Helen has succeeded in exceeding her fundraising budget incredibly. Not content, she’s always raising the bar.  Helen is some-one we should listen to with rapt attention.  We hear wise words given in an entertaining and directed way.

The “networking” word can sometimes been seen as self serving. Attitudes can be cynical about what is simply a word describing people getting together to form effective relationships. Helen certainly knows what networking really means, putting the word into action.

Jollypeople agrees. The adage of “from an acorn, an oak tree grows” is true in all walks of life.  You get to know each other, know when you can rely on support, when you can give support.  You learn what works, what looks like a possibility and what doesn’t.  Warren Buffett echoes these sentiments. When he invests in business he cares about what the people in the business are like in every facet of the business.

At the function guests stood up and spoke about their personal experiences. They were varied with one common thread. These people were there to learn, to share, to grow.  Older guests gave sage advice to the younger participants. :Younger participants made the audience gasp with their accomplishments and dreams. There were laughs and sighs about how challenging it is to manage the requirements of everyday living yet keep your business growing.

Relationships were beginning after the chats, people were circulating, cards were being exchanged. Helen had done it again!

There were brave male sports stars who gave their time, sold flowers, serenaded and made promises (none rash, although we did have one sweet football compere admitting since he was so lonely, he was offering anything!) to aid the cause.  Fashion, hair, jewellery was very well represented with a colorful fashion parade inspiring women to engage in intense discussion about what one could, or couldn’t wear.  A prominent television station had sent their charming, popular comperes to host.  Talented rising stars of music made the event come alive.

The event had the buzz jollypeople.com finds when attending charity functions. The feeling of inclusiveness, of sharing a common goal, of empathising is palpable. There is a sense of joy in the celebration.

The bank was subtle, it didn’t self-promote on the day, it didn’t need to, the message was clear.  It said, we thank and appreciate you as clients by inviting you here. It said, we support and encourage this cause.  It said, we join in understanding the community wants to help those wishing to improve the lives of others.

Cause related marketing at it’s best.

In addition if we consider political influences at work the direction is not at all clear.

What made me think of how people are motivated and why they feel they should be “givers” and “supporters”? A conversation with a friend who comes from a country where the state professes to look after it’s citizens. Work is supposed to be guaranteed, education is free, health and medicine available to all as well. Then what becomes of charity?

My friend felt the call to give wasn’t particularly familiar or heeded. “The state looks after people, why should they give extra?” He believed this was the prevailing attitude. Yet he also felt his countrymen were beginning to see how they could learn from others who do give. His society may have been looked after by the state however there were many special requirements and needs which could do with funding. There were many areas needing support above and beyond what the state wanted to give. Recently he was starting to sense a change in attitude, an awareness of how helping one another has many socially sound benefits.

Jollypeople.com sometimes wonders if it is the celebrity world in fields such as sport, acting, music is bringing renewed attention to charities. When we research Events we are amazed at how many of today’s celebrities are willing to lend their name, a hand, put in efforts to assist a growing list of charities.

Events do more than funding, they bring people together making the community cohesive. We discussed the social benefits of events, how they made people happy, how they gathered like-minded people together. How there was a feeling of community sharing in helping others, how important it was on a human scale. Individuals helping individuals in an inclusive, organized way.

It is interesting to observe how many cultures and countries seem to regard philanthropy or giving as expected. Communities focus on helping those who need a hand. Their schooling includes physical aid to others. Simple tasks are assigned to young children. Singing at the local hospital is one many parents hear about. Visiting the sick and elderly is another favored task. Fundraising to help aid tsunami victims, cyclone-affected communities, earthquake disasters is encouraged. The feelings of satisfaction and contribution are part of the result although one would want the “givers” to think of how they can help rather than the personal feelings they derive from the work they do. Those who do become involved in charity often speak of the positive feelings experienced in their work, even though they are reminded and remind themselves, giving is giving and not tied to reward. The positive effects seem shared.

There are many times when people need help. The needs can be unexpected like physical catastrophes, they can be part of people’s lives such as disabilities. When we look at jollypeople.com we’re constantly reminded of how many different areas of charity are supported by the events taking place. The people creating the events and the benefiting charities rely on people’s attitudes to giving and involving themselves to succeed.

We need to continually educate our children, communities and leaders to feel “giving is part of living”.

It’d be interesting to hear from people out in the “blogosphere” what their community attitudes are to being involved in Charity work.

What they feel about a giving world “sans barriers”.

Donors are consistently being made aware and what’s more, supporting Cause Marketing. A clever idea to allow Charities and Companies have a “win, win” situation. The Company raises it’s profile, the Charity gains funds.

What the giver needs is a basic mandated set of information on the Main Page of both the Charity and the Company, then it’s clear where funds go.

Jollypeople.com does have a stated wish to encourage transparency. The Charity owes it to it’s donors, the Company owes it to it’s clients, staff and suppliers.

The public needs to know where they’ll put their hard-earned.

Simply, directly and transparently.

When conditions are good parents wonder at what age they can ask their children to think of moving out. Teenagers seem to morph into adulthood while no-one is watching and all of a sudden it’s more like a shared household with rather lax housemates. While listening to a program on the subject today it was easy to reflect on the latest statistics (yes, we always take statistics with a huge sack of salt on our shoulder …) it shows young adults seem to be staying home longer. The lax housemates say with a smile that it’s easier to stay with Mamma and Pappa where everything is done so they can concentrate on having a good time. What is more relevant is the cost of housing in the developed world has changed attitudes and possibilities. In many cases, children are staying so they can save to have a deposit on some sort of independent housing.

In countries in crisis, children are often staying at home because they’ve lost parents through war, fighting, illness or abandonment. They need to take on the role of parent to bewildered siblings. The children becoming parents can be tiny themselves. Very young women become mothers without choice. At those times education, proper food, housing are seemingly out of reach. It’s purely survival. There are no choices. Situations are dire.

Charities like World Vision, Care, FoodWaterShelter, Medecin Sans Frontieres are working where it is common to find children in these conditions. The bravery of those who are putting their lives on the line is without reproach. Darren Stratti was brave, hard working and committed to providing an environment of safety and security. He worked with a team of people who put effort and courage into their project. Recently one of his sons came with his partner to work on the housing. Darren has left a loving partner, his family and friends and the Kesho Leo project who will continue to be inspired by his determination. What seems an insurmountable task to help people live humanely can begin in a refugee camp, a burnt out village, a destitute town. In those cases there is no choice, shelter becomes home.

Vale, Darren Stratti.

To learn more about Darren Stratti and foodwatershelter.inc you can go to their website at foodwatershelter.org.au

You can read about the Grantees and Organizations in further detail on the jollypeople.com website…search Kelly Rowland and MTV. You’ll be amazed, inspired and moved to tears.

Kelly has gone a step further, she has taken a HIV test to encourage others to seek early treatment. “Stand by what you say” is the motto and Kelly is proving herself one redoubtable Ambassador. When the people of Tanzania and Kenya see that wonderful smile, the meaningful gaze they’ll know this woman means what she says.

We can all learn from Kelly. A founder member of the vocally unique, visually riveting, Destiny’s Child and a multi-platinum selling artist, Kelly is a woman who gives and gives. We love her music, her performances and appearances give the world so much joy. Kelly is extending what she’s doing to think of others to whom she can set a shining example.

What we need to remember and jollypeople.com is always mindful of, is people like Kelly don’t have to do what they do. Yet they put themselves out there to help others.

The MTV Staying Alive Foundation has the generosity and thoughtfullness to do the hard yards in creating a Foundation. It’s a huge challenge when an organization is examining causes, diligently seeing where to give funds so the best work is done.

The MTV Staying Alive Foundation, their energetic people and Kelly Rowland are out there responsibly and courageously giving back to the world, making sure there are people “Staying Alive”!

And it’s happening now!

Kelly has a mini-site open on June 23, 2008 about her travels in Tanzania and Kenya called kellyrowlandafrica.com. There will also be a diary of her experiences on World Aids Day, December 1, 2008 aired on MTV channels called Kelly Rowlands Diary.

Our physical health and wellbeing seems to be enhanced when we are giving to others. When we want more and more without stopping to smell the roses it seems we don’t get healthier. It is when we consider others and act to help them our wellbeing improves. The tension we experience when we are dissatisfied, when we only think of material benefits seems to, in some cases, be the trigger in health issues.

Social engagement of the right type, pleasant, joyful and safe makes people happy. And when you’re happy your levels of “good things” in your brain and body are elevated in a natural way providing you with better health. When you are involved in supporting others who need assistance, get engaged in communal events based on improving lives you’re on the way. The recipe to health and happiness includes community engagement.

Professor Mirko Bagaric tells us the improved health covers your fitness, your relationships, your longevity. He offers a clear outline. The good Professor writes “Research shows that things conducive to happiness include fit and healthy bodies, realistic goals, optimism, a sense of control, close relationships, challenging work and active leisure punctuated by adequate rest and a faith that entails commmunal support, purpose and acceptance.”

Thanks Professor, we really appreciate your wise, sound advice. You’ve put it in a sensible, erudite “nutshell”!

So…be kind out there

Earlier musings have been simply musings.

The main interest in writing is about Charity Events. Supporting and promoting them. Hence jollypeople.com.

When you look at all the people in the world, their varying needs and concerns, it’s great that those who can help do by creating special interest Charities. To examine how many different Charities even exist in our home town of about four million is a big task. To do it globally, it’s breathtaking.

There are hundreds, thousands! Then we think of all those who work tirelessly to keep the Charity afloat so they’re able to do their good work helping people in need. Humbling. We’re in awe of them. We see the results. People given chances they could only dream about.

Recently some of us went on the Mother’s Day Classic Run or Walk. There was sixteen year old D. who ranher race, C. twenty-two who also ran. Then there was V, an eighty year old grandmom who walked the entire course with her grand-daughters. They felt satisfied, pleased they’d contributed and their sponsors who sponsored a gold coin or more enjoyed their success. The Charity raised funds well in excess of what they’d anticipated. The turn-out was huge.

We’ve been going a while now, we’re learning how much effort is put into these events. What’s great is when the effort is repaid. It’s really satisfying to see how events have grown, like the Mother’s Day Classic, like Movember.

It’s wonderful to think of people attending these events on an annual basis. They’re out training to enter the marathon events, the fun-runs. They’re working on creating breakfasts, lunches etcetera. Favorite pet days. Creating products others might buy.

Ideas are endless.

What Warren was discussing and opining on was apparently why and how you recognize a good business and why you’d want to enter into the business as an investor.

Warren suggested that you need to recognize the opportunity clearly. In other words, he said,”if you see a big man coming down the street and you guess he weighs say three hundred pounds, even if he weighs three hundred and fifty pounds, he’s still a big man “

In other words, the picture should be clear. Phil Green of Babcock and Brown explained it as meaning the business you’re looking at should be clear. If it needs too much figuring out, if it’s too complicated it’s probably not worth doing. Sound, sage advice.

The “k.i.s.s.” principle, meaning “keep it simple, stupid!”

Never like name-calling yet I guess if it stops you making costly mistakes it might be alright.

The same lesson applies in “big” business as in any business. If it’s global or local.

Thanks, Warren and Phil. Oh, and of course, Charlie!

There seems to be a movement (pun intended:)) toward fun runs, classic runs, walks etcetera.

A healthy way to raise funds. People are being sponsored left, right and centre. Event training in parks. gardens and streets.

On those walks Mums are remembered and honoured. Participants seem to range from schoolkids to all ages wanting to honour Mums and raise funds for breast cancer awareness and research.

A special time to remember Mums,Mom,Mummy’s,madre …Mother in every language …and Grandmums. Some are not there physically, yet somehow their spirit will be as the pavements are pounded.

Run, walk, stroll. Happy Mother’s Day!