Conversation and Coffee has a Dramatic Performance!

September's program was an engaging performance of three dramatic vignettes on a single theme; not of asking for a gift, but on moving toward the gift.  We were moved and enthralled by the performances of the GCPGC Players:  Margaret Gaither, Ken Goode, Jim Friedman and director/actor Mindy Hammer. 

The first act was a triumph, with Ken Goode as the curmudgeonly-but-caring board member; Jim Friedman as the dedicated-and-dashing executive director; and Mindy as the effervescent-and-dogged development officer.  Mindy, with the able help of Jim, slowly unveils Ken's connection and passion as it relates to their organization.  The act is a slow and careful dance of discovery for the organization.  The desired action is a step closer to the organization and greater engagement which will lead to a gift, not the gift itself.

The second act is a simpler yet still engaging interaction between Margaret, the wise-beyond-her-years development professional with a community foundation, and Jim as the no-nonsense community philanthropist.  Throughout this act, Margaret allows Jim to lead while occasionally nudging him toward discussing his philanthropic interests and goals.  Again this story's resolution is not a gift, or even an ask, but rather a continuation toward that goal.  Like someone searching for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, Margaret continues her quest, ever hopeful having secured her next meeting.

The third act is a triumph of self restraint.  Ken plays our protagonist meeting with the Holy Grail of planned giving prospects; the single, childless and social conscious longtime donor Margaret.  Ken's preparation for the meeting and long-term relationship with this donor are obvious.  However he still plays it cool.  Margaret has many questions about her long-term financial stability and her philanthropy to Ken's organization.  Ken steers Margaret toward a meeting with him and her advisors, not toward a cookie-cutter solution using a gift from the last seminar he attended.

 It would have been cheap and easy had this group oversimplified the complex and involved process that is a planned giving ask; to portray themselves as super heroes who swoop in and produce lightening-fast results.  Rather, they took the hard road of simple and real, allowing the subtleties of their art to capture and inform us.  While there are those that pledge it is "better to burn out than fade away," this production showed us the value of substance and knowledge.  Slow and steady wins the race and this was an informative treat for all who were lucky enough to witness it.