A telemarketers' dream come true.

I, too, have been out of the loop the past few days and will do my best to catch up. I donate to my Alma Mater's scholarship fund once a year. Now, that doesn't stop them from contacting me 6 times a year but I stick to my one donation per year and that usually is in August, I've done that for 36 years. I got a call Saturday afternoon from this young gentleman who is a student at St. Louis University (my Alma Mater) and he, not surprisingly, was asking for a donation. I can't fault him at all, he was doing his job and probably earning a few bucks as well. The young man read his script very well and was a little over the top in enthusiasm whenever I answered one of his questions. "What do you do for a living, Mr. Schulz", he asked. "As little as possible", I replied. "Fascinating!", he bubbled. You got the picture. Bright and early in our conversation, I informed the gentleman that I would not be donating at this time. But he persisted and read more of his script and was thrilled with all my replies. At the end of all this, he asked me again for a donation and again I said no. He acknowledged that he had heard me the first time but it was the first time he had gotten to the end of the prepared script without being cut off or beaten to the punch. He also admitted that he won the contest for the day for the first one on his shift to have accomplished that feat. He thanked me and I wished him well. Ken Schulz