story by: dave king

The digital age, environmental concerns, and an era when fewer people are ​sending Christmas cards has resulted in time being called on a festive fund-​raiser.

For the past eight years, the Rotary Club of Lindum Lincoln has sold Christmas ​cards to raise funds for End Polio Now.

Organiser Simon Kalson explained that the initiative was very much a Rotary club ​community project. “Each purchasing club shared the profits as a donation ​credited to their End Polio Now account which was pro-rata to the number of ​cards purchased,” he explained.

“This has precisely the same effect as a cash donation from the club.”

Using 2023 as an example, the co-operative Rotary effort meant that when a ​Rotary club bought a pack of 10 cards for £4.80, £2.73 went to End Polio Now and ​when double matched by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation that figure ​amounted to £8.19.

Over the past eight year, the appeal has raised £46,645 ($59,278) which when ​double matched equates to £178,000.

Simon admitted that the number of clubs ordering Christmas cards has declined.

He said: “Although 2023 was our best year to date it was a tough one, we secured ​a one-time only commercial sale of several hundred packs of cards, which ​enabled us to get a good print price, and lower average carriage cost.

“Without it, the profit per pack would have still been good, but the total profit ​and sales would have been much lower than three years ago.

“Many clubs ordered fewer packs and many didn't order, whilst some told us ​they struggled to get orders from their members, so the volume was achieved ​with a greater number of smaller orders. This adds to the workload and time ​spent on administration, packing and despatch.

“Several Rotary clubs quoted environmental issues as the reason. With the ​paper, pulp and print industry having a third of the global carbon footprint ​compared with digital storage, this is not an argument I personally support, ​especially since the industry plants three trees for every one it takes down, so it ​should not be compared with forestry clearance.”

Simon also pointed to the increased postal costs as adding to the downturn in ​sales. “The cost of posting an individual card has gone up once already this year, ​and no doubt will increase again before Christmas, so this is definitely having a ​negative effect, although it is still special to receive a hand-written card rather ​than an electronic version,” he added.

“We have reluctantly taken the decision not to continue with the Christmas cards, ​so as to leave on a high, rather than endure the inevitable decline and possible ​loss.

“Thank you so much to the Rotary clubs for all your support over the last eight ​years. It has been a very special project, and my club is very proud of what we ​have achieved.

“Please continue to support End Polio Now in as many ways as you can - we can't ​afford to take our foot off the pedal for a few more years yet.”