happy hour update!!

our volunteer happy hour was a lot of fun last night. we didn't end up getting a whole lot of people (maybe 8 or so non members were there) but chris, estefania and susie all gave very inspiring speeches and it seems as though they hooked everyone! i've got 3 people specifically very interested in helping with Literacy by Designers so i'm going to be sure to get them to our next meeting!
these crappy phone photos are chris giving her talk...and her most captive audience!

our happy hour at forest room 5 is tonight and i think it's going to be a bust! not very many people replied to the evite and i'm not sure how effective myspace and craigslist are.
at least we are trying!!

Room to Read Happy Hour!

Location: Forest Room 5 2532 15th Street, Denver, CO 80211
When: Thursday, April 24, 6:00PM

World change starts with educated children. With that in mind, please join us for a happy hour to find out about the many ways you could get involved to make change happen. Room to Read is an organization that has already impacted the lives of 1.7 million children all over the world by:

- Constructing 442 schools

- Establishing over 5,160 libraries

- Publishing 226 new local language children's titles
representing over 2 million books

- Donating over 2.2 million English language children's books

- Funding 4,036 long-term girls' scholarships

- Establishing 155 computer and language labs

All you have to do is donate a couple of hours a month to help us organize various fund raising events throughout the year. These events have a wide range, so you can get creative with your ideas. All of the money we raise has a pre-determined home, so no money goes unaccounted for.

You know you've been looking for an opportunity to help others, but just haven't found a cause that really speaks to you. That was me before I learned about Room to Read. Plus, what could be more fun than helping change the world while having a few drinks?

I hope to see you all there and please please pass this along to all of your friends!

Room to Read Celebrates the Completion of its 5000th Library

Room to Read celebrated the opening of its 5000th library, established late last year, on March 2, 2008. This event marked a significant milestone in Room to Read's eight year history by illustrating its rapid expansion into developing countries as it moves toward its goal of reaching 5 million children by the year 2010.
The inaugural ceremony was attended by over one-hundred people including John Wood; Mr. Pradeep Nepal, the Education and Sports Minister for Nepal; Mr. Dinesh Prasad Shrestha, Country Director for Room to Read, and a group of Room to Read donors. The library at the Shree Gauri Shankar Higher Secondary School is located near Pokhara in the Kaski District, about 120 miles from Kathmandu.
John Wood and accompanying supporters were given a hero's welcome when they arrived at the 5000th library. They had the opportunity to see the library's 4,000 books, interact with eager young readers and speak with the librarian about the popularity of Room to Read's award winning Local Language Publishing Program.

In his keynote address, Wood lauded the Nepal team for their excellent performance over the years. He strongly emphasized Room to Read's mission to impact millions of uneducated children throughout the world. "Room to Read will not rest until we reach out to all those children that haven't had the opportunity to go to school," he said, repeating Room to Read's commitment to more than double the number of libraries established from 5,000 to 13,000 by the year 2010.

meeting recap

last night at the meeting we had polly, chris, susie and estefania (and me of course!). estefania was running a little behind due to a beauty process so the 4 of us discussed some other things like john's speech at CU on may 8th and what type of event to have after. it looks like we're going to try to do something at a private residence in more of a volunteer reception than a fund-raiser, which will be nice. i won't make it to see his speech because it's at 4:30 but i'm hoping to be able to make it to the reception.
we also discussed the CSU recycled fashion show event a little. they secured a pretty cool raffle. one of their members goes through people's closets and works with them with what they have in there and also what to look for when shopping. i'd like to win that prize!
also had some good ideas for the fashion show, like to work with buffalo exchange or babareeba maybe. other than that the meeting was honestly a little discouraging to me because it seems like we can't wrap our heads around how to make 20k with the plan we have.
after the meeting susie, estefania and i went to sushi hai. so yummy!

oriental theater

polly and i went to check out the oriental yesterday. i think that we can make it work although it's not exactly the perfect spot. i was thinking the auditorium area was a big open space but it's actually sectioned off into about 8 different areas. we could set up tables in those areas with the art but that would require getting tables and easels and lights etc etc.
also, the front area is like their gallery space so unless we book the front for the month of september, that area will be used by other artists not related to our event and we will lose the use of the area. it would be cool to be able to get some of our donating artists to also do a month long show there and to have a first friday preview event.
the stage is perfect for the band and fashion show though. those just aren't our money makers unfortunately!

tasks

-i've emailed and left a message for fabric lab. really hope to hear back from them!
-tomorrow i'm going to emily griffith to check that out
-today polly and i are going to see the oriental theater. finally!

meeting on thursday....