Latest / People of The Moncton Hospital / Building Connections through Canvassing, featuring Joe McKenna

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Building Connections through Canvassing, featuring Joe McKenna · People of The Moncton Hospital

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_00: Hello, friends.
• 0:00
  SPEAKER_00: I'm Marianne Methel Newton, Director of Direct Marketing, Legacy and Lottery for the Friends Foundation, and I'll be your host for today's episode.
• 0:08
  SPEAKER_00: This month we're shining a spotlight on Project Innovate, our current campaign to bring a new hybrid operating room to the Moncton Hospital, and on some of the people helping us bring this important project to life.
• 0:18
  SPEAKER_00: I'm joined today by Joe McKenna, a longtime canvaser for the Friends Foundation.
• 0:23
  SPEAKER_00: Our canisters play an important role in connecting our community with the work happening at the Moncton Hospital.
• 0:28
  SPEAKER_00: They reach out to individuals and businesses, share information about our current fundraising priorities, and help people understand how their support can make a difference for patients and families.
• 0:36
  SPEAKER_00: For the Friends Foundation, our canvasers are also some of our greatest ambassadors.
• 0:40
  SPEAKER_00: They bring our mission into the community, have meaningful conversations with potential donors, and help build relationships that can have a lasting impact.
• 0:48
  SPEAKER_00: So, Joe, thank you for joining me today.
• 0:50
  SPEAKER_00: Fancy meeting you here.
• 0:52
  SPEAKER_00: So just to start, maybe briefly tell our listeners a little about your career, where you hail from, and how long you've lived in the Greater Mountain area.
• 0:59
  SPEAKER_01: I was born in Prince Edward Island.
• 1:02
  SPEAKER_01: Born brought up on a farm there.
• 1:05
  SPEAKER_01: When I finished high school, I uh when I wanted to go to uh university, I had been accepted at uh agricultural college.
• 1:14
  SPEAKER_01: My mother and father weren't having anything to do with that.
• 1:17
  SPEAKER_01: I went to work with Scotiabank.
• 1:19
  SPEAKER_01: I worked with them for about seven years and then uh left and went with Central Trust and started out in Somerside and started looking after people borrowing money there, mortgages and things, then uh got transferred to Sussex, manager of their office there, then got transferred to Woodstock as manager there.
• 1:42
  SPEAKER_00: You made the rounds in New Brunswick.
• 1:44
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, then got transferred to Brampton, Ontario, uh as manager there, and then uh was only six or eight months there, and then uh they transferred me downtown Toronto to the regional office, and I was responsible for all the branches in Ontario.
• 2:03
  SPEAKER_00: Wow.
• 2:04
  SPEAKER_00: And uh that's a far cry from farming.
• 2:07
  SPEAKER_00: It is.
• 2:08
  SPEAKER_01: And uh, yeah, I i it it was a very time-consuming thing.
• 2:13
  SPEAKER_01: Uh we uh Central Trust had bought another uh trust company uh almost three years after I got there, and uh so it was a lot of time spent merging the two companies, and you know there were times that uh you know I wouldn't be home for two weeks, like you'd be traveling and whatnot.
• 2:38
  SPEAKER_01: And uh got to a point where our youngest daughter was uh getting up at six o'clock in the morning to have breakfast so maybe she could see me.
• 2:49
  SPEAKER_01: And after a while I said to my wife, there's something the matter with this picture.
• 2:53
  SPEAKER_01: If I don't stop start spending some time with girls, they're not gonna know me and I'm not gonna know them.
• 3:01
  SPEAKER_01: That's not the picture that I want at all.
• 3:04
  SPEAKER_01: So I said, I think I'm gonna pack it up with Central and let's head back to New Brunswick and I'll find something else to do.
• 3:12
  SPEAKER_01: So uh we did, and uh that's when I got involved in the investment business.
• 3:19
  SPEAKER_01: And uh I was uh I started in the investment business in 1986.
• 3:28
  SPEAKER_01: I worked with Wood Gundy initially, and then with um Nesbitt Burns.
• 3:36
  SPEAKER_01: And then in uh January 1994, they wanted me to come to Moncton and open up an office for Nesbett.
• 3:47
  SPEAKER_01: So I did, and uh then I've been here ever since.
• 3:52
  SPEAKER_00: So and how long were you with them?
• 3:55
  SPEAKER_01: Uh 2 with Nesbitt, 28 or 9, almost 30 years.
• 4:02
  SPEAKER_00: And that's how I know you from there.
• 4:04
  SPEAKER_00: So now to get into your volunteering with us, you started canvassing.
• 4:08
  SPEAKER_00: I think canvassing was what you you started doing with us.
• 4:11
  SPEAKER_01: Yes.
• 4:11
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and you know when you started?
• 4:13
  SPEAKER_01: Yes, in 1996.
• 4:16
  SPEAKER_00: Wow.
• 4:17
  SPEAKER_01: Uh Bill Doherty to work for Bank Montreal, he was a canvasser for the foundation.
• 4:24
  SPEAKER_01: And he decided that he was going to leave.
• 4:26
  SPEAKER_01: So he talked to me one day and said, Would you be interested in doing it?
• 4:30
  SPEAKER_01: I said, sure.
• 4:32
  SPEAKER_01: So we got started and we've been doing it ever since.
• 4:35
  SPEAKER_00: I'll have to remember to thank Bill next time I see him.
• 4:38
  SPEAKER_00: So 30 years, that's amazing.
• 4:40
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I've been here 27, so I met you.
• 4:43
  SPEAKER_00: You were here well before me.
• 4:45
  SPEAKER_00: Well, not well, but anyway.
• 4:46
  SPEAKER_00: So what what mo motivated you other than Bill?
• 4:49
  SPEAKER_01: Was there something else behind it, or are you just curious to Well, uh, I always looked at things like the community's good to me, so why shouldn't I do something for them?
• 4:59
  SPEAKER_01: So if you're gonna do something for the community, how are you gonna do it?
• 5:03
  SPEAKER_01: And when he you know wanted me to canvas for the foundation, I said, there you go, we're all set.
• 5:08
  SPEAKER_00: That's awesome.
• 5:09
  SPEAKER_00: You've been doing this for quite some time now, and years ago took on the role of team captain, which is very is different than a canvaser.
• 5:16
  SPEAKER_00: Can you explain that to our audience, what that entails?
• 5:18
  SPEAKER_01: Well, the the captain, from my perspective, is really you're just working with canvassers, mostly new canvassers, so you're trying to teach them how to go about it, trying to help them and give them ideas on what to do, how to do it, the types of things that they're gonna run into uh with people and whatnot.
• 5:44
  SPEAKER_00: But like objections, helping them deal with objections.
• 5:47
  SPEAKER_00: And you've been doing this for well, 30 years.
• 5:50
  SPEAKER_00: So what what keeps you coming back?
• 5:52
  SPEAKER_00: Like are there like and what is are you still getting the same rewards that you you you get from the beginning or?
• 5:59
  SPEAKER_01: Well, you know, I think it's it's it's working with the canvassers, trying to find canvassers, and as I mentioned, you know, giving back to your community.
• 6:09
  SPEAKER_01: And you know, you think of uh the hospital foundation, you think of health care.
• 6:17
  SPEAKER_01: Well, you know, everybody's gonna need hospital care at some point in time.
• 6:23
  SPEAKER_01: So, you know, you're doing it to try and help your family, friends, that type of thing.
• 6:30
  SPEAKER_01: Um, you know, some people have said to me, well, you know, the government pays for that and provides all that.
• 6:38
  SPEAKER_01: I said, well, yeah, a lot of things the government's supposed to do that they don't do very well.
• 6:44
  SPEAKER_01: So, you know, we're just trying to help and make sure that we can try and improve things.
• 6:51
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, get the most optimum care.
• 6:52
  SPEAKER_00: I know the government um has to have to provide the basics, but I think that the foundation often can can provide um exemplary equipment and services and to help supplement that.
• 7:04
  SPEAKER_00: Um, because I think we all want the best if if if at all possible if we have to be here or our loved ones.
• 7:09
  SPEAKER_00: So for someone who has never canvased before, can you walk us through what a typical conversation with a donor might look like?
• 7:16
  SPEAKER_00: What do you talk about?
• 7:17
  SPEAKER_00: What kind of questions do people ask?
• 7:18
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, we just uh you know, why should I do this?
• 7:24
  SPEAKER_01: You know, what's in it for me?
• 7:26
  SPEAKER_00: Or why should I donate?
• 7:28
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 7:29
  SPEAKER_01: And I say, well, like I said earlier, everybody's gonna need hospital care somewhere along the line.
• 7:40
  SPEAKER_01: So, you know, that's a good way to start it.
• 7:43
  SPEAKER_01: And wouldn't you agree that that's a pretty good reason to try and help us uh with it?
• 7:50
  SPEAKER_00: Especially in a business, I suppose a business you talk about their employees needing health care too.
• 7:55
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, you know, it's it's you would it's different talking to a a business owner than it is the average person.
• 8:05
  SPEAKER_01: And you people would say, well, a business owner is a person too.
• 8:08
  SPEAKER_01: Well, yes, but then they've got a bunch of employees, and you just have yourself, your family or friends or whatever.
• 8:17
  SPEAKER_01: So uh some people after, you know, you you get them to think or you know, think about what you're saying, and they start to realize, well, this is making some sense.
• 8:31
  SPEAKER_01: Then they'll say, Well, you know, I think that what you're saying here is reason enough to donate, so I will make a donation.
• 8:42
  SPEAKER_01: And and I said, Well, that's very appreciative.
• 8:47
  SPEAKER_01: We appreciate that, and rest assured I'll be in touch with you again next year.
• 8:52
  SPEAKER_00: And I know one of the most important things that we emphasize that you are, and I think that's highly why you're very successful at what you do, is we encourage face-to-face meetings, not just a phone call.
• 9:03
  SPEAKER_00: You make the phone call, set up the meeting, and then meet with them.
• 9:06
  SPEAKER_00: And you m you must admit there's a difference when you can meet face to face with them and have a have a discussion.
• 9:11
  SPEAKER_01: Oh, yeah, there's no question about that.
• 9:13
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, you know, you talk to somebody on the phone, it's pretty easy for them to hang up on you or say, look, and I'm busy, or you know, whatever.
• 9:21
  SPEAKER_01: So, you know, you've got to get face to face.
• 9:24
  SPEAKER_01: It's you're not gonna uh accomplish anything if you don't do that.
• 9:28
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, absolutely.
• 9:29
  SPEAKER_01: And I I know if someone was approaching me, I would want them eyeball to eyeball.
• 9:35
  SPEAKER_01: And uh so why wouldn't somebody else?
• 9:39
  SPEAKER_01: And there are people that say, look, I would like to help you, but you know, I got kids and you know, um some of them start at university, and you know, I just can't afford it now.
• 9:52
  SPEAKER_01: And I said, Well, that's okay.
• 9:54
  SPEAKER_01: I'll touch base with you periodically and somewhere down the road, and sure enough, I've had several that you know that's happened with.
• 10:02
  SPEAKER_01: So it's yeah, you know.
• 10:04
  SPEAKER_00: It's important to hear them, hear where they're coming from, and they know where you're coming from, and then you continue the relationship.
• 10:09
  SPEAKER_00: And you've built a lot of relationships over the years because you have some some of the people that you've been with well for a long time, and they look forward to seeing you.
• 10:16
  SPEAKER_00: So it's kind of a it's a nice relationship that you build over the years.
• 10:20
  SPEAKER_00: Um, are there any conversations with donors or prospective donors that have really stayed with you?
• 10:27
  SPEAKER_01: Well, I I think the thing that really stayed with me is that you know, once people got on board or ready to be on board and saw what was taking place, you know, I've had a quite a number of people say to me, you know, I really appreciate you doing this to help the foundation and to help the people in in the area.
• 10:55
  SPEAKER_01: Uh and I said, Well, you know, one of my thoughts is like, I want to give back to my community.
• 11:03
  SPEAKER_01: So here's a way I can do that and help people at the same time.
• 11:07
  SPEAKER_01: Uh but a number of people have, you know, said that to me.
• 11:12
  SPEAKER_01: I said, Well, you know, we're just trying to make sure that we're helping people.
• 11:16
  SPEAKER_00: That's nice.
• 11:17
  SPEAKER_00: And you educate them and then they're on board, which is which is lovely.
• 11:21
  SPEAKER_00: Um so to bring us to our current campaign, which is our our Project Innovate operating room, it's been a little different this year because we've carried it over two years, which we did do with Bannon as well, so I guess it's not that new, but it's uh a three million doll uh dollar goal is a little lofty um for our annual campaign, so that's why we've carried it over and we're hoping um to wrap it up.
• 11:43
  SPEAKER_00: Are you hearing what are you hearing people talk say about it?
• 11:46
  SPEAKER_00: I know we're just starting for this year, but last year you did get some donations.
• 11:48
  SPEAKER_00: It's a legacy of Dr.
• 11:50
  SPEAKER_00: Murphy's long time coming.
• 11:52
  SPEAKER_01: Uh who is well known in the area, and you know, he was a doctor that I went to for a number of years.
• 12:00
  SPEAKER_01: Oh, did you?
• 12:00
  SPEAKER_00: Wasn't he lovely?
• 12:02
  SPEAKER_01: Oh, super.
• 12:03
  SPEAKER_01: Uh I think that uh, you know, when you explain it to people, uh, you know, they're saying that, well, I can see where that should be able to improve the surgery ability uh in the hospital.
• 12:23
  SPEAKER_01: And uh, you know, when you look at someone is seriously ill, they need surgery.
• 12:32
  SPEAKER_01: Well, with this, when you're there doing the surgery, you discover that they've got another problem, two problems, three problems.
• 12:42
  SPEAKER_01: You can do the whole thing while they're there.
• 12:45
  SPEAKER_01: Instead of them having surgery, then they have to leave, then they have to come back for surgery again, then they have to leave and come back again.
• 12:53
  SPEAKER_01: It can all be done at once.
• 12:54
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, the imaging and everything in the same room, which is I think a game changer.
• 12:58
  SPEAKER_00: Like as what far as time and you know, um, you know, urgencies with the emergency.
• 13:04
  SPEAKER_00: It's it's yeah.
• 13:05
  SPEAKER_01: And people uh some people have a little bit of difficulty sort of trying to picture what you're talking about.
• 13:13
  SPEAKER_01: But you know, particularly once you explain to them, if someone needed more than just surgery, initial surgery, they needed two or three more things.
• 13:23
  SPEAKER_01: They came back and said, Well, you know, that makes a whole lot of sense.
• 13:26
  SPEAKER_01: If you can do something like that, that means that people can get in faster and get healed faster.
• 13:32
  SPEAKER_01: And I said, That's right.
• 13:33
  SPEAKER_00: And when they're vulnerable, not having to transport them into other areas of the hospital is is, I think, really important too.
• 13:40
  SPEAKER_00: Well, that's good.
• 13:42
  SPEAKER_00: Um I uh I think some people heard uh yeah, hear the word canvassing and immediately think, I can never ask someone for money, and we were talking about that earlier.
• 13:49
  SPEAKER_00: It's it's right up there with public speaking.
• 13:51
  SPEAKER_00: It's a big fear for people for some reason.
• 13:53
  SPEAKER_00: Um, but um, but there's more so much more to it than that.
• 13:56
  SPEAKER_00: Can you describe the role um to someone who might be interested but feels a little intimidated by the idea?
• 14:02
  SPEAKER_01: Well, uh you know, the the first thing is you gotta meet them face to face, eyeball to eyeball, and tell them what you're there for.
• 14:10
  SPEAKER_01: It's not like people don't have a problem to meet you and talk with you about something.
• 14:18
  SPEAKER_01: And you explain to them what you're doing, why you're doing it, and uh tell them that you know you've been a donor, that's why you got involved on the the the canvassing side.
• 14:35
  SPEAKER_01: So and you're doing it to give something back to the community.
• 14:41
  SPEAKER_01: And you know, bear in mind, like I said earlier, everybody is gonna need healthcare somewhere along the line.
• 14:51
  SPEAKER_01: So, you know, here you have an opportunity to give something back to your community.
• 14:57
  SPEAKER_01: And once you go through that with them, they're still hesitant because they haven't canvassed before, but they've got some sort of like backup support in their mind now of you know how to approach us.
• 15:14
  SPEAKER_01: And you know, if people say, I understand what you're doing, and and that makes a lot of sense, but uh, you know I still don't want to feel like I want to do this, and I say, well, why don't you try it?
• 15:29
  SPEAKER_01: You've got nothing to lose, and you're gonna run into people that are gonna say no, you know.
• 15:36
  SPEAKER_01: Uh but you're gonna run into a lot of people that are gonna say yes.
• 15:42
  SPEAKER_01: So, you know, that's just nature.
• 15:44
  SPEAKER_01: Like there's no need to be fearful of that.
• 15:46
  SPEAKER_00: Or to take it personally.
• 15:48
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 15:48
  SPEAKER_00: And we often say to make your gift first as a canvaser, so then you can show that you are also supporting uh the organization.
• 15:56
  SPEAKER_00: So and you would, I mean, I know you, you would help if someone wanted you to shadow them, you know, shadow you, you they could or or go on a call with them.
• 16:03
  SPEAKER_00: Um, because it is a different it can be difficult to get canvassers.
• 16:07
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, but I do find when people get come on board uh and they do have once they get a couple of successful asks, they really get excited about it and and uh really get you know embrace the whole thing of supporting and everything.
• 16:19
  SPEAKER_00: It's it's it's it's great.
• 16:22
  SPEAKER_01: And that you know, some people have said to me, Well, how much money do I ask for?
• 16:27
  SPEAKER_01: I said, Well, it's not so much asking for how much money.
• 16:31
  SPEAKER_01: First you you want to talk to people and sort of you you you're developing a bit of a relationship with them, and then they decide that, okay, well, you know, I'll uh I'll donate.
• 16:46
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, how much should I donate?
• 16:48
  SPEAKER_01: And say, well, it's up to you how much you want to donate.
• 16:54
  SPEAKER_01: I've never had a problem.
• 16:56
  SPEAKER_00: No, you are very successful.
• 16:58
  SPEAKER_00: But I wouldn't say no to you.
• 17:00
  SPEAKER_00: And we often give people uh vetted calls, you know, people that have already been donating and they're coming to the next level.
• 17:07
  SPEAKER_00: And um, so you know, we we give them any uh information that is not uh identify, you know, anything that's not personal to help them a little bit and sometimes give them a range to ask, so based on previous getting giving.
• 17:19
  SPEAKER_00: So, what would you say to to them, anyone listening right now who might be interested in in canvassing?
• 17:25
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, we you know, I know that when people retire, they're you know, they they're they're looking for things to do.
• 17:29
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, that would be ideal for us, or working people working who want to give back to the community too, or have volunteer roles.
• 17:36
  SPEAKER_01: Well, you know, I I mean I would say to them looking, yes, like you say, here's a great way to give back to the community.
• 17:43
  SPEAKER_00: To your own hospital, yeah.
• 17:45
  SPEAKER_01: And like I said earlier, everybody needs health care somewhere along the line.
• 17:50
  SPEAKER_01: So uh, you know, it's gonna catch up to you or your family, your friends, whatever.
• 17:54
  SPEAKER_01: So, you know, why not get involved?
• 17:57
  SPEAKER_01: Uh it's, you know, uh starting out, you might find it a little difficult approaching people to ask them, but you'll find out that a lot of people will just jump and say, yeah, I'm pleased to help you.
• 18:12
  SPEAKER_00: And we also it's important to note that we provide project education on whatever the whatever we're fundraising for, and they get a kit full of information on it and support system in the in the hospital too.
• 18:22
  SPEAKER_00: So we don't just leave them high and dry.
• 18:25
  SPEAKER_00: Or expect them just to go out and yeah.
• 18:27
  SPEAKER_00: So anyway, hopefully this will um this will maybe attract some more canvasers, but I really appreciate uh everything you've done uh for us and and our relationship that we've had for 27 years.
• 18:41
  SPEAKER_00: And it better continue.
• 18:43
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you for joining us, and more importantly, thank you for the time and energy you've given to the Friends Foundation and our community and to the Moncton Hospital.
• 18:50
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, we are incredibly grateful to you.
• 18:52
  SPEAKER_00: I am incredibly grateful to you as someone running the program, and all of our canvasers, of course, who help connect us with people and opportunities to make a difference in in healthcare at our Moncton at the Moncton Hospital.
• 19:03
  SPEAKER_00: So we're also excited to share that we are three-quarters of the way to our three million dollar goal for the Project Innovate.
• 19:09
  SPEAKER_00: So I want to thank everyone who's already donated to the campaign.
• 19:13
  SPEAKER_00: Um, but anyone who's listening who hasn't, there's still ways to give.
• 19:16
  SPEAKER_00: You can still give.
• 19:17
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and if you can help us get there, uh every bit helps.
• 19:20
  SPEAKER_00: You can learn more about the Project Innovate and how to donate on our website, friendsfoundation.ca.
• 19:25
  SPEAKER_00: And if today's conversation has you thinking about panicing, uh, feel free to contact me.
• 19:30
  SPEAKER_00: You can find me through the website as well.
• 19:32
  SPEAKER_00: It has all my contact information.
• 19:34
  SPEAKER_00: And uh, we thank you for listening to another episode of the People in the Munchin Hospital Foundation.