No good deed goes unpunished

[JackDragna]

I'm a regular blood donor that normally goes to the same spot here in Baton Rouge to donate. The group would occasionally call to remind me when I was all right to donate again. Anyway, this Sunday, I get a call from the group at 8 A.M. reminding me that I've been eligible to donate for three weeks, yet I haven't come in. I say I've been busy and haven't been able to get away from my responsibilities to donate. The nice lady on the phone then proceeds to verbally chastise me, not angrily, just in a very patronizing manner, "Well, sir, you really do have an obligation that you're not fulfilling and I'm very disappointed." She tries to get me to commit to a hard date for me to come in and donate..this, from a supposed "charitable" group.

What really burned my bacon, however, was her assertion about that the need for blood is higher because of the "terrorist alerts." I ask her what she meant, if the level had been raised recently and I just didn't notice: her reply was "Oh, you know, the same alert that's been going on since 9/11." I don't remember exactly what she said next, mostly due to my increasing anger, but it was something about how real Americans need to donate blood. She eventually gave up trying to get me to come in at a particular time, told me the walk-in hours for the 5th time during the call and hung up.

I don't know what sort of screwed-up world we live in now where I get the hard-sell, mindless appeal to patriotism approach to getting me to donate blood. I'm wagering the group I've been donating with might make some profit from selling blood to hospitals, as my blood has some kind of rare protein that fights cancer and is sought after for transfusions for cancer patients. I think that next time I donate, I'll just go to the Red Cross.

edited for spelling.

[Robb]

1. Call the boss

Call whoever runs the charity, and let them know the kind of people they have making phone calls. They may be unaware. I know I'd want to know about something like that if I was trying to get blood donors.

[mac56]

2. I agree. Call management.

You should not be getting browbeaten into coming in to donate blood. And trying to guilt you by references to the "terr'ists" is just plain emotional blackmail.

Probably an overzealous employee, but just the same, it needs to be reported.

Add: Especially at 8 AM on a Sunday! Good God.

[MissMillie]

3. Or to your local hospital

Sometimes, it's just best to donate where the blood will be used. Most any hospital will take a blood donation, happily.

[GumboYaYa]

4. I bet that is a for-profit blood center.

I donate platellets (Sp?) once a month. You can actually donate every three days if you have the time. Same thing happened to me with a hostile worker guilting me into donating. I did some research and it turns out that they are a for-profit blood center and the employees got paid by the number of donations they solcit.

Now I go straight to Children's Hospital to donate.

[trof]

5. "But what have you done for us LATELY?"

Unbelievable.
BTW, "no good deed goes unpunished" is one of my favorite sarcasms.

[supernova]

6. Thats really terrible, Jack

I heard recently that the blood supply was really low (like about 1 day's worth), but I've never heard of charity employees sticking it to their best resource, the donors. Why would she think you would want to come back if she treated you so disrespectfully?

Yes, I'd speak to the charity director. That employee should be talked to, disciplined, and/or removed. I bet you're not the only donor she's guilted into donating.

Oh, re: 9-11. You can tell her that most of the blood that was donated immediately after had to be thrown away. There was so much of it, it went bad before it could be used.

Yes, I'd go to the Red Cross or the local hospital.

[ok fine]

7. Dontaing Blood is a good thing

and I could see it as a great way to help out your country. There is almost always a shortage of blood.
SO GO DONATE!

[northzax]

12. well gee, I would

but the list of reasons that I can't gets longer and longer every year. the current best one is because I lived in England at the age of six. (Mad-Cow disease)

I used to donate every six weeks. In the past five years, I have become ineligible. So I'm out. And my entire family, once good for a pint each every six weeks, is out. and my girlfriend (sam reason) is out. The Red Cross still calls my mom's house looking for me, but I can't help. strange rules, that.

[On the Road]

8. Even Without the Bogus 911 Pitch

it was pretty cheeky of them. This is how you lose donors.

[rucky]

10. Blood Services and other orgs...

My wife has worked for a blood bank, and let's just say a majority of the workers (some volunteer, some paid) weren't the most well-adjusted people. Maybe just a coincidence, but my experience working with a non-profit has been similar... there's good people at the top, but it's a mixed bag once you get down to the front lines. Consider it a test of your loyalty to the cause: if you can tolerate the nutcases...

[pansypoo53219]

9. just a bit more

of Bushit bullshit.

[TXlib]

11. "you really do have an obligation that you're not fulfilling"

I would have told the bitch right then and there to put her supervisor on, and told him/her that she had just lost them a donor.

Jeez, what a high-pressure tactic. I can tell you with certainty it was a for-profit site. Donate at a hospital, next time.