Tuesday, April 15, 2008 - Take My Awards, Please!

The pleasure in receving an award dims quickly when the realization hits -- now what? What am I going to do with it? The first couple were exciting and went right up on the wall over my desk. I would occasionally gaze up at them, proud of my accomplishments. My own little Ego Wall.

Over the next several years, I would hang the plaques after the awards ceremony, but mostly because it seemed that that was what you did with plaques -- you put them up. Then around 2002 or 2003, it looks like I just dropped out of real estate, because after that, the plaques went straight into a box.

I remember all my Dad's trophies and plaques for golf and bowling, mostly because it was my job to dust them every weekend. I loved his five hole-in-one trophies. I hated dusting them. I suspect they all went into the trash can during one of his moves.

I hate the idea of filling the landfill with these things, but I just don't want them anymore. And in asking around, I find that there a lots of other people - in lots of fields, not just real estate - who would love to find a place to donate their plaques.

A search online found a company that was willing to take them, but the posting was 9 months old. Sure enough, when I went to the website, there was an announcement:

We would like to thank everyone that donated trophies. We are currently over stocked and can no longer take any more. We may start again in the future. Please keep checking back here for more information on donating trophies.

However, here is one of the plaques that they make, which seems easy enough. Looks like decoupage to me. So if there are any organizations out there who want my old plaques for a little DIY, they're here for the taking. And I'm sure I can get you more if you like.

(C) Susan Pruden.