Hamilton Wenham Library Speaker Series FYI ~ “Bias, Imbalance and the Perception Gap in Arab and American Media.”

Passing along info about an interesting local speaker tonight at HW Library from my contact there, Beth Myers who always has her fingers on the pulse of good things that are happening…

 

This presentation by Crocker Snow at the hamilton-Wenham Library tonight has not been well publicized and I thought some of you might be interested in attending if you have a free evening.  Considering Mr Snow’s background and experience on the international scene, this talk should be fascinating.  —Please take a look also at the rest of the new ”Keeping Current” series. 

Beth

Library speaker series (http://www.hwlibrary.org/Images/pdf/KeepingCurrent.pdf). Tuesday November 10th 7:30 pm. Hamilton Wenham Public Library Crocker Snow Jr., an Ipswich journalist, will offer his insights into “Bias, Imbalance and the Perception Gap in Arab and American Media.” This is the latest in our Keeping Current line-up, an informative series of programs with speakers, films, and discussions about important events occurring in our world today. Registration is not required! This program is free and open to the public.

Last-Minute Request for Volunteer Help for Worthy Cause ~ Children in Need

I’ve gotten myself into a pickle and appreciate any help finding my way out. If it was just about me, I would let it go. But, on behalf of those in need, I feel I need to really try to make this work. So, the best of intentions have led to this teachable moment for me… Thanks for taking the time to read it, respond, forward… Any help is enormously appreciated.

Spending my Time Well – A Quick Look at October and November

Becoming a social entrepreneur is about walking the walk even more-so than talking the talk… With props to Andrew Wolk of Cambridge’s Root Cause, I’m following an “action-while-planning” approach to my business start-up, spreading the word, clarifying my purpose and fine-tuning my plans as I bootstrap my way along. My vision and passion are the two key elements I bring forward in service to my values-based mission. Here’s a glimpse…

 

I spent October…

 Meeting ~ With students at Bentley University, my alma mater, where helping Time Well Spent with Web 2.0 possibilities is a group project for one capable group of students. 

Delivering ~ Various DeClutter For Good donations that had accumulated to More Than Words, Cornerstones School, Solutions At Work and Cradles to Crayons. 

Networking ~ With Creative Economy of the North Shore members at a Polishing Your Pitch meet-up, facilitated by Debra Crosby, accomplished acting and business presentation coach.

Bootstrapping ~ My way along, earning a few dollars selling my own upcycled creations
at the Essex Clamfest.

Blogging ~ About Blog Action Day 2009, along with 13,601 fellow bloggers. The power of the internet is amazing!
 
Tweeting ~ Via my new Twitter account. Follow me at NancyTWS. Don’t fret ~ I’m not tweeting about what kind of tea I’m drinking (though, if you are wondering, it’s fair trade from NH-based White Heron Tea). I’m sticking with business-related tweets that go out generally once every day or so…
 

In the upcoming weeks, I will be…

Participating  ~ In an organizing committee meeting for the Massachusetts Chapter of the Social Enterprise Alliance. Our first meeting is at GoodWill’s Boston office, a chance to learn more about their good work. 

Showcasing ~ Time Well Spent at the annual North Shore Women in Business Showcase, November 12th, 3:30-7:30 @ the Danversport Yacht Club. It’s free of charge, open to the public and features many fabulous local businesses, including products for sale ~ an opportunity for great local holiday shopping and networking!

Speaking ~ In early December at the first anniversary luncheon of Dinner With the Girls, a growing group of women on the North Shore who gather for organic networking and shared philanthropy. I am honored and excited, and just a bit nervous!

Donating ~ Some of my hand-made, one-of-a-kind, upcycled jewelry to Red Cross of MassBay’s Holiday Auction. Donating isn’t always about money. It can be time, talent, creations or clutter! We know all about that at Time Well Spent.

Attending ~ The Massachusetts Conference for Women on December 10th from 7:30am-5:30pm. This uplifting event is not just for businesswomen. If you go, wear comfy shoes (though stylish, of course!) and bring a notebook… They have an active Linkedin group worth checking out, as well.

Searching ~ For a business partner, funding and a location to bring Time Well Spent from pre-launch to reality in the coming months. Leads and positive energy are welcomed and appreciated!

Next Stop on the Tour of Time Well Spent ~ The SOS Resource Library

Time Well Spent is designed as a multi-use center for collaboration and creativity, an inspiring place where our collective clutter is repurposed even as we find a renewed sense of purpose in our own lives.  It’s a comprehensive and original concept, so a great deal to take in, admittedly… So, I’ve been reviewing my vision for the center, space by space, in my last several newsletters and here on the weblog.

With our DeClutter For Good focus on books this month, it makes sense to share details of the S.O.S. Resource Library…

The S.O.S. Resource Library is the space within Time Well Spent for shared resources and shared ideas. Books on topics from how-to and self-help to good business practices to relationships and inspirational biography will be shared here, along with the latest magazines and catalogs. The source of the books and such is, of course, our collective clutter. Think of all that we can clear from our own overcrowded bookcases and magazine holders, along with the paper that can be saved on behalf of the environment, as folks cancel subscriptions, opting to check out their favorite periodical at Time Well Spent.

With transparency a cornerstone value at Time Well Spent, please note that a small selection of books that suit the library’s needs are sometimes kept from the donations to the DeClutter For Good drive. The vast majority are given to More Than Words and other recipient service organizations.

Also available for shared use in the S.O.S. Library will be a printer and basic office supplies. Solo-preneurs typically working from home can enjoy the benefits of their home office, minus the time-eating distractions of home, in the S.O.S. Resource Library. To take the concept of shared resources a step further, the S.O.S. Resource Library will be a great place to share of ourselves ~ just the place for meet-ups and book clubs, support groups and hobby circles.

I already have over 300 books in the library, these from my own collection, with about 50 more to add from donations over the past year.  Check out the list of books currently in the S.O.S. Resource Library on LibraryThing.com. It’s a very cool site and free for collections of up to 200 books. Warning to book-lovers ~ You may find yourself creating your own LibraryThing profile and book collection!

I hope this has helped to provide a better, general understanding of The S.O.S Resource Library. For those interested in a more detailed description, click here when you are taking a coffee or tea break and want to spend your time well online… 

As always, your feedback and questions are welcomed and encouraged!

Time Well Spent’s DeClutter For Good Drive ~ November 2009 ~ Book Drive

Focusing your de-cluttering efforts on one topic at a time and contributing toward a collective drive for a worthy recipient organization is manageable, empowering and rewarding… Please join us this month as we strive to reach our goal of 1,000 books donated…

~ BOOKS, BOOKS, BOOKS ~

Donations will be given to 

More Than Words and The Lynn Community Health Center

and a few may be placed in the S.O.S. Resource Library

as described in my post about that wonderful space at Time Well Spent.

~ Drop-Off Day @ Time Well Spent ~

~ Saturday Nov. 21, 10-4~  

       

Reply to this email to schedule alternative drop-off arrangements.

 

Forward this email to local service organizations that might benefit from some of the donations and encourage them to get in touch with Time Well Spent.

 Some DeClutter For Good links to more details: 

Learn more About More Than Words by visiting their site

or by reading an early post I wrote about this wonderful organization. 

 Learn more about community service opportunities for teens.

 Learn all about the DeCluttering For Good concept. 

 Read the results posts for September’s Drive and October’s Drive.

GUEST POST: Recycled Kites ~ Creative Repurposing Takes Flight

About the Guest Blogger ~ Glenn Davison is an eco-artist and workshop leader who has been featured on HGTV as a New England Craftsman.  He is the editor of the books, “Kites in the Classroom,” “How to Fly a Kite,” and the “Guide to Building Miniature Kites.”  He is a director of the club, “Kites Over New England” and chairman of the education committee for the American Kitefliers Association. (Find links at the end of this post.)

Oh, the people I meet when I am out and about, always talking about Time Well Spent… I met Glenn Davison at the Topsfield Fair. When I checked out Glenn’s website, I found the kites he makes are truly functional art, a great vehicle for the message of creative repurposing. So, I was happy to welcome Glenn to write a guest post on his area of expertise ~ kites! I encourage you to read on and visit Glenn’s group of websites…

Here are some mini kites from one of Glenn's several kite sites!

Kites have a long history that goes back hundreds of years.  In that time kites have been made from everything you can imagine especially repurposed materials.  Certainly Jell-O wouldn’t work, but what about candy wrappers?  Would they fly?

 Bamboo and paper continue to be widely used for making kites.  People have used old cotton bed sheets for kite sails and kite tails.  Many people made their first kites from yesterday’s newspapers and twine.

 One of the great things about kites is that they can be made from a wide variety of thin materials that can be taped together into larger sheets.  Those sheets can be given a framework then flown many times.  Kite flying is an excellent hobby for that reason.  When you have a completed kite it can be flown many times without additional fees or expenses.  All you need is sunshine (optional) and wind.

Read on to learn more about the wonderful world of handmade kites…

Bootstrapping & Spreading the Word about Time Well Spent @ The Essex Clamfest 2009

Bootstrapping my way along with the pre-launch stage of my triple-bottom-line start-up… So, I’m getting some upcycled jewelry ready to sell, aka EcoBling!

I’ll be at the Essex Clamfest ~ Sunday, 10/24 from 11-4. Lots going on including sampling of local chowder (of course) with local crafters and activities for kids, too! Here’s a link to more details.

Here’s a link to my Facebook album of some of my own EcoBling creations: EcoBling Album.

And, there’s plenty more examples of repurposed products that will ultimately be the types of things created at and for sale at Time Well Spent: Picture This at Time Well Spent Photoblog.

2 Green Events 2Nite – Decisions, Decisions…

Just a quick FYI:

From Hamilton-Wenham Green:

FREE FILM: CONSUMING KIDS

Hamilton-Wenham Library

Wednesday, October 21st 7:00pm
Attention Parents and Grandparents!  Join us for a screening of Consuming Kits, a critically-acclaimed documentary about the pervasive and pernicious effects of advertising on the health and well-being of children.  Do your kids relentlessly ask you to buy the latest and greatest toys or food items?  Come find out how marketers are using the “Nag Factor” to get you to walk out of the store with even more stuff.  Josh Golin, the Assistant Director for the Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood, will be on hand to answer questions.

Find out more about the film here.

Hope to see you there!

From Greater Newburyport GreenDrinks (on LinkedIn):

Please join us at Seaglass Restaurant this Wednesday (10/21) from 7-9pm, 4 Oceanfront North, Salisbury, phone 462-5800.

We have their private room reserved and Chef Bandolini plans on visiting with us to enlighten the group on how he incorporates green practices into his food preparation. This will surely spark fun dialog about green food and drink! Seaglass is a gorgeous and eco-friendly restaurant right on the water. If you haven’t seen it yet, be sure to join us and bring a friend!

So many good ways to connect and learn, so little time… N.

Webinar About Different Legal Structures for Social Enterprise Including L3C

Many with whom I have chatted about Time Well Spent have heard my “spiel” on L3C, the new business form I am seriously considering …

So that you may learn more about this cutting-edge legal structure, and to prove I’m not crazy (at least not completely crazy), I encourage readers of my blog and those interested in “businesses doing well by doing good,” to virtually attend a webinar ~ on Thursday, from 1-2:30 EST ~ that is being offered by the Social Enterprise Alliance. While it is open to all, it looks like the sign-up closes tonight so twittering this out to those on my list and posting it a few places in the hopes that it might be helpful to those with whom I network online.

Read on for a description of the one-hour webinar and here’s a link to the complete description page including a brief bio of the speaker, Robert Wexler.

C2C Needs Volunteers @ Their Giving Factory – Definitely Time Well Spent

Here’s an email I just received:

Good Afternoon!

 I hope that you are having a fabulous week! I am reaching out to you because Cradles to Crayons is currently in huge need of volunteer help over the next couple of months. We’ve been experiencing an increase in orders and as the temperature drops we only expect the demand for everyday essentials to increase even more. Currently, over 900 hundred orders for local children are waiting to be filled! Please consider spending a shift at The Giving Factory to help keep thousands of area kids safe and warm this winter. 

 If you are interested in signing a group up to volunteer, please contact Terrel Stokes at terrel@cradlestocrayons.org or 617.471.8417 x127.  Available volunteer shifts are attached to this email. Please be aware that shifts are filled on a first come, first served basis.

 Let us know if you have any questions. Thank you for your continued support!

 

I just dropped off a car FULL of donations at C2C ~ with thanks to Miss Julie at Small Wonders Pre-School for donating all of their post-yard-sale “good enough for your own child” clothes. A trip to Quincy from the North Shore isn’t nearly as daunting as it sounds. Quincy can be a tough place to navigate (this I know from years of taking my girls there for Irish dance competitions, driving around pre-GPS looking for the venues). BUT, C2C is EASY to find, just a short couple of minutes off of Exit 12… And, driving through the tunnel is easy, too. Stay in the middle and drive… I have to say that I think the Big Dig did ultimately make for an expedited drive through the city…

I’ve blogged a great deal about this fabulous organization. Volunteering at C2C is a big part of their approach to helping families in need locally get free, quality clothing for their children. After all, with volunteers manning the factory, led by a wonderful staff, they are able to keep their overhead costs down. From National Honor Society groups to church groups to eco-friendly groups, to small businesses that want to help employees bond over a shared cause, this is a hands-on, take action way to truly help. It’s about walking the walk for those who talk the talk…

Looks like I’ll have to get a Time Well Spent group together to volunteer for a shift! I’ll check the calendar and post details soon.

Carpe Diem ~ Nancy