Asking too much.

Our children had a Halloween party at school today.  Of course we went and had fun.  Maybe even too much fun for one kid.

Whilst there I saw a silent auction.  I grew up in auctions and I don't believe that a silent auction has the fun and energy that a half-way decent live auction has, but I still like them.  It was a very boring selection.  Some of the charity dinners I've been to had some incredible things for sale; one had a four day vacation for four to a golf course, one had a lot of jewelry, a year of cheesecakes (I won that one, they were so good I shared them to save my waist), and a tour of a airplane manufacturing plant with simulator flight time.  This one looked more like the givers were cleaning out their closet.

I asked why they didn't ask for donations from the parents.  "We don't want to ask too much from them" was the response.  I have a brother and a sister that will make and give things when I say it's for my kids, so I'm thinking that the school is missing out (or as my father would put it "Leaving money on the table").  Then I thought about it a little more.

Can a group ask too much from their people?  Yepper.  If they ask all the time then burnout will set it and they will get nothing.  A little most of the time is better in the long run than a lot right now and nothing later.

I'm still going to ask my sister and brother to donate something for next year though.