The count now stands at 3-2. No, I'm not calling a baseball game... that's the grants funded count.
Last week we got another no and then this morning, another yes.
Total grant dollars raised so far is $13,500.
I shouldn't just count grant dollars funded, but it's the easier rolling number to keep track of. I know other things I'm doing are adding to the grand total -- bringing in matching gifts from donors' employers because we sent them a reminder letter that it was their responsibility to process the match. Trying to get donors to make good on the pledges they made at our annual fundraiser last fall.
But the grants are the things I see most closely as living or dying based solely on the quality of my work.
The big grants are still outstanding. *Finger crossed*
2.11.2008
2.08.2008
Where is it I work again?
Ahem.
So in a moment of self-depricating humor here...
Moments ago, I just answered the phone telling the caller on the other end that they'd reached the newspaper where I used to work. My office-mate started laughing, I started laughing and trying to apologize to the caller.
I'm glad it wasn't a grants officer on the other end. Of course, the call was still serious and I feel like a total heel.
Ever since October, I've been worried I would make that mistake. I guess now that I've done it, I can stop worrying about it.
At a workshop I attended this fall, the speaker said if you weren't used to asking donors for 5-figure amounts, you should practice. Ask yourself in the mirror, ask your friends, your dog, whoever, just to get used to saying the words. Apparently, I need to take a step back and practice my phone greeting.
"Starfish Initiative, this is Bethany."
So in a moment of self-depricating humor here...
Moments ago, I just answered the phone telling the caller on the other end that they'd reached the newspaper where I used to work. My office-mate started laughing, I started laughing and trying to apologize to the caller.
I'm glad it wasn't a grants officer on the other end. Of course, the call was still serious and I feel like a total heel.
Ever since October, I've been worried I would make that mistake. I guess now that I've done it, I can stop worrying about it.
At a workshop I attended this fall, the speaker said if you weren't used to asking donors for 5-figure amounts, you should practice. Ask yourself in the mirror, ask your friends, your dog, whoever, just to get used to saying the words. Apparently, I need to take a step back and practice my phone greeting.
"Starfish Initiative, this is Bethany."
2.06.2008
Encountering Poverty
So, this isn't particularly work-related to Starfish, but since this happened a couple days ago, I've been a little haunted by it and I'm hoping writing about it will help me think through this somehow.
Monday I was walking home from work as I always do. About two blocks from my apartment, I'm stopped on the sidewalk by a man going the opposite direction. He's a middle-aged, African-American guy, dressed moderately -- nothing flashy, maybe a little worn-looking, but nothing that says "homeless guy."
He asks me if I can spare some money for food for his kids. He then proceeds to tell me how he lives in an apartment building a few blocks over (it's a legit building) and how he's been laid-off from his former job and needs to feed his kids and could I spare a few bucks. He's well-spoken and my old reporter sense (maybe this is like Spidey-sense for journalists?) is telling me his story is true.
In my head, I'm thinking Well, I have a few bucks in my wallet, but I'm a VISTA so a few bucks really is it. And these few bucks have to last me through this weekend because I'm a VISTA and I'm living in poverty too. I asked the man if he'd stopped at the church up the street. It's where I attended and I know the deacons there try to help people when they can. The man said he had but that the pastor wasn't there. And I'm still thinking I could get out my wallet, but how do I know this guy's not going to rip the whole thing out of my hands. I've got credit cards. I've done the identity theft thing once and I'm not so keen on doing it again. And, really, I'm a VISTA! I'm living in poverty too. The fact that I'm dressed nice is a front! Really, I'm not as well-off as you think I look like I am!
I blow the guy off and eventually start walking away, shrugging that there's nothing I can do. Of course, I turn the corner and start thinking about what I could have done. I could have asked him to wait, gone up to my apartment, got the loaf of bread out of my freezer and my jar of peanut butter, or the package of spaghetti and jar of sauce I had and brought it back to him if he needed food for his family that badly.
And yeah, I'm a VISTA. I may not be as well-off as I wish I were, but I could have given him $4 worth of sauce and pasta and replaced it at the store the next time I shopped and not felt the pinch of my budget doing it.
Maybe he wouldn't have wanted that. Maybe my reporter sense was off and he really did just want cash for booze or drugs or something. Maybe he's got no hungry kids in an apartment a few blocks over.
Maybe the score after this round is Poverty: 1 Bethany the VISTA: 0.
When I cook that spaghetti this weekend, I doubt it will taste as good as it should. I wish I could find out what happened to him and his family. I wish I could rewind time and do something different.
Monday I was walking home from work as I always do. About two blocks from my apartment, I'm stopped on the sidewalk by a man going the opposite direction. He's a middle-aged, African-American guy, dressed moderately -- nothing flashy, maybe a little worn-looking, but nothing that says "homeless guy."
He asks me if I can spare some money for food for his kids. He then proceeds to tell me how he lives in an apartment building a few blocks over (it's a legit building) and how he's been laid-off from his former job and needs to feed his kids and could I spare a few bucks. He's well-spoken and my old reporter sense (maybe this is like Spidey-sense for journalists?) is telling me his story is true.
In my head, I'm thinking Well, I have a few bucks in my wallet, but I'm a VISTA so a few bucks really is it. And these few bucks have to last me through this weekend because I'm a VISTA and I'm living in poverty too. I asked the man if he'd stopped at the church up the street. It's where I attended and I know the deacons there try to help people when they can. The man said he had but that the pastor wasn't there. And I'm still thinking I could get out my wallet, but how do I know this guy's not going to rip the whole thing out of my hands. I've got credit cards. I've done the identity theft thing once and I'm not so keen on doing it again. And, really, I'm a VISTA! I'm living in poverty too. The fact that I'm dressed nice is a front! Really, I'm not as well-off as you think I look like I am!
I blow the guy off and eventually start walking away, shrugging that there's nothing I can do. Of course, I turn the corner and start thinking about what I could have done. I could have asked him to wait, gone up to my apartment, got the loaf of bread out of my freezer and my jar of peanut butter, or the package of spaghetti and jar of sauce I had and brought it back to him if he needed food for his family that badly.
And yeah, I'm a VISTA. I may not be as well-off as I wish I were, but I could have given him $4 worth of sauce and pasta and replaced it at the store the next time I shopped and not felt the pinch of my budget doing it.
Maybe he wouldn't have wanted that. Maybe my reporter sense was off and he really did just want cash for booze or drugs or something. Maybe he's got no hungry kids in an apartment a few blocks over.
Maybe the score after this round is Poverty: 1 Bethany the VISTA: 0.
When I cook that spaghetti this weekend, I doubt it will taste as good as it should. I wish I could find out what happened to him and his family. I wish I could rewind time and do something different.
1.29.2008
How time flies. And crawls.
It dawned on me the other day that I'm 1/4 of the way done with my VISTA year. The ticker at the bottom of this blog confirms it.
I've been doing this for three months already.
It feels like it's been that long and like it's been no time at all. (Yes, it can feel both ways at once.)
I'm getting ready to write my next monthly VISTA report which always gets me thinking about what it is, exactly, that I've done in the last month.
Written grants. Check.
Been staff photographer for events. Check.
Worked on next donor newsletter. Check.
To use the hated phrase... made a difference..... er... check?
This is where it gets hard as a VISTA. Since we're not doing direct service, there are days when it feels like what I'm doing doesn't really impact the students we serve. I know that's completely bogus, but it feels like it nevertheless.
I guess maybe this feeling is partly because yesterday afternoon most of what I worked on was a postcard to donors about whether they wanted to get paper or electronic copies of things like newsletters. I know this is a good thing, but it took time to print the postcards, fold the postcards, run them all through the stamp/meter do-dad.
Today, much of my day will be spent at the library doing research through their Foundation Center database. It's good work, but it's solitary and isolated from what we really do.
This will pay off in the end, I know. More funders, hopefully, to support the heart of what we do. But in the meantime...
I've been doing this for three months already.
It feels like it's been that long and like it's been no time at all. (Yes, it can feel both ways at once.)
I'm getting ready to write my next monthly VISTA report which always gets me thinking about what it is, exactly, that I've done in the last month.
Written grants. Check.
Been staff photographer for events. Check.
Worked on next donor newsletter. Check.
To use the hated phrase... made a difference..... er... check?
This is where it gets hard as a VISTA. Since we're not doing direct service, there are days when it feels like what I'm doing doesn't really impact the students we serve. I know that's completely bogus, but it feels like it nevertheless.
I guess maybe this feeling is partly because yesterday afternoon most of what I worked on was a postcard to donors about whether they wanted to get paper or electronic copies of things like newsletters. I know this is a good thing, but it took time to print the postcards, fold the postcards, run them all through the stamp/meter do-dad.
Today, much of my day will be spent at the library doing research through their Foundation Center database. It's good work, but it's solitary and isolated from what we really do.
This will pay off in the end, I know. More funders, hopefully, to support the heart of what we do. But in the meantime...
1.25.2008
Mentoring Celebration
Starfish staff participated today in the first Mentoring Month Luncheon and Expo hosted by the Alliance of Youth Mentoring Agencies.
We had a mentoring fair where 16 booths from different agencies that do some level of mentoring set up so individuals could learn about each other and hopefully, recruit some mentors.
Starfish is a founding member of the Alliance and so it was a big day for us to see this event finally take place.
We had a mentoring fair where 16 booths from different agencies that do some level of mentoring set up so individuals could learn about each other and hopefully, recruit some mentors. Then, at the lunch, we heard a great keynote address from Tarik Glenn, a former pro-bowl 
offensive lineman for the Indianapolis Colts. Glenn gave a great address, challenging mentors and mentoring agencies to have integrity, love and trust. "The most important thing is that if we mentor without love as the foundation, we aren't going to change anything," Glenn said.
offensive lineman for the Indianapolis Colts. Glenn gave a great address, challenging mentors and mentoring agencies to have integrity, love and trust. "The most important thing is that if we mentor without love as the foundation, we aren't going to change anything," Glenn said. One of our Starfish Scholars also had the opportunity to deliver the invocation for the event and did a great job.
As usual, I was the staff photographer and the photos are from the event. (I was going to post more photos, but at the moment, blogger.com is having conniptions...)
1.22.2008
I think the phrase is "rollin' in it"
I forgot to post another good news announcement from last week.
Another one of the grant applications I wrote came in, with a positive response and a check.
This brings my total money raised so far to $8,500 and my "score" on applications to 2-1.
I know $8,500 in the grand scheme of things isn't really very much money, but it's important. When you are trying to raise significant amounts of money, you can't discredit even the smaller grants, just because they are little. Both of the grants represent organizations that believe in what you are doing and your mission.
And I say, getting the little ones is like the pre-show entertainment for when the $20,000 grants come in.
Another one of the grant applications I wrote came in, with a positive response and a check.
This brings my total money raised so far to $8,500 and my "score" on applications to 2-1.
I know $8,500 in the grand scheme of things isn't really very much money, but it's important. When you are trying to raise significant amounts of money, you can't discredit even the smaller grants, just because they are little. Both of the grants represent organizations that believe in what you are doing and your mission.
And I say, getting the little ones is like the pre-show entertainment for when the $20,000 grants come in.
1.17.2008
Mentor Appreciation Night -- Photo Proof
Last night, Starfish held our Mentor Appreciation Night since January is National Mentoring Month.
The mentors were also on the big screen in the arena.
And, as usual, some hardworking VISTAs making sure things run smoothly.
The event was at Conseco Fieldhouse, with a dinner and presentation of certificates of appreciation to mentors followed by going to the Indiana Pacers game and half-time recognition on the court. The event went well and based on some comments from mentors, it seems like they had a great time.
As usual, your faithful blogger was behind the camera all evening, capturing all the important moments on film (or technically, digital pixels).
Here are some of the highlights from last night.
The mentors on the court at halftime for a special recognition.
The mentors were also on the big screen in the arena. Starfish Board Chairman Mike Feeney and Executive Director Joyce Johnson present with Huntington Bank VP Pat Schubach with some special gifts, including an autographed basketball from the Pacers. Huntington Bank sponsored our event last night -- making possible what we could never have pulled off without them.
And, as usual, some hardworking VISTAs making sure things run smoothly.
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