Andover Townsman, Andover, MA

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May 15, 2008

Editorial: For schools, new ideas take flight

Fundraiser fatigue. That's the term used to describe the weariness that can set in for people who feel as if every weekend they are attending another raffle, another dinner-dance, another auction meant to raise money for a worthy cause. As important as the organizations are, at some point even the most well-intentioned person can feel ready for a break.

One energy boost to combat the fatigue: ingenuity. A new idea about how to raise money can attract new people and renew enthusiasm. Two Andover middle schools this week are showing how this can be done.

At West Middle School, parents borrowed an approach from out-of-state: flamingo flocking. For a donation, West Middle School children will place a flock of plastic flamingos on someone's lawn. The kids even flocked old cross-town "rival" Doherty Middle School. Assuming everyone keeps a healthy sense of humor about the project, it should be a fun and successful effort.

At Doherty Middle School, the students got into the act. A Destination Imagination team — fittingly, the team competes against others at creatively solving problems — needed to raise money to go to a national competition in Tennessee. The kids' idea? Sell raffle tickets, with the winner getting to throw a pie in the face of a teacher. What middle-schooler wouldn't trade a dollar for that opportunity?

Given the economy and condition of the town and state budgets, the need for fundraisers is not going to disappear. Cheers to those who organize the events — and a special nod to those trying creative ideas to involve more of the community.

Wheels slowly turn

Americans love their cars and love their privacy. Even $4-a-gallon gas isn't going to change that anytime soon.

But organizers of the local Bike to Work Week have seen some positive change. All 12 of the large businesses promoting the program saw an uptick in the number of people signing up to ride.

Still, the numbers fail to impress, with only 125 people agreeing to try the idea.

America is the land that embraced the drive-in diner, the drive-in movie theater and, in some parts of the country, the drive-in liquor store. Our cars are part of our lives, and that's proving to be a difficult bond to weaken.

But it's good for the environment and traffic congestion — not to mention the wallet and health of participants — that some people are willing to try biking to work, if only for a week.

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Editorial: For schools, new ideas take flight
by Anonymous , , Thu May 15, 2008, 06:10 AM EDT
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