Last week I received a “commissioner’s
certificate” from one of my favorite organizations.
It was a very officious looking document
with high-sounding words printed on heavy parchment paper. It featured attractively scripted large
lettering, a beautiful color watermark and a raised seal, much like a diploma.
The organization was allegedly extending
this recognition to me because of my continued support. The certificate came with a letter containing
more high-sounding words and a request for an additional donation. In other words, it was just another clever ploy
to solicit more money.
I feel certain that many people framed the
beautiful certificates and then sent $25 to $200, flattered by the
recognition of this mass mailing. After all we are in the
season of graduations, and everybody wants to feel special with their own
personal diploma.
I scanned the certificate and the cover
letter to my digital scrapbook then shredded them along with the solicitation.
I understand this is how marketing
works. Organizations use whatever
means they can think of to get faithful friends like me to send more money.
It is my privilege to support a number of
organizations and causes because I believe in the work they do or the services
and benefits they provide. But I offer
support on my terms, not theirs. No matter how much I give, it will never be enough as far as they are concerned.
If I
were to give in to all the manipulative, clever marketing and emotional
blackmail donation requests that I receive, my credit cards would be maxed out,
my bank accounts would be drained, I would probably be living on the street and
I would still owe taxes to the government which wastes money on things that I
don’t believe in.
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