Getting closer to V-Day.

A world that has become a single geographic unit is now groping its way, however slowly, toward global institutions as the only way of achieving common safety and common progress. A new world is waiting to be born.
--Norman Cousins




No V-Day is not Valentines Day, the V is for Vancouver.  It is crazy to think that it is already the 23rd of April.  Everyday is comes and goes so quickly.  I miss the days of youth when days seemed to last FOOOREEEEVVER.  Now your lucky if you work, run an errand or two, make dinner and have enough time to brush your teeth.  I guess it doesn't really help that my entire weekend was spent at work in Lifeguard training.  On that note I'd like to announce myself as a Certified Lifeguard and First Responder.  Why I took the training? Maybe because I'll be at a camp all summer and maybe because I have a thirst for knowledge.  Either way it was super good info that really everyone should know and I'm contemplating bringing up the training to family members so we can always be ready!


Now to fundraising for the Youth Peace Network.  I have to date raised $1300! I'm getting closer and closer and the out pour of support is amazing.  I do have to name two amazing donations by name because their support of me was overwhelming.  Mr. Skip Wilke, a looong time YMCA supporter of International initiatives and an overall super cool dude gave me a personal donation that has increased my contributions 25%! A big thank you to Skip and is believing in me!


Another amazing group of people gave a large donation is the Y Service Club.  The Y Service Club is a group of YMCA supporters who opperate very similar to a Lion's Club or Optimist Club.  They do different fundraising and community events every year to support YMCA programs and staff like a Christmas Tree Lot, Flower Sales and Pancake Breakfasts.  It is a group of awesome people who also believe in my ability to bring peace and global understanding to our community. 


I also have had two meetings with very cool organizations that had I not had this opportunity I may never have learned about.  One is the Citizens for Global Solutions.  Their Mission: We are a membership organization working to build political will in the United States to achieve our vision. We do this by educating Americans about our global interdependence, communicating global concerns to public officials, and developing proposals to create, reform and strengthen international institutions such as the United Nations. Very cool group who really make stuff happen.  I met with their president Dr. Joseph Schwartzberg who is a professor of Geography at the U of M and June Parrot a board member.  It was a great meeting and I'll soon know if they are going to make a contribution.  They also are interested in me becoming a board member.  So all in all a great meeting. 
Check out their website http://www.globalsolutionsmn.org/


The other group is the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom.  Another cool organization that has a history of Peace advocacy starting during woman suffrage in 1915.  Their mission is to oppose war and the root causes of war, promote peace, social justice, racial equality and women's empowerment.  Sounds right up my alley.  I'll be going to talk to a larger group of members in May and hopefully secure some more funding. 


Now, on a personal note, I would like to introduce Evelyn Jean Lewis.  She is my new little niece, and is about 3 weeks old now.  I already LOVE being an aunt and cant wait to hang out with her again. 

And now to leave you with another musical styling that has been rocking my ear drums every day.  The band is First Aid Kit.  They are two women (i think from Sweden) who have a folky/country sound and incredibly haunting harmonies.  Check them out....