Making a Giant Accountable

I'm an avid Elton John fan!!! He had a concert in Vermont on July 21st. Ben & Jerry's launched a limited Elton John ice cream flavor to honor the artist's first Vermont show and raise money for the Elton John AIDS Foundation. The Vermont performance marked Elton John concerts in all 50 states and we Vermonters like to believe he saved the best for last.

I saw Elton John years ago in Montreal. It was an absolutely fantastic conert and I was disappointed that I could not afford to go this time. I could hear him from my home so I had to be happy with that. I was upset with myself that I spent money on those dang, stupid bridge lessons instead. I traded one great night of enjoyment for 10 lessons of endurement with pushy people. (sigh!)

I decided to make the best of it and drove to one of Ben 'N Jerry's ice cream scoop shops on Tuesday to buy the Ben 'N Jerry's (<--- click to see statement) "Goodbye Yellow Brickle Road" ice cream where the profits were going to benefit the Elton John Foundation for HIV research. There was none of the limited edition ice cream to be had anywhere, and nothing visible or audible that Ben 'N Jerry's had promised would be in their shops such as posters, music, etc. So what did I do to spite my ice cream hungry face? I walked out without buying any ice cream at all. First time I've ever turned away from chocolate cookie dough ice cream.

How could Ben 'N Jerry's run out of ice cream so fast? They ran out on the 21st. They advertized the ice cream would be available through the 25th. They knew it would be a hit so why not plan accordingly? Why did they give away free ice cream at the concert instead of raising even more money for the foundation? Smart advertising on their part. They get all the publicity, produce a very limited amount of ice cream thus limiting the amount donated to the foundation.

Ok, I know no one with Aids. I'm heterosexual with a few gay friends but I believe this foundation to be very important.

I contacted the local news anchor after viewing news of the event. They responded and said that they were taking the ice cream manufaturer to task for a number of promises not quite delivered. Unbeknownst to me, they forwarded my e-mail to Ben 'N Jerry's who in turn contacted me.

I was told they raised $10,000..but just imagine how much more they could have donated if the ice cream had been available for at least a couple more days. I encouraged them to not send this ice cream flavor to their graveyard, revive it and continue the relationship with the Elton John Foundation. (Yes, there actually is a flavor graveyard with tombstones, etc. on the Ben 'N Jerry's property.)

No further commitment from the ice cream giant and this is what I received in the mail....whohooooo!!!! It is good for ONE FREE PINT of ice cream. Don't let the picture on the coupon mislead you there also.

As a side note...............President George W. Bush has not visited Vermont in all of the eight years of his presidency. NOT ONCE!!! Is he also saving the best for last? Presdient Bush....you are running out of time. We are part of the United States and not Quebec (duh!). Could it be that you have not visited because one of our towns voted in Articles of Impeachment against you?