A great article in TIME

I just finished reading this awesome article in Time Magazine listing 21 ways to serve America ranging from helping out an elderly neighbor to spending a year as a VISTA or NCCC.

What I found most interesting about the article is that on average people spend 23 hours a week watching tv while people who volunteer spend only 15 hours a week watching tv. Wow....

The full article is here if you would like to read it: http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/0,28757,1840466,00.html

Tonight is my first volunteer appreciation event flying solo and there are over 20 people RSVP'ed. We are working with Whole Foods to put on a cooking demonstration so it should be healthy and fun! More news (and maybe recipes too) to follow later!

The things people donate

If you have a box of old magazines lying around it seems like a great idea to 'spread the love' by donating them to your local children's serving organization. However, when you do donate these magazines, we have to record them in some way or another financially. The best way to do this is look at the original sale price and calculate the assumed depreciation value. This means that someone has to go through all three boxes and record that the original sale price in 1971 was 35 cents. I think you can do the rest of the math.


Usually magazine donations are tossed into the program room where at a later date they will be cut up and used to show how the media is influencing girls with sterotypes and images.

Thats right ladies... you can now crochet your own undergarments.

Whats hilarious about this box in particular is that due to the age, the stereotypes have changed a bit but they still hilarious. Like this guy... really? Eww... ok maybe hes a stereotype that's still around...

What I really want to know is who was this person who donated these magazines... a body builder/swimmer/mom/crocheter... etc... seriously the most eclectic assortment of magazines I've ever seen.

I really liked all the cigarette ads... from back before we knew that they killed people. These are all in one magazine.

Doesn't asprin cause Reyes Syndrome in children? Guess they didn't know yet.

Lets just say the magazine donation box was a learning experience... entertaining yet traumatic, but I did find a pretty cool hat pattern to crochet...

Penrod

Each year local artists from throughout Indiana come together to celebrate their art by charging an excessive admission fee and then selling their wares at an equally excessive price. Don't get me wrong, I love art and I understand the cost it take to produce, let alone create a living out of ones passion for.... chopsticks... scarves.... wire birds...

75 dollars for a scarf? I'll make you a scarf for free if you give me the yarn... granted I am not an artist, and it might not look that good and I make no promises that its wont fall apart.

Aside from the prices Penrod was a worthwhile volunteer experience. Plus it took place on the grounds of the Indianapolis Art Museum, one of the most beautiful locations in Indy.

Last weekend before I spent the afternoon walking the IMA grounds, taking pictures, and enjoying the sunlight. I'll post those up in a slideshow when I get them uploaded.

As you all know I'm not in Indiana for the fine arts, although my appreciation has grown. As a VISTA update I have recruited 7 people for the speakers bureau, just over half my goal of 15 total and have the next volunteer appreciation event ready to go. All in all my projects are moving along smoothly and I am preparing them all to transition over when I finish my year.

I can't believe its been 7 months already! It's scary and exhilarating to try and think of what I will be doing a year from now. I have some ideas but nothing for sure and just looking at all of the possibilities is a little daunting.

If all else fails, I'll join the penrod society and make paper cranes. I might have to learn how to make paper cranes first....