About three years ago, after a very special cat I loved died, I began thinking of starting a nonprofit to bring together pet owners, to get acquainted with alternative care professionals and others, who had exceptional "alternative" experiences caring for their pets.
Some time later after I read Neale Donald Walsch's Conversations With God, book 2, Chapter 9 regarding Education, I began to get an exciting picture of more expansive possibilities.
My Business Card (front)
Alternatives for Curious People.
A place for people who are willing to explore LIFE
beyond the common educational system.
Be a Speaker - Share Your Stories
Be a Mentor - Have Mentors
For the Love of People, Pets & The Planet,
Are you willing to Trust the Possibilities?
(back)
To provide an eclectic learning environment in order to
discover and experience Your Authentic Self. With the
help of mentors, speakers, written and filmed materials,
conversations, reflection and support, discover who You
are, what You're doing here and Your Special Place in
The World in new refreshing and optimistic ways that
will benefit all Life - People, Pets and The Planet.
Alternatives for Curious People.
A place for people who are willing to explore LIFE
beyond the common educational system.
Be a Speaker - Share Your Stories
Be a Mentor - Have Mentors
For the Love of People, Pets & The Planet,
Are you willing to Trust the Possibilities?
(back)
To provide an eclectic learning environment in order to
discover and experience Your Authentic Self. With the
help of mentors, speakers, written and filmed materials,
conversations, reflection and support, discover who You
are, what You're doing here and Your Special Place in
The World in new refreshing and optimistic ways that
will benefit all Life - People, Pets and The Planet.
Mission Statements:
To explore the meaning, purpose, function and process of education.To go beyond the knowledge accumulated from our families, our culture and public schools. Wisdom is what we've been searching for. Wisdom is knowledge applied. When you're open and willing to know better, You'll do better!
To understand and practice calm-assertive leadership as taught by Cesar Millan, The Dog Whisperer, who often mentions his observation that the same methods work well when raising children and in other relationships.
To learn to use calm-assertive energy to replace negative self-talk, fear, stress and doubt.
To experience life beyond childhood perspectives - "harsh realities", dysfunctional relationships at home, in the work place and in day-to-day life that seems to endlessly present familiar challenges, which hold us captive in a survival mode.
To untangle ourselves from the web of confusion, suffering and narrow expectations of others, including the disappointment of not living the life you envisioned as a child.
To face and release the traumas of childhood and adulthood in order to move forward to experience balanced stability and enjoyment of living by using your expertese and talents for your good and those around you.
New parents are still amazed by the miracle of life. What day did you begin the "slippery slide" to becoming someone other than a miracle? You and I are still the Creator's miracle. When you believe this, and get up each day with this perspective of life, this will be your proof that you are loved and cared for beyond your wildest dreams.
To go beyond transitory self-help books, articles, one-time speakers, week-end workshops, films, counseling and church, to be sure you "get the message" and it becomes a part of you.
To explore the meaning, purpose, function and process of education.To go beyond the knowledge accumulated from our families, our culture and public schools. Wisdom is what we've been searching for. Wisdom is knowledge applied. When you're open and willing to know better, You'll do better!
To understand and practice calm-assertive leadership as taught by Cesar Millan, The Dog Whisperer, who often mentions his observation that the same methods work well when raising children and in other relationships.
To learn to use calm-assertive energy to replace negative self-talk, fear, stress and doubt.
To experience life beyond childhood perspectives - "harsh realities", dysfunctional relationships at home, in the work place and in day-to-day life that seems to endlessly present familiar challenges, which hold us captive in a survival mode.
To untangle ourselves from the web of confusion, suffering and narrow expectations of others, including the disappointment of not living the life you envisioned as a child.
To face and release the traumas of childhood and adulthood in order to move forward to experience balanced stability and enjoyment of living by using your expertese and talents for your good and those around you.
New parents are still amazed by the miracle of life. What day did you begin the "slippery slide" to becoming someone other than a miracle? You and I are still the Creator's miracle. When you believe this, and get up each day with this perspective of life, this will be your proof that you are loved and cared for beyond your wildest dreams.
To go beyond transitory self-help books, articles, one-time speakers, week-end workshops, films, counseling and church, to be sure you "get the message" and it becomes a part of you.
My Vision:
Since then, my eclectic range of interests and the exciting information I receive, is propelling me to create a unique nonprofit organization - a place for people to come together to learn, to mentor and experience ways to enjoy a healthy, satisfying, creative, balanced, happy life, for themselves, their pets and others living on the Earth.
Alternative dentists, doctors, nutritionists, veterinarians, life coaches, financial planners, organic growers, organic food preparers, dowsers, relationship experts, film makers and authors, to name a few, would be invited to share their perspective.
Progressive mentors and speakers who are familiar with Nature's Laws, including ancient and current information they have been willing to acquire beyond their professional training, would be welcomed to expand the consciousness of forward thinking members.
A place where professionals explain their work to others, who are unfamiliar with what they do and how they do it and are willing to provide paid services who choose to experience their unique expertise, such as: whole body massage, face and foot massage, thermography, and live blood analysis. Some services, which would be paid directly to the professional, would be available on site.
I envision a room large enough for 25 to 30 people with a small stage, so local professionals and others from many fields will come to share their personal stories, knowledge, experiences and services.
Instead of paying professionals to speak, we will charge them a small advertising fee. The room can be rented to other harmonious groups at a very reasonable rate.
A pretty, cozy, clean, and practical place to share thoughts and feelings and to learn what our parents and teachers didn't know to teach us, in an atmosphere of non-judgement peace and love. A place for the child still in us is welcome to become curious and excited about life again.
A place to gather and discover new friends. A place that would be open many hours (6 am to 9 pm) most days for drop in chats and classes to explore new possibilities.
A place to read and learn from a variety of non-fiction authors and to watch life-changing documentaries from my extensive library of books and videos regarding spiritual and consciousness awareness, animals, health, agriculture, environment, economics, critical thinking, problem solving, politics, relationships and death and dying.
A place to learn and understand Nature's Laws, and receive grief support for those who experience the loss of a human or a pet. A place to be in harmony with people, pets, Life, Mother Nature and Angels.
I envision a nice homey building in a quiet environment with organic soil around it to grow beautiful fragrant flowers, herbs, vegetables, dwarf fruit trees and room for outside seating, where the sun can be enjoyed and a labyrinth available for walking. There will be plenty of storage space for old accounting records, office, maintenance and gardening supplies.
With windows that open to get fresh air, to feel connected to nature, and to rest eyes by looking at trees, bushes, plants, flowers, sunshine and rain.
A place for cooking classes, potlucks, eating, snacking, learning, show and tell, taste testing and picking up ordered products. A peaceful, happy, happening place.
I envision several rooms for people, who generally work at home, but who can benefit from sharing an office with a shared receptionist. Two separate, pretty, clean private bathrooms. A quiet room for naps. (Studies have proved that a short nap energizes people. I have always found them to be very beneficial.)
People also work better if they have a chance to exercise during the day and it helps them to stay healthy. Therefore, a room with exercise equipment such as: indoor trampoline, treadmill, recumbant bike and an on-site massage chair, would be very important, as well as a quiet place for stretching and yoga.
Young pre-school children and manageable sized animals of employees and volunteers would be welcome, therefore there would be special areas inside and outside for play, exercise and rest to accommodate them, as well as a paid nanny/disciplinarian/caregiver, teacher, a dog/child walker, and a Cesar Millan trained behaviorist, as needed.
I envision myself as the paid Executive Director, office and accounting supervisor and grant writer with a team of 3 to 5 people on the Board of Directors and a paid support staff of 3 to 5 employees:
Receptionist: clipper, filer, product ordering and product pick-up co-ordinator
Bookkeeper: membership, marketing, fundraiser
Newsletter editor: speaker co-ordinator, historian
Film producer: and editor
Consultants would be hired to provide short term expertise, regarding Feng Shui, land and building clearing, labyrinth architecture, landscaping, inside and outside maintenance, counselors, teachers of meditation, dowsing, yoga, personal help regarding, balancing bank statements, learning a system of keeping track of finances and credit cards. (I have created a system and a form for credit card "maintenance". Ask me about it.)
Volunteers will also be greatly appreciated to be greeters/tour guides and other jobs as may arise. Volunteers will be able to "graduate" to being paid a stipend, to part-time, to full-time work as long as they are compatible with the mission and are willing to become a supportive member of the team.
A place where each person who comes in the door will say with confidence when they leave, "Who I Am Makes A Difference, and others care."
I've been envisioning and preparing for such a place, and if you have too, lets get together and make it happen. The Angels and I don't want do it alone.
To get in touch with me, go to the Table of Contents, Chapter 10.
If you are interested in my qualifications, please see below.
Kind regards,
Dianna
My Qualifications:
After receiving a B.A. from San Francisco State I worked for over ten years as a full charge bookkeeper for three nonprofit agencies. Since the nonprofits I worked for were required to hire an outside auditor annually to check the accuracy of "the books" it was an exceptional experience. I learned what the auditors needed, I had everything in order when they arrived and worked closely with them when they had questions.
Later I worked for several profit making businesses, who expected the bookkeeper and the CPA, who did the taxes, to be perfect. So I've had a lot of experience setting up systems to keep financial records organized, accurate and simple enough to explain to unschooled owners, managers and students what they needed to know. I've also completed a management class, took nonprofit classes and attended board meetings. At the time, I didn't realize I was training to become a passionate, effective Executive Director of a unique nonprofit.
