Tuesday, Sep. 15, 2009

Kids Day was a great day in the Tri-Cities

By Ken Robertson, Herald Executive Editor

Since I first started selling newspapers as a carrier in my hometown more than 50 years ago, my customers have fascinated me.

I learned early on that a big story sold more papers — I sold out of all the papers I could afford to buy on Aug. 17, 1959, when a major earthquake shook southwestern Montana, tumbled a mountainside onto a campground, dammed the Madison River and killed at least 28 people.

And I learned that my customers appreciated a dry, on-time paper delivered to the right spot, which prompted generous Christmas tips — some as high as $10 or more. In today’s terms, a comparable Christmas tip would be more than $80.

Since coming to the Herald more than 33 years ago, I’ve occasionally delivered a paper route during a mechanical emergency, and on a number of times I’ve taken papers to customers who missed theirs and called after hours. These events always remind me how important the newspaper is to many of our readers.

So with that background, each year when I sell Kids Day papers to raise money for Catholic Family & Child Service I’ve paid attention to what prompts people to dig out a $1 bill — and sometimes $5, $20 or more — and I’ve also noticed those who don’t.

Along that line, a few observations:

1. I didn’t sell a single paper this year to a cell phone yakker — though I did notice that cell phone use while driving appears to have declined markedly since it was banned. This year it appeared only one in every 15 or 20 drivers was talking on a cell.

2. Women, in my totally unscientific visual poll, made up the vast majority of cell users. I saw only one man on a cell and a dozen or more women. And yes, one of them was gabbing and applying what appeared to be makeup. I moved as far as I could from the roadway as she passed.

3. People in Mercedes-Benzes and BMWs are unlikely to buy a paper. (I’m reassessing the Hummer crowd because on Tuesday I sold my first paper to a Hummer driver.)

4. The folks who drive a Toyota Prius — based on a limited sample — are as thrifty with $1 bills as their cars are with gas. This is a new category this year, so I’ll keep an open mind.

5. Women are much more likely than men to dive into their purses for $1. And they smile happily about doing it.

6. Folks who are driving an aging car with peeling paint and a ding or two are excellent prospects. Perhaps because they’ve benefited or they can identify, they’re pretty generous on Kids Day.

7. Most Tri-Citians were having a great day on a warm, sunny Tuesday morning. They were smiling, waving, cheery and made me happy to live in the Tri-Cities.

So thanks to the 40-plus folks who bought from me and to the thousands more who picked up a paper from the scores of volunteers across the Tri-Cities.

w Ken Robertson: 582-1520; krobertson@tricityherald.com

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