to refuse to sell chocolates as a fundraiser for a rugby club?

[sunnydelight]

Selling boxes of chocolates seems to be the most common thing to do here to raise funds for everything. I've just got an e-mail saying my son will get his allocation to sell on Wednesday at training to raise money for the rugby club he plays with. I think that selling sweets to fundraise for a sports club gives mixed messages to say the least - keep fit and eat chocolate! Would it be unreasonable to refuse (I can't imagine it would make me too popular). I'm going to have to buy all the damn things myself anyway as I would never ask friends to buy them and we have no family here. Why can't I just donate $20 if they really need the money? (though I do pay joining fee, annual fee etc.).

If you keep fit, you can eat a little bit of chocolate. Everything in moderation. YANBU if you choose not to buy any yourself, if you are anti-chocolate, your choice, and if you feel strongly enough, YANBU to refuse to sell them. But as someone who has spent years fundraising for various causes, I'd ask you to go back to the club with some good alternative ideas. Chocolates might just be the easy option. I get really hacked off when people slag off fundraising activities when they won't get involved in finding better ideas (not saying you're doing that, just making the point....)

Well, I think YABU to think a bit of chocolate is going to hurt anyone. Everyone has treats now and again. Why would you never ask friends to but them? They might like the odd bit of chocolate. Most people actually aren't that millitant about it. However, you have the absolute right to your beliefs and if you are totally against food treats, then YANBU to keep to your principles. But you should tell them that's what you're doing.

However, since you think it's a crap idea too, then as lil quite rightly says, come up with other ideas that you think suit the club better. Get in there! Or refuse to sell chocs, but get your friends to sponsor you on a 5mile run or something. Don't just criticise, do something!

buy them.
Why oh why oh why do you never spot these things until you press post? I read my contribution about 10 times before posting it

If selling chocolate is whay everybody does as a fund raiser it obviously works!

If you refuse, then you need to think of something else that works as well - other people are putting effort into this - you should either put the effort in as well, or go with the tried and tested.

And why won't you sell to your friends?

It is chocolate not heroin.

martianbishop!

I've just noticed OPs username. Am at thought of SunnyDelight being anti crappola foodstuffs.

MartianBishop

Buy them yourself and give them to your local Nursing home. Everyones a winner.

I love chocolate, but I'm a bit snobby about it so I really doubt that I would approve of the type that gets sold for charity purposes. But I don't think that chocolate per se is any worse than any other method of fundraising.

If you are going to buy it all yourself anyway couldn't you have a quiet word with the organiser and offer to pay the difference between the cost to the club and the selling price of your son's share and not receive the chocolate at all?

YANBU to not want to sell the chocolates if you don't want to, although I think your thoughts are confused - I do exercise to enable me to eat a bit of chocolate now and again! (Well that's the theory, lol, sometimes I forget the exercise bit).

Do agree with others though, My lads are involved in a small sports club and raising funds to keep the place going is an ongoing nightmare situation. Pie n Pea supper Saturday night, fgs.

Do feel free to make a donation, or even better, put forward your own suggestions for future events.

Well personally I don't see the problem - but then I allow chocolate in our house...

I guess the reason that the club do this is because it works and it is probably one of the easiest ways to make money. Far better than having to wash 1000 cars or bake 1000 fairy cakes etc..

You could always donate the £20 and say they can keep the chocolate to sell to someone else if you rally wanted. Re your comment about IF the club needs the money - I bet it does, most clubs need to raise extra funds as they try to keep the matches fees/annual subs down and they usually are the bare running costs of the club. They will need extra money to buy kit, pay for coaches etc.

Buy the chocolate and send them out to worthy mumnsetters... [clears throat]...

I would be happy to test the chocolate for you...

I think YABU.

You CAN be fit and eat chocolate, just not too much.

yabu

I've never really associated rugby with health anyway, all the players I've ever know have drunk like fish and been very fond of really crap food.

Perhaps your ds could change to yoga instead.

PMSL Martianbishop - my sentiments exactly!!

People worry me on here, they really do...

Let's get some perspective!

hehe - is this serious?!

I have rather extreme views but I see it as peddling a substances as addicted as cocaine and almost as bad for you.

You are right Xenia you do have extreme views but you have grown on us.

So what would you suggest as an alternative Xenia?

(I pass nooooo comment on your extreme views, lol)

I wouldn't be bothered by the chocolate itself (though I agree it's probably yuk chocolate) but I loathe being expected to sell things to friends - hate it hate it hate it. Make a donation and refuse if you want to, why not?

Ad read The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier a scary novel about refusing to sell chocolates for fundraising!

Watch the two Big Sugar documentaries www.videolicio.us/2007/09/big-sugar-docum.html and read the research on the impact of sugar particularly on women and their mental health. Most psychiatric programme recommend a low GL/GI diet for good mental health.

An alternative to raise money for rugby? Brown rice may be.... it's actually in short supply and the price has risen a lot recently.

Or go to university, get a good job, earn lots of money and get the nanny to sell the chocolate to all the other nannies?