Friday, December 28, 2007

Green Survey

Monday, December 24, 2007

We Can Change the World

QUOTES from Jane Goodall

"We CAN change the world."

You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make

"I just have this absolute belief that humans are moving away from cruelty and destruction towards a time when we can truly live in harmony with nature. When we understand that there is a spiritual power around us from which we can draw strength. That is where I believe human destiny ultimately is taking us. I just hope we have time."

The greatest danger to our future is apathy.

Every individual matters. Every individual has a role to play. Every individual makes a difference.

We humans, therefore, have a choice ahead of us, we don't have to go the aggressive route. We can push and push and push towards love and compassion. That is where I believe human destiny ultimately is taking us.

If you really want something, and really work hard, and take advantage of opportunities, and never give up, you will find a way.

It's easy to become hopeless. So people must have hope: the human brain, the resilience of nature, the energy of young people and the sort of inspiration that you see from so many hundreds of people who tackle tasks that are impossible and never give up and succeed.

We can't leave people in abject poverty, so we need to raise the standard of living for 80% of the world's people, while bringing it down considerably for the 20% who are destroying our natural resources.

Only if we understand can we care. Only if we care will we help. Only if we help shall they be saved.

Lasting change is a series of compromises. And compromise is all right, as long your values don't change.

Herein lies the real hope for our future. We are moving toward the ultimate destiny of our species—a state of compassion and love.

“I think one of the most important goals we need to strive for is the education of women, because women are the backbone of society.”

Friday, December 21, 2007

Where do You Want Calgary to be in 60 Years?

There is a "Plan It" initiative from the City to ask citizens about how we think Calgary should grow. It is just 5 questions. Please fill it out.

Survey

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

BYOB


Bring Your Own Bags
Most of us have been reconditioned into carrying our own bags to the market or grocery. If you are like me, you don't think about it when doing other shopping. I returned home this week after buying gifts with 4 huge plastic bags and realized that I was going to create more waste by wrapping or paper bagging these presents. I think there is a choice. The local $1 Store regularly has gift bags on for a loonie but the big 3 grocers here are also offering reusable fabric bags for 99 cents. How crafty and creative can you get decorating a reusable bag with enviro friendly accesories?

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Give Water - Twice



For those who know me or have read my blogs, you will know that I believe we need to stop purchasing bottled water for our own use. The shift from water to a commodity is dangerous and detrimental to those most in need. However Charity, a non-profit organization stimulating greater global awareness about extreme poverty, educating
the public, and provoking compassionate and intellingent giving.

Give a $20 bottle of charity: water to a friend or loved one this holiday, and give a person you've never met in Africa clean water for 20 years. 100%* goes directly to building wells. We'll ship it to them with a customized note hand written by a charity: water volunteer. Shipping +$6. | Ships same day, only to U.S. and Canada.

WHAT'S IN THE TUBE? The bottle will arrive gift packaged in a clear tube, with a charity: water informational foldout. A note will be included with your personalized message to the recipient, stating that a $20 donation has been made in their name. view the card >>
WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO? Your $20 donations are combined. Depending on varying project and material costs in the countries we work, it can take anywhere from 200 to 600 bottles to build a well. charity: pools the $20's together and uses 100 percent* of the money to build freshwater wells in Africa.

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Wednesday Thoughts

"Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.” - Thomas jefferson

“Honest hearts produce honest actions.” - Brigham Young

"No legacy is so rich as honesty.” - william Shakespere

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Thursday, December 6, 2007

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Sunday, December 2, 2007

Last One


In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a
roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if
anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the
king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by
and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the
King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did
anything about getting the stone out of the way.

Then a peasant came along carrying a load of
vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the
peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the
stone to the side of th e road. After much pushing
and straining, he finally succeeded. After the
peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed
a purse lying in the road where the boulder had
been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note
from the King indicating that the gold was for the
person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The
peasant learned what many of us never understand!

Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve
our condition.

Saturday, December 1, 2007

Sappy story 2 with a lesson

Always remember those
who serve.

In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less,
a 10-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and
sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in
front of him.

'How much is an ice cream sundae?' he asked.
'Fifty cents,' replied the waitress.

The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and
studied the coins in it.

'Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?' he inquired.

By now more people were waiting for a table and the
waitress was growing impatient.

'Thirty-five cents,' she brusquely replied.

The little boy again counted his coins.

'I'll have the plain ice cream,' he said.

The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on
the table and walked away The boy finished the ice
cream, paid the cashier and left. When the waitress
came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the
table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish,
were two nickels and five pennies..

You see, he couldn't have the sundae, because he had
to have enough left to leave her a tip.

Christmas Gift Survey

Thursday, November 29, 2007

One of those emails

There is one of those sappy emails circulating with real or imagined testimonies. While I can't verify the content, there are some good lessons in the stories.

I will post them over the next few days without comment.

1 - First Important Lesson - Cleaning Lady.

During my second month of college, our professor
gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student
and had breezed through the questions until I read
the last one:

'What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?'
Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the
cleaning woman several times. She was tall,
dark-haired and in her 50's, but how would I know her name?

I handed in my paper, leaving the last question
blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if
the last question would count toward our quiz grade.
'Absolutely, ' said the professor. 'In your careers,
you will meet many people. All are significant. They
deserve your attention and care, even if all you do
is smile and say 'hello.'

I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her
name was Dorothy.

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Saturday, November 24, 2007

Friday, November 23, 2007

The Gift of Giving


A CanadaHelps charity gift card is a unique way to send a gift to the person who has everything! Simply pick an amount, choose a card, fill out your gift options, then checkout and pay for the gift card. Your gift recipient will receive an email notification about your gift. He/she can then visit the website to spend the gift card on the charity he/she chooses.

Its simple, fun and an innovative gift idea!

You may want to let them know that you support Brown Bagging for Calgary's Kids (search keyword brown)

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Wednesday Thoughts

"Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes.”
- Ghandi

“While we are free to choose our actions, we are not free to choose the consequences of our actions.” - Stephen Covey

“Everyone pushes a falling fence” - Chinese Proverb

"Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."
- Jesus (Mark 5:34)

Saturday, November 17, 2007

Loss and Gain

Loss and Gain
Henry Wadswarth Longfellow (pd)

When I compare
What I have lost with what I have gained,
What I have missed with what attained,
Little room do I find for pride.

I am aware
How many days have been idly spent;
How like an arrow the good intent
Has fallen short or been turned aside.

But who shall dare
To measure loss and gain in this wise?
Defeat may be victory in disguise;
The lowest ebb is the turn of the tide.

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Tuesday Thoughts

"Things do not change; we change." — Henry David Thoreau

"People don't resist change. They resist being changed!" — Peter Senge

"If you don't like something, change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it." — Mary Engelbreit

Thursday, November 8, 2007

Free Rice

Much like The Hunger Site but with the added twist that you can be learning something too. I got to 5000 on my first day and then realized that I had played for 20 minutes. Check out Free Rice a couple of times a week to help alleviate hunger and accumulate vocabulary.

Sunday, November 4, 2007

More DST

With full credit to Seth Godin

Some ideas and quotes about the time battle.

Here are some things worth noting about the evolution of DST:

"Invented" by Ben Franklin

but not really, because in 1444, the walled city of Basel was about to be attacked. There were infidels outside, and some had infiltrated the town. The guards caught some of the bad guys and heard that the attack was to begin precisely at noon. An alert sentry changed the clock in the square an hour. Brilliant! The insiders, unaided by their allies, started their diversion an hour early. They were all arrested.

Sir William Christie, Astronomer Royal, called DST nothing but special legislation for late risers.
The theatre owners united (RIAA flashback!) and worked hard to defeat the bill, saying that if it weren't dark at night, their business would be completely decimated.
My very favorite quote of all comes from Mississippi.

"Repeal the law and have the clocks proclaim God's time and tell the truth!" That comes from Congressman Ezekiel Candler, Jr.

If this stuff intersts you, Seth has offered a link to Seize the Daylight : The Curious and Contentious Story of Daylight Saving Time

Friday, November 2, 2007

An Extra Hour


Well not really but as the country (except Saskatchewan) resets their clocks back one hour on Sunday morning,(Spring forward, Fall back)there are some tasks that usually happen on this day. As a reminder;

Check your smoke alarm and change the batteries.

If you have a CO detector - ditto

Check your furnace filters - clean and replace as needed.

Take ALL your recycling to depot including unwanted electronics, batteries and clothing.

Put the ice scraper, shovel and survival kit back in the trunk of your auto.

Check wipers, tires, antifreeze and exhaust system.

Wow - you thought you had an extra hour.

Friday, October 26, 2007

Gamble

“Leroy bet me I couldn't find a pot of gold at the end, and I told him that was a stupid bet because the rainbow was enough.” - Rita Mae Brown

“A man's gotta make at least one bet a day, else he could be walking around lucky and never know it” - Jim Jones

“I either want less corruption, or more chance to participate in it.”
- Ashleigh Brilliant

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Tipping?

What in the world?

1. In August in Atlanta, televangelist Thomas Weeks was arrested for allegedly beating up and threatening to kill his estranged wife, televangelist Juanita Bynum, in a hotel parking lot before a bellman rescued her. (Weeks blamed Satan for the incident.) [Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 8-27-07]

2. Pastor Walter Steen pleaded guilty in Detroit in August to tax fraud and was sentenced to 15 months in prison. He had started the God Will Provide Tax Service in 2005, but prosecutors said 1,573 out of the 1,578 returns he prepared for clients claimed tax refunds. [Detroit News, 8-2-07]

3. Led by California, more than one dozen states are preparing to sue the Environmental Protection Agency for its dismal record on regulating greenhouse gas emissions. N.Y. Governor Eliot Spitzer has called for states to “step into a void created by a failure of federal action” and denial of the “scientific evidence” about global warming. States are hoping to remove EPA obstacles that limit the states’ ability to regulate emissions standards. (NY Times)

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Water

Think Outside the Bottle - Take the pledge today!

Make a difference

“Don’t walk away because you think you can’t make a difference. Pick a cause! Be a citizen! Vote! Tell your governments what you want them to do and what you will not tolerate that they do on your behalf!” Louise Arbour (former Canadian judge and chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda)

I was at an important session last night. The Calgary Foundation celebration was a follow-up on its Vital Signs report card where Calgarians indicated that they are unhappy and embarrassed by situations and issues in this prosperous city. Residents gave barely passing grades to issues as diverse as education, disparity, housing, health and wellness, arts, and environment. The report is meant to spur discussion and hopefully action in improving the 12 areas surveyed.
In the midst of the evening, Eva Friesen- President of the Calgary Foundation, gave a brief history. She concluded that in 2007 TCF had assets of $334 million had collected more than 445 million in 2006 and granted $33 million. I was surprised at the applause that this received because what I heard was that over $300 million dollars was tied up, accomplishing nothing, while the city was crumbling around us. Imagine what half the foundation's assets might be able to 'solve'.


“The most powerful people in a democracy are individuals.” President Jimmy Carter.

Broader Perspectives

Take the Deneero survey and let the world know what you think.

Friday, October 19, 2007

Friday

“Sometimes I’m confused by what I think is really obvious. But what I think is really obvious obviously isn’t obvious...” ~Michael Stipe

“I am odd-looking. I sometimes think I look like a funny Muppet.” - Angelina Jolie

“But answer came there none - / And this was scarcely odd because / They'd eaten every one.” - Lewis Caroll

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Affordable Housing Should be Good Politics

From Smart Communities post of same name.

If you want to change the prospects for working and poor families, provide housing options for them that are safe and affordable. With too many families paying one-third or more of their monthly income on rent in the some cities and rural areas, we need to find a better way.Investing as a nation in children's health and places for them to live are the investments that keep on giving. These are not just "feel-good" appropriations but ones that help secure working families and prevent--yes prevent-- problems down the road.

How can I expect a parent to provide a learning environment if their home is under threat? How does a mother provide adequate nutrition if the money is gone before the month ends? I am not usually a fan of systemic solutions but this problem is so big (with the potential to explode) that it requires some intervention. In Calgary, we have a group; the 10 Year Plan to end Homelessness, who now recognize that there are nearly 100,000 people paying 35-45% of their income on housing. Imagine adding that many to the existing shelter/support system.

We need to figure out how to value work so that everyone can earn a wage that provides enough for basic needs, saving for the future and security (living wage) and create living environments that are safe, legal and comfortable at an affordable price. This will require some leadership and a tremendous amount of new thinking.

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

What in the world?

1. Man Acquitted of Feeding Homeless People
Orlando: 22-year-old Eric Montanez was acquitted of charges brought against him for feeding the homeless through the volunteer organization Food Not Bombs (FNB). The city said he violated a city ordinance that bans feeding a large group of people.

The law, passed in 2006, requires a permit for feeding 25 or more people in downtown parks. Police sent in undercover officers to count the number of times he gave someone stew, and even took some of it in a vial as evidence after moving in on him.

Other cities have or are trying to pass similar laws as a way to drive out the homeless, but many are blasting the move, calling it inhumane. Taking soup lines to parks gives it more exposure to a thoughtless city, said FNB co-founder Keith McHenry.

2. The Tata Group, a Mumbai, India, company that handles customer-service calls for several U.S. firms, has outsourced some of its work to a firm in Ohio (according to an August Fortune magazine report), on behalf of a client that insists on operators knowledgeable about American geography. [CNN, 8-3-07]


3.
A charity foundation's former accountant accused of embezzling heart disease research funds to pay a dominatrix to beat him pleaded guilty Tuesday to grand larceny and admitted he stole more than $US237,000 ($A336,576).

Abraham Alexander, 45, a native of India, admitted taking the money from the Cardiovascular Research Foundation by using company credit cards and writing cheques to himself.

At least $US11,000 went to pay Through the Looking Glass, an online company run by a Columbus, Ohio-based dominatrix, and other charges included flights between New York and Ohio and car rentals, according to District Attorney Robert Morgenthau's office.




2.

Monday, October 15, 2007

Blog Action Day

On October 15th - Blog Action Day, bloggers around the web will unite to put a single important issue on everyone's mind.

In its inaugural year, Blog Action Day will be co-ordinating bloggers to tackle the issue of the environment.

What Each Blogger Will Do

Bloggers can participate on Blog Action Day in one of two ways:

Publish a post on their blog which relates to an issue of their own choice pertaining to the environment.

For example: A blog about money might write about how to save around the home by using environmentally friendly ideas. Similarly a blog about politics might examine what weight environmental policy holds in the political arena.

Posts do not need to have any specific agenda, they simply need to relate to the larger issue in whatever way suits the blogger and readership. Our aim is not to promote one particular viewpoint, only to push the issue to the table for discussion.

Commit to donating their day’s advertising earnings to an environmental charity of their choice. There is a list of "official" Blog Action Day charities on the site, however bloggers are also free to choose an alternate environmental charity to donate to if they wish.


So what can you do - well we have talked about replacing incandescants with cfl's, recycling, saving water, driving less, walking more, carrying reusable grocery bags, and putting on a sweater. On Blog Action Day, I encourage you to take a more meaningful action (something that might be a bit diffucult). Today or tommorrow or one day this week - only eat food that was grown within 100 kms from your home. Give it a try

Friday, October 12, 2007

Friday Thoughts


I have been busy with a couple other blogs during the civic election in Calgary but with decision day on Monday, I hope to be back more often.

“Prediction is very difficult, especially if it's about the future.” - Niels Bohr

"The groundhog is like most other prophets; it delivers its prediction and then disappears.” Bill Vaughn

" He who asks fortune-tellers the future unwittingly forfeits an inner intimation of coming events that is a thousand times more exact than anything they may say. He is impelled by inertia, rather than curiosity, and nothing is more unlike the submissive apathy with which he hears his fate revealed than the alert dexterity with which the man of courage lays hands on the future." - Walter Benjamin

Monday, October 8, 2007

Thankful

On Thanksgiving Day, I am reminded of how very blessed I am. I live in a country where I have the freedom to express my political, spiritual, and personal beliefs and in a time where I can publish them in blogs, comments and letters. I am thankful for the material blessings that I have - the home, clothing, provisions and toys that are lavished upon me. My family is close by,but not too close. I see my kids and grandkids regularly and they bring great joy to my life. My beloved(of 32 years)lifts me up, makes me smile, and keeps me a bit grounded and I so appreciate that we are more in love today than when we married. I have good health, good friends, access to beautiful scenery and opportunities, and work that fulfills me.

My church provides a place of both peace and challenge. The leaders face struggle openly and seek God's assistance and grace in times of trouble. I am truly blessed and have much to be thankful for.

What are you thankful for today?

Sunday, October 7, 2007

Thursday, October 4, 2007



On Friday, October 19, 2007 over 7000 youth will unite at the Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto, and thousands more all across Canada will participate in National Me to We Day, a one-of-a-kind event organized by Free The Children.

Is your family passionate about social issues? Are you looking for a fun way to get involved? National Me to We Day will launch the year-long initiative in which families can participate to create change for children in the developing world.

Begin your family's world-changing adventure today!
Are you passionate about social issues? Looking for a fun way to inspire your colleagues to get involved? National Me to We Day will launch the year-long initiative in which all businesses can participate to create change for children in the developing world.

Sign up today to join the global Me to We community in bringing about change for a better world.

Click here to find out how.

Monday, October 1, 2007

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Thursday Thoughts

Without tradition, art is a flock of sheep without a shepherd. Without innovation, it is a corpse.
Winston Churchill

Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.
Steve Job

Mindless habitual behavior is the enemy of innovation.
Rosabeth Moss Kanter

Football survey

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Reflection

I was privileged to spend the past week at Hollyhock on Cortes Island in BC. The "Web of Change" conference was the purpose for going but the location, retreat and delicious vegetarian cuisine are what I will remember. After a bit of a long journey, we arrived at supper time to a sumptuous buffet and beautiful sunshine creating prisms on the Georgia Strait. The calm and quiet let us sleep for almost 12 hours the first night and that set the tone for the next 5 days. The conference was quite 'techie' and while I am not a technophobe I don't have a clue about drupal or AX, CRM or HFM. There were some amazing contacts made within the 100+ participants and a new friend from one of the non conference guests.
I will discuss some of the learnings in other posts but I am reflecting today on how fragile our experiences can be. We boarded a flight last night in Victoria and before takeoff a passenger went into cardiac arrest. It took more than 20 minutes for EMS to arrive and three passengers and the Westjet staff used CPR to bring him back at least twice. The EMS response time seems ridiculous (yes, WJ, Transport Canada, and VIctoris International are all getting letters) but the staff and passenger response was amazing. I couldn't help thinking that the patient hadn't expected the attack, was probably planning his next day, and maybe hadn't shared his feelings, concerns or hopes with someone for a long time.
Strange that I may be changed more by the incident than a well planned and executed change conference.

Sunday, September 23, 2007

Sunday, September 16, 2007

Thursday, September 13, 2007

#8 Passion List

List your top 5 passions. Now that you've given various factors some thought, and tried some online tools, make a short list of your top 5 passions. If you don't have 5, list as many as you have. Then compare your top 5 passions, and rank them from top to bottom. This will be the starting point your guide to making your dream a reality.

Are you passionate about justice? Check out a human rights or civil libery group. Are you passionate about children? Help teach, feed or care for kids.
Are you passionate about literacy? Find opportunities with a mentor group or library.
Are you passionate about the environment? politics? people? freedom? democracy?

As i have said many times before - Follow Your Passion

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Discover (7)

I don't have anything to add to Jay White's seventh point in 22 Secrets

7. Try online tools. There are some great tools online for helping you find your purpose. Here are just a few of my favorites:

43 Things: A great way to see what goals others have, to list your own goals, to talk to others about common goals, to get ideas and inspiration. Also see their article, How to Choose Achievable Goals.


Dreamminder. A site where you write down your dream, and it will send it to you at some point in the future. Use their dream wizard to discover your dream. Read the dreams of others to get inspired.


One Question: Take a test with questions to figure out your one purpose in life. With articles to help as well.

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

6

"When have you been happiest? Think back throughout all the previous times of your life, from childhood through adolescence, school, different jobs, different areas, different hobbies. Think about the happiest times of your life, and what you were doing, who you were doing it with, and where you were doing it. You may have dismissed some of these things for various reasons, but remembering that you were extremely happy during those times can make you realize why you were happy."

I had this conversation, on Saturday, with a young guy at a picnic on the top of a hill. He came to the conclusion (with a bit of prompting) that he was happiest when he had purpose. He doesn't seem to have that purposeful drive in his 'day job' but "It pays all the bills". If you are in this situation, maybe you can find purpose and happiness by serving others. Use the same process as above - think about when you are happiest and then search for opportunities that match those circumstances.

Monday, September 10, 2007

Secrets (5)

DLM

What environment do you enjoy working in? An office, a college, a classroom, a construction site, the ocean, the forest? Where you work is also an important factor in your dream job.

Wow, I can imagine volunteer and support positions and opportunities in everyone of those locations. I wish I had thought to volunteer on the beach.

Tuesday, September 4, 2007

Secrets (3)

Again. I credit Jay at DLM for the inspiration.

3.Who do you like to work with? A dream job includes not only what you want to do, but who you are doing it with. You should truly enjoy working with these people. In this step, you can name specific people you love working with, or types of people (creative types, programmers, entrepreneurs, blue collar, etc.).

This can be very helpful when deciding where you want to be engaged as a citizen, where you want to lend your support or where you would like to volunteer. If it is okay to choose a dream job why not choose a dream volunteer position? Look for people, places and opportunities that fulfill you and also fit with your personality and availability.

Monday, September 3, 2007

All Contributions Should be Valued

Since 1872, workers have been celebrating Labour Day in some form. A day for all workers to be recognized for their work. This Labour Day, make a commitment to value the work being done around you. Take a moment and think about all those people, everyday, that serve you, that assist you, that keep you on schedule and then take a moment to thank them. Every job should be valued and respected.

Avoid shopping or supporting places that do not provide safe, respectful workplaces and that do not pay their employees a living wage. People that are working for a living, shouldn't be living in poverty in this country.

Thursday, August 30, 2007

Secrets to Dream Life (2)

Again from Dumb Little Men "What are your talents? It's been said that we each have at least one gift we've been given, and that the true purpose of our lives is discovering that gift, and sharing it with the world. There is much truth in that statement, and an important part of this process is discovering your gift. What are you good at? What talents do you have? What have you shown an aptitude for in your current and previous jobs, in school, in your personal life? Anything goes here."

I am not sure if it is all that simple to discover your one goft but I am sure that you all have talents that can be used to improve your life and the lives of others.
Are you a planner - help a nonprofit develop a strategic plan. Are you good with numbers - assist with financial planning. Do you have the gift of the gab or writing skills - jump into a communications role. Do you listen well- offer to mentor. Look at your tallents, skills and gifts today and find a way to use them to assist someone else.

Survey

Disturbing Trend

Levi at LJ Urban reports this morning "In 1975 the average home was 1,645 square feet today that number has risen to 2,434, what makes the trend even more unbelievable is that during that same time period the average number of people per household decreased from 3.14 to 2.57.

Truly a trend worth reversing..."

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

22 Secrets to Discovering Your Dream and Living It (1)

Last week Jay White at DLM posted this on their blog

I am going to attempt to write 22 posts that show how these secrets can also improve the lives of others.

1. What are your hobbies? This doesn't just mean stamp collecting -- it means anything you do with your spare time. That could be collecting comic books, reading about history, programming Linux utilities, writing on your blog, writing poetry, cooking, whatever. As it's clear that this is how you like to spend your time, and that you're willing to do these things without pay, it's very possible that these are your passions. Give each of your hobbies some thought, and think about whether they're things you love to do, and that you'd love to do for a living.

Longtime readers will remember that we encourage you to follow your passions. Give those areas of your life deep consideration. What makes you passionate? Are there others who have the same passion? Can you take these interests and form a community? Since you are 'volunteering' do do these things - can you translated the actions into assistance?

The reading, writing or creative passions are always needed by local groups and individuals. If you are passionate about cycling, running or other physical activity can you join a fundraising event or offer to share your passion with a group of people?

If you follow your passions, your life will be improved in ways that you didn't imagine.

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Tuesday Thoughts

The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page. ~St. Augustine

No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow. ~Lin Yutang

And that's the wonderful thing about family travel: it provides you with experiences that will remain locked forever in the scar tissue of your mind. ~Dave Barry

If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay home. ~James Michener

Monday, August 27, 2007

When is Enough - Enough?

How much stuff do we need to fill our lives? How much stuff do we need to maintain our homes, yards, or toys?
Does everyone need a lawnmower or can two/three neighbours share? You would save money, save the environment (face it all the crap we accumulate eventually gets thrown away) and likely build community with those around you. Make sure to set up some guidelines like who will do maintenance, storage, return in good/clean condition.

Start with something small like yard tools and maybe you can save ton's o'cash by sharing other stuff with family, friends, and neighbours.

Saturday, August 25, 2007

Fear Clouds our Vision


At the community consultation on affordable housing that we attended this week, I heard a couple people talking about their fear of homeless people. I got to thinking about what the fear of homeless people might be and found that I was ref electing on two different meanings.
For the forum participants (and others) it might be fear of being accosted for money, fear of being intimidated by aggressive panhandling, fear of being attacked, or fear of the unknown. As irrational as fear can be sometimes, these fears have some basis in truth. There have been incidents (well documented by media) of attacks and aggression but the inductive reasoning that someone was attacked so therefore I was attacked is invalid because the opposite is true in more instances. However, I don't want to downplay the fear because it impacts how we see homeless people.

The second meaning that arose was the fear of homeless people. What do they fear? I am not homeless, I have never been homeless, and I can't imagine being homeless so my perspective is very limited. I imagine they have a fear having their possessions stolen, a fear of not having a place to sleep tonight, a fear of not having the next meal, a fear of never getting a home, a fear of being discriminated against, a fear of being arrested or hassled, a fear of being ignored and a fear of being unloved. I don't know if any of those are true but when I think that the person I am seeing might have some of those fears, it changes how I see them.

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Follow-up Homelessness Consult

About 60 people struggled through a traffic nightmare to arrive at the Chamber of Commerce ballroom for an 8AM start to a well planned meeting. After introductions and background, participants were asked to select one of three areas - Funding, community engagement, or affordable housing opportunities. Each group had about 20-25 people join the discussion. Results of the discussions will be posted at Calgary Committee to End Homelessness and will be distributed to committee and subcommittee members. I won't get into the details of the discussions but I did leave feeling that our comments/concerns personal, mundane, provocative) were heard and will be considered as part of the plan. On a personal note, I suggested my longstanding idea about micro community based solutions through city community associations and there was significant uptake and consensus. The subcommittee chair guaranteed that they would produce a communication plan that could be used to get this information and encouragement out to the 191 associations in Calgary.
I don't often anticipate committees to move forward - but I left encouraged.

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Tuesday Thoughts

A society that does not correctly interpret and appreciate its past cannot understand its present fortunes and adversities and can be caught unawares in a fast changing world.
Ibrahim Babangida

I am attending a public consultation on homelessness tomorrow and I hope we are ready to interpret our past failures and move forward with renewed commitment. It always concerns me that large consensus organizations have a very difficult time getting away from the status quo. I will update after the session to let you know if my apprehension was warranted.

Monday, August 20, 2007

Four Beautiful Words

For antone that has experienced difficulty because of systems, procedures, policies or excuses.

Posted by Mark on Seachangestrategies

I am just back after a couple of really brutal weeks on the road. You’ve been reading in the papers that travel is hard this summer, but you have to experience it to appreciate the almost universal breakdown in customer service. That’s left me thinking about the few examples of good customer service we’ve seen. And I’ve discovered the four magic words that foreshadow a rare and precious helpful moment:

“Let me try something.”

That is the sound of someone flipping the autopilot switch off and using their human judgment, experience and creativity to actually solve a problem. They were the words we heard in New York when a United gate agent worked the system to get us on a flight after we were stranded by the freak New York rains. Its what the kid at Verizon said when I asked if there was any way to get a cell phone number ending in “00.” It’s practically a mantra when you call JetBlue.

Part of what makes those four words and the actions they foretell so beautiful, sadly, is their rarity. We could fill the blog with moments of indifferent and unhelpful customer “service” from the past two weeks alone. Here’s one tip: if you cannot get what you need from United airlines online, drive over to the airport and deal with a human. Their phone help system is 100% useless.

Monday, August 13, 2007

Three Questions

With slight modification from Philanthropy 2173

1. What do I care about enough to dedicate my time and money to?
2. Who can help me do it?
3. How do I know if they are doing a good job?

Simple but not easy.
With a slight modification from Philanthropy 2173

Three key questions

1. What do I care about enough to dedicate my time and money to?
2. Who can help me do it?
3. How do I know if they are doing a good job?

Simple. But not easy.

Friday, August 10, 2007

Thursday, August 9, 2007

Today

After a great trip to Montreal filled with sightseeing, cycling, shopping and self indulgence it was great to find this post on Cool People Care

5 minutes of caring
How May I Help You?
by Sam Davidson (Thursday, August 9, 2007)

This is the magic phrase of all relationships.

Pay careful attention today to see if there are any opportunities to help someone. Chances are, we hustle through our days and don't notice all the people at the office, at home, or around town that could use a hand. See if you can hold the door open for someone. Find out if anyone needs a ride somewhere. Ask around if anyone would like some coffee or a snack. Often times, we don't like to ask for help. Change the conversation by asking if they need it first. Simple, random favors are a great way to show you care.

Friday, August 3, 2007

Short Vacation


I am on my way to Montreal for a few days and wanted to leave you with these;

"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu

"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing." -- Helen Keller

"Too often travel, instead of broadening the mind, merely lengthens the conversations." -- Elizabeth Drew

"Two of the greatest gifts we can give our children are roots and wings." –- Hodding Carter

"We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open." -- Jawaharal Nehru

Wednesday, August 1, 2007

A Better Place

One of my favorite blogs - Mr. Besilly asks "If you could focus on one idea that would make your life a better place to live starting tomorrow, would you do it?

If that one thing had a positive effect not only on you but on someone else in direct proximity to your life, would you be even more motivated to do it?

Do you know what time it is?

It's never too late to get started.
Or is it?"

What if you started on August 2nd, determined to make a difference in someone's life?
Who would you choose? What would you do? What is stopping you?

Improve

In an attempt to improve the content and style of this blog, I am asking one of you lurkers to step out of the shadows and make a comment that includes an email that I can use to contact you. I would like to begin developing future content that is of interest to readers and your opinion would be very helpful. Thanks

Oceans 13 Survey

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

100 Wealthiest Americans of All Time

This is a surprise to me - 0nly three in the top thirty were born in the 20th century.
NYT calculated wealth based on a percentage of the economy which places John D Rockefeller as number 1 at $192 Billion. From current richest - Bill Gates ($82 B) comes in at 5 and Warren Buffet ($46B) is 16.

It is interesting to see the names in the top thirty and their association with the golden age of the 19th century and their continued impact through legacy foundations.

Does This Sound Like Me?

My Myers Briggs tests always result in an ENTP finding. My personality is extroverted (E) Intuitive (N) Thinking (T) and Perceiving (P).
The REAL Myers Briggs Personality Test says that makes me;
ENTP: The Mad Scientist

The ENTP, like the ENTJ, is charismatic, outgoing, and intelligent. ENTPs are often quickwitted, clever, and genial; they typically display a highly organized, rational cognitive ability which makes them natural scientists and inventors.

ENTPs are creative, complex people who seek to improve their understanding of the natural world, usually by building armored fifty-story-tall robotic monsters with iron jaws and death-ray eyes, or by creating genetically mutated plagues that spread unstoppably across the land, turning all who are contaminated into mindless zombie drones. They are less likely to want to conquer the world than to destroy it utterly, reducing it to nothing but slag and rubble--though this is often merely a side-effect of their pursuit of knowledge.

RECREATION: ENTPs enjoy recreational activities which challenge them physically and intellectually, such as water skiing and porting Linux to their iPods. They are also fond of collecting gadgets like combination cellphone/PDAs and orbiting arsenals of brain lasers, which they may port Linux to as well.

COMPATIBILITY: ENTPs and ENTJs make natural companions, as the one's unspeakable hunger for power complements the other's unspeakable hunger for knowledge. They do not generally build successful relationships with ESFJs, as ENTPs they are prone to behaving in inconveniently erratic ways, which pisses ESFJs off to no end; and because ENTPs simply do not know how to dress appropriately for formal occasions.

Famous ENTPs include Spencer Silver (the inventor of Post-It Notes), Robert Oppenheimer, and Dr. Jeckyll.

Survey Results

Friday, July 27, 2007

Not Cool

Former Salvation Army manager appears on theft charges


The former operations manager of the Salvation Army's thrift store and warehouse operations in Redding and Red Bluff pleaded not guilty Thursday to stealing about $98,000 from the charity.

Virginia Moye, 47, of Redding, appeared briefly in Shasta County Superior Court for her arraignment. Judge James Ruggiero appointed the public defender's office to represent her.According to that report, Moye admitted that she processed fraudulent refunds and voids at the thrift stores and pocketed the money. The discrepancies triggered internal audits of transactions from October 2002 to April 2007, which revealed $87,985 in unsupported voids and refunds during the days Moye was working and likely to have been closing out the registers, the report said.

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Do You Need to be Spoon Fed?

I spotted this interactive ad campaign on Stephens Avenue in Calgary. I observed for a few minutes and the lineup was constant with most everyone taking a sample bowl and wandering down the mall taste testing. I wonder if the message will stick.

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Addiction

50%How Addicted to Blogging Are You?

Free Online Dating from Mingle2

Tuesday Thoughts

The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter. ~Winston Churchill

Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys. ~P.J. O'Rourke

Under capitalism man exploits man; under socialism the reverse is true. ~Polish Proverb

Our political institutions work remarkably well. They are designed to clang against each other. The noise is democracy at work. ~Michael Novak

Friday, July 20, 2007

Start Small


Once again Mr. Besilly provides some nonsilly advice. "I believe that sometimes we simply need permission to start small. I get trapped in thinking so big when I'm nurturing new ideas, that I lose sight of the best place to start."

I tend to think bigger with more ambiguity and have tried to surround myself with some detail people. My bias towards action has had me start projects without adequate preparation or research but I don't often feel trapped in the big thinking. However I know (now) that not everyone is an extroverted activist so I the 'start small' advice is valuable. Mr Besilly quotes Mark Twain to end his post so I will do the same.

"The secret of getting ahead is getting started."

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Never Doubt

The following is from Nuts and Bolts

I have no pithy comments or clever observations except to say that I agree.

Your Voice Really Matters
July 18th, 2007 by Chief Nut
Let’s start with a quote from Margaret Mead:

Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

Now consider how most people (and, I mean the VAST majority) go through their daily grind with blinders on. Not just physical blinders – seen in people’s general unwillingness to help each other – but also psychological blinders … where people seem to just not care about their fellow man and the impact they, as individuals, might have on the world.

Now consider a post by blog evangelist Robert Scoble where he talks about the services being offered by PodTech.net and the future of what we call “television”. He tips his hand about how he views this emerging technology, NOT by talking in acronyms or techie-ese, but by pointing out that these technologies can make a difference in how we view the world. He describes a new divide. Not a divide between the “haves” and “have nots” but between people who are aware of what’s going on in the world and those others wearing blinders.

If you’re finding that you’ve got blinders on, please take them off for just a moment to see the world around you. In fact, it’s possible to keep them off permanently in your business life and affiliate your marketing efforts with a worthy social cause. Heed Margaret Mead’s advice and the world can truly be changed.

This advice has been brought to you by the liberal streak in what is normally a pretty middle-of-the-road kind of guy. You may now return to your regularly scheduled programming.

Go Ahead, Socialize ...

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Tuesday Thoughts


Happiness is nothing more than good health and a bad memory.
- Albert Schweitzer


Anyone who conducts an argument by appealing to authority is not using his intelligence; he is just using his memory. - Leonardo Da Vinci


A diplomat is a man who always remembers a woman's birthday but never remembers her age. - Robert W. Service


What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others. - Pericles

Monday, July 16, 2007

From Don't Tell the Donor

My comments are imbedded italics

Canadian newspaper targets charities for alleged "commission" based fundraising

Almost seven months after The Toronto Star took credit for shutting down MADD Canada's fundraising program, the "investigative" newspaper is claiming responsibility for the fact that Sick Kids Foundation and World Vision Canada "have admitted to using a discredited fundraising technique and are moving swiftly to clean up their act."



Both charities have long told the public and the federal regulator that only flat fees were paid to fundraisers who knocked on doors. The Star investigated and found commissions or "success payments" have been paid for years.

Sick Kids and World Vision now say they were duped by a fundraising company that promised it would never pay commissions.( if these two mega charities are claiming ignorance or that they weren't doing their due diligence then this is even more serious)The reporter uses the term "commission" as a rhetorical device to outrage donors. The truth is - there is a difference between a flat fee and a percentage commission. In this case, we're talking about $180 per new monthly donor.

Both charities were using a large, British-based international company called Fundraising Initiatives Inc., which has a client list (past and present) of about 50 Canadian charities. It's not known how many are also paying commissions. ( we should know and CRA should investigate)

Top executives at Sick Kids and World Vision are blaming FII, saying the contract signed with the fundraiser states that doorknockers are only to be paid either a flat fee for each "presentation" at a home (in Sick Kids' case), or either hourly wages or per presentation (World Vision).

The Star found out that after FII signs its contract with a charity, it then hires subcontractors to knock on doors and pays them only for a successful donor sign-up. A source with intimate knowledge of the FII-subcontractor set-up confirmed this.

If either charity is breaking even on its fundraising costs within 12 months - they are doing better than most. Show me a direct marketing donor acquisition program that is breaking even in less than 12 months (let alone sooner) and I'll show you a fundraiser that deserves a raise.( Most reputable charities have recognized the futility and risks of door knocking direct marketing and abandoned it altogether)

In fact, I believe the fundraisers at both Sick Kids Foundation and World Vision Canada would be extremely smart to negotiate a contract that fixes a set acquisition cost. Many fundraisers struggle with unpredictable direct mail, special events, or corporate partnership deals. A set commission per donor is a hedge against the risk

Now, I understand that both of these charities say that they agree with Imagine Canada's ethical fundraising code and that AFP also has a similar ban.


Sick Kids has signed Imagine Canada's ethical fundraising code, which bans commission fundraising. World Vision agrees with Imagine Canada's anti-commission fundraising stand but has not yet signed the code. The Association of Fundraising Professionals also has a code against commission fundraising. Sick Kids and World Vision agree with this code, and FII is a member of the fundraising association.
However, I don't think it's splitting hairs to say that if the intent is to protect donors, then I would rather support a group that has managed to contain its fundraising acquisition risk, rather than give to a group that may avoid "commissions," but pays twice as much to acquire a new donor. What do you think?

I think that the ends can not justify the means.

Friday, July 13, 2007

Albertans-Help Shape Tomorrow

Dear Stakeholder:



On June 12, 2007 the Community Spirit Program Consultation Process was launched. This email is a reminder for you to complete the online questionnaire before July 31, 2007. The News Release and accompanying questionnaire can be found on the Community Spirit website – www.communityspiritprogram.ca.



Please complete the workbook/questionnaire online or in a printed format. Please share information about this consultative process with others who might be interested in providing their comments regarding a proposed Community Spirit Program.



Thank you for taking the time to complete this important process.







Project Team

Community Spirit Program

13 Actions for Friday 13th


1. Smile at a stranger.

2. Take your recyclables to the depot.

3. Clean a closet or shed and donate unused items to a thrift store.

4. Shut off your computer/monitor when leaving the room for more than 20 minutes.

5. Contact an organization/agency that works in an area that you are passionate about and ask about volunteer opportunities.

6. Logon to an activist website and gain some new awareness and maybe sign a petition.Global Action Amnesty Canada

7. Put a jar on your bedside table. At the end of each day, dump your change into the jar. At the end of each month, give the change to a homeless person.

8. Buy some locally produced food from a Farmer's Market.

9. Call or write a friend or mentor and let them know how much they mean to you.

10. Take reusable bags to grocery store.

11. Clean up a portion of a neighbourhood park.

12. Write a poem.

13. Do not be afraid.


8.

Thursday, July 12, 2007

You Make it Look so Easy

Wednesday, July 4th, 2007
From Mr. Besilly’s blog

When someone is so skilled at their craft they make what they do look easy. They appear extraordinary to those of us standing on the sidelines and seem to be bigger than life.
A close friend and mentor of mine used to tell me that one of the hardest things to accomplish in this life is to continually show up day after day to perform the mundane. The tough part is checking in daily to meet head on with our ordinary jobs and wrestle with the ordinary repetition of life. He told me that in this we will find our strength and our true character would be revealed. I can now grasp what he was saying, though I was unable to really understand it back then. So I will leave you with a thought to ponder.

On this day as you perform what you consider to be ordinary like blogging, teaching or even parenting, to others you will appear extraordinary. There is someone standing on the sidelines of your life today, watching you make it look so easy. They are watching you, while you’re watching me and I’m busy watching someone else. Remember that someone sees you as truly extraordinary. Take a moment to consider that. Extraordinary means very unusual or remarkable, that certainly qualifies as beyond the ordinary.

Thank you for showing up today. You make it look so easy.
Wednesday, July 4th, 2007
Next week, Juky 8-15 is “Get out of your cars and experience the world!”

From the Facebook entry promoting this campaign;

If everyone didn’t drive to work for one week, imagine how nice that would be.

- You’ll save lots of money on gas
- Your cities will have less traffic, less pollution, and less noise.
- You will be able to get fresh air and enjoy the nice summer weather with a nice relaxing walk before and after work.
- Exercise is good for everyone.
- As more people use public transit, the better it will become as the city will put more investment in it

And remember, this is only a week. If you decide that the fresh air, sunshine, saving money on gas and lack of stress is not worth it, then return to driving. However, I think after doing it for a week, it will be hard to go back.

Feel free to invite everyone you know. Remember, the more people who participate, the better this event will be.
Check it out

A Twist

Monday, June 25th, 2007
A twist on Seth’s post this morning.



Most organizations need a damn good reason to do anything new.

All they need is a very flimsy excuse to not do be the first to do anything.

And they often need a catastrophe to stop doing something they’re used to.



Technorati: 29 links to this item • Save to del.icio.us (13 saves, tagged: business motivation sethgodin) • Digg This! (7 Diggs, 1 comment) • Email this • Stumble It! (2 Reviews)

Community Involvement

Monday, June 18th, 2007
Traditionally government departments have worked independently in providing services to children and families. Too often services are fragmented and too narrow in their focus. To achieve a broader, better quality of service, government departments need to work together and with community organizations, agencies, families and individuals. Community involvement is essential in this process. By working in partnership, government and communities are better able to identify problem areas and gaps in services, identify solutions and plan prevention strategies.

Collaborative, community-based planning brings together all the people and organizations who have responsibility for children. The work of communities in responding to child hunger is a good example of how well this functions. With government support, organizations and individuals have come together within communities to target resources - including buildings, volunteer help, equipment donations and money - and develop community-based responses to child hunger. In each community the approach used is different and reflects community needs, resources and expertise.

Although poverty is the largest single risk factor for children and youth, there are other factors to be addressed including injuries and conditions leading to hospitalization and deaths. Poverty and social dependence are complex issues, and result from many factors within society and an individual’s life. Effectively addressing these issues requires the partnership of communities, agencies, governments and individuals. Each member of our society plays a role in that society. Our efforts are strongest when we work together to address the serious issues facing children.

Sharing Thoughts

Saturday, June 16th, 2007

Friendship marks a life even more deeply than love. Love risks degenerating into obsession, friendship is never anything but sharing. - Eli Weisel

Society cannot share a common communication system so long as it is split into warring factions. - Bertolt Brecht

If you have one true friend, you have more than your share. - Thomas Fuller

Light is the task where many share the toil. - Homer (not Simpson

Community Spirit Campaign

Thursday, June 14th, 2007
If you live in Alberta, please consider participating in this consultation. My position is that the campaign can be very helpful in creating a culture of private donors and promoting civil society.

June 2007

Dear Stakeholder:

On June 12, 2007 the MLA Committee for the Community Spirit Program launched the public consultation process. The News Release and accompanying questionnaire can be found on the Community Spirit website – www.communityspiritprogram.ca.

Please note that the public consultation will continue until July 31, 2007.

The questionnaire is available online, through MLA Constituency Offices, or can be mailed upon request. It will also be available at public libraries by the end of June.

Please complete the workbook/questionnaire online or in a printed format. You can also download it from the website. If you are completing the questionnaire in the printed format, you are welcome to mail or fax your completed questionnaire back to the Community Spirit Program office. The mailing address and fax information is in the questionnaire.

Please share information about this consultative process with others who might be interested in providing their comments regarding a proposed Community Spirit Program.

Thank you for taking the time to complete this important process.

Project Team
Community Spirit Program

Hope

Thursday, June 14th, 2007
A couple of months ago I watched a great movie, on dvd, ” Children of Men”. I thought the story was well crafted, the performances daring and the artistry of the director of photography impressive. I won’t give away details (recommend that you rent it) but the premise is that 18 years have passed since the last child was born. It left me pondering the hope we place in the ‘next’ generation. We hope the issues we face and have created will be eliminated or solved by the children. When the world was faced with no children they lost all hope.

I came across a site that again encouraged me to hope that kids can change the world. Teenedge is an organization from Nashville that “are dedicated to encouraging youth to become informed and involved while providing a good online experience.”

They offer advice from teens in their language, articles by teens on issues facing the world, and ways that teens can become involved finding and implementing solutions.

One program that they started Safe Place that engages the community in creating havens for kids when they are in trouble. Teenedge explains “How Safe Place Works”.

1. Go into any store, fire hall or business that has a Safe Place sign. Or get on a MTA bus. (They are also Safe Places)

2. Say that you need help and want Safe Place. Ask for the manager if the clerk doesn’t know what to do.

3. The manager or MTA dispatcher will call the Oasis Center and tell a counselor that you are there.

4. You can then talk to the counselor on the phone about what is going on and what you need.

5. The manager will let you wait somewhere safe while a volunteer or cab comes to pick you up should you decide you want to go to Oasis where you can get help.

6. At Oasis you will receive free, immediate and confidential help from a trained counselor.

Maybe by offering these outlets there will be less dangerous behaviour and youth can be helped through the immediate crisis rather than piling it on top of all their other pressures.

Hope comes from helping others.

I am an Alien

Wednesday, June 13th, 2007
I attended two events last week that left me feeling like a stranger in my own community. At both events, my view of the world (current and future) was in complete opposition to the others in attendance.

The first event at Fort Calgary was facilitated by the City of Calgary and was a series of conversations in small groups on issues facing our city and challenges for specific populations. I won’t recap the conversations but a report will follow soon. The general topic areas were; voluntary sector, diversity, employment, poverty,and children and youth. I didn’t have aproblem with the topics or the tone of the conversations but the general impression was that these issues were as a result of someone else not doing what they should (usually government). You have heard be expound on why I believe the expansion of the state is the greatest contributing factor to the collapse of community and here I am sitting with people that want to expand the role of the state (and therby absoving themselves of responsibility). I can’t imagine a time where this has been or ever will be successful.

On Saturday we attended the screening of “The Downtown Dawgs” the story of Calgary’s involvement in the Canadian team that attended last years Homeless World Cup of Soccer. While the story was compelling and the production values were excellent, I left saying ” So what, Now what?” When it was revealed that 3/4 homeless men from Calgary that were involved are still living in shelters or on the street without and real change in their lives, I need to ask ” What have we learned?”. When Dermott Baldwin from the Calgary Drop-in and Rehab Centre talks about how their services have grown from 110 people to more than 1000 everyday, I need to say that “every bed added is a failure”.

I guess it is my lot in life to be on the outside looking in but it sure can be tiring being the naysayer all the time.

One Meal a Week

Thursday, June 7th, 2007
If every Canadian citizen ate just one meal a week that consisted of locally and organically raised meats and produce we would reduce our oil consumption by 5.7 million barrels of oil a year! Each food item in a typical meal has traveled an average of 1500 miles.

This may be an oversimplification (and I recognize that a diverse diet isn’t valued by all), but it seems that we’re being lulled into a false sense of quality of life by the oil-based infrastructure that our current development and agricultural models are dependent on. If you lived in the desert and could only eat desert vegetation (prickly pears may be haute cuisine but they’re a pain to prep!), I don’t think we’d have seen the rapid growth of Arizona cities these last twenty years. We’d see people living more densely in the areas where the quality of life was more true to nature and not artificially imposed.

Similarily

There appears to be an opportunity to promote local economies this summer. Buying locally produced crafts, merchandise and food will support the local economy and likely save you some serious cash.

Suzanne morse at Smart Communities says “It seems like there is a considerable upside to buying local products and traveling to destinations closer to one’s home.” Rising fuel prices make transportation costs prohibitive and fresh versus preserved or erradiated are turning the decision in favour of local. There is a renewed emphasis on eating healthy and local producers have a distinct advantage. Suzanne points out that the only drawback is most local goods will not have the shelf live that processed imports will but if promoted properly, that can be a big advantage too. This summer take in a local market, buy from a local bakery or butcher, and support the local agribusiness in your area.

Blah blah blah

Monday, June 4th, 2007
Let’s get on with it. PM Steve is in Germany for the G* meetup and has told German business leaders that Canada will not meet Kyoto targets because of inaction by previous administrations. He still believes that “he believes his government’s plan for intensity-based targets to limit greenhouse gas emissions will be more effective than setting overall reduction targets.”

My concern , as a Kyoto detractor, is that we will get caught in analysis paralysis rather than taking some action today. I would urge PM Steve and Johnny Enviro to step up and take the necessary steps (incentive and disincentive) to cause real change in our nasty habits. Give me incentives or breaks to recycle, use public transit/cycle, buy locally, and create friendly green space. I also am prepared for new taxation to curb my use of damaging pesticides and herbicides, municipal levees for waste, and (horrors) fuel tax that raises price to a place where it becomes painful ($3/liter) and use revenue to fund development of alternative energy.

The Business of Poverty

Thursday, May 31st, 2007

A troubling article appeared in Business Week (May 21) about how companies are willfully exploiting working poor.

This poem appeared as a response on Raiser’s Razor - take a moment to read the article and reflect on the reality expressed in verse.

my breath is caught in this wind,
so slow, so staggered –

what love is this that thrives on
nickels and dimes, the castaways of compassion?

there is no charity on this street,
only mild concern for visibly struggling strangers,

a desire to keep the fences firm and tall,
a yearning for no memory of pain.

One Person Can Make a Difference

Monday, May 7th, 2007
Yesterday, I joined hundreds of other Calgarians in the Annual River Clean Up. Our group, from Friends Church, cleaned bothe sides of the Elbow from Misson Bridge to the 32nd Ave pedway. About 25 bags of garbage was collected in 3 hours. Last year, about 70 groups collected thousands of bags and improved the quality of the river banks and watershed.

The first pathway & river clean-up was instigated by 12 year-old Sandra Crawford. While walking along the Elbow River bank in early spring 1967, she saw an entire mattress lying in the river. She tried to haul the mattress out on her own, but failed. She wrote a letter to the Calgary Herald decrying the mess. Since then thousands of Calgarians have shown their sense of community spirit and pride by volunteering each year in this great cause.

The 41st Annual Pathway & River Clean-up will be held on Sunday, May 4, 2008. Please visit this page in early spring to register your group.

Say Thank You

Monday, April 30th, 2007
Police, firefighters, and paramedics put their life at risk to serve and protect us. It is dangerous on our roads, violence on our streets, drug addicted irrational people to deal with, angry motorists, and those who believe that it is their right to break the law (DWI, Speeding, not stopping for pedestrians). Firefighters try to save our property, belongings, pets and our lives. EMS races through the city with half of the motorists not pulling over because they are in a hurry.

We can’t compensate these people enough but we can say “Thank You”.

Is This Available in Canada?

Wednesday, April 25th, 2007
Did you know that 80 percent of all residential moves take place during the summer? For an earth-friendly (and low-cost alternative) to moving your home goods in slick, new cardboard boxes, try ordering from new company, Used Cardboard Boxes. Providing high quality, previously-used boxes, the website (with locations in Los Angeles and New York) guarantees the lowest prices, delivers boxes in one to two business days and doesn’t charge for shipping.Just think of how many trees you’ll be saving - $120 billion of boxes are produced each year around the world, typically used once and tossed out, according to Used Cardboard Boxes.

With Co-op America’s seal of approval, check out usedcardboardboxes.com for more info.

You can also visit U-Haul’s Box Exchange to see if anyone in your area has boxes to give away or sell @ www.uhaul.com/boxexchange/.

Tune out and Turn off

April 23 -29 marks TV Turn Off Week from The Centre for Screen Time Awareness.

They admit that ” Our programs are not for everyone…but if you care about your children…you’re going to listen to what we have to say.”

Empowering people to take control of technology and not letting technology take control of them so they can live healthier lives.

While we don’t have the tube on 24/7, it can be a mind numbing sedative at times. When I flip through the 500 channel universe (really only about 40 channels programmed into remote), I can usually find nothing on or at least nothing worth investing my time watching.

Take some time this week to reflect on your use of tv and take a look at what TV Turn Off has to say.

Scarcity Thinking

A number of blogs and forums have been discussing this idea summed up by Michelle Martin from the Bamboo Project as;

”I’ve come to believe that there are two types of people in the world—those who act from a scarcity mindset and those who act from a fundamental belief in abundance.

Those who believe in scarcity see the world as a pie with a fixed number of pieces in it. Their goal is to grab and hold onto as many pieces of that pie as they can. They live in a world where resources are limited. There’s never enough time or money or people. Everything is a fight for survival of some kind.

Those who believe in abundance also see the world as a pie. But to them, that pie’s size is not fixed. The pie can grow indefinitely, so the goal is not to figure out how to get your piece and to hold onto it. The goal is to figure out how we can grow the pie so that everyone can have a larger slice. These people live in a world where resources are abundant, where you can always find the time, the money and the people if you’re willing to think differently. They aren’t fighting for survival. They are fighting to grow the pie so that everyone benefits.”



How does this shift in thinking impact our action? How would abundance thinking impact your happiness? How would this attitude improve pir community?

Big Ideas from Scotland

Friday, April 13th, 2007

Scotland on Sunday, a reputable paper, put together a think tank to come up with a list of things that need doing. Scotland has parliamentary elcetions for the seats at Hollyrood in early May so some of the points do have a political overtone but I have pulled a few to see if you agree they might work where you live.

Start a green revolution

Much already is being done in this sector, but more ambitious targets should be set. A massive overhaul of the way government is run is required in order to make Scotland the first carbon-neutral country in the world. Every public sector organisation should have its carbon footprint measured and be ordered to set tough targets for reduction – insisting its suppliers follow suit.

Invest in early years

The Work Foundation recently produced convincing evidence that the early years of life mould our entire life experience. Exposure to family turbulence, or to drugs, alcohol and a poor diet up to the age of five has an undeniable effect on a child’s prospects.

Ban pupils from leaving school at lunchtime

Ever wondered why it is that dozens of schoolchildren can be found queuing outside the chip shop every school lunchtime? So have we. In England, pupils are barred from leaving school premises during lunch. Teachers and catering staff are instructed to look after them. The same should happen in Scotland, where pupils should be made to stay in school and given nutritious and healthy meals at lunchtime. Teachers should lay on a full range of sporting activities in the playground and a range of clubs indoors. This will be met with resistance by teaching unions who will object to the extra work, but for the good of the health and wellbeing of the nation they should not become a barrier to a revolution in our schools.

Teach all prisoners to read and write

In 2000, 60% of Scotland’s prison population were found to be illiterate and innumerate. Currently, prisoners are offered plenty of anger-management training courses and cognitive skills programmes, but unless they are able to read and write they are doomed to return to the black economy. Ministers should ditch the programmes that have no proven worth and get back to teaching prisoners the basics, so that when they get out of jail they have the skills to enable them to get a job.

Offer children a citizenship qualification

Business leaders now regularly complain that school-leavers are not ready for the world of work. While a focus on numeracy and literacy must continue, there should also be greater focus on the ‘soft skills’ which too many 16 to 19-year-olds are simply lacking.
For example, half of businesses in a CBI survey recently said they were unimpressed by school-leavers’ ‘self-management’ skills. In other words, schools are producing too many feckless youngsters.
One way to change that would be to link ‘citizenship’ into the qualifications system so that volunteer work and community service is counted as part of students’ coursework. Making such a qualification meaningful is one way of incentivising distracted teenagers to get involved. The good work of Project Scotland should be drawn upon, and no child should be allowed to leave school without passing a citizenship qualification.

You Gotta Know What I'm Going to Say

Tuesday, April 17th, 2007
eBay Getting into Micro-Finance through Purchase of MicroPlace

eBay has purchased an organization called MicroPlace, an executive revealed during a “Town Hall” event on Thursday evening. MicroPlace was founded by Tracey Pettengill and set up to facilitate micro-finance.

eBay’s Chief Marketing Officer Gary Briggs was answering a participant’s question about what eBay is doing to help promote saving the planet. He said in part, “A third point to bring up is MicroPlace, which a group that we purchased that is making microfinance loans available to the developing world in particular, and we think - particularly as it relates to PayPal - that we think that’s a great thing to be able to do for the global community.”

MicroPlace plans to launch a web-based, eBay-like marketplace to connect “ordinary” people with micro-finance entities that need capital, according to the website. Founder Tracey Pettengill is co-founder of the Silicon Valley Microfinance Network and was previously CEO of 4charity, a technology company whose vision was “to make philanthropy accessible, convenient, and efficient for companies and their employees.”

Two micro-finance marketplace sites already exist, one calling the phenomenon “social lending.” UK’s Zopa, which is coming the to the US market, is funded by several VCs, including Benchmark, which funded eBay in its pre-IPO days. Prosper was started by e-Loan founder Chris Larsen and John Witchel and is also backed by Benchmark Capital - and eBay founder Pierre Omidyar through his Omidyar Network. \

As I have posted here before, i am a supporter of the true peer to peer microfinance style of Kiva.org but also supported the Google fund which launched a new for profit philanthropy. If eBay stays the course and offers loans worldwide at competitive rates, I say “Bravo !”

Tuesday Thoughts

Tuesday, April 10th, 2007

We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today. ~Stacia Tauscher

A child can ask questions that a wise man cannot answer. ~Author Unknown

Children make you want to start life over. ~Muhammad Ali
Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there. – Will Rogers

Does Everyone You Know Agree?

Beware the gravitational pull of like minds into the echo chamber of thought. How often have you sat at a meeting, gathering, or conference and realized that everyone was nodding along with you. In faith based communities this is known as a holy huddle. Allison Fine coined the phrase echo chamber that seems to fit in the nonprofit sector.

If we are all agreeing all the time then not much creative is happening. It is in the tension of disagreement that unimagined solutions can arise. I am not talking about those moments when we compormise to find common ground but those moments where the tension becomes uneasy and you reach higher ground ( a better solution than either/any previously proposed). This week challenge yourself, challenge those around you and let a little bit of tension spark your creative juices.

It looks like we are finally heading into spring in Calgary. I needed the sunshine and promise of rebirth to give me kick start.

You are What You Eat

Thursday, April 5th, 2007
I missed the official launch of the PB&J Campaign on April 2nd but the action may be something we can all do to save water, reduce global warming and save habitat.

“The authors calculated the greenhouse gas emissions produced by various diets and compared the environmental benefits to driving hybrid versus standard cars. We figured out the daily greenhouse gas outputs from the authors’ yearly figures on animal-product-based and animal-product-free diets and then assumed that the average lunch would be about 28% of the daily figures. The authors also calculated the average yearly CO2 output for the Toyota Prius and Camry, which we broke down to daily figures to complete the picture. “ I don’t profess to be a scientist but reading through the site left me thinking about my diet and realizing that some consumption not only expands my waistline but also increases my footprint.

Womb to Tomb

It never ceases to surprise me when I encounter someone in my daily walk or while doing a presentation on child hunger who says something like ” if something is truly important, then government should be doing it and that discharges my duty to privately help others”. I admit that I have embelished the language but this is the sentiment. I can usually explain my position that macro systemic programs don’t solve issues, they at best mitigate and at worst perpetuate the problem. My assumption is that there aren’t a lot of people like this but Arthur C. Brooks “Who Cares: America’s Charity Divide — Who Gives, Who Doesn’t, and Why it Matters” offers a different insight about Canada.

This nanny state mentality has crossed into our philanthropy. In general we are very stingy. Americans give US$900 per person to charitable causes each year, while in Canada, the average is $400. In Quebec, the average is $176, the lowest amount of any province or territory.

I was at a meeting of government and sector leaders last month where many were bemoaning the lack of a private donor culture in our country. I blasphemed when I suggested ” that is our problem, not the donors”. The response was ” the government will/should make up the shortfall”.

In Alberta, the government announced in the throne speech a new initiative called the Community Spirit program where the Alberta charitable tax credit will be increased and a system of matching individual donations will be funded by budgetary surpluses. This type of encouragement will do a lot more build a private donor culture than the entitlement mentality that seems to be pervading society and the sector.