If it's Tuesday, it must be JNF
KUR, CAROL
IF IT'S TUESDAY, IT MUST BE JNF CAROL KUR "Mom, I have to know today. How many raffle tickets will you buy?" "For the Confirmation Class raffle? I'll buy a book—five dollars' worth." "Will you...
...All this, out of the mouth of someone who was never good for more than yes, no, and harrumph before 8 a.m...
...But the corollary is the number of requests to aid and abet the fund raising quotas of each...
...May we sign you up as a life member...
...We're going to have a car wash," she announced...
...And I wonder, as I write the three checks, if this is one lesson we've taught too diligently...
...What's new about that...
...Or when the older children, unsolicited, decide that their weekly Keren Ami contributions should come from their own allowances...
...Will you lend me the money for Nana's, too...
...I nod in sage agreement—and giggle...
...And if we're out of pennies, they are sure to provide a detailed schedule of our impending arrivals, lest anyone be disappointed...
...Will you match my gift to the scholarship fund...
...Give it to Mrs...
...My checkbook...
...The battle plans are drawn on any weekday morning in the following manner: Alison, do you have all the tickets and money for the variety show...
...They may be grumpy, but they're home...
...Or when, at the children's request, a family meeting is assembled to decide how to allocate a portion of bat mitzvah gift money to causes that matter...
...Role modeling, however, is not without its rewards...
...In itself, this may be laudable...
...My checkbook is on the desk...
...We wondered about that just briefly last week when our 16-year-old announced that she'd come up with a terrific new idea for a Confirmation Class fund raiser...
...You know, you can make your contribution through payroll deduction...
...We wallow in good causes...
...We just can't turn anybody but the most bizarre (e.g., magazine salesmen, moment forgive me) away...
...Mrs...
...We winced, remembering the hours it took to wash away the muddy streaks from last year's car wash...
...really is a marvelous time, especially for reaching people by phone...
...Susie, remember when you get home that you have to call Mr...
...What can you give for the service auction...
...Raymond as soon as you get to school...
...I need to turn in the money tomorrow...
...Marshall...
...And—the biggie— would it be convenient for me to drop by tonight to discuss your UJA gift...
...I collected $12.46...
...We'll charge a dollar to wash the car, two dollars if we leave it alone...
...But you have to put in your own money...
...We pay dues to an embarrassing number of organizations...
...Would you care to list your children on the jewel page...
...Don't forget to take his pledge card...
...Can we count on you to be patrons...
...How many children will you sponsor in the bike-a-thon...
...Fund raising activities have taught me that 8 a.m...
...Mommy, I've saved you for last...
...Or when they present me, as they did recently, with a neatly folded pile of clothes "to give to the 13-year-old in the new Russian family...
...We've created a new category...
...We have bought greeting cards from the Brownies, plant hangers from the Blue Birds, flower seeds from the St...
...It is commonplace to come home from work and find that the children have purchased a little league sticker (the youngest insists it should be displayed on the left front windshield) and a box of Mrs...
...Sebastian Youth Club, calendars from the Algonquin Club...
...Exit eldest child...
...I remember sitting at a campaign training session and hearing someone discourse about the responsibility of parents for teaching their children how to give...
...My checkbook is on the desk.'' Not to be outdone, the youngest reminds me that tomorrow is the very last day that money can be collected for the candy sale to benefit the day school PTA...
...Certainly you'll take a packet of simcha cards— they're so handy to have around...
...Yes, I'll be home tonight...
...How many tickets to the theater party can we send you...
...Have they been overtaught...
...Don't forget, the blue ones are for Saturday night, the yellow ones are for Sunday, and the green punched ones are for the dress rehearsal...
...I know you're planning to attend the donor luncheon this year...
...I have to make those phone calls for the Bond dinner...
...Will you: bake for the bake sale, donate to the rummage sale, give us something for a door prize...
...Who gave you 46 cents for the Heart Fund...
...Student price is a dollar, but they can come to the dress rehearsal for fifty cents...
...we asked...
...How much lawn fertilizer will you buy—we make a dollar on each bag...
...Children need a role model, after all, they are the next generation of givers...
...The information is on my desk...
...And when we can't use the product (assorted Christmas cards, an Easter lily) we make a contribution anyway...
...And, because we have proved ourselves as solicitees, we are invariably asked to become solicitors...
...This one will be different," she assured us...
...It was all the change she had...
...And don't forget to drop off the poster at the market...
...Mitch—isn't today the day you're having lunch with Arthur...
...Davids at the drugstore about a door prize for the Nostalgia Night party...
...Morton's Fancy Deluxe Peanut Brittle (that goes in the trash, if I can get to it fast enough...
...Dana, the cookie money is in that yellow envelope in your lunch box...
...Everybody was home except the Wheatons...
...Would you drop the kit off at the bank...
...Admittedly, we have a problem...
...Enter middle child, flushed and out of breath...
...The children pay the solicitors in pennies from the penny jar rather than say no...
...All five of us...
...When the youngest reminds us to drop some coins in the tz'dakah box before we light Shabbat candles...
Vol. 2 • June 1977 • No. 8
