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Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

RE: School Fund Raisers

huskerbb · Guru

Nobody Just Nobody wrote:
huskerbb wrote:
Nobody Just Nobody wrote:
I love it that some people get judge whether or not you've helped enough.
If you haven't done a damn thing and are still demanding that your kid gets to do everything that all the other kids who worked hard and whose parents gave a lot of time and effort--then you deserve to get judged.
You have reading problems. I have said multiple times I have always paid for my kids activities. I'm not sure where the problem is.

You are the one who keeps arguing.

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

You keep saying I shouldn't expect people to allow my kids to do things if I don't do fund raisers. Why? I pay for everything already. If the sports department is low on funds and wants new basketballs that's not my issue. The thinks they've sold for sports never directly benefited the kids. It always went into some slush fund for something or other.

I helped with my kids room parties when they were younger. IF the demands were reasonable. Kids don't care if they have color coordinated cookies. That's on the parents.

You do realize a lot of this crap is the parents doing and has nothing to do with the kids.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

There is a difference between a class party and a booster club.

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

I am well aware of that Lily. I am not stupid.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

No one said you was.

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

I don't understand all this nonsense these days. When I was a kid, granted the dinosaurs roamed the earth back then, at the beginning of the year they sent home a note to all the parents. You were "invited" to join the PTA for free and become involved or you declined and sent back the slip with two dollars per child. My was semi involved in school but usually just sent in the two dollars. She helped out when and where she wanted.

It's honestly the parents that make these "booster clubs" a nightmare. Every single parent in the world knows that when you sign your child up for sports, band, or whatever that it comes with a monetary price. You pay for uniforms and trips and all that. HERE, and I'm only speaking for MY school district because I know as soon as I say this someone is going to say "I've worked in schools all my life and that doesn't happen in any other school", so HERE we pay for everything. The only fund raisers we have are for the school itself to earn more money for whatever it is they need money for. The only exception to this was when my son was in ROTC. At the beginning of the year the kids committed to going on a field trip to CA. They didn't have to go. But if they wanted to go the KIDS, not the parents, had to do fundraisers to lower the cost of the trip. The kids had to go to every single fund raiser or they got penalized. At the end of the year the money raised was split evenly between the kids and whatever they were short each kid had to pay their share. They worked hard and actually earned all the money. But the parents didn't do the work. I car pooled kids to the fund raisers that year.

And truth be told there is always that one mother who, when all the other teams bring their kids water, she wants to have a fund raiser to serve Pierre. Or the other teams have t-shirts and she thinks the team needs hats, sweat shirts, sweat pants, and gear bags. A lot of that madness is directly from the parents. Not the kids. And not the school.

And being how some here think I'm too dumb to know the difference between class parties and booster clubs, well I do. But class parties have also gotten out of hand. I was stunned last year when SS brought home a Christmas party list to sign off on. They were having a Christmas brunch. The list went on and on from three dozen breakfast tacos to three dozen tamales to three dozen donuts to three dozen sausage biscuits to three dozen egg sandwiches and on and on. And then the stuff for the goody bags. You know, all that cheap crap that you throw away when the kids aren't looking? It's crazy. Parents have gone haywire these days. I remember growing up we got a cupcake and juice. Maybe a cookie too. We thought we were in heaven. Kids do not NEED all that crap. And yes, I know it's a class party. They still don't need that much crap.

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

And also, for every parent that "does absolutely nothing" there's always that same helicopter parent that makes a career out of their kids events. They are there for every meeting, every conversation, every organizing day, every planning day, every setting up day, every every day. And the whole time they complain how others never get involved. Some people are just control freaks who will never be happy.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

Yup!!!

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

Yes. Some militant parent gets to decide what everyone else does. And, I am part of the Booster club and the President CONSTANTLY beyotches, whines and kvetchs about "other " parents. Well, honey, is it any wonder people steer clear of you! Yeah, not everyone CAN or WANTS to help. Get over it. And, if we don't have enough help, then who the F cares! So what if we don't have a concession stand at this game. We have freaking $25K in the bank for WHAT exactly?
Then, we sell, sell, sell, and they want to dole out like $25 with a lot of conditions. No thank you. It's ridiculous. I can go buy my kid their own hat, duffle bag or whatever for all the money and time I have put in to this.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

Kids never get a chance to be alone. Kids never get a chance to be involved with ANYTHING without a bunch of stupid adults who think they have to micromanage every freaking thing. Kids can't have a stickball league in the backyard among their friends because as soon as they do, some parent will come along and Organize them. Turn it into a League. Buy uniforms. Sell crap, have a concession and on and on and on. It never ends. It isn't expensive to play any sport other than football. But WE are the ones who turn it into some big production when it doesn't have to be.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

I want to know when and why class trips became the norm.

The ALPHA trips in elementary were overnight trips starting 3rd grade. Couple hundred a kid for a 36 hour trip.

Then in 5th the class trips started. 3 days, $1000+.

8th grade, a week long trip, couple thousand bucks.

In high school, every club takes trips. New York for 3 days, Florida for 5 days, band participates in parades in various places, 2-7 day trips.

And the language clubs? Spain, Paris, and I think Tokyo or Honk Kong this year.

About $4000, per kid. Depends on where they are going. But that doesn't cover all their meals. They get breakfast every morning.

School has become a travel agency.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

Because there are parents or teachers who think "wouldn't it be great if......" and then they run with that and everyone is just expected to follow, that's why.

I mean honestly, in this day and age, I am not sure I want my kids going off somewhere with just a couple of teachers. Too many whack jobs out there. It used to be only the Band went to Orlando. Again, it is more, more, more.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

I have 3 kids. And, I am getting tired. Tired of all the nonsense. No, I don't want to sell crap at a concession stand. I simply Want to Watch my Kid Play. That's all I want to do. I don't give a rat's behind about the "stuff". I just want to watch DD play basketball. I will buy her what she needs to play. I dont' care about that other crap.

But, as I said, these groups are soooo obnoxious that a lot of kids who are good athletes move into other things or drop out because people get tired of this!

huskerbb · Guru

Nobody Just Nobody wrote:
You keep saying I shouldn't expect people to allow my kids to do things if I don't do fund raisers. Why? I pay for everything already. If the sports department is low on funds and wants new basketballs that's not my issue. The thinks they've sold for sports never directly benefited the kids. It always went into some slush fund for something or other.

I helped with my kids room parties when they were younger. IF the demands were reasonable. Kids don't care if they have color coordinated cookies. That's on the parents.

You do realize a lot of this crap is the parents doing and has nothing to do with the kids.

You shouldn't. it's not just sports. what about band trips? Prom?

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

Those aren't funded by the School. Sports are.

huskerbb · Guru

lilyofcourse wrote:
I want to know when and why class trips became the norm.

The ALPHA trips in elementary were overnight trips starting 3rd grade. Couple hundred a kid for a 36 hour trip.

Then in 5th the class trips started. 3 days, $1000+.

8th grade, a week long trip, couple thousand bucks.

In high school, every club takes trips. New York for 3 days, Florida for 5 days, band participates in parades in various places, 2-7 day trips.

And the language clubs? Spain, Paris, and I think Tokyo or Honk Kong this year.

About $4000, per kid. Depends on where they are going. But that doesn't cover all their meals. They get breakfast every morning.

School has become a travel agency.

I think it's good that kids have those opportunities. If you dont want your kid to go, they don't have to. My issue is expecting that they be able to go when they or their parents didn't domthe work to fund it.

huskerbb · Guru

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
Those aren't funded by the School. Sports are.

I know. That's whynthey have fund raisers for them.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

huskerbb wrote:
lilyofcourse wrote:
I want to know when and why class trips became the norm.

The ALPHA trips in elementary were overnight trips starting 3rd grade. Couple hundred a kid for a 36 hour trip.

Then in 5th the class trips started. 3 days, $1000+.

8th grade, a week long trip, couple thousand bucks.

In high school, every club takes trips. New York for 3 days, Florida for 5 days, band participates in parades in various places, 2-7 day trips.

And the language clubs? Spain, Paris, and I think Tokyo or Honk Kong this year.

About $4000, per kid. Depends on where they are going. But that doesn't cover all their meals. They get breakfast every morning.

School has become a travel agency.
I think it's good that kids have those opportunities. If you dont want your kid to go, they don't have to. My issue is expecting that they be able to go when they or their parents didn't domthe work to fund it.

People can whine and moan about fundraisers, but that's how you can get to go if you can't afford it. Most people can't afford $4000 to send their kid overseas, or even several hundred dollars for a class trip. Fundraisers help the kids that can't afford it by giving them an opportunity to help offset the cost.

So, like Husker says - if you don't want to do the fundraisers, fine, but don't whine when your kid doesn't get to go.

huskerbb · Guru

Lawyerlady wrote:
huskerbb wrote:
lilyofcourse wrote:
I want to know when and why class trips became the norm.

The ALPHA trips in elementary were overnight trips starting 3rd grade. Couple hundred a kid for a 36 hour trip.

Then in 5th the class trips started. 3 days, $1000+.

8th grade, a week long trip, couple thousand bucks.

In high school, every club takes trips. New York for 3 days, Florida for 5 days, band participates in parades in various places, 2-7 day trips.

And the language clubs? Spain, Paris, and I think Tokyo or Honk Kong this year.

About $4000, per kid. Depends on where they are going. But that doesn't cover all their meals. They get breakfast every morning.

School has become a travel agency.
I think it's good that kids have those opportunities. If you dont want your kid to go, they don't have to. My issue is expecting that they be able to go when they or their parents didn't domthe work to fund it.
People can whine and moan about fundraisers, but that's how you can get to go if you can't afford it. Most people can't afford $4000 to send their kid overseas, or even several hundred dollars for a class trip. Fundraisers help the kids that can't afford it by giving them an opportunity to help offset the cost.
So, like Husker says - if you don't want to do the fundraisers, fine, but don't whine when your kid doesn't get to go.

That's all I'm saying. I've been a sponsor of a school organization. Fund raisers were a necessary evil--and we had the best ones--fruit sales, homecoming BBQ, slave auction.

Lexxy · My dog name is Sasha, too!

I don't think our kids go doo to door anymore because I haven't had one knock on my door in years. I always bought something from each kid who came by. You have no idea how much wrapping paper & candles I have in my closet.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

Well, I for one was not going to send my kid door to door. And, people are sick of buying crap all the time.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

I don't care if they take the trips. My kids didn't and aren't going.

Two reasons, don't have the money, they don't do fund raisers for them either. And I know the teachers and chaperones that would be going. Not people I want responsible for my kids.

But it seems the trips get bigger and bigger each year.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

Lexxy wrote:
I don't think our kids go doo to door anymore because I haven't had one knock on my door in years. I always bought something from each kid who came by. You have no idea how much wrapping paper & candles I have in my closet.

Some come to our door. Mostly the kids next door or behind us.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

The best fundraiser I have seen is the one with the coke company.

Churches, school, sports teams. Anyone who does that fundraiser has the most success.

Ohfour · Hooker

Lexxy wrote:
I don't think our kids go doo to door anymore because I haven't had one knock on my door in years. I always bought something from each kid who came by. You have no idea how much wrapping paper & candles I have in my closet.

We have door to door sellers all the time. Coupon cards for baseball, hand made note cards for volley ball. Tickets to a pancake breakfast for basketball, spaghetti supper for football. Literally 3 - 4 times a month we have kids knocking on our door. But they know us. They know that we will buy anything. They call us the sled house (we put out sleds on the porch during snow/ice and they use them and bring them back). And they all know that we will buy anything.

My favorite is a fund raiser that the band does. For a subscription per year, the a band member will come to your house and put an American flag in your yard, near the curb. They do this for the major American holidays...Independence Day, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, etc...

We have a flag on our porch, but this is just something a little extra. They come the day before the holiday to put it up, and then come back the day after the holiday and take it down...

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

lilyofcourse wrote:
The best fundraiser I have seen is the one with the coke company.

Churches, school, sports teams. Anyone who does that fundraiser has the most success.

I LOVE that fundraiser. I buy the OJ.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

My friend's DD's gymnastic team does sheets. They are awesome sheets - $30 any size, and they are wonderful. Everyone tried them, and when it came back around, everyone re-ordered several. That's a pretty good endorsement.

TrudyML · Guru

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
Well, I for one was not going to send my kid door to door. And, people are sick of buying crap all the time.

My nieces know what to hit me up for. No to that crappy cookie dough, yes to wrapping paper! And why do magazine drives continue? Don't ask me!

Lexxy · My dog name is Sasha, too!

My favorite was Krispy Kreme donuts. Those didn't come door to door but set up at Kmart or Target, etc. & sold boxes.

That flag one sounds pretty cool Oh4.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

Lawyerlady wrote:
lilyofcourse wrote:
The best fundraiser I have seen is the one with the coke company.

Churches, school, sports teams. Anyone who does that fundraiser has the most success.
I LOVE that fundraiser. I buy the OJ.

It seems someone is doing it at just the right time for our vacation each year.

Seems to come up around July 4th too.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

Lexxy wrote:
My favorite was Krispy Kreme donuts. Those didn't come door to door but set up at Kmart or Target, etc. & sold boxes.

That flag one sounds pretty cool Oh4.

Anything in which the product is delivered immediately is a good thing.

The drama dept. does suckers. .50 each or 3 for a dollar. They sell out on a daily basis.

The marching band does the candy bars. 1 dollar each. Again, they sell out daily.

The prom committee does chick fil a biscuits several times a year. About twice a month. 3 bucks a biscuit.

In high school, every club does a fund raiser.

A kid can eat all day at school for $5.

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

TrudyML wrote:
Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
Well, I for one was not going to send my kid door to door. And, people are sick of buying crap all the time.
My nieces know what to hit me up for. No to that crappy cookie dough, yes to wrapping paper! And why do magazine drives continue? Don't ask me!

SS knows what to hit us up for too. We buy an A+ card every year that gives us discounts around town. We actually use it so it's worth the $25 we spend. I think that's the key. Finding the right product for your audience. SS's mom never buys anything. I felt bad for him because last year she told him he couldn't sell anything. The prize for selling the most cards was a free ride and lunch in a Hummer Limo. She told him she'd rent one for him to ride around in. Of course, that never happened. We buy some stuff. I refuse to buy junk though just for the sake of buying it.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

We buy the about town discount cards, too. I usually end up with 2 - one for each of the nearby cities. I like those, they are $10. In fact, mine both just expired, so now I have to hunt down someone selling them since they don't come to my door. Grrrrr.

TrudyML · Guru

I save box tops for my tiny devils. They love when I hand them the huge bag of them.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

We get those cards too. $10 isn't much. We get a couple of them.

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

TrudyML wrote:
I save box tops for my tiny devils. They love when I hand them the huge bag of them.

So do we! And DN and Sparkly save them too. They just brought over a HUGE bag of them. SS gets to pick a toy from the bin when he brings some in. They're cheap stuff like the bin at the dentist!

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

Lawyerlady wrote:
We buy the about town discount cards, too. I usually end up with 2 - one for each of the nearby cities. I like those, they are $10. In fact, mine both just expired, so now I have to hunt down someone selling them since they don't come to my door. Grrrrr.

I don't think SS is selling the ones in your town! biggrin

Lindley · Guru

I hated fund raisers especially when my kids were in high school. My son's junior class were required to sell boxes of chocolate bars. I just wrote out a check and had my son take it back to the school check and candy. I'm lucky I could afford to do that but I doubt they made to much money off of that. It is a small town and people would only buy from their family. We never allowed our kids to bring it to the office to sell cause since we own the company we didn't want our employees to feel they have to buy items from the bosses kids.

My son did get into big trouble when I found out he kept the box of candy and sold the bars to buy paintball's.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

Our school gave us the option of donating money this year in lieu of fundraisers. I wrote them a check.

Lindley · Guru

Lawyerlady wrote:
Our school gave us the option of donating money this year in lieu of fundraisers. I wrote them a check.

I would so much rather do that. I hated it. Our kids were lucky. Their softball/baseball teams never had to do a fundraiser. Our company purchased the uniforms and equipment for them.

huskerbb · Guru

Lawyerlady wrote:
Our school gave us the option of donating money this year in lieu of fundraisers. I wrote them a check.

Boy would I have loved that.

Ohfour · Hooker

huskerbb wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
Our school gave us the option of donating money this year in lieu of fundraisers. I wrote them a check.
Boy would I have loved that.

I think that's OK for school stuff. But not for sports/band/clubs. Those should be a team effort...

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

Ohfour wrote:
huskerbb wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
Our school gave us the option of donating money this year in lieu of fundraisers. I wrote them a check.
Boy would I have loved that.
I think that's OK for school stuff. But not for sports/band/clubs. Those should be a team effort...

Why wouldn't it be ok to just make a donation? If I sell x and they get $25 or I give them $25 directly? I don't sell anything. I either make a donation outright or I just simply buy the minimum amount of CRAP that we are required to sell and give it away.

Ohfour · Hooker

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
Ohfour wrote:
huskerbb wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
Our school gave us the option of donating money this year in lieu of fundraisers. I wrote them a check.
Boy would I have loved that.
I think that's OK for school stuff. But not for sports/band/clubs. Those should be a team effort...
Why wouldn't it be ok to just make a donation? If I sell x and they get $25 or I give them $25 directly? I don't sell anything. I either make a donation outright or I just simply buy the minimum amount of CRAP that we are required to sell and give it away.

I was thinking more like car washes/bake sales, stuff like that. I think they should all have to participate...

Sorry I wasn't more clear. I had a 2 track mind at the time...

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

I don't understand what the big deal is about a lot of this stuff. When I was in high school it didn't work like it does here. First, we didn't have "after prom". And we were fine with that. Some people went out to eat after prom but most of us went home. As far as all the decorating and stuff we had a homecoming/prom committee that strictly students and one or two teachers. The committee of students were in charge of doing everything. Planning, coming up with a theme, selling tickets, blah blah blah. Since only juniors and seniors could go the lower class men did all the decorating and removal of decorations after prom. Our parents didn't do anything.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

Ohfour wrote:
Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
Ohfour wrote:
huskerbb wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
Our school gave us the option of donating money this year in lieu of fundraisers. I wrote them a check.
Boy would I have loved that.
I think that's OK for school stuff. But not for sports/band/clubs. Those should be a team effort...
Why wouldn't it be ok to just make a donation? If I sell x and they get $25 or I give them $25 directly? I don't sell anything. I either make a donation outright or I just simply buy the minimum amount of CRAP that we are required to sell and give it away.
I was thinking more like car washes/bake sales, stuff like that. I think they should all have to participate...
Sorry I wasn't more clear. I had a 2 track mind at the time...

I would much rather they do things where they had to more actively participate then just selling crap. Car washes, putting on a spaghetti dinner and waiting on people, making homemade hoagies, etc.

huskerbb · Guru

Nobody Just Nobody wrote:
huskerbb wrote:
Nobody Just Nobody wrote:
huskerbb wrote:
Nobody Just Nobody wrote:
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.
Cry me a fvcking river. EVERYONE has crap to do. You aren't some VSS.
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.
But then don't cry if your kid doesn't get to go to the activity that they've been raising funds for.
What activity? My kids have never been in an activity where they had to do all that stupid chit. I have always paid for the things they needed. If the team wants to raise money to build a new gym have at it. But that's not for MY kid. My kids have never raised money for their uniforms or trips or any of that crap. We PAID for them. All that fundraiser crap my kids do goes to our school for extra stuff.

Maybe your kids haven't. Lots of kids have and do.

Lindley · Guru

When our youth at Church has a special trip coming up they will have a dinner, bake sales and yard sales to earn money for the event.

Ohfour · Hooker

huskerbb wrote:
Nobody Just Nobody wrote:
huskerbb wrote:
Nobody Just Nobody wrote:
huskerbb wrote:
Nobody Just Nobody wrote:
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.
Cry me a fvcking river. EVERYONE has crap to do. You aren't some VSS.
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.
But then don't cry if your kid doesn't get to go to the activity that they've been raising funds for.
What activity? My kids have never been in an activity where they had to do all that stupid chit. I have always paid for the things they needed. If the team wants to raise money to build a new gym have at it. But that's not for MY kid. My kids have never raised money for their uniforms or trips or any of that crap. We PAID for them. All that fundraiser crap my kids do goes to our school for extra stuff.
Maybe your kids haven't. Lots of kids have and do.

WOW...I've never heard of that NJN. We had to pay for all uniforms, all camps, all tournaments...everything. Out of pocket for the kids to play a sport was about $2000.00 without the fundraisers. We still had to pay about half, but that $1000.00 (x 4) made a big difference...