First of all, I cannot ever begin to thank all of you who have stepped up to make quilts, have donated quilt tops, batting, postage, fabric, thread and always encouragement for me to keep this going, it is because of you that we are one step closer to becoming a non-profit.
As stated early on, a non-profit charity, is NOT owned by anyone. I may be the founder, but all of you are the foundation that keeps this going, the momentum behind me that won't let me stop until this is what God means for it to be!
Today, in mail, I received from the State of Washington my certificate of trademark for the Layers of Hope Quilting 911 logo that was lovingly and wonderfully created by Becky at The Cutest Blog on The Block (go over and show Becky some love!) she is just the very best.
I can now begin ordering business cards, thank you notes, letterhead, etc. and know that it is okay. I truly hope and pray that someday this will be bigger than I have ever dreamed possible and that more quilters and people will come aboard and realize what these wonderful men and women due for us that we never see!
So, be it known from this day forward that Layers of Hope Quilting 911 and its logo is a registered trademark with the state of Washington and cannot be used without the express written permission from myself.
Of course it will probably always be given to all quilters, but I will not allow it to be used for anything but our unseen heroes. I will not be part of a mass calling scheme to collect funds and if you ever receive anything from Layers of Hope Quilting 911 that you are leary of, Email me or leave me a message to contact you!
Showing posts with label Layers of Hope-Quilting 911. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Layers of Hope-Quilting 911. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
How To Define Layers of Hope - Quilting 911
I was asked by my hubby a few days ago, 'Can you define your organization?' I am sure my facial expressions were, 'huh, what, confusion,' as he restated it this way:
'Are you a foundation, organization, non-profit, sole proprietor, ministry? How do you define what you do?'
First of all, Layers of Hope - Quilting 911 cannot really be defined as a sole proprietorship because I don't own it, it belongs to all quilters who want to reach out an help 911 operators, but on paper it might be considered that, but we don't have employee's, I don't paid or should I say, when money comes in I don't take it as payment but use it to further our purpose.
A Foundation is really just another term for non-profit organization however a foundation usually donates money to help support other organizations or causes such as in our area the Bishop Foundation which provides scholarships for students, provides for school aged children to go to Seattle to see the Nutcracker ballet, has a camp for children, etc. In other words, a foundation takes in money to use for its own purposes and usually is set up by an individual or a family such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. So, no, we are not a foundation!
A non-profit is more like we are with the exception we haven't applied for non-profit status as of this writing, we do not have a board of directors (though I have people who have stepped up and say when the day comes, they would love to be on the first BOD), we do not have employee's, I do not get paid and everyone works on volunteering their time, their materials, their money, etc.
Wikipedia states this about a non-profit: ' Designation as a nonprofit does not mean that the organization does not intend to make a profit, but rather that the organization has no owners and that the funds realized in the operation of the organization will not be used to benefit any owners.'
So maybe, technically, we can be defined as a non-profit since we have no owners and any monies that come in, go right back into more quilts, thread, postage, etc.
I think an organization truly in my opinion can be any group of people that are organized enough to come together for a purpose. There are government organizations, non-profit organizations, for-profit organizations, charitable organizations, etc. So loosely we might be considered an organization but since we are all scattered in the wind across the United States and the world, I will say, no to this.'
Ministry is really an organization who comes together to spread or preach their faith. While I am a believer in Jesus Christ and I believe He has His hand in getting me to do something for others, we are not going to preach or expound our beliefs on others. We can say we are praying, have prayed, hope they are blessed, but I do not allow religious tracts or anything else to be sent to our recipients, so no, we aren't a ministry.
Charity probably comes closest to defining Layers of Hope - Quilting 911 as it is the act of benevolent giving and caring and we give and we care as we reach out to others with our quilts, cards and love. It can also be defined as the unconditional act of love and kindness and what is more unconditional than making a quilt for people who are hurting that you have never met and probably never will meet?
So, if I were to define Layers of Hope - Quilting 911 I would say it is a Non-Profit Charitable Organization in its baby stage, just trying to learn to stand, a bit wobbly, falling down and getting back up and how far we walk depends on me, you, others you let know about us and truly, time.
Time will tell if we will be able to wobble walk or loose the wobblies and run like the wind. I personally am praying that we will be another one of those wonderful quilting charities where the sky is our limit!
Where one day I will look back at where we began and what we have become and say, 'Wow! We did it together! We made it!'
Blessings to all of you!
'Are you a foundation, organization, non-profit, sole proprietor, ministry? How do you define what you do?'
First of all, Layers of Hope - Quilting 911 cannot really be defined as a sole proprietorship because I don't own it, it belongs to all quilters who want to reach out an help 911 operators, but on paper it might be considered that, but we don't have employee's, I don't paid or should I say, when money comes in I don't take it as payment but use it to further our purpose.
A Foundation is really just another term for non-profit organization however a foundation usually donates money to help support other organizations or causes such as in our area the Bishop Foundation which provides scholarships for students, provides for school aged children to go to Seattle to see the Nutcracker ballet, has a camp for children, etc. In other words, a foundation takes in money to use for its own purposes and usually is set up by an individual or a family such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. So, no, we are not a foundation!
A non-profit is more like we are with the exception we haven't applied for non-profit status as of this writing, we do not have a board of directors (though I have people who have stepped up and say when the day comes, they would love to be on the first BOD), we do not have employee's, I do not get paid and everyone works on volunteering their time, their materials, their money, etc.
Wikipedia states this about a non-profit: ' Designation as a nonprofit does not mean that the organization does not intend to make a profit, but rather that the organization has no owners and that the funds realized in the operation of the organization will not be used to benefit any owners.'
So maybe, technically, we can be defined as a non-profit since we have no owners and any monies that come in, go right back into more quilts, thread, postage, etc.
I think an organization truly in my opinion can be any group of people that are organized enough to come together for a purpose. There are government organizations, non-profit organizations, for-profit organizations, charitable organizations, etc. So loosely we might be considered an organization but since we are all scattered in the wind across the United States and the world, I will say, no to this.'
Ministry is really an organization who comes together to spread or preach their faith. While I am a believer in Jesus Christ and I believe He has His hand in getting me to do something for others, we are not going to preach or expound our beliefs on others. We can say we are praying, have prayed, hope they are blessed, but I do not allow religious tracts or anything else to be sent to our recipients, so no, we aren't a ministry.
Charity probably comes closest to defining Layers of Hope - Quilting 911 as it is the act of benevolent giving and caring and we give and we care as we reach out to others with our quilts, cards and love. It can also be defined as the unconditional act of love and kindness and what is more unconditional than making a quilt for people who are hurting that you have never met and probably never will meet?
So, if I were to define Layers of Hope - Quilting 911 I would say it is a Non-Profit Charitable Organization in its baby stage, just trying to learn to stand, a bit wobbly, falling down and getting back up and how far we walk depends on me, you, others you let know about us and truly, time.
Time will tell if we will be able to wobble walk or loose the wobblies and run like the wind. I personally am praying that we will be another one of those wonderful quilting charities where the sky is our limit!
Where one day I will look back at where we began and what we have become and say, 'Wow! We did it together! We made it!'
Blessings to all of you!
Monday, May 6, 2013
Welcome to Layers of Hope-Quilting 911
I want to welcome you to this new blog and project and ask that you all pray for not only me to take this in the direction it should go in but that each one of you follow and contribute to the success of this blog project.
Layers of Hope-Quilting 911 is NOT just a blog, it is a way for quilters around the world to come together and help support those voices we hear in our most vulnerable hours, the 911 Operator.
You may never talk to a 911 operator, you may never know or meet one, but I can tell you their dedication to their profession, to each other as a team to the officers and fire fighters they protect and especially to you, the public, goes beyond the normal dedication of most people.
These are the men and women who stay up all night so you can sleep knowing if you need them, they are there. They work holidays protecting closed businesses, your home while you are on vacation and perhaps you while in new surroundings.
While you may see the police officer or fire fighter that helped you, many times you will never see the 911 operator who kept you calm until help arrived. While you thank the officer or fire fighter who arrived to help you, chances are the 911 operator is already working another emergency and helping someone else.
They love their careers and it takes someone special to do the job because aside from the paycheck and benefits, it is a thankless job most of the time.
911 professionals have the same trials we all do:
Loosing a home or family member is awful to anyone of us, but can you imagine being at work and taking a call of a house on fire and realizing it is your house and you must remain calm, in control and at work?
I can! I have taken 911 calls only to have the voice of a co-worker tell me they were just in a roll-over accident and my job at that moment is to get help and take care of my co-worker on the phone.
While there are many agencies and organizations that step up to help fire fighters, police officers and our veterans and their families when they need help, there is only one organization that I know of helping dispatchers and they need our help!
That is 911 Cares and Kevin Willet and his team. They reach out to those in need and they make a difference.
Kevin also has an amazing training team and organization that is dedicated to training 911 professionals to be the best they can be at PSTC and to give them the best tools for the job they hope they will never need!
I have worked to help 911 dispatchers as much as I can since Hurricane Katrina and Rita hit the gulf coast so many years ago. I have made quilts for fire victims, ill children of dispatchers, ill dispatchers, dispatch centers.
I sent quilts to the dispatchers of the Virginia Tech tragedy and I set up a Facebook site for those dispatchers of the Aurora Colorado tragedy and Newtown tragedies and with the help from quilters all over the world, we made a difference.
We have a dedicated Facebook page called Layers of Hope-Quilting 911 at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Layers-Of-Hope-Quilting-911/401592493230782
During tragedies, this is where I will post any and all information I can get from Kevin so you can reach out and let someone know you care.
Believe it or not, it is not always a quilt, not always money, sometimes the biggest need is simply a card saying you care and are praying.
This blog will be changing rapidly over the next few weeks, I am working on somethings to get this to a level that the next time there is a need, I can just walk out my back door and pick the items I need off a shelf and send on their way or simply ask you all for help and know it will be done!
Layers of Hope-Quilting 911 is NOT just a blog, it is a way for quilters around the world to come together and help support those voices we hear in our most vulnerable hours, the 911 Operator.
You may never talk to a 911 operator, you may never know or meet one, but I can tell you their dedication to their profession, to each other as a team to the officers and fire fighters they protect and especially to you, the public, goes beyond the normal dedication of most people.
These are the men and women who stay up all night so you can sleep knowing if you need them, they are there. They work holidays protecting closed businesses, your home while you are on vacation and perhaps you while in new surroundings.
While you may see the police officer or fire fighter that helped you, many times you will never see the 911 operator who kept you calm until help arrived. While you thank the officer or fire fighter who arrived to help you, chances are the 911 operator is already working another emergency and helping someone else.
They love their careers and it takes someone special to do the job because aside from the paycheck and benefits, it is a thankless job most of the time.
911 professionals have the same trials we all do:
- They have good kids and kids in prison
- They divorce
- They suffer death's of children and spouses
- They suffer debilitating illnesses
- Their homes get destroyed by fire, tornadoes & hurricanes
- They are victims of domestic violence
- They struggle paycheck to paycheck like most people do
Loosing a home or family member is awful to anyone of us, but can you imagine being at work and taking a call of a house on fire and realizing it is your house and you must remain calm, in control and at work?
I can! I have taken 911 calls only to have the voice of a co-worker tell me they were just in a roll-over accident and my job at that moment is to get help and take care of my co-worker on the phone.
While there are many agencies and organizations that step up to help fire fighters, police officers and our veterans and their families when they need help, there is only one organization that I know of helping dispatchers and they need our help!
That is 911 Cares and Kevin Willet and his team. They reach out to those in need and they make a difference.
Kevin also has an amazing training team and organization that is dedicated to training 911 professionals to be the best they can be at PSTC and to give them the best tools for the job they hope they will never need!
I have worked to help 911 dispatchers as much as I can since Hurricane Katrina and Rita hit the gulf coast so many years ago. I have made quilts for fire victims, ill children of dispatchers, ill dispatchers, dispatch centers.
I sent quilts to the dispatchers of the Virginia Tech tragedy and I set up a Facebook site for those dispatchers of the Aurora Colorado tragedy and Newtown tragedies and with the help from quilters all over the world, we made a difference.
We have a dedicated Facebook page called Layers of Hope-Quilting 911 at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Layers-Of-Hope-Quilting-911/401592493230782
During tragedies, this is where I will post any and all information I can get from Kevin so you can reach out and let someone know you care.
Believe it or not, it is not always a quilt, not always money, sometimes the biggest need is simply a card saying you care and are praying.
This blog will be changing rapidly over the next few weeks, I am working on somethings to get this to a level that the next time there is a need, I can just walk out my back door and pick the items I need off a shelf and send on their way or simply ask you all for help and know it will be done!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)