Last Day!

Thank you! To every person on the M team, the bootcampers, everyone who followed our journey! What a life changing experience this has been.

The meeting with Eileen Brown, Director of Institutional Advancement at Catherine McAuley High School was a wonderful way to finish. Please hear what Eleanor, Ginny and Jacki have been saying - Follow up is everything. Even though there were many letters, emails and phone calls, the one thing that made it through to Eileen was a hand scribbled note I left in the office one afternoon. It was so cold I could barely write legibly, but it's all it took. If I had not called the next week to follow up on my note, I'd still be waiting.

Eileen immediately saw the treasure that was in front of her. When we got through the presentation and logged onto the back office of my mall, she heard Ginny's voice recording(the one my kids all say now in unison every time it plays...Hi this is Ginny again, you know it's not enough.....)and saw her picture.
Eileen said "We're always telling the girls at the school, it only takes one good person to set something in motion that can change the world." How true.

February 12, 2009

My friend Julie is the kind of person I like to work with. She's straight forward, honest and very good at seeing the big picture. Like most Directors of NPOs she is also underpaid for the long hours and dedication. Over ten years ago, we worked together on a mentoring program with schools and Big Brothers Big Sisters. I remember very clearly when I realized the difference between corporate and non profit budgets. Julie and I flew out to Escanaba, MI on the Mead private jet. To me, it was just another business trip. To her, it was leather seats, open bar, no waiting in airports, and VIP treatment. We stayed at a B&B with beds so fluffy she had to climb up onto hers. She thought she had gone to heaven.

We had a great time talking today - old friends catching up and moving right on to the purpose for the visit. I went through the background of TWCCTW, Ginny, My PowerMall and then went over the numbers with her. She said it was a lot to take in, but she just couldn't get past the fact that it looked like a pyramid.
"Julie, you know me. You know my history with funding and NPO partnerships. Would I drive 2 hours and waste your time with a bunch of crap?" ( I don't talk this way to everyone - we've known each other for 18 years!)
"No, I know you wouldn't. I just can't see how this can be real." She had just found out that the investments that provide their sustainability were down $30,000. "First, I hear that we lost a bunch of money and then you show me this! My head is spinning. So what do I have to do?"
We talked a bit about Mahoosuc Kids- that it was a fee for service program. "Can parents pay this fee with American Express?" I asked.
"Yes."
"So here's what you do... Tier 1 is Mahoosuc Kids, Tier 2 is your staff and board, Tier 3 are the families of the kids who use the program (100+). The kids can sponsor a NPO, and also earn money for college. This meets three of your program goals right here: fostering a community service ethic and an entrepreneurial spirit in the kids, and sustainability."
I also discussed how every time her staff and board promoted their own World Changer Malls, they would be supporting Mahoosuc Kids. She liked the part about providing income for her staff and board. I had her log onto my WCM and showed her around the mall and Biz site. I showed her how to sign up.
"Julie, check this out thoroughly as Jim and I did. ( I told her about the WCM for Mike and Betsy). When you do, you'll see just how powerful this can be for Mahoosuc Kids, your staff and the kids you serve. It'll click in your head and you'll be blown away."

February 11, 2009

All set for tomorrow's meeting with Julie of Mahoosuc Kids. In reading about her program, I discovered that there are 34 partner programs throughout the state. These are currently federally funded by the 21st Century Community Learning Center grants. This is part of the 'No Child Left Behind' act. Part of their challenge for 2009 is to create sustainable funding.
I also prepared the proposal for the other private high school I'll visit on Friday. I'll be gone tomorrow from 8:30am until about 6:00pm. Jim is covering afternoon daycare (which is right up there with cleaning the garage on his list of favorite things to do )! He has a very good heart :)

February 10, 2009

I told Jim he'd better watch out! If the Law of Attraction continues operating the way it has been, George Clooney will show up on my doorstep any day!

A call I have been waiting months for happened today- Eileen Brown, Director of Advancement from Catherine McAuley HS! If you remember, I wrote 3 letters to private high schools during the early days of the bootcamp. I never heard from McAuley. Of course, I wondered why since our "daughter" Sungmoon graduated from there last year.
I called several times, stopped by and left a note, emailed......

Today, just as ten screaming children were entering my house for after school care, the phone rang. All I could hear before I managed to escape to a quiet room was "I'm so sorry that there was a lapse in communication but.....blah, blah, blah, blah, I'd love to have you come in and tell us about My PowerMall"
We're meeting at 10:00 Friday!

February 9, 2009

Another iron in the fire today. I received an alumni email from my high school's Director of Institutional Advancement, Karen. We played basketball together in the 80's. I didn't even know she was working there. So I wrote a letter explaining what I was doing with high schools here. Their numbers are similar to those of Cheverus, so I know she'll be impressed.

Vineyard Villa, Allayn Stevens

Porch Swing

American Picture Frame » Edward Gordon