Starting out!

On Inauguration Day - January 20, 2009, everyone was watching the start of a new era. There were a lot of hopes wrapped up in that one day, and the group represented on this blog started from one of those - the hope that we can all pitch in and help others together in some real way. The email posted below went out three days later - January 23, 2009 to 38 friends.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hello! I hope the events of this past Tuesday moved you as much as they did me. Leading up to the inauguration, my friends and I spoke a lot about the hope we shared that the new president would ask the nation to participate in some national campaign of sacrifice. There is a romanticism in that idea, and I believe many people have a hunger to share in something that large - something that feels bigger than themselves and something that will have a true impact. In President Obama's inauguration speech there were no specific ideas given for such a plan, so at first glance we're still waiting for that grand call to service. In the meantime, his speech declared that "everywhere we look, there is work to be done" and that's true! Many of us already take part in regular or semi-regular service work. What I'm proposing is that we form a local group of friends who will take on service projects in direct answer to our new approach to life in this country, to carry on the spirit of energy and momentum that comes from the election and this new and hopeful administration.

I've joined forces with my wonderful friend Shannon and we are on the task - if you are interested, please join us! We'll start with a planning meeting Wednesday, February 4th at 7:00p.m. to talk about what kind of projects we'll take on and what kinds of expectations we have for the group. One key piece we feel pretty strongly about is the "marketing" aspect. It is true that there are all kinds of benefits in anonymous service, but in this effort we believe our group could have ripple effects as more people see our work and feel moved to do something similar in response to their own emotions surrounding the election. At the meeting Wednesday, we hope to come up with a group name and a group t-shirt that will help with our visibility. Also before Wednesday, Shannon and I will call a few local non-profits and public entities to collect some project ideas. Of course we welcome your ideas for projects - for helping all types of non-profit organizations, schools, and in environmental clean-up and resource conservation.

Please let us know if you are interested in attending the first planning meeting, or if you'd just like to be in the loop for when we have our first service project. There is of course no obligation of any kind, and you are welcome to play it by ear to see if any project ideas appeal to you as we go! Also, please feel free to invite friends/family as you see fit.

A Pingg invitation will follow this email with a chance to r.s.v.p. and more meeting details.

Thanks so much for considering, and we hope to hear from you soon!
Emily and Shannon

"Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America — they will be met... Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America."