Gouda's Cheesewheel

3 days at Environment Colorado

Day 1- Tuesday
My goal for my first three days is to raise $125 and sign up two monthly supporters. With a partner, I spend 5 hours canvassing in Writer's Square in Denver, raising $265, including one monthly supporter. I receive many congratulations back at the office.

Day 2- Wednesday
Training continues. We hone the "rap" we are supposed to use to inform people of our cause. Then me and a partner head out to Boulder Public Library. The foot traffic here is considerably slower than downtown Denver, and the people aren't as well-off (and the ones who have money already contribute, or have heard our rap before and are decidedly uninterested). I get one $35 contribution, but no monthly supporters. I cry from discouragement and general exhaustion. I debate quitting. After the 5-hour convassing shift, I talk to Pam, the director, who is very knowledgeable and sincerely wants to help me in whatever way possible. We go out for pizza with the rest of the canvassing crew, then I head home. I start to feel a sinus problem coming on and go to bed early.

Day 3 - Today
In the morning I call the office and tell them I might not make it. Kirsten, who answers the phone, encourages me to come in and try, since I need the momentum to make up for my bad Wednesday. She leaves the decision up to me. I walk around the house, blow my nose, and have breakfast. I feel like I'll be able to make it through the day with a dose or two of Sudafed, and decide to give it a shot. This time I'm on a team going to Fort Collins. Me and a partner are stationed at CSU. This sounds promising, and it's definitely a sympathetic crowd. Unfortunately the traffic is incredibly slow, with the exception of one or two swarms of people between classes. I stop tons of people to talk, but none of them are able to contribute (they say). I use every method possible from the training to encourage them to sign up, but it just doesn't fly. I get one $15 contribution the entire day. Since I fail to sign up my second monthly supporter, I know I will lose the job. My partner is also in a squeeze for making his quota (apparently the quotas continue even past the training period). Since he is closer to his goal than I am, and he has an additional day to make it up, he asks if I'll give him my one contribution of the day, and I agree (the commission on $15 is negligiable, and I'm getting paid the base rate regardless). I leave my tissues in the trunk, which makes the car ride home rather uncomfortable and sniffly. We arrive in Boulder, I turn in my shirt, and go home.

Good riddance.

Now to figure out what to do with the rest of my summer.

Since I'm financially sound for the time being, maybe I'll pick up a volunteer gig for a while.

posted by Greta @ 6:47 PM