I’m in a team which are traveling to africa in the summer. To go we must raise the appropriate funds (£4000). So I got a job and began to earn. We also fund raise as a team as well, things like jumble sales, tuckshops, etc. Only two people of the group (me being one) are actually paying for the whole trip ourselves (apart from fund raising money of course), everyone else has a rich mommy or daddy who can afford to pay for them.
Fair enough.
As I say my parents arn’t well off, but even with the fund raising I still can’t afford my trip so I decided to do my own personal fund raising (which btw is allowed). An outsider noticed my struggle for money and said that she noticed that I am exhausted and am working to much so she gave me a phone number and information for a collection company. But she would only allow me to have this info and number if I did this activity on my own. She did this because she wanted me to quit my job.
I called the company which will pick up clothes, bags, soft toys, etc and arranged for them to make a collection. One I had got off the phone I called a team member (which is kinda in charge) and told her about me doing this fund raising and I made sure it was made extremely clear that because I had done all the arranging so this would be my personal thing to do. A week before this collection my team and I had a jumble sale and as all jumble sales end, we were left with heaps of left overs. So I said to another team member that if they wanted instead of them having to make about four journeys to the dump yard that I would take them instead but only if they wanted me to. She said she would be delighted to give me them as it saves her time and money. She was - as were the rest of the team - aware that this was for me only. So there should be no problem. The collection went fine and three weeks later I received a cheque for £60. That £5 each. The only problem was that the cheque could only be written out to a oranisation. So I thought no problem I’ll give it to the office and they will write me one out for the same amount. Well no. The bitch at the office told my lead team members that I was asking for a cheque (basically she was checking to see if I was stealing). At our weekly meeting the money came up and I was asked about the money so I told the team the situation and they all - apart from one - ganged up on me, saying that I was stealing and they couldn’t believe I was doing it (basically exaggerating & being a total sarcastic bitch). What I didn’t understand was that everyone was aware that this was mine fund raiser for me. The women who gave me the companies info even informed the group about this, so they had known about it for ages but suddenly everyone tries to act like they had no clue. No-one apart form me had done anything so why should they get a share of the money? I put all the work in no-one else. I can’t believe they are arguing over £5! Am I in the wrong? Sorry if you’ve fell asleep, I’m just really upset about this. Hope the spelling mistakes arn’t too bad! Hope this makes sense !
It’s difficult to see how you can fix this missunderstanding and still have 60 quid towards your travel expenses. Question do the other team members know you and your friend are having difficulty raising the money for the trip. Are the other team members close personal friends?
Maybe get this thread ‘promoted’ to mpsims, as you seem to want advice/comfort and not just some ranting.
To answer your original question, yes, I agree. They are definitely being greedy fucking bastards. To answer your last two points, at once, yes, the spelling errors were pretty horrendous, but your point was still clear.
My other team members arn’t having any probs with raising the money. The reason that £60 turns into £5 is because there is 12 members of the team so when you divide it there is £5 each. The other team members are closer together than they are with me so I think thats why they are all turning against me. Oh btw thanks Dave Thanks for replying guys!
I am worried about how it might go if you get to Africa. If the team is going to argue and gang up on you like they did now over 60 quid, they may be even worse under pressure in Africa.
Be sure you won’t end up spending all you got, to be able to spend time with people who maybe aren’t your friends and to whom the cost was negligable. If you have spent time away from home with this group before and enjoyed it, then you’ll be allright.
Sorry to drop such a possible “bummer” on you, but if they are allready being fucking greedy bastards…
hey peeps, i’m a newbie to this message board thing but just thought i would say my bit. i’m the friend poopsy speaks about in her post. i think that she is totally in the right and they are being fucking greedy bastards. just lettin her know i support her.
Dont worry about dropping a load on me Bip! Ive already thought about that, I just know it’s gonna be a nightmare. I just can’t believe how petty they were all being. The way I raised money is just like me going to work - the next thing you know they’ll all be expecting me to share my wages with them. I’m so PO’D about all this! We went away for a training weekend and we all got on ok, I suppose - you never know it might all come out in the wash and if not its gonna be a month of pure hell!
You sound like you are brave enough to handle it even if the month is unpleasant. I am sure you will get a lot out of the experience if it is good or bad, these sort of things help someone learn who they are and are very valuable. Do make sure you are well insured for the trip, it may be expensive, but an accident could be incredably expensive if you aren’t insured. It sounds like you are going as part of a larger organisations organised event, if this is so, can you add a link for the main organisation please.
It looks like it is a great organisation, are you doing this for a year out before university? I didn’t take a year out and regret not doing so when I went to University.
So, the team knew that this one event was for your personal fund-raising, but when the check came through, they wanted it to go into group funds. Have I got the basic idea?
I dunno. That’s odd. Either your team is full of some greedy, two-faced people, or there’s been a big misunderstanding. Maybe a little of both.
My advice would be not to argue with the whole team (since they ganged up on you), but to pick out a few people who would be willing to listen to your side of the story and speak to them one-on-one. Try to get some allies.
Good luck and welcome to the Straight Dope. You too, cherokei.
Thanks for replying guys!