Community

Hi there -
online survey time!!!
What does community mean to you? Email, facebook, comment - I would love to know. For real. All you non profiters out there I have an idea what you'll say - though I will probably be surprised and intrigued - but what does community mean to all of ya'll outside the non profit world? (I will LOVE your answers)
Thanks
k

ooops

stuff that is meant to be on helping people help people is on this blog - oh well! It is late - I have to go to bed - so for all you readers out there that read the following couple of entries... well - sorry! I will transfer them onto the other blog next week 'cause we're headin to Kimberley!
YOW!

1% for the Planet

There is no business to be done on a dead planet
David Bower

That is a straight to the point quote that is for sure - 1% for the Planet is an initative that I have just come across that asks businesses around the world to donate 1% of their sales to the natural environment. A crazy amount of businesses have signed on.
Yvon Chouinard (I know you love him!) says - Every time I've done the right thing for the environment, I've made a profit. He is obviously a member and a supporter. Check it out and encourage business owners that you know.

http://www.onepercentfortheplanet.org/

The Executive Exodus

I was at a conference in Edmonton last weekend and had a whole bunch of thoughts and insights and inspirations - but the one thing that is really sticking with me is that the CEOs and EDs of today all know the other EDs and CEOs of today - they have typically worked together or at least have known of each other for 20 years. Everyone (at least here in Calgary) is networked to everyone else. So what is going to happen when new people take up the reins in one great big wave? My concern is that all of these leaders in the np sector intuitively know what each other are up to, and what kind of organization they would be running because they know each other so well. This is an issue way deeper than mere succession planning - this is an issue of having a mass exodus of important knowledge leaving the sector. Will organizations have to rebrand in order to be better understood now that their EDs and peers are no longer around to intuitively know what they are all about. This would not be an issue at all except for the fact that stats are saying there is going to be an incredibly high turn over in the next ten years (those baby boomers! Off to 2nd homes in BC and golf courses.) I think this begs for some thought and planning. Unfortunately I work 800 hours a week so am only able to put this blog up to put the idea out there. Would love to know what you all think about this.

Zero blogs...

The complete and utter lack of any blog communication is because I am EXHAUSTED!!!! I forgot that working 5 days a week really does kick your ass. I mean really - it is almost too much to make a salad for dinner before I fall into bed!
I have some people in my life - like Mr Nenshi, who not only work 4 billion hours a week but then sit as the Chair on boards, volunteer in other capacities and has a consulting business on the side and is still - yes - I'll say it here, completely (more or less) sane.
And then there is a mom that I work with who has a full day before she even comes into work - just getting her kid up and dressed and fed and to day care before she starts her day - wow. Super heros.
K - so I have an ask that I have to put out there to all you moms - is it really a joy? Really all pleasure to have a screaming, crying bag of human? Cause I need to know before I have babies ... ladies who don't have kids please comment. I would love to hear from you all about this baby thing. I love being able to do whatever I want whenever I want - I love the freedom of our life now - is it worth it to change? hmmm - these are the questions I ask in the 2.4 seconds before I go to sleep and occasionally on my walk to work right through downtown Calgary.
Thanks for visiting yo! Facebook me - email me - whatever!

Our new palace

Welcome to our Kimberley home!
We can't wait to see everybody there this summer! For SURE
We are still stuck in ol Cowtown (it is -15 and snowing here) so we made a pact that we would find a place to go and enjoy. We found this beautiful little house.
Super stoked!
J and K

more ED

'

More Exploding Dog - this is called 'I stop lying NOW'

Exploding Dog

This is entitled Guess its not all about you, huh?
Explodingdog.com
Check it out. fun

Launching Helping People Help People Consulting

Hi there!
We have been staying at mom and dad's in Bragg Creek taking care of the best dog on the planet - so it has been hard to get to my blog... if you can believe it there are still some areas that can't get hi speed internet!!! Bragg Creek is one of those special places...
SO while we've been here I have been very slowly working on an online resource blog for the non profits I work with. I have started a consulting business!
Helping People Help People Consulting
(yes I realize that is a REALLY long name... but its all about how cool the website is going to look with that name - and I think it is somewhat obvious and memorable.)
I am working with non profits on strategic planning including connecting evaluation methods to mission, succession planning, code of ethics documents etc, as well as fundrasing (but not event planning!), public relations, membership development and governance issues. Exciting, huh? Well, Jay and I think so!
So here you go - check it out.
helpingpeoplehelppeople.blogpot.com
It is brand new and this is just a sneak peek at it - it will fill up nicely once we get back to our house in Bankview.
FUN!!!

J and K make it in the Big Smoke

Thanks to Ambler Mountain Works - they make great hats. Go there ... check it out
(http://amblermountainworks.com/main.php) and Andrew Querner (http://www.restless-planet.com) for the pic.

This is... well ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfKfPY-0VPg&eurl

Thanks to Amber for this little gem
Love it

India's flight schools

So, Jay's school is bringing some students from India to get their commercial pilot's license here in Calgary.

This was one of the powerpoints that the company in India was using to convince students to get educated in Canada.

It sure would convince me...

Check out engrish.com (thanks Keeley) for more.

'k - so it has come to my attention that some people don't get this and don't find it funny at all. It took me days to stop giggling. So if ya don't think it's funny... well I will try to post something else funnier - though it is going to be tough.

k

Oh George...

So... Old George doubleya has LESS support now than Nixon after the Watergate scandle.... Yowza.... that is baaaaaaaaaad. As of Jan 30 President Bush has the worst rating EVER in American history - 28%.

Love that, "President Bush says America must diversify its energy supply and reduce gasoline usage." in his State of the Union address today.

Riiiiiiiiiight.... wow - maybe Al Gore did win that election in the end.

Would you trust this man?

Everyone have a sip of champagne!

Give a toast - you are looking at the new Operations Manager for Springbank Air Training College - a job with lots of responsibility, enough hours of flying to keep a passionate pilot satisfied, and a healthy dose of challenge. Jay still gets some students to teach in the mix!

Apparently they don't know that he magically turns into a hippy, river runnin, sun worshippin, beer drinkin yehaw in the summers ... we'll try to keep that from them for now.

We are super stoked

Dancing King

My favorite person on the planet - we were hoping for a 70s party on New years. Hence the gold polyester. Hot hot hot.

Robbed for Xmas

Well... just wanted to pass on a little heads up that EVERYONE should make sure they:

1. Have insurance - renters or owners
2. Have an alarm system in their house

We got ROBBED while we were skiing POWDER!!! The injustice!!!!

We came home on the 28th of December after a LOVELY day of skiing to find our little place absolutely tossed - underwear and furniture EVERYWHERE. They got all of our good stuff including Jay's videos that he made of the yearly boys paddling extravaganza - the Stein tapes gone, the summer tapes gone - which is kind of alright at the moment because his computer and camera are gone too - so we have nothing to watch them on anyway.
What a trip - wedding rings... yup that’s right - GONE

The up side is that we did get a visit from some of the best people ever with some baked goods. Jonovan is in town! He and Ali helped us put it all in perspective - thanks! And... we have good insurance coverage. Phew - disasterous if we didn't.

So... we decided to take ourselves to Kimberley for a little ski vacation to forget our woes - it worked! We had a great New Years in the knee deep powder.

I hope all yous guys had a great New Years too...

If you see someone walking around with my wedding ring, will you tackle them for me? Thanks

K