Friday Musings 11-14-13 - Giving to the Max

 

 

Do you benefit from those who give?

Last spring I spent two days in a row working in Minnesota Carnegie libraries, one in Northfield and one in Little Falls. I feel so at "home" at any that I visit. The photo to the left is the Alexandria, Minnesota Carnegie library I frequented growing up in Douglas County. "A Carnegie library is a library built with money donated by Scottish-American businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. When the last grant was made in 1919, there were 3,500 libraries in the United States. They led the establishment of 75-80 percent of the libraries in communities across the country. Carnegie believed in giving to the "industrious and ambitious; not those who need everything done for them, but those who, being most anxious and able to help themselves, deserveand will be benefited by help from others."The entry staircase symbolized a person's elevation by learning. Similarly, outside virtually every library was a lamppost or lantern, meant as a symbol of enlightenment." Yet, as I watched the History Channel series called, "The Men who Built America,"   I had mixed emotions about how he "made" his money. I recommend the videos and encourage you to grapple with the contradiction.  Do you have a favorite memory of a Carnegie Library?

 

What is your Legacy? Hear about Jessica Jackley's Legacy - $25 at a time

Did you hear the "giving to the Max" web site crashed yesterday due to heavy use? What a wonderful problem. Over 16 million was given from over 53,000 Minnesota donors. Minnesotans are SO giving. This TED talk will challenge you as you think about "giving" or "giving a hand." "What do you think of people in poverty? Maybe what Jessica Jackley once did: "they" need "our" help, in the form of a few coins in a jar. The co-founder of Kiva.org talks about how her attitude changed -- and how her work with microloans has brought new power to people who live on a few dollars a day. Jessica Jackley is the co-founder of Kiva.org, an online community that helps individuals loan small amounts of money, called microloans, to entrepreneurs throughout the world." I think I have a new idea for gifts this year - an opportunity to invest....  Anyone that reads this blog been a funder on Kiva or similar venues - what has been your experience?

A different perspective on how you select who you "give to the max"

Kiva, boasts that they do not take a "cut" - but all money goes to those who need it. This story provides another perspective. I had always used the barometer of "percentage for administration" to judge a non-profit. After hearing this talk I think differently. "Activist and fundraiser Dan Pallotta calls out the double standard that drives our broken relationship to charities. Too many nonprofits, he says, are rewarded for how little they spend -- not for what they get done. Instead of equating frugality with morality, he asks us to start rewarding charities for their big goals and big accomplishments (even if that comes with big expenses). In this bold talk, he says: Let's change the way we think about changing the world. Everything the donating public has been taught about giving is dysfunctional, says AIDS Ride founder Dan Pallotta. He aims to transform the way society thinks about charity and giving and change."

I have you have a great weekend. 

Please share your ideas about this week's musing in the text box below. I look forward to your responses.

Trish Olson, University of Minnesota Extension Center for Family Development.

Friday Musings 11-1-13 Obstruction

Intention not Required for Obstruction 

 

Allen Craig is tripped by third baseman Will Middlebrooks in the ninth inning and would score on an obstruction call to win Game 3.

Red Sox third baseman Will Middlebrooks insists he didn't intentionally make contact with Craig, but while lying face-down on the infield, he bent both legs at the knees and raised both feet into Craig's legs – hardly the first movement in an attempt to get up.

"The way the obstruction rule is set up right now," Farrell said, "the baserunner can be the aggressor and beneficiary on both sides. They can seek out an infielder, run into him and benefit by advancing." I love baseball and the obstruction call this week during the World Series only confirmed that for me. Exciting, controversial, life lessons. I had an opportunity to reflect on "obstruction" this week as I received a call from my daughter while I was on the city bus on my way to work at 7 a.m. She asked, "Where is the second set of keys for the truck?" She has locked the keys in a running vehicle as she was warming it up to drive to school. Well, if the second set of keys were not where they had been the last 6 months, I did not know. Her father could get her to school, but needed to immediately leave for he was carpooling to Winona for an all day meeting. So our options? Just leave the truck running until I could get home to either find the key or get someone to open the truck. I needed to conduct an interview that morning and cancel a lunch and reschedule an afternoon meeting and figure out how to get home via the non-express bus routes available in the middle of the day to the suburbs. I also text my neighbors to tell them that "yes, our little white truck would be running in the driveway until it ran out of gas or I get home that afternoon." A strange text to receive from your neighbor, unless you live by us. Aubrey did not intend to be an "obstruction" to my day.... but intent did not matter - it was what it was. How we all reacted to this unplanned situation and lessons learned for our household "key backup plan" is what is important. Wondering what I found when I got home 6.5 hours later? Truck was still running, a very gas efficient vehicle and Eden Prairie police will open a locked vehicle free. Any obstruction stories and solutions you want to share in the blog below?

 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Benefits Reduced Today

"More than 47 million Americans who receive food stamps will see their benefits go down starting Friday, just as Congress has begun negotiations on further cuts to the program.

Beginning in November, a temporary benefit from the 2009 economic stimulus that boosts food stamp dollars will no longer be available. According to the Agriculture Department, that means a family of four receiving food stamps will start receiving $36 less a month."    "More than 554,000 Minnesotans get federal food assistance — one out of every 10 people in the state. A third are children. Another quarter are elderly or disabled adults. Contrary to popular stereotypes, a majority live in families where at least one adult earns a paycheck.

This week, their food budget rests in the hands of Senate and House negotiators, who are about to begin debate on the massive farm bill that will set the budget for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), still commonly known to many as food stamps.

Republicans, concerned that the program has become far too expansive and expensive, are pushing for $40 billion in cuts to SNAP, which currently feeds 48 million Americans. Those cuts could push millions of people out of the program, including tens of thousands of Minnesotans.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services estimates that the eligibility changes being considered by Congress would cut 16,700 households — an estimated 32,000 people — from the food stamp program in Minnesota. That includes 17,000 children, 4,500 seniors and 4,000 single adults."  Public policy impacts both our work and those we work with. How does your programming help families respond to this impact on their budget and the amount and type of food they can provide for their families?

3 Paycheck Month- Opportunity for Savings, Debt Reduction, Rainy Day Fund

October was a 3-paycheck month, for those of us who work for the University of Minnesota. That third paycheck can be considered a "windfall" or "planned savings." How do you use it? Or how do you discuss the third-paycheck months with those you teach?

Trish