Excited For A New Day

“In this business, life is one long fund-raising effort. “~Alvin Ailey 

Happy to say that now since the Independence Day holiday is over, that reminds me of two very special and important things that are about to happen.

One, would be the approaching Halloween season, and I have to keep reminding myself that its coming and if I ever wanted to have my dreams come true of working at the House Of Torment, I better get my game face on.

But then “game face” reminds me of the OTHER special and important thing that is soon to happen. And that is the 2012-13 season of sledge hockey!!

Needless to say that our team is still beaming with tons of pride over the fact that we claimed third place in our first ever tournament. Yes, its still being talked about. And we have every stinkin’ right to do so and be very proud of our accomplishments.

And we now are looking forward to perhaps doing it again in the upcoming season. However, it will not be as easy for us as there is talk about it being in Pennsylvania in 2013. Philadelphia, maybe????????????

I know that the StarSkaters program in Houston is considering going. They are fully aware that they must get out there and do whatever they can to fundraise.

This actually is the time now to do fundraising for sledge hockey. At least for MY team. We lost our ice rink at the end of 2011 and we never got back on the ice to practice in our hometown. Each time we got on the ice after the closing of the rink, we had gone out of town.

So there’s the need to raise money for ice time. There’s one ice rink left in town and that’s just flooded with so many different other programs that it feels like we’re being squeezed out of it. Unless we wanna practice in the middle of the night, during the middle of the week. We had become used to our practices on Sundays.

There had been rumors of a brand new ice rink being built. But there was no clear evidence of it. Just a hole that was dug in the ground. Okay, now what? There’s still no rink.

But recently I was told that it was actually going to happen. A new rink was being built and they are expected to be open for business at the beginning of this upcoming season.

Can I get a “AMEN” anyone?

But with the good came the confusing and the potentially bad. The 501(c)3 that our team was beneath the umbrella of no longer exists. And that could possibly be a problem.

I need to find out just what is going on. We could be still under the protection of a 501(c)3 that I am not aware of.

With the financial support of other people that I am connected with, they have said in the past that the sledge hockey team needed to have their OWN non-profit going on. Suddenly I am aware that if this is true and that we are not a part of any, then we could start.

And that’s all fairly technical. I know. The team still goes on with the memories of our first tournament and the burning desire to go to Pennsylvania soon.

I spoke with the leaders of the Houston program. I asked what the magic number was.

$30,000.

They are trying to do their best with a budget without really knowing exactly when and where the tournament will take place. The idea is that with travel and lodging and everything else in between, it might cost around $2,000-3,000 per player. And Houston is wanting TEN solid players to go.

I am guessing that $30,000 is a conservative figure. It really could be a lot more. I am not sure.

So I’m set and ready to go for this new season. And I am in FULL funding mode!

I am open to any and all ideas of how this goal could be achieved. Because I do believe that it is possible. Even though it is a lot.

Both hockey programs, here and in Houston, ARE non-profit.

Any little idea that anyone can think of, please let me know in the comments. We need to get a good start at this before we attempt to hit the ice. Anything and everything is appreciated!!!!!

 

 

 

Why Have A Blog?

“I want to start a blog, but what should I write about?”. I receive this question more than you know.

A lot of people have been asking me personally about whether or not they should have a blog. It seems as if they have already made up their minds about it, but they just do not know what exactly to write about.

I think that it is a fair question to ask. A lot of people now are writing in online blogs. And a lot of people do it for a lot of different reasons.

Some use their blog as an attachment to their careers. Writers and authors who want to keep their minds fresh for their personal projects and aren’t working on them, want to be able to keep their creative writing minds flowing.

Other people use blogs for the purpose of free advertisement. Whatever it is that they are trying to spread the word on, they use a blog now because most blogging websites are free to join.

I’ve even seen blogs created for the purpose of being able to keep in contact with masses of people. Their posts update from time to time on what is going on with their lives and instead of writing individual e-mails over and over again, or using mass messages which may have limitations, they choose to use the blog to get their information out there.

And still there are those who just use it as a hobby. They post creative ideas and writings and want to be able to put their personal work some place where they won’t lose it, as well as be able to share it with others.

There are countless reasons as to why a person uses a blog. This blog has used all of the above. I do not get paid for blogging, and I doubt that I ever will. And that’s just fine. Writing is good therapy in the first place, for some.

But you want a blog that will be something that everyone can read, right?? Of course you do! You want it to be something that people will actually come back to read it because they want to read it. Especially after the first initial impact that was made from their first time visiting.

The most important part of any blog is what you have to say and how you say it. People will return to your blog if they like what you write about a specific subject and they like your writing style.

With that in mind, your blog should be written in a tone appropriate to your blog topic. Keep it personable so as to invite interaction through blog comments and links back to your blog.

So the important question you should ask yourself is “What is it that I want to say?”.

Are you going to list your family’s favorite recipes and concentrate on that subject, or are you wanting to do a “How To” blog and share with the rest of the world your knowledge on how to do stuff?

Once you figure that out, the rest is pure gravy. You can find just the right blogging website to suit your needs. Then you just write, write, write!

The people will come, slowly but surely.

Good Luck.