Dear National Audubon Society,
As with any publicly noticeable bad habit that if one knew about its obviousness one would wish to break, I find myself in the somewhat awkward position of pointing out just such a habit to you. I know it might be a little embarrassing to hear but I hope our long relationship and knowledge that I am only doing this because of my concern for your welfare will help to soften the shock. Ready? Alright, here goes: you’re sending out too much unnecessary printed advertising material.
I know, I know, you think all the other non-profit organizations are doing it as well – and indeed some of them are – but that is no reason for you to have to go down the same path as they do. Wasn’t it you yourself who helped me to understand the toll on forests wrought by the felling of trees solely to make paper to be turned into “junk mail?” “[…] each year America’s mailboxes are clogged with 20 billion catalogs, many of them made from trees logged in Canada’s boreal forest…” you said. And I heard you. I try each day to make sure that I am not wasting resources myself: not using paper towels, carrying and using pocket handkerchiefs instead of tissues, reading documents on my computer screen instead of printing them.
Now it’s true, with the economy being what it is, you’re pressed for donations. Corporations just aren’t donating like they did a few years back and as people continue to lose their jobs fewer of them are able to spend their money on things that don’t put food on the table or a roof over their heads. But really now – in the past few weeks alone I’ve received seven different letters from you asking me either to join (you know very well I’m already a member), donate additional money, or renew my membership early. It’s becoming a bit much.
You need to remember that your friends will continue to support you. Do the good work you’ve done for all these past decades and you will certainly continue to receive contributions and subscriptions. But I have to caution you: keep up these seemingly endless and resource-depleting fund raising efforts, and you might find that even the friendship of your most ardent supporters may begin to wear thin.
Just believe in yourself and what you do. You’re smart as well as strong. Remember that and think about the implications of your actions, and you’ll be fine. As the great Canadian philosopher Red Green said, “I’m pulling for you, we’re all in this together.”
Radd Icenoggle
October 7, 2009 @ 09:48
John,
Well thought-out and insightful piece. You have an incredible way of intertwining the intervention setting with a conservation message.
Thanks,
Radd
OpposableChums
October 7, 2009 @ 09:55
Amen.
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October 7, 2009 @ 09:57
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Dawn Fine
October 7, 2009 @ 10:19
Double Amen! and a Hallelujah for pointing this out! Hope they listen!
John
October 7, 2009 @ 10:54
I agree, the National Audubon Society sends out too much unsolicited snail mail. I also get a lot from an organization that calls itself “Green America.” Junk mail isn’t very green.
Grant McCreary
October 7, 2009 @ 14:35
That was well timed – I just got another membership solicitation from them, even though I’m currently a member.
Ellen
October 7, 2009 @ 15:10
I tell EVERY organization that if they don’t stop sending me mail, I will stop sending them money. Try it. It works.
The irony is that at the basic membership level, they are chewing through every dime you’ve paid just to maintain your membership records and send you all this garbage.
LWSexson
October 7, 2009 @ 16:46
Great message. I do not get those mailings because I join my local Audubon but not the national. Why, you ask? I did not want to receive that environmentally unfriendly magazine. I decided about 20 years ago that I just did not want the paper, mailing costs, etc. wasted on something I just threw away after spending 30 minutes to leaf through.
Born Again Bird Watcher » Blog Archive » Twitterblocked
October 9, 2009 @ 18:54
[…] An Intervention […]
Amy Clancy
October 9, 2009 @ 20:22
Very well intertwined with wit, wisdom and honesty. Organizations that call themselves “green” are not doing their part when they educate all of us to live “green” and then continue to send mailers. While in the marketing sector, and dare I say it one who does do Direct Mailers (sorry). I have cut back our mailers from 12 to 6 a year and hope in the following year to cut even more. With the creation of the internet, face book, twits, and emails there are simply more effective ways of getting a message out. They should look into an email source system called “constant contact” they can then send detailed messages to those who are 1) Not members 2) Current members 3) Fund raising of new/existing members…
Erik Bruder
October 10, 2009 @ 02:34
Don’t forget about the holiday cards. You get that fat envelope in the mail stuffed full of samples. They’ll send you one every month even after you have ordered and received your cards.
Julie Zickefoose
October 10, 2009 @ 03:56
Well done, JR. You’ve said it as gently and humanely as anyone could. And every word true.