This is my reflection

Well, it is finally finished. Maybe some of you felt the way I did leaving class today after turning in THE MIGHTY GRANT PROPOSAL PROJECT: nauseous/relieved/disappointed/hopeful? No?
Well, at least I did and do fully believe that it is possible to feel all of those things at once.

Let's start with nauseous and disappointed, shall we? Why did I feel that way? Because I am afraid my 4.0 streak might actually be broken now. And that is a real bummer...even the possibility REALLY bums me out. I sort of felt like the train wreck story we've been hearing about all semester, you know, the one with a lady who poured her soul's blood into a proposal, but she misses the deadline for her by like one minute. She loses her job because her org's largest source of funding just went down the drain and so she goes to the grocery store and buys two dozen cupcakes, throws on some dirty sweat pants, eats them all in one sitting, then she passes out from the sugar coma. She wakes up five years later realizing she's a cat lady.

Well, I didn't do all that. But, I just had this strong sense of finality. There are some parts to my proposal that I really liked. I spent too much time on them. I feel like it has been rehearsed between my ears so much and then written so many times that I am just constituted with it. I could present it for sure.  No doubt I wrote 26 different versions of each 200 word limit paragraph. But, I know I defs could've made my project better. I paid too much attention to the big stuff and not enough to the small pointless questions like: address, phone number, etc. I knew this would be my downfall too.

I know for sure that if this had been real, I would NOT be awarded money because there defs would be a better grant proposal out there. So, that's final. Like we've learned in class, you may have great writing, but if the proposal is late or does have something missing-you're out. I think I just sort of had that kind of feeling today. It sort of felt more real world than any writing project has for me so far.

Relieved and hopeful. I don't believe I need to explain the relief part because I'm sure we ALL felt that. Hopeful because though this project was challenging, though I'm not completely satisfied with my work, though my gpa may drop--I realize about myself that I don't always get things right the first time. I really do learn by trial and error. I told you in the beginning that I was a late bloomer and I meant that. I know I am up for a challenge. I am confident I've learned what I needed to learn about grant writing.  I am satisfied in knowing that though this project leaves me somewhat disappointed in the execution department, I won't shy away from grant writing. I WILL get it. I WILL. It defs won't be next week. I need a break. However, I will face this monster again and I will conquer it.

I tried a few years ago to use Mailchimp in my small business. I just could not figure it out. I found Mailchimp to be uber intimidating, so I gave up (but never REALLY gave up). So, when this semester's internship rolled around, I made it one of my goals to learn and use Mailchimp. Loving to challenge myself, I spent hours upon hours this semester learning the ins and outs. Though not an expert, I would say, I now know Mailchimp. It feels good. I don't mind being defeated initially (aside from affecting my gpa streak--that is painful) because I know that I do better on defense than offense anyway. I thrive on defense. So, if there is a hot guy named Grant Writing, let's just say I've got his number and I'll be calling. Oh. Yes. I will be calling and he will be mine. So, yeah, hopeful. ;)

And now, I must tie up a few loose ends:
Tyromancy is divination using curdled cheese. So, yes, a cheesy hobby of sorts. Just going by memory on this one because I can't find the source anymore...

What rhymes with month? A hunth or a hundred thousand as in, "I requested a hunth in my grant proposal and got none of it therefore I eat 24 cupcakes at a time."

What rhymes with silver: chilver (female lamb) and dicky dilver, a British nickname for the periwinkle flower.

Purple? Curple, hirple, and turple, even besperple.

Orange? Pretty much just botanical terms such as: sporange, hypnosporange, macrosporange, and megasporange.
Source: Where a Dobdob meets a Dikdik by Bill Casselman

I hope you all have a wonderful summer. In just one week I am flying solo to DC for 10 days of vacay where I'll be visiting a newborn and old friends and forgetting about writing altogether! WOOHOO!  I plan to ENJOY my hobby as much as possible: photography!

I recently had to dump pics onto an external hard drive to make space on my computer and seeing old pics I've taken made me so excited for vacation!
I haven't really enjoyed photography since I moved here and I'm looking forward to getting back into it. AR has great photog spots I just haven't had the chance yet to shoot!
Oh, shoot, I almost forgot to post this:

for those who have difficulty believing my fave food is butter. ;) That's my dining room table in the background, btw. ;)
And now, I must get back to this:

with Zorro, the cutest yorkie poo ever, or he will be jealous. He's considering writing a book, you know. Something like Honest Toddler, only for spoiled little doggies. ;)

Best,

Nicolle ;)

(This is not my reflection)

To all the classmates who work on the Vortex. Just wanted to send you a shout out. I picked up the latest yesterday and was so impressed. It looks really great, so good job to you all!

Anyway, I am looking forward to reading the Vortex once projects are over! ;) Great job, guys! Everyone else should defs pick up their copy today!

On a side note, I looked up the Vortex and saw that you guys had a free Wix website...NOOOOOOO! This can't be! We've got to get you a real website! With all your writing talent...we've got to get you a more legit website... ;)

Here's the final design:

making history...again...

Don't think I can make it to class this morning. I am working on an invitation to a balloon releasing ceremony to celebrate the passage of the dyslexia bill. Something that needs to go out ASAP.

Yesterday, a special committee met to determine whether they would allow such an event to take place. Apparently, nothing like this has occurred before. A vote was taken and we were approved 3 hays to one nay. (Isn't there always one party pooper?) ;)

So, here's what I have so far:

Is it too busy?? I am by NO means a graphic designer! I really don't know how to use Illustrator or Photoshop; I sort of just limp along always feeling like I could be doing these much better and faster. 

[YOU WON'T HURT MY FEELINGS; I'D REALLY LIKE TO KNOW WHAT YOU THINK]

So, please critique away!

I think the ampersand is too big on the right balloon and I feel like the "join us on the steps and celebrate" on the right balloon is awkward or redundant or something. I will probs change to "Join us by releasing balloons to celebrate the newly passed dyslexia law" or something like that.

My favorite part about the event is that (I think I mentioned how I initially planned to do a Spell It Out campaign which is basically participating in the global Inside Out Project that Meleah (sp?) will do (hopefully for reals). However, we didn't want to upload the pics of children with their names, so we held off). 

BUT-

The owner of Hall Helium Balloons (in Morrilton, I think) cried when he heard about what we wanted to do--because he is dyslexic. He offered to graciously DONATE all of the helium balloons for the event and WILL PRINT THE PICS OF OUR DYSLEXIC KIDS ON THE BALLOONS[!]...

So in a way, my Spell It Out campaign dream will still come to fruition! 

Literally, on May 5th at 3pm, Arkansas' dyslexic kids ARE GOING TO SOAR! This celebration will mark the opportunity dyslexic kids now have to SOAR to their full potential in Arkansas schools! I have heard the governor and Senator Elliott will be in attendance though that isn't confirmed YET. ;)

Well, I must get back to frantically working on this press release, invite, and newsletter that need to go out ASAP. 

Quick update on my proposal since I'm missing the last peer review:

I decided to ditch my fundraiser project since it is moot now that the law has been signed. Thinking about how to support dyslexic kids once they learn to read through receiving the interventions they deserve in schools---my new project will request funds for supplying dyslexic appropriate leveled readers to every elementary school and public library branch in Faulkner County to ensure that every library is dyslexia-friendly. 

Once these kids become grade level readers, the library should not continue be a place of confusion, exclusion, and isolation. It should be a place where confidence, acknowledgement of disabilities, inclusion, and encouragement thrive.  On Monday night, I conceived a three-phase plan to better support dyslexic children in our libraries. :) Hopefully it is something that The Dyslexia Project could actually acquire a grant for and implement. 

On a side note, I have heard nothing from TDP's parent organization regarding the budget information I've requested from them. My funder, the WRF requests a project budget (which I am creating), an organizational budget narrative, AND currently audited financials. Ack! 

Without hearing back from Community Connections, I am up a creek because I can't even create something based on their last Annual Report as TDP was not yet in existence at that time. :/ I predict the budget section will be the weakest part of my proposal. 

Okay, seriously, gotta run and get back to real-world work! ;) Did I mention that I will probably continue working for TDP? They've asked me to continue some of the things I've worked on in my internship. Still have to work out some kinks---like PAY, but doing advocacy writing is probably exactly what I want to be doing. I love it! So, because this is a job, I feel the need to (how do you say "ditch" without giving it a trying-to-get-out-of-class tone?) ditch today.

Okay, REALLY gotta run! Let me know what you think of the invite and whether it needs to be more minimalistic---you've probs guessed that minimalism isn't my thing, but I respect the need for it (occasionally!) ;)

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand the results are in!

Today is a good day. Today is a very good day if you are a parent of a dyslexic child. Today is a good day if you ARE a dyslexic child. Why? Because the House passed the dyslexia bill just about an hour ago!
If you'd like to give yourself nightmares just imagine me doing the MC Hammer typewriter dance in front of my laptop as I watched the voting live online. That will give you just an INKLING of my excitement!
Today, progress was made in a bIG WAY.

Still dancing a jig or three or six.
Would you like to see the voting stats?
The bill reminds me of my recent wrestling with my Rubik's cube...it's not perfect...yet...but it IS progress!

R.I.P., Iron Lady

The world has lost a great lady. She was a true leader--the kind that stands up and inspires in the face of hardship and tragedy and even times of peril. A bona fide icon representing just how far a modern woman can go, she was so proud of being a woman.

 I love that she was a chemist. I love that she was called, "Iron Lady." Today, as I'm saddened that the death of Hugo Chavez was more popular in the headlines, and as I'm still trying to iron out this grant writing project, and as I'm waiting for caffeine to kick in--I'm inspired by some of her quotes. 

I'm sharing because when put into the context of this blog--each one is so relevant to the grant writing process, enjoy:

(or write more than one grant to get an award!)

Below, this is inspiration for making a tight argument in your proposals:

Taking pride in your work:

Ha! Running a nonprof is a lot like this, am I right? (which is why grant writers stay in-demand). 

Happy grant writing, guys, and happy Monday. ;)

To 50 Foundations Awarding Grants In Arkansas

Well, I think most of you know what you are doing by now for grants, but I just came across this while doing some research, so I thought I'd share.
It is from around 2010, so I don't know if it is even mostly accurate now, but anyway, here is the list:

Also, I thought this was interesting: America's 50 Most Generous Donors of 2012

Have a great day! ;)

Yesterday was a good day!

Yesterday, SB33 passed unanimously in the Senate Education Committee!!!!
Check out the amended bill here.

I'm so happy!

The bill will now go for vote tomorrow or Monday and if it passes, which it is looking like it will since it picked up about another 25 cosponsors (woot woot!) it should go to the House Ed Committee on Tuesday.

I know many have bones to pick with Senator Jason Rapert, but I have to admit to sending him a Twitter shout out last night as he spoke up for dyslexics and for the bill yesterday. I have contacted him about dyslexia many times since October. My experience with contacting legislators is limited to dyslexia and homeschool issues thus far, but I have to say that legislators do listen. They may not agree or bow to our every position on issues, but I believe they take it to heart when constituents spend the time to make personal contact (versus mass email blasts that go straight to the trash folders).

Previous Senator, Gilbert Baker (now, a UCA employee) gave me a few tips on contacting legislators:

• Face to face appointments go a long way
• Next best thing is a telephone call
• An personal email or letter--not one that is reads like a form letter that you sent to the whole assembly or didn't even write yourself will also go a long way
• Be respectful 
• Be brief--legislators don't have a lot of time--if you take care of the time--they will be more likely to want to hear from you again
• He also shared that many of our legislators are new (freshmen) so it's a great time to contact them. They are still learning the ropes and are more impressionable. 

So, if you feel strongly about something...do something about it. Contact your legislator. It's our right. It's our obligation. 

Squeaky wheels get the grease! (theoretically anyway)

Shut your Pi hole! Sorry. No. Can. Do.

I don't know about you all, but this week (okay, really the last 2-3 weeks have just been unBEARable).
The group project in my Tech Writing Class that (like we discussed in class today about collaboration) ended up being nearly a solo project and nearly about killed me.
The fundraising project was equally challenging. As those of you probably observed as I ambled into class with half of my locks in a bun and half of them looking a fright. Or maybe it wasn't until you noticed I was brushing my teeth with one of those little disposable toothbrushes? (So glad I keep those things in my car!) That said, I feel as though I am embarking on this grant writing project with a wounded self-confidence and a leg wound that is oozing green puss...
Essentially, I'm a hot mess counting the days till the end of the semester. Spring break couldn't come soon enough!
The thing I'd like to insert right [here] is: those of you who are not a non-traditional student---enjoy these days! I'm not stereotyping here and I KNOW you all work, but just enjoy going to school while you don't have little dependents running around and like-depending on you. In review, I am disappointed in my project and wish I had about another week to work on the writing. Enjoy that your parents are most likely too young to need you so much while you're in school. Enjoy not having to work a second shift and a third shift. I'm not whining about my life. I'm just saying this--you're life never will be as simple as it is now. Enjoy it. Enjoy taking a nap in the middle of the day or sleeping in or not having to juggle playdates and gymnastics and doctor appointments for little ones on top of doing these projects. Many of you can just ENJOY the awesomeness that being a student is. I love it! But it isn't easy doing the juggling thing. Right now you have time dedicated to learning...it's SO cool! Just enjoy it and don't wish you were further down the road in life. ;)
I'm doing some self-reflection (which is probs not good since I've had only three hours of sleep!). Thinking about how to maximize my down time on spring break...What are your plans?

I've pulled out some books that I wish to read. Most likely they'll sit on the coffee table for 7 months now that I've gotten them out...only to return to the shelf, neglected. I LOVE books...I just don't really like reading! In fact I really hate it. My 10 yr old reads faster than me. Needless to say I always have a ton of books on my to-do list. I think I really just like titles. I can read a LOT of those! Too bad they're not as cheap as books! ;)
Other plans: I might make a chandelier out of spoons and forks and funky utensils I've been collecting...I might paint a picture? I have a huge canvas I've been wanting to paint my kids onto...I painted my sister and her children (ha!) over the winter break...I had never painted before and I discovered it was really fun...

I could see myself doing MORE research about dyslexia...the answer is YES I am getting very sick of dyslexia! However, I sort of developed this Erin Brockovich (who just so happens to be dyslexic!) alter ego...I can't help feeling like there is some sort of corrupt reason why we don't take care of dyslexics. The first school for dyslexics was founded over 80 years ago---so we knew something about it that long ago---yet we still are not doing anything about it??? So, I just keep digging and digging and digging and digging...That's why I asked today--how do you know when to STOP when researching grants...I keep thinking, "maybe it's under this next rock, nope just bugs."

Maybe do some gardening? Practice some origami? I've always wanted to learn! I bought my son a few books; last week we make Chinese stars and blocks you blow air into. Exciting right?
Most of all I will just enjoy being with my family and doing NOTHING. Right now, staring at a wall for hours sounds like a great time too!

I leave you with a few random thoughts/questions--some things to ponder over spring break:
1. What is tyromancy? Don't assume it's merely some cheesy hobby!
2. What rhymes with: purple, month, silver, and orange? Wouldn't you think it'd be easier to think of something to rhyme with these everyday words??? I've only thought about it because I bought this weird book (told you!) on weird words and read the first five or so pages...(which reminds me, I should go get that book and add it to the stack on the coffee table!).
Have a great spring break, you guys! Relax, have fun, and be safe!
I'm feeling kind of weepy now saying goodbye (I really need to go to bed!) I think it is because I'm thinking about The Office and how it's coming to an end...(and I'm sure I'll watch a million episodes on spring break too!) One of my favorite blog posts I've ever written was about beets! Go figure! ;) Anyway, I will leave you with a funny quote from "Kevin" from The Office since it is Pi Day (hence the title of this post). Gee, I am really liking parentheses today. Maybe they are reminding me of pillows and going to bed or something. Yes, I retweeted. ;)

3. Do you think crocs could be a cheaper form of birth control and cause fewer side effects? Oh! Back to the random thoughts.
Well, by for real this time...have a great break, guys! ;) and happy pi day.

His-story. Beware, this really IS a hate-post. ;)

History. That's what I experienced tonight. His-story.

Who's story?

Henry Greenbaum's.

This vibrant 84 year old is a living embodiment of OUR history. "OUR," as in
THE HUMAN RACE, so it's like: important.

However, the University of Central Arkansas doesn't seem to agree.
UCA DOES actually co-sponsor this event; but students would never know it. And they have--sponsored this event--EVERY FREAKIN' YEAR for the last FIVE!

Yep, every year, a holocaust survivor comes HERE to share his/her story with US. What an opportunity, right? Well, it would be if students and locals actually knew about it. Perhaps they don't know because UCA in all of its lameness: fails to actually let people know! Seriously?

It seems to me that whomever is donating the funds for this  HISTORICAL event to take place here in CONWAY, AR (I love you; you are a visionary!)--should be asking for heads on a platter because their dollars are only wasted when no one knows about the dad-gum event!

I sincerely HOPE that the reason UCA fails to promote this HISTORICAL opportunity is because some insignificant and putrid little pencil pusher fails to realize the importance of complying with press release deadlines.
I vomit-in-my-mouth at the very thought of this MONUMENTAL AND INEXCUSABLE failure being intentional.
Either way, any UCA student that misses the opportunity to hear a story like this should go ahead and count himself ROBBED. This is the kind of robbery that is like way-worse than the kind one experiences when paying college tuition to a school that can't even equip classrooms with clocks! (I mean, what kind of univer...).  :/
UCA's oversight and neglect has caused students/victims for FIVE years to miss out on hearing and even MEETING some of the world's biggest and now most feeble heroes.

These are the poster children for the best of the best of anti-bullying campaigns! These are survivors who refuse to be shut up. Little elderly people who won't back down. They are so adorable, really. They are a limping-but-living testimony of the sheer will to: survive, forgive, and heal.
White-haired-and-wrinkled: survivors of the worst of the world's atrocities, they BOTHER to come to Conway, AR and pffff, UCA doesn't BOTHER letting anyone know about it? I never was that great in math, but even I know that something just doesn't add up.

Fortunately for myself, I happened to know someone who knew someone who knew someone; so I found out about it. I used to live outside of D.C., near the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, and when I found out about these precious survivors coming, I felt compelled to go.

Realizing that hers will be the LAST generation to see a living holocaust survivor, this year, I brought my ten year old daughter. EVERYONE younger than her will most likely ONLY know of the holocaust by reading books. And if they happen to be dyslexic or grow up in Arkansas, well, they may not even read, so there ya go!
How then will we prevent history from repeating?
Tonight my ten year old saw with her own eyes, an aged hand rolling up a shirt sleeve and revealing a tattoo on a forearm: a long number which was an identity for a significant part of a human life. She shook that aged hand.  That arm now embraces her in a treasured picture. Do you think she'll forget it?

Tonight, someone in the audience asked Henry Greenbaum, "have you ever considered getting your tattoo removed?" to which he replied, "Never. I will never take my number off. I'm going to the grave with my number. There are too many deny-ers." My daughter heard those powerful words.

Two heroes: Henry with an Arkansas veteran who attended
the lecture.  The gentleman was also a liberator.
He got to meet Henry on his 90th birthday. 

My little girl heard Henry Greenbaum recount what it was like to see himself in the mirror for the first time after his liberation, but the face she heard about-the one Henry saw in the mirror that once looked like an emaciated skeleton--was not the one my daughter saw. She witnessed a face with a beautifully bright and gentle smile. She saw a face of a hero. 

Hearing these speakers have been some of the highlights of my 2+ years in Arkansas. I feel blessed that they come here at all, yet I couldn't help but wonder last year when I attended WHY the auditorium wasn't packed out. When I returned home last year, I searched online and hardly found any mention of the event at all.
Disappointed-yet busy, I didn't complain.
This year: a Google search turns up: NOTHING (by UCA), and to get to a posting relevant to 2013, one must click on the FOURTH result. Pathetic.

Meadors or gillean or courtway and guns? Psh. The fact that UCA withholds this educational and fleeting opportunity from students is a real scandal.

If you read this post in time to catch Henry Greenbaum Wednesday at 7pm, and you have a human heart and brain: you will go and listen and shake his hand.

If you didn't get to this post in time and missed this very important opportunity: let YOUR voice be heard. Complain.
Something like, "SHAME ON YOU, you, you, withholder of truth! You just arrived at a whole new level of "suck" in my book," or something to that effect should be sufficient.

And, in case you're wondering. No. I'm not even one bit Jewish. Or homosexual. Or gypsy, etc. Really, I'm not. I just happen to be HUMAN. Maybe it's just me.
Please do yourself and all of us on this globe a favor...just go...shake a hero's hand, will ya?

Words. Worth. Hearing.

This has nothing to do with fundraising...or dyslexia...but I have to raise awareness. (hint: click on awareness for details!)

Tonight, at UACCM a Holocaust Survivor will share his story at 6:30pm.

Tomorrow night, at 7pm he will share his story at Conway High School.

This is an event put on by UCA and UACCM together and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. The event is not at UCA because apparently the Conway High School James H. Clark Auditorium is just a larger facility.  

Is there a story more horrifying than this kind of story? I'm not sure I could be convinced otherwise. Holocaust survivors are only getting older and closer to death. They are burdened to pass on their stories so that history will not be repeated. 

Please don't let this historical opportunity slip by you. I guarantee that it isn't something you'll forget or regret. And if you do, well, don't say so...because I'd most likely spit on you and your pathetic self-absorbed ignorance. I mean that in a very nice way. Promise. ;)

Seriously, do you know how amazing it is that they are even HERE...in um...Conway?Conway.

Yes, there IS a lot to still wrap up for our fundraising projects, which are due Thursday (Jordan, that comma before the which is JUST FOR YOU!). ;) However, projects and grades too will come and go. There will never be a shortage of them. Consequently, there will be a shortage of Holocaust survivors in the near future. Wouldn't you like to hear what they have to say? Isn't this a voice worth hearing? 

You'll never forget it. 

You'll only regret it...if you don't...GO!

And, if you ever have a chance to go to the Holocaust Museum in DC it is definitely a must-see! 

Don't go to DC JUST to see Dorothy's slippers, or Michelle Obama's inaugural dress!

By the way, these historical life chances tonight and tomorrow are FREE.

Donations pleeeeeeze.

I just backed this important documentary (that I mentioned last week) and YOU CAN TOO! Just 43 hrs left to help this awareness doc get funded on Kickstarter!

Have we had people drop the class???

I'm just wondering because it seems like I have way more blogs to check than people that come to class...and a few blogs are obviously not being maintained...
Perhaps, we could get a new list and then we'll know we don't have to check those anymore if that's the case. Might save time.

Embracing Dyslexia

Speaking of fundraisers. Here is a fundraiser on Kickstarter right now; another documentary about dyslexia. What I like about this one is that it features, Susan Barton, one of the nation's leading champions for dyslexia. She travels the country raising awareness and is the founder of an Orton-Gillingham tutoring program--the one that The Dyslexia Project uses to train its tutors. I also personally use it with my two adorable dyslexics.


Here is a little informative youtube video:

FUNdraiser: Screening of The Big Picture: Rethinking Dyslexia

For my project I will host a screening (the FIRST screening in Arkansas) of, The Big Picture: Rethinking Dyslexia.

if you haven't already posted a harlem shake video you might as well be planking.

ways to keep your nonprofit relevant...#opportunemoments...#trending...#goingviral...#keepingup
so, quick! figure out how your cause relates to the beloved matthew crawley #downtonPBS or you'll be all left in the dust again...

(this one's my fave)

What's love got to do with it?

Well, this week some of the world celebrated Valentine's day. I always thought it was such an awkward holiday myself (ugly babies flying around with bows and arrows and people getting ugly heart shaped boxes of fake chocolate?)--especially for those in budding relationships. What is worse than the stress of wondering whether you've been in some sort of "relationship" long enough to exchange love/romance-based gifts? Like, uh, should you get your beau of three weeks those silk boxers with lips on them? Doesn't matter because if you get them and he doesn't get you anything-it's gonna be a bad time. And, if he gets you something and you don't get him anything-then you feel like a schmuck don't you? Yes. You. Do. So, basically, it's awkward either way.

Having been married 15 and then some years and not celebrating Valentine's day for any of them--I wouldn't even know what the standard procedure is anymore for handling those types of situations. My husband and I tend to be sort of anti-most holidays--especially one which probably originated with some sort of agreement between Milton Hershey, Hallmark, and the American Greetings Card Company!
Though I must admit I appreciate this witty post on fb on the 14th was: 

"Happy vaLINtine's day."  ;)

You may be wondering where I am going with this post; I am too! I knew a few hours ago when I was walking the dog and watching five kids (not all mine) at the park! I think something triggered my thoughts about gold digging girls wanting to find a sugar daddy and that made me think of fundraising and "looking for love" in the form of donors...

Oh! Yes, it's coming back to me! It made me think of the anti-gold diggers too...those who believe they'll just "live on love." And just as love will not pay the bills, honey, I'm sorry to tell you...when it comes to fundraising and nonprofs...good hearts and great causes certainly don't pay the bills either. 

What I mean is that it simply isn't enough to have a great cause. Fundraising really is a must! And did you know (looking at the title of this post) that Tina Turner will soon be trading in her U.S. citizenship? 

And since I'm on the topic of love and asian vaLINtines...I'll let you in on a little asian romance I happen to currently be involved in...I just happen to be making LOVE--RIGHT NOW...it's not what you think--get your mind out of the gutter! L-O-V-E in the form of boba! Any boba lovers out there?? 71 minutes to go--not that I'm counting or anything! In my opinion boba is almost as good as bacon and my favorite food: BUTTER. Almost. 

Went home last Thursday and designed this...it's part of something I've got up my sleeve...deets coming soon! ;)

What is writing really?

Anyone out there need some humor after this gloomy day?
Here's a pic from my go-to source of never-disappointing funnies: Bill Waterson's, Calvin & Hobbes of course.
BTW, one reason I love C&H SOOOO much?? It's the FIRST thing my dyslexic son ENJOYED reading. When you're a mama and you have a kid who struggled with reading and you get to the point where you hear your baby laugh out loud at something he READ...the word priceless doesn't even begin to explain...
Anyway, I hadn't even thought of all that before deciding to post this...just in a little homework slump and thought I'd see if anyone else needed a giggle.
If you don't think Calvin & Hobbes are funny--you don't have a pulse!!! ;)

And on a side note, (since I already went all soapboxy on you), Calvin really could be the poster boy for a dyslexic male child with ADHD (which is also highly correlated with dyslexia) and if so, then Dick and Jane are the evil enemy to children everywhere who wish to become good readers and spellers.

Those evil little readers are the epitome of whole-word learning (or sight word learning/whole language), which is a dumb philosophy our educational system has bought into (hook/line/sinker) and arrogantly refuses to let go of.
What Dick and Jane replaced was something called, "phonics," which is not to be confused with, "hooked on phonics" (which is still another version of whole language poo).

Phonics-rhymes with tonics, ebonics, onyx, Sonics (plural, as in "wow, this town has a lot of Sonics, I bet the obesity rate is high!"). If you're not sure what that word means (because if you're less than 100 years old, chances are you probably don't REALLY know what it means) look it up in the dictionary. And, while you're at it...why don't you grab a book called, "Why Johnny Can't Read."

See, I started out trying to cheer everyone up, and now I'm getting angry all over again...Breathe...In...Out...Whew...Sun salutation...Okay folks, teaching any kid--dyslexic or not really isn't rocket science. It involves teaching them to recognize that every letter is a symbol which corresponds to a sound (or several). It involves teaching that words are made up of those sounds,which correspond to those symbols. It involves teaching rules such as when a "g" says a soft sound or a hard sound, or why some words have silent final e's or why words like "all" and "puff" and "fizz" end with double consonants, etc. If one has learned these rules then they can spell correctly pretty much all of the time. Why? Because they have mastered the code to our language. The rules are the code. If you have the code, you can sound out pretty much any and every word and spell it too! (If you don't believe me research how people win spelling bees--it involves mastering the code.)

However, rather than equip people for success (God forbid!), we take the lazy way out and "teach" whole language. We teach children not to master our language; we teach them to memorize it. Therefore, language to them has no rhyme and no reason. It is unpredictable and unreliable. They have no code to fall back on. They are equipped to be poor guessers because they don't know what to do when they encounter the plethora of exceptions out there. Gee, if you read our nation's reading report cards you might start to notice some trends.

Dyslexics are horrible at memorizing random facts which have no value or meaning...which is why memorizing sight words is like...not gonna work for them. I assert that because of those scum bags, Dick and Jane, it isn't just the dyslexics who miss out. It's also all of the other kids who struggle with reading. With 20% of the population being dyslexic, the rest of the percentage of our kids who are failing readers are just Dick and Jane casualties.

...wouldn't it be nice if that ole monster bureaucracy we dump exponentially increasing amounts of money into every year, the dept of edumacation (or something like it) were willing to change?

Wouldn't it be nice if Spaceman Spiff could declare some sort of Zog war against them until they actually do something in the best interest of children across America? Too bad Obama won't appoint Spiff to head up edumacation and take Arne Duncan's place...

Oh dear! I just posted a picture which contained an instrument which resembles a gun (please don't get the zero tolerance police after me!) I mean this is Arkansas, so let's just pretend he is just holding his pistol in church! ;)

Moral: 

Calvin and Hobbes= funny, creative, great reading material for dyslexics and anyone with a heartbeat

           

Dick and Jane=satan and his evil lady companion transmogrified into freakishly-nice-looking children who will beat any capacity for reading right out of kids with a rusty lead pipe while mocking them and spitting in their faces. 

"I think 

the idea of 

getting 

Government to get 

teachers in schools 

trained 

to become 

dyslexia specialists 

is 

OBVIOUSLY 

ESSENTIAL." 

-Sir Richard Branson

(my 2nd favorite Branson quote which encapsulates 

the spirit of the many SUCCESSFUL dyslexics out there)

(my third favorite Branson quote--which is why dyslexics are such an asset to innovation)

Just check out Branson's blog, click on companies, and discover that this guy obviously knows what he's talking about when it comes to jobs, the future, success, and on and on. Respected throughout the world, he is not shy about being a dyslexic. 
Just think what Arkansas would/could be like if we gave our dyslexic children hope and taught them to read---the way THEIR brain learns to read...we might just get a whole crop of business-minded entrepreneurs, investors, creative thinkers who will invest in Arkansas because Arkansas invested in THEM. Senate Bill 33 is an opportunity (a beginning) for Arkansas to move forward.

Another Branson quote from: extraordinarypeople.com

“

Being dyslexic can actually help in the outside world. I see some things clearer than other people do because I have to simplify things to help me and that has helped others.”

Mind mapping

Here is a beautiful chart which sums up chapter 2 of the class text (Grant Writing and Fundraising Tool Kit for Human Services by Dustin).
Enveloping all of the very technical chapter 2 in a clearly defined map, is this image (appendix A).

And while we're at it, we might as well peruse over to appendices B and C; drafting two gift chart goals (one specific for the org and another generic for donors to have a visual) is helpful--I daresay key to a successful fundraising campaign.
What struck me was the one for donors; but it makes so much sense. Really, it helps get them involved. You're including them in the plan. You're showing them you really want them to understand what your goals are, making them not just donors, but team members!
I am just loving how organized the textbook is! However, I just wonder how many nonprofs start out "the right way" like this. I wonder how many of us will dig into our orgs and realize that underneath a great mission statement and cool website was a hot mess just waiting to be uncovered.
My training as a respiratory therapist comes back to me. In class and in the books, everything comes together so neatly. Things happen as they should, aligning, as they should, in a predictable sequence. However, in clinicals, you have to adapt, be on your toes, violate rules--
Example:
You're in a patient's room giving them a breathing treatment; a code blue is called on your floor and you're on the code team. Do you calmly wait until your patient's treatment is over, asking if they have any questions? Then do you run into the next room where someone's life has abruptly stopped short saying, "hello, Mr. Doe, I'm Nicolle from respiratory. I am going to attempt to save your life now (all while washing your hands first complying with hospital policies)? Do you first read his chart, noting any allergies and checking his pharmacological records???
!!!!!!!!!! Um, NO!!!!!!!
You hear a code called and you respond. Period. Taking the time to wash your hands might be the precious seconds that person needed. You do what you can to ensure safety precautions and provide as sterile an environment as possible, but you are no longer in the land of happy textbook situations; you're top priority at that moment is not preventing pneumonia or even staph--it's preventing DEATH. Textbooks somehow don't prepare you for that.
I predict it might be applicable here to or to whatever we learn from textbooks, for they can't possibly address every circumstance we'll ever encounter. That's completely understandable.
That said, knowing how things ought to be at least tattoos a gold standard into our brains, so that we at least know when something is off course and to which hemisphere we should steer.
And, while steering, maps are helpful.
So, enjoy these below:

Dear Abby,

Dear Abby (who just passed away this month with Alzheimers...which reminds me of this blog),

This post began as a comment to a classmate's hilarious blog post. I casually began to respond in the comments section, however, the response just kept flowing...and growing...and then I started to feel like I should probably call some sort of hotline for help; the left side of my brain waving red flags and saying, "this is way too much to post on someone's blog" and "you're totally hijacking this post." It wasn't intentional. Promise.
I'm writing to you, Dear Abby (or your legacy or trust), because I took a step back and decided maybe I should save my soap box lecture for my OWN BLOG. (Dude, if you just clicked on that link don't admit it in public, okay?...I mean... you're already...on my blog... It was a total set up!)
Dear Abby, here are my comments-turned-blog-post below, would you please talk me off of the ledge??? Your faithful reader, Nicolle ;)


"Hollis, 
Great post! It was funny and provoking--which is everything I want to be! And although I think you did a good job of making this blogging thing sound light and funny and trivial--that these things are so foreign to you...me...us in general, is no laughing matter.

You bring up a VERY important discussion (or can o' worms in this case)--one that, as a writing major, I feel quite frustrated and passionate about (uh-oh--here I go), namely: how prepared ARE graduates of today's writing undergrad programs for writing in the 21st century?

I can't help but feel that nearly every class I take in the writing program should've had some graphic design prerequisite (!!!!!!!!!!!!!! my hands are all over the place on this one! hee hee!), for we are at least exposed to how writing takes place in the 21st century (and that's a good thing) but then we are expected to crank out projects ranging from prezis to html newsletters to web page design to instruction manuals and beyond in a matter of weeks...while limping through software that could easily take a semester to learn how to use such as Dreamweaver and InDesign (free trials or purchased on-the-side), or worse--FREE programs that we would NEVER use in a real job such as, Komposer). 

Fundamental problem: We learn how to make those things, but maybe not in the best way becuase we are NOT taught how to use the complicated software it takes to produce those things. It is an injustice I tell you. ;)

Can't UCA afford an Adobe site license or SOMETHING so we can teach and use state-of-the-art tools? Do we need to speak with the Executive Director about fundraising and start following money trails??? Can't we add this into the curriculum somehow for example: 
before you take this writing class in which you will basically need to know css styles, you should take this class in graphic design 1.

It seems instead we try to skate around graphic design without actually learning it...even though it is absolutely necessary. This just creates conflict--which on a side note might create a great story one day? Who knows? Maybe "graphic design" could be this crazy tech savvy minor (get it, minor?) who stalks a bewildered 21st century digital communications illiterate college student or something. (Btw, if you would pay money for a book like that---please let me know!)

My point is---we SHOULD be taught how to write in the 21st century. It is great to get exposure to these things in our classes, but I never can help but feel that in order to be a writer today, one must also be a graphic designer, for so much of our writing is not JUST words, but also the colors we choose, alignment, typography, fontography, css styles, rasterized vectors and html code--it's all part of our message to our audience. Sadly, we are not fully taught HOW to construct that component of our message.  And aren't companies, who are looking to hire writers, also looking for writers with Adobe programs on their resumes? We sooooo need more technology. What I don't know is whether this is a UCA funding issue or whether this is a widespread problem for writing students everywhere caused by some out-of-date-linearly-conceived-concept (that seems like the beginnings of a great tshirt catch phrase, doesn't it?). I suspect it isn't just UCA.

Nonetheless, I feel like we are some sort of hybrid-type-of-writers emerging from these programs; and it is still yet-to-be-defined (my, my, aren't I fond of drive-my-point-home-hyphenated-phrases today?) exactly what we are. If you think about it--writers really are expected to be psychologists, advertising gurus, educators, politicians, graphic designers, journalists, super multi-taskers and basically, God all-at-the-same-time-each-and-every-time they compose. I suppose it is difficult to fit all of that into one undergrad writing curriculum. 

I really am not dawgging the writing program. I have truly enjoyed it so far. I respect my profs (I sincerely have learned a lot from them--picking their brains, seeking their advice, absorbing as much as I can from them) and classmates too, but I feel your post, Hollis, sort of (obviously) got to the heart of my frustration with it...or all writing programs, in general, i.e. they need to include more technology training. 

And, if you think about it, don't we best learn language by immersion rather than mere exposure? So, why don't we as writers get to learn our writing language (which in the 21st century, IS FOREIGN) by immersion as well (spending a few months in the foreign country of graphic design, grappling with the language, hanging out with the locals, picking up all the slang and really---really practicing and really really learning this component?

Every project in my writing classes has been a learning experience, however, the components of those projects that I'm ranting about here were learned off of youtube, not so much in class, yet..I'm paying UCA...So school me, Tom Courtway!!

(Stepping away from the soapbox) That said, blogging is a great experience. It's so relevant. As a writer--instantaneously putting yourself out there--can be challenging, but it is so necessary.

And I can see how it is even necessary for advocacy...or fundraising...(attempting to swing full circle here) Blogging allows you to have continual connectedness with your audience (especially when required for class!) ;)  And, since they come to you by choice you don't feel like you're harassing them when it comes to blogging. It's so...so...digital age...so social media-ish...so 21st century-ish, and I like that. I want more of it! So, UCA, 21st century communication---BRING IT!"

And, thank you, Hollis, for helping the stew in me find it's way out! ;) Aren't you glad I didn't go all psycho on YOUR blog? ;)

that's sick...and i don't mean in a good way...

Did you know that Arkansas has soooo many ring worm spores in the soil that it is amazing all of us are not walking around with huge encrusted lesions all over our bodies?
Well, that's what I heard over the weekend; I think that if any of you out there haven't yet picked a cause---removing this disgusting fungus (it's not a worm at all, btw) from our soil would be a great one!

Anyone care to jump on that bandwagon???

Have a nice day and don't walk around barefoot!

talk about advocacy...

Here is a VERY interesting angle...or so I think...

Have you ever heard of the Church of Stop Shop?

I love watching documentaries. Tonight, I watched, The War on Kids. Loved it. I'm pretty much pro anything that has an anti-public school slant. Having been a quiet kid who struggled with inattention, I fell through the cracks. Raised by a single dyslexic mother who worked all the time and didn't pay attention to my education, I never had a good teacher who noticed either. My first good teacher was in college. I made my FIRST A in a math class in Business Calculus! It was LITERALLY the FIRST time math EVER made sense. So, yeah, I think public school is the absolutely most cruel form of torture we put our children through. In my mind, it is worse than water boarding--it's like 13 SLOW years of water boarding!

Fyi, fave movies about school or learning (not necessarily anti-school though) include:
Waiting for Superman
The Lottery
Lean on Me
Goodwill Hunting
Akeelah and the Bee

Won't Back Down (a 2012 film in which a mother of a dyslexic girl becomes an empowered advocate)- btw, a quote from this movie is SO appropriate for my blog, "Have you heard about those mothers that lift 1-ton trucks off their babies? They're nothing compared to me."

Anything by the brilliant, Sir Ken Robinson

A Touch of Greatness
and another currently inspirational documentary is about to come out---book will be released in April (already pre-ordered!) World Peace and Other 4th-grade Achievements, about a teacher from VA who taught outside-the-box, developed a complicated game in which 4th-graders are able to solve most of the world's problems. He's been teaching it for over 20 years. John Hunter is his name. A neat foundation, I emailed them to see how we can bring this to Arkansas. I am hoping to send one of my dyslexics to the Nashville summer camp.

Now, I'm watching, What Would Jesus Buy?, and so far, it may prove to be my favorite christmas movie!

If you are a Morgan Spurlock fan--check it out...(it's about anti-consumerism)

The moral of this post, I guess, if I had to pretend there was one, would be that a lot of writing involves visual persuasion. Is there advocacy without it? Though advocacy seems so pure, so altruistic, so noble...there is a HUGE need to persuade.
What is the balance between fighting for a good cause and tugging on heart strings...or purse straps...or...

Here is a story (I've not read it yet) by a friend of mine.
I thought I'd post it here because many of you all are doing something related to advocacy for victims of sexual violence or domestic violence or some sort of women's advocacy. It's called, Ripple: A Tale of Hope and Redemption; it's worth checking out.


p.s. here's what education SHOULD look like...maybe all kids should just sit at home eating Cheetos and watch Vi Hart videos! (especially those on Hexaflexagons and Fibonacci numbers)

grammarians: beware!

just so you know...if you are a stickler for these...and these...and these...and these...and these...you are gonna have a bad time reading my blog.

because i heart them! ;) i.e. i am your worst nightmare.

you see, i partied through nearly every english class i've ever been in; diagramming sentences is not my hobby--i'd rather floss with a candle wick! and yet, here i am ...in my thirties...just recently having "found myself"...on my last and FINAL major (after nearly 200 credits taken and several major changes)--WRITING! ). its been a long haul. i deserve to laugh at myself (i'm probably even laughing at you!) kidding.

i write the way i talk (and think), and i talk with my hands, so when i write...well, i need some way to...you know...toss my hands around in the air.

because blogging, in general, has a personal and casual feel to it--you're gonna get my personality...you're defs gonna get my bad grammar!

i will attempt to lessen the pain as much as possible, but i cannot make any guarantees, so if you have to  read my blog to fulfill requirements for class and my punctuation bothers you, perhaps you could sit in the writing lab...reading where you'll be surrounded by others who might feel your pain and can give you a sympathetic shoulder rub, dot your tears with kleenex, and squeeze your hand. and if you were so compelled, you may even want to buy me this, because i really love them all--literally!

i apologize, in advance, but i cannot afford to pay any therapy bills. please take advantage of the free services UCA has to offer. ;) would it help it i brought these?

Don't be a hater... ;)