May 29 – Giant victory!!!

Two things make this week special.

First, the Vancouver Giants won the Memorial Cup. Since I will never get to see a Stanley Cup Canucks victory up close – they may win one, but I can’t swing the $500 per ticket it would cost – I gladly take Sunday as one of my top sporting events attended of all time. And the post-game entertainment of Loverboy; it was like 1988 all over again, except for the fact that I saw Mike Reno sell his red leather pants for charity last year.

Second, I/we crossed the $5000 mark in donations raised. Grateful thanks go out to the list of heroes who have made it possible. I have raised the new target to $8000, and there it will stay. Making five grand was enough of a dream for one guy and a bad mop, but if I don’t keep going some people will not donate, abrogating their responsibility in view of ‘well, he already made his target’.

Now, it’s back on the road with the Scorpions until June 15. Keep those donations coming.













xoxo

Rob

May 27 – and we round the clubhouse turn…

Friday was a tough night. I had Giants semi-final tickets, for the game starting at 5:00 (thank you, Eastern time zone!), and the grad for adult education started at 6:30. What to do; what to do…

Easy – go to the game; DON’T DRINK; then beetle off to grad. Good thing I was a man and told people of my absence beforehand, otherwise the jobs I usually help out with would not have been covered, and that would’ve looked bad.

The Giants won 8-1, so the final is a repeat of the WHL final – VanCity vs. Medicine Hat for all bragging rights. As you can see from the picture, Medicine Hat plays like the Minnesota Wild – just jam the front with everybody and slow the game down. It works, but it’s not fun to watch. Good thing Loverboy is the post-game entertainment. I’ll have someone to compare hair to! (Photos to follow.)

Today marks the beginning of the three week push to the June 15 conclusion. Many people are looking forward to coming and witnessing the haircut. Rita Ringdahl, the elementary school teacher that shares our building, has asked me to confirm the 1:00 clip time, so her class can attend. Bless her and them, they’re collecting coins for the cause. As well, my mother-in-law is coming out from Toronto to watch, both to confirm to my wife and mother that the cut is in fact being done. [I know; I wouldn’t trust me either.]

The overall total has been raised to $8000 – and that’s where it will stay. Damn those cheap teachers who are looking for a way out; I have to keep upping the goal because the total I have so far demands it.

I am blessed by the people who have donated. I am blessed by the people who will donate.

Rob

ps - Go Giants Go!

May 24 – Effectively three weeks to go!

The Vancouver Giants are 2&1, but because the team they lost to is also 2&1, the Giants have to play a semi-final game on Friday, whereas Medicine Hat gets to advance to Sunday’s final. And now I’m down a Vince, because he’s moved to London, UK. I took him to a game before he left; the left is the hair I have, the right is the hair I will be.

The sad part about losing the hair is seeing people’s reactions to it. Three years ago, I met John Ralston Saul, husband of then Governor General Adrienne Clarkson. I was quite clipped then, and fit in with the general tenor of the evening and conversation. A very pleasant man; we got along well, despite my lack of respect for the position his wife held, and the School Board’s fear I might bring those points up. (Contrary to opinion, I do know how to behave given the situation.) The other person is a student, Kurt Driver (remember, I work in adult education), who was invited to present to Mr. Ralston Saul on behalf of the Roberts Centre.

Look at the other picture. That’s me with BC Premier Gordon Campbell from back in November. Oh sure, he’s smiling, but it’s a look of “Is this guy in the right place…security, …SECURITY!!!” THAT’S the look I’ll miss when the hair’s gone; the one that makes people look for their wallet once they have ‘done their time’.

I am still deliberating as to whether to raise the goal. I think I will, given the number of emails to go out (again), but I will decide on which number in a couple of days. I will let Friday be the deciding day. I’m still using 90% of target as the deciding factor. I’m hoping that, with three weeks to go, people will get on board at the end the way others have gotten on board from the start.

Until then, remember: hassle everyone you know into donating. I’m cutting the hair, but let’s make it memorable.

May 22 – Memorial Cup weekend

The Giants are 2-0 so far. Lewiston can complain all they want, but the scoreboard tells the truth of the matter. Got to meet the Stanley Cup tonight; pledged my undying love, but all I got was non-committal vis-à-vis spending an upcoming summer in Vancouver.

In regards to the stall in fundraising over the last few days, it’s not entirely unexpected that donation levels have dropped off. I have sent out one massive list of emails – 250 in total. That doesn’t count singular emails sent to group lists, like the one to my fraternity brothers, the staff at my school, or to the BC Liberal Party. In addition, with the May long weekend just ending, people had other, fun things to do. It’s not that people won’t donate; it’s just that priorities were focused elsewhere the last few days.

That’s what can aggravate people about fundraising. Not the initial “Hey, I’m doing this good thing for a great cause…”, which everyone can support. It’s the feeling of “Cripes; are they gonna be pissed I’m asking them again?” which comes with the second round request and reminder emails. I don’t wish to alienate people who are going to donate but then feel pressured when an innocent prompt comes their way.

Nonetheless, to those who donated over the holiday weekend – Mark, Kevin and Yvette – thanks for keeping the momentum going. As of this morning, the total sits at $4206.74.

I’m already at 84% of the revised goal of $5000. I’m vacillating between keeping it there and raising it again. People have asked me why I underestimated the level of support I would be getting. The short answer is that I don’t know; I guess I set a low bar because I didn’t know what would happen when I sent out the requests. Remember – originally, this was supposed to be taking place at the Nat. I guess losing that opportunity, combined with a reduced sense of self-worth at the time, led me to assume that there wasn’t going to be as much of a draw to my haircut as a “shave the hawker” celebration would have been.

Now that I’m realizing that people care about the cause regardless of when or where, I’m feeling more optimistic about everything, which improves the rationale behind all decisions made about the clip.

As for hair comparisons, I don’t know which Michael I resemble more – Landon or J. Fox.










Thanks for participating.

May 17 – Update heading into the long weekend

First of all, it’s Memorial Cup opening weekend, and I’ve got tickets for the whole tournament. Go Giants!

June 15 can’t come fast enough. People are now just walking up to me and taking my photo.

It’s like it didn’t take only 18 months to get to this point; it could very well be this length again by Christmas 2008. Oh sure, I’ll be living in a van down by the river, after my currently-still-understanding wife throws me out, but at least I'll be free to tour with Whitesnake.

At the end of two full weeks of fundraising, I have to say I’m blessed with generous friends, co-workers, Brothers and acquaintances. All told, with 29 days to go, the grand total raised now sits at…$3886.67.

I must give due credit to the brothers of Phi Gamma Delta. Although the balance between QG and pride is a fine one, without the generous support of lifelong friends such as these the enhanced goal would not have been within such easy reach. Granted, many of the brothers who have donated so far have witnessed some of the worst hair any person dared call a style; but their singular desire to help the cause makes the sacrifice of my hair seem rather redundant. In that, as in all things, I am proud to be a FIJI.

What’s become clear to me is that I have tapped into something bigger than simply being one clown looking to fancy up a balding. I have been flooded with emotional responses to my request for support. People are pledging in honour of friends, co-workers and loved ones. Have you ever read the obits in the paper, and wondered to yourself about whether people take seriously the requests to “in lieu of flowers, please make a donation to…”? I am quickly learning that they are, and they do.

It’s to the point where, beyond all expectations, I might have to raise the goal again. Perhaps I underestimated the appeal of the cause or the altruistic nature of the people I was contacting, but as $2000 became $5000, the speed and charity of responses has started me wondering whether I should take the next step to $7500 or $10000. I don’t want to get ahead of myself; but, as the same time, I don’t want to run out of gas with so much time to go. Some people will neglect to give if they believe the goal has been reached and doesn’t need to be exceeded.

With the batch of emails sent on Tuesday night / Wednesday morning, I have completed the first wave of email solicitations. Sometime after the long weekend, the first series of reminder emails will be sent, updating people on the success of the drive so far, and repeating the message that there is still time to share the love. Based on how much is raised by the weekend, I will determine whether the bar has to be raised again.

For those of you who gave given so far, again – a hearty thank you.

For those of you using my drive to honour someone close to you, well – you honour me.

For those of you coasting, what’s up? Bald not good enough for you?

For those of you who can’t decide, choose one of the following: Do I look more like a member of

- left: Ratt
- right: Warrant









At least I discovered a career beyond the 1980s.

May 14 – One month to go

I can’t believe it’s already been two weeks since I started; more importantly, it’s only 31 days until I’m shaved clean.

I have sent out most of the emails I intended. There have been 75 reads of my fundraising website and 30 people have donated. Although I have personally written to each “hero” to thank them, once again I must acknowledge that without their support I would simply be some loudmouth looking to glorify a haircut.

There are still three groups yet to be contacted: the fine brothers of Phi Gamma Delta; the two cohorts of people I attended the VSB “Leadership Development Program” with; and what appears to be a listserv I found in my email cache of people I took my Masters degree with. All of them will be getting their emails sometime next week, and then it will be reminder emails for those who have not yet given. The nuisance aspect of fundraising is that you have to hit the same people two or three times before they will send in the money.

My problem always is that while there is no doubt I can be persistent, I have to avoid being an ass about it; I’m not known for my subtlety. Nonetheless, they'll be ga-ga at the go-go when they see me in my toga. My toga made of blond, brilliantined, Biblical hair. My hair like Jesus wore it; hallelujah, I adore it.

One question has been raised since I started – why am I focused on who I should emulate when bald? More people have fun comparing what I look like now to famous bad lids from the past. Since I have one month left to enjoy this fabulous mop, I can indulge.

On the left, me at a Vancouver Giants game on May 11.

On the right, Ian Gillan of Deep Purple, circa 1969.






Question: Twin brothers from different mothers? At least I've never been fired by Ritchie Blackmore.


This is the legacy my haircut leaves behind. Please, donate to the cause.

May 11 – HUGE update

I am proud to say that I know very generous people.

I have only been collecting money for a week, and I am already 82% towards the original goal of $2000. There are so many people I have already thanked for helping me get to this point. (You can check out the list of them on the right.) But I have had to make the executive decision to raise my goal.

I have set the new number at $5000. I am under no illusions; I may not make this new number, but damn it, I’m willing to try. Also, knowing certain people as I do, if I don’t raise the goal they won’t donate, relinquishing their philanthropy because others beat them to the punch. I must not deny these people the ability to feel a part of righting the wrong God made when He gave me all this hair.

Everybody who has donated thus far comes from lives led both present and past. While I may not be able to mention each person in the blog anymore – rest assured I will lengthen the “heroes” list as necessary – I will still personally thank each and every person in an individual way. Each day I am humbled by the fact that people respect the cause (and me) enough to donate. All those things I heard years ago are more true today:
· it is only hair
· people you trust know the real person inside
· not for college days alone

Back to the gags next time.

May 9 – Feedback and Fallout

Well, the game is afoot.

I am thrilled with how many people have gotten on board so far. Lots of positive feedback has been received – it’s like people never conceived that I had a nice bone in my body. Granted, I did spend a lot of time in various locations cultivating a reputation as an ENORMOUS prick, but people have been able to see through previous misdeeds to the genuine effort and emotion that lies beneath. My effort has been rewarded so far with over $990 (and one cent – thank you Chris Parry). There is over a month to go – 5 weeks in fact – so I’m resisting the temptation to up my goal. That only will happen if I meet 90% of the goal by June 1; I have a big head, so I don’t need to help make it bigger.


Recent additions to the “Heroes” list are Paul Seear, a fine young man whom my Law 12 class almost got fired from the courthouse back in 1997; Hans Havas, who I worked with at the Nat; Pat Furey, who once worked with me at Roberts; Leo Hutchinson, who moved up to administration; and John Freyvogel, a petty little man who was more than thrilled to be donating to “anything to cause you any sort of discomfort, [which] is a pleasure to me”.


On the prettier side of the ledger, executrix of the Ryan Malcolm fan club Lucy Caithcart; “co-worker I still feel guilty about bumping 11 years ago” Michele Sherstan; and former student Jirina Price have stepped up to the plate. Donation from these people comes from a pure sense of altruism, unlike the rogues’ gallery above.

However, despite their generosity, I am choosing to ignore Lucy’s husband’s advice to succumb to a full-body wax; I’ve seen the 40 Year-Old Virgin. We’re making wigs, not sweaters.

More people are welcome to join; all it takes is about 5 minutes, and the instructions on the Cancer Society link are easy to follow.

What does amaze me is the number of people who think I am going to try and find a way to back out of this. I must really have some sort of character that people would think that I would publicly announce the fundraiser; register it with the Cancer Society; pimp it to everyone who’s ever met me; set the date for the cut for a school day I have to attend; and then hope come June 16 everybody gets collective amnesia and nobody notices I’ve still got the lid.

In other words, Vote Rob McGowan in Election 2009!!!

These sort will end up being the people I have to re-email, in a plaintive attempt to solicit funds for the cause and remind (or prove to) them that what I am doing on June 15 is actualization of an honest intention and not some screen memory covering for the fact that my birth certificate was also apparently a license for my father to cut hair.

The “Bald icon of the night” (BIOTN) is a difficult choice and a hard act to follow, given previous selections of Marsellus Wallace and Greedo. Well, if I’m working my way down the evil scale, the next choice seems logical, especially if people think I’m going to try and get out of the trim. Ernst Stavro Blofeld. Granted, he made appearances in six Bond films, but there is only one true Blofeld I can pick – the Donald Pleasence version from “You Only Live Twice”. The evil, the scar, the cat; where else can you combine the malevolence of an Ian Fleming villain and the Oompa Loompa characterization of Roald Dahl? For trying to take over the world from inside a volcano, and teaching us effective ways to dispose of incompetent henchmen, E.S. Blofeld is my BIOTN.

May 7 - Gettin' it on

Well, it’s on, and there’s no turning back now.

So far, I have sent out 50 emails, mostly to people I know from having worked with them, taught them, or had them make me cake for my birthday. The response has been pretty good so far, as the total is already over $650.

First off, a big thank you to my mother-in-law Vija, who rang up $250 for her favourite (and only) son-in-law. This is what I get instead of a birthday present, and I’m more than okay with it.

My Aunt Judy was equally generous, as she represents the family desire to never again see me looking like a member of “Doctor Teeth and the Electric Mayhem”.

My confrere Chris Parry stepped up to the plate with $20.01, if only to be better at donating to my fundraiser than me.

Fellow co-workers and colleagues Maria and Shirley from the adult ed sector have also jumped on board. Maria did so because she is simply the nicest person around; Shirley is jealous of my hair. Either way – ladies, thank you both. Add to that Bruno, whose generosity is only matched by his dislike for Valery Giscard d’Estaing. (Look him up, any historical illiterates.)

A former student has jumped on board – the lovely Rong Xue has become the first of I hope many past students who are willing to put the ugliness behind them and help out the cause.

The pleasant surprise was a donation that was received almost by accident. When I copied a batch of addresses into the form, I guess I didn’t proofread close enough, because I included the name of Francine Regan-Pollock, my mortgage broker. I did mean to send one to my swarthy real estate agent, Barry Willimott, and he responded in kind and with kindness. But…total shock on my face when I get a response early on Saturday that she had donated on behalf of her and her husband Rob. So thank you Francine; consider your ad now placed on the blog.

And then there’s my $20, which was to get the ball rolling.

I’m hoping there’s plenty more out there. I still have over 250 people in my email bank to send to. I donated $20 to the Canadians “Mullet Madness”; I’m hoping Lori or someone else will respond in kind. I’m also hoping more of the former students I plan to contact now have jobs, or job enough to help out. Hopefully, the memories they’ve repressed about the experience of being in my class come out in a positive way, and they’ll want to see me shaved, if only so they can finally get the closure they need.


Today’s “bald icon of the night” is….Greedo. You might remember when he was murdered by Han Solo in the Mos Eisley cantina on Tatooine. The whole series is 20 minutes long if he doesn’t miss from point blank range. So what if Han Solo shot first? In Texas they’d have given him a parade; SB 378 – the “shoot first” law – allows “the use of deadly force in defence of a person” where the person “feels a direct or imminent act of harm” is about to be performed. Still, for having balls enough to try and kill Harrison Ford before he could impose “Six Days, Seven Nights” on us, I make Greedo my BIOTN.

May 5 - The Cashing In On Past Favours Begins

See these people? I know them; many of them know me or know of me. The point is that, very soon, they'll be getting an email from me asking them for money.

That's the risk and reward with doing something for charity. People who know you then take a slightly difference glance if they know that your visit or email isn't mere altruism.

But you've got to make the call, and assess whether people who haven't heard from you in 3-4 months (or years; Hi Belle) might enjoy the fact that, while you are asking them for money, there is a rewarding side to it.

So I am doing it slowly. Over the course of the next week, people from my various email accounts will be getting the first of two emails from me asking for support. [The second will come at the beginning of June, when I redial the deadbeats.]

I found out today the Canadians are still going with their haircut, still scheduled for the 29th. I'm not so proud a man that, if asked, I would put mine off and let myself be shaved at the Nat. I might be sad that I can't sell beer this year, but I'm not so petty that I can't see where a combination of resources only benefits the charity, which is the whole goal of the fundraisers. There are no hard feelings, only self-disappointment. But, even if there is no 'meeting of the mullets', there is little likelihood of donor cross-contamination, because the list I'm working off of has little in common with the people the C's might contact. I just don't want to see Lori go bald.

As of tonight/this morning, the total stands at $290.01, with the majority of benefit coming from my mother-in-law Vija, who chose this instead of buying me a birthday present. It almost feels like her donation is part mine. I believe that sharp, sweet pain in my chest is "pride"; sorry Marsellus, who - by the way - is my "Bald icon of the night", in honour of how cool or stupid I might emerge from all this.

May 3 - Why clip the lid?

When I go to a Vancouver Giants game - and unlike another local team, this one can finish a game - this is what the guy in the seat next to me has to look through to watch the far end. For his sake alone, for next season, I have to ditch the hair. [Mind you, if I was on the PP with the Sedins, Giguere wouldn't see anything coming.]

It wasn't always this way. In the past, I have had short or short-ish hair. My last trim was Christmas Day, 2005. I figured I'd look my best for the family dinner. But in the cold wetness that is Vancouver in January, apathy set in and I stopped bothering to go through the once-a-week ritual of getting out the clippers, setting them at 1/4 inch, leaning over the tub and trimming the hedge.

By the time spring came, my wife figured there was something amiss, especially given that I'd stocked up on shampoo. Then came baseball season; hair stuck out from under the cap, but not so long that it made people concerned. People didn't seem concerned; after all, at the Nat I was known for some ludicrous antics and appearances. But when the school year started, and I didn't bother to get rid of it, that's when concern turned to anguish, as it appeared that I was regressing back to the 1980s. What scared everybody was that they didn't know if I was going to go Ratt or Thompson Twins.

But there was always a plan. By September 2006 I already had 5 inches of length up top, and since any haircut would be noticed, I thought I'd go for the spectacular and let it all shag out. Then, I'd donate it to the Cancer Society and the wig program. It accomplishes two things:

- philanthropy - a good deed

- a last kick at the can of long hair before 40

So I'm taking the time to do a good thing for a good cause. Hey, everyone benefits: my wife gets her normal husband back; the Cancer Society gets a load of hair and some extra money; my school gets back an instructor they no longer have to arrange visitors around; and I'll be able to see when I teach.

I can be a grown-up starting next year.

Rob

May 1 - the Odyssey begins

By way of introduction, my name is Rob McGowan, and I have a lot of hair. I am going to cut it all off for the Canadian Cancer Society. The above picture was taken Good Friday, April 6, 2007; as you can tell, my dog Bruin is thrilled that her master has more hair than her, what with her 'why the hell am I posing with you' look.

I am a teacher with the Vancouver School Board; have been since 1993. Working in the adult education division is very liberating when compared to working in a traditional school, especially given the student base. Immigrants, drop-outs and street kids fill the classrooms, so one has to be a different type of teacher. Despite the fact that I teach electives, I have a high student retention rate, and take great pride in the fact that 100% of all eligible students vote in elections that take place during their term. I learned long ago that I don't need to be a positive role model; many students in adult education are already so set they don't need me to guide their lives...or so messed up they aren't yet ready to listen. But I go far by just being a positive influence. Being myself, giving them respect without sounding preachy, and being a teacher that understands their situation or is willing to listen to them about it is far more effective in an adult ed setting than wearing a suit and trying to act like a dad.

I started the blog as a way to update the people who want to know about such things as to how the effort is going. As a person I've interacted with many times over the years said to me, "There's no reason you can't do your own fundraiser." So I decided to turn the negative into a positive. Goodbye Nat Bailey haircut; hello haircut on the last day of school.

In weeks hence, I will provide information about sponsors willing to do the deed, update on whom is willing to step up to the plate with donations, and provide personal thanks for said assistance by way of this website. Off the top, thanks go out to the Canadian Cancer Society for being so easy to work with.

June 15 is the day, and bald will be the look.

Rob

perge!