Archive for the ‘Food’ Category

It seems like I run into women on a weekly basis that are involved in some stage of fundraising. Often times I’m contacted right at the beginning when a board or group is just considering their options and searching for the best path to move forward. Sometimes though, the best course of action is NOT to move forward with a signature event, but rather to look for strategic alliances with other entities that have the same mission.

If your goal is to really maximize the time, treasure and talent of a group, consider how much muscle you really have? If you ask for too much, you’ll run the risk of burning out some excellent and very committed women. But what if you could find an event that already exists that you could affiliate with to achieve your goals? Whether it’s selling something or producing an event, most groups would embrace an influx of new “feet on the street” that are like-minded in their mission. Come up with a letter of agreement about how this would look and you’re off to the races! The letter is just to clarify who’s doing what and how the relationship will look so that when memories fail, you have something to refer to.  It should be a win/win for all parties involved as well as the funding recipient! And, your group can achieve visibility, purpose and reward – without all the angst!

Watching the Presidential candidate’s interviews tonight, I came to realize just how timely this new blog and website are. While commemorating 9/11 and the hero’s that gave up their lives during that time and since, and as we as a nation try to help third world countries become independent, both candidates expressed that the best way we can honor those hero’s is to do community service ourselves. See a wrong and try to right it or offer our time in service for a cause bigger than ourselves.

As a 22 year member of a women’s service organization, I can tell you first-hand, that the power of a small group of like-minded women is phenomenal! It doesn’t matter if it’s your bookclub, cardclub, or mom’s group. I think ANY group of women can make a difference and EVERY effort, big or small is important, If we can help our kids to understand the power they hold through their youthful energy and idealism and if we can help them direct that into mobilizing and taking action for change and betterment of something beyond themselves – what an accomplishment!

When my daughter turned 13 we decided to have a big party for her and invite her entire class of 70 kids! She had been very sick for a number of years before we found out she was highly allergic to a mold growing in the crawl space under her bedroom! She had missed over 50 days of school year after year and never had more than 7 days of wellness in a row. But now that was all behind us and we wanted to celebrate her health and her infinite potential! (that’s what I wanted to celebrate, she was 13 and just wanted a party and cakeJ Anyway, she decided with a little direction from me, to have kids bring a donation for Operation Smile and Heifer Project in lieu of presents. When we counted the proceeds, she had raised almost $1500. I felt so much joy and pride reconciling the checks for the two designated organizations. Our daughter was very proud of what she had done. She knew that following her heart had resulted in right action. She and her friends had a great time at a fabulous party that provided, instead of piles of wrapping paper and yet another bracelet, cd, or stuffed animal, a life a little easier for those less fortunate than themselves.

So, let’s start Cookin for a Cause! And let’s get our kids Cookin for a Cause! Let me here from you! Send me your questions, ideas, joys and fears and I’ll do my best to shine a a little light, information and support your way. My background and skill set is quite diverse – an FSU graduate in Communications, Travel Coordinator for a large American Company in Isfahan, Iran during Reza Shah’s regime, restaurateur in New England for 7 years, Public Relations Consultant and Producer of the first and largest International Paintball Festival in the U.S., and now Producer of special events for National women’s initiatives. I’ll be happy to share my expertise in any and all areas if it helps YOU get moving in a direction to make a difference! We don’t have time to waste so let’s giddiyup! Here’s to your success!

Recently, I had the privilege of attending a talent show and dessert buffet presented by our good friend’s daughter.  She’s 17 and off to college next year and needed a senior project. She invited everyone she knew and housed the event in a church activity room. Her friends from choir, school musicals or just have raw talent provided the entertainment. She sang a couple of duets herself! It lasted about 45 minutes and the talent we heard was AMAZING! (One young man by the name of Nick Marzok needs to try out for Amercian Idol. He writes a lot of his own music, plays the guitar and sings.  Keep your eyes and ears open for that name!)

After the Talent Show everyone was invited to a wonderful dessert buffet! She had a beautiful array of items provided by her mom, grandmoms and friends (including one of my favorites, the old angel food and a can of diced pineapple cake. It’s light and delicious and great for spring or summer!)

All the attendees (about 60) were happy to make a donation to her chosen recipient, the Ammani Christian School. This is a private, inner-city school where children who would otherwise be unable to succeed in school are offered the opportunity of a quality education.  She donated over $600! Everyone had a fabulous time and it was just a wonderful community function!

They say the best gift we can give our children is the ability to look in the mirror and be proud of who they see. This young lady is proud of who she sees (and so are her parents, friends and community!!!). I think lots of teenagers want to make a contribution and a difference! With a little support from us (YOU) they can!

I’m a huge fan of women.  I’m continually in awe of their amazing ability to juggle many balls so effectively. They care deeply about issues in our communities, our country and the world.  These are the women that I’m attracted to and love to spend time with. But I am also amazed by how easily many women I meet take for granted the freedoms and privileges American women enjoy. Having lived in Iran during the Shah’s regime, I’ve seen firsthand the oppression of women. Indeed, that was many years ago, but so little has changed for women in that region and in many other regions of the world. Think of the outrage, demoralization, and shame you would feel if forced to go through your days looking out from behind the screen of a burka, or living in fear of walking to the market without a male escort, or forced into a life of prostitution as a single mom because women aren’t allowed to legally work. We needn’t, MUSTN’T, sit quietly by while women around the world are being subjected to this kind of bullying day after day.

I believe that to “Whom much is given, much is expected”. That would be us, Ladies! We, American women, while enjoying the fruits of education, in a land of prosperity and freedom, can help change the physical, emotional, and spiritual landscape of oppressed women wherever they live in the world. And we must!

These women don’t have the power to fight corrupt governments alone. They don’t have the power to protect themselves from the male dominated cultures that keep them as subordinates. The Current Bestseller “ Land of a Thousand Suns” is one of the best reads about the Middle East and the inequities for women.

This site is the place for us to unleash our potential to make a difference! We are all busy with work, family and the myriad of issues women face everyday. But there are lots of women looking for something in their lives to fill them up, when a shopping trip to the mall no longer works. Getting involved in service to those less fortunate than ourselves is a great way to be grateful for all we have, while reaching out a hand to help.

Lots of women need our help! Let’s Giddiyup! We’re not gettin any younger!

It’s never just about the money. If you raise $10,000, but your group is polarized, overworked, overused, exhausted and depleted from the process what have you accomplished? If your event is not sustainable, what have you accomplished? A one hit wonder is not the goal. Creating an event that has a lifespan and can be fine-tuned over the years to adapt to changing trends, that WILL arise, is the long-term win/win.  A win for your committee’s efforts and a win for the recipient organization.

We believe, and have in fact proven, that when you appropriately outsource key elements of event production it will free your agency, board or club, to stay focused on your mission without being bogged down by the details of an event production. It’s the same principle I employed to outsource a bookkeeper. I can do the books for our companies but she does it twice as fast and, as an expert in the field, assures greater accuracy and compliance to laws I may not be aware of, so, there are no GOTCHAS that burn up my time trying to resolve. My bookkeeper and my housekeeper allow me to not get bogged down with tasks that when outsourced, are done efficiently, in a timely fashion and afford me not only a manageable to-do list – consisting of things I enjoy doing – but, wonders of wonders, even gives me a little down time, recharge time, FAMILY time! I value them, pay them well and thank them profusely! The same is true of the professionals needed to help you succeed in fundraising. And if they’re really good, they’ll pay for themselves! Effective Fundraising is optimal and sustainable, when it’s the combined best effort of volunteers and professionals.

It seems all types of volunteer organizations have the same types of issues when it comes to sustaining their boards.  Spoke with a woman last night that is involved in a service club and a church ladies group. She was remarking about how the same problems existed in both organizations.

If you have a great group of committed leaders in place, it’s imperative that you switch out 1/3 to 1/2 every year so that you’re never left with an entirely new board! It’s hard enough to transition information from one committee chair to the next and so much gets lost in the shuffle. No matter how good your intentions, and how good your notes or templates, if someone hasn’t worked “Hands On” with a board or committee – important ideas, systems and procedures can just fall off the plate. Over the years, the problem magnifies until all the great effort and groundbreaking strides of one committee, leader or board, is lost completely.