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Post by binnylou on Sept 9, 2019 13:14:39 GMT -5
A woman in my home town is sponsoring a balloon release to honor the birthday of her late mother.
I think balloon releases are a terrible idea, a danger to wildlife, and just another form of litter. She posted the info on the town's Facebook page. I'd really like to send her a PM pointing out that there are more Earth friendly ways to honor her mother. Hubby says I should keep quiet.
If I contact her I'm thinking of suggesting she hand out tulip bulbs (or something similar) that could be planted. Come Spring, this small town could be bloomin' tulips. Since she owns the local grocery, a change jar for donations to support the purchase of tulip bulbs could be at the cash register marked as Tulips for Katy.
This woman has done a lot for the town. She stirred up enough interest to start a community garden and have noon meals for the kids during summer when they are not in school. She gives away food items from her store shelves that are close to date. I think if I phrase my suggestion properly, she might be agreeable to finding another way to honor her mother.
Suggestions?
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Post by SpringRain🕊️ on Sept 9, 2019 13:42:16 GMT -5
binnylou , totally agree. I hate balloons, especially those garish ones. And they can be dangerous. People from my father's church gave them to him during various illnesses. Dad kept them in the living room, tied to the arm of his rollator. Once when I turned the ceiling fan on, a balloon that had loosened escaped and was sucked over by the fan, wrapping its string around the base, blocking the on/off switch. I couldn't turn the fan off, I couldn't get anything into the tightly wound cord to cut it, and the can continued to run although it couldn't move, so it heated up. Fortunately, a neighbor who also was a rehabber came over and figured out how to turn the fan off, w/o being attacked by the stuck blades, before it overheated. I would hever have any balloons in my house. I think your suggestion of tuplips for Katy is excellent. It would be such a nice memorial to her mother, one that could be enjoyed for years by people in the town. Tulips are at least semi-permanent (mine tend to eventually produce less and less), and would be a visible memorial. But I think I'd approach it on that level - a permanent memorial, as opposed to the wildlife danger or trash issue, wherever the balloons end up. Given that she's so generous, it can also be an opportunity for the town residents to express their gratitude, with something more permanent and visible. (And lovely). There have also been too many reports of wlldife or marine life with plastic in their stomachs. In a rural area, that might be more of a consideration than in a more metropolitan area, so I think people would understand. If you can afford it, you might avoid discussion of the issue by just telling her this is your way of honoring Katy by giving her some bulbs (perhaps in Katy's favorite color), and get the ball rolling. She may not even have thought of a concept such as a floral memorial.
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Post by desertwoman on Sept 9, 2019 14:52:34 GMT -5
I agree. She sounds like a very good hearted woman. Perhaps she just never thought it through and/or saw a memorial balloon release somewhere else which caught her attention.
Just choose your words carefully: educational not confrontational. In the end she will do what she pleases but you may have been able to have an impact on her awareness- nothing wrong with that! Keep us posted!
ps I love the tulip idea, as well. In fact, I have done something on that order- though not as a memorial. I simply plant tulips anonymously in surprising places around the community, where someone might least expect a splash of beauty and wonder.
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Post by octave1 on Sept 9, 2019 22:27:44 GMT -5
I can't stand balloons and those who release them. Flying trash.
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Post by lilolpeapicker on Sept 10, 2019 9:31:10 GMT -5
binnylou, SpringRain🕊️, desertwoman, octave1, Sometimes people are not aware there are good options. I see no harm in making other suggestions but be aware she may get confrontational or she may be delighted to have options
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Post by Mumsey on Sept 11, 2019 4:39:38 GMT -5
binnylou , You might approach it by pointing out that maybe a more lasting remembrance would be something people could see year after year, like tulips, or even daffodils. Is there an area in the town where people could actually go and plant the bulbs as a group? Then meet there yearly to add more. I know tulips are a big draw in your area (I'm thinking Pella) in the Spring, perhaps your home town could be a rival!
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Post by SpringRain🕊️ on Sept 11, 2019 10:34:28 GMT -5
Mumsey , great idea to consider turning this into a town project, from year to year. It might also give people who aren't gardeners an opportunity to start simply. Or if there's a Girl Scout group or 4H or similar club, it might be undertaken as an annual project.
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Post by tom 🕊 on Sept 11, 2019 11:52:50 GMT -5
I think balloon releases are a terrible idea, a danger to wildlife, and just another form of litter. She posted the info on the town's Facebook page. I'd really like to send her a PM pointing out that there are more Earth friendly ways to honor her mother. Hubby says I should keep quiet. I agree with your husband. You should not approach the woman about this matter at this time. Instead, talk to the mayor about the practice, talk to city commissioners about it, talk to religious leader about it. These are persons who are in a position to discourage the practice broadly. www.fws.gov/news/blog/index.cfm/2015/8/5/balloons-and-wildlife-please-dont-release-your-balloons
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Post by binnylou on Sept 11, 2019 14:11:57 GMT -5
You should not approach the woman about this matter at this time. Instead, talk to the mayor about the practive, talk to city commissioners about it, talk to religious leader about it. tom 🕊, This balloon release is the third annual event. The town's population is less than 450.
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Post by tom 🕊 on Sept 11, 2019 15:30:22 GMT -5
This balloon release is the third annual event. If she has done this twice before, people expect it of her and will want to know why not if it doesn't continue.
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