see all these so called parents whining about not getting a tee shirt.

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No, you don't have to join--or help--but then don't expect that your kid gets to do everything that organization supports, and by and large, they do.

 

It's not about T-shirts. It's about a LOT bigger stuff than that--basketball warm-ups, band trips, post prom, or even regular prom.   

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10% of the people do 90% of the work.  That's life.  I have bigger fish to fry than worrying about which parents helped cook French frys. 

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It's "life" because we allow it.  It doesn't have to be that way.  That's why school fund raisers piss me off.  I'd rather pay the $1,000 up front and let my kid go.  If some other kid's parents can't afford for their kid to go or participate because they can't afford it--tough titties.   

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There is nothing to "allow" .  If it is School Related, then the kids that play already have everything they need.  My parents never had to do that stuff when I was in School.  And, in my day, the kids themselves worked the concession stands.  Now little Junior is so fragile they can't even do that.  But, I am paying taxes and all these sports are covered in the School budget from uniforms, transportation and the gym.  We always get people who are never satisfied.  OMG, we have 4 yr olds playing soccer so we MUST have a concession stand!  Why?  Why do we need a damn concession stand for 4 yr olds playing soccer?  Oh, they play in tshirts, then that isn't good enough and SOME parent decides that now we need fancy uniforms and an astroturf stadium.  They take simple things and blow it all up into a big damn deal, then they wonder why so many kids drop out.  Duh. 

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BS. There are a TON of things that the school doesn't pay for--I gave several examples.  Again, if you don't want your kid to participate in the band trip, fine--but then don't whine that your kid doesn't get to go.  

huskerbb wrote:

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Nobody Just Nobody wrote:

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Well, you can all call me a bad mother or a bad person but I don't really give a flying fvck. I got no child support and I had no family to rely to help me out. I could not afford to put my younger kids with a sitter so I could work a concession stand. I helped when I could. I send snacks and/or food and drinks. But no, my BEING there was not happening. And furthermore, a lot of that chit was way overdone. 99% of it wasn't even needed. If my kid needed a t-shirt I paid for it. I bought wrapping paper for the school. But I will not sit here and feel guilty for not getting all wound up in other people's wants. I was room mother one year and the next year I offered to be room mom again. Another mom wanted to be room mom so Okay. I asked her what she wanted me to bring to the school party. She said juice. I sent grape Hawaiin Punch. She returned it the next day with a scathing note that told me it was Valentines Day and I needed to wake up and realize that we were having a color coordinated party. She would not accept non color coordinated items. I sent her the pink chit she asked for and never participated again. If you want all the control then by god have at it.

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Cry me a fvcking river.  EVERYONE has crap to do.  You aren't some VSS.   

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 Nope.  I'm not a VSS.  But just because you want to devote YOUR life to it doesn't mean you get to demand I do.

Nobody Just Nobody wrote:

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huskerbb wrote:

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Nobody Just Nobody wrote:

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Well, you can all call me a bad mother or a bad person but I don't really give a flying fvck. I got no child support and I had no family to rely to help me out. I could not afford to put my younger kids with a sitter so I could work a concession stand. I helped when I could. I send snacks and/or food and drinks. But no, my BEING there was not happening. And furthermore, a lot of that chit was way overdone. 99% of it wasn't even needed. If my kid needed a t-shirt I paid for it. I bought wrapping paper for the school. But I will not sit here and feel guilty for not getting all wound up in other people's wants. I was room mother one year and the next year I offered to be room mom again. Another mom wanted to be room mom so Okay. I asked her what she wanted me to bring to the school party. She said juice. I sent grape Hawaiin Punch. She returned it the next day with a scathing note that told me it was Valentines Day and I needed to wake up and realize that we were having a color coordinated party. She would not accept non color coordinated items. I sent her the pink chit she asked for and never participated again. If you want all the control then by god have at it.

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Cry me a fvcking river.  EVERYONE has crap to do.  You aren't some VSS.   

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 Nope.  I'm not a VSS.  But just because you want to devote YOUR life to it doesn't mean you get to demand I do.

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But then don't cry if your kid doesn't get to go to the activity that they've been raising funds for.