www.seattleworks.org

The problem with every org out there thinking Facebook is the answer

Someone just hit the nail on the head:

"There’s a whole lot of talk about strategy and getting the message out (especially through Twitter and Facebook), but surprisingly little about what the message ought to be."   http://spectator.org/blog/2009/02/27/the-cpac-idea-shortage

Yes!! Elected officials, nonprofit organizations, civic groups, etc. - they are all looking at ways to capture our attention through these new technology platforms.

But how many of them are talking about the message itself? Is the cause compelling and relevant to us? Is the organizational structure NOT bureaucratic? Are they open to innovation? Do they provide meaningful ways to take action? Do they provide volunteers and donors with the information and opportunities they are seeking?

It's often said that it's not what you say, it's how you say it. In the case of engaging the next generation - in this rush to be blogging and tweeting, a little more time could be focused on what's actually being said.

- Tara

Usher Gets It

Usher goes to Washington! The singer and Shawn Wilson, president of Usher's nonprofit New Look Foundation, hold court with politicians including Rep. George Miller (left) and Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (right) before a hearing about the importance of community service and volunteerism at the House Education and Labor Committee Hearing Room in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.

http://www.people.com/people/gallery/0,,20261409_20586605,00.html

Lending a Helpful Hand to the Washington Talking Book and Braille Library

Another amazing Seattle Works team of volunteers, Team Happy Hours, hits the road and visits the Washington Talking Book and Braille Library to lend a hand. Read about their thoughts below:

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I never realized how much work it takes to run a library.  We spent the majority of the day rewinding tapes and checking and re-shelving books.  That doesn't sound like much but there are so many books that these tasks could go on for hours.  It made me realize that this library must rely heavily on volunteers, as the 16 of us spent four hours re-shelving books and we didn't finish.  It was a really valuable experience for me to see the behind the scenes work at a place I just take for granted - the library. 

- Lydia Moore, Team Happy Hours

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At first I did not know what to expect from our healthy spaces project at the Library but it turned out to be a fun learning experience and a chance to help in different areas of the process by receiving and sending out books on tape. I might add it is thousands of books on tape; it was very neat to see how many plastic cases there were which contained numerous books throughout history as well as best sellers from today.  I was able to help scan in tapes, and then help re-shelve ones that had already been checked in and sorted.  I learned that the Braille and Talking Library receives almost 2000 tapes on average per day and that they only employ a few part-time employees to help with the receiving and re-shelving process.  I think our work was much appreciated although there tasks are endless,I think it was a great healthy space project.

- Michelle Deckys, Team Happy Hours

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Babies, Blogging, and Seattle Works

The Little Lebowski Urban Achievers

Some of the wonderful Little Lebowski Urban Achievers describe their wonderful Saturday helping out the Eastside Baby Corner. 

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The My-Little-Pony Tricycle or the Big Wheel?  I know...it is a tough choice.  
 
These “sweet rides” are part of the children’s items that the Eastside Baby Corner distributes for free to families in need.  Last Saturday we had the opportunity to help the EBC with cleaning up and organizing items in their Issaquah location.  Our group built shelves, organized children’s clothing, put together cubicles, and more.  After finding out that I have no clue on how to differentiate between girls and boys clothing I decided to focus on building shelves. My experience putting together cheap Swedish furniture (IKEA) was beneficial in putting together a surprisingly sturdy shelf.  
 
At the end of the day it was good to meet new team members and help a worthwhile charity. We also had a chance to play with some of the toys...and looking back I think the Big Wheel was a solid choice on my part! 
 
- Jim Tarr

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Onesie, 2T, 3T…oh my! 

Reach into a bin and select a tiny garment. Take a look at the size…hold on…this is labeled in weight and not in age. What size would a 15-20 pound baby be? Maybe a 12-month, or 24-months size, or a 2T? Or maybe the weight directly corresponds to the age, so maybe 18 months is the correct size? How quickly do babies grow anyway? Not having children of my own, this became a new experience for me. I learned to quickly compare t-shirts, onesies, and other clothing to known sizes to figure out this labeling system.  

This was only one of several tasks the Little Lebowski Urban Achievers tackled on Saturday at the Eastside Baby Corner. We sorted baby clothes, games, books, puzzles, shopping bags, bedding and more as we helped the Baby Corner re-organize their space. We built shelving and cubicles in an effort to make their donated space more efficient. This organization provides items to thousands of families in need and being able to located items for packaging is a priority here. They rely on volunteers to organize and package items for the families they support. It was a fun day helping out at the Baby Corner.

-Jennifer Long

The Serve America Act

If you watched the President's Address to Congress last night you saw him call upon Congress to make service central to our nation's recovery, renewal, and retaking of responsibility for our future:
 
"To encourage a renewed spirit of national service for this and future generations, I ask this Congress to send me the bipartisan legislation that bears the name of Senator Orrin Hatch as well as an American who has never stopped asking what he can do for his country - Senator Edward Kennedy."
 
The Serve America Act, originally introduced by Senators Kennedy and Hatch at the Service Nation Summit in New York City, last September calls for dramatically expanding opportunities for all Americans to serve in their communities.  
 
The bill includes a Volunteer Generation Fund which authorizes a total of $360Million over the next five years to invest exclusively, and for the first time, in volunteer infrastructure.   This provision authorizes-a proposal which Points of Light Institute and HandsOn Network has championed over the last several years and particularly during the formation of the Serve America Act.  
 
For more details on the Serve America Act and the Volunteer Generation Fund, Click here.

Do Something - get yourself some health insurance

Talk about timing - I literally just got done picking out a healthcare plan online (I used esurance.com) and then was catching up on the news. What happened to be right on the front page?

For Uninsured Young Adults, Do-It-Yourself Healthcare

"...Ms. Boyd, whose case remains unresolved, is among the “young invincibles” — people in their 20s who shun insurance either because their age makes them feel invulnerable or because expensive policies are out of reach. Young adults are the nation’s largest group of uninsured — there were 13.2 million of them nationally in 2007, or 29 percent, according to the latest figures from the Commonwealth Fund, a nonprofit research group in New York."

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/18/nyregion/18insure.html?hp

I am guessing some of us don't have insurance due to messed up factors in the healthcare system. But I know there are PLENTY of us who aren't willing to make it a priority or are foolish enough to think we're immune. It was super easy signing up. And I was surprised by the number of individual plans available now (so much better than the last time I looked - 10 years ago as a recent college grad with no job yet). Time to grow up folks! Take care of it. You're worth it.

- Tara

Joining Great People and Great Organizations

(Photo by THOMAS JAMES HURST / THE SEATTLE TIMES)

I want to share a Seattle Works mission moment with everyone. I was at an advisory board brainstorm meeting this evening for Lettuce Link, a program I used to manage at Solid Ground. There were about 30 supporters in the room - staff, volunteers, and community members from all walks of life.  We started with introductions – what brought us to the meeting. Of the 30 people, not one, not two, not three, but FOUR people said they were sitting in the room because of Seattle Works. How cool is that? Two got connected after taking the Bridge last summer. One first learned about the program after volunteering at Marra Farm on Seattle Works Day seven years ago. And finally, the last guy wanted to give back to the community so he signed up for Seattle Works Day last year and ended up at Marra Farm. He has become an active Lettuce Link volunteer and donor. I came home energized and inspired being part of an organization that is vital to the health of our nonprofit community!   

Lee Harper

Seattle Works Volunteer and Board Member

Got Pictures?

We're starting to collect and organize the Seattle Works picture collection and we need your help! If you have any old or new pictures (or even videos) of a Seattle Works event, please send them our way at info@seattleworks.org.

- Matt

Seattle Works volunteers at Beacon Hill International School

Seattle Works in Action: Rainier Valley Cultural Center

Team Works: Lending a hand at the Rainier Valley Cultural Center. 

(Photos taken by Jesse Stanley)

Click here for more amazing photos!