Slog - Comments on Trash Contributions http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/trash_contributions_1 The downtown Pride parade: The bears in bubbles, the butches on bikes, the booze. It was all very fab and all very downtown. The question on my mind now is whether the downtown parade is sustainable. Considering the exorbitant cost of holding a rally in Seattle Center, can Seattle Out and Proud pay for this thing in years to come? After SOaP’s enormous debt fiasco last year, we were promised a big donation drive this year, and we ‘mos who hauled our gay asses downtown first thing on Sunday morning were prepared to contribute. In comments, Giffy shares the same... Copyright 2008 Mon, 25 Jun 2007 15:44:59 -0800 Tue, 26 Jun 2007 09:26:45 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by NaFun There were people walking the parade itself with fishing nets angling for donations as well. I gave a couple times.

]]> NaFun http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/trash_contributions_1#c751144 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/trash_contributions_1#c751144 Homo Mon, 25 Jun 2007 15:59:07 -0800 Comment by Suz I saw a bunch of folks walking the parade route with baskets and nets. We gave some $$$.

]]> Suz http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/trash_contributions_1#c751315 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/trash_contributions_1#c751315 Homo Mon, 25 Jun 2007 16:15:09 -0800 Comment by elswinger I would start lining up corporate sponsorship now and start collecting donations now too. The Stranger and other NW blogs could work with organizers to devote online ads to solicit donations. Organizers could also, probably, set up bleachers, like Seafair, and sell VIP seating.

]]> elswinger http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/trash_contributions_1#c751338 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/trash_contributions_1#c751338 Homo Mon, 25 Jun 2007 16:16:48 -0800 Comment by Dominic Holden Hey, commenters. Slog's back-end fritzed out on me and and a couple of your comments were lost. Sorry!

]]> Dominic Holden http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/trash_contributions_1#c751348 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/trash_contributions_1#c751348 Homo Mon, 25 Jun 2007 16:17:49 -0800 Comment by coffeeboss We saw the people in the parade with the vague "Donate to Pride" signs, all holding out their lacrosse nets (or what have you) for change. My pals and I were baffled. What did "Pride" mean? Donate to the parade? To a specific prideful group? To feeling proud of ourselves? Who were these people? Who did this money go to?

We were suspicious enough to NOT give because the vague message. So the garbage can makes me laugh. Suggestion: Make it CLEAR what you are gathering money for if you want anything from me: "Donate to putting on yet another a fabulous Pride Parade! Love, your Dear Organizers who don't want to be in debt again for providing free entertainment for the masses."

]]> coffeeboss http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/trash_contributions_1#c751360 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/trash_contributions_1#c751360 Homo Mon, 25 Jun 2007 16:22:01 -0800 Comment by NapoleonXIV Maybe we can sell the naming rights to the parade!

]]> NapoleonXIV http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/trash_contributions_1#c751361 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/trash_contributions_1#c751361 Homo Mon, 25 Jun 2007 16:22:05 -0800 Comment by Polka Party Coffeeboss, I agree. I gave because it looked legit, but my friend did not. If volunteers carrying the fishnets had clear identification (i.e., SOaP T-shirt or large badge, etc.) that would have helped.

]]> Polka Party http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/trash_contributions_1#c751387 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/trash_contributions_1#c751387 Homo Mon, 25 Jun 2007 16:33:06 -0800 Comment by LBD I agree that it was very difficult to figure out whether the donation collectors in the parade were legitimately connected with the event organizers.

]]> LBD http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/trash_contributions_1#c751631 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/trash_contributions_1#c751631 Homo Mon, 25 Jun 2007 17:35:52 -0800 Comment by Maggie Toronto has volunteers with a giant-ass rainbow flag (elementary school parachute-style), both near the start of the parade and end of the parade.

Everyone tosses their money on as they go by.

Oh, and during the day they give out stickers with your word of choice on it (bi, gay, str8, top, bitch, slut....) when you give a $2 donation.

]]> Maggie http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/trash_contributions_1#c751890 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/trash_contributions_1#c751890 Homo Mon, 25 Jun 2007 19:14:41 -0800 Comment by Gitai The Parade isn't the problem. As past stories have noted, the Parade is profitable. It was the festival that wasn't profitable last year.

]]> Gitai http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/trash_contributions_1#c751935 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/trash_contributions_1#c751935 Homo Mon, 25 Jun 2007 19:57:47 -0800 Comment by Dominic Holden True, Gitai, the parade on its own breaks even. But a Pride Parade without a rally afterward would be a total letdown. Also, more folks would skip the parade if there wasn't a party to attend. To make sure that doesn't happen, SOaP needs to cover a big debt from last year and figure out how to bring in the cash--but lots of folks who would have willingly shelled out some bucks last Sunday didn't know where to put their donations.

SOaP is doing something great by holding the parade downtown, but unless they organize a financially sustainable event worth attending year after year (or another organization that can do it takes the reigns), downtown Pride will kinda suck.

]]> Dominic Holden http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/trash_contributions_1#c752146 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/trash_contributions_1#c752146 Homo Mon, 25 Jun 2007 23:53:42 -0800 Comment by Touring OK. So they charged $4 - $5 per beer at PrideFest, which is fine, and they may have actually sold out of all their beer by the end. The beer garden was huge yet at the proceeds from the beer garden were going to charity. I am all for giving to charity but I think we need to get our priorities straight and pay the bills first. I think this was done because the LGBT Center was complaining about how they are so incredibly charitiable and OneDegreeEvents is not.

]]> Touring http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/trash_contributions_1#c752378 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/trash_contributions_1#c752378 Homo Tue, 26 Jun 2007 09:26:45 -0800