By Rachel Morse, Staff Writer
University offices and yards are targets for being “flocked,” the Relay For Life committee’s term for posting their collection of yard or paper flamingos, said Caleb Howard, event chairman.
Relay For Life is an annual fundraising event for the American Cancer Society. It will be April 13-14.
The committee is using “flocking” as a way to encourage faculty participation and fundraising leading up to the annual spring event, Howard said.
If “flocked” by the yard flamingos, faculty can have them removed for $25 or sent to another yard for $30. They can also purchase insurance for $10 to protect themselves from the flock.
Moose Tyler, instructor of mass communications, was the first recipient of the office “flock,” Howard said.
The paper flamingos are $10 to be removed, $15 to send to another office, and $5 for insurance.
“We want to get faculty involved with the mission and the whole idea of Relay For Life,” Howard said. “This was a way to do that and a way for faculty and students to connect on the issue.”
Using “tacky” lawn ornaments for fundraising is a national Relay tactic, he said. The campus’s committee members advertised on campus with the same approach.
“I think it’s a great P.R. tool,” Howard said. “We are always looking to add flamingos to the flock to make it even bigger,” he said. Flocking will help get the word out for this year’s Relay, said Hailey Blanton, survivorship chairwoman and early childhood education junior.
“When people see the flamingos and signs, that will get them curious and ask what it is for,” she said.
The committee’s 15 yard flamingos have made their way to Wilson House’s yard, Howard said.
“If you buy insurance for your office you still could get flocked by the yards,” he said. “They are two separate fundraisers with the same theme.”
Faculty who find themselves the recipient of a “flock” will receive a pink flier explaining payment and the committee’s contact information, Howard said. The committee will collectively decide on who will be next if they choose not to resend the flock.
“We ask ourselves who we think would have the most fun with it and be a good sport,” he said.
The committee has received only positive feedback from the flocking although there have been many emails about buying insurance, Haward said.
“People are excited,” he said. “They don’t really want to be flocked, but they think it’s a great cause.”
The faculty flocking will help the committee’s goal in raising $40,000 to 50,000 for the American Cancer Society, Howard said.
