Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2009 9:52:04 GMT -6
The PE thread got me thinking I should post this topic for discussion.
Suppose you have a supporter who has a genuine and deep interest in the football program. How do you handle it when the guy makes a gift to your program that he believes will help your weight room routine (doesn't matter the instrument, just the idea) but it doesn't really fit in with the strength training philosophy.
Personally you'd rather have a gift of a better editing software or a gross of blank DVDs, or another TV, etc. but he made a specific gift.
Now this guy is going to be in the school from time to time working out and coaching a traveling team that practices in the gym. So you can't just ditch the thing, and if it's not out in the open you know he'll ask. He made a kind gesture that he thought was a well-informed one, but it's just not a great one.
You've left the thing in the corner with the plyo boxes, ladders, etc. so everyone can use it but takes up too much room and now PE wants it moved (and legitimately so).
You can appreciate the gift, but really have no purpose with it. And it would be noticed if it were gone.
Thoughts on this?
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Post by touchdownmaker on Feb 27, 2009 10:02:03 GMT -6
It was broken and became a liability issue
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Post by coachd5085 on Feb 27, 2009 10:05:51 GMT -6
The PE thread got me thinking I should post this topic for discussion. Suppose you have a supporter who has a genuine and deep interest in the football program. How do you handle it when the guy makes a gift to your program that he believes will help your weight room routine (doesn't matter the instrument, just the idea) but it doesn't really fit in with the strength training philosophy. Personally you'd rather have a gift of a better editing software or a gross of blank DVDs, or another TV, etc. but he made a specific gift. Now this guy is going to be in the school from time to time working out and coaching a traveling team that practices in the gym. So you can't just ditch the thing, and if it's not out in the open you know he'll ask. He made a kind gesture that he thought was a well-informed one, but it's just not a great one. You've left the thing in the corner with the plyo boxes, ladders, etc. so everyone can use it but takes up too much room and now PE wants it moved (and legitimately so). You can appreciate the gift, but really have no purpose with it. And it would be noticed if it were gone. Thoughts on this? Seems like the mistake was made at the beginning. Unless this thing just showed up mysteriously at the door, OR it was arranged by a previous staff, when the gift was first discussed/given...that is the opportunity to say how much you appreciate the effort and kindness, but you feel those efforts and kindness would be more useful for the FOOTBALL program in another avenue. of course, hindsight is 20/20. I would be upfront with the supporter. That seems to have a higher likelihood of keeping support than just hoping nobody notices... |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2009 10:53:19 GMT -6
More like, "hey guys I ordered this piece of equipment for you and it should be arriving soon. Enjoy!"
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Post by touchdownmaker on Feb 27, 2009 10:57:01 GMT -6
sounds more like he ordered it for himself.
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Post by coachd5085 on Feb 27, 2009 11:17:01 GMT -6
More like, "hey guys I ordered this piece of equipment for you and it should be arriving soon. Enjoy!" Well, again 20/20 hindsight, but I would have stopped it right there and tried my very very very best to get the give the gift in a form I could use. |
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Post by jgordon1 on Feb 27, 2009 11:34:40 GMT -6
What was it? can another program use it? Could it go to a middle school?
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Post by coachcb on Feb 27, 2009 14:47:01 GMT -6
The piece of equipment was ordered and paid for by the time anyone in the staff knew about it.
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Post by touchdowng on Feb 27, 2009 15:56:50 GMT -6
Irishblitzer
You could just try good ole fashioned honesty.
Mr. &&&&&, Thanks for thinking of us but the widget just doesn't fit the philosophy of our workout program. I could give you more detail on what we do but don't want to bore you.
Maybe we could find a program/school that could benefit from your generosity?
If he's insulted, then he was doing it for himself. If he's cool with that then he just wants to help kids.
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Post by airraider on Feb 27, 2009 22:05:22 GMT -6
Im just wondering how many coaches on here know what the term "gift horse" is referring to??
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2009 23:48:56 GMT -6
touchdowng, great idea.
airraider, as much as I know it has to do with being able to tell a horse's age by looking at its teeth so if someone gives you a horse, don't look at its teeth to see if it's old==in other words be grateful for the gift and dont look for hidden value or lack thereof.
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Post by outlawjoseywales on Feb 28, 2009 0:03:25 GMT -6
you know, I think I can see what the problem was with this "gift horse" you know, I jus sayin'  I mean, it could bite you. OJW |
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Post by wingtol on Feb 28, 2009 9:05:32 GMT -6
Why not say well since it wasn't ordered through the school or by the school for liability reasons we sorry but we cant use it.
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Post by justryn2 on Feb 28, 2009 9:32:21 GMT -6
I'm with touchdowng on this one; be completely honest and tell the guy exactly why you can't use this particular piece of equipment. If that upsets him then his motives weren't genuine to begin with, which I suspect is the case. If he generally wanted to help your program he likely would have asked what you could use. One thing I would do though. Instead of just moving the thing to a closet or storage space, return it to him. Have it delivered to his door.
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Post by airraider on Feb 28, 2009 9:33:27 GMT -6
touchdowng, great idea. airraider, as much as I know it has to do with being able to tell a horse's age by looking at its teeth so if someone gives you a horse, don't look at its teeth to see if it's old==in other words be grateful for the gift and dont look for hidden value or lack thereof. That sounds about right to me.. The reason I asked.. I argued with one of our History teachers one day on this.. He swore up and down it had to do with the Trojan Horse. |
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Post by outlawjoseywales on Feb 28, 2009 9:43:04 GMT -6
Airraider,
it is amazing sometimes when people educated beyond their intellect.
I was just jokin' there with my little gift horse picture.
You can tell a lot about a horse by looking at it's teeth, as they tend to move forward with age and the years of grinding dirt and grass wear them down. So if you were buying a horse that would be one of the things that you check along with a number of others.
The expression is having to do with not being a jerk when someone gives you something. Someone gives you something you say thanks, so you don't seem like an ingrate.
The expression that is tied to the Trojan Horse is, "Beware of Greeks bearing gifts."
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tedseay
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Post by tedseay on Mar 1, 2009 5:40:17 GMT -6
"Beware of Greeks bearing gifts." ...to say nothing of geeks baring grift. |
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Post by khalfie on Mar 1, 2009 14:22:14 GMT -6
Again... this thread is pure Comedy Gold!
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Post by coachorr on Mar 1, 2009 16:45:56 GMT -6
Being from Idaho and having been around horses all my life as well as a history teacher of Western Civilizations, I can assure you that it has to do with it being an insult to be given a horse and checking its teeth before you will take it. This act will result as an insult to the giver. I prefer the expression, "Be careful not to bytch about a back rub (changed back rub to from the original vernacular so as to not be offensive).
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Post by outlawjoseywales on Mar 1, 2009 17:58:39 GMT -6
Ted, You are too funny there guy. When I was in college, I would have been in favor of Greeks "baring" anything...well...as long as they were from a sorority.  |
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Post by khalfie on Mar 1, 2009 20:54:52 GMT -6
The more I think about it...
Wouldn't you want to look a gift horse in the mouth?
I'm just a poor city boy... and the closests I've ever come to owning a horse, was a great dane when I was 8...
But just thinking out of the box... you have to house, feed, and maintain a horse...
If the horse is a piece of crap, all you are really getting is a liability. What do people do with dead horses? How much does it cost to bury a horse?
I'm not sayin... I'm just sayin...
If I was really slick, and had some horses on their death bed... I''m sure I'd make them "gift horses."
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Post by outlawjoseywales on Mar 1, 2009 21:16:18 GMT -6
You do realize that we have totally hijacked this poor guys thread and made it into a joke. He's really serious about this thing, I just can't believe some of you people-the nerve.  Nothing like a bunch of pirates.  |
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Post by jpdaley25 on Mar 2, 2009 7:53:52 GMT -6
I'm dying to know what this piece of equipment is. Maybe I could use it.
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Post by utchuckd on Mar 2, 2009 8:07:22 GMT -6
Does it mean I'm getting old if I would just as soon have the back rub than the original?
I'd say this comes from a time when horses were much more common around the homestead and it wasn't quite a big deal to keep one up. To update the phrase would probably be 'Don't check the carfax report on a car somebody gives you the keys to.'
Irish- I'd agree that honesty is the best policy. It's prolly best just to tell him straight up it doesn't fit what we are trying to do.
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Post by CoachDaniel on Mar 2, 2009 11:46:43 GMT -6
I'm dying to know what this piece of equipment is. Maybe I could use it. From what I can tell, they received a horse. An old one. And should just be happy that soldiers didn't come pouring out of it in the middle of the night and conquer their school. But I may be confused |
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Post by bobgoodman on Mar 2, 2009 12:18:37 GMT -6
I'm with touchdowng on this one; be completely honest and tell the guy exactly why you can't use this particular piece of equipment. If that upsets him then his motives weren't genuine to begin with, which I suspect is the case. If he generally wanted to help your program he likely would have asked what you could use. One thing I would do though. Instead of just moving the thing to a closet or storage space, return it to him. Have it delivered to his door. I guess that's better than wearing the scratchy sweater just when the aunt who made it for you shows up. |
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Post by outlawjoseywales on Mar 2, 2009 14:02:48 GMT -6
joe4372, I think you're right on that one. But guy, we really have to get serious here, no more cutting up, this guy needs help with his "gift horse" Can you believe how cold it is down here in Florida today, I need some warmer clothes, my aunt sent me something, think I'll try it on.  |
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Post by phantom on Mar 2, 2009 14:47:40 GMT -6
You do realize that we have totally hijacked this poor guys thread and made it into a joke. He's really serious about this thing, I just can't believe some of you people-the nerve. Nothing like a bunch of pirates. Point taken: 1. Irish, can the PE department use it? Is there room for it in the weight room? 2. What the he11 do you do with a dead horse? My Lab died recently and burying her was a chore. |
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Post by outlawjoseywales on Mar 2, 2009 17:03:51 GMT -6
Probably NOT going to be a shock to y'all but I actually do live at a horse ranch. (no, I'm not kidding, there's no punch line)
Phantom, you are right, it is a big deal.
It costs a lot to "put down" a horse. Of course horses are an expensive hobby y'all.
But if they die of natural causes, the county people have to come out and certify stuff. Then there's a little fee to pay. Then you just get out the old backhoe and pick out a nice spot and dig the hole Then you just pick up ol' Bessy with the Front-end loader and have a quant little funeral.
Now, if you just have the funeral you don't have to get those pesky revenuers involved.
Might not be a bad deal for the rest of us.
Now how this thread went from "gift horse" to "dead horse" is something else entirely.
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Post by utchuckd on Mar 2, 2009 17:43:03 GMT -6
Now how this thread went from "gift horse" to "dead horse" is something else entirely. Everybody kept beating the gift horse until it became, well, you know... |
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