tigblogs

Jen's Journal

mid-may status

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

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Sunday May 12
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Happy Mothers Day to all of your mom's :)

Today was insane. I woke up at 8:00 and spent a bit of time with my mom while she opened up her mother's day gifts...she LOVED what I got her!! (a clock from tribal rhythm, incense, candles and plastic flowers)!

Went to her a motivational speaker present to a group of high school 'leadership' students at Humber College (the conference was called HOBY). It started at 8:45.

Went to my nonna's (dad's mom) and spent a few hours having a bit of breakfast and enjoying small talk :)

Spent time with my grandmother (and my entire mom's side of the family) - working on a Family Newsletter!! We've had this idea for a while now...I have a list of the birth date for each member on my mom's side of the family (25 people!)...it is sooo good to honour people on the day that they were brought into this life :)

Caught up on school stuff (read through online materials for school)

Typed up notes from discussion with Andy about fundraising 'program areas'...the categories we've come up with based on recent and past discussions are the following:
- Digital Divide
- Education
- International Development
- Cross-Cultural Understanding
- Youth Empowerment

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Saturday May 11
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Went to the dojo for some karate. Learned a new crazy kick (spinning back roundhouse kick)! Really improving my form...will be having a fitness test next weekend!

Went to the Youth Action Network's Youth Week Launch Party at the Native Canadian Centre!! (met up with karis, martin, jarra and mike)...

Went out for some bubble tea and then to a movie with mike, jarra and martin :)

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Friday May 10
*****************

Intense meeting with andy about TIG fundraising stuff. Developing a 'contact relations' strategy. This will involve me sending out regular updates (that I think I will call 'TakingITGlobal Insight') to current and potential TIG clients, partners and fenders...it will give an update on where we are at and what our needs are...

Part of what I need to do is scan in a stack of business cards that I have been collecting recently (at least 200) and then looking through my database of contacts in outlook (approx. 1000) to identify which people I should be keeping in closer contact with. Yikes!

Met with people who are developing the World Youth Centre. This is a legacy of the Toronto Olympic Bid and has many ideals that are similar to TIG (especially with the initial vision of having physical opportunity and resource centres for youth to collaborate globally)...They are very impressed with TIG and want to partner...They are just getting things going so we have a lot of experience to share! I will keep people posted with progress :)

Met with people who will be speaking on a panel that I am moderating this Thursday at Innoversity. We prepared for the event by talking about key themes that we want to cover in our session :)

Went shopping for my mother's day gift!

Spent a few hours with Michelle and the owner's of the hair salon that she works at. They are interested in having a website built and TIG might be the group that develops it...however, they may not be ready for it...we learned a lot about TIG's unique mindset and we also developed our negotiation skills ;) we will hear back from them about whether or not they want us to pursue this project by the end of the week...

Enjoyed dinner and a long chat with Michelle and mike :)

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Thursday May 9
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Meeting with Guidance councillor consultants to the TDSB's Peer-Leadership and Support Course. I am developing a resource that will be given to teachers of this course as part of their training program. Basically, they want us to help assist in the delivery of the program - and especially in the area of how technology can be used to enhance the overall classroom experience...I will be using elements of the TIG Guide to Action in creating the resource...they are in love with TIG!

Spent some time responding to e-mails and phone calls

Went to Karis' school for Co-Op Appreciation day - got a framed certificate for being the TIG Co-op Coordinator!! AWWW - it is soo cute :) I also got to see The Student School - which is a very cool alternative school that Karis goes to...

Upon returning to the office, I had an INCREDIBLY productive afternoon - working away on e-mails that continue to pile up in my in-box.

Went to the Native Canadian Centre with Karis - to a drumming circle...it was beautiful (even though I had to leave a bit early)...i think I might become a member and attend more of their cultural events...I really want to learn more about Native Canadians..while we were there, Karis and I talked a bit about her idea around creaming a portal for aboriginal youth within TIG to have a voice. I think that this is a concept definitely worth exploring

Went to my kung-fu class - which was therapeutic and stimulating

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Wednesday May 8
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Met with Jacqueline from the YMCA in the morning - reviewed the concepts that were designed by martin, sush and amanda for the youth employment website. She is sending them off to her team to get their opinions (I think that coming up with the design of the site is going to be a longer process than normal - just a head's up)..

Called Jerry from Nigeria...had an incredibly inspiring discussion (a phone call that we have been trying to have for WEEKS) about his plans for TIG in Nigeria. We need to develop an agreement between TIG Intl. and the TIG Centre for Youths Development that he wants to set up in Nigeria.

Met with michelle to discuss a strategy document that she is putting together for TakingITLocal / TIG Country Sites etc. I am really looking forward to developing this initiative in a way that truly taps into the potential of our network!!! Stay tuned for recent developments :)

Attended Regent Park Focus and Media Watch will be launching their websites at a launch party in the Regent Park Focus community centre. The launch included a display and orientation of the websites, an online discussion on the Media Watch site, a panel discussion that was live to air on CKLN, which is their first broadcast from their new studio. ...and of course some food and music. It was a lot of fun and shed light on a lot of issues...

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Tuesday May 7
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At UofT's Department of Public Health Sciences - there is an initiative called TeenNet. The goal of the TeenNet Research Project based at the University of Toronto is to study ways of engaging youth in health promotion using technology. TeenNet is based on respecting individual choice by teens and exploration of options regarding health behaviour. TeenNet takes a "teens in action / youth driven" approach that involves young people from diverse backgrounds in all stages of program development, evaluation and dissemination.

TeenNet has a project called Global Youth Voices. I met with the coordinator of this project and talked about the TIG online community. They might be interested in developing a partnership relationship where TIG serves as the community that they help develop research and resources for. They are trying to develop a model for fostering grass-roots community action.

Worked on documents/e-mails etc. in the office for a few hours.

Met with lawyers who are working on TIG's by-laws. After spending 2 hours with the lawyer, we found out that he charges $250/hour. Crap - lawyers are SOOO expensive. Hopefully we can leverage skadden's support once the ontario stuff is figured out. There are a lot of legal documents that need to be reviewed.

Kung-fu class in the evening

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Monday May 6
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Staff meeting

TIG Toronto Workshop meeting with facilitators!! The schedule is pretty much set!!

Month of May Schedule:
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Beginner HTML (Wednesday May 8 / 5:00 - 8:00 / Lab Fifth Floor) / Peter / Aubrey

Project Management (Wednesday May 15 / 5:00 - 8:00 / Lab Fifth Floor)/ Huss

Intermediate HTML (Wednesday May 22 / 5:00 - 8:00 / Lab Fifth Floor) / Nicole / Aubrey

Performing Arts (Thursday May 23 / 5:00 - 8:00 / Conference Room 4th Floor / Meghan

Advanced HTML (Wednesday May 29 / 5:00 - 8:00 / Lab Fifth Floor) / Martin

Collages (Thursday May 23 / 5:00 - 8:00 / Cafeteria) / Karis


Month of June Schedule:
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Resume Writing (Tuesdeay June 4 / 5:00 - 8:00 / Lab 5th Floor) / Rebecca, Anchla

Dreamweaver (Wednesday June 5 / 5:00 - 8:00 / Lab 5th Floor) / Martin / Houshi

Flash (Wednesday June 12 / 5:00 - 8:00 / Lab 5th Floor) / Jarra

Panel of Professionals (Thursday June 13 / 5:00 - 8:00 / Conference Room 9th Floor) / Anchla / Peter / Adam

Introduction to Java Scripting (Tuesday June 25 / 5:00 - 8:00 / Lab 5th Floor) /
Manisha / Meeta (Just let Maria know when a good date is for the intermediate ;)

*TakingITGlobal Open House* / Wednesday June 26 / 5:00 - 8:00 / Conference Room 9th Floor)
You are all invited to this event!!!!

Promoting Yourself (Wednesday June 19 / 5:00 - 8:00 / Conference Room 4th Floor) / Jesse

Month of July Schedule:
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Visual Arts / Drawing / (Wednesday July 3 / 5:00 - 8:00 / Cafeteria) / Neema / Sofia

Volunteerism / Community Involvement (Wednesday July 10 / 5:00 - 8:00 / Conference Room 4th Floor) / Emmanuel / Janice

Visual Arts / Painiting / (Thursday July 11 / 5:00 - 8:00 / Cafeteria ) / Neema / ?

Creativity (Wednesday July 17 / 5:00 - 8:00 / Cafeteria) / Mirella / Sonya

Leadership Skills (Thursday July 18 / 5:00 - 8:00 / Conference Room 4th
Floor) / Alex / Jason / Anchla

Experience Entrepreneureship (Wednesday July 24 / 5:00 - 8:00 / Conference Room 4th Floor Rebecca / Robert Lin

Art Therapy (Wednesday July 31 / 5:00 - 8:00 / Cafeteria) / Amanda


~ went to my Karate class at night

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Sunday May 5
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A day of rest, renewal, recovery

Ukranian Easter :)

Watched a rental movie (Training Day)

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Saturday May 4
*****************

All-Day Abroad Pre-Departure Training Session for Sweden (I may or may not actually go)

At the training, I got to present to 100 students who are going to another country to study next year. I gave out TIG stickers and talked about how TakingITGlobal.org can be used as a resource for them while they are abroad! A few people came up to me afterwards and seemed really excited about what we offer :)

Saw Spider Man!! Really enjoyed the movie - but wasn't impressed AT ALL with the role of woman...they just seem so helpless and almost pathetic characters...i got really upset after the movie because it made me realize that there aren't very many films AT ALL that depict women in a way that is strong, yet attractive, smart and somewhat heroic...and even if these elements are present - it always seems like the woman is much weaker than the male figures.

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Friday May 3
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Fundraising meeting with Andy (jarra, martin and mike joined in)
Discussion about the need for a contact database/matrix. Priority for next meeting.
Discussion about upcoming events, current contacts (including TEN), latest progress etc.

Abroad Pre-Departure Training Session for Sweden (evening)

TIG Party at the Townhouse!! That was fun Fun FUN!!! It was great to hang out - watch a movie - laugh - eat cake - dance - laugh some more - see people who I haven't seen in a while - give/get hugs - be with people who I respect and admire :)

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Thursday May 2
*****************

Nicole (from TIG@York) came to TIG to work on the TIG@York site

Met with Laura (VP at YMCA) about ownership of computers in the lab and challenges encountered with Trillium Funding. The Y is nervous about TIG owning the computers - because if they leave, then the lab will not have any computers. Soo - we came to an agreement that is currently being drafted in writing. Our 'partnership lease' has been extended to June of 2003. If TIG leaves before that date, then the computers in the lab will be owned by the YMCA. If the YMCA kicks TIG out, then TIG owns the comptuers in the lab. This is a basic summary to a very challenging situation. I think that this is a very fair compromise :)

We will be getting cheap software licences for the computers through the YMCA as they have charitable status and get good discounts.

Met with Houshi about TIG summer internship - he worked on banner designs and sent them out!! Houshi got a scholarship and hopes to work at TIG this summer as part of the work placement his scholarship sponsors!!

Went to The Learning Partnerships Fundraising Gala (unlike the last Gala where we got about 6 extra tickets, I went to this event by myself). I got to meet a group of interesting people and thought a lot about the fact that we have access to SOOO many powerful individuals - and I am not fully tapping into the resources that I have available to me. As a result - it feels like a wasted opportunity...

I really want to focus my time and energy in a way that has the best overall impact. I am committing to try and organize chunks in a way that allows me to stay in contact with some of the interesting people that I've been meeting at various conferences and gatherings...

Prioritizing always seems to be a personal challenge of mine...the one good thing about all the chaos that I create in my life is that I truly enjoy the experiences I am having and the people that I am encountering...there isn't one day that goes by where I'm not inspired at least once (even just for a moment)...

I hope that I am able to put as much good into the world as I feel I receive from the world.

Tags:


May 1

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

it was great to work from home today...

i stayed up till 4am last night - working on the big March/April progress report, and finished it off in the morning. i also wrote up another e-mail that i just sent out called 'Celebrating Progress in April!'

got very caught up on e-mails...from 80 important e-mails to deal with, i'm now left with 20..(and a few sorted e-mails that still need responses)

responded to messages on the phone

had a 1-hour conference call with Dumi from the Youth Employment Summit about the Projects system and how it will be used for the YES Country Networks...

wrote up a proposal for Reluctant Hero Magazine - they want us to develop a site and content management system for their articles

prepared a document for LifeForce Enterprises on TIG online community functionality and how it can be licenced and used to connect young people involved in LifeForce

typed up meeting notes from past discussion about Phase 2 for Sunnybrook's PARTY Program - need to develop proposal

had an online chat with ezekiel about progress (need to send vicki gabereau tape so he can show his team)

send several TODO list items to people individually

sent screen shots for YMCA Youth Employment site to Jacqueline for review

went kickboxing!

Tags:


March / April Progress Report

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

I feel like I have gone through a lot of personal transformation over the past month. I have been trying to have a 'theme word' for different month's to help me set a tone and overall framework for how I want to focus my energy. March was my month of 'FINISHING', April was the month of 'TRANSITION' and Martin suggest that May be the month of 'PREPARATION'...

In terms of my own personal 'transition', I have started to take a bit more time to exercise and read books that I have been wanting to read for a while now. I have joined a Kung Fu / Karate club and have started to go about 2 times / week which has really helped me develop a greater sense of self-awareness along with providing an outlet for a lot of the physical energy that I have... I have been feeling a lot more positive, refreshed, alert and able to handle situations in a more logical and less emotional perspective. In terms of reading, I have finished a book called Leadership Wisdom from the Monk Who Sold His Ferrari : The 8 Rituals of Visionary Leaders by Robin S. Sharma. This book gave me a few wonderful ideas and perspectives on leadership, along with providing a few reminders about things I already know, but may have forgotten.

Although I am still struggling with making time for simple things (like catching up on e-mails, writing updates, returning phone calls etc) I have started to really take strides on many TODO list items (ie: getting the McDonalds Report done and sent, finishing up the Career Edge performance reviews, getting the next newsletter with the Holiday Survey Summary OUT, finishing up the TIG Action Guide, working with people to develop the country sites strategy & structure, doing legal/accounting stuff, invoicing clients for projects etc..) of course, many of the things that are on my priority list of things are only done because of the amazing people that I am working with..which is another part of what's been on my mind lately - I LOVE working with ALL OF YOU!!! It is such a joy to be able to wake up in the morning and feel excited about going into an office filled with people who are so insightful, thoughtful, dedicated and committed...I also love meeting with people that I don't have constant contact with...i feel like I am learning so much from every person I encounter each and every day.

Writing Progress Reports has always been something that I see as a priority, yet it is very difficult to make time for reflection - especially on the things that you do and how it has an impact on your life, the organization you are part of and the world at large. As challenging as it might be, I believe that it is truly important to reflect and be able to share personal reflections within a team in order to be able to grow, celebrate success, learn from challenging situations and foster greater communication within a group setting.

I hope that this progress report (along with the others that I have posted in the past), will encourage other tiggers to share their personal progress and growth with the team so that we can build stronger ties as we move forward!

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Tuesday April 30th
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- morning visit to the hospital (my aunt had a baby boy!)

- Prepare Karis for making calls to Libraries across the GTA (setting up local partnerships) *click the following URL to review the letter that has been written for libraries (and is being sent out as a fax) to explain TIG and how we want to develop community partnerships. http://www.takingitglobal.org/docs/jen/libraries.doc

- Discuss how the TO workshops will be promoted with Jesse and Maria - along with next steps

- Work with maria on designing upcoming workshops. Click the following link to see the draft workshop schedule that we have come up with so far: http://www.takingitglobal.org/docs/jen/UpcomingWkSched.txt


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Monday April 29th
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- meeting with editor of Reluctant Hero magazine about developing a website / content management system for their magazine (need to devleop proposal). The site will include a section with Articles, Back Issues, Artwork and About Us.

- rather than have a staff meeting, we decided to clean up the office in preparation of our big meeting about TO workshops

- TIG @ YORK meeting (attendees: Dan, Huss, Michelle, Nicole, Jen) Click the following URL to review the draft document that the team has put together so far! We will be sharing this document with the Executive Director of IT at York, along with York International and other groups who may be able to support the team. As a next step, Nicole is coming in to work with Jarra on developing the design for http://yorku.takingitglobal.org

- TIG TORONTO WORKSHOP SERIES (meeting with approximately 30 TIG members from TORONTO!) the meeting was a complete success!! Susheela typed up the notes: http://www.takingitglobal.org/docs/jen/Apr29BstormNotes.doc

- clean out mike's truck!! Bring TIG supplies that have been in the car, into the office, get rid of the junk etc.!

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Sunday April 28th
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- 3 hour Kung Fu seminar/training at the dojo (jen learn's black-belt Kata!)

- respond to those who RSVP'd for the Workshop Series meeting

- respond to youth reps who provided feedback on the Action Guide

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Saturday April 27th
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- meeting with mandy! Learned all about what she is learning in the course...totally inspried by the activities, the stories, the journal entries and how what she is experience can be integrated into the TO workshop series! Shared recent progress with mandy (ie; teacher resource guide, world youth centre, TO workshop series meeting, TIG @ York progress etc.)

- meeting with book keeper (mike is a genius! He has been keeping all financial records in decent shape - we will be having our financial statements audited so we have hired a bookkeeper to prepare the draft statements for the accountants to review and send in...it is an important learning process - and we may need to set more policies about financial stuff in the future - for now, things are on track :)

- help (in some small capacity) with cleaning out garage at home!! Bring a few things (paints, baskets etc.) to TIG that can be used as supplies

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Friday April 26th
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- Derek's Birthday!! (party next Friday at the Townhouse!)

- prepare for Monday night's workshop (TO Workshop Series) with Maria. Set the agenda, devleop clear outcomes and framework for break out groups etc.

- catch up on phone calls and e-mails (that have not been returned for about a week!)

- Evening Gala Celebrating Achievement put on by The Council for Canadian Unity - "a non-profit and non-partisan organization, is a rallying point for thousands of volunteers. They share the conviction that better understanding of the nature and workings of Canadian institutions reinformces feelings of attachment to the country and fosters greater citizen involvement in major discussions about the federation's issues." I was invited to attend based on past involvements with the group, and was invited to bring a group of guests to the gala just a few hours before it started!! Here's who came: Jarra, Susheela, Huss, Martin, Michelle, Mike and I…it was a lot of fun!


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Thursday April 25th
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- meeting with the coordinator of the World Youth Centre (which is a legacy of the 2008 Olympic Bid)…they want to create a centre on the harbourfront for youth to connect, affect social change, develop a global perspective,

- sent e-mail to TIG Youth Reps about the DRAFT TIG Guide to Action and requested feedback by May 1st. To read the document, please click here: http://www.takingitglobal.org/docs/actionguide.pdf

- meeting with Houshi (a local high school student who has recently received a scholarship for school and a sponsored work placement) about doing a work term at TIG in the summer. He is a web designer and is interested in helping out with the workshop series!

- did research on the Making IT Work for Volunteers Summit (in Toronto) - sent an e-mail asking if I might be able to attend on a scholarship, got a phone call back from the coordinator with an invitation to speak as part of a panel (which would give me free admission!!) details are still being worked out - but I'm really excited about it!

- Finalized forms for Martin to work for TIG through Career Edge!! This is officially martin's first day as a TIG Career Edge Intern!! YAY :)

- discussed extending maria's contract with career edge and made necessary arrangements

- meeting with Vittoria!! Complete performance review. Discussion about Summer 2002. Vittoria has been accepted to a summer program through York where she will study in Italy! She leaves at the end of May and will be staying in Italy with relatives, returning in August. Her involvement with TIG will be somewhat limited while she is away, but if we develop http://italy.takingitglobal.org vee can get students interested / involved at the University she will be studying at! If the member guide is in Italian (which it should be by then), we can make flyers with a direct link to the guide!

- Kung Fu class in the evening

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Wednesday April 24th
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- meet maria at the office and prepare powerpoint for upcoming workshop! To check out the powerpoint, click here: http://www.takingitglobal.org/docs/jen/tigforstudents.ppt

- At Leaside High School, they are running something called 'Issues Week'. Based on our involvement with the Peace by Piece conference put on by the YMCA, TIG was asked to run a workshop on the theme of 'Racism'. Maria led in the facilitation of 3 workshops (all with the same format), on the topic of racism! The workshop involved choosing small cards that say 'blue culture / green culture / orange culture' etc. Each card described behavioural attributes that the person had to take on. Maria also developed thought-provoking statements for students to reflect and write comments on and then as a group, the reflections were discussed. The 'stereotypes' icebreaker with labels on the forehead was also an activity used during a few of the workshops - and of course, the TIG presentation was shown at the workshops.

- Just a few blocks away, I was invited to a meeting run by The Learning Partnership, about the Co-op Support Student Project. Students from college are hired to work as interns in high schools across the GTA to help integrate technology into the classroom. I am on the Round Table on Technology and am helping out with ideas for this program. I've been thinking about how we can use TIG in helping teachers integrate technology into the classroom. I'm going to work on a proposal (I think TIGED can play a critical role here)... Basically, I see TIGED having off-shoot funcionality that is similar to community zero..we need to allow sub-communities to exist using our 'online community technology'...having sections that include: student profiles, weekly updates, discussion boards, databases of resources, projects database, e-mail listserves etc...

- completed derek's performance review.

- HTML workshop (run by derek and susheela) - the workshop received excellent reviews!

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Tuesday April 23rd
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- conference call with AJ - 20-yr founder of LifeForce Enterprises, Inc. - he runs web businesses, he is a motivatinoal speaker and is an author of a book series...he may be interested in licencing the TIG online community technology

- phone chat with Legal Council in the US (Stephen Yarnell), he will not be working on helping us develop draft agreements at this time because he will need to get paid and we don't know what we can afford as of yet...also, we may be able to get legal support pro-bono

- country sites checklist:
Mike:
- need admin tool for creating a country site
- need content to appear in modules
Jarra:
- need to set a colours for each country in admin
- need to create center module
Martin:
- spider facts and maps

- meet with Besfort (a student who is currently studying at York University but is from Albania) He heard about us through Benjamin at the Global Youth Action Network. He has started to get involved by translating the member guide and TIG Action Guide. He has also attended the TIG @ York discussion on Monday April 29th and the TIG Toronto Workshop Series brainstorm...an amazing person with great ideas / perspectives.

- students that are part of mike's new media class at st. stephens had a client meeting scheduled for 4:30. I had 30 minutes to prep the studnets for the meeting and was involved in helping to facilitate the meeting at st. stephens. I created and used the following handout for this session: http://www.takingitglobal.org/docs/jen/ProjectManagement.doc

- kung fu class in the evening

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Monday April 22
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- Present workshop series / workshop kit / TIG overview etc. to Guidance Councellors and Consultants to the Toronto District School Board. They would like me to develop a Teacher's Resource Kit that can be used in a peer-to-peer learning course run by TDSB. The Resource Kit will include the following sections: Workshop Kit Overview / Project Plan template / TIG Guide to Action / TIG Online Community Components and how it can enhance the classroom environment / Student Experiences (profiles of TIG members), Background on TakingITGlobal (include media, workshops in local schools etc.) Although will not pay us to develop the kit, they will do all the printing and will help us to promote it through other boards!

- respond to RSVP e-mails for TO Workshop Series Meeting!

- TIG @ YORK - meeting #3 - this brainstorm aimed at developing ideas that would contribute to an overall strategy for the team to use as a basis for moving forward. Michelle took minutes: http://www.takingitglobal.org/docs/jen/TIG@YorkMeeting3.doc

- e-mail bob gagne (executive director of IT at York) about TIG @ York - try to set up a meeting

- write up a response to shalala's comments on draft concept paper for ict.takingitglobal.org

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Sunday April 21st
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- work on catching up with e-mails, accounting and legal stuff

- comment on stockholm challenge application (to nick)

- call Jerry - in Nigeria (tried several times with no luck) Prepared the following document as an outline for the conversation (questions to past correspondence with Vanessa): http://www.takingitglobal.org/docs/jen/tignigeria.doc

- prepare handout for client meeting with st. stephens on tuesday

- attended a round table discussion with people about the role of religion

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Saturday April 20th
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- study for exam...

- EXAM at NIGHT - Course: Computers, Information and Society - after writing the exam for this course, I felt good yet horrible. I knew the answers to all the questions (generally speaking), because I studied what I was told to study - but I felt like so much more could have been explored within the course. One assignment in this course was to write a short story on a new technology. I chose 'online communities' and wrote the following short story: http://www.takingitglobal.org/docs/jen/ShortStory.doc It totally relates to TIG as the main character is an example of how a TIG member might be able to use the community to grow, develop diverse perspectives, make new friends and connections etc.

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Friday April 19th
*****************

- intense morning of doing performance reviews (with maria, vanessa and amanda)

- Vanessa's last day as a staff member at TIG (she now works at War Child Canada and will still be involved in a volunteer capacity)...Amanda's last day before going away to school for 6 weeks to an Art Therapy course (coming back for weekend check-in's)

- went as a group for lunch to a nice place outside on the patio and then to get ICE CREAM!

- created little crafts (painted plastic 'sun catchers') as a group :)

- worked at the office until 8:00 on e-mails / documents / country sites stuff etc.

- Dave Matthew's band concert!

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Thursday April 18th
*******************

- work from home

- call jerry from Nigeria. The following overview document was prepared for the conference call:

- catch up on e-mails (OVER 150 SENT e-MAILS on THIS DAY!!!)

- study for upcoming exam

- kung fu class in the evening

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Wednesday April 17th
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- Information Warehouse meeting about website development project progress (basic design complete, functionality working)

- meeting with Jesse about involvement with TIG / progress with marketing stuff

- meeting with Andy about fundraising stuff and involvement with TIG (a proposed plan of next steps)

- YMCA building shut down in the afternoon (power shortage) - people sent home - tiggers go to the townhouse for a chat :) the question of 'how people feel about how TIG operates' was asked and the group talked about strengths and weaknesses of the TIG office environment. Some love things as they are, some expressed the need for more structure / organization. There is a great need to get the computers that have arrived from compaq set up so that the office is more organized (which can't happen until the wireless cards arrive and the software is available for installation)...other issues 'TIG culture' were discussed in the sense that it is not as 'professional' as business environments, yet a lot of innovation and creativity is fostered in the TIG environment. There is a need to maintain balance...

- catch up on e-mails in the evening, study for exam, go to bed at a decent hour!

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Tuesday April 16th
******************

- connect with Laura from the YMCA about Trillium proposal, ask Richard from CIDA if he has feedback on past proposal submitted

- research libraries across the GTA, make a few phone calls and ask about their bulliten board, write up a draft letter to be sent to branch managers within libraries and to youth program coordinators at recreation centres to promote the Toronto Workshop Series.

- online chat with breslin about creating pictures for the zine

- chat with amanda about what she will work on while away (Online Greeting Cards, TIG Promotional materials, Art Workshop Series (materials / activities etc.), Connect to your Career informational stuff, GG Personal Exhibit enhancements)

- write up and send proposal to organizers of the University Café (an initiative of World Youth Day) for TIG to set up computers and an online exhibit within the global gallery (involves doing training for reps so that they can take pictures during the event and get them online)

- TIG DISPATCH SENT - click here to review March/April dispatch: http://www.takingitglobal.org/community/dispatch/v2.2.html
Many hours of the day were spent developing the content of the newsletter, martin set up an archive of past newsletters, dumi wrote a paragraph about the youth employment summit, jarra wrote about member profiles and martin spent a lot of time summarizing the summary of the holiday survey report!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Monday April 15th
*****************

- develop a proposal with Maria for the Toronto Youth Cabinet for conducting a workshop on the theme 'How to Conduct a Great Workshop' - they are putting a workshop series together. Here is our proposal: http://www.takingitglobal.org/docs/jen/TYCWorkshopProposal.doc

- staff meeting (with the larger group)

- Discussion with Michelle, Karis and Susheela about Vanessa's role at TIG and how components of her role will need to be transferred. Click here to review her Transfer Memorandum. Vanessa's last day is Friday April 19th. http://www.takingitglobal.org/docs/jen/VanessasTransferMemorandum.doc

- discussion with Nancy La Neve (over the phone) about progress with Promoting a Culture of Peace - art contest that she is runnint at her high school. She made an announcemnt about it at the school assembly and is forming a team to promote the contest! The principal gave her a budget in order to laminate and devleop materials etc.

- 3-4 hour conference call in the evening with Nick, Terry and Mike about the ICT digital opportunities portal on TIG - working documents are being developed and sent off to potential funders (for more info. on this please e-mail nick@takingitglobal.org)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sunday April 14th
*****************

- relax, read, respond to e-mails, family stuff :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Saturday April 13th
********************

- Toronto Youth Cabinet meeting at City Hall - connected with an amazing group of young people from Toronto, talked a bit about TIG in side discussions with people, learned about TYC initiatives and shared ideas on how they can grow

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Friday April 12th
********************

- Workshop Facilitation at Heart lake Secondary School in Brampton - Career Studies class (with Jarra, Maria and Susheela)

- pick up UHAUL van (rental)

- go to jen's and get furniture (futon and big green chair)

- take furniture to the townhouse and set everything up

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thursday April 11th
********************

- conference call with VTV (they are interesting in having a show called 'TakingITGlobal' and using our network as a means to gather content / stories from young people globally...

- meeting with Andy about fundraising

- Xcursion & V4 Presentation (1:00 -

- first kung fu class at Yamanaka's Martial Arts Club

- concert (with amanda, vanessa and maria)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wednesday April 10th
********************

- meeting with michelle about involvement with TIG...discuss Taking IT Local vision

- meeting with jacqueline about youth employment website

- web design workshop in the evening at TIG

- long chat with Dumi (conference call) about TIG Action Plan, Country Sites Strategy and overall direction

- work with karis to complete certificates for GG contest winners

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tuesday April 9th
********************

- work on TIG Guide to Action (get feedback from staff, integrate changes)

- work on the newsletter

- finalize and send of binder to McDonalds

- go through jarra's pictures from his trip

- paint with jarra

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Monday April 8th
********************

- Meet with martin about TIG Guide to Action (get feedback)

- 3 hour meeting with Anne Lamont (from the Royal Bank) then Charlie Coffey - discuss Career Edge internships, present frame with pictures and talk about progress interns have made along with how the orgnaization has grown

- meet with vanessa about extending career edge contract or not - discuss war child opportunity

- phone conversation with Tad from Youth For Environmental Sanity (got accepted into the World Youth Jam!! Discuss next steps etc)

- write up country sites strategy document for review

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sunday April 7th
********************

- develop april work plan document for jarra

- work on TIG Guide to Action, download fonts from www.1001fonts.com (a GREAT site!), integrate new fonts into pictures and diagrams

- TODO list (sent to mike)
Zine completion
Projects tool (see fields attached)
Youth Rep Admin revamp with fields (attached in progress doc)
Review survey & prepare newsletter (sent in past e-mail)
Review action guide (I will send soon!)
Look into server hosting
Logout on site needs to logout
PROGRESS section in About US needs to be upgraded
Insurance (for staff, office and directors)
Classroom connections
NCR $$
Computer setup for jesse & michelle

- update Matrix of TODO lists, respond to e-mails

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Saturday April 6th
********************

- read, rest, catch up, clean, hang out with friends

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Friday April 5th
********************

- meeting with Michelle about upcoming involvement as a volunteer and THESIS on TIG!!

- meeting with andy about fundraising

- meeing with vanessa about status on TIL initiatives and future initiatives

- clean the office day!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thursday April 4th
********************

- prepare handouts and get materials for workshop

- workshop at st. stephens (about TEAMWORK, LEADERSHIP, COMMUNICATION, PROJECT MANAGEMENT skills)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wednesday April 3rd
********************

- meeting with coordinator of information warehouse (at jane and finch mall) - discuss system that TIG is building

- meeting with Karis' co-op teacher

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tuesday April 2nd
********************

- work on marketing plan!

- Marketing Plan due for Marketing course at school!! I learned a TON in this course!!

- networking event in the evening run by the Council for Canadian Unity 'Honourable Bernard Lord, Premier of New Brunswick' was the guest at the event (Jesse and Karis attended with me)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Monday April 1st
********************

- optional work-at-home day for entire staff (most did not come in)

- took my mom to a 'paint it yourself - ceramics' place and made a butterfly for the wall :)

- responded to many e-mails, developed outline for marketing plan for TIG

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sunday March 31st
********************

EASTER SUNDAY (family day)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Saturday March 30th
********************

EASTER VIGIL (evening mass)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Friday March 29th
********************

(Family day)

GOOD FRIDAY MASS

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thursday March 28th
********************

- meeting with Jacqueline from YMCA about info. warehouse project

- de-brief PHP workshop

- Staff Meeting (give out TIG-mobiles and holiday treats!)

- Sister Nicole is in Town!!! (take her for lunch)

- Dismantling Cultural Barrier's Workshop (run by Maria)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wednesday March 27th
********************

- respond to e-mails, phone calls, work with staff on projects etc.

- meeting with Evan (TIG volunteer) about developing a 'consultant' arm of TIG

- mike's PHP workshop

- meeting with Michelle Lam (organizer of CUTC) about think tank follow-up stuff

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tuesday March 26th
********************

- presentation with Maria at the Ontario Guidance Leadership Associatio (in Scarborourgh) about TIG and how it can be a resource for guidance councellors

- school in the evening (jarra came with me to the class and we shared ideas on the future and impact of TIG)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Monday March 25th
********************

- staff meeting

- meeting about potential website development project (for a teen health portal)

- meeting with Jesse re: marketing efforts at TIG

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sunday March 24th
********************

- begin reading Leadership Wisdom from the Monk Who Sold His Ferrari : The 8 Rituals of Visionary Leaders by Robin S. Sharma

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Saturday March 23rd
********************

- spend time with family (getting art supplies - creating TIG mobiles (to give before holiday weekend), paint crafts for grandmother

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Friday March 22nd
********************

- work on YES Country Pages

- meeting with Laura from the YMCA about Compaq computers - received approval to have YMCA serve as a fiscal agent / trustee for Compaq donation!!! WHEEE!!

- meeting with Jonathan (from FTC / TYC) - a young person who is putting together an event called "The Cause" - wants TIG to be involved as a partner

- YOUTH WEEK LAUNCH EVENT!!! TIG has a booth (organized by Maria)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thursday March 21st
********************

- meet with Judith about product that I will be developing a marketing plan for!

- STAFF meeting

- conference call with people from Verisign about 'global registry' initiative

- Attend Mike Harris' Tribute event (with Evan who had extra tickets)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wednesday March 20th
********************

- STUDY FOR MARKETING TEST (worth 45% of my final mark)

- TEST IN THE EVENING!!!!!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tuesday March 19th
********************

- Volunteer Fair at York University!! (TIG BOOTH)

- study at York for upcoming test!!

- chat with jarra for a bit (who made a surprise visit!)

- go to class in the evening (computers, information and society)

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