(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?