Possible fundraising opportunity

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Melissa Thiessen

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Jan 23, 2009, 2:32:49 PM1/23/09
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A fellow Philly geek brought this to my attention. Maybe we can help,
they're believed to be the oldest operating public library in the
country!

http://www.philly.com/dailynews/local/20090122_Darby_library_faces_the_ax__Oldest_in_U_S___it_s_in___pinch.html

Thanks,
Melissa

Roz Duffy

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Jan 24, 2009, 11:51:49 AM1/24/09
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Hey all,

Sorry for the short notice, but I won't be able to make it today. Good
luck with everything.

--r

juropel

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Jan 24, 2009, 8:12:13 PM1/24/09
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Melissa and everyone:

This is a sad story, if Nutter has his way. If we do target the Darby
Library, we'd have to do it very strategically. My question is—why is
the Darby Library not sustainable? Because we could raise a chunk of
money. But in the end, it's a matter of how the library is using its
resources.

Now I don't know much about how libraries operate as a business model.
This is probably something we'd need to research if we chose to tackle
this big problem.

Is anyone familiar with Long Tail Economics? See here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Long_Tail

and here:
http://www.thelongtail.com/

Thoughts?

// Julia

On Jan 23, 2:32 pm, Melissa Thiessen <mathies...@gmail.com> wrote:
> A fellow Philly geek brought this to my attention.  Maybe we can help,
> they're believed to be the oldest operating public library in the
> country!
>
> http://www.philly.com/dailynews/local/20090122_Darby_library_faces_th...
>
> Thanks,
> Melissa

Kara LaFleur

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Jan 24, 2009, 9:51:43 PM1/24/09
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hey Julia, interestingly enough, some of these thoughts were brought up in today's meeting as well.- Many non profits operate off of the interest/ dividends from market accounts, as the markets go down, so do their revenues, until, unfortunately they are forced to operate on nothing, and as the article illustrates are forced to actually draw from the account (which in turn, obviously lowers the interest which the account is able to produce) (This, of course, is an Extremely simplified explanation of how just some NP's work) As a result of the rollercoaster that has been the market of late, fincanical pictures shift rapidly, and what might have looked like a secure balance sheet 6 monhts ago, may look like an abysmal mess today.

Part of the discussion today was in regards to gwg as fudraiser for such organizations as the Darby library (or philly libraries for that matter). At this point in time, gwg simply does not have the infrastructure to accept or raise money on behalf of a cause. If an organization already had a system in place (say as for the Friends of the Philadelphia library or Twestival as some examples) A place where people can be directed to give safely and securely, then that is a different story. I think that this is certainly something that we should continue to discuss, and potentially persue in a way that everyone can be comfortable with.

In terms of the Philly Futures Initiative (not quite sure what else to call it at this point) I think a kick off presentation would be a great idea. Maybe something over a Indy Hall or another feasible venue - where people could get info, ask questions, and potentially sign up to volunteer. Stephen, we would love your input on this idea, how that might work, do we want to pair it up with say, maybe a movie screening - or some other partnered event / draw. Maybe invite some of the kids, who can talk about their experience with the program, etc?

It was great to hear about Volunteer Big, and the direction that that is heading, certainly sounds like something that this commuity could use, and that could benefit a lot of people. I certainly look forward to hearing more from Jordan. I also wonder how that could work in concert with other efforts within the community.

With all the other events taking place today, our meetig was cut short, it would be great to hold another meeting next Saturday- does that work for everyone? any location suggestions?
--
~ Kara

Work To Ride (a work in progress)
www.karalafleur.com
www.geekswhogive.com

Gloria Bell

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Jan 24, 2009, 11:00:23 PM1/24/09
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I can be available next Saturday.   Kara, thank you for putting together the summary of today's meeting.  

Gloria Bell
Glori...@gmail.com
cell (267) 909-2308
Twitter - @gloriabell

Kara LaFleur

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Jan 25, 2009, 10:53:48 AM1/25/09
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haha - what about a screening of Hancock? total geek movie, and it's all about seemingly  normal people becoming heroes - about becoming better people and doing good and all that.

Melissa Thiessen

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Jan 25, 2009, 10:58:59 AM1/25/09
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I'm available next Saturday, but only for a brunch type meeting we usually have. I don't have time for a movie unfortunately :(  Plus a movie isn't very conducive to getting meeting stuff done, in my opinion.

Kara LaFleur

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Jan 25, 2009, 11:03:02 AM1/25/09
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melissa - i meant the movie screening for the actual Philadelphia Futures Event - not for the meeting next saturday. It was one of my suggestions in the outline i sent from the meeting.

I think the standing brunch meeting is assumed. Do we just want to stick with Nats? or do we want to adventure to a new part of the city?

there's always honeys or morning glory or ants pants -but they can sometimes be crowded.

Gloria Bell

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Jan 25, 2009, 11:25:01 AM1/25/09
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Kara, 

Are you talking about doing a screening of Hancock as the kickoff for the Philly Futures initiative?  If so, I love the idea. 

Gloria

Sent from my iPhone

Kara LaFleur

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Jan 25, 2009, 11:51:19 AM1/25/09
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We should get Stephen's input - but I am thinking maybe a little presentation at the beginning and then follow up at the end; some snacks maybe even a geek-centric give away maybe some interesting or super hero LTL print - they seemed interested in participating in future evetns.

sounds like an event to me!

They also have a "get in the game" event on April 30th - could be a great follow up event for those involved, and it's ready made! Something that gwg could promote on their behalf "throw our weight behind" so to speak.and it sounds fun: http://philadelphiafutures.org/news_and_events/

ooooooooooooooooooo!

What if people who weren't interested in volunteering (lets face it, not everyone is) could bring / donate school supplies! Or other items on their wish list: http://philadelphiafutures.org/getting_involved/#wish

maybe? too much? it's a thought anyway - to have more than one way for the community to be involved, but with the focus o volunteerism.

w00t... i thik we can all recognize the signs of my gettin excited about something ;)

haha
Kara

Stephen Winkler

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Jan 25, 2009, 5:13:39 PM1/25/09
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Lovin' the excitement! I'm somewhere deep in WV right now so am just catching up. First of all, I can and would be happy to meet next saturday. Sounds like you guys had a great start yesterday. 

In terms of Philly Futures specifically, having an info event would be a good idea, and yes, we can have futures staff, mentors, and students attend. 

I think Kara is on to something by not limiting our request to being a mentor only. There are plenty of ways to get involved: giving lessons in geek skills (we could ask people to donate their skills for session), setting up internships, donating to events like Get in the Game, etc. A prominent donor is currently sponsoring a 30 book challenge to encourage reading, so I know Futures is open to outside support in creative ways.     

For the event I think we need to think about making sure people who can't be there can still get the info and don't feel like the chance to get involved has passed if they can't attend. Gee I wonder if it's possible to do some sort of live video over this thing called the internet?

I won't have a car next Saturday but can meet anywhere in center city w/ no problem.

Kara LaFleur

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Jan 25, 2009, 5:21:55 PM1/25/09
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Yay!

Sounds like we have a lot of really good ideas for a potential event.

Does  national mechanics - 2:30 next saturday work for everyone?

Gloria Bell

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Jan 25, 2009, 6:46:48 PM1/25/09
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Sat at 2:30 is fine with me.  Kara, thanks for organizing 

Gloria Bell
Glori...@gmail.com
cell (267) 909-2308
Twitter - @gloriabell


juropel

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Jan 26, 2009, 11:45:18 AM1/26/09
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Hey everyone:

This sounds like great stuff! Saturday @ 2:30 works for me as well.

// Julia
t :: @juropel
484.680.0226


On Jan 25, 6:46 pm, Gloria Bell <gloriakb...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Sat at 2:30 is fine with me.  Kara, thanks for organizing
> Gloria Bell
> GloriaKB...@gmail.com
> cell (267) 909-2308
> Twitter - @gloriabell
>
> On Sun, Jan 25, 2009 at 5:21 PM, Kara LaFleur <karaslafl...@gmail.com>wrote:
>
> > Yay!
>
> > Sounds like we have a lot of really good ideas for a potential event.
>
> > Does  national mechanics - 2:30 next saturday work for everyone?
>
> > On Sun, Jan 25, 2009 at 5:13 PM, Stephen Winkler <
> > stephen.wink...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >> Lovin' the excitement! I'm somewhere deep in WV right now so am just
> >> catching up. First of all, I can and would be happy to meet next saturday.
> >> Sounds like you guys had a great start yesterday.
>
> >> In terms of Philly Futures specifically, having an info event would be a
> >> good idea, and yes, we can have futures staff, mentors, and students
> >> attend.
>
> >> I think Kara is on to something by not limiting our request to being a
> >> mentor only. There are plenty of ways to get involved: giving lessons in
> >> geek skills (we could ask people to donate their skills for session),
> >> setting up internships, donating to events like Get in the Game, etc. A
> >> prominent donor is currently sponsoring a 30 book challenge to encourage
> >> reading, so I know Futures is open to outside support in creative ways.
>
> >> For the event I think we need to think about making sure people who can't
> >> be there can still get the info and don't feel like the chance to get
> >> involved has passed if they can't attend. Gee I wonder if it's possible to
> >> do some sort of live video over this thing called the internet?
>
> >> I won't have a car next Saturday but can meet anywhere in center city w/
> >> no problem.
>
> >> On Jan 25, 2009, at 11:51 AM, Kara LaFleur <karaslafl...@gmail.com>
> >> wrote:
>
> >> We should get Stephen's input - but I am thinking maybe a little
> >> presentation at the beginning and then follow up at the end; some snacks
> >> maybe even a geek-centric give away maybe some interesting or super hero LTL
> >> print - they seemed interested in participating in future evetns.
>
> >> sounds like an event to me!
>
> >> They also have a "get in the game" event on April 30th - could be a great
> >> follow up event for those involved, and it's ready made! Something that gwg
> >> could promote on their behalf "throw our weight behind" so to speak.and it
> >> sounds fun: <http://philadelphiafutures.org/news_and_events/>
> >>http://philadelphiafutures.org/news_and_events/
>
> >> ooooooooooooooooooo!
>
> >> What if people who weren't interested in volunteering (lets face it, not
> >> everyone is) could bring / donate school supplies! Or other items on their
> >> wish list: <http://philadelphiafutures.org/getting_involved/#wish>
> >>http://philadelphiafutures.org/getting_involved/#wish
>
> >> maybe? too much? it's a thought anyway - to have more than one way for the
> >> community to be involved, but with the focus o volunteerism.
>
> >> w00t... i thik we can all recognize the signs of my gettin excited about
> >> something ;)
>
> >> haha
> >> Kara
>
> >> On Sun, Jan 25, 2009 at 11:25 AM, Gloria Bell < <gloriakb...@gmail.com>
> >> gloriakb...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >>> Kara,
>
> >>> Are you talking about doing a screening of Hancock as the kickoff for the
> >>> Philly Futures initiative?  If so, I love the idea.
>
> >>> Gloria
>
> >>> Sent from my iPhone
>
> >>> On Jan 25, 2009, at 10:53 AM, Kara LaFleur < <karaslafl...@gmail.com>
> >>> karaslafl...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >>> haha - what about a screening of Hancock? total geek movie, and it's all
> >>> about seemingly  normal people becoming heroes - about becoming better
> >>> people and doing good and all that.
>
> >>> On Sat, Jan 24, 2009 at 11:00 PM, Gloria Bell < <gloriakb...@gmail.com><gloriakb...@gmail.com>
> >>> gloriakb...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >>>> I can be available next Saturday.   Kara, thank you for putting together
> >>>> the summary of today's meeting.
> >>>> Gloria Bell
> >>>> <GloriaKB...@gmail.com> <GloriaKB...@gmail.com>GloriaKB...@gmail.com
> >>>> cell (267) 909-2308
> >>>> Twitter - @gloriabell
>
> >>>>> On Sat, Jan 24, 2009 at 8:12 PM, juropel <<julia.isyournewbicy...@gmail.com><julia.isyournewbicy...@gmail.com>
> >>>>> julia.isyournewbicy...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >>>>>> Melissa and everyone:
>
> >>>>>> This is a sad story, if Nutter has his way. If we do target the Darby
> >>>>>> Library, we'd have to do it very strategically. My question is—why is
> >>>>>> the Darby Library not sustainable? Because we could raise a chunk of
> >>>>>> money. But in the end, it's a matter of how the library is using its
> >>>>>> resources.
>
> >>>>>> Now I don't know much about how libraries operate as a business model.
> >>>>>> This is probably something we'd need to research if we chose to tackle
> >>>>>> this big problem.
>
> >>>>>> Is anyone familiar with Long Tail Economics? See here:
> >>>>>>  <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Long_Tail><http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Long_Tail>
> >>>>>>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Long_Tail
>
> >>>>>> and here:
> >>>>>>  <http://www.thelongtail.com/> <http://www.thelongtail.com/>
> >>>>>>http://www.thelongtail.com/
>
> >>>>>> Thoughts?
>
> >>>>>> // Julia
>
> >>>>>> On Jan 23, 2:32 pm, Melissa Thiessen <mathies...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >>>>>> > A fellow Philly geek brought this to my attention.  Maybe we can
> >>>>>> help,
> >>>>>> > they're believed to be the oldest operating public library in the
> >>>>>> > country!
>
> >>>>>> <http://www.philly.com/dailynews/local/20090122_Darby_library_faces_th.><http://www.philly.com/dailynews/local/20090122_Darby_library_faces_th>
> >>>>>>http://www.philly.com/dailynews/local/20090122_Darby_library_faces_th
> >>>>>> ...
>
> >>>>>> > Thanks,
> >>>>>> > Melissa
>
> >>>>> --
> >>>>> ~ Kara
>
> >>>>> Work To Ride (a work in progress)
> >>>>> <http://www.karalafleur.com> <http://www.karalafleur.com>
> >>>>>www.karalafleur.com
> >>>>>  <http://www.geekswhogive.com> <http://www.geekswhogive.com>
> >>>>>www.geekswhogive.com
>
> >>> --
> >>> ~ Kara
>
> >>> Work To Ride (a work in progress)
> >>> <http://www.karalafleur.com> <http://www.karalafleur.com>
> >>>www.karalafleur.com
> >>>  <http://www.geekswhogive.com> <http://www.geekswhogive.com>
> >>>www.geekswhogive.com
>
> >> --
> >> ~ Kara
>
> >> Work To Ride (a work in progress)
> >> <http://www.karalafleur.com>www.karalafleur.com
> >>  <http://www.geekswhogive.com>www.geekswhogive.com

Stephen Winkler

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Jan 27, 2009, 9:37:09 AM1/27/09
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Can we make it 3:00?

Kara LaFleur

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Jan 27, 2009, 10:13:04 AM1/27/09
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3:00 at National Mechanics on Saturday works for me, and we certainly want to be sure that you will be there, Stephen!

also, i got ridiculed (outside of gwg) for my movie choice, so feel free to brainstorm / come with potential movie choices of your own (in case we choose to go that route) also venues which would lend themselves to either a presentation style event or potential movie night. And of course, any alternative ideas you might have :)

starting to feel the ramp up - can you tell? haha
Kara

Stephen Winkler

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Jan 27, 2009, 6:10:27 PM1/27/09
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thank you all for the flexibility. 3:00 on Saturday, it is.  

Harveymilk

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Jan 28, 2009, 8:15:53 AM1/28/09
to Geeks Who Give
Hi friends,

I will be in Denver on Saturday for Creating Change, an LGBT
Organizing Conference. I'm sorry that I will miss the meeting, but I
know that I will agree with whatever you come up with! Count me as a
Yes to everything!

Best ever, Chris
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