Boatworking

As a former fundraiser, I was used to attending networking events. I was also used to my boss “letting me attend” the ones far outside of town.

On one occasion, my coworker and I decided to go together as we were both leads on a peer to peer fundraising event. The event was put on by a local boating club, at a lake almost an hour outside of the city. We imagined the networking event would be at the club restaurant overlooking the marina (complete with a shrimp cocktail spread and punny boating cocktails like “anchors away! aperol spritz”), but when we got to the club, we found out that the event was on the water.

The main contact greeted us with raised eyebrows, told us which BOAT we would be boarding, and recommended we buy our own drinks at the bar before heading down to the docks. It was at least 90 degrees with 200% humidity. My coworker and I were in business attire, and everyone else? Shorts, sunglasses, and even bathing suits.

In a panic, my coworker and I hustled back out to the parking lot and searched through our cars for any other clothes. I luckily had a pair of shorts and a T shirt from a weekend bag because I was going to my parents later that night. My coworker found a pair of black jeans in her trunk.

To save time, we decided to change in the parking lot, rather than using the bar bathroom. (We also didn’t want to risk a bad first impression with potential donors - “Hi, I’m the Special Events Director - yes that is my blazer on the bathroom hook”).

As we hurried back to the bar to prepare for boarding, my coworker immediately began to complain about her jeans. I was worried too because this thing was supposed to last a couple of hours…and heat stroke doesn’t exactly inspire people to donate for kid mentorship opportunities.

When we got inside, my coworker told me that she had an idea, and said I should order drinks for us at the bar since the groups were beginning to board. I saw her go over to the hostess while I ordered the largest, coldest, margaritas they had.

After a few minutes (including an awkward wave to the main contact while double fisting margaritas) I turned to see my coworker come out of the bathroom wearing black, slightly cuffed, jean shorts.

She had asked the hostess for SCISSORS, and had quickly cut her pants off in the bathroom. It was the #mostnonprofit commitment to networking I ever witnessed.

(In the end I think we only secured one team from the entire outing. But the story is worth its weight in unrestricted dollars!)

- Lucy

Austin, Texas