To get that nod from another human being that they exist and are thought of in this world.  An invitation means so much when extended to someone who maybe isn’t lovely or easy to get along with.  Those are the ones that need it the most.  It is easy to love those who are lovely and beautiful.  I personally have been blessed 10 times over by inviting someone who wasn’t in my immediate circle of friends to a party.

They were so dear and appreciated being included.  We all have a need to feel included and we all feel horrible when we are excluded.  So, next time you plan an event, invite someone who you would not normally invite.  Open your doors and hearts to someone who needs to feel included and loved.

You are invited to attend: YNPN Twin Cities Summer Picnic Potluck Saturday, July 28, 2012 from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM Join your friends at YNPN Twin Cities for a casual networking picnic at Minnehaha Park on Saturday, July 28th. Stop by from 11:00am-1:00pm to soak up the sun, grab some food and hang out with your nonprofit peers. This is a potluck-style gathering, so please bring a dish or side to share. Find us in a grassy spot near Sea Salt and the Pavilion. Friends and family are welcome, too. We hope you can join us! Minnehaha Park 4801 South Minnehaha Park Drive Minneapolis, MN 55417 Attend Event Events powered by EventBrite Copyright © 2012 Young Nonprofit Professionals Network – Twin Cities, All rights reserved.

Register for SMBMSP #47 – What’s Next for Nonprofits & Social Media on 7/27

You are invited to attend: SMBMSP #47 – What’s Next for Nonprofits & Social Media   Friday, July 27, 2012 from 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM More than ever, nonprofits are finding new ways to harness the power of the web and social media to further their cause. Come learn from three individuals well-versed in using social media and analytics to drive engagement, support and advocacy for the missions of their organizations. We’ll discuss how to make strategic decisions using data, how to interpret and use engagement metrics and touch on how social media is being used to further fundraising campaigns and drive deeper support. Contact us with questions in advance or tweet them to @smbmsp. Attendees can enter to win a Samsung Galaxy Tab courtesy of Verizon Wireless. Must be present to win. PARKING: There’s on-street parking & a parking ramp attached to the Design Guild down the street. Moderator Lindsi Gish (@lindsi) Associate Director of Communications and Media Relations Second Harvest Heartland Second Harvest Heartland is the Upper Midwest’s largest hunger relief organization. Lindsi is responsible for print communications, including newsletters and solicitations, as well as all online vehicles for the organization. She manages the design, content and development for the main website as well as all microsites for larger events/campaigns. Another big part of her role is managing the online community — through Second Harvest’s blog, Twitter and Facebook — to engage the constituency in new and deeper ways to drive ongoing support of the mission. Panelists Jeff Achen – Digital Strategist at GiveMN (@jeffachen) Steve Boland – Loan Officer and Financial Analyst at Nonprofits Assistance Fund (@steveboland) Jamie Millard - Communications Specialist at Charities Review Council (@jjmillard) Event Sponsors Annual Sponsors 514 Studios 514 North 3rd Street Suite 101 Minneapolis, MN 55401 Attend Event Events powered by EventBrite

You are invited to the following event: TORCH Community 2012 Intern Event – Building a Solid Foundation, One Block at a Time Date: Wednesday, July 25, 2012 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM Location: University of St. Thomas, Minneapolis Campus 1000 LaSalle Avenue Room 201 Can you attend? Respond Here For more information, click here.

So I was given the privilege of creating a lovely tea party soirée for one lovely birthday girl, (who happens to bless many with her precious blog, Brown Eyed Girl- go read!). So many endless thank-you’s to her and her loving Mamabear, Kim, for allowing me to be a part of her fabulous celebration. And by that, what they were really giving me was a reason to dismantle my house, transferring its entire contents into the backyard, have an absolute blast putting Floral Design degree to work, spend hours shopping for anything and everything feathered, sparkly, floral, and pink, and basically unleash my ever-present-little girl dream fantasies to create a “big girl” playhouse. Pretty dreamy, eh?

For one of my first solo events, I hope I did her proud I just really adore teacups, porch swings, and anything glass. I’m sure the pictures will speak for themselves on that note. Enjoy!

And as if the entire party and company in itself wasn’t reward enough, this little nugget of a blessing made it even more of a perfect day. God is so, SO good. Praise Him for great friends and fun jobs

There are more pictures from the par-tea (heh heh, did ya catch that?) that I plan to share soon! Thanks to Kels for many of the above pictures, and again, for thinking enough of me (TRUSTING, is what I really mean) for her special day. I pray there are so many, many more to come. Perhaaappsss those be particularly in peony season?? Gotta love being a girl! For real though. It must be stupid boring being a boy.

Until next time- xxoo,

christiney-weenie

(^those closest to me will most likely appreciate that!)

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

6:00pm
1029 Bar


Come meet and socialize with other people interested in the Minneapolis Foundation’s Fourth Generation program, whose volunteer members annually identify a community need, find organizations that meet that need, raise funds and then make grants that make a difference. Bingo begins at 6:30 PM!

For more information about Fourth Generation, visit http://www.fourthgenfund.org/ or https://www.facebook.com/FourthGenerationTMF.

As writers, we have days where we hate writing as passionately as loving it. Well, Ladies and Gents, the last couple of days have been exactly that. A hate fest.

You are welcome to join in on the hate fest if you too are feeling some writer’s blockage or frustration but only for a short time since I suspect that I’ll be madly in love with writing very soon.

Darn you, Tabitha. Darn you. *Waves fist at imaginary person who is the embodiment of my writer’s block*

A. A. Omer

		You are invited to the following event: Social Enterprise Alliance Twin Cities Summer Party Event to be held at the following time, date, and location: Thursday, July 12, 2012 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM (CT) WXYZ Bar Aloft Hotel 900 Washington Ave S Minneapolis, MN 55415 View Map Social Enterprise Alliance Twin Cities’ SUMMER SOCIAL For practitioners, friends, and fans of social enterprise W XYZ bar at Aloft Minneapolis, 900 Washington Avenue South, www.Alofthotels.com Join us for relaxed networking & informal happy hour:… Read More Share this event on Facebook and Twitter We hope you can make it! Cheers, SEA Twin Cities

“To Legislate or To Delegate?” An improvised comedy conversation with the Star Tribune’s Lori Sturdevant

MINN Event: “Elections and Civil Society: What Does this Mean for International Development?”

The fun begins on Monday, July 9th. Campers will start the day with fun indoor activities at the Trinity Center and Sanctuary at Wildside. Morning activities include games, singing, interactive Bible lessons, small group time, free time in the rec rooms and a delicious lunch.

In the afternoon the kids are taken to the outdoor facility located on the Conococheague Creek just a few miles outside of Hagerstown in Cearfoss. Outdoor activities include swimming, tubing, a zip line, hay rides, hikes,  art projects, immersive cultural learning, environmental awareness activities and so much more!

All this fun is provided totally free of charge for all the campers! Many campers that attend Camp Wild cannot afford to go to other local camps that charge a fee. Also, many of these campers are not fortunate enough to be able to go away on a vacation with their families.

Camp Wild has become an important part of the summer activities for kids all throughout Hagerstown. Not only does the camp provide fun activities and an escape from TV  and video games each day, it also provides Wildside staff a chance to build relationships with the kids that last well past the last day of camp. But most importantly, Camp Wild provides us with the opportunity to teach these awesome kids about Jesus! Each day provides countless opportunities for the kids to see and hear who Jesus really is and why He’s so important to their lives.

And providing this camp free-of-charge is essential to the success of the program. We don’t operate this camp as a way of making money or supporting the ministry. Camp Wild IS the ministry. The majority of campers that come to Camp Wild are lower-income, at-risk children who do not regularly attend church. It’s important to us to provide them with a fun camp experience that will not only enhance their summer but also have the opportunity to change their lives for eternity!

If you know of kids that would benefit from this exciting summer camp program then please contact Camp Wild immediately. Space is limited and is first-come-first-served. But it never hurts to ask! Email Camp Wild at info@wildsideyouth.com or call 301.739.1165 and ask for Camp Wild. You can also find Camp Wild on facebook at www.facebook.com/campwildusa

If you are interested in financially helping Camp Wild then please call our office at 301.739.1165 or email us at hagerstownrescue@verizon.net to find out how you can give*. If you would like to give by credit card, just go to our website at www.hagerstownrescue.org. Locate the red box on the left side of the homepage and click on the “Give To HRM” tab. Follow the simple instructions to safely donate via PayPal.

If you are unable to financially help, please don’t forget to pray for Camp Wild this summer. Pray for safety during the four weeks of camp. Pray that God will really work and move in the lives of the staff and campers. Money is important to keeping the doors open and the vans running but prayer is truly the most important resource to the success of the entire program.

For more info on Camp Wild, just go to www.campwildusa.com to see pics and videos of past years and to get all the latest updates on Camp Wild 2012!

*Any funds received over and above what is needed to fund Camp Wild will be used for other programs and services of The Hope Center.

“Millenial Leadership: Different by Design” World Cafe
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
5:30PM – 8:30PM
Grassroots Solutions

The Millennial generation is described as being the most diverse generation in U.S. history, distinctly known for having come of age in the digital era, and for rivaling the Baby Boomers in population. Millennials have already begun to demonstrate an interest in helping to make a positive change, whether through their purchasing power, volunteer hours, or taking action via social media. As this generation begins its journey and rises to higher levels of leadership, it will be essential to develop the tools, skills, and relationships necessary to lead in a new way. 

• What are the unique and timeless traits that characterize our generation and how will we lead in a bold way that remains relevant to how society, technology, and politics are rapidly changing? 
• How can we make sure that the talents and qualities that help us to engage others and accomplish good work are recognized, validated, and valued? 

Join us to explore these questions and more through an interactive World Cafe format. Email minnesotarising@gmail.com to save a seat for yourself and please help spread the word so we get a diverse cross-section of young Minnesotans in leadership!

But as for right here, right now, I have been wanting to share this 2-minute, no hassle, no mess punch recipe that you most-likely will believe to be too good to be true. It basically is! Except for its not. I had to pull something together for a luncheon for Mama and some of her closest friends, and due to my ADDICTION to Oceanspray WhiteCran Strawberry juice, (seriously, I stockpile the stuff) I decided to use it as my base and just jazz it up, mostly for looks. Turned out pretty delicious, only judging from lady after lady begging for the recipe! They were pleasantly surprised when I showed them these two ingredients… only.

Mix the proportion to your preference, depending on how much fizzy you want! The cranberry juice is trickery enough if you want to hide the empty bottle and opt to ex the lemonade. Yummy, fresh, frozen fruit is also a must if you want to get really fancy. For entertaining, I filled the bowl with some Sonic ice and the mason jars began fillin’ up Hope you like!

Until sometime soon, xxoo!

Christine

 

Minnesota Rising 2012 Un/Conference Planning Kick-Off Meeting 

Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Grassroots Solutions
5:30pm – 7:30pm 

We’re excited to be kicking off the planning process for Minnesota Rising’s third annual Un/Conference, slated for Fall 2012, and looking for it to be the most innovative yet! Join us to consider how we can best engage and showcase young Minnesotans, expand our capacities to imagine and work toward thriving communities, and have a whole lot of fun in the process! Feel free to send ideas for sessions, formats, speakers, as well as meeting RSVPs, to minnesotarising@gmail.com. We’ll have the welcome mat out!