Tonight is the first symphony in my concert series for 2009. It is rather the middle of the season. I have noticed some things that disturb me. Some concerts the seats are only half filled. This is said. I enjoy classical music among other types of music and would hate for some great institutions to suffer because of poor attendance and donors. Recently, the Field Museum announced that it had to make some cuts in staff, which won’t directly affect museum operations but because of the stock market they lost money.

Consider the fledgling and shoestring organizations in your own community that may suffer because of lack of funds. Even five, ten or twenty dollars could help an organization. I noticed on the community board at my branch library that there were letters of appeal for two community groups asking for donations. One was asking for in kind donations and volunteers and the other was asking for cash.

When large nonprofit organizations suffer, then you know that the small ones are barely hanging on.

One goal that I have this year is to make a donation to a non-profit for the price of a movie or two Mondo Cappuccinos from Metropolis at least once a month. In Chicago, the price of a movie is about $10. I won’t miss this money if I save my change in a change jar and then send it off each month.