The need for our calendar hits close to home

How frustrating.

We created our online calendar to help nonprofits schedule their fundraising events so as not to conflict with each other. So it's ironic to find that the very first fundraiser hosted by Naples Social Action is now competing with the Naples Zoo's event.

As Homer Simpson would say, "Dou!"

July 14th, our bicyclists will leave Cambier Park at 7 am.

At 8 am, members of the zoo will be given a pre-opening look at the new Jaguar exhibit.

At 9 am, our Tykes Bike around Cambier Park takes off.

Around that same time, the general public is welcome to enter the zoo for this huge media sensation.

The Cancer Alliance of Naples and the Coine Foundation/Naples Social Action are competing for the very same demographic - families - as the Naples Zoo. Both events, and all three groups, lose.

Well, if it makes us feel any better, we set our date first. If we want to feel morally superior, the zoo already had their password to our calendar, so they certainly knew to check the calendar.

But what are you going to do? What would you do?

Our answer? Suck it up. We're listing their event on our calendar anyway, because that is in keeping with the mission of Naples Social Action. We've also invited them to participate in our next fundraiser, the "Animal Lovers' Parade," to be held on Sept 15th. One-time competitors or not, we love animals and we love the Naples Zoo. If they win, how can we lose?

At least we learned empathy from this experience. Now we know first-hand what all of the other nonprofits around town have been living with for generations: the frustration of overlapping fundraisers.

Once we've cleaned up Cambier Park after our event, Jane and I are going to take the girls to the zoo to see the jaguars. We hope you'll ride with us, and then join us at the zoo. That way, everyone wins!