(Ben) Hidden Talents Art Show Silent Auction

(Ben) Death by Chocolate Results!

The Death by Chocolate event was delicious and fun! Thanks to all the great bakers and tasters that made this event such a tasty success. Below are the winners. Congrats!

Cakes
1st - Erin Sartor
2nd - Angie Corbett

Bars
1st - Jean Scanlon
2nd - Andy Hauk

Cookies
1st - Betsy Kuller
2nd - Ann Schneider

(Amanda)9 Pin Tournament

Hi Everyone,

We are getting close to the next event. We are hoping for a great turn out. Remember, sign up early so we can get you on a lane with your friends or family.

If you want to contact me directly, email me at guatemallin@yahoo.com. I am happy to answer any questions you may have.

Location: AMF Maple Lanes
Address: 6310 HWY 65 NE, Fridley, MN 55432
Date: January 1st
Time: 1-4
Cost: $30 per person, includes bowling and shoes.

Cash prize for high game Men and Women, and Cash prize for High Series Men and Women. All prize money figured out the day of the event.

We will have raffle prizes as well. $1 per ticket or 6 tickets for $5.

A strike pot will be going on, $1 per ticket or 6 tickets for $5.

An additional high game/series will be going on for an additional cost.

I am very excited and want to thank everyone in advance for all of your support.

Thanks, Amanda

(Jodi) Death by Chocolate!

Time is racing on and the holidays are upon us. Now is the perfect time to launch our next fundraising event. On Wednesday, 12/21 the Vision Team will be hosting the first ever, Death by Chocolate bake-off right on campus. What better way than to show-off your baking talents? Let's face it. We're all in the kitchen a lot these days and why not bake for a great cause?

So, fire-up those ovens, get those mixers whirling and let's bake and eat our way to Guatemala!

(Jodi) Book'em Danno

Confirmed our flight reservations for the trip. This step has solidified our trip and I couldn't be more thrilled! On Sunday, March 25, the vision team will be boarding our plane at 5:55am. Our first stop will be Miami and then it's on to Guatemala City. We'll be landing at 1:35pm. We'll be greeted by Common Hope and our work will begin. How is it that I am so fortunate?

(Sara) The Heart of the Hope

This morning, I was tasked with heading over to the Common Hope offices to pick up textiles, artifacts and pictures that our team can use to stage our educational lounge area at the Best Buy Hidden Talents Art Show & Auction. We're lucky enough to be included in one of the most iconic events at Best Buy's headquarters; auction winners have the option to choose that their donation go toward our Common Hope trip.

The Common Hope offices are located in one of the warehouse districts of St. Paul; not exactly what I was expecting! Situated behind a large warehouse, up three flights of wooden steps and through a beige hallway, I entered their headquarters. It doesn't necessarily look like much...tan cubicles, just like any other office. But it practically radiates with warmth - due entirely to the fantastic people who work there. The receptionist greeted me enthusiastically by name. Our team coordinator, Brianna, introduced me to everyone who walked by us in the storage room - and each of them shook my hand, again enthusiastically.

I walked out of the Common Hope offices with two armloads of beautiful items direct from Guatemala; pieces that I know will help inspire the Hidden Talents Art Show winners to consider Common Hope as the recipient of their donations. Even more, I walked out with an appreciation of all the people who work tirelessly on behalf of this organization, day in and day out all year long. They really are the heart of the hope that is fueling change in Guatemala.

(Amanda) 9 Pin No Tap Tournament Details

(Jodi) Thankful

I know it sounds cliche but I am so thankful for all that I have. I spent the Thanksgiving weekend with family in Racine, Wisconsin and only have the opportunity to spend time with them a couple times a year. I stuffed myself to the gills with turkey, candied yams, stuffing and all the trimmings. Most importantly I got to spend time with my family and connect with them individually. We are small group of 9 when we are all together but we are mighty and will fight to the dealth for each other. I found myself discussing our Guatemalan mission with each and described what is to come for our vision team. They all wish us well and share in our excitement. As I would expect, some were concerned for our safety. Of all the things weighing heavily on my mind, safety of our team members has never been top of mind. Common Hope has been sending vision teams to Guatemala for a long time without incident. While situations can become unstable, I can't imagine any issues and I am dreaming of developing life-long relationships with people that are not that much different than me. I jokingly said to my hubby this morning that he shouldn't be suprised if I return to Guatemala again to find my place, my home away from home.

(Amanda) 9 Pin No Tap Tournament

I am so excited about planing a 9 pin no tap tournament. We are getting all of the details planned now.

Mark your calendars.

January 1st, 2012
1-4
Maple Lanes in Fridley.

(Sara) Major Milestone Hit!

As our fundraising efforts have increased over the past few weeks, with Give to the Max Day and our Chili Cook-Off, it's been so gratifying to watch that needle move on our donation tracker. Our fundraising goal is $20,000, and today we exceeded the halfway mark!

The team has worked hard to educate friends, family and co-workers on the mission of Common Hope and the work we're going to do for them. We're so lucky to have the support of so many people in our lives. Everyone works hard to earn their money, and I don't take for granted a single donation. Every dollar really does make a difference...$20,000, here we come!

(Jodi) A Week of Progress

Whew! Can't believe what a success last week was for our vision team. Thank you to all who participated in the Chili Cook Off and MN Give to the Max day. There is real power behind the numbers and we couldn't have met our milestone without our friends, families and co-workers.

Next stop? Hidden Talents Silent Art Auction!! Just finished my piece tonight. I've spent so much time with it that I no longer have a sense of whether I like it or not. Maybe a little time away from it and I will feel differently. Can't wait to get home from the Thanksgiving weekend and set up the show. It's going to be spectacular and I can't wait to see what the artists have created.

(Ben) What do we live for?

"What do we live for,
if it is not to make life
less difficult for each other?"

-George Eliot

(Ben) 18 Contestants, 60 Tasters, 1 Common Hope!

I just wanted to thank all of the contestants, tasters, and volunteers who made the Chili Cook-off yesterday such a success! Your participation at such a busy time of year reflects what an amazing, supportive, talented, and energetic team I have the opportunity to work with everyday. Thank you Channel Design!

18 incredible pots of chili were tasted by 60 hungry tasters. The ballots revealed the following winners:

Best Traditional and Classic Chili
1st - Jody Hoffman
2nd - John Duff
3rd - Molly Heinz

Best New and Different Chili
1st - Adrian Clift
2nd - Anne Schneider
3rd - Erin Sartor

Congratulations!

A special thanks to Donald Selmer, Executive Chef - Cafe Bonappetit; Sandy's Place, who generously provided supplies and all the yummy extras to top off our chili creations!

(Ben) Let's Get Cookin!

This week, the Vision Team, along with some of our Channel Design & Brand Identity teammates, will be refining our recipes for our next fundraising event; A Chili Cook-Off! This will be a great opportunity for us to have some fun as a team while getting the word out about the needs of Common Hope.

I'm really looking forward to chowing down and raising some much needed funds to help make our trip to Guatemala a reality. Thanks to all who have entered as a contestant as well as those who will be joining us as a participant. See you all Wednesday!

Minnesota Give to the Max Day and Common Hope.

On November 16th, GiveMN is sponsoring an event called Give to the Max. The idea is to show hoe generous Minnesotans are, by encouraging people to make donations to their favorite charities during a 24 hour period (Midnight on the 16th, to Midnight on the 17th of November).

To encourage giving during this time, GiveMN is sponsoring contests and giveaways, with charities like our Team Guatemala winning the prizes as incremental donations.

To learn more about GiveMN and the Give to the Max Day event, go to: http://blog.givemn.org/give_mn_blog/2011/08/23/295/give_to_the_max_day_-_november_16_2011

If you have been thinking about giving in support of our Vision trip, this might be the best time. Giving on November 16th will be of value three ways. First, you will enable our team to help the people of Guatemala during our vision trip. Second, you will have a charitable deduction on your taxes at the end of the year. And Third, you can be a part of showing the nature of Minnesotans be being generous with your fellow Minnesotans, setting a new bar of giving in a one day period, and maybe even helping our Vision Team recieve even more funds towards our financial goal.

So, on November 16th (or anytime if you can't on that day) go our Razoo powered donation website, and support this outreach to the people of Guatemala with your generous donation.
http://givemn.razoo.com/story/Guatemall-In

Mark Scanlon

(Sara) Clothes for a Cause

Jodi has talked a little bit about the stretches that she's made to become more comfortable with fundraising. Ok, maybe not comfortable with it - but at least able to rise to the challenge of putting herself out there.

I have to admit that I admire Jodi for this; and I admire those people to whom fundraising comes very naturally. I am not one of those people. And I've been having a hard time gearing up the courage to begin approaching friends and family to ask for their help in funding our trip.

So I've decided to tap into another network of people with whom I have a relationship: the readers of my blog, Bombshell Beauty. I've been blogging about plus size fashion for almost five years, now. It's been a really fun, rewarding, surprising hobby! I never dreamed that anyone other than my mom would read my blog, and I feel so blessed (and again, surprised!) to have loyal following of almost a thousand readers.

I've decided to tap into this community of fabulous, fashionable, supportive readers by throwing open the doors of my closet and raiding my wardrobe for pieces to sell on eBay. A lot of fellow bloggers have done something similar so I've been hitting them up for lessons learned. All of the proceeds earned from the sales will be donated to Common Hope. I have no idea if this will earn even a single penny (or 99, since opening bids start at 99cents!). But this is one way I can think of to put myself out there.

We'll see how it goes...you can click here to access the Shop My Closet page. Feel free to share it with anyone in your life that you think might be interested. Clothing sizes range from 16-20; shoes are size 12; and accessories will fit anyone.

(Jodi) More New Fundraising Around the Corner

It was a moving target and a bit dicey at first but we finally secured the next two fundraising events for project GuatemAll-In. It's official. We will be participating in the Hidden Talents Silent Art Auction planned for 11/30 through 12/15. This is a very cool event that is in its 14th year on the Best Buy campus. It's a part of our Best Buy culture and so many look forward to donating a piece of art or bidding on the art. There will be two benefactors of the auction and one will be Common Hope. Details will follow but this is so very exciting! I can't thank Manny Palomo and his committee enough for their generosity. Because of my excitement, I have already begun working on my art piece. I have never done anything like this before so I'll just have to chalk it up to another new experience for the cause! Foregoing my workout tonight to work on my project... not much of a sacrifice I know but it's still something.

The other event will be an internal Channel Design event having to do with Chili and Cook-off. More to come!

(Jodi) A New Experience

It's strange how things happen sometimes. In my quest to achieve a fundraising milestone, I have stumbled on something really cool. One of my co-workers suggested I contact a colleague to get involved in a fundraising activity. This activity, a silent art auction, is held on the Best Buy campus each year and has for many, many years. It's an institution! My co-worker suggested that the proceeds could be applied toward our Common Hope cause. Don't know how that scenario will play out but it doesn't really matter to me. I am now involved in helping to plan and execute that fundraising activity and I am just hopeful that we will raise a good amount of money that can be donated to a charity of our choice. In addition, I am planning to create a piece that can be entered into the auction. I have never done that but have always admired the artists that do contribute pieces to the auction. It's scary but important to me that I extend my reach.

As it turns out, this goal of mine to make this trip to Guatemala, is turning into something really special in so many ways. I am trying new things every day, establishing personal goals that take me out of my comfort zone and really just throwing myself out there. It's easier than I thought because I have a really great goal behind me!

(Jodi) How Time Flies

Wow! It seems like we were just picking grapes and hanging out in the vineyard. Work is so busy that the days seem to fly by. We have a lot to accomplish with our fundraising efforts and plan to brainstorm again next week. I'm a planner by nature so this kind of thing suits me perfectly. Each day I wake up and the first thing I think about is the trip to Guatemala and I can't believe we're going to make it happen. The second thing I think about is how on earth are we going to make it happen. Then I'm happily surprised by an idea that comes to me out of the blue or a kind word of encouragement that someone says to me. We'll make it and we'll be so proud of ourselves for making the impossible happen. I am so close to securing our next fundraiser that I don't want to jinx it by saying more! Wish us luck. Next week's conversations are going to be big!

(Erin) Cannon River Winery: Grape Harvest 2011

We are banking some sweat equity, or should I say "wind" equity, regarding our latest fundraising effort. Very simply put, one uses the orange grapefork to cut the vine, to fill the lug, to send to the winery, to squish the grapes, to make the wine. And in return for our harvesting escapades, we raised money for our Common Hope efforts. WHAT A BLAST. The sun was shining, the laughs were abundant and the wind clocked in just below typhoon strength. It was a great day, indeed.

(Jodi) Fall Harvest Cannon River Winery

Friday, Oct. 7 was a warm, sunny but extremely windy day. We couldn't have asked for a better day. We were dressed ready to work, make new friends and filled our bins... all for an amazing cause.

There were rows and rows of grapevines full to the brim with grapes. There were 22 harvestors with three hours of work ahead.

Jason Sawyer, Vision Team member, ensured not a single grape remained on the vine.

We were a force out in the vineyard! Thanks everyone for your participation.

(Jodi) Fall Harvest Vineyard Style

Our fall harvest fundraising event was a blast. The weather was perfect although the wind speeds rallied that of Dorothy's Kansas experience. The nets were flapping, leaves blowing and and the vines full of grapes! The Cannon River Winery was host to our fundraising event on Friday, 10/7. ( http://www.cannonriverwinery.com ) We had an amazing turnout of friends, family and co-workers there to show their support for our cause. I was personally humbled and grew a bit emotional when I saw them dressed and ready to pick grapes. I can never truly thank them enough for helping out the Vision Team and for being so committed for an afternoon!

Have to admit, I have never harvested grapes so that is one thing I can add to my list of things I've done and would do again. I was really surprised at how different each variety tasted and how different the vines grew. I learned a lot about the plants and the wine-making. John, our field coach was a wealth of knowledge. We were a unique cast of characters and John kept most of us in line for most of the afternoon.

(Andy) Uppercut Gym Fight Night Raffle

Great pics Sara! I want to thank everyone again for their efforts this past Saturday night. The raffle went off without a hitch. Lisa, the owner, was quite impressed by the amount of funds we raked in. My buddy Chris did a great job announcing and promoting our raffle to the spectators. Jason Sawyer provided the script for the announcer and wrote copy for the promo posters. And a big thanks to Jason for donating two $40 Best Buy Gift Cards. One of the youth members in our gym won one of the gift cards and was quite pumped! The next Fight Night is Dec. 10th. I'm sure Lisa would be happy to let us host a raffle again although she probably will not offer any up class packages this time. We'd have to come up some great prizes ourselves. Again, thanks to all those who help contribute (at and outside the event) to a successful night!!

(Sara) Knocking Out Poverty

As Jodi mentioned, our first official fundraising effort felt like a success. We raised a few bucks, got to bond a little as a Vision Team, and (for most of us) were exposed to a new, interesting sport: boxing!

From the owners and staff to the patrons, everyone at the Uppercut Gym was so nice.

Ben and Amanda practice sparring, in the name of fundraising.

Fighters of all ages participated in this event. Everyone really came out swinging hard!

The female fighters put on a great match - they were so fast in the ring, I couldn't get an action shot.

(From L-R) Ben, Sara, Jodi, Amanda, Mark & Andy pose with a young fighter.

Fundraising and boxing aside, I really enjoyed the opportunity to see one of our Vision Team members in his "element." Andy is an instructor at the Uppercut Gym, and it was interesting to see him in a different light than as co-worker at the office. I hope to see other sides of the rest of our team, too, over the coming months.

(Jodi) Uppercut Was a Success

By all indications I beleive the event on Saturday night at the Uppercut Gym was a success. We met our fundraising goal and I learned a ton about boxing, met lots of really great people and connected on a different level with individuals on the Vision Team.

There was a great turnout of spectators drawing people from all over the Twin Cities and nearby towns... some even came all the way from Duluth for the evening! Who knew that my passion for the people of Guatemala would expose me to a new sport and introduce me to some cool people.

I'm pretty sure that this experience leading up to the trip will open my eyes to many new experiences. I can't wait to open every door over the next several months to see what is behind it. Friday the Vision Team and some of my very close and generous friends will go on a new adventure. We're traveling to the Cannon River Winery in Cannon Falls, MN to harvest grapes. This will be one of those doors that I will open and learn an entirely different thing. How is it possible that the opportunities in my life are so amazing?

(Sara) Oh, The Possibilities

Last week, my husband and I each applied for our very first passport. That might not be a big deal to many people, but he and I were so excited. Neither one of us grew up in families where travel was a regular thing. Unless you count road trips to Nebraska. (Which I don't. )

I've been to Mexico, Canada and Jamaica - but at the time of my travel, a passport was not required. Now, though, one needs a passport to go pretty much anywhere outside the borders of our country. And I couldn't be more grateful. Because this trip to Guatemala is the impetus for me to do something I've always wanted to...obtain a passport. I don't know if I'll become a serious traveler, but with a passport in hand the the possibility is at least there.

One of the biggest reasons I want to go on this trip to Guatemala is to get a new perspective on what is real, what is necessary in life. I know there's no better way to open up one's mind than to travel. I'm equal parts excited and worried that this trip to Guatemala will change my life. Change it in a way that I won't be able to slip back into the life I lead right now. Oh, the possibilities...

(Jodi) Taking It to the Streets

Yesterday I stopped at two local businesses to tell our story and requested their support in preparation for the Golden Gloves Boxing event at the Uppercut Gym next Saturday night. I'm hopeful as both proprietors requested time to consider. I didn't get thrown out for solicitation! That really gives me the confidence to keep trying. I've sent literature to both places and am now waiting to hear back from 3 local businesses in good old Nordeast Minneapolis. Have to admit, it's a little uncomfortable but the cause inspires me to keep trying.

We're also getting super-close to securing an afternoon of grape harvesting at a local winery in return for their financial support. I've consumed a lot of wine in my day but I've never participated in a harvest. I can't wait! Check out winery: http://cannonriverwinery.com

Anyone have tried and true fundraising ideas? I'm all ears. We have miles to go!

(Jodi) Another Baby Step and On Our Way

We're making progress! Our fundraising website is set up and we're blogging on our blog. We can now begin communicating to our vast network of caring and supportive friends and family. In addition, Andy, a vision team member, has arranged our participation in a fundraising activity. Thanks to Andy's generous contact, we will be set up at the Golden Gloves Boxing Show at the Uppercut Gym in Northeast Minneapolis on October 1 at 7PM. Check out the website for details and join us. It will be our first of many fundraising activities... a chance to tell our story and raffle off some really cool stuff. Not sure about all the details but it should be a fun time. I feel like a fundraising rookie but hopefully what I lack in expertise, I can make up for in enthusiasm. Plus, Andy has always encouraged me to take an intro to boxing class so I think I'm finally going to go for it!

(Sara) - Common Hope Kick Off

Today our Vision Team got together with our Common Hope coordinator, Brianna. I think it was exactly what we needed to get us mobilized after the initial excitement of being chosen to go to Guatemala on this mission trip. You know how it goes - summer wound down and then there was Labor Day...time passed and it was definitely time to "get the band back together" (as my teammate Julie would say).

We spent an hour learning more about Common Hope and how the organization operates to improve life for the citizens of Guatemala. I learned a lot in those 60 minutes:

Guatemala is a country whose land is half the size of Minnesota

There are 14 million people crammed into that space; by comparison we have about 5 million people in MN. Wow.

Guatemala endured a 36-year civil war that just ended in 1996.

The legal age to begin working full time in Guatemala is 12. WOW.

I can't help but think what I was doing at the age of 12...I was in 7th grade and my time was consumed by homework, talking on the phone with my friends, after-school sports, and creating choreographed dance routines in my bedroom to C+C Music Factory songs. You know - being a normal kid. Well, normal by American standards. This trip is definitely going to recalibrate my standards for normal.

The GuatemAll-In Vision Team

We are a group of ten co-workers whose backgrounds are as varied as the work we do together at Best Buy. We've been brought together by a shared desire to volunteer our time to Common Hope, a non-profit organization that operates an outreach program in Guatemala. Our team name is GuatemAll-In because we're those kind of people - we're going to do this, and do it big! (And because Common Hope asked us to come with a name...so it was a logistical thing).

We're preparing to spend eight days in Antigua, working with the Common Hope team to further their mission of providing education and resources to the Guatemalan families who are part of their program. We'll be there from March 24-31, 2012.

Over the next several months, we'll be planning and fundraising for our trip. And once we're in Guatemala, we'll be sure to share pictures and stories from our time there. You can track our progress, cheer us on, and even make a financial donation through this blog. Thank you for your support!