Changing the world is not as hard as it seems. It does not matter if you're the small fish in the pond or the top dog. We can all do things that can have an impact on the world. It can be the little thing such as picking up a piece of litter. The little things count even if no one is around to observe it. You can make a different.
The cool stuff I'm doing, you can do to. You can have the influence over your world. You can be the person behind the scenes too. It does not have to start out as some big thing that you have to organize. There are organizations out there that are out to improve situations of the community and the world. The Kiwanis, Rotary, or United Way are all great places to start out volunteering and making a difference. Alternatively if you feel shy and reluctant to meet up with new strange people you can work on it with the Toastmasters.
Anyway's I'm going to be at the KDHX radio station tonight (7p to 9p) and tomorrow (5pm to 7pm). Give me a call and support a great radio station. The number is 314-664-3688.
Friday, March 30, 2012
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
FIRST Robotics Regional March 2012
This past weekend the FIRST Robotics Regional competition were held this past weekend (March 22 - 24, 2012). It is a neat event. This years goal for the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) is the Rebound Rumble, where teams are tasked with collecting and shooting foam basketballs into basketball hoops. The first day had more cooperation on some of the bridges. It got more interesting as the day progressed and bugs got worked out of the robots. The second day really got good. Robots were tweaked and got better in time. Scores evened out between the red and blue teams. There were many more rounds where there were higher scores of 50+ points for teams. The final rounds really got good with really good shooting and balancing on bridges. Teams really got aggressive on defense and attempting to get three bots on the balancing bridges. Lots of robot tipping as well.
It is a neat even to volunteer for. Sign up to volunteer for them if you get a chance at www.usfirst.org
Edit (4/15/2012):
Finally got around to emptying the camera. Photos are below of some of the neat stuff going on.
It is a neat even to volunteer for. Sign up to volunteer for them if you get a chance at www.usfirst.org
Edit (4/15/2012):
Finally got around to emptying the camera. Photos are below of some of the neat stuff going on.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Great concert at Sheldon Concert Hall with Hayes Carll
Got to hang out at the Sheldon Concert Hall with KDHX on March 18, 2012. Neat show. Got to see Hayes Carll and the opening act of Honey Honey. Not a bad gig to put in a few hours of work for a show with awesome music. There were funny stories, great music, and great people.
Should be an interesting start to the volunteering season. Coming up next weekend is the FIRST Robotics Regional completion. The following weekend of March 31, 2012 there is going to be a Kiwanis Blood Drive at the Public Safety Building in O'Fallon, from 9am to 1pm. I then run over to the Toastmasters Regional Contest later that afternoon and a KDHX phone drive. Looking forward to the madness.
Should be an interesting start to the volunteering season. Coming up next weekend is the FIRST Robotics Regional completion. The following weekend of March 31, 2012 there is going to be a Kiwanis Blood Drive at the Public Safety Building in O'Fallon, from 9am to 1pm. I then run over to the Toastmasters Regional Contest later that afternoon and a KDHX phone drive. Looking forward to the madness.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Slow Winter...or not.
Winter time is the slow time of the year. There is not much that goes on. I did manage help out KDHX with a few concerts at the Sheldon. The specific shows were Jay Farrar show and the Todd Snider show. Volunteering is cool. Some times you get to be behind the scenes and see stuff not many people get to see. I didn't see a large part of the Sheldon Concert Hall but I've seen more than most. KDHX membership drive is coming up again. Seems like it was only a few months since the last one in October. If you would like to send in a few bucks, it wold be appreciated.
Also helped out the O'Fallon Kiwanis a few times in the last few months. There was the Salvation Army Bell Ringing in December. Recently we has spaghetti dinner. It was good as always. Don't know how we did by the numbers though.
I am also a fully trained secretary by the Toastmasters. Kinda sucks that I've been out of service since mid-December. Life of a student but I am only 4 classes away from a Masters in Information Technology Management. I am on a mission to document all of these experiences. I've got 87 hours between August and December for 2011 and I want to beat that this year.
And I have moved this blog over to blogger. Figure I'd try it out for a while.
Also helped out the O'Fallon Kiwanis a few times in the last few months. There was the Salvation Army Bell Ringing in December. Recently we has spaghetti dinner. It was good as always. Don't know how we did by the numbers though.
I am also a fully trained secretary by the Toastmasters. Kinda sucks that I've been out of service since mid-December. Life of a student but I am only 4 classes away from a Masters in Information Technology Management. I am on a mission to document all of these experiences. I've got 87 hours between August and December for 2011 and I want to beat that this year.
And I have moved this blog over to blogger. Figure I'd try it out for a while.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
2011 Volunteer Approximate Stats.
Since I do a lot of Volunteering I figure that I would post how many hours that I have put up in a consolidated post.
August 2011 through December 2011 Total: 90 Hours
These are the events that I have logged information for. These are what contribute to the 90 hours of volunteer time. I have volunteering at the following:
Midwest Salute To The Arts
Kiwanis of O'Fallon and Fairview Heights
Red Cross
Salvation Army
Pork With Passion
Wingsfest
KDHX
Sheldon Concert Hall
Shiloh Homecomming
Strange Folk Festival
Belleville Chilli Cookoff
Unfortunately I didn't think to start logging events till August of 2011. Not fully sure of all the organizations that I helped out before August of 2011 but I'm certain that I did help out with the following organizations. It also means that I probably have more that 100+ hours of volunteer time for 2011. Alas I'll never be sure. It all helped me get good at volunteering. Keep an eye out for 2012's stats
Pre-Logging
FIRST Robotics
Art On The Square
Wine, Dine, And Jazz
August 2011 through December 2011 Total: 90 Hours
These are the events that I have logged information for. These are what contribute to the 90 hours of volunteer time. I have volunteering at the following:
Midwest Salute To The Arts
Kiwanis of O'Fallon and Fairview Heights
Red Cross
Salvation Army
Pork With Passion
Wingsfest
KDHX
Sheldon Concert Hall
Shiloh Homecomming
Strange Folk Festival
Belleville Chilli Cookoff
Unfortunately I didn't think to start logging events till August of 2011. Not fully sure of all the organizations that I helped out before August of 2011 but I'm certain that I did help out with the following organizations. It also means that I probably have more that 100+ hours of volunteer time for 2011. Alas I'll never be sure. It all helped me get good at volunteering. Keep an eye out for 2012's stats
Pre-Logging
FIRST Robotics
Art On The Square
Wine, Dine, And Jazz
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Strange Folk Festival 2011
Another volunteer opportunity in the can from the Strange Folk Festival. Lots of interesting art and Strange People. Got to hangout backstage of the music and help with the setup of bands. Watched over booths for an artist and sold a few pieces of art in the process. Even helped out KDHX on the street team. Gave away CDs, stickers, temporary tattoos, and a few t-shirts.
There is a certain aspect to these events that really draw me in. It hits a nerve just right where I think I am almost maximally optimal. Being in the moment, making things happen. Its this idea that is where I think a part of my ISTP mindset just comes alive. Need to figure a way to possibly monetize this idea that I like being part of the action hands on. There is the short term purpose that drives me there but I get to walk away and do something different at the end of the day or the next weekend. Really like the hands on aspect of these events,the chance to see some cool "stuff" (not really always stuff but could be ideas or a neat product or food). The people, they are always pretty cool at these events and always out to make the event really work out.
It's all just a really neat adventure at these events. I've really only just started.
On a side note, let me know you're out there and post a comment about something or a question.
There is a certain aspect to these events that really draw me in. It hits a nerve just right where I think I am almost maximally optimal. Being in the moment, making things happen. Its this idea that is where I think a part of my ISTP mindset just comes alive. Need to figure a way to possibly monetize this idea that I like being part of the action hands on. There is the short term purpose that drives me there but I get to walk away and do something different at the end of the day or the next weekend. Really like the hands on aspect of these events,the chance to see some cool "stuff" (not really always stuff but could be ideas or a neat product or food). The people, they are always pretty cool at these events and always out to make the event really work out.
It's all just a really neat adventure at these events. I've really only just started.
On a side note, let me know you're out there and post a comment about something or a question.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
More volunteer opportunities....
This past weekend I gave blood for the O'Fallon Kiwanis and worked at the local homecoming. Prior weekend I was at Off Broadway giving away stickers for KDHX and at Wingsfest in Fairview Heights. All very cool events and lots of opportunities to meet lots of interesting people, interesting music, behind the scenes, and I love this stuff. Just being involved doing thing to bring people together.
With all of these people coming together and organizations that need more members, there could be unlimited possibilities for cooperation. If we could only step outside our boundaries and reach out to others. Events that need more volunteers. Getting a group of people that come alone instead of coming out in groups.
What if instead of focusing on a particular area, an organization(s) over an area teams up and work on the area. We scratch your area and we scratch our area. Not just one town but many more. A team up of sorts. Organizations can reach out to other organizations to utilize the unique skill sets and missions. Toastmasters that emcee a Kiwanis auction or local concert. Some weird skill set of two or more organizations that improve the whole. There are hand full of organizations over a single town that have similar purpose but don't interact with each other but each struggle with membership and getting new ideas.
What if you needed more members only required opening up to more people? Truly building a stronger community by sharing and combining forces. Utilizing talents that we can all provide in our unique way. I'm one guy dedicated to being more open to my area. Using all the skill I've learned to pay it all forward. I can't do it alone but I can sure try.
In a nutshell what I am saying is that: if you want an community presence have a presence in your community. It doesn't have to be anything expensive but people just have to step out.
With all of these people coming together and organizations that need more members, there could be unlimited possibilities for cooperation. If we could only step outside our boundaries and reach out to others. Events that need more volunteers. Getting a group of people that come alone instead of coming out in groups.
What if instead of focusing on a particular area, an organization(s) over an area teams up and work on the area. We scratch your area and we scratch our area. Not just one town but many more. A team up of sorts. Organizations can reach out to other organizations to utilize the unique skill sets and missions. Toastmasters that emcee a Kiwanis auction or local concert. Some weird skill set of two or more organizations that improve the whole. There are hand full of organizations over a single town that have similar purpose but don't interact with each other but each struggle with membership and getting new ideas.
What if you needed more members only required opening up to more people? Truly building a stronger community by sharing and combining forces. Utilizing talents that we can all provide in our unique way. I'm one guy dedicated to being more open to my area. Using all the skill I've learned to pay it all forward. I can't do it alone but I can sure try.
In a nutshell what I am saying is that: if you want an community presence have a presence in your community. It doesn't have to be anything expensive but people just have to step out.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)