Right now, today, only a handful of students have our laptops – about 38 kids in Immokalee, who attend three different schools, and four more at Lake Park Elementary School in Naples. Jane, our head teacher, is working with the four children at Lake Park. The kids in Immokalee completed their initial program last summer. We are not currently working with them, but we plan to again, hopefully before next summer.
Here is the plan:
We will buy and distribute more 100 laptops this spring. We intend to give these computers to the classmates of the children we have already worked with in Immokalee and at Lake Park. That way, if they choose to, their teachers can utilize the laptops in the classroom.
That is our short-term goal. We chose 100 because it is the minimum order we can place with the manufacturer, One Laptop Per Child.
Long term? We are not going to get ahead of ourselves and announce to the world that we intend to buy tens of thousands of laptop computers for all of the poor children of South Florida. We’ll get there, but one step at a time. We figure after we raise funds for the first 100, we’ll get to work on the second 100. We can talk about thousands later.
But having said that, let me share what is happening in other parts of the country and the world:
* For the past 10 years, every last public school child in the state of Maine has been given his or her own laptop computer – not OLPC computers, mind you, so they’re actually paying more than we will have to for our kids. They are not using our curriculum, but regardless, we will be studying their results in-depth in the future to see what we can learn from their program.
* 17,000 public school kids in Birmingham, Alabama all have of will soon possess OLPC laptops. They actually got started this fall, after we had already completed our ground-breaking pilot in Immokalee. Again, what curriculum they are using and what early results they’ve had will be interesting for us to study.
* Several countries around the world are buying OLPC computers in the hundreds of thousands. Mexico is one such country, as are Brazil and Peru.
My point in all this is merely that our goals aren’t lofty or unattainable at all. All we hope to do for the children of South Florida is emulate what is already being accomplished for the children of Maine, Birmingham, and Mexico.
…Although we are taking it to the next level with our unique curriculum, which helps the children master technology in ways that these other school systems have not begun to do. But we’ll get to that in a later entry.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Science? What's that?
Only 39% of Americans believe in Evolution.
http://www.globalethics.org/newsline/2009/02/16/evolution-poll/
***
Appalled yet? In other stories:
Only 31% of Americans believe in gravity.
Only 27% of Americans believe the world is round. Of those, only 21% believe in the existence of time zones.
Only 13% of Americans believe in radio waves.
The good news is, 75% of us believe in the Easter Bunny, and 89% believe in Santa Claus, and 94% of us believe in the Tooth Fairy.
Can you see why I have dedicated myself to the teaching of science and technology in our public schools?
This is where I have to admit something: I made up all of these statistics except the first, regarding Darwin. What is wrong with people? How can you pick and choose the science you "believe in?" Because I'll tell you something: whether or not we believe in radio waves, gravity, or Evolution isn't going to change the validity of these scientific principles.
http://www.globalethics.org/newsline/2009/02/16/evolution-poll/
***
Appalled yet? In other stories:
Only 31% of Americans believe in gravity.
Only 27% of Americans believe the world is round. Of those, only 21% believe in the existence of time zones.
Only 13% of Americans believe in radio waves.
The good news is, 75% of us believe in the Easter Bunny, and 89% believe in Santa Claus, and 94% of us believe in the Tooth Fairy.
Can you see why I have dedicated myself to the teaching of science and technology in our public schools?
This is where I have to admit something: I made up all of these statistics except the first, regarding Darwin. What is wrong with people? How can you pick and choose the science you "believe in?" Because I'll tell you something: whether or not we believe in radio waves, gravity, or Evolution isn't going to change the validity of these scientific principles.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
No dust on us!
Have you seen the new website for One Laptop South Florida? www.onelaptopkisds.org. Birgit Pauli-Haack, the web genius behind Naples Free Net, has truly outdone herself!
***
Q: What happens to the laptops – and the children – once their OLSF course ends? Do the laptops collect dust in a closet?
A: It is vitally important to us that our children keep at it – that they use their laptops for the next several years, until they grow out of them (these are child-sized devices, after all.)
Our whole intent is to foster a love of technology, and of learning, in our students that leads them to a successful life well beyond what they could otherwise expect.
If you’re a donor, you want to make sure your dollars aren’t just having a merely temporary effect: you want to change young lives. Well, imagine how much more important that is to we who work with these kids, who get to know them!
Our ultimate plan is to give laptops to every child in a given classroom. That way, the teacher can incorporate the laptops into his or her lesson plans.
But... for those teachers who are not excited to utilize the laptops in this way, we will team up with existing after school programs to work with the kids outside of school. By hook or by crook, we will positively impact the poor children of our region.
***
Q: What happens to the laptops – and the children – once their OLSF course ends? Do the laptops collect dust in a closet?
A: It is vitally important to us that our children keep at it – that they use their laptops for the next several years, until they grow out of them (these are child-sized devices, after all.)
Our whole intent is to foster a love of technology, and of learning, in our students that leads them to a successful life well beyond what they could otherwise expect.
If you’re a donor, you want to make sure your dollars aren’t just having a merely temporary effect: you want to change young lives. Well, imagine how much more important that is to we who work with these kids, who get to know them!
Our ultimate plan is to give laptops to every child in a given classroom. That way, the teacher can incorporate the laptops into his or her lesson plans.
But... for those teachers who are not excited to utilize the laptops in this way, we will team up with existing after school programs to work with the kids outside of school. By hook or by crook, we will positively impact the poor children of our region.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
My "One Thing"
“I bring laptops and education to at-risk children.” Done. That’s what I do.
***
It’s nice to lose yourself in your work. As a matter of fact, there are few things as rewarding.
I’ve done it exactly twice before, and each time the effect was great. The first time was with Coiné Language School: all I did for four years was teach English and grow our business.
Then, with the language school humming along, I started work on my first book, Five-Star Customer Service. I had a winning team in place at the language school that didn’t miss me as I transitioned from their CEO to my new career, author and then – when Five-Star Customer Service was published – keynote speaker.
For the second time I focused myself entirely on one thing: being the most knowledgeable customer service expert, and the most inspirational speaker, that I could be. Honing my presentations – that was my new obsession, my new “one thing.”
My friends in Naples wouldn’t recognize me in either of these earlier incarnations. I have been told that I am too scattered, that I’m trying to accomplish too many things; others have told me that I juggle my many projects well, and they ask me how I do it.
The truth is probably somewhere in the middle, but for a while I was feeling that maybe it was closer to the stretched-too-thin side for my liking.
In reality, I was anything but scattered and unfocused, though. Rather, I was casting about for my next “one thing,” as in, “this is the one thing that I do, and I do it better than anyone else.” It worked for me with our language school, and it worked again with my speaking career. I knew I wanted to make an impact in the nonprofit realm, but just how took some exploring.
Our first six months in Naples, I was gone more than I was here, traveling the country giving talks and consulting: doing my “one thing” of helping companies to improve their competitive edge through better service.
Then, with Jane’s encouragement, I switched gears dramatically, and threw myself into serving the local nonprofit community in all manner of ways – through our online calendar at www.ImpactNaples.com; through the charity job bank we have there; on committees too numerous to name, as well as a few boards; through what for a time were weekly TV appearances; and through our monthly e-newsletter.
I did all of this as a volunteer, or close to it – I think we sold some advertising on the site for well under $8,000 total, and our charity, which we’ve renamed Impact, made a little money as co-beneficiaries of the CAN Ride the first two years I ran it (I remain ride chairman, but this year all proceeds go to CAN: www.cancerallianceofnaples.com).
As I write this, I’m still trimming down my involvement in various activities, but I’ve already eliminated at least 90% of my outside participation.
For two years, I haven’t had a ready answer to the question, “What do you do?” Now, I’m ready.
Go ahead, ask me: “Ted, what do you do?”
“I bring laptops and education to at-risk children.” Done. That’s what I do.
And the more I do it, the more happily obsessed I become. I have come full-circle on this issue, and now I can once again tell you with the certainty of one who walks his own talk that everyone should have their own “one thing:” the one thing that we each do that obsesses us, thrills us, delights us; validates us; makes us get up in the morning.
What is your “one thing?” Until you can answer that question quickly and clearly, chances are you won’t be happy in your work.
***
It’s nice to lose yourself in your work. As a matter of fact, there are few things as rewarding.
I’ve done it exactly twice before, and each time the effect was great. The first time was with Coiné Language School: all I did for four years was teach English and grow our business.
Then, with the language school humming along, I started work on my first book, Five-Star Customer Service. I had a winning team in place at the language school that didn’t miss me as I transitioned from their CEO to my new career, author and then – when Five-Star Customer Service was published – keynote speaker.
For the second time I focused myself entirely on one thing: being the most knowledgeable customer service expert, and the most inspirational speaker, that I could be. Honing my presentations – that was my new obsession, my new “one thing.”
My friends in Naples wouldn’t recognize me in either of these earlier incarnations. I have been told that I am too scattered, that I’m trying to accomplish too many things; others have told me that I juggle my many projects well, and they ask me how I do it.
The truth is probably somewhere in the middle, but for a while I was feeling that maybe it was closer to the stretched-too-thin side for my liking.
In reality, I was anything but scattered and unfocused, though. Rather, I was casting about for my next “one thing,” as in, “this is the one thing that I do, and I do it better than anyone else.” It worked for me with our language school, and it worked again with my speaking career. I knew I wanted to make an impact in the nonprofit realm, but just how took some exploring.
Our first six months in Naples, I was gone more than I was here, traveling the country giving talks and consulting: doing my “one thing” of helping companies to improve their competitive edge through better service.
Then, with Jane’s encouragement, I switched gears dramatically, and threw myself into serving the local nonprofit community in all manner of ways – through our online calendar at www.ImpactNaples.com; through the charity job bank we have there; on committees too numerous to name, as well as a few boards; through what for a time were weekly TV appearances; and through our monthly e-newsletter.
I did all of this as a volunteer, or close to it – I think we sold some advertising on the site for well under $8,000 total, and our charity, which we’ve renamed Impact, made a little money as co-beneficiaries of the CAN Ride the first two years I ran it (I remain ride chairman, but this year all proceeds go to CAN: www.cancerallianceofnaples.com).
As I write this, I’m still trimming down my involvement in various activities, but I’ve already eliminated at least 90% of my outside participation.
For two years, I haven’t had a ready answer to the question, “What do you do?” Now, I’m ready.
Go ahead, ask me: “Ted, what do you do?”
“I bring laptops and education to at-risk children.” Done. That’s what I do.
And the more I do it, the more happily obsessed I become. I have come full-circle on this issue, and now I can once again tell you with the certainty of one who walks his own talk that everyone should have their own “one thing:” the one thing that we each do that obsesses us, thrills us, delights us; validates us; makes us get up in the morning.
What is your “one thing?” Until you can answer that question quickly and clearly, chances are you won’t be happy in your work.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Walking Through an Open Door... Finally!
I’m sure you’ve heard the expression, “Everything happens for a reason.” Well, I’m beginning to believe it myself!
The skeptic in me, the guy who majored in philosophy and mastered the art of logic – of tearing down anyone’s argument, on any topic – that guy is uncomfortable with this. Providence doesn’t often get involved in a skeptic’s life: things happen because other things happened before them, and any more profound rhyme or reason that we read into life’s occurrences is just our fallible, human way of making sense of things. That’s what I learned in school, anyway.
But I have to say, doors have been shutting and others opening in an interesting way lately. If I weren’t such a dyed-in-the-wool skeptic, I’d be inclined to say that someone is looking out for me and sending me on this path for a reason!
Let’s take my career. Early last November I blogged about how much sheer delight it was spending the day at my table at Whole Foods for the “5% Day” they threw for One Laptop South Florida. I had more fun, got more satisfaction, out of sharing the One Laptop story with Whole Foods team members and customers than I’d had in months – since I was out in Immokalee working with the migrant kids for our laptop pilot last July, as a matter of fact.
“What fun,” I’d thought at the time. “If only I could run OLSF as my full-time job, rather than just as a hobby.”
Better watch what you ask for! It now seems that someone may have been listening.
A door closed not long after that day; we decided we hadn’t raised enough seed money to start Impact Magazine. So we put Impact Mag to bed, at least for now.
…Meanwhile, we raised a good sum at Whole Foods: close to $3,000. And with part of that money, we have paid for our 501(c)3 application with the IRS, which means we’re ready to start collecting donations on our own, without a partner organization. That’s a big step toward making One Laptop South Florida something that could, if I wanted it to, employ me full-time: something more than “just” a hobby.
The One Laptop door was opened wider for me to step through.
…But I sometimes have trouble taking a hint, and this was one such time. Instead of moving full-steam-ahead with OLSF, I signed on to head another charity-focused magazine that a local company was going to start.
I walked through the wrong door – man, was that the wrong door! Within weeks, that door, too, had slammed in my face.
Meanwhile, the One Laptop door was waiting for me, wide open.
In fact, it opened a little wider when Elexia Hinote became available to help me with fundraising. A professional fundraiser, ready to pitch in and to show me the ropes, all at once? How enticing!
I wish I could say that having our application for our 501(c)3, plus an accomplished Director of Development on staff, plus such positive results last summer, plus – my God, plus the coolest mission on earth! – I wish I could say all that tipped the balance for me, and made me realize that, yes, running this extra-special charity is something I could do as my full-time job, rather than just a hobby.
I wish I could say all that, but the honest truth is that it still took me a couple of weeks, maybe even a month more, to figure this out.
There is good news though: sometimes, even when you’re thoroughly obtuse like me, a glaringly-obvious opportunity still makes an impression.
So finally, at long last, because so many doors have shut while this one door, One Laptop South Florida, keeps opening wider for me, finally I get it and I’m hard at work as CEO of this wonderful, beneficial organization – yes, as my full-time job, not just my hobby while I pursue more profitable endeavors.
Man, it took me long enough, huh? Well, better late than never.
The skeptic in me, the guy who majored in philosophy and mastered the art of logic – of tearing down anyone’s argument, on any topic – that guy is uncomfortable with this. Providence doesn’t often get involved in a skeptic’s life: things happen because other things happened before them, and any more profound rhyme or reason that we read into life’s occurrences is just our fallible, human way of making sense of things. That’s what I learned in school, anyway.
But I have to say, doors have been shutting and others opening in an interesting way lately. If I weren’t such a dyed-in-the-wool skeptic, I’d be inclined to say that someone is looking out for me and sending me on this path for a reason!
Let’s take my career. Early last November I blogged about how much sheer delight it was spending the day at my table at Whole Foods for the “5% Day” they threw for One Laptop South Florida. I had more fun, got more satisfaction, out of sharing the One Laptop story with Whole Foods team members and customers than I’d had in months – since I was out in Immokalee working with the migrant kids for our laptop pilot last July, as a matter of fact.
“What fun,” I’d thought at the time. “If only I could run OLSF as my full-time job, rather than just as a hobby.”
Better watch what you ask for! It now seems that someone may have been listening.
A door closed not long after that day; we decided we hadn’t raised enough seed money to start Impact Magazine. So we put Impact Mag to bed, at least for now.
…Meanwhile, we raised a good sum at Whole Foods: close to $3,000. And with part of that money, we have paid for our 501(c)3 application with the IRS, which means we’re ready to start collecting donations on our own, without a partner organization. That’s a big step toward making One Laptop South Florida something that could, if I wanted it to, employ me full-time: something more than “just” a hobby.
The One Laptop door was opened wider for me to step through.
…But I sometimes have trouble taking a hint, and this was one such time. Instead of moving full-steam-ahead with OLSF, I signed on to head another charity-focused magazine that a local company was going to start.
I walked through the wrong door – man, was that the wrong door! Within weeks, that door, too, had slammed in my face.
Meanwhile, the One Laptop door was waiting for me, wide open.
In fact, it opened a little wider when Elexia Hinote became available to help me with fundraising. A professional fundraiser, ready to pitch in and to show me the ropes, all at once? How enticing!
I wish I could say that having our application for our 501(c)3, plus an accomplished Director of Development on staff, plus such positive results last summer, plus – my God, plus the coolest mission on earth! – I wish I could say all that tipped the balance for me, and made me realize that, yes, running this extra-special charity is something I could do as my full-time job, rather than just a hobby.
I wish I could say all that, but the honest truth is that it still took me a couple of weeks, maybe even a month more, to figure this out.
There is good news though: sometimes, even when you’re thoroughly obtuse like me, a glaringly-obvious opportunity still makes an impression.
So finally, at long last, because so many doors have shut while this one door, One Laptop South Florida, keeps opening wider for me, finally I get it and I’m hard at work as CEO of this wonderful, beneficial organization – yes, as my full-time job, not just my hobby while I pursue more profitable endeavors.
Man, it took me long enough, huh? Well, better late than never.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Be Godlike
“A man is a little thing while he works by and for himself; but when he gives voice to the rules of love and justice, he is godlike.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson (U.S. philosopher and poet, 1803-1882)
Shared with us by our friends at the Institute for Global Ethics: www.globalethics.org
– Ralph Waldo Emerson (U.S. philosopher and poet, 1803-1882)
Shared with us by our friends at the Institute for Global Ethics: www.globalethics.org
Introducing "5:17"
You are cordially invited to the Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club this Friday, January 9, for a champagne toast at the beachside bar.
The toast will be held promptly at 5:17 pm. Fun conversation and a gorgeous sunset will follow.
Why 5:17? Because it’s a fun, frivolous time, and that’s exactly what “5:17” is all about: fun, friends, frivolity, and just a touch of social good to round it out.
Price of admission is free – just show up. No need to RSVP, either. Buy your own glass of champagne (or whatever else you choose) at the beachside bar, and that’s it: you’re part of the action.
Who needs an excuse to drink champagne at sunset on Friday with friends? Not us! But officially, this is an activity to support Impact’s very special project, One Laptop South Florida. You can see the wonderful little computers we’re buying for disadvantaged children in our community, and see a demonstration of one of the animated stories the children made in our pilot last summer in Immokalee. We’ll be there to answer your questions, if you have any.
…Or maybe you won’t have any questions at all, and that’s fine, too. We just want you to come hang out, maybe make some new friends, or catch up with some you already have.
Just to make 5:17 that much better, we will be raffling off something very, very cool. It’s a secret, but you’re going to love it!
We’ll see you at the Beach Club at 5:17. You don’t want to miss it!
The toast will be held promptly at 5:17 pm. Fun conversation and a gorgeous sunset will follow.
Why 5:17? Because it’s a fun, frivolous time, and that’s exactly what “5:17” is all about: fun, friends, frivolity, and just a touch of social good to round it out.
Price of admission is free – just show up. No need to RSVP, either. Buy your own glass of champagne (or whatever else you choose) at the beachside bar, and that’s it: you’re part of the action.
Who needs an excuse to drink champagne at sunset on Friday with friends? Not us! But officially, this is an activity to support Impact’s very special project, One Laptop South Florida. You can see the wonderful little computers we’re buying for disadvantaged children in our community, and see a demonstration of one of the animated stories the children made in our pilot last summer in Immokalee. We’ll be there to answer your questions, if you have any.
…Or maybe you won’t have any questions at all, and that’s fine, too. We just want you to come hang out, maybe make some new friends, or catch up with some you already have.
Just to make 5:17 that much better, we will be raffling off something very, very cool. It’s a secret, but you’re going to love it!
We’ll see you at the Beach Club at 5:17. You don’t want to miss it!
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