Toni's Blog
4/9/12. A Malapropism
Monday, 09 April 2012 21:29
"I have buttered my bread and intend to sleep in it!"
I am the queen of malapropisms. When my kids did something that warrented a consequence, I would say "You buttered your bread, now sleep in it."
FEAR & HOPE
Getting involved in social media has both brought excitement and intimidation, plus a lot of hours in front of a computer screen. I accidentally found that AOL has a big social causes site. Little did I know it existed though I do have two aol email accounts. I do not want itispossible.org to be redundant. However, I also believe that creative efforts can be simultaneous and can compliment one another. So by putting AOL Impact in our Directory of Possibilities we can help them get a bigger audience. I see our Resources section as becoming more and more important. Resources could become a one stop shopping spot for so much information. Our Directory will continue to list in categories the little guys, that often you don't find quickly with a regular search unless you can stick it out to Google's page ten.
THE WORK
This past week, via itispossible.org, several matches were made between need and resource. It feels like asking folks to meet and greet by shaking hands online. Also each day we learn from a subscriber of another small-scale, phenomenal group. A recent one is Kate Lynn's Closet, This is a clothing distribution organization on Cape Cod that via School and Community personnel gives stylish, almost new clothing to kids in need. It is a program that should be looked at and could easily be replicated in other communities. Also this week, a scholarship site became known to us for struggling children in developing countries. We introduced them to Children of Kathmandu as this organization needs funds for children now going on to some type of post-secondary education. Go to their site. It's a wonderful story and I can personally attest to how amazing these folks are. Another young friend, Kat, graduating from college next month, has formed The Deepak Foundation named in honor of a special Nepalise child in her life. The committment of youth is very inspiring and unstoppable. Check out all the organizations listed today in our Directory of Possibilities.
SO
I have buttered my bread and intend to sleep in it.
Remember it is possible, Toni
3/21/12: A Fantastic Ride
Wednesday, 21 March 2012 00:00
Yes, Dorothy, we're not in Kansas any longer! Itispossible.org has launched, but with each day it evolves. This is my project to do good and help others to do good -- calling it my passion at times. I have learned that initially shorter blogs are better, and know I need to write more often. I have also learned that I have to be careful not to type "n" instead of hitting the space bar on my iPad. I am reminding myself that having patience and resilience are crucial and also accepting that learning new skills, that I had not even known existed, is a daily task.
I have to hit the refresh button every day.
I now understand the layers of infrastructure of an interactive website. I do not manage those layers, but at least recognize they exist now and can ask the right questions. I understand that I had a pretty defined concept of what I wanted this site to do, but that the details of how to accomplish this morphs and evolves and that asking for and receiving friend's comments is a wonderful part of the process.
I am on a roller coaster . . . very excited, but have a little motion sickness too!
Believing It Is Possible..........Toni
2/1/12: What We Are About
Only four years ago, there were 1.5 million non-profits reported and of these 950,000 were 501(c)(3) public charities. Now add to that all the for-profit companies and small businesses that do good . For example, they might be doing good by running a cook out for a local camp or setting up a foundation or granting their employees paid time to volunteer. Add to that all the amazing individuals or families or groups of friends who are doing small good works just on their own initiative. It is over-whelming and awe inspiring! It also proves that anything is possible. However, it also shows that finding the information you want may be daunting, and finding someone who can help or give answers may seem impossible. Itispossible.org is founded on the principle that there are many out there who are very willing to share their knowledge and ideas about benefiting others.
Each day in conversation or by reading, I learn about at least 10 good works that are new to me. Magazines highlight local do good heroes. Groups and social networks run contests that focus on voting for a favorite not-for-profit and then awarding funds. People sitting at a coffee shop or at a dinner table share wonderful ideas and tell great stories about someone who did something small and wonderful to help another. When you’re looking and listening it is amazing to see that so much is being done. Add to that all of the movies, documentaries, books, art and articles that promote social conscience.
Connecting people and ideas has always been part of my work no matter what setting or population I worked within. What I recognized as this site took life is that my own personal passions are just too vast to devote myself to just one arena. I also learned that it is mesmerizing learning about all the ways people do good. Making itispossible.org happen is now my passion. I believe in the possibility that this site will help others to pursue their dream of doing good.
This site will include the big names and the other mammoth data bases that exist, but it is the little names and the unheard of acts that we will concentrate on. What will also make itispossible.org different and special is our community of Subscribers/Users. These folks will be our lifeline to information. Those who access the site, need only give us their email address so they may receive information. Users will give more information that is kept private and as our forum develops they will be allowed to contributebtheir comments .Someone who accesses the site can "Ask A Question - Is it possible?" and those questions will be sent to our "Subscribers/Users" . If the Subscribers/Users don’t know an answer, they might just be able to send someone in the right direction. Subscribers/Users also will be able to contribute by adding to our data-base of ideas and projects. They need only send us an email with the information. The beauty is that one does not have to be an expert to be a Subscriber/User. The only requirement is a genuine interest to assist others who wish to do good
The goal of itispossible.org is truly simple. It is web community that will house an ever expanding resource database, containing great ideas, terrific stories, organizations that do good and book and film recommendations. It will link into Facebook as another vehicle of communication. The itispossible.org community will also grow as others feel that becoming part of itispossible.org will be one more way for them to do good.
Enjoy and Make It Possible!
Toni Nagel-Smith, Founder