Thankful

Hello D.O.G.S. friends,

It's been approximately two years since Dogs Of A Good Society started, six months since we received approval for our 501c3 non profit status, and six years since a dream, wishful thinking and ideas became reality.  I am so thankful for all this progress, better yet the driving force behind D.O.G.S.-our amazing board members, volunteers and kind donors.  I am thankful.  Thankful for the organization and its heart; it's mission and vision.  It took much work, sweat, a few tears, no blood thank goodness to get D.O.G.S. up and running.  You may have remembered from my past blog posts, that there were challenges in the beginning and being alone.  I don't feel so alone anymore.  I am not alone, because there is YOU.  

D.O.G.S. has had the opportunity to grow slowly, but surely.  With growing comes growing pains and I am thankful for those as well.  From organizational growth, budget woes, lack of  resources/manpower, to name a few-am thankful for it all.  For the ups and downs, the achievements and the snags you run into as an organization, the accomplishment seems so much sweeter.   Balancing life, family, social time, self care, the organization is no easy task.  A task I am still working on mastering; multi tasking and time management.  It never ceases to amaze me how much time is needed for it all.  As much as I love D.O.G.S., enjoy its challenges and what it stands for.  I know, realistically and idealistically I can't live, eat, breath it, but I have the passion for it.  Isn't that what counts first?  Passion.  Find what's your drive and passion and it becomes easier.  Of course there are many challenges, but they don't seem like uphill challenges when it's something you love.  They are welcomed. 

So for this week's blog we wanted to say THANKS, not just for Thanksgiving, but for EVERY DAY.  I am thankful for all of you kind and generous donors, volunteers, partners, collaborators, members, friends, animals, and family.  We at D.O.G.S. are thankful for you.  

D.O.G.S. is part us and you for supporting us in our mission.

Until next time,

Join the Pack and help us help ANIMALS in need!

www.dogsofagoodsociety.org

dogsofagoodsociety@gmail.com

FB Dogs Of A Good Society https://www.facebook.com/DogsOfAGoodSociety

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Give To The Max!

Greetings everyone! :)

It's been a few weeks since our last blog and we apologize for keeping you waiting!  We have been working on a few projects that has been keeping everyone, including myself extremely busy!  Trying to organize it all and prioritize all the happenings, projects, events, schedules, timing has been a bit of a challenge for me.  I am working on improving my time management skills, multi-tasking skills, among others.  It is a constant learning curve and I am constantly learning on better ways to operate Dogs Of A Good Society and ways to be a better example and leader for the organization.  I suppose I got what I wished for, forever being in 'school' and being a forever student! hehehe ;)  More to come...

With that being said, I have learned, we as a team have learned the many different opportunities we can be a part of since our non profit 501c3 status in May.  We get the privilege to be a part of Give To The Max day here in Minnesota.  A great chance to be a part of the movement to 'ignite generosity' in Minnesota on a small to grand scale.  Giving on one day, with perks of giving, with matching donations as something we could be a part of and much more.  Please consider giving to D.O.G.S. today and schedule a gift with www.givemn.org your gift will go a long way and we will make sure every single penny counts!  Over the past year, we have tried to the best of our abilities to reach out to animal organizations to let them know we are here to help.  We can help multiple organizations and many animals all with your support and we are grateful for that.  As part of our passion in helping however and whenever we can!  Whether it be with rescuing supplies, foster supplies, funding for surgery, transportation, advocacy work, and much, much more.

Interested in Joining Our Pack?  Check out our web site www.dogsofagoodsociety.org to get involved in volunteering, becoming a board member, or being part of our foster database to help #SaveALife  We need YOU to make it happen, let's do it together, to make a world of difference for one animal at a time.

You Like Big Mutts and You Cannot Lie

Good morning everyone!  Beautiful weather in Minnesota today :)

The last couple of weeks we had a t shirt fundraiser campaign to raise funds to assist animals in need here in Minnesota.  We are so pleased to announce that the campaign was successful and we reached our goal of 30 t shirts/sweatshirts sold.  We appreciate everyone's support, sharing, and spreading the word about these cute shirts designed by our talented team.   Swag helping a cause.  The dollar is powerful.  You can do so much with your dollar.  You can buy something that helps someone, a furbaby, somewhere; it's a powerful concept.  Thank you for using your dollar for a cause = helping animals.

We at D.O.G.S. have many project initiatives we are working hard on and are excited about.  One of the projects was the t shirt campaign.  Efforts, resources, and passion go behind everything we do and we can't thank everyone enough for supporting our mission.  To keep our vision alive we strive to do what we can and invite you to be a part of our journey.  We are actively looking for volunteers for events, projects, passionate board members, and fosters to connect with rescues in Minnesota to #SaveALife  Please consider joining our team in the efforts to do what we can, when we can, however we can; to help animals in need.  

If you are not able to donate your time, please consider donating for a cause by visiting www.dogsofagoodsociety.org  There are several fun ways to participate and help.  

Join our pack and become a Pack Leader and donate on a schedule that works for you.  All proceeds go to animals in need.

We hope to hear from you soon!

Join the Pack and help us help ANIMALS in need!

www.dogsofagoodsociety.org

dogsofagoodsociety@gmail.com

FB Dogs Of A Good Society https://www.facebook.com/DogsOfAGoodSociety

Twitter @ D_O_G_S_MN
Insta dogsmn

I like Big Mutts (and I cannot lie)

Good afternoon fellow animal friends! :)

I like big mutts and I cannot lie, that is our latest fundraising campaign for t shirts and sweatshirts for Dogs Of A Good Society, where all proceeds go to assisting animals right here in MN.  Having two rescue mutts myself, I had to get my hands on this sweatshirt!


Please like and share away! 
Help us reach our goal of selling 30 tshirts in the next 19 days! 
http://teespring.com/dogsofagoodsociety





Here at D.O.G.S. fundraising is a big part of what we do in order to raise money to help local shelters, rescues, pounds, and animals!  Choosing what to do, when to do it, how to do it and the manpower/resources to do it can be tough.  We have a wonderful team that makes these decisions, our board.  However, we do look to outside influences such as other organizations, friends, families, and we do some research.  There are so many good ideas already out there and existing, why reinvent it all?  An original idea is fun and exciting and can be successful, but we like to keep our options open.  Hence, when we saw Teespring's campaign from other groups and individuals, we thought let's try it.  At no risk to us, the ability to reach more people, no product handling or added cost, it's a win win!  


Running on a tight budget, where literally every penny and dollar counts; scoping out the most economical way to fund-raise is a must, so we had to share!



Another blog edition of a little view into my world of "running a non profit".   Thanks for reading!

Join the Pack and help us help ANIMALS in need!

www.dogsofagoodsociety.org

dogsofagoodsociety@gmail.com

FB Dogs Of A Good Society

Twitter @ D_O_G_S_MN
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Growing up can be hard to do!

Hello there!

Life was a little easier as a child, running free, no care in the world besides "I wonder if I can have dessert after dinner"  "Can my friend come over and play?"  That was my experience, fun, easier, carefree, couldn't wait to grow up and do 'grown up' things: drive, go to places by myself, etc.

Similar feelings rush over me with running a non profit-can't wait to grow up, expand, be BIG!  Like a child, you don't want it to grow up too fast, however you can't wait to grow up either a little confusing and contradicting right?  Such as life.   

D.O.G.S. is growing up, so to speak, each day it gets older, hopefully a little wiser, and more mature.  Bigger isn't necessarily better.  Growing up is hard to do; trying to figure out which way you would like your organization to grow up, this way or that way.  This belief, mission, vision, value or that belief, mission, vision or value.  As a newbie to all this: running a non profit business, learning the ins and outs and learning pretty much everything there has to learn about running essentially a start up with mostly heart and soul (getting there with the business mind that is needed) too.  To say the least growing up can be hard to do, a second time around.  I already grew up so to speak from when I was a child; learning, discovering, reflecting, all the fun parts of growing up ;)  Now I'm growing up a second time with D.O.G.S., life is so much of a growing phase then it is a grown up phase.  What I am learning from this time around experience, is growing up is going to be there no matter what.  Just like people, organizations aren't necessarily ever going to be all grown up are we?  If you are done growing (metaphorically and literally), you may be done learning and that's no good.  Learning and growing go hand in hand.  Right now setting D.O.G.S. up to grow up well to be a fine lad/lady and hopefully pain free is the goal.  

When I'm eager for D.O.G.S. to grow up, I have to remind myself, who wants to grow up too fast?  I often reminiscence the good old days of childhood.  Enjoy it while it lasts and take extra care in your growth, for tending to everything (i.e. connections, relationships, events, collaborations, budgets, etc) is crucial to your growth as an organization.  Yes, at times you may feel frustrated, impatient, discouraged, among other feelings about why aren't I (your organization) growing up faster?   What does that look like anyway?  It's different for every group/organization.  What's important to remember is growing up is hard to do.  Accept it and be mindful of that, while you work on actually growing up.  I know it's one of my opportunities to work on as a founder, board member, interested party, and supporter of D.O.G.S.  

Another blog edition of a little view into my world of "running a non profit".   Thanks for reading!

Join the Pack and help us help ANIMALS in need!

www.dogsofagoodsociety.org

dogsofagoodsociety@gmail.com

FB Dogs Of A Good Society

Twitter @ D_O_G_S_MN
Insta dogsmn

Working for Kibble.

Good evening everyone! :)

What a perfect night to write on the blog.  It feels like a fall night here in Minne. with the windows open.  I have my furbabies sleeping by me in the office and I am surrounded by all things Dogs Of A Good Society.  Nothing beats this for me.

My apologies for being MIA with the blog these past couple of weeks, however I was busy working my 'paying' job a little more and have been extra tired.  I do have a new schedule now and have the wonderful opportunity to devote more time to D.O.G.S., my family, myself and of course D.O.G.S. once again! :)  As you can imagine I am SUPER HAPPY about that! :)  Wahoooooo!  Dogs, D.O.G.S. is perpetually on my mind and that's how my mind operates.  No judgement please and thank you. :)

I often say I'm working for kibble at my paying job to my fellow colleagues and say that when I'm working with D.O.G.S.  Both statements are true.  I am working for KIBBLE and I am HAPPY to work for KIBBLE any time.  Each dollar I earn, I think what I can do with that dollar for D.O.G.S., how every penny, every dollar, every amount goes towards my goal of being able to work on D.O.G.S., with D.O.G.S. and how I can put that money to use in my own life so I can continue to work on D.O.G.S.  So to speak I DO work for kibble and I'm pretty sure I will for a long time.  Whether it be at home, at a job (currently a server), and with D.O.G.S.  It may not seem like much, but whatever amount I get at work, it's all for the kibble factor.  The KIBBLE FACTOR = whatever it is that can help with D.O.G.S. and its mission.  It's a running line at work for me and probably something people smile or laugh about, but it's serious, working for kibble.  Putting more thought into it-that has been my main motivation for working where I work and for doing what I do.  It's an intentional mantra I say to myself every time I go to work and it guides me through the day happily.  It took me a little more then 2 years to get to this schedule since I left my career fields (social work/law enforcement), I went from a FT job to working a FT and this PT job to it becoming a FT job and now to it being a PT job, make sense? ;)  Details don't matter much here, what matters is that goals were set, realistically and then got reset and then reviewed, opportunities came around, and then done.  If you want something whether it be a career goal or another ambition, waiting is a big part to get to the outcome.  For a not so patient person like myself, the cliche that all things good are worth waiting for and working hard for, holds so true.  

I will forever cherish this month, the beginning of my new 'schedule' for life, D.O.G.S., and myself and remembering what happened to get here: work, work, planning, planning, time, time, patience, patience, support, support, faith, faith, opportunity, a little luck, positive energy, and keeping your eye on the prize :)

Catch me working for kibble right here, till next time!

If you would like to donate some kibble to us great, thank you!  If your animal organization needs kibble, contact us today! 

Thanks for reading!

Join the Pack and help us help ANIMALS in need!

www.dogsofagoodsociety.org

dogsofagoodsociety@gmail.com

FB Dogs Of A Good Society

Twitter @ D_O_G_S_MN
Insta dogsmn

And The Event Must Go On!

Hello there!

Another late night blog.  What a week, another beautiful day over here, hard not to smile at this weather and all. :)

This week I was thinking of blogging about event planning for an organization, non profit, for D.O.G.S.-generally speaking.  Event planning takes just that-much PLANNING.  When you think of planning an event it can be overwhelming.  Budgets, venue, decor, food, drinks, games, prizes, entertainment, guest list, and the list goes on and on.  However, making a list is the first step to minimizing the daunting task of an important event.  If your organization and your thoughts are like ours, every event is SO important to us.  We want it to be perfect, but perfection is impossible.  

Some of the challenges we face are the resources, budget, and manpower it takes to hold an event.  When it is our event that we put on that challenge becomes heighten, whereas if we participate in an event, it minimizes a bit, however the challenges is still present.  Having a dedicated board, volunteers, good resources and a good budget is extremely important in both scenarios.  All can be tough to gain and will take time to build.

To start event planning we like to use some type of direction planning such as a checklist like this: 

• What is the purpose of the event?
• Making a list and checking it twice...3x....4x....you get the idea ;)
• Setting a budget, a realistic one
• Designate committees, chairs, and tasks
• Setting realistic deadlines
• Utilizing what we have from stock
• Tapping into our volunteer connections
• Let creativity flow

Of course so much more goes into event planning, but these main tasks are what gets the wheels turning, the ball rolling if you will.

It's easy to get anxious, frustrated, worried, about the unknown in event planning, but look to your team, your list, and organizational skills to make it all happen.  Organizing it is half the fun. Remember it should be fun, after all this is what we love to do: assist animals in need, therefore pretty much everything to me is fun and exciting.  Remember the passion, goal, and motivation of why you are doing an event and it will come easy.

Here are some pics from our last two events.

Our table at Paws on Grand

We met this giant sweetie bear!

The babies saying hi to everyone

D.O.G.S.'s BBQ with Your Buddy Event

Our buddies!

Having fun!

One of our many cute furbabies at the BBQ!

Until next time my blog friends!

Thanks for reading!

Join the Pack and help us help ANIMALS in need!

www.dogsofagoodsociety.org

dogsofagoodsociety@gmail.com

FB Dogs Of A Good Society

Twitter @ D_O_G_S_MN
Insta dogsmn