Friday, June 20, 2008
Letters to the Editor
Nonprofits need socially minded partnersPhoenix Business Journal - Phoenix Business Journal

Dear Editor,

Stocks are down, gas prices are up, mortgage rates are down, food costs are up, fear is high and donations are down.

It's like an economic see-saw. No matter which way you look at it, up or down, none of it is fun and games.

Not that the bite is any more mild for nonprofits, but it's simple math. If the business community is losing money, there is a big, fat zero left to give to charity after the bills are paid. Marketing budgets are focused on advertising that will bring more sales translating into more dollars in the coffers, rather than being balanced with sponsorships of community fundraisers.

There is an opportunity, though, that shines through the dim shadow of a, dare I say it, recession. Intelligent and creative collaborations and partnering in cause marketing can reap rewards for all.

As businesses are being squeezed, so are consumers. Even as layoffs increase or paychecks shrink, the conscience of the consumer still begs to contribute something to those causes that cry to their souls. Yet, these cries are couched by their everyday needs and wants -- such as taking in a movie or going out to dinner.

During these uncertain and discouraging economic times, it is up to the community nonprofits to seek out these opportunities with socially minded partners, perhaps those who already have been involved in some small way during better times. Another benefit of these joint ventures is the awareness spread through marketing efforts -- grassroots, electronic or conventional.

Both interests are well-served as a result of these partnerships. Business is boosted for the retailer or for-profit company, while revenue also is diverted to the charity. Arguably, these dollars may not make up for big sponsorship dollars realized in a booming economy, but hard times don't last forever and the relationships that are deepened may blossom in the future.

The elderly still need the help they did before the economy turned, the homeless still require the support they received and, in our case, the person who is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis still needs the education services and care management we deliver.

Nonprofits must continue to seek creative means to make ends meet. Linking with community neighbors to generate business is one sound tactic to do just that.

Sheryl L. Keeme, president
National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Arizona Chapter

There's something very mystical about a mother watching her child sleep that I cannot explain. I remember the days having brought my beautiful daughters home from the hospital. I remember once I fed them and wrapped them snugly and placed them in their bassinet or crib, I would hover over them and watch them to be sure she wouldn't yawn and gulp air and figure out that she was no longer in my arms but had been pulled a fast one and lied down to sleep. If that happened, of course, the rustling would start, restless movement that would ultimately lead to yelps and cries and the whole process would begin again. But when I realized she was in fact sound asleep, I would take pleasure in watching her little face totally motionless and peaceful.

My babies are grown women now; both are older than I was in those days watching my babies sleep. Yet, there is still a calm peace that comes from watching them sleep.

Gambler’s Classic
Last week at this time, I was thinking about the next morning and getting on my bike. I was thinking about whether I would fail miserably in riding a bicycle 95 miles in the Vegas desert. I was thinking and wondering if my body would hurt too much to go any further than the usual 30 miles I am used to riding. I was thinking, also, about the many people with MS who have these kind of thoughts about just getting around.
On Saturday and Sunday, the first weekend in November, I got all of my gear ready at 5:30 a.m. and packed it all up in my van at the hotel in downtown Las Vegas and I drove the Las Vegas Speedway. It was there that thinking time was over and riding time had arrived. Scared but excited, I pulled on all of the gear preparing for the cool Nevada morning. I was grinning because I could hardly believe the time had arrived and I was eager to get moving, but also because my friend LaVerne has the most contagious, dimpled grin in the world--how could one NOT grin?
Soon after getting ready to ride in the dark and the sun was peeking over the horizon, we were greeted by a warm, friendly-faced lady who introduced herself as Rexine. Rexine didn't know a single one of us, yet she awakened and drove to the Speedway at 6 a.m. because her sister, MaryAnn McCallister rides with us in Phoenix and told her we were going to be there. You see, Rexine's son, Ryan, died just over a year ago from complications of multiple sclerosis at the young age of 32. He lived with the disease since he was just about 14. Rexine's enthusiasm and warmth touched us as she photographed all 11 of us from Arizona bearing the photo of her late son, whom we were riding in honor of. Her visit was the perfect encouragement to a reluctant long distance cyclist like me.
Over the next two days, we would battle terrific winds that made it feel like we were pedalling uphill on a stationary bicycle. We would marvel at the wonderful red rocks of the Valley of Fire as we sailed downhill on our bikes. We would gobble nuts, bars, fruit and God knows what else to keep our energy strong. We would use self-talk up the hills; we would smile and think how lucky we were to be alive as we careened down hills.
I no longer think of myself as a woman who has a bike and rides.
I am a cyclist.

From the time we are young, we are told, "You have to take responsibility for things!" "You are RESPONSIBLE for your own destiny." "You have no one to blame but yourself."

I have bought all of that throughout the years. Not only did I buy it, I sold it to my own children in raising them to acknowledge not only their successes but also their failures. I instructed them to see their own shortcomings in situations rather than blame the goof-off sitting next to them and to look for a solution that involved rising above the idiots or the slouches rather than crumple in frustration and blame. I tried to employ this throughout my adult life attempting to never unloading the disappointments onto others' plates but looking for what I could have done differently to avoid the mistake or what I could have done more of to increase or change the results.

As the years tick by, sweeping along like an accerating clock, and as the breadth and girth of the responsibilities grow heavier and deeper, it appears to become more difficult to grin and say, yep, it's me! I'm the one who failed! I didn't do enough...I missed something that would have made a difference etc. All of this arrives with the ever-more-loudly knocking new companion of Middle-age that brings with it, its friends: forgetfulness and insomia.

While our ambition rages on and our dreams grow bigger, understanding that our responsibility now encompasses greater more intricate marching orders--preparing those around us to learn their roles and grasp the same ambition and integrity we possess. All of this will help us to continue to embrace the same feeling of a job well-done that we have known up to this point.

Growing stronger in our ability to impress the clarity and strength of our tasks and goals onto those we lead and providing the tools of training these folks to action are key activities to maintain the feeling of being responsible for a job well done. This should be what we strive for.