What an interesting experience I had today. As a member of the board for the Greater Westbury Council for the Arts, I was among those who pledged to find sponsors for our Oct. 18th Black and White Masquerade Ball fundraising event. Our president charged each of us to find at least one sponsor for the event. That will be a piece of cake, I thought. The Space has generously donated its facilities for the event, which hopefully will prove to be a big draw for the fundraiser. However, this is about all of the generosity I’ve come across so far.
Since I am a school teacher who has the summer off, I’ve dedicated a couple of days a week to canvassing local businesses in the community in search of sponsors for this event. I went in person to various office buildings on Post Avenue and was met time and again with indifference and disdain. How dare I show up in person to ask if the business contributed to community events! One office receptionist refused to even take the Art Council’s letter detailing the event and its levels of sponsorship, stating it was “not worth her job” to take it. Is a solicitation letter really that insidious? Had she really been instructed to accept no fundraising letters on pain of being discharged from her duties? One wonders.
On another floor in that building, I was admonished by a clerk as I stepped through the threshold that I “can’t come in here!” He promptly rushed to push his office glass door in my face. Luckily, my catlike reflexes saved me from a nose bleed! Who knew that trying to fundraise for a community event was so fraught with danger? I imagine that these businesses have found Westbury a pleasant enough place to continue to do business, but it is sad that so many are so unwilling to contribute even in a minor way back to Westbury. We’re an Art Council, for goodness sake—we do nice things for the community!
It is a tax deductible, charitable donation to boot!
Mind you, I am no stranger to rejection, having worked as a men’s clothing sales representative in a former life. I’ve been turned down in many a “cold call,” as we used to say in the business. A big difference though, between the stores I canvassed and those offices I tried to solicit today is that at least the stores feigned interest and had the common courtesy to speak with me. What has happened to community? It seems that the same restaurants and companies contribute again and again and we are so grateful to them for doing so. It would be nice however, for some of the other businesses who do business in Westbury to step up to the plate as well. The lesson I’ve learned today? This experience has been no piece of cake!
—Maureen Baranov, Greater Westbury Arts Council Board Member
