What was that McTakeover email you mentioned in your last post, Abigail, anyway?

In case you're curious, here's the thread about the McTakeover fundraiser. You'll notice that the most recent communication in the thread was my response to a call for volunteers, sent to the full list of 31 cc'd people (PTO members, other parents) 15 months ago. The response was utter silence. And I really tried to be polite and articulate and reasonable! How do you think I did?

From: Abigail Hamilton
Date: Wed, Apr 7, 2010 at 3:42 PM
Subject: Re: McTakeOver 4/14...We need your help!
To: [email]
Cc: [31 email addresses]

I know this is probably the wrong venue for this type of comment, but I don't know any other avenue, and wanted to share my perspective on the McTakeovers. I know they make heaps of money. I know the school NEEDS heaps of money.

But. I tried to have a good attitude last time there was a McTakeover fundraiser, and attended and bought food. I felt very conflicted for a couple of reasons. First, I had seen all the posters around the school that the children had spent time making. These posters advertised McDonalds and its unhealthy food, using the logo, arches, etc. I felt like that it was inappropriate for children to spend their school time creating advertisements for a fast food restaurant.

I also felt that the very idea of fundraising by encouraging people eat McDonalds food was very much in conflict with the nutrition education they get at school. I know we all have eaten and probably will again eat fast food. Maybe a little, maybe a lot. That's a personal choice and anything goes. But within the context of the school and its educational messages, this seemed really undermining.

I hope the event is a great success, but I can't help or partake, and I do hope the next fundraiser is just as, or even more successful and does not involve a tie-in between unhealthy food and the school, and doesn't encourage kids to eat fast food.

Thanks for listening, maybe this note can spark some good discussion and lead to some new ideas for the future.

All the best,

Abigail

On Wed, Apr 7, 2010 at 12:28 PM, <name> wrote:

Hi Third Grade Parents! 

We hope you had a great spring break!  This is a quick reminder that next Wednesday, April 14th is our McTakeOver at McDonalds to raise money for Outdoor Ed scholarships.  We will receive 40% of food sales between the hours of 6-8 pm!  In addition, McDonalds will make an additional donation to Ronald McDonald House based upon our event sales.  For those of you who attended last year's event, it was a lot of fun.  This year could be event more fun since Ronald McDonald himself will be making an appearance between 7-7:30 pm!!!

We need your help to make this event a success.  We need parent volunteers to help staff McDonalds (they will have their full staff, but will need assistance taking orders and cleaning tables).  Volunteers need to be there by 5:45 for training.  Please let us know if you can help between 5:45-7 or from 7 - 8 pm.  Also, we need a couple of people to stand with signs at the road to pull in customers, and a couple of kid/parent teams to sell coupon books.  Please email [link] or [link] if you can help.  Let us know which job and 1 hour shift you would like to help out with.

We will be sending out school announcements over the next week.  Please be sure to invite your friends, neighbors and family members!

Thank you!

name, name