Guest Post: Jeffrey Minch // @jlm73tx

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I am inspired by bingo! Charitable bingo in which worthy charities fund their noble causes through bingo. Not really just bingo but also the people who play bingo. Our people, Americans. We are a resilient and good people. We are suffering just now and in some small way the diversion of bingo is putting just a dab of salve on that open wound.

Bingo, like us Americans, is a survivor.

My company owns 40 bingo halls throughout the Southeast of the United States. These are charitable bingo halls in which the charity is the beneficiary of the bingo proceeds. It gives me great satisfaction to look at a fire engine and know it was paid for with bingo money. Some of our charities include Veterans of Foreign Wars chapters, Volunteer Fire Departments, Sheriff’s Benevolent Associations, environmental groups, disease charities, pet helpers and some very special organizations like Austin Midnight Basketball. These are all worthy charities which are doing noble work. As an example, when a Deputy Sheriff is killed in the line of duty his burial may be paid for with bingo money.

We conduct focus groups at our bingo halls to connect with our customers and to improve operations when we can. I am always struck by the quiet dignity of these folks. The folks whose children fight America’s wars, who suffer in silence, who have no clout and who get have either earned their retirement through decades of hard work or get up each morning and go to work. No country club members in this crowd. Just solid Americans.

Bingo --- as learned from these focus groups --- provides relaxation, stress reduction, fun, an opportunity to socialize, a chance to get out of the house and a chance to win a bit of money.

Mostly it is about entertainment.

It is inspiring to be able to work for a company like ours which serves these worthy charities while taking care of its patrons in a gentle way.

So what really inspires me? The fact that no matter how lousy things appear to get in the United States, our people can still find wholesome ways to enjoy themselves, commune with family and friends and fund worthy charities. I take great pleasure in being able to assist in that endeavor.
As they say in Texas, tough times do not prevail but tough people do. We Americans are a resilient and tough breed.