Walking Through an Open Door... Finally!

I’m sure you’ve heard the expression, “Everything happens for a reason.” Well, I’m beginning to believe it myself!

The skeptic in me, the guy who majored in philosophy and mastered the art of logic – of tearing down anyone’s argument, on any topic – that guy is uncomfortable with this. Providence doesn’t often get involved in a skeptic’s life: things happen because other things happened before them, and any more profound rhyme or reason that we read into life’s occurrences is just our fallible, human way of making sense of things. That’s what I learned in school, anyway.

But I have to say, doors have been shutting and others opening in an interesting way lately. If I weren’t such a dyed-in-the-wool skeptic, I’d be inclined to say that someone is looking out for me and sending me on this path for a reason!

Let’s take my career. Early last November I blogged about how much sheer delight it was spending the day at my table at Whole Foods for the “5% Day” they threw for One Laptop South Florida. I had more fun, got more satisfaction, out of sharing the One Laptop story with Whole Foods team members and customers than I’d had in months – since I was out in Immokalee working with the migrant kids for our laptop pilot last July, as a matter of fact.

“What fun,” I’d thought at the time. “If only I could run OLSF as my full-time job, rather than just as a hobby.”

Better watch what you ask for! It now seems that someone may have been listening.

A door closed not long after that day; we decided we hadn’t raised enough seed money to start Impact Magazine. So we put Impact Mag to bed, at least for now.

…Meanwhile, we raised a good sum at Whole Foods: close to $3,000. And with part of that money, we have paid for our 501(c)3 application with the IRS, which means we’re ready to start collecting donations on our own, without a partner organization. That’s a big step toward making One Laptop South Florida something that could, if I wanted it to, employ me full-time: something more than “just” a hobby.

The One Laptop door was opened wider for me to step through.

…But I sometimes have trouble taking a hint, and this was one such time. Instead of moving full-steam-ahead with OLSF, I signed on to head another charity-focused magazine that a local company was going to start.

I walked through the wrong door – man, was that the wrong door! Within weeks, that door, too, had slammed in my face.

Meanwhile, the One Laptop door was waiting for me, wide open.

In fact, it opened a little wider when Elexia Hinote became available to help me with fundraising. A professional fundraiser, ready to pitch in and to show me the ropes, all at once? How enticing!

I wish I could say that having our application for our 501(c)3, plus an accomplished Director of Development on staff, plus such positive results last summer, plus – my God, plus the coolest mission on earth! – I wish I could say all that tipped the balance for me, and made me realize that, yes, running this extra-special charity is something I could do as my full-time job, rather than just a hobby.

I wish I could say all that, but the honest truth is that it still took me a couple of weeks, maybe even a month more, to figure this out.

There is good news though: sometimes, even when you’re thoroughly obtuse like me, a glaringly-obvious opportunity still makes an impression.

So finally, at long last, because so many doors have shut while this one door, One Laptop South Florida, keeps opening wider for me, finally I get it and I’m hard at work as CEO of this wonderful, beneficial organization – yes, as my full-time job, not just my hobby while I pursue more profitable endeavors.

Man, it took me long enough, huh? Well, better late than never.

Be Godlike

“A man is a little thing while he works by and for himself; but when he gives voice to the rules of love and justice, he is godlike.”

– Ralph Waldo Emerson (U.S. philosopher and poet, 1803-1882)

Shared with us by our friends at the Institute for Global Ethics: www.globalethics.org

Introducing "5:17"

You are cordially invited to the Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club this Friday, January 9, for a champagne toast at the beachside bar.

The toast will be held promptly at 5:17 pm. Fun conversation and a gorgeous sunset will follow.

Why 5:17? Because it’s a fun, frivolous time, and that’s exactly what “5:17” is all about: fun, friends, frivolity, and just a touch of social good to round it out.

Price of admission is free – just show up. No need to RSVP, either. Buy your own glass of champagne (or whatever else you choose) at the beachside bar, and that’s it: you’re part of the action.

Who needs an excuse to drink champagne at sunset on Friday with friends? Not us! But officially, this is an activity to support Impact’s very special project, One Laptop South Florida. You can see the wonderful little computers we’re buying for disadvantaged children in our community, and see a demonstration of one of the animated stories the children made in our pilot last summer in Immokalee. We’ll be there to answer your questions, if you have any.

…Or maybe you won’t have any questions at all, and that’s fine, too. We just want you to come hang out, maybe make some new friends, or catch up with some you already have.

Just to make 5:17 that much better, we will be raffling off something very, very cool. It’s a secret, but you’re going to love it!

We’ll see you at the Beach Club at 5:17. You don’t want to miss it!

Impact Mission Statement, take 2

"Our mission is to fight for social justice by creating unfettered opportunity for all through education focused on development of critical thinking and digital media skills. Impact will also work to promote the nonprofit sector by recognizing and encouraging groups that best serve communities through positive leadership."

Readers: your thoughts? ted@naplessocialaction.org