Well, my head may explode. Mari Anne and I returned from the Site Directors Meetings last night, which were held in Pittsburgh over the weekend, and I for one have a lot to process! We talked about many things – what great things happened at each site this past year, fundraising, how a homeless shelter is using DC with their adult population (to great affect of course!), money, Pierre’s experience in Jaffa (more about that later), the national network, grants and foundations, research, galas, etc. Yes, you noticed that there was a lot of talk about money! Where to get it, how to keep it, raising it.
One thru-line connects us all: Dancing Classrooms is an EXTREMELY successful program that shows over and over again the power it has to change lives and also that all of us who are involved are passionate about it.
I came away with some ideas about how to shake things up just a bit. Don’t worry, I’m not re-iventing the wheel, just maybe adding a little grease!
In Pierre’s report about the work he did in Jaffa, he mentioned that there will be a new documentary about his work there which will premier next summer. He encouraged all the sites to have premier gala events and that he will try to attend them all. Be assured I will be throwing Omaha’s hat in the mix!
In the meantime, my plan is to create a time-line with all of the information I gathered there and do some prioritizing. And trying to keep my head from exploding.
Roxanne
