Kiwanis President response

Mr Pullis,

I appreciate your input regarding the Kiwanis Peanut Day sale at the stop
signs in St. Anthony.  To clarify some points to your questions, yes, we do
go to the City Council and receive permission to be able to continue a
tradition that has been in place for almost 60 years.  This is our one major
fundraiser each year that facilitates the funds for the kid's organization
that we support within our city.  The city council actually proclaims Peanut
Day for the Kiwanis and the proper steps are taken each year for that
permission.

As far as girl scouts selling cookies or football teams selling raffle
tickets I think you recognize immediately there is a difference.  We're not
asking people to stop and fill in a form, pick a flavor, take an opinion
poll, etc. As far as favoring the organization I think the only favoring
that is done is allowing a tradition to continue.  Sometimes, if we can stop
long enough in our busy and harried lifes we might find that continuing some
traditions are a good thing.  What's wrong really with signs being posted up
and down the street to warn that the sale is going on, and you having  to
stop for two seconds or hey maybe even a minute in your life to say good
morning to someone and either take a pack of peanuts and give money in
return or , just take the pack of peanuts and move on?  Are we really so
overtaken with time in our life that a minute means that much?

We appreciate your input and have to tell you that in 50+ years of the
Kiwanis selling peanuts on the corner of our village - not one accident or
injury has occurred.  I would be more inclined to think an accident is more
likely to occur from someone who is exhibiting impatience than one occurring
because someone took "a minute" out of their life for the day.

We wish you well and should probably let you know that the peanut day takes
place usually the last week in September every year.  We hope that this
inconvenience one day a year is really not too much for people to accept.

Regards,

Dianne Sparks,
President St. Anthony Kiwanis