[fundraising] Dining in the Dark questions

[Ronald E. Milliman]

Blaine,

I am sorry that nobody else on this list responded to you; at least, not
through the list.  I know there are several people in affiliates that have
direct experience with putting on a Dining in the Dark event.
Unfortunately, I am not one of them.  However, like Henry Ford once said,
in response to a question: "No, sir, I do not know the answer to your fine
question, but I know something even better.  I know where I can find the
answer, and that I shall do."  

So, in the spirit of Henry Ford, I knew where I could find considerable
information concerning your fine question.  I have the following documents
which I can send to you, and anyone else who is interested: 

Dining in the Dark Manual

This is a manual giving considerable information about how to put on a
Dining in the Dark Event


Dining in the Dark FAQ

This document includes several excellent questions and their answers
concerning putting on a Dining in the Dark Event


Dining in the Dark: Portland Blind Cafe

The author of this document says: "I happen to experience a blind cafe in
Iceland on tour and found it be a profound opportunity to not just be a
novelty where people just 'eat in the dark' but as a multi-facet
opportunity to build community.  So I decided to produce them starting in
Boulder, CO and now we are in Portland, Oregon."  It is an interesting
document to read. 


Dining in the Dark: Would you Dine in the Dark?

This is an interesting document that includes the reactions to several
people who have actually dined in the dark and some reactions of some who
think it is a ridiculous thing to do.


Dining in the Dark Benefit Lighthouse of the Big Bend

This document includes considerable information that could be used as a
guide for creating a press release about your own dining in the dark event.
 The names and details would have to be changed to fit your specific event
and to protect the innocent (or guilty).

If you, or anyone else, want any or all of these documents, just let me
know and I will be glad to share them with you.  I will have to send them
to you as attachments since I don't think I can send attachments through
this list.    

Ron M.
Dr. Ronald E. Milliman, Professor of Marketing, WKU
Chair: ACB PR Committee
Chair: ACB MMS Committee
Member: ACB RDC Committee
President: South Central Kentucky Council of the Blind (SCKCB)


At 01:13 AM 7/30/2010 -0400, you wrote:
>Hello all,
>
>I'd like to get some advise and hints on conducting a Dining in the Dark 
>exercise. I belong to a small chapter of the Pennsylvania Council of the 
>Blind and we've set up a date and time, October 9, a restaurant, a menu 
>selection and nearly 70 sleepmasks. We're also going low priced and 
>tacking on only a five dollar per plate extra for our fund raiser.
>
>Now we need to draft an ad for the area newspapers, radio stations and 
>TV. What would be a good ad?
>
>We also need to come up with some decent presentation for an 
>introduction and a good explanation of what a Dining in the Dark 
>exercise is all about. Any suggestions?
>
>Should we include some other activities for before, during and/or after 
>the meal?
>
>Should we browse among the guests during the meal and chat and offer 
>help and advise? Or not?
>
>Also, should we give the Hostesses and Waitresses some of our 
>Sensitivity Awareness training on how to serve the blind, or not do any 
>training, and let the guests ( and the restaurant staff) find out what 
>it's really like?
>
>Next, if there's anyone out there who's done anything like this, could 
>you throw some Do's and Don'ts at me?
>
>If it isn't clear by now, I'll make it clear now ... we've never done 
>anything like this before.
>
>Thanks for any help,
>Blaine Clark
>_______________________________________________
>fundraising mailing list
>fundraising at acb.org
>http://www.acb.org/mailman/listinfo/fundraising
>
Dr. Ronald E. Milliman, Professor of Marketing, Western Kentucky University

Chair, ACB Public Relations Committee
Chair, ACB Monthly Monetary Support Program (MMS) Committee