I think i was a little too harsh in describing NOSMV. That was just my frustration coming out about the isolation im feeling right now. What i am saying is that i dont think another non porfit can hurt any. And there are a few things i have ideas on that i feel NOSMV would be a bit sluggish on, or just wouldnt fit the style they use.
First off, this is a long term plan. Right now i am only conserned with orginize interested parties, and if that means just working on some ideas to help NOSMV, then so be it. I also need time for myself, i still have very strict limits to what i can contribute financially and it will be a while before i can afford the 200+ it costs to file for a nonprift in california.
And as for starting something else, this isnt really that different than working for NOSMV itself. I havent heard of any real opportunity to be a PART of something in my area, so that means if i'm going to do anything, i have to START it on my own anyways. I really dont care how things get done and under whom, just that they get DONE. And i am certainly aware that this orginization has its limits, just like any other, it cant be everywhere, and its members have their limits as well, they are volunteers, and have thier own jobs, families, and possibly trauma to work through as well. But tell me why two heads arent better than one? Many charities have succesfully worked together to support each others causes. Two corporate entities, two chances for someone to benifit.
Second, i was thinking of orginising a websight, or even just an expansion of the NOSMV websight, specificly for the purpose of orginizing labor and directing donations and other services, and relocating people to OTHER resources that are availible to them. The lack of support groups for survivors isnt as bad as the lack of reference to them. If enough people pitch in, we can make as many local phone calls to regional areas as we can muster, then provide an extensive regional directory of services. Another idea is to form a labor pool, a section where volanteers can post the times they are availible to work and what skills they have. A chat room earmarked for volanteering could have meetings at at scheduled times as well as freeform discussion for ideas and orginisation. You could also earmark a forum section for NOSMV to respond to local efforts and to help people who want to help. This will mean a few bucks for the extra data, but are you telling me we cant raise a few bucks a piece for a reference that valuable to us? I'll send in five bucks for that a month, if you want, but i need to know what my money is being used for specificly.
Also, i think a good idea for a charity is to show where your money is going, to break it up into graphs and pies between projects and expenses. Do you ever remember what school paper drives were like? They always had that little chart showing how much money they need for what project. Show people exactely what their money is going to be doing and they will be more inclined to donate.
One of the primary reasons id want to form a corporation is the freedom of action to use your corporate status whenever and wherever you feel. Volanteer labor is by its nature flakey and unreliable. Thats why it pays to have as much central orginisation and authity as possible. The problem with a democracy is that things take excessive amounts of energy to orginize and gather the needed resources to get anything done. A non-profit corperation can have as few as 2 directors.
I am more than willing to volanteer in my area. I could post posters in shelters and clinics, i could distribute jars and cans to collect money at businesses and community centers, anything that i feel i am capable of, though i am suffering from clinical depression, so what i can do may be a little limited.
I have too much time on my hands that is going to waste that i dont know what to do with. I usually just end up getting depressed. But when i am active, i build up momentum. Sometimes i can see other people get caught up in it, but since i have nothing to actually DO most of the time, it goes to waste. So i am either going to try and find something to do as part of somebody elses orginization or start working on some things of my own, maybe both. But its one step at a time, you know? Right now, i just want to see who is interested in doing something, and try to get together. We are just going to be huddled up in a fetal position crying all day anyways
(Jeez thats dark humor) If we have the time to grieve, we have time to do something positive too. Depression turns the world gray, i swear it sucks the color and vitality out of everything you see. Why not try and put some color back INTO things?
