As we boarded the boat for the sunset cruise around the Maine islands, I knew it would be a spectacular evening. The air was filled with the enticing aromas of grilled food and the harmonies of acoustic guitars from the Old Port eateries.
We were playing local tourists that day, doing the things we always intended to do over the years. Jim and I raced to the back of the boat, hoping to get seats with an unobstructed view of the lighthouses.
Leaving Portland Harbor, we were greeted by two seals, playing like black lab pups in the water. The lights of the city had just come on, and sparkled like diamonds from a distance.
We sat side by side in a comfortable silence, taking in the magnificence of the craggy shoreline dotted with white Adirondack chairs. Everyone aboard waved to those lucky enough to have front row seats to the Atlantic.
The first of six lighthouses, Portland Breakwater Light, came into view. I had seen each of the beacons from the land, but there was something so calming from this aspect. Each one, as we passed by seemed to say “You’re safe, stay the course.”
One in particular intrigued me – Spring Point Ledge Light. To mariners properly positioned in the channel, the light showed white. Outside of the fairway, the light was red, providing clear, unmistakable guidance, even in the worst weather.
How dangerous and unpredictable sailing must have been before these guideposts were built. And by contrast, how assuasive it had to be for those aboard to see the steadfast lights.
It was the same reassured, confident look I get from my children as our eyes meet. Whether it’s from the stage of their elementary school Christmas concert, or peering out the window of the school bus in the morning, they’re just making sure I’m there. They’re looking for that light in my eyes telling them, “You’re safe. Stay the course. I’ll be here for you.”
This T-Day, create that safe harbor for someone in your life. Let them know you’ll be a steadfast beacon they can count on when times get tough.
Our monthly Together We Can Change The World Day is about joining together to make a conscious difference.
Please visit our website at www.togetherwecanchangetheworldday.com and scroll across available service projects and add your own.
T-Day Website
Please click here to return to our Together We Can Change The World Day Website.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
An open invitation to be the difference in our schools
What a great time to be involved with schools! Children and educators are increasingly aware of how powerful their voices are in the world.
One of my goals as Director of T-Day is to form TWCCTW clubs in every school!
I'm starting where I live, in Maine, but hoping this will spread throughout the education system.
I envision these TWCCTW clubs to be an umbrella for existing clubs – based on volunteerism, uniting students to serve in their communities. The first Saturday of every month is T-Day. How powerful would it be to have many clubs working on the same project, under the umbrella of the TWCCTW Club? I'll give you an example:
The first of hopefully hundreds of annual TWCCTW walk-a-thons will be held in Portland, Maine on October 11, 2009. Already, students from 4 local schools have agreed to volunteer for this event. Some are in the National Honor Society or Key Club. Some are from sports teams. Individually, each club or group represented has a specific facet. Collectively, they form a sparkling gem in each community.
Each TWCCTW Club has the ability to earn funding through its own World Changer Mall. These funds can be used for T-Day projects, or for the benefit of a local nonprofit. Individually, each student has the potential to earn money for college, while volunteering for the community.
I would love to hear from you! What are your thoughts on this? Would you like to be on an international TWCCTW Club board?
We have in our hands the resources to change many lives, through My PowerMall and Together We Can Change the World. We have in our hands the vehicle for children to earn money for college in these trying economic times.
I look forward to your ideas!
Be the difference in your local schools.
Andrea Corbett
mpmcorbett@gmail.com
One of my goals as Director of T-Day is to form TWCCTW clubs in every school!
I'm starting where I live, in Maine, but hoping this will spread throughout the education system.
I envision these TWCCTW clubs to be an umbrella for existing clubs – based on volunteerism, uniting students to serve in their communities. The first Saturday of every month is T-Day. How powerful would it be to have many clubs working on the same project, under the umbrella of the TWCCTW Club? I'll give you an example:
The first of hopefully hundreds of annual TWCCTW walk-a-thons will be held in Portland, Maine on October 11, 2009. Already, students from 4 local schools have agreed to volunteer for this event. Some are in the National Honor Society or Key Club. Some are from sports teams. Individually, each club or group represented has a specific facet. Collectively, they form a sparkling gem in each community.
Each TWCCTW Club has the ability to earn funding through its own World Changer Mall. These funds can be used for T-Day projects, or for the benefit of a local nonprofit. Individually, each student has the potential to earn money for college, while volunteering for the community.
I would love to hear from you! What are your thoughts on this? Would you like to be on an international TWCCTW Club board?
We have in our hands the resources to change many lives, through My PowerMall and Together We Can Change the World. We have in our hands the vehicle for children to earn money for college in these trying economic times.
I look forward to your ideas!
Be the difference in your local schools.
Andrea Corbett
mpmcorbett@gmail.com
Deafening Silence
Internet and television inundate us with well intended directives. Go green! End world hunger now! Promote peace! But to what extent do these canned messages really make a difference? Maybe just by parroting the right phrase, or wearing the politically correct t-shirt, we feel like we’ve done our part. Really, how can I end world hunger now, anyway? Isn’t someone else doing something really big somewhere like collecting food, or selling CDs? I think there’s a worldwide concert somewhere….isn’t there?
“What are you personally doing to end world hunger?” That pointed question was posed to a congregation in a small, rural church a few years ago just before Thanksgiving. I was there for the uncomfortable soul searching session.
Many of us had brought in our canned pumpkin or stuffing mix for the food collection. ‘Well, he’s not talking about me, I did my part,’ was the collective grumbling.
The pastor was uncharacteristically brief in his sermon, but the second question was enough to drive home the point.
“Have any of you invited the homeless woman on Main Street to your house for Thanksgiving dinner?”
With that, he walked away from the podium.
The silence in that church was deafening.
I don’t know if anyone invited her that year, but I know that we didn’t. Our family talked about it all the way home, but we didn’t do anything. The kids wanted to. In their simple understanding of the world, this was something tangible. But Jim and I were reluctant.
And so, we put the subject to rest by justifying in our minds that we were actually protecting our family.
The answer, or at least our small part of the answer was so clear, so simple. Still, why did I do nothing?
I think about this a lot and always end up in the same place. I was afraid of connecting with her. If I got to know her, how could I let her continue to suffer?
This T-Day, try to see the faces of the people who need you. Instead of trying to end world hunger, change one day for one person.
Our monthly Together We Can Change the World Day is about joining together to make a conscious difference.
Please visit our website at www.togetherwecanchangetheworldday.com and scroll across available service projects and add your own.
“What are you personally doing to end world hunger?” That pointed question was posed to a congregation in a small, rural church a few years ago just before Thanksgiving. I was there for the uncomfortable soul searching session.
Many of us had brought in our canned pumpkin or stuffing mix for the food collection. ‘Well, he’s not talking about me, I did my part,’ was the collective grumbling.
The pastor was uncharacteristically brief in his sermon, but the second question was enough to drive home the point.
“Have any of you invited the homeless woman on Main Street to your house for Thanksgiving dinner?”
With that, he walked away from the podium.
The silence in that church was deafening.
I don’t know if anyone invited her that year, but I know that we didn’t. Our family talked about it all the way home, but we didn’t do anything. The kids wanted to. In their simple understanding of the world, this was something tangible. But Jim and I were reluctant.
And so, we put the subject to rest by justifying in our minds that we were actually protecting our family.
The answer, or at least our small part of the answer was so clear, so simple. Still, why did I do nothing?
I think about this a lot and always end up in the same place. I was afraid of connecting with her. If I got to know her, how could I let her continue to suffer?
This T-Day, try to see the faces of the people who need you. Instead of trying to end world hunger, change one day for one person.
Our monthly Together We Can Change the World Day is about joining together to make a conscious difference.
Please visit our website at www.togetherwecanchangetheworldday.com and scroll across available service projects and add your own.
Monday, July 27, 2009
A TWCCTW Club in Every School!
That's my goal! Huge? Of course...but when has this company ever done anything small? We're out to change the world and that takes some lofty goals and determination.
With the help of my sons, Ian, Shane and Kellan, I invited dozens of kids, ages 12 to 19, to my house on August 13th to learn more about the club. These kids will also be running the show at the first TWCCTW Walk in October. Some will help with parking, some will be handing out t-shirts, some will be along the route with water. The event will be in good hands.
If you would like to start a TWCCTW Club in your local schools, please email me! I will do whatever I can to help.
Imagine...kids earning money for college AND making a huge difference in their community!
MPMCorbett@gmail.com
With the help of my sons, Ian, Shane and Kellan, I invited dozens of kids, ages 12 to 19, to my house on August 13th to learn more about the club. These kids will also be running the show at the first TWCCTW Walk in October. Some will help with parking, some will be handing out t-shirts, some will be along the route with water. The event will be in good hands.
If you would like to start a TWCCTW Club in your local schools, please email me! I will do whatever I can to help.
Imagine...kids earning money for college AND making a huge difference in their community!
MPMCorbett@gmail.com
Monday, July 20, 2009
Get hundreds of $ back for things you are already buying!
Did you go grocery shopping over the weekend, or fill up your tank? If you had a certificate from TWCCTW's Build a Solar Oven T-Day Project, you could be getting hundreds of dollars back!
Buy a certificate, spend $100/month on gas, groceries, retail or dining, get $25 Visa gift cards every month! That's a net gain of $270! For money you are already spending!
AND, you'll be helping to build the first solar oven factory in Uganda!
Now, that's socially conscious shopping!
Friday, July 17, 2009
The Solar Oven Factory Certificates Are Available!
Please go to
to purchase your
certificates and be part of changing a nation!
Hidden Treasures
My favorite time to walk in the Maine woods is mid to late October, before the first hard frost. With the leaves gone, a whole new world is open to discover. This may sound strange to leaf peepers who flock to New England, but to me, the colors are just the outer layer of the beauty of the forest. I had to learn to see the forest, though, before I could appreciate its depth.
Fall of 1988, I was assigned to cruise timber in Grafton with Brian, who had grown up near this area and worked as a forester for many years. While I knew all the technical aspects of measuring tree height and diameter, species identification and disease, Brian understood the forest.
“Sugar maple…19 inches d.b.h…one log,” I called out to him as I measured another tree. We paced along the compass line, stopping at each plot. Nothing much changed. Red maple, sugar maple, beech, a few white birch and poplar in the mix…tree…tree…tree…tree…they all looked the same.
We paced ahead five more chains to the next plot. Usually, Brian would take out the notebook and get ready to record the data. This time, he stood looking on the ground all around him. I stood next to him, trying to see what had him so mesmerized, but nothing looked different.
“See that? There’s some rhubarb…been there for years.”
“Why would rhubarb be growing in the wild?
“It wasn’t always this way. Look closer.”
Still, I just saw the rhubarb. “You’ve gotta help me out, Brian. What are you looking at?”
He walked over to a shallow depression in the ground, kicked away some brush, and revealed part of a stone foundation.
“So, if the house was here,” he thought out loud, “the well should be right about over…..yep…look here.”
I walked over to where he was standing and saw an old wooden wagon wheel covering a hole in the ground. I wandered around as I pieced the old homestead together in my mind.
“Asparagus is growing here!” I pointed out the airy ferns to him before we continued with our work.
Since then, I’ve found several cobalt blue glass bottles, and one prized, clear bottle with the words ‘Coke Dandruff Cure’ embossed on the bottom. Treasures I would have missed if I hadn’t taken the time to look closer.
This coming T-Day, look at familiar yet still unknown people in your life. What’s their story? Take the time to uncover the hidden treasures in the people all around you. When you take the time to connect, you begin to understand.
Every project is special enough to be registered on the T-day site. Your idea may spark many others to do the same. Our monthly Together We Can Change The World Day is about joining together to make a conscious difference.
Please visit our website at www.togetherwecanchangetheworldday.com and scroll across available service projects and add your own.
Fall of 1988, I was assigned to cruise timber in Grafton with Brian, who had grown up near this area and worked as a forester for many years. While I knew all the technical aspects of measuring tree height and diameter, species identification and disease, Brian understood the forest.
“Sugar maple…19 inches d.b.h…one log,” I called out to him as I measured another tree. We paced along the compass line, stopping at each plot. Nothing much changed. Red maple, sugar maple, beech, a few white birch and poplar in the mix…tree…tree…tree…tree…they all looked the same.
We paced ahead five more chains to the next plot. Usually, Brian would take out the notebook and get ready to record the data. This time, he stood looking on the ground all around him. I stood next to him, trying to see what had him so mesmerized, but nothing looked different.
“See that? There’s some rhubarb…been there for years.”
“Why would rhubarb be growing in the wild?
“It wasn’t always this way. Look closer.”
Still, I just saw the rhubarb. “You’ve gotta help me out, Brian. What are you looking at?”
He walked over to a shallow depression in the ground, kicked away some brush, and revealed part of a stone foundation.
“So, if the house was here,” he thought out loud, “the well should be right about over…..yep…look here.”
I walked over to where he was standing and saw an old wooden wagon wheel covering a hole in the ground. I wandered around as I pieced the old homestead together in my mind.
“Asparagus is growing here!” I pointed out the airy ferns to him before we continued with our work.
Since then, I’ve found several cobalt blue glass bottles, and one prized, clear bottle with the words ‘Coke Dandruff Cure’ embossed on the bottom. Treasures I would have missed if I hadn’t taken the time to look closer.
This coming T-Day, look at familiar yet still unknown people in your life. What’s their story? Take the time to uncover the hidden treasures in the people all around you. When you take the time to connect, you begin to understand.
Every project is special enough to be registered on the T-day site. Your idea may spark many others to do the same. Our monthly Together We Can Change The World Day is about joining together to make a conscious difference.
Please visit our website at www.togetherwecanchangetheworldday.com and scroll across available service projects and add your own.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Change of Plans!
UAGI is in the process of getting their 501(c)(3) status, so we have decided to delay the launch of the solar oven project for a few weeks.....
BUT!
You will still want to join us tonight for the Family Chat!
You'll meet Lana, a very determined, focused 14 year old who is building an amazing business!
Primary Number: (206) 701-8388
Backup Number:(323) 476-3672
Conference ID: 872144#
Local Numbers: http://NConnects.com/LocalMonday 6 PM – 7 PM PST Family Chat
(you can call in 15 min. early to say hello)
BUT!
You will still want to join us tonight for the Family Chat!
You'll meet Lana, a very determined, focused 14 year old who is building an amazing business!
Primary Number: (206) 701-8388
Backup Number:(323) 476-3672
Conference ID: 872144#
Local Numbers: http://NConnects.com/LocalMonday 6 PM – 7 PM PST Family Chat
(you can call in 15 min. early to say hello)
Family Chat tonight with Prince Ron Mutebi!
Primary Number: (206) 701-8388
Backup Number:(323) 476-3672
Conference ID: 872144#
Local Numbers: http://NConnects.com/Local
Monday 6 PM – 7 PM PST Family Chat
(you can call in 15 min. early to say hello)
Learn about the exciting partnership between Ugandan American Global Initiatives and TWCCTW! We're joining forces to build the first solar oven factory in Uganda!
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Soaring Eagles, Endless Beaches and Forever Friendships
Last week, I had the pleasure of meeting a group of people I have known all my life. Confused? I'll explain.
Wednesday, June 8th, 17 people from the TWCCTW M-Team converged in Seattle from all over the United States. We spent the next five days together by the beach. All of us have actually 'met' before, speaking together several times each week on our conference calls. And several have been together from the beginning, seven years ago.
Our stories are vastly different, and yet our paths led us all to the same place - Together We Can Change the World. It became abundantly clear that, while personalities were yet to be discovered, our hearts and souls were old friends.
Our mission during the retreat was to create the conditions necessary to enable TWCCTW to explode going forward. We learned from the past and set our vision for the future. The 'present' was filled with hugs, tears and lots of laughter. The synergistic energy was overwhelming at times.
Together We Can Change the World was created for this time in history. So many people and organizations for positive change are in need.
At one point during a break, I noticed a pencil holder, fashioned from a section of a hardwood tree, on the table. As any forester would do, I turned it over to check the growth rings. The center was comprised of about 6 or 7 very narrow, dark rings. The next several rings were about three times as wide. At this very point in the life of the young tree, resources became abundant. We are poised at that same juncture in the life of our company.
Our growth potential is unlimited.
Wednesday, June 8th, 17 people from the TWCCTW M-Team converged in Seattle from all over the United States. We spent the next five days together by the beach. All of us have actually 'met' before, speaking together several times each week on our conference calls. And several have been together from the beginning, seven years ago.
Our stories are vastly different, and yet our paths led us all to the same place - Together We Can Change the World. It became abundantly clear that, while personalities were yet to be discovered, our hearts and souls were old friends.
Our mission during the retreat was to create the conditions necessary to enable TWCCTW to explode going forward. We learned from the past and set our vision for the future. The 'present' was filled with hugs, tears and lots of laughter. The synergistic energy was overwhelming at times.
Together We Can Change the World was created for this time in history. So many people and organizations for positive change are in need.
At one point during a break, I noticed a pencil holder, fashioned from a section of a hardwood tree, on the table. As any forester would do, I turned it over to check the growth rings. The center was comprised of about 6 or 7 very narrow, dark rings. The next several rings were about three times as wide. At this very point in the life of the young tree, resources became abundant. We are poised at that same juncture in the life of our company.
Our growth potential is unlimited.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Together We Can Change the World, Inc. Donates $50,000 to Build Solar Oven Factory in Uganda.
Ugandan American Global Initiatives (UAGI) http://www.ugandanamericanglobalinitiatives.org announced its plans to build a solar oven factory in Uganda with a $50,000 contribution from Together We Can Change the World, Inc. (http://twcctw.com). The factory will be located in the industrial park section of Kampala. It will be only the second solar oven factory on the continent, and the very first solar oven factory in sub-Saharan Africa.
Kampala, Uganda, 6, June 2009-- The UAGI Send An Oven project takes a concept that has been around for centuries and incorporates recently developed materials to produce the world’s most effective solar cooking devices, which can meet a high percentage of the cooking needs of African families.
Uganda’s forests are being burned at the rate of 240 million tons per year. Over 90 percent of the population is dependent on fuel wood, charcoal or agricultural waste products for their cooking fuel needs. Uganda’s exploding population has hastened the ever-increasing need for firewood, severely enhancing the degradation of land.
This land abuse is not inclined to decrease unless rural residents are given another method of food preparation. Utilizing petroleum-based cooking devices makes the long-range prospects of solving the cooking fuel problem recklessly vulnerable to supply, price, and political variations.
UAGI is currently sending Sun Oven© solar ovens to Uganda. At this time, there are approximately 1,000 ovens in the country. The goal is to send at least 10,000 ovens.
Building the solar oven factory will increase employment opportunities for Ugandans,
lower the price of ovens, making them more accessible for all families and bring useful technology to the area. Funding for this project comes from TWCCTW, Inc. According to CEO Ginny Dye, “We are committed to seeding ventures that will have long-term impact on people all around the world. It is a privilege to work with an organization so passionate about changing lives in Uganda!”
Together We Can Change the World, Inc., founded in 2002, creates sustainable funding for non profit organizations and schools around the world. The first Saturday of every month is T- Day (Together We Can Change the World Day). People, across the world, work in their own communities to make a positive change. The June 6, 2009 T-Day is focused on bringing awareness to the solar oven initiative.
My Power Mall (MPM), a division of TWCCTW, Inc., is the premier on-line fundraising mall on the Internet. With over 1,000 stores they offer a simple, no cost way to raise funds for individuals, families, businesses and organizations across the U.S. and around the world.
Contact:
Jacki Varacalli, Director of Marketing
Together We Can Change the World, Inc.
(571) 366-7844
Ronald L. Mutebi, Executive Director/President
Ugandan American Global Initiatives
(312) 545-8181
Kampala, Uganda, 6, June 2009-- The UAGI Send An Oven project takes a concept that has been around for centuries and incorporates recently developed materials to produce the world’s most effective solar cooking devices, which can meet a high percentage of the cooking needs of African families.
Uganda’s forests are being burned at the rate of 240 million tons per year. Over 90 percent of the population is dependent on fuel wood, charcoal or agricultural waste products for their cooking fuel needs. Uganda’s exploding population has hastened the ever-increasing need for firewood, severely enhancing the degradation of land.
This land abuse is not inclined to decrease unless rural residents are given another method of food preparation. Utilizing petroleum-based cooking devices makes the long-range prospects of solving the cooking fuel problem recklessly vulnerable to supply, price, and political variations.
UAGI is currently sending Sun Oven© solar ovens to Uganda. At this time, there are approximately 1,000 ovens in the country. The goal is to send at least 10,000 ovens.
Building the solar oven factory will increase employment opportunities for Ugandans,
lower the price of ovens, making them more accessible for all families and bring useful technology to the area. Funding for this project comes from TWCCTW, Inc. According to CEO Ginny Dye, “We are committed to seeding ventures that will have long-term impact on people all around the world. It is a privilege to work with an organization so passionate about changing lives in Uganda!”
Together We Can Change the World, Inc., founded in 2002, creates sustainable funding for non profit organizations and schools around the world. The first Saturday of every month is T- Day (Together We Can Change the World Day). People, across the world, work in their own communities to make a positive change. The June 6, 2009 T-Day is focused on bringing awareness to the solar oven initiative.
My Power Mall (MPM), a division of TWCCTW, Inc., is the premier on-line fundraising mall on the Internet. With over 1,000 stores they offer a simple, no cost way to raise funds for individuals, families, businesses and organizations across the U.S. and around the world.
Contact:
Jacki Varacalli, Director of Marketing
Together We Can Change the World, Inc.
(571) 366-7844
Ronald L. Mutebi, Executive Director/President
Ugandan American Global Initiatives
(312) 545-8181
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Just Ask
About ten years ago, I was working for Mead in Rumford, Maine as the Community Relations Manager. Part of the job was to administer the Mead Foundation funds locally, about $500,000 each year. I was like a kid in a candy store – who wouldn’t love giving money to non profits and schools? The first several months into the job, I met with so many wonderful people in desperate need of funding for their cause. I soon realized that $500,000 was a great start, but in reality, just a drop in the bucket. I was also increasingly uncomfortable with the fact that these organizations would now depend on this funding to be able to move forward and not just tread water. What would happen if there was a down year for the paper mill and funding was decreased?
The other part of the ongoing struggle for non profits and schools is finding enough volunteers.
“Hmmmm…there are several thousand people directly connected to this mill…what a fabulous resource.”
And so the brainstorming began. Could we mobilize employees to volunteer? Would the management team allow it? Would the employees embrace it?
YES! YES! YES!
Week after week I met with small crews within the mill, describing the ideas in detail. We would partner with Big Brothers Big Sisters and have employees mentor school children. The response was amazing. Do you know what I heard about 99% of the time? No one ever asked me to volunteer before! You want me?!
I will never forget the day the first fifty employees met their mentoring buddy or ‘Little” as they were called. There were tears in the eyes of many of the ‘Bigs” as their name was called to come up and greet their Littles. Hand in hand, these new friends found a space to sit and get to know each other. Over the course of the next six months they would spend hours together reading, drawing or just talking. The last day was so emotional, as you can imagine. I expected that many employees would ask to be matched again next school year with the same child. That was a no brainer. What I didn’t expect was for so many of them to thank me for asking them to volunteer!
This T-Day, June 6, ask people to help you with your project. Don’t just put out flyers or emails, personally ask people. You’ll be amazed at the response.
Our monthly Together We Can Change The World Day is about joining together to make a conscious difference.
Please visit our website at www.togetherwecanchangetheworldday.com and scroll across available service projects and add your own.
The other part of the ongoing struggle for non profits and schools is finding enough volunteers.
“Hmmmm…there are several thousand people directly connected to this mill…what a fabulous resource.”
And so the brainstorming began. Could we mobilize employees to volunteer? Would the management team allow it? Would the employees embrace it?
YES! YES! YES!
Week after week I met with small crews within the mill, describing the ideas in detail. We would partner with Big Brothers Big Sisters and have employees mentor school children. The response was amazing. Do you know what I heard about 99% of the time? No one ever asked me to volunteer before! You want me?!
I will never forget the day the first fifty employees met their mentoring buddy or ‘Little” as they were called. There were tears in the eyes of many of the ‘Bigs” as their name was called to come up and greet their Littles. Hand in hand, these new friends found a space to sit and get to know each other. Over the course of the next six months they would spend hours together reading, drawing or just talking. The last day was so emotional, as you can imagine. I expected that many employees would ask to be matched again next school year with the same child. That was a no brainer. What I didn’t expect was for so many of them to thank me for asking them to volunteer!
This T-Day, June 6, ask people to help you with your project. Don’t just put out flyers or emails, personally ask people. You’ll be amazed at the response.
Our monthly Together We Can Change The World Day is about joining together to make a conscious difference.
Please visit our website at www.togetherwecanchangetheworldday.com and scroll across available service projects and add your own.
Monday, May 18, 2009
In the Stillness
I often think back to the years when I worked as a forester in Maine, and remember special, one of a kind moments. Although at the time, I’m sure I thought these were great experiences, it’s only now that I am older that I can really appreciate their value.
One rainy, late spring morning, I found myself aching to get out of the office. I don’t remember what it was that weighed on my mind that day, but I do remember the feeling of needing some space from the world, and a safe place to cry. Surely, the forest would provide solitude. I drove down the winding Canton Point Road to an area I was responsible for managing. Even though I put on my cruising vest and took the orange roll of flagging with me, I knew I had no intention of working. Soon, I found myself sitting on a boulder the size of a VW Beetle, sobbing while the rain fell all around me. An hour went by. Eventually, my tears subsided, and I was quiet in the stillness of the newly green forest. I couldn’t cry any more or even think any more so I just sat and enjoyed the peacefulness. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught some slight movement, and there she was! A dappled fawn, probably only a few weeks old, wandered not more than ten feet from the boulder. How sweet it must be to have not a care in the world.
Our encounter was fleeting, but it was long enough. She looked up at me, I looked at her and whispered, “Thanks.” Then she was off.
So often as we go through our days, we find ourselves in need of stillness, but we reject it. Doing nothing is unfortunately viewed as unproductive in these times of multitasking, texting, and social networking. Now, I know, being still can be just as productive as being busy. It’s part of my parenting repertoire these days for my five children.
When one of them is stressed, I often recommend that they spend a few moments on the porch swing. There’s a bronze plaque hung on the porch post, visible only to the person on the swing that reads “Be Still and Know that I Am”.
On T-day in June, how about offering someone time to be alone, to be still? Whether it’s a frazzled parent, or a teacher pushed to her limits by a class anxious for summer, giving each other our time is so important.
Every project is special enough to be registered on the T-day site. Your idea may spark many others to do the same. Our monthly Together We Can Change The World Day is about joining together to make a conscious difference.
Please visit our website at http://www.togetherwecanchangetheworldday.com/ and scroll across available service projects and add your own.
One rainy, late spring morning, I found myself aching to get out of the office. I don’t remember what it was that weighed on my mind that day, but I do remember the feeling of needing some space from the world, and a safe place to cry. Surely, the forest would provide solitude. I drove down the winding Canton Point Road to an area I was responsible for managing. Even though I put on my cruising vest and took the orange roll of flagging with me, I knew I had no intention of working. Soon, I found myself sitting on a boulder the size of a VW Beetle, sobbing while the rain fell all around me. An hour went by. Eventually, my tears subsided, and I was quiet in the stillness of the newly green forest. I couldn’t cry any more or even think any more so I just sat and enjoyed the peacefulness. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught some slight movement, and there she was! A dappled fawn, probably only a few weeks old, wandered not more than ten feet from the boulder. How sweet it must be to have not a care in the world.
Our encounter was fleeting, but it was long enough. She looked up at me, I looked at her and whispered, “Thanks.” Then she was off.
So often as we go through our days, we find ourselves in need of stillness, but we reject it. Doing nothing is unfortunately viewed as unproductive in these times of multitasking, texting, and social networking. Now, I know, being still can be just as productive as being busy. It’s part of my parenting repertoire these days for my five children.
When one of them is stressed, I often recommend that they spend a few moments on the porch swing. There’s a bronze plaque hung on the porch post, visible only to the person on the swing that reads “Be Still and Know that I Am”.
On T-day in June, how about offering someone time to be alone, to be still? Whether it’s a frazzled parent, or a teacher pushed to her limits by a class anxious for summer, giving each other our time is so important.
Every project is special enough to be registered on the T-day site. Your idea may spark many others to do the same. Our monthly Together We Can Change The World Day is about joining together to make a conscious difference.
Please visit our website at http://www.togetherwecanchangetheworldday.com/ and scroll across available service projects and add your own.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Have you heard the TWCCTW song?
What started out as one company's mission, has turned into a global anthem and one of the most inspirational songs ever written. "Together We Can Change The World." was published in December of 2008 by 4e Productions, a company that merges entertainment and education to enlighten, empower and enrich everyone through inspiration and collaboration. The song features then 12-year old Rilee O'Neill and The SIFA Africa Children's choir, a group of 20 homeless orphans from Uganda who were touring the U.S. to raise money to build an orphanage back in their country. Inspired by the company that bears its name, Together We Can Change the World was written by Mark Shepard and arranged by Joe Mennonna for 4e Music, as part of a musical production called "Letters to Daddy" (www.letterstodaddy.com) that is debuting next month (June 2009) at the Lycian Theatre in Sugarloaf, NY and at Center Stage Theatre in Westport, CT.
It also inspired a powerful You Tube video that was produced by First Image TV. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFy54NmYPyc. For more information about the song and how to purchase it or the sheet music, please call Bill Rodman @ 4e Productions, LLC
860-302-4253 PO Box 612 Plantsville, CT
It also inspired a powerful You Tube video that was produced by First Image TV. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFy54NmYPyc. For more information about the song and how to purchase it or the sheet music, please call Bill Rodman @ 4e Productions, LLC
860-302-4253 PO Box 612 Plantsville, CT
Friday, May 8, 2009
The Big Date
Back in the fall of 1989, I was scouting a tract of forest in a remote part of Riley, Maine. It was chilly enough to see my breath as I hiked up the old skid trail. Riley is known for its rugged terrain, and this was no exception. My eyes were mostly scanning the ground to make sure I had sure footing. These kind of days were what I loved most about being a forester. I had the freedom to let my thoughts wander as I continued up the mountainside.
A loud breathy snort brought me back to attention. Up ahead about 20 feet was an enormous bull moose! Now, these guys run about 1500 lbs and 6 feet tall at shoulder height. To make matters worse, it was their rut, or mating season. Guess who he wanted to be his date?
Panic stricken, I looked all around for a place to hide, eventually crouching behind a huge spruce. Once I knew I was safe from Bullwinkle’s advances, all I could think of was how ‘wicked cool’ this was! I continued to watch the magnificent animal until he was out of sight. My fear had been transformed into appreciation for the majesty of nature.
These can be very scary times for people. Maybe the best thing you can do for someone is to be a safe place. Putting some distance between them and their fears might allow a different perspective on the problem.
Together We Can Change the World, Inc. isn’t just about the big projects. It’s about what we do in our every day lives to make things a little better.
Our monthly Together We Can Change the World Day is about joining together to make a conscious difference, big or small.
Please visit our website at www.togetherwecanchangetheworldday.com, scroll across available service projects and add your own.
A loud breathy snort brought me back to attention. Up ahead about 20 feet was an enormous bull moose! Now, these guys run about 1500 lbs and 6 feet tall at shoulder height. To make matters worse, it was their rut, or mating season. Guess who he wanted to be his date?
Panic stricken, I looked all around for a place to hide, eventually crouching behind a huge spruce. Once I knew I was safe from Bullwinkle’s advances, all I could think of was how ‘wicked cool’ this was! I continued to watch the magnificent animal until he was out of sight. My fear had been transformed into appreciation for the majesty of nature.
These can be very scary times for people. Maybe the best thing you can do for someone is to be a safe place. Putting some distance between them and their fears might allow a different perspective on the problem.
Together We Can Change the World, Inc. isn’t just about the big projects. It’s about what we do in our every day lives to make things a little better.
Our monthly Together We Can Change the World Day is about joining together to make a conscious difference, big or small.
Please visit our website at www.togetherwecanchangetheworldday.com, scroll across available service projects and add your own.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
A Fortuitous Error!
Did you happen to see Oprah earlier this week when a group called Invisible Children were allowed to tell their story? Northern Ugandan children are being forced to become soldiers for a brutal rebel group. I was so upset by this, I immediately logged onto their site and sent an email offering My PowerMall as the way for them to increase funding for their mission. Or at least I thought I was sending them an email...
Turns out, there's another group called Invisible Children (aka Kids At Risk Action, KARA) that is a non-profit advocacy network focusing on issues related to neglected and abused children. The Director, Mike Tikkanen, very kindly sent me a reply saying how he wished my email was for his group (I mentioned I had seen Oprah), but it was really meant for the group of the same name, but a .com, not .org.
"Well why don't we talk? Your mission is every bit as important as theirs!", I email back to the 'wrong' group.
This morning, Mike and I chatted for about 30 minutes about his organization's mission and their funding needs.
Invisible Children .ORG became a NPO World Changer Mall right on the spot.
"I am not a wealthy man, but I continue my work because I so believe that it is necessary to have a voice for these children."
Doesn't that sound like almost every NPO person you have ever met?
The great news is that right now, with My PowerMall, you CAN create the sustainable funding you so desperately need.
By the way, I did send another email to the 'right' Invisible Children offering help from My PowerMall. But now I know, they're both the right ones!
Turns out, there's another group called Invisible Children (aka Kids At Risk Action, KARA) that is a non-profit advocacy network focusing on issues related to neglected and abused children. The Director, Mike Tikkanen, very kindly sent me a reply saying how he wished my email was for his group (I mentioned I had seen Oprah), but it was really meant for the group of the same name, but a .com, not .org.
"Well why don't we talk? Your mission is every bit as important as theirs!", I email back to the 'wrong' group.
This morning, Mike and I chatted for about 30 minutes about his organization's mission and their funding needs.
Invisible Children .ORG became a NPO World Changer Mall right on the spot.
"I am not a wealthy man, but I continue my work because I so believe that it is necessary to have a voice for these children."
Doesn't that sound like almost every NPO person you have ever met?
The great news is that right now, with My PowerMall, you CAN create the sustainable funding you so desperately need.
By the way, I did send another email to the 'right' Invisible Children offering help from My PowerMall. But now I know, they're both the right ones!
Monday, May 4, 2009
T-Day, May 2, 2009
The Connection
I decided to do a short video to put on You Tube that would highlight the needs of our local food pantry. I live in a small, rural Maine town, and many people are hurting right now. The goal was to interview the director while my seventeen year old son, Ian, video taped it. Seemed easy enough. So I fixed my hair and asked my son to get the camera and wait in the car.
“You want me to go in the food pantry? Ewww, no!”
Now, I really thought my kids were socially conscious, or at least human.
“Just get in the car, Ian.”
Just a mile down the road, we pulled into the parking lot. The doors had recently opened and the last of the line had disappeared inside. We walked past the dozens of people picking baskets of supplies. Ian just stared, and seemed uncomfortable.
Afterwards, I stayed to chat for a few minutes with the director while Ian went back with the camera to warm up the car.
When I buckled in, he didn’t move. Instead, he just looked at the food pantry doors and quietly said “Mom, I went to school with some of those kids. I know them.”
The connection was made.
We’re all in this together. Everyone knows someone in need… everyone. We just have to allow ourselves to see the connection.
Our monthly Together We Can Change The World Day is about joining together to make a conscious difference.
Please visit our website at http://www.togetherwecanchangetheworldday.com/ and scroll across available service projects and add your own.
I decided to do a short video to put on You Tube that would highlight the needs of our local food pantry. I live in a small, rural Maine town, and many people are hurting right now. The goal was to interview the director while my seventeen year old son, Ian, video taped it. Seemed easy enough. So I fixed my hair and asked my son to get the camera and wait in the car.
“You want me to go in the food pantry? Ewww, no!”
Now, I really thought my kids were socially conscious, or at least human.
“Just get in the car, Ian.”
Just a mile down the road, we pulled into the parking lot. The doors had recently opened and the last of the line had disappeared inside. We walked past the dozens of people picking baskets of supplies. Ian just stared, and seemed uncomfortable.
Afterwards, I stayed to chat for a few minutes with the director while Ian went back with the camera to warm up the car.
When I buckled in, he didn’t move. Instead, he just looked at the food pantry doors and quietly said “Mom, I went to school with some of those kids. I know them.”
The connection was made.
We’re all in this together. Everyone knows someone in need… everyone. We just have to allow ourselves to see the connection.
Our monthly Together We Can Change The World Day is about joining together to make a conscious difference.
Please visit our website at http://www.togetherwecanchangetheworldday.com/ and scroll across available service projects and add your own.
Friday, May 1, 2009
The Campfire
We've all heard people talk about "Everything I know I learned from my dog" or "Everything I know I learned in kindergarten" or "Everything I know about business I learned from my Momma." The underlying truth in all of them is that the rules for a successful life might not be easy, but they are SIMPLE!
I prefer to think that "Everything I know about life I learned around a campfire." Since our ancestors have been gathering around campfires since the human race began, the wisdom of the campfire is profound and primal.
We sit around in a circle, facing each other. All are equal. All are sharing the same warmth and light. All are singing together or making small-talk. All are responsible for tending their part of the fire, to make sure kindling does not pop out of the firepit and to make sure the fire is stoked. All are in harmony.
When food is made on the fire, it is made to share. When more sticks are needed, even the smallest children can help gather them. When it's time to put the fire out, everyone helps stomp on those last tiny glowing embers.
Together We Can Change The World Day (T-Day) is very much like a campfire. On T-Day, the first Saturday of every month, we join together to offer our hands, and our hearts, to help make the world a better place. It doesn't matter whether we are rich or poor, big or small, young or old, or anything else. All that matters is that we care.
The warmth and light of the campfire grows as kindling is added to it. The world becomes a better, happier, brighter, healthier, more beautiful place when we add more and more service and caring to it.
Our monthly Together We Can Change The World Day is about joining together to make a conscious difference. Please visit our website at http://www.togetherwecanchangetheworldday.com/ and scroll across available service projects and add your own. After all, The first fire we light is the fire within.
I prefer to think that "Everything I know about life I learned around a campfire." Since our ancestors have been gathering around campfires since the human race began, the wisdom of the campfire is profound and primal.
We sit around in a circle, facing each other. All are equal. All are sharing the same warmth and light. All are singing together or making small-talk. All are responsible for tending their part of the fire, to make sure kindling does not pop out of the firepit and to make sure the fire is stoked. All are in harmony.
When food is made on the fire, it is made to share. When more sticks are needed, even the smallest children can help gather them. When it's time to put the fire out, everyone helps stomp on those last tiny glowing embers.
Together We Can Change The World Day (T-Day) is very much like a campfire. On T-Day, the first Saturday of every month, we join together to offer our hands, and our hearts, to help make the world a better place. It doesn't matter whether we are rich or poor, big or small, young or old, or anything else. All that matters is that we care.
The warmth and light of the campfire grows as kindling is added to it. The world becomes a better, happier, brighter, healthier, more beautiful place when we add more and more service and caring to it.
Our monthly Together We Can Change The World Day is about joining together to make a conscious difference. Please visit our website at http://www.togetherwecanchangetheworldday.com/ and scroll across available service projects and add your own. After all, The first fire we light is the fire within.
Monday, April 27, 2009
The Hummingbird Story
Those of us who truly believe that Together We Can Change The World know that every little effort can have huge positive effects. Like a snowball rolling down the hill, our positive act becomes larger and larger and larger.Most of the time, we want our good works to be the catalyst for positive change. Sometimes, though, the result is not exactly what we anticipate.
Here’s a story about not giving up hope, as it is frequently told by Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Wangari Maathai from Kenya.
Once upon a time, not so long ago, and maybe not even so far away from where you live now, there lived many animals in a deep, green forest. And they lived in relative harmony, except when one animal was eaten by another animal as sometimes happens in a deep, green forest. But that was appreciated as the story of life and death. And the continuation of life. And in the cycle of things, as they are and as they are meant to be, there was equanimity and peace...
Until one day, a fire raged and raged in the deep, green forest. And all the animals gave chase or took flight to try and save themselves from the inferno. While running away they felt huge despair at the thought of what they were leaving behind... their only home.
When they reached a safe distance some of the animals stopped to look at the raging fire, and noticed a small spot of red in the blue sky, circling back and forth, from a clear, cool lake to the blazing, burning forest... What was it? It was the red-throated hummingbird. And in her beak she ferried a few small drops of water to try to stop the fire. She flew back and forth, and back and forth, and back and forth again.
The animals below looked up in amazement. The lion looked up, the elephant, the badger and the bear. They all looked up at the red-throated hummingbird in disbelief.
And the lion roared: "Red-throated hummingbird, what do you think YOU are doing up there with your one drop of water?"
Undeterred by the impossibility of it all, the little hummingbird said: "I am doing what I can."
The Hummingbird Story means NEVER GIVE UP. Any effort to help is an effort worth making. Your work might not solve the problem, but you will inspire others with hope, which is sometimes the best gift of all.
As we plan our projects for the next Together We Can Change The World Day, think about that little hummingbird carrying its precious drops of water, and imagine of all the ways in which we can help change the world by setting an example to others.
Giving 'Til It Feels Good
We've all heard the expression, "give 'til it hurts," but we at Together We Can Change The World prefer the idea of "giving until it feels good." Really good! Give as a way to spread your love and your joy. Give as a way to say thanks to the Universe. Give as a way to celebrate the fact that we are alive!
When giving is seen as a privilege and not a sacrifice, amazing things happen.
When giving is seen as a privilege and not a sacrifice, amazing things happen.
This story of Tess and the Big Truck is a great example of giving until it feels really good. Tess was finally ready to let her big truck go. 1980 Chevy Scottsdale, 454 Big Block with 1 Ton Chassis/Brakes. In the spirit of the true Give-Away in the Native American tradition, and in conjunction with T-Day, Tess gave away her truck to someone who really needed it. She didn't sell it; she gave it. In fact, she even had some repairs done on the truck so it was in tip-top shape before she gave it away.
Tess is well-known to everyone who participated in the World Changer Reality Bootcamp because she took the time to respond to everyone's blogs with such encouragement and sincerity, day in and day out. Tess is also well known to members who have called in on the MPM Chat Line for her kind and gentle demeanor.
Now she will be well known as the person who gave away her truck! When the truck's recipient sent Tess a card and goodie gift basket as a thank-you, Tess reflected:
"My friend's sentiments in the card seemed very much attuned to the spirit of T-Day, and though I'd mentioned to her briefly about the truck being a T-Day Give-Away and of our last T-Day experiences, I was still surprised a card was found that embodies its energy. The card says, 'Let us be GRATEFUL to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls BLOSSOM. Thank you, dear Friend.'
Tess is well-known to everyone who participated in the World Changer Reality Bootcamp because she took the time to respond to everyone's blogs with such encouragement and sincerity, day in and day out. Tess is also well known to members who have called in on the MPM Chat Line for her kind and gentle demeanor.
Now she will be well known as the person who gave away her truck! When the truck's recipient sent Tess a card and goodie gift basket as a thank-you, Tess reflected:
"My friend's sentiments in the card seemed very much attuned to the spirit of T-Day, and though I'd mentioned to her briefly about the truck being a T-Day Give-Away and of our last T-Day experiences, I was still surprised a card was found that embodies its energy. The card says, 'Let us be GRATEFUL to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls BLOSSOM. Thank you, dear Friend.'
"I share this because of the beautiful exchange of giving and receiving. To some, my old Big Truck is just that. Old and big. But, to my friend, it's like a bit o'gold. My friend wrote, 'My heart is overflowing with your generosity of giving us your wonderful, beautiful truck! Our little plot of land is as close as I'm going to get to living on a farm. The truck will help me live my dream! I hope that you will . . . take some joy rides with me for bales of straw, chicken feed, loads of dirt, lumber, etc., etc., etc.'"You can bet on it ;-).
"Through giving, we receive on many levels; through receiving we receive on many levels. In this story, my give-away came full circle and the giving came back to me in an unexpected and lovely way. In essence, we became a T-Day project for our friend, and she brought us bounty from the land, and little chocolate, too!"How wonderful it is when we are able to give and receive with equal amounts of joy and appreciation for the gift (s) exchanged between each other, no matter how big or how small they 'seem' to be."
Thanks, Tess, and thanks to all of you who believe that you can't outgive the Universe!
Thanks, Tess, and thanks to all of you who believe that you can't outgive the Universe!
Monday, April 6, 2009
Give the Gift that Keeps On Giving!
Together We Can Change The World Day is the first Saturday of every month, and one of the most exciting things about T-Day is the way it brings people together. There is probably no better way to make a connection with others than through joining together and working on behalf of a good cause.
If you have already participated in T-Day projects, have you noticed the way people get a big smile on their faces when they hear about it? Have you noticed how often people say “Wow--that’s really a cool idea!” Well, yes, as someone who has made a deep commitment to the idea of Together We Can Change The World, your job and my job is to let our friends and neighbors and coworkers and families know that we don’t care whether a project seems to be large or small, its impact is ALWAYS world changing.
A small kindness, like chauffeuring around the neighbor’s kids for a day so the parents can get some “alone time” can cause a ripple effect in the lives of the parents, the children, and you because it can gives everyone a chance to get out of their normal rhythms and do things a bit differently for at least one day.
By the same token, organizing a large project will have far-reaching effects on large groups of people: your fellow volunteers, non-profit agency staff members, clients, and communities.
Large or small, public or private, a T-Day project is a way for us to spread our wings and touch the hearts of others. The exact type of project is really not important. What IS important, is that you find something that makes you happy and speaks to your soul. Know that others, your Together We Can Change The World “family” of like-minded people all over the world, are working with you, shoulder to shoulder. The results will be transformational.
Nearly every time someone tells us about their T-Day project, they talk about a new friendship made, a new relationship forged, or even a new networking opportunity found.
One T-day project focused on building up the food supplies in a local food pantry and brought together an accountant with a brand-new business client. Another project brought together a domestic violence shelter staff member with a volunteer who just happens to work at a paper cup factory and has access cups that are rejected from the production line. The cups might not be perfectly pretty, but they perfectly useful for the shelter to use now that donation arrangements have been made!
The stories go on and on, and the joys of volunteering for T-Day on the first Saturday of every month make T-Day the gift that keeps on giving. Open your heart and let your ideas soar!
Please go to our website http://www.togetherwecanchangetheworldday.com/ to check out project ideas, and register your own T-day project for May 2.
If you have already participated in T-Day projects, have you noticed the way people get a big smile on their faces when they hear about it? Have you noticed how often people say “Wow--that’s really a cool idea!” Well, yes, as someone who has made a deep commitment to the idea of Together We Can Change The World, your job and my job is to let our friends and neighbors and coworkers and families know that we don’t care whether a project seems to be large or small, its impact is ALWAYS world changing.
A small kindness, like chauffeuring around the neighbor’s kids for a day so the parents can get some “alone time” can cause a ripple effect in the lives of the parents, the children, and you because it can gives everyone a chance to get out of their normal rhythms and do things a bit differently for at least one day.
By the same token, organizing a large project will have far-reaching effects on large groups of people: your fellow volunteers, non-profit agency staff members, clients, and communities.
Large or small, public or private, a T-Day project is a way for us to spread our wings and touch the hearts of others. The exact type of project is really not important. What IS important, is that you find something that makes you happy and speaks to your soul. Know that others, your Together We Can Change The World “family” of like-minded people all over the world, are working with you, shoulder to shoulder. The results will be transformational.
Nearly every time someone tells us about their T-Day project, they talk about a new friendship made, a new relationship forged, or even a new networking opportunity found.
One T-day project focused on building up the food supplies in a local food pantry and brought together an accountant with a brand-new business client. Another project brought together a domestic violence shelter staff member with a volunteer who just happens to work at a paper cup factory and has access cups that are rejected from the production line. The cups might not be perfectly pretty, but they perfectly useful for the shelter to use now that donation arrangements have been made!
The stories go on and on, and the joys of volunteering for T-Day on the first Saturday of every month make T-Day the gift that keeps on giving. Open your heart and let your ideas soar!
Please go to our website http://www.togetherwecanchangetheworldday.com/ to check out project ideas, and register your own T-day project for May 2.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Change The World and Change Ourselves
Together We Can Change The World Day (T-Day) is the first Saturday of every month. It is a day in which everyone is encouraged to participate in large or small acts of service to help make the world a better place. As our motto says: Mobilizing Millions, One Person At A Time.
Our T-Day projects can be as simple as lending a helping hand to a friend in need, but they can also be way outside of our comfort zone. Sometimes our projects can have a surprising impact on our lives. Every now and then, a cause comes along that literally rocks our world!
Such is the case for Tina Marie Katz from New York City.
As she began selecting a project for our Kick-Off T-Day on March 7, she discovered a cause that has catapulted her into a whole new world of architectural preservation, entertainment history, media relations, and political maneuvering!
Tina has embraced a project to help save the famous RKO Keith's Theater in Flushing, New York. The Grand Lady, as it is lovingly called, was once one of the most celebrated theaters in New York City. Now it is only a ghost of its former self and its future is in jeopardy.
The theater was opened in 1928 and a vast array of stars have personal connections with the surrounding community and with the theater itself. Since the RKO Keith's was sold in the 1980s, it has been empty and awaiting its fate.
Tina believes the theater is a beautiful and historic building that should be redeveloped and restored. She had her dance recitals there when she was a child, and she is working with a dedicated group to work on fundraising, marketing, non-profit status, community awareness, preservation group awareness and involvement, media awareness and involvement.
Her March T-Day project started a ball rolling with public meetings and media attention. The group has already plotted out a plan of action in getting its non-profit status, website, social networking sites (facebook, youtube, etc.), and fundraising goals.
This project has had a major impact on Tina's life, and her dedication has had a major impact on the preservation efforts. As we say, "Mobilizing Millions, One Person At A Time" is the essence of T-Day, and we encourage you to visit our website at http://www.togetherwecanchangetheworldday.com/ to look at other projects, get ideas, find information about volunteer activities, and register your own favorite T-Day project!
Our T-Day projects can be as simple as lending a helping hand to a friend in need, but they can also be way outside of our comfort zone. Sometimes our projects can have a surprising impact on our lives. Every now and then, a cause comes along that literally rocks our world!
Such is the case for Tina Marie Katz from New York City.
As she began selecting a project for our Kick-Off T-Day on March 7, she discovered a cause that has catapulted her into a whole new world of architectural preservation, entertainment history, media relations, and political maneuvering!
Tina has embraced a project to help save the famous RKO Keith's Theater in Flushing, New York. The Grand Lady, as it is lovingly called, was once one of the most celebrated theaters in New York City. Now it is only a ghost of its former self and its future is in jeopardy.
The theater was opened in 1928 and a vast array of stars have personal connections with the surrounding community and with the theater itself. Since the RKO Keith's was sold in the 1980s, it has been empty and awaiting its fate.
Tina believes the theater is a beautiful and historic building that should be redeveloped and restored. She had her dance recitals there when she was a child, and she is working with a dedicated group to work on fundraising, marketing, non-profit status, community awareness, preservation group awareness and involvement, media awareness and involvement.
Her March T-Day project started a ball rolling with public meetings and media attention. The group has already plotted out a plan of action in getting its non-profit status, website, social networking sites (facebook, youtube, etc.), and fundraising goals.
This project has had a major impact on Tina's life, and her dedication has had a major impact on the preservation efforts. As we say, "Mobilizing Millions, One Person At A Time" is the essence of T-Day, and we encourage you to visit our website at http://www.togetherwecanchangetheworldday.com/ to look at other projects, get ideas, find information about volunteer activities, and register your own favorite T-Day project!
Thursday, March 19, 2009
T-Day Hits Home
Just wanted to share a fabulous email I received from MPM Director of Marketing Jacki Varacalli:
Jean, I thought you may want to know your bug is catching onto everyone in our house. The best way to tell this story would be in monologue style, so here goes.
First let me introduce you to everyone. My name is Jacki Varacalli and I work with TWCCTW/MPM (I think we all knew that), my husband’s name is Mark and our 7 year old daughter is Zoe. My 3 year old son’s name is Brandon but because most of his input was “Yeah, ok” or “Let’s do it” I have decided to leave him out of it but just know that he is all about this too.
Sunday morning Zoe came up from the basement with a toy cash register in hand and her brother running behind her.
Zoe: Look Daddy, I’m collecting money for people that don’t have homes!
Mark: That’s a great idea Zoe.
Zoe went running up to me; her mom and pushed the button to open the drawer on the cash register, as she did there was money sticking out every where, coins and paper money both.
Jacki: Zoe why don’t you put your money away so you don’t lose it.
Zoe: No, I’m giving it to people that don’t have a home!
Mark: It’s just the money from the kid’s bank down stairs.
Jacki: No it’s not, that’s her money from her birthdays, chores and even the tooth fairy too.
Zoe: But mom… I want to give it to the people that don’t have a home!
Jacki: I think it’s a great idea Zoe and very kind of you.
That afternoon she started doing the dishes.
Zoe: I’m doing chores so I can earn more money for the homeless, I don’t want points, I want money for this.
We have a points system so the kids earn points to get things they want including TV time, computer time, special outings and extras.
Mark: Since you are doing this for a cause I think you can earn points and money for doing these chores.
Jacki: I think that’s a great idea and I will match everything she earns and donate it to her cause.
The next day Zoe came home from school very excited.
Zoe: Mom, Nicholas is going to help me collect money! He is going to start doing chores so he can get money to give to the people that don’t have homes.
This brought on a very long conversation about how we can send out fliers to her classmates to let them know what she is doing and how she can do this for her own T-Day project. She was involved in the school grounds clean up for this month’s T-Day project so she was very excited to do this on her own; she has always been very grown up. It then turned into how we can have the children that raise the money take it to the shelter on Sat. 4/4. Then she decided when she grows up she would like to start a shelter of her own so that no one ever has to sleep outside again. This is something that has bothered her since we were walking around DC when she was 3 and said “Mommy, why is that man sleeping on the side walk?” Since that day we have planned to do a Habitat for Humanity project as soon as she turns 16(the minimum build age).
I am so thankful to TWCCTW, we were fortunate enough to host the SIFA choir children and we were able to be involved in their entire US trip by following their journey through their blog. I think a lot of the conversations that came from that and now T-Day are ones children usually don’t have until they are much older and less selfish. My husband and I volunteer with a group of friends and family every year for the National MS Society so the practice of giving back is nothing new to our family but to have my 7 year old start her own T-Day project made me so proud. Way to go Zoe!
Jean, we now have 2 projects scheduled for the April T-Day and I will let you know how both go. Thank you for making T-Day a reality, I can already see how it is going to spread so widely and that many changes are about to happen.
Jacki Varacalli
jacki@mypowermall.com
Jean, I thought you may want to know your bug is catching onto everyone in our house. The best way to tell this story would be in monologue style, so here goes.
First let me introduce you to everyone. My name is Jacki Varacalli and I work with TWCCTW/MPM (I think we all knew that), my husband’s name is Mark and our 7 year old daughter is Zoe. My 3 year old son’s name is Brandon but because most of his input was “Yeah, ok” or “Let’s do it” I have decided to leave him out of it but just know that he is all about this too.
Sunday morning Zoe came up from the basement with a toy cash register in hand and her brother running behind her.
Zoe: Look Daddy, I’m collecting money for people that don’t have homes!
Mark: That’s a great idea Zoe.
Zoe went running up to me; her mom and pushed the button to open the drawer on the cash register, as she did there was money sticking out every where, coins and paper money both.
Jacki: Zoe why don’t you put your money away so you don’t lose it.
Zoe: No, I’m giving it to people that don’t have a home!
Mark: It’s just the money from the kid’s bank down stairs.
Jacki: No it’s not, that’s her money from her birthdays, chores and even the tooth fairy too.
Zoe: But mom… I want to give it to the people that don’t have a home!
Jacki: I think it’s a great idea Zoe and very kind of you.
That afternoon she started doing the dishes.
Zoe: I’m doing chores so I can earn more money for the homeless, I don’t want points, I want money for this.
We have a points system so the kids earn points to get things they want including TV time, computer time, special outings and extras.
Mark: Since you are doing this for a cause I think you can earn points and money for doing these chores.
Jacki: I think that’s a great idea and I will match everything she earns and donate it to her cause.
The next day Zoe came home from school very excited.
Zoe: Mom, Nicholas is going to help me collect money! He is going to start doing chores so he can get money to give to the people that don’t have homes.
This brought on a very long conversation about how we can send out fliers to her classmates to let them know what she is doing and how she can do this for her own T-Day project. She was involved in the school grounds clean up for this month’s T-Day project so she was very excited to do this on her own; she has always been very grown up. It then turned into how we can have the children that raise the money take it to the shelter on Sat. 4/4. Then she decided when she grows up she would like to start a shelter of her own so that no one ever has to sleep outside again. This is something that has bothered her since we were walking around DC when she was 3 and said “Mommy, why is that man sleeping on the side walk?” Since that day we have planned to do a Habitat for Humanity project as soon as she turns 16(the minimum build age).
I am so thankful to TWCCTW, we were fortunate enough to host the SIFA choir children and we were able to be involved in their entire US trip by following their journey through their blog. I think a lot of the conversations that came from that and now T-Day are ones children usually don’t have until they are much older and less selfish. My husband and I volunteer with a group of friends and family every year for the National MS Society so the practice of giving back is nothing new to our family but to have my 7 year old start her own T-Day project made me so proud. Way to go Zoe!
Jean, we now have 2 projects scheduled for the April T-Day and I will let you know how both go. Thank you for making T-Day a reality, I can already see how it is going to spread so widely and that many changes are about to happen.
Jacki Varacalli
jacki@mypowermall.com
Monday, March 16, 2009
Professional Service
Projects for Together We Can Change The World Day (T-Day) come in all shapes and sizes. When people consciously participate in service projects on the first Saturday of every month, they frequently do something that is completely different from what they do for a living.
Perhaps accountants are painting walls in public housing units, or bus drivers are cleaning up a riverbed, or bakers are visiting lonely senior citizens, or students are creating a television program about volunteerism for public access cable.
It can be a lot of fun to dive into a project that falls outside our own comfort zone! It gives us a chance to learn new things, think new ways, and see the world from a slightly different perspective.
But sometimes a T-Day project is an opportunity for us to utilize our career skills in a new and different way through pro bono activities. Several reports of projects from March 7 show us a side of volunteering that combines people's individual skills and talents to help make the world a better place.
Kathy is a graphic artist, and she spent T-Day creating an invitation for a gala fundraising event for the Duwamish Tribe in Washington state. She explains that the Duwamish Tribe has over 500 members who will benefit from the funds, which will be used to cover the cost of operating expenses for the tribe. Also, the gala will be attended by approximately 200 people, who will have a chance to experience the culture and history of the Duwamish people. Kathy is already planning her April, May, and June T-Day project as a follow-up to March 7, as she coordinates donated artwork and mails the printed invitations, and creates a catalog for the gala.
Plenty of computer specialists have donated their time and talents to help out those who need to upgrade their technological capacities.
Gary spent the day with two senior citizens programming their computers to access the Internet and teach them how to do basic web surfing and most importantly send and receive email from friends and family. Both ladies became very excited as they were able to see emails they created being sent to a family member or friend. The email program they wanted to use is IncrediMail which makes it very easy for a novice to send colorful emails with animation.
Jim helped a small non-profit upgrade its five donated pcs with software downloads and basic set-up and maintenance. The computers needed to have their hard drives cleaned and defragmented to make them run more smoothly.
Jean is an experienced manager of non-profit organizations, and she spent the day with the Board of Directors of a local youth development program to assist them with strategic planning, Board recruitment, and budgeting.
Mark is an attorney, and spent T-Day volunteering at his city's legal clinic for low-income families facing homelessness and dealing with their legal issues. He has volunteered at the clinic before, but now intends to offer his services there on the first Saturday of every month as a T-Day project.
Maggie works in the dietary division of a large hospital, and spent T-Day volunteering at a soup kitchen in her community. Because of her massive experience in food handling, food preparation, food service, and food sanitation, she was treated "like a rock star" at the soup kitchen because the staff and other volunteers were thrilled to have someone with her expertise on board for the day.
Those are just some of the stories of people who gave freely of their time and talents on T-Day by offering their "work" as volunteers. Great job!
Now is the time to plan what YOU are going to do to help make the world better on the next T-Day, April 4.
Perhaps accountants are painting walls in public housing units, or bus drivers are cleaning up a riverbed, or bakers are visiting lonely senior citizens, or students are creating a television program about volunteerism for public access cable.
It can be a lot of fun to dive into a project that falls outside our own comfort zone! It gives us a chance to learn new things, think new ways, and see the world from a slightly different perspective.
But sometimes a T-Day project is an opportunity for us to utilize our career skills in a new and different way through pro bono activities. Several reports of projects from March 7 show us a side of volunteering that combines people's individual skills and talents to help make the world a better place.
Kathy is a graphic artist, and she spent T-Day creating an invitation for a gala fundraising event for the Duwamish Tribe in Washington state. She explains that the Duwamish Tribe has over 500 members who will benefit from the funds, which will be used to cover the cost of operating expenses for the tribe. Also, the gala will be attended by approximately 200 people, who will have a chance to experience the culture and history of the Duwamish people. Kathy is already planning her April, May, and June T-Day project as a follow-up to March 7, as she coordinates donated artwork and mails the printed invitations, and creates a catalog for the gala.
Plenty of computer specialists have donated their time and talents to help out those who need to upgrade their technological capacities.
Gary spent the day with two senior citizens programming their computers to access the Internet and teach them how to do basic web surfing and most importantly send and receive email from friends and family. Both ladies became very excited as they were able to see emails they created being sent to a family member or friend. The email program they wanted to use is IncrediMail which makes it very easy for a novice to send colorful emails with animation.
Jim helped a small non-profit upgrade its five donated pcs with software downloads and basic set-up and maintenance. The computers needed to have their hard drives cleaned and defragmented to make them run more smoothly.
Jean is an experienced manager of non-profit organizations, and she spent the day with the Board of Directors of a local youth development program to assist them with strategic planning, Board recruitment, and budgeting.
Mark is an attorney, and spent T-Day volunteering at his city's legal clinic for low-income families facing homelessness and dealing with their legal issues. He has volunteered at the clinic before, but now intends to offer his services there on the first Saturday of every month as a T-Day project.
Maggie works in the dietary division of a large hospital, and spent T-Day volunteering at a soup kitchen in her community. Because of her massive experience in food handling, food preparation, food service, and food sanitation, she was treated "like a rock star" at the soup kitchen because the staff and other volunteers were thrilled to have someone with her expertise on board for the day.
Those are just some of the stories of people who gave freely of their time and talents on T-Day by offering their "work" as volunteers. Great job!
Now is the time to plan what YOU are going to do to help make the world better on the next T-Day, April 4.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
For The Want of a Nail
We've all heard the old proverb about little actions having large consequences. In the context of Together We Can Change The World Day, we can find some fresh insights into the role service plays in a world that is hurting for love.
For Want of a Nail
For want of a nail the shoe was lost.
For want of a shoe the horse was lost.
For want of a horse the rider was lost.
For want of a rider the battle was lost.
For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.
And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.
On Saturday, March 7, we had our big kick-off of T-Day, and projects large and small all over the world provided a loud and clear message that each one of us CAN and MUST be the change in our world today.
Every act of kindness and love starts a chain reaction of amazing consequences. Every act of kindness and love brings the world closer to a place of personal responsibility, justice for all, and peace.
The next T-Day is the first Saturday in April, the 4th, and projects are already being listed on our website www.togetherwecanchangetheworldday.com to recruit volunteers, raise awareness of key issues, and to inspire. Please add your T-Day project today!
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Free Website Listings!
I’m part of My Power Mall and its parent company Together We Can Change The World, Inc. We provide a free website for individuals, organizations, and businesses to promote their special service projects on the first Saturday of every month (http://www.togetherwecanchangetheworldday.com/).
This new clearinghouse offers people around the world an opportunity to promote their projects so individuals in their area can find them and perhaps join in. It also serves as a place where people can go to get ideas for projects of their own.
Together We Can Change The World Day (T-Day) encourages everyone to consciously make a difference in their community and the world at least once a month.
Please feel free to list your cause/events for the first Saturday of every month (or the first Saturday of any particular month). Again, there is no cost – this is our gift to the world. It’s a great opportunity to publicize your website and your mission. After you register, you will receive an email confirming your project.
I hope you will use the site and help us spread the word about it to other organizations and individuals. We are a company that believes deeply that Together We Can Change The World!
This new clearinghouse offers people around the world an opportunity to promote their projects so individuals in their area can find them and perhaps join in. It also serves as a place where people can go to get ideas for projects of their own.
Together We Can Change The World Day (T-Day) encourages everyone to consciously make a difference in their community and the world at least once a month.
Please feel free to list your cause/events for the first Saturday of every month (or the first Saturday of any particular month). Again, there is no cost – this is our gift to the world. It’s a great opportunity to publicize your website and your mission. After you register, you will receive an email confirming your project.
I hope you will use the site and help us spread the word about it to other organizations and individuals. We are a company that believes deeply that Together We Can Change The World!
Monday, February 23, 2009
Path of Least Resistance
Apples do not fall up from the trees into the sky. Instead, apples are either plucked off their branches or they eventually fall down to the ground (splat). Most things in nature go from "point A" to "point B" in a way that takes the least amount of energy. Rain falls. Rivers flow downstream. Seedlings grow up toward the sun. Rocks sink in water and roll down hills.
The path of least resistance is often the quickest, easiest, most efficient way to get things done.
When it comes to service, the path of least resistance would seem to be to spread the word about service projects that need to get done and about people who want to do service. It is very simple: I love animals and I want to help them live a happy life. My friends love animals and want to help them too. Our local animal shelter needs assistance caring for their animals. It seems like a perfect match between supply and demand.
But people tend to complicate things in ways that do not always make the most sense. There are several factors that keep us wandering off the path of least resistance:
- Individuals and organizations needing help often have difficulty asking for the help they need. Sometimes they depend on the same few people to do all of the many projects that need to be done!
- People who can and will do service projects tend to keep their good works private because they want to avoid the prospect of appearing boastful or unseemly.
- Those who want to give service and those who need to get service have a difficult time getting together!
The first Saturday of every month, Together We Can Change The World Day, offers a simple way to match up needs with helping hands. As our project registry on http://www.togetherwecanchangetheworldday.com/ grows and expands, it is our sincere hope that individuals and organizations that need volunteer assistance can have their needs met, and simultaneously, people and groups that want to do service projects can easily find fulfilling activities!
Our next T-Day is March 7. It might take a little time to get our Registry database filled with hundreds and thousands of projects, the path of least resistance right now is to begin adding projects to the website so the supply and the demand strikes a balance.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Family Activities for T-Day
Together We Can Change The World Day (T-Day) is designed to make it possible for everyone to join together on the first Saturday of every month, helping to change the world one person at a time. We encourage projects large and small, projects that benefit one person or projects that reach millions.
This week we would like to think specifically about projects for families! When we volunteer together as a family, we are helping others in need as we bring about an incredible sense of pride and fulfillment within our own household. Whether the project is volunteering at a local animal shelter, cleaning a playground, running errands for neighbors who need assistance, raising funds for larger projects, or anything in between, family T-Day projects provide a fun and interesting way to spend a Saturday together.
Service projects give us an opportunity to relate to each other on a whole new level. As the family makes plans for the project date around the dinner table, they will find great opportunities to discuss service, values, kindness, and sharing. Try having each member of the family choose the project for each month (why not give them their birthday month to choose).
There is hardly a better way to prompt a conversation about people who need help and what it means to be a hero. We have added a check box on our Project Registration section of http://www.togetherwecanchangetheworldday.com/ to indicate whether a project welcomes children. Of course, some projects are more family-friendly than others, but the possibilities have no limit.
Don't forget to enter your project into the website to inspire and mobilize others with your ideas!
This week we would like to think specifically about projects for families! When we volunteer together as a family, we are helping others in need as we bring about an incredible sense of pride and fulfillment within our own household. Whether the project is volunteering at a local animal shelter, cleaning a playground, running errands for neighbors who need assistance, raising funds for larger projects, or anything in between, family T-Day projects provide a fun and interesting way to spend a Saturday together.
Service projects give us an opportunity to relate to each other on a whole new level. As the family makes plans for the project date around the dinner table, they will find great opportunities to discuss service, values, kindness, and sharing. Try having each member of the family choose the project for each month (why not give them their birthday month to choose).
There is hardly a better way to prompt a conversation about people who need help and what it means to be a hero. We have added a check box on our Project Registration section of http://www.togetherwecanchangetheworldday.com/ to indicate whether a project welcomes children. Of course, some projects are more family-friendly than others, but the possibilities have no limit.
Don't forget to enter your project into the website to inspire and mobilize others with your ideas!
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
T-Day ToDay and Every Day!
Together We Can Change The World Day, T-Day, is the first Saturday of each month, and we plan to have a major kick-off on March 7. But as we gear up to that day, many exciting connections are being made. We have a new page on FaceBook, and we are gathering all sorts of relationships with people and organizations around the world that will help us add to our already tremendous network of friends.
Of course T-Day is not about Being The Difference only one day a month! That's why the FaceBook, MySpace, Twitter, Blog, and YouTube accounts we've set up are called T-Day ToDay. Kindness and generosity are an essential part of everyday life, but it is our hope that the spirit of giving reaches a crescendo on the first Saturday of each month as people all over the world join together to Make A Difference.
Check out our FaceBook page at http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/profile.php?id=1381926152&ref=name Why not join and make us a "friend"?
All the best,
Jean
Of course T-Day is not about Being The Difference only one day a month! That's why the FaceBook, MySpace, Twitter, Blog, and YouTube accounts we've set up are called T-Day ToDay. Kindness and generosity are an essential part of everyday life, but it is our hope that the spirit of giving reaches a crescendo on the first Saturday of each month as people all over the world join together to Make A Difference.
Check out our FaceBook page at http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/profile.php?id=1381926152&ref=name Why not join and make us a "friend"?
All the best,
Jean
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Together We Can Change The World Day
Are you ready to:
Touch a life?Strengthen communities?Make a difference?Lead the way?Change the world for the better?
Yes? Then you will be ready for the big Kick Off of T-Day on March 7, 2009!
T-Day is the first Saturday of each month. In addition to encouraging everyone to engage in local service projects, we are also proposing an option that is international in scope. The Ugandan American Global Initiatives is an NPO committed to, among other things, providing solar ovens for Ugandan villages. We are partnering with them to make it happen!
More information about what you can do to help, and about the brand new Together We Can Change The World Challenge Fund, is coming soon.
Everyone is welcome to spend T-Day working on projects that are meaningful and important to whatever cause or organization they want to support. Drawing on their skills, experience, and concern for others, we can provide a wide range of services, from tutoring at-risk youth, building homes for low-income people, responding to natural disasters, caring for homebound seniors, to helping mobilize other volunteers and build the capacity of local organizations.
Touch a life?Strengthen communities?Make a difference?Lead the way?Change the world for the better?
Yes? Then you will be ready for the big Kick Off of T-Day on March 7, 2009!
T-Day is the first Saturday of each month. In addition to encouraging everyone to engage in local service projects, we are also proposing an option that is international in scope. The Ugandan American Global Initiatives is an NPO committed to, among other things, providing solar ovens for Ugandan villages. We are partnering with them to make it happen!
More information about what you can do to help, and about the brand new Together We Can Change The World Challenge Fund, is coming soon.
Everyone is welcome to spend T-Day working on projects that are meaningful and important to whatever cause or organization they want to support. Drawing on their skills, experience, and concern for others, we can provide a wide range of services, from tutoring at-risk youth, building homes for low-income people, responding to natural disasters, caring for homebound seniors, to helping mobilize other volunteers and build the capacity of local organizations.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)