Cityscape

The watercolor painting was created by an artist with great attention to detail. First, he drew the buildings by hand. Then, he filled in the colors using a carefully selected palatte. The result is an easily recognizable yet whimsical view of New York City, a place where I'm constantly watching the scene at eye level, forgetting the incredible view above me.

The creator is a high school student with a developmental disorder and is just one of the talented artists that I experienced while working on the Newmark Schools Annual Art Show. I got to know the school staff and students over six months of planning and preparations, including in-kind donation solicitations to local businesses, sponsorship outreach and parent volunteer organizing.

With every event, there are some setbacks and there are some successes. The Executive Directors were open to trying some new ways to generate revenue and structure the event. We learned that an entry fee was possible, but difficult when the parents really do need to bring home the artwork - and that has a price tag too. We learned that the childrens' artwork sold by silent auction can bring in more funds, but the same problem, of who is buying it, applies. We learned that a live auction can be fun and worthwhile, if the PA system can handle it. We also learned that art teachers make great graphic designers and parents make fantastic display painters.

And we reaffirmed that the students' pride and success at their own work is always the best reward.

Oh, What a Night!

I'm not sure if the gowns and tuxedos had anything to do with it, but there was a festive feel in the air at the UN Women for Peace Gala Benefit. People were celebrating, the reception was packed and the silent auction beat expectations. All in all, over $100,000 was raised and will go towards scholarships at the University For Peace in Costa Rica.

Committee members solicited items for the silent auction, including this designer dress by Reem Acra and painting of Iowa by Joseph Lauer, whose work was recently purchased by the art counsel of the White House.

Volunteers solicted bids throughout the evening, resulting in almost $15,000 raised from the silent auction alone.

Anna Birgis-Hannesson, President of UN Women for Peace and wife of the Ambassador from Iceland, welcomed the crowd using a sound system donated by Scharff Weisberg AV.

Mrs. Ban Soon-taek, wife of the UN Secretary General, presented the UN Women for Peace Recognition Award to Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Jody Williams in front of the 180 guests.

Although I was only called in to work on the event for two weeks, the whirlwind pace helped relationships with the committee members develop quickly.

It was also great to have my "staff" of some of the best event planners I know on hand to help with check-in, VIPs and the silent auction. Thanks, ladies!

UN Women for Peace Gala

I have to thank my good friend Danielle Yango for thinking of me when she heard the UN Women for Peace organization was in a bind. With just 10 days until their event, the group of Ambassadors' wives remembered that their event planner wouldn't be able to manage the event on-site because the date had been changed and presented a conflict for her. So for the past week, I've been getting up to speed on this effort and organizing the silent auction items, volunteers and run-of-show.

The 2009 UN Women for Peace Gala includes two award presentations by the Secretary General to the UN, Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, and his wife, the Patron of the organization, to Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Jody Williams and Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan. Proceeds go towards scholarships for woman interested in attending the University of Peace in Costa Rica.

This is the second annual event for this new organization that was born out of the UN Delegation's Women Club. The committee is enthusiastic; attendance has increased 300% in the last week and silent auction items include a 4 night trip to Iceland, including a designer jacket, custom-made there. For more information or to attend, contact me!

There's Nothing Like New Orleans

I had the pleasure of managing the logistics of the U.S. Human Rights Fund Global Strategy Exchange Convening held January 11-13, 2009 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Convening brought together U.S. social justice and human rights activists and philanthopic donors and global human rights activists and experts to learn about human rights practices in other countries and forge international relationships.

The 80 person meeting quickly grew to 140 attendees in the final weeks before the event. The Loews New Orleans Hotel remained flexible, even when the southern winter wouldn't cooperate with us and we had to move the welcome reception inside rather than hold it in the impressive Piazza d'Italia. Even so, the space was able to accommodate the well-attended event.



Bassist Sam Price solicited musicians to perform at the Welcome Reception as well as the group's off-site dinner at Mulate's Restaurant the following evening. The duo we requested for the first evening was joined by a clarinetist and bossa nova singer who donated their services while the New Orleans funk band on the second night easily pulled attendees from their chairs.


The meeting's agenda was organized by a talented content manager who filled the two days with a few plenary sessions but more intimate breakout sessions where attendees could focus on the topics most relevant to their work.

The highlights of the event were site visits around New Orleans on the topics of criminal and juvenile justice reform, housing and the right to return, workers’ rights, and arts and social justice as well as a trip to Mississippi to learn about the community building work of the North Gulfport Land Community Trust.

For more information about the work of the U.S. Human Rights Fund, visit http://publicinterestprojects.org/projects/partner-and-collaborative-funds/ushrf

ChArLOTte’s “got A LOT”

A few weeks ago I paid my first visit to Charlotte, North Carolina to research venues for my non-profit client’s annual meeting, which is held in a different city each year. To keep costs down, I go for one overnight and see meet with as many venues and vendors as possible. This trip included seven hotels, three restaurants and a transportation company.

It’s always important to us to schedule site visit time wisely, particularly when travel funds are limited. I like to organize meetings 1½ hours apart leaving just enough time to get from site to site and walk around each property to see what amenities and/or reception venues exist nearby. Typically, my client likes at least one evening to include an off-site activity so I research venues in advance and then speak with as many people locally as possible to find the best options that are close enough to forego the added cost of transportation.

Of course, having a clear picture of the event details, including potential dates, timing, activities, and space requirements is most important. My client really prefers natural sunlight in the meeting rooms and that takes precedence over the splashiest of surroundings. In Charlotte, I found it somewhat difficult to find space that met this requirement but one hotel was able to offer a room next to a private hallway that has an entire wall of windows. Open the meeting doors, and voila - natural sunlight in the room.

Speaking of (in?) French...I finally have some photos from the meeting in New Orleans! Stay tuned next week for those!

Newmark Schools Annual Art Show - April 24, 2009

I'm working on a fundraiser right now for a school in New Jersey for kids with developmental disorders and disabilities. My interest in this area stemmed from my time with Autism Speaks. It boggles my mind that these parents could be you, me, anyone we know, ready to have a child, go through all of the joy and fear of those first few years and all of a sudden you realize things just aren't as you expected and your child is struggling. From there comes the doctor appointments, the therapies, the realization that a regular school just won't cut it.

Newmark School in Plainfield (grades K-8) and Newmark High School in Carteret (grades 9-12) are state-approved private schools that meet the individual needs of these children, while challenging them academically and socially.

Each year, the Newmark Schools hold an Art Show, which is an opportunity for the students to express their insight, intelligence and intuition. The Show features work by the students that is sold to attendees during a wine and cheese reception and viewing. The pieces are created by the students as a result of their strong determination to succeed and a passion to discover the power and strength within the artist. These are some of the pieces from last year's show:

The Newmark School is approaching fundraising this year in a smart way. Everyone knows this is a tough time to get big donations so we're reaching out to as many people as we can to build the Newmark School community, raise awareness for the school and just cover the costs of the event. Entry is just $25 and artwork is $40-$60 with a percentage of original artwork sales going directly to the students.

We're reaching out to related associations, local businesses, hospitals and medical centers to attend and purchase artwork for their office walls. If you can make it, please visit http://newmarkeducation.com/giving_artshow.html for RSVP information!

Subscribe to the cause on Facebook! http://apps.facebook.com/causes/229398

BNI

A few weeks ago, on the same day, I heard mention of BNI twice. Like everyone else these days, business is slow and I'm reconnecting with contacts and reaching out to build new relationships, so my ears picked up when I heard "Business Networking International." A quick google and I had learned about two nearby chapters that meet one morning every week to share referrals.

The unique aspect of BNI is that only one person from each industry/job can join each chapter to limit competition and create a collaborative environment. I personally struggle with selling myself and need more than a crowd of strangers and a glass of wine to network productively. BNI meetings are very structured, which helps at 7 a.m. when it's hard to think straight. Each member gives a short commercial, reminding the group about their business and what referrals would be most helpful. Each week, a different member is able to give a longer (10 minute) presentation to provide more detail about his/her services. Then it's time for the referral exchange. At the first meeting of I attended, which had 30 members, 15 referrals flew across the room. At the second chapter I visited, they talked about the $3 million+ in closed business the group had secured for each other in a year. I was hooked.

Now a group of us are starting a new chapter in Hoboken, NJ. For anyone in Hudson County, who is part of a business where they have to go out and find work for themselves (freelancers! small business owners! salespeople!) and wants MORE business, let me know if you're interested in joining our group!

For another quick and thorough description about BNI, check out www.marketingmixblog.com/2009/02/guest-post-is-bni-right-for-you.html