I try not to write about work too much here, but I can’t resist today.
Today we released the official numbers for this past year’s campaign, and I’m so proud I could burst.
Click here to read the details in the press release.

A summary:

“This was indeed a breakthrough year as we shattered a number of fundraising records:
$121 million - overall campaign. This beats our previous record of $101 million in 2004-2005 by $20 million, and our goal of $109 million by $12 million.
$ 61 million to United Way of King County - This is also an all-time high and is a 54% increase over last year (39.5 million)
$ 60 million directed philanthropy to strengthen communities.

The $61 million raised for United Way of King County is comprised of:
$ 38.5 million pledged during the campaign for UWKC, and it’s priorities. (exceeded our goal of $38 million)
$ 22.5 million to the Gates Challenge endowment. - (exceeded our goal of $15 million) This is greater the four times the previous record raised in one year.”

After 7 months of contract work in development here and 4 more as a permanent member of the Workplace Giving/Fundraising team, it’s so great to know that all my hard work is really helping to accomplish something, and that all the faith these generous people in our community is putting in us is worth it. It really has been like nonprofit boot camp for me, on top of a difficult personal year, and I know I’ll only get better. I can’t wait for this fall’s campaign, as I feel really good about the kind of work we’ll be able to do in the coming year.

This $121 million dollar overall campaign makes us the number one fundraising United Way not just in the country but in all of North America! And that doesn’t just mean I feel good about working here, but that I feel DAMN GREAT about living here: we have the most generous, caring, active, invested citizens! This is not just about dollars, but about making a difference, and it’s the donors who deserve the credit and the accolades. I work a lot with direct mail and with campaigns in the public sector, where people really aren’t making THAT much money, and I know in my heart (and in my spreadsheets) how much of those numbers are made up of $10 checks from little old ladies and $6 per paycheck from entry-level secretaries. The generosity of people that I see now, compared to those years slogging around in entertainment with a bunch of self-serving hucksters… All I’m saying is that those people are not just making progress in healing our community but my heart as well.

ABC Radio National aired a piece on the upcoming August event on Saturday morning
Here is the link, and we’re at the bottom of the page.

Also, Bucknell created a piece on the ipod opera that you can find here.

And of course, the homepage is at iOrpheus.com

What if one day, when you were 31-and-4-months-old, you woke up to discover that due to a technical malfunction at the age of 6 — a glitch, a bump — that everything you thought you knew is malleable? That you had two choices: stay the same and die, or change and continue with all the possibilities of a brand new life ahead? Neither path an easy road, you choose to go forward rather than collapse. WHAT DO YOU CHOOSE AS THE MOST IMPORTANT in your new life? Your new you? What is it most important that you become, that you do, that you reach for? You have a chance to fix and shape the organ of perception, intention, and processing. Where do you go? All the options in the world, no money, but no boundaries to your reality just yet. Of all there is to do and be, to accept and honor, to acknowledge and change. Where would YOU start? What would you do differently?

Been catching up on some pictures…
Finally, the following sets are up:
Sounds Outside at Cal Anderson Park June 7
2007 Cornish College of the Arts Art & Design depts BFA shows
Stevie P and Angelique T’s wedding
Interactivity opening at McLeod Residence

More soon including last week’s Artwalk, SBC at On The Boards, more wildlife/zoo/nature walk pics including the good ones I’ve been hoarding, more Mexico shots, some recently developed film, pictures of my brain and radioactive pee, Greenwood Car Show, some family stuff, Crazy handbell stuff, etc. Plus I’ve been meaning to organize the collections better and change the way the front page looks.

Other big stuff that’s been keeping me busy: Just as I was starting to feel better, Josh and I got our 90-day notice. Time to knock down the house, so get out!!! We’ve known a change was coming for some time, as the new landlords (without so much as an introduction) started the process of getting us relocation assistance some time ago.

I’ll spare you the bloody details of the nasty housing search (holy cow Seattle! What happened? Also - Mr. Jewett, that wasn’t cool at all. Life ISN’T fair, well-intentioned you may be but turning it into a class war/technology race is one of the more unfair options. Bad neighbor.) but we did manage to find a very nice place in the U District, only a little above our budget. I adore the landlord, there’s plenty of room, and I’m really looking forward to a fresh start, a shorter commute, and some grown-up entertaining. Maybe Josh and I can take advantage of the African Cookbook Project in our sunny new kitchen - or maybe we’ll be too busy eating at the Ethiopian restaurant ONE BLOCK AWAY. When I’m not blowing my paycheck nightly at one of my favorite Indian food restaurants, also ONE BLOCK AWAY. Yay.

Best news of all, we got our relocation check Monday, and were able to pay the whole deposit! With the rest of my half, I paid off my credit card. ROCK. That’s nice to be able to do now, as things are going to get kind of tight: Friday is the first paycheck of doom, as my flex plan enrollment kicks in. Flex plan is a neat account that allows you to deduct eligible medical expenses before taxes, and my check is going to shrink by $250 per paycheck for the next while. Ouch. Yes kids, I’m really going to spend that much, AFTER insurance, on medical care this year. DAMN. (Thanks for the memories, music community… but you can understand my temporary desertion. You could never support that in your stupor. Psh. Community? I’m not a rock star and I didn’t fall off a truck so who cares.) Eventually that will all come back around, but meanwhile I’m paying twice. Now is when I ignore the tired.

Anybody wanna buy a picture?
Anyone been coveting a record in my collection?
Now’s the time to hit me up for a deal.

Under that weight, and some other you couldn’t imagine, and some we all share, I’ve decided to just make up my mind to focus on the positive, because over the last year (or 5) of crap I’ve crumbled enough. (The sun helps this greatly) I have a wonderful, supportive boyfriend, a wealth of art supplies, a sweet kitten (the cuteness in the house is redonk), a decent job, a wealthy country that provides many opportunities, an education, a sturdy health care support team, discounted medication, some talent, boobs, some of the really useful parts of my brain still work (speech! motor functions!!! RAD!) a car, a good family (extra bonus fathers, even!), a working phone, my first two green tomatoes on the vine, running water, a crapload of vinyl to sell or share, some very nice art, an awesome band, about a hundred bucks, enough credit limit to buy a camera, and many other resources. (And I’m being very well-behaved in not quantifying/qualifying some of those things) It’s summer! Holy cow! What’s my problem?

News of interest today:
The good Ichiro news is at Metroblogging Seattle and everywhere else.
I-5 in August is going to SUCK (SeattleTimes)
Good thing I’m going to Australia.
I’m not even going to touch the Bush idiocy of late. Leave that to SLOG, they’re better at being eloquent while frustrated.
Speaking of, found THIS via.
Old news: Lobbying is big business in state. Yikes. Wash clean? (don’t I WISH)

Spam is out of control, admin’s MIA, I don’t have time to fix it right now. Sorry!
Email me if you’ve something to say, I’ll reopen shortly.