1st – Hanukkah

1st – World AIDS Day – Learn about the AIDS epidemic and how you can help spread the knowledge and awareness to defeat it.  Visit http://www.worldaidscampaign.org/ for more information

1st – Rosa Parks Day – on this day in 1955, Mrs. Parks refused to give up her seat on the bus to a white male passenger.  She was promptly arrested, an event which sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott that lasted 381 days.  You can learn more about Rose Parks and the legacy she created by visiting RosaParks.org.

7th – Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day – On this day in 1941, the Imperial Japanese Navy conducted a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, ending the American Isolationism and launching the United States into World War II

10th – Human Rights Day – The Day marks the anniversary of the United Nation’s adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.

14th – Geographic South Pole Discovered – in 1911, Roald Amundsen of Norway and his expedition were the first humans to reach the south pole.

17th – Wright Brothers’ First Flight – Orville and Wilbur Wright achieved flight on this day in 1903.  Orville flew the first of their four flights that day, going a distance of 120 feet in 12 seconds, a speed of only 6.8 mph.

21st – First Day of Winter – Regardless of how much snow you’ve received or what single digit your thermometer is currently pointed on, it isn’t winter until this day!

25th – Christmas – This day is a Christian holiday that marks the birth of Jesus Christ.  Christmas is celebrated by both secular and non-secular peoples around the world.  The History Channel website provides an interesting history of Christmas and holidays that have melded into it such as Yule and Saturnalia.

26th – Kwanzaa – This holiday gets its name from the Swahili phrase “matunda ya kwanza” which means “first fruits.”  Kwanzaa is a celebration of African culture with focuses on family, storytelling and the Nguzo Saba, or seven principles.  Learn more about Kwanzaa.

Write a Letter – this old fashioned form of communication just may be the best way to say thank you, so get out your pen and a nice sheet of paper (or a card!) and write to each individual thanking them for everything they have done.

Take a Photo – while you are in the midst of a fundraiser or event, take photos.  Then when all is said and done, you’ll have some wonderful candids to give to each volunteer and supporter.

Host a Dinner/Picnic/Barbecue – Nothing says thank you quite like food.  And what more touching way to say thanks than by hosting a dinner in your guests’ honor?

Write an Article for the Paper – let the community know how helpful and important your volunteers and supporters are to your organization.  Write an article about your latest project and talk about how each person has contributed.

Give Gifts – giving small and inexpensive gifts is a great way to show your appreciation.  And if you feel the urge to get creative, do it!  Gifts that represent your mission are a great start, for example, if you are an organization that helps kids learn to read, give the gift of a book.  Tickets to movies, museums, games and other cultural events is another excellent way to say “thanks!”

Give out Awards – Home-made or Store-bought, give out awards to volunteers for things like “Most hours donated” or Most money raised” are great ways to recognize other’s efforts.  But don’t be afraid to get fun and personal with your awards, try to tailor an award for each person.

You can read up on Giving Circles at the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers;  This group did a fantastic survey in 2009 regarding the significance of Giving Circles which can be found on their website.

Drop by Vivanista, a fantastic website on fundraising and charity and read their article on Giving Circles.

Consider starting a Giving Circle in your own community, or if you would rather join an already exisiting Circle, visit GivingCircles.org to find a circle near you.

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Are you a part of a Giving Circle? How do you feel about this method of philanthropy?  Chime in with your opinions below!

In its 13^th year, America Recycles Day is a national celebration to promote recycling programs in the United States.  Their website gives you all the tools to start your own event or join one already in progress.  You can also find recycling tips, a handy recycling center locator and ideas for how you can continue America Recycles Day every day of the year.

Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

These powerful words by Margaret Mead seem to be a running theme with the various nonprofits and organizations we see at Loopah.  This week’s Organization Spotlight is no different: All it took was one woman and an experience.  In the two years since it was founded, Med Africa is blossoming into a full-grown organization devoted to assisting people of African descent.

Co-founder and Development Director Rhonda Smith kindly took time out of her schedule to tell the Loopah Blog about Med Africa.

Loopah: Could you give a little summary of Med Africa and it’s goals?
Rhonda: Med Africa was formed in May, 2008 in Indianapolis, IN.  Our goals include assisting people of African descent who are in need, in the areas of medical supplies, educational materials, and HIV/AIDS awareness.

Our current projects include:  1) shipping medical supplies and equipment to Africa, 2) distributing back to school supplies to local children, 3) music enrichment programs targeted to inner-city children, and 4) HIV/AIDS prevention programs locally and in Africa.

Loopah: Why is there a need for an organization like Med Africa?
Rhonda: There still exists a need for an organization like Med Africa, because there are impoverished communities in America, and Africa, where people are barely surviving.  Med Africa can help bridge the gap, and assist people to live healthier, more productive lives.

Loopah: How and why did Med Africa come into being?
Rhonda: When I traveled to Nigeria, several years ago, I noticed the great social-economic divide that existed in the different communities.  I personally had an experience in a village area, where a young mother brought her child to the local chief for help.  The mother had no money, or transportation to take the child to the hospital, miles away.  She had been vomitting throughout the night, and couldn’t even keep down water in her stomach.  The local herbal healer was called to help.  I happened to travel with some pepto, for my own personal woes.  I asked the chief if I could try giving the child some of the pink medicine, and he agreed.  After a short time, the child was lively, and could eat some food without any problem.  The chief was very excited that the pink medicine worked so well, and fast.  The mother and child were extremely grateful.  The herbal healer was surprised at how quickly the child felt better.  At that point I knew, that I had to do something to make a difference.  Having worked in the medical field for 15+ years, I knew that plenty of medical supplies, and equipment go to waste.

Loopah: What is the most rewarding part of working with Med Africa?
Rhonda: I enjoy knowing that our self-less staff and volunteers in the U.S., Zimbabwe, South Africa, Uganda, Nigeria, and Zambia are working toward a common goal…to make our communities a better place to live, and enrich the future of our children.

Loopah: What challenges does your organization face?
Rhonda: Med Africa, like so many other organizations, are faced with financial challenges, due to a tough economy.  The needs are increasing in the communities we serve, but obtaining the total necessary monetary support has proven to be difficult.

Loopah: Could you talk a bit about your current fundraising goals?
Rhonda: In March of this year, we had our first annual music benefit, featuring a South African gospel singer, and other local artists.  We have African jewelry made in Uganda, and Nigeria that is sold at local venues.  We also send out fundraising letters.  Our goal for the upcoming year is to raise enough money to ship a full container to Africa.  We will need $8,000-10,000 for that shipment.

Loopah: What advice would you share with other organizations that are trying to make a difference in their world?
Rhonda: My advice would be to stay true to your mission statement, when developing programs and delivering services.  Be enthusiastic when talking to others about your organization.  That excitement will be the light that guides people to volunteer and donate to your cause.

Show your support for Med Africa! Contact them at med.africa@yahoo.com or 317-339-8908.  You can also head over to their Loopah-powered site: http://loopah.net/medafrica/ to make a direct donation or Shop to Support through their Loopah Mall.

1^st – November starts off strong with Family Literacy Day, Today! Visit http://www.famlit.org/ for more information.

2^nd – Election Day.  Take this opportunity to teach your children the importance of voting, then exercise your civic duty and vote yourself! You can find your local polling station at google maps.

11^th – Remembrance Day commemorates World War I and other wars many countries within the Commonwealth of Nations.  In America, we know this day as Veteran’s Day.

15^th – America Recycles Day – an important day for an important subject.  Visit the website to find out how you can help Reduce, Reuse and Recycle every day. (And look for an upcoming Linkapolooza blog expanding on this subject!)

25^th – Thanksgiving is celebrated not just in America, but in many countries around the world.  Although tradition credits the pilgrims at Plymouth Plantation, Massachusetts in 1621 with the first Thanksgiving, it didn’t become an annual tradition until 1863 and was finally recognized as a national holiday in 1941 by President Roosevelt. What are you thankful for?

Celebrate Native American Heritage Month.  You can learn more about Native American History and events in your area by visiting their website: http://nativeamericanheritagemonth.gov/

November is also National Homeless Youth Awareness Month.  Take some time to learn about this epidemic and find out how you can help at http://www.homelessyouthamongus.org/

Getting ready for worship in hula at the Civic Auditorium in Hilo

We are featuring photos from Na Himenei, the Songs of Sacred Worship.  This was an event involving hulu groups from several churches at the Civic Auditorium in Hilo.  HCCA Co-founder Kimi Hill was one of the many people involved with this event. She told us about one special number where Amazing Grace was sung in English, Hawaiian, Indian and Japanese, as a tribute to the multicultural heritage of the Hawaiian Islands.

Melody Carmichael

Co-Founder Kimi Hill was kind enough to answer some of our questions as well.

Loopah: Could you tell us a bit more about the Hawaiian Classical Christian Academy?

Kimi: We will be providing a rich curriculum of classical education while using many of the methods of Charlotte Mason.  HCCA will be a school focusing on establishing children on God’s truth, giving them a moral foundation while loving them as persons uniquely created in the image of God.

The Hula dancers

Another focus of the school will be to provide students with the rich culture of Hawaii.  They will learn the Hawaiian language, learn to play the ukulele, and learn to dance the hula. Students will have the advantage of experiencing canoe riding, arts and crafts, and many incredible field trips in science since marine life is at our fingertips, we have an erupting Kilauea Volcano and some of the best telescopes in the world on Mauna Kea.

Children of Hawaii carrying on the tradition of Hula

The methods of teaching include Charlotte Mason’s theories in providing an atmosphere of education as comfortable as home, discipline in education which encourages good learning habits, provides the best of materials across all subjects, and helps them to make life long relationships with people, nature, art, thoughts and ideas that invite children to love to learn.

The school motto is I am a child of God, I ought to do His will, I can do what He tells me, and by His grace, I will.

Calling on the name of the Lord

Loopah: What is your role with the Academy and how did you become involved?

Kimi: I felt a burden from the Lord to open this kind of school and as I was faithful to pursue it, He has brought the help and resources to make it possible.  Loopah, I believe will play it’s part in helping to realize our dream school.  I am the Founder and likely principal of the school for the first few years.

Loopah: What is the most challenging part of the work you do?

Kimi: The most challenging part so far is raising the funds necessary to begin such an endeavor as well as all the legal paperwork involved.

Giving Honor to the Lord

Loopah: What are your current fundraising needs and goals?

Kimi: We are hopeful to fund raise $50,000  in the next several months so we can begin the school in August 2011.

Loopah: What advice would you share with other organizations?

Kimi: My advice to share is that God will do all things according to His will and timing and as we depend on Him He makes the impossible possible.

Fill those chairs!

1. Ask for help.  It’s easy to forget this one, but if you don’t ask, you won’t receive.  Better yet, ask for help in person.  A personal invitation is much more likely to be accepted.

2. Ask everyone for help. Reach out to groups and people you haven’t contacted in the past.  You never know who might be interested!

3. Don’t waste time. Keep meetings short, have projects ready for volunteers when they arrive, and most importantly, let you volunteers know you honor their time.

4. Say Thank you.  Thank your volunteers, your sponsors, your community.  You won’t get any help in the future if you don’t show appreciation for what you already have.

5. Have fun! Keeping attitudes light, laughing and having a good time are the best ways to build volunteer involvement.

6. Communicate. With volunteers and the community.  Use newsletters, posters, newspaper articles, online forums, blogs, word of mouth.

7. Welcome your volunteers, new and old. Explain what tasks need to be done, be patient and friendly.  Remember that everyone is there to help.

What would you add to this list?  What has worked for your organization in the past? What hasn’t worked?  Post your comments below and join in the conversation!

Here are several websites to help you find hikes in your area:

LocalHikes.com – This website is great for searching near metropolitan areas.  You can search by distance, length of hike, type of hike or even features like waterfalls or meadows.

Recreation.gov – This site is great for everything from boat launches to overnight camping spots.

National Park Service – use this website to find a national park near you.  National Parks usually charge a fee for entrance, but if you like to plan ahead, visit a park on Veterans Day, November 11. The National Park Service will be waiving the park entry fee in honor of our Veterans.

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For Positive Purpose activities, contact your local Parks & Recreation department to see how your organization can help out!

Loopah: North America Mission Experience is a new organization.  How did this Foundation come about?

Monica: I’ve been doing some bible work and door to door work in the town where I live and [I’ve found] we have mission funds all over the world [but] we need it in America too.

Loopah: Why do you feel there is a need for this organization?

Monica: Our focus is the small churches in Montana. Montana’s churches are dwindling because kids are growing up and leaving home.  There is a lot of need for bible workers in small towns in Montana. [We want to provide] accountability and nurturing needed for bible workers; they are to go and empower the laypeople…encourage the laypeople.  If each person had one bible study a week, the impact is huge.

In the past, people hired workers on a stipend wage.  The relationship starts in an apologetic way. There is no leadership, no coordinating of continuing education.  [Bible workers] get busy working [other jobs], trying to pay their bills; it’s a compromising situation before you even get started.

[North America Mission Experience] is a team-oriented organization.  The key is that bible workers are trained and screened before hiring; the pastors and the head elder will be in on the process. It’s a team within a team within a team.

Loopah: How did you decide that you needed to get the organization up and running?

Monica: It just felt like a burden on my heart. I felt that I have a good vision for it and a burning for it; And I believe it’s such a need and I don’t see anybody else doing it.  There’s not a lot of money in the Montana conference for this sort of thing, I felt like rising to the call.  It has been a dream to get the mission work going in the Montana conference for years. I had a wish for that to happen.

Loopah: What is the most rewarding part of your work with North America Mission Experience?

Monica: To be able to see people develop a personal [relationship] with God. It’s not about numbers.  The focus is just being available to God and to be there at the right time and to encourage people to give their heart to Jesus.  We want to see the blessing of the lord in the lives of other people.

Loopah: What challenges does your organization face?

Monica: Money and workers. Right now we have a board of five people in the Montana conference who are committed to this.  We are not conference funded but we are supportive of the conference.

Loopah: What are your current fundraising needs?

Monica: Money to push forward with incorporation and [getting] 501(c)3 status.  There are several churches who are in real need of a bible worker [but] there is no money.  We’re not trying to reinvent the wheel. There are places [already] training bible workers. We want to be able to recruit already trained workers who are looking for [jobs].

I also need funding to develop a website.  The idea I have is that the churches pay a small fee for advertising their need for bible workers; an online ad website that bible workers can go on and peruse.

There are some administrative costs, we are in the process of developing the policy and procedures and that costs money to get that done.

Loopah: What advice would you share with other organizations?

Monica: Pray and watch God work.

You can learn more and contribute to the North America Mission Experience by visiting their website: http://namissionexperience.com/