Never too early

It is never too early for a sunset ride!

Little Moments I Miss

Today I had another one of those episodes where I learned of another little something I was missing without my son.  We pulled into the zoo parking lot next to a car load of little boys, one of the boys needed to pee and could not wait until the gate. The mother simply took him to the tree for a pee.  My son would be toilet trainning and we would be stopping road side or along paths for natures calls.

Its so simple, so basic but I wanted to be that mom helping her little son pee (standing up).

Cake

Many of you may not know this but I am a crafty person. When Harrison passed rather than turning to hobbies I was frozen, all my energy was consumed by grieving and completing simple tasks. Then I had Elodie and well she is a handful. I had been wanting to try my hand at fondant for a long long time. Today I made Marshmallow Fondant and after bedtime I attempted my first fondant cake. Its not perfect but I am proud of my accomplishment.

Helpful Hints
Use your stand mixer with the dough hook to mix, it is a stiff mixture
Coat everything in Crisco
Where gloves when dying the fondant
Leave lots of excess when you cut
Don't over work it
Microwave a few seconds before rolling to make it pliable
Corn Starch is a good coating substance
Water helps bind fondant to fondant

For Hire

Friends in Blog Land I would appreciate if you could assist me in my job hunt. I am motivated to return to work and I enjoy working and contributing to the adult world :)  I have posted my Resume. If you know of any contacts that would benefit from my expertise please contact me so that I can send them a decent copy.

Thank you for all your help and possible leads.

Hopeful Mama

Resume

Community Engagement Specialist

Fundraising, Events and Volunteer Management

Perceptive and motivated professional offering experiences in private, not-for-profit settings, and volunteer efforts. Interfaces seamlessly with people from a broad spectrum of backgrounds, cultures and all levels of the corporate mix. Expertly cultivates and maintains positive community, public, and member relations. Diplomatic nature soothes tenuous situations, wins at negotiations, and gains buy-in from key stakeholders. Targets written materials to meet specific operational criteria and corporate directives without hampering readability or messaging. Strengths include:

• Volunteer Coordination • Membership Drives & Development • Programming Initiatives

• Public & Community Relations • Internal / External Communications • Newsletter Publishing

• Member Relations & Activities • Grant Writing • Event Planning

EXPERIENCE NARRATIVE

CHAPTER DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR
The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada, Toronto, ON Oct 2007 to May 2011

With the primary mandate to raise funds for medical research, managed a district comprised of 7 Chapters and their respective volunteers, members, corporate sponsor (53 M&M Meat Shops) and the associated doctors and researchers. Kept tabs on a $290K budget. Held accountable for bringing in revenue to reach target. Directly oversaw 25 volunteers who had 75 further and 200 subsequent reports to help with larger campaigns.

 Once on board, realized that nearly half of the Chapters lacked executive members and structure. Recruited a full compliment of executives (President, Secretary, Treasurer and Event Coordinator) to the respective Chapter. In tandem, saw revenue gains by reintroducing the notion of hosting educational awareness events, which had not occurred in 2 years.

 Operated all events under the Charities Directorate standards of spending vs. revenue. Fiscally prudent nature budgeted events for 10% but kept it closer to 5%.

 Motivated volunteers to assist with tasks and to tap into and access their network to keep costs down.

 Changed the format and tone of volunteer meetings to attract and engage new members. Other Chapters soon followed suit.

 Established a communication program to be administered by volunteers at 11 clinics at Hamilton Health Sciences. Efforts yielded more frequent collaborations with medical staff who participated in well-attended fundraising events.

 Despite the economy’s downward spiral, realized a 13% gain in walk-a-thon revenues from ‘07 to ‘10.

INTERIM STUDIO ARTS ADMINISTRATOR The Living Arts Centre, Mississauga, ON Sep 2006 to Oct 2007

Selected from multiple candidates to administer facilities rental program, coordinate programs for multiple spaces (up to 15), contract negotiations, accounts receivable, front-end support for corporate clients and patrons, and oversee volunteer assignments, fee structure, and recognition.

 Delivered 2% revenue gains through skillful customer relations and contracting practices with a full roster of clients and development of targeted marketing tools.

 Administered 694+ portfolios including sensitive health, security, and payment information.

 Increased volunteer engagement and contributions to the centre by assigning initiatives suited to their individual strengths and talents resulting in higher productivity and happier participants.

CENSUS TAKER
Statistics Canada, Etobicoke, ON Apr to Jul 2007

Contracted by Canada Census. Received government clearance via a RCMP criminal background check.

INTERN Design Exchange, Toronto, ON Jul 2006 to Sep 2006

Immediately hired, after calling to express interest in working with the team at this Canadian museum for design research and education. Generated innovative programming ideas, created public awareness and drove membership support.

 Participated in collaborative executive meetings with outside organizations to vet new program ideas.

 Developed a walking tour and subsequently wrote a seminal report focusing on the post modern architecture of Toronto’s financial district, relating historical events to the expansion of the district.

 Drafted a first grant to the Ontario Arts Council seeking funding for the tour’s financing.

 Assisted in production of a French website with the Department of Heritage.

 Wrote solicitation letters that attracted International Architects and Industrial Designers to the program.


INTERN
Mississauga Arts Council, Mississauga, ON Jan 2006 to Jun 2006

Contracted to market 6 community art spaces in Mississauga to attract community artists to exhibit their works, broaden corporate supporters, and recruit new arts and culture related members.

 Curated 15 artists with 50+ pieces of work. Produced legally binding insurance contracts for each exhibit.

 Marketed programs by creating the AIM for Education newsletter to the Peel District School Boards.


INTERN
Ontario Historical Society, Toronto, ON Sep 2005 to Dec 2005

Recruited to analyze financial statements for 300+ affiliated organizations, compile statistical information into a manageable database, and stimulate awareness through participation in volunteer events.

BILINGUAL OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR
National Electronics Service Association, Scarborough, ON Mar 2004 to Sep 2005


ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE/BILINGUAL CUSTOMER SERVICELotus Orient, Markham, ON Oct 2002 to Mar 2004

Organized accounts receivables for 100+ small business owners and negotiate payment plans for offices across Canada, in California and China. Processed orders in French and English.



TECHNOLOGY SNAPSHOT

MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), Raisers Edge, Event Booking Management System (EBMS), File Maker Pro, Income Manager, Simply Accounting and Internet Research.


EDUCATION

CFRE Certificate
Ongoing

Art Administration & Cultural Management Certificate
Humber College, 2006

Bachelor of Arts Degree – Art History, Visual Arts
University of Guelph, 2001

French Summer Immersion Program
University of Saskatchewan, 1998

Extended French Certificate (Ontario Secondary School Diploma)

Dank-uuuu

Elodie's vocabulary is exploding these days.
Her newest aquisition to her frequent word use is Thank You- Dank-uuuu. Its so cute whenever she hands you anything she thanks you for putting your hand out and taking it.  However its hard not to laugh when we are trying to put her to sleep and she hands you her soother (new rule soothers stay in the bedroom) thanks you and runs out of the bedroom.

A few more words this weekend were- TT for turtle and Acdor for Tractor.