Hello USA
You know they say you can never go home again? Well that is true and false depending on how to define “home”.
Continue Reading 17/05/2017 at 10:05 Barbara Talisman, CFRE Leave a comment
#Fundraising Best of the Best #AFPFC
In this post – an overview of what I thought (IMHO) were the best of the best sessions at the Association of Fundraising International Conference. My selections were based on presenter, content and information I can use. For handouts links are provided in the post.
Continue Reading 15/05/2017 at 10:04 Barbara Talisman, CFRE Leave a comment
Jack Ma – The Alibaba of Philanthropy
I do believe in serendipity. I am about halfway through a biography of Jack Ma called Alibaba. As a philanthropic advisor and now living in the Asia Pacific – I have been curious about him and his work for some time.
The Jack Ma Foundation just made a $AUD26m gift to University of Newcastle. While in Australia he also opened Alibaba offices in Melbourne.
Ken Morley and Jack Ma
This gift is a classic story of fundraising cultivation, engagement, remembrance and giving. In his words,
“The scholarship will honour the special relationship I formed with the Morley family. I am very thankful for Australia and the time I spent there in my youth. The culture, the landscape and, most importantly, its people had a profound impact on my view of the world at that time.”
After meeting the Morley family in 1980 on their trip to Hangzhou and helping them on subsequent trips back – a
David Morley and Jack Ma
This gift places Jack Ma in the upper echelon of philanthropy in Australia. The scholarship is large enough to impact individual students and generous to support many students. The impact of the scholarship will be felt for many generations. And it was given in the true spirit of philanthropy – to help others and remember a special time, place and people who had a tremendous impact on Jack’s life.
Before he left Newcastle to open the Alibaba offices in Melbourne, he thought about how else he might remember his time with the Morleys, Newcastle and Australia.
“Twenty-six million Australian dollars, it’s big. I think I should do more in the future.”
Spoken like a true philanthropist investor – looking toward the future.
Expat Voters
DoD Info Graphic 2014 Survey
Then there was another conversation which I have not personally experienced, but been told by others and read on social media. The gist is,
“If you’re concerned about the US why are you living here?”
Wherever that “here” may be and the tone is judgemental or caring depending…….
Expats are living overseas for many reasons – none of anyone’s business. The reason I am writing this post is to share – no matter where you live – if you are an American citizen – you have a voice and opinion you can share. Social media and online tools make it easier than ever.
There are actions US citizens overseas are taking to support immigrants, tell Congress what we think, forming groups of people (expats and not) to create a collective voice, signing petitions, posting on social media and more.
In my case, I have formed a group of people interested in voter registration and get out the vote. It is the place I come from in my political experience and believe it makes a difference even more so overseas. After a couple weeks of FB postings, comments and way too long Messenger threads – on Saturday expats and dual citizens gathered in my home and via Skype from Melbourne, Sydney and Los Angeles to discuss our options. We all agreed every election between now and 2018 is vital – local, state and federal elections. And we read about how US voters overseas can make the difference in any national election. And in 2018 the census and redistricting will begin. We will go where the potential voters are – first voter registration drive – Super Bowl party at Crown Casino Melbourne!
In 2014 there were 5.7M US citizens living overseas – 2.7M were 18+ and eligible to vote. In the 2016 elections 600,000 US citizens abroad voted.
The last 2-4 weeks before the November election was a challenge with expats trying to register or vote before it was too late – not all succeeded as there are different requirements in every state or county to voting or registering to vote from overseas.
We agreed this is a problem and all had personal or social media stories of absentee ballots not received, websites not working, voting age children unable to register. There is also the same apathy in the overseas folks as at home – “It’s too hard. I always forget to ask for an absentee ballot. Oh, I can vote when I’m living overseas?”
This dedicated group of people agreed to act and do. While we’re many thousands of miles away from our native homes, we know we can make a difference and have chosen to do so. We’re in it for the long haul. Watch this space and FaceBook as our work starts and begins to build.
#Gratitude Circa 2017
2017 is starting off with a bang. December 22 I started a vacation that took me to Bangkok cooking classes, resting at the beach in Hua Hun, New Year’s Eve overlooking Antarctica and a foodie and museum tour of Singapore. I am grateful to Wendy Ong and Sanjeev Jayasinghe – fellow fundraisers and CASE Institute alumni – who moved part of my Thailand experience to the beach and for hosting me. I am grateful to be able to take a travel vacation. I’ve got a great life that has led exactly to where I should be in 2017.
Gratitude will be my theme. Enough with the “first world problem” complaints. Wendy and I talked about a Campaign of Attitudes at work and home. Our positive attitudes will shine on our colleagues and be reflected back. We have chosen not to go down the negative path or be drawn into challenges without solutions – immediate and thoughtfully. We’re calling it a Campaign of Attitudes and we will be leading by example.
Then on day one of 2017 Chris Brogan and Seth Godin posts appeared in my inbox at the same time. Their posts always show up when I need them most. Their timing is impeccable and I’m grateful for that.
Seth talked about choice –
Attitude is the most important choice any of us make.
Chris reprises his “My 3 Words” exercise.
Choose 3 words we can use to guide us forward to more success in the coming year.
I am grateful for the simplicity and ease of their suggestions and counsel. Less complication is good.
I am working on my 3 words and attitude. If I feel my choices and attitude can inspire or assist you, I’ll share them here and on my social media accounts.
For now I’d like to say thank you for reading and sharing my posts and wish you all you want in 2017 – knowing you can make it so if you choose.
Talking with Titans
Future plan no more than 6-12 months – focus on values clarification. Allows for more flexibility with opportunities, experimentation and see what doors open and people come my way.
Continue Reading 12/12/2016 at 09:15 Barbara Talisman, CFRE Leave a comment
Survivorship | Susan Sink
“What we have to fight, the chaos of nature, per Gonzales, is this: our brains. Our ability to manage our impulses and also to be present mentally to find solutions even if they mean ignoring previous training.”
Continue Reading 09/12/2016 at 06:54 Barbara Talisman, CFRE Leave a comment
