WHEN POLITICIANS announce cutbacks or various
forms of restraint, there are always people who are disap-

pointed.

Frequently. cabinet ministers
must suffer in silence when
favored programs go under tie
axe. The finance minister has a job
to do.

Budget preliminaries invariably
involve sums greatly in excess of
projected revenues. Ministers,
MLAs, public services and wor-
thwhile causes all Jine up with their
hands outstretched. No matter
how generous the budget, there are
always more losers than winners.

Jaundiced citizens, upon
discovery that a pet project or
grant request has been rejected,
usually don’t take long to find
clear contradictions in policy. They
ask why one grant was approved
and another ¢:rned down.

Often, it faiis to make any sense.
This totally subjective judgment is
frustrating to analyze. It may be
that the president of a charity
plays goif with the appropriate
minister.

Patronage is a factor, although
usually overstated. Access to deci-
sion makers is crucial. That’s why
sensible corporate or personal ap-
plicants use lobbyists: in-
termediaries who can open the ap-

Parents meet

SINGLE PARENTS are invited to
the regular monthly meeting of
Parents Without Partners, Thurs-
day, April 12 at 7 p.m. in the
Chestnut Room of recCentre
Delbrook, 600 West Queens Rd. in
North Vazicouver. .

Counsellor Diane: Comens. will
speak from 7:30 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.
on 101 Ways to Meet Your
Significant Other.

Child care will be available from
7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Maple
Room.

The non-profit,
educational
dedicated to the interests of single
parents and their children and is
involved in community service
projects.

Call 986-9457 for more informa-
tion about the Parents Without
Partners organization or for
meeting reservations.

non-sectarian

Art showcased

REcCENTRE Lonsdale will be
highlighting the talents of its visual}
arts instructors and participants in
an annual art exhibit next week.

The Second Annual! Art
Showcase runs from April 9 to
April 12.

A myriad of works will be on
display, including drawing, paint-
ing, sculpture, photography, car-
tooning, stained glass, calligraphy
and pottery.

An official opening will kick off
the event on Monday, Apri! 9 from
8 p.m. to 10 p.m.

For more information contact
RecCentre Lonsdale at 988-6166.

N.
= AMBLESIDE
| TOYS "N HOBBIES

1425 Marine Dr., West Va

organization is -

propriate doors.

When groups fail to obtain gov-
ernment support for a worthy
undertaking, it is more frequently
a failure of homework and sales-
manship than any governmental
impropriety. If the cause is suit-
able, a well-crafted and patient
campaign can’t miss.

Amateur philosophers may
wander through the thoughts of
Sun Tzu in attempts to capture a
prize, or the more scheming Nic-
colo Machiavelli, but the essential
first step is to realize that the most
awesome weapon is democracy
itself.

wh

Washington, D.C. lawyer and
lobbyist James C. Humes is one of
the most engaging personalities
I’ve ever met. He has been an
elected politician and a speech
writer for three presidents. As an
actor, his Winston Churchill im-
personations have won awards. He
makes a handsome income from
public speeches and his books on
“Podium Humor.”

Years ago, he wrote a book titl-
ed ‘‘How to Get Invited to the
White House.”’ The book was a
series of anecdotes from his pro-
fessional life as a lobbyist. The ti-
tle was just one of many stories.

An affluent client once came to
him asking if he could pull strings
to get him an invitation for dinner
at the White House at an event

Gary

BaNNERMAN

© open lines ¢

where the guest of honor was
Queen Elizabeth If and Prince
Philip. Humes made a few routine
calls to learn that the AAA VIP
list was in effect for what was bill-
ed as the social event of the year.
No luck.

a British state dinner the night be-
fore the White House event, ‘Is
that all?” the official asked. The
invitation was forthcoming.
Humes then called the Presi-
dent’s secretary, ostensibly as a
friend conveying a useful bit of

Democracy is an art. In biblical terms, it
may be more blessed to give than to receive.
In politics, giving is the only route to the

getting.’’

After considerable thought, a
strategy evolved that was to
achieve success. Humes learned
that Her Majesty was scheduled to
open a new museum at the
Rockerfeller-developed Historic
Williamsburg, prior to the
Washington events.

He arranged to have his client
scheduled to present an expensive
gold plate to the museum, engrav-
ed in honor of the visit of Queen
Elizabeth II. Humes was at
Williamsburg armed with a supply
of his client’s business cards, mak-
ing sure that every official from
the British Embassy received one.

The next day, the embassy called
Humes to inquire whether his
client would like a signed portrait
of the Quesn, as a gesture of grati-
tude. Humes replied that the client
would be much happier with an
invitation to dine at the embassy at

Far away is close to home.
Spectacular island setting 150
kilometres north of Vancouver.

¥ Retreats and workshops from May to October. Morning yoga and

meditation, natural history tours,

gourmet vegetarian and seafood #

, cuisine. Arts, music, family week and much more. $75/day, dcuble
occupancy. $575/five day workshop. .

Write for our free 24-page brochure:
Hollyhock, Box 127, Manson's Landing, Cortes Island, B.C, VOP 1KO.

or phone 1-935-6465

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in tees of interion sve and Cumfort, the pew
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Just look at the Passats mynad of standard tea
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advice. He described his client as
“a personal friend’’ of the Royal
Family. Evidence of this, he cited,
was the Williamsburg presentation
and the intivation to the British
dinner, Humes suggested that the
secretary should check the invita-
tion list for the White House gala.

Not wanting to risk a faux pas
by ignoring a Royal friend, the in-
vitation was dispatched by courier
that afternoon.

aka

Democracy is an art.

In biblical terms, it may be more
blessed to give than to receive. In
politics, giving is the only route to
the getting.

Cash donations or voluntary po-
litical work can be effective, but

‘A Place To Go When
You're Pregnant And

Need Support:

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Call 987-7315 © Free Pregnancy Test ° 3

9 - Sunday, April 8, 1990 - North Shore News

they are the least creative devices.
And they backfire frequently.

If large donations become
known, politicians must avoid ap-
pearances of being bought. The
recent Bill Reid affair and situa-
tions like it encourage wiser
ministers to discriminate against
friends,

Before asking for assistance, re-
alize that every conceivable cause
has made a similar request. Be
prepared to demonstrably show
why yours deserves the highest
priority. What's in it for the poli-
tician? Man of the Year? Have you
generated public support? Elected
people search for popular causes to
champion.

Research the decision-maker just
as thoroughly as you research the
subject. It is easier to raise money
for heart and lung disease than it is
for neurological disorders.

Learn the difference between
popular and unpopular diseases. It
is socially acceptable to die of
cancer, It is unsporting to die of
AIDS. Epilepsy — totally treatable
and usually harmless — makes
people uncomfortable and
therefore less willing to finance
research.

When you approach govern-
ment, virtue is not a dependable
form of transport. James Joyce,
the Irish genius, told of a chap ap-
plying for a job at a bank. Grilled
by the manager, he said he didn’t
smoke, drink or run around with
girls.

The manager told him to get
lost. When the applicant protested,
the manager snapped: ‘*You’ll
probably rob the bank.”

926-6242

1852 MARINE DR. WEST VAN

es

4

Z

Safeway
* Super Valu

* Zellers

* Cloverdale Paint
* Vitamin House
* Save-On-Foods
* Woodwards

Watch for our

* deliver

g SHOP THE FLYERS Fa
> sunday ,

Shoppers Drug Mart

* Capilano Nurseryland

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> friday F5
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