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

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Twitter @ D_O_G_S_MN
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The Beautiful Thing Of Learning...from Your Board

Hello there!

It is a sunny beautiful morning here in Minne.  One of the great aspects about operating a non profit is the opportunity to work wherever you can.  And today I am working from a coffee shop while I wait for my father from his appointment.  The little perks like these add to my happiness of D.O.G.S.  It has no boundaries, it's what, how, when, or wherever you want to take it.  This got me thinking.  Opportunities like this are all around me every day, just like opportunities for learning is all around.  Yes obviously, however rarely do we take the time to be mindful and appreciate that.  One thing I greatly appreciate and today find myself reflecting much on is learning from the Dogs Of A Good Society team, the board members that make up the heart of the organization. 

I can honestly say I learn something from EACH and EVERY one of the board members at D.O.G.S.  Each member brings something to the team, something that only they can bring and something that I draw from and LEARN.  Each person is unique, has their own strengths, talents, skills and work ethics.  Each member can also learn from each other.  What a wonderful way to work: learning from each other, helping each other, helping the animal world and community, it all becomes better little by little somehow, some way. Truly an amazing reflection for a beautiful day.

When the #struggleisreal which there are many in the day to day lives of non profit life; look to your board members to hold you together, help you, teach you, inspire you, motivate you, re-energize you, whatever it is.  It is there, that's why they are there.  The board is your sounding board, your support, your follow through, get a good crew and you should be golden!

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

My best friend and me!

Hello there!

It's a late night blog kind of day....it was a beautiful day in Minne. and I was able to enjoy some sunshine today.  I had family from out of town visit and it was their last day here today and I was able to sneak out and take them around town.  This past week I have been home taking care of my baby girl, Jasmine; one of D.O.G.S. inspirations!  She had to undergo surgery, a removal of a tumor on her elbow.  My family and I were heartbroken when the vet said it was a tumor.  Luckily we found out it was a benign tumor and she should be as good as new after her recovery period.   Here she is tired from no sleep the night before.  It has been a rough time, but we all are hanging in there, especially baby girl, she's so brave and resilient!  Thanks everyone for your warm wishes!

Being home with Jasmine made me realize even more and triple confirmed how much I enjoy working from home and being with my furbabies.  It really is the ONE thing that makes me happiest :)  Spending time with Leche and Jasmine, I can get no wrong from that, have any negative energy, thoughts, or have a frown.  They truly are my TRUE LOVE, my sunshine, my little everything and most of all my inspirations. 

 I aspire to be more like a dog.  Wait before you crinkle your face and say HUH??  Dogs are truly the BEST creatures on earth.  I have said that many times and I will keep saying it.   They are loyal, loving, unconditional, forgiving, happy, positive, innocent, compassionate, kind, and trusting.  All great characteristics we humans can use more of and learn more from.   I hope that working on Dogs Of A Good Society, we could put more of this great energy out there for animals in the community and connect with people who aim to be like this, do the same and aspire to make a world a little better place by learning from these great animals.

Although my furbaby was sick this week, she somehow manages to make me feel AWESOME just by being around her.  I just hope that I could give her a little of the same.   This week's blog is especially dedicated to Jasmine.

Motivated by my love for animals, the community, great board members, supporting family and friends and most of all by these guys here:

Thanks for reading!  

Interested in being part of our crew, contact us today for more information on how YOU can work with us towards the goal of the betterment of animals and society. :)  YES YOU CAN!

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

Until next time....

Got A Hook?

Hello there! :)

This week and many weeks Dogs Of A Good Society has been busy working on grant research.  We are so very excited that we have our 501c3 status.  We are still high on cloud 9 of happiness from it!  With that comes SO much more opportunities for us to assist animals in need and we couldn't be happier.   

We have been facing some challenges here at D.O.G.S. with searching for grants, being eligible for grants, and applying.  We are working hard on this part and like with any start up and non profit our man power and resources are limited.  The challenges of having a FT job (though a pretty stress free and 'easy') job, it's still FT for me, family, life, and board members having FT lives and jobs; grant researching is hard to do.   #thestruggleisreal 

To cope with the struggle and stress of researching.  I surround myself with positive people, thoughts, activities, and most of all lots of D.O.G.S. motivation.  I look around my office, D.O.G.S.'s office and know that like with everything else in time. things will come along and work out, so as long as I work hard, stay determined, and not lose sight of the BIG picture.  Help however I can, we can, whenever I can, we can, do whatever I can, we can and just DO.  It really is that simple.  

I would love to hear your thoughts on what helps you with your organization and connect with you.  Feel free to comment below or message me :)

My inspiration board in the office...

More inspirations in the offce.....

Interested in being part of our crew, contact us today for more information on how YOU can work with us towards the goal of the betterment of animals and society. :)  YES YOU CAN!

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

Until next time....

Teaching An Old Dog New Tricks!

Hello everyone! :)

Whoever said you can't teach an old dog new tricks?  Well, I'm the "ol' dog" learning some new tricks constantly in life and of course with Dogs Of A Good Society.  Operating a non profit is as much about rolling with the punches and learning as you go, as well as utilizing what you already know.  Fair enough right?

This past weekend D.O.G.S.'s board members were lucky enough again to get a Take 2 tutorial with our website designer Milen.   Our website needs updates and changes more often then not.  Along with our tech board member, Alex and some interested members learning the how to's around website work, has been a constant challenge for D.O.G.S. and me to keep up to date.

I finally had to learn it again to try and keep up with the game!  I am not by all means tech savvy at all.  I struggle with the technical stuff and am fortunate enough to have board members with some tech savviness, others to learn with and a great cousin who's willing and so patient enough to teach me (and hopefully pass on some of many skills and talents!) :)

Learning is fun and as easy as 1, 2, 3..... 

well with the right teacher! :)

What's this gibberish again??

Check out our website, it offers much info on us, our mission, resources and more!

www.dogsofagoodsociety.org

The beginning of my HTML notes....

It's all a learning process and will continue to be so thanks for ALL your patience and support.  And if you are thinking of running your own non profit or already are, I'm with you, let's learn together!

Share us, Like us, Tweet us, Connect with us, we would love to hear from you.   

Interested in being part of our crew, contact us today for more information on how YOU can work with us towards the goal of the betterment of animals and society. :)  YES YOU CAN!

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

Until next time....

Teamwork makes the Dream work!

Hello everyone :)

Happy Wednesday, it's another beautiful day here in Minnesota!

This past week D.O.G.S. has been specifically working on grant researching, recruiting fosters, volunteers, board members, fundraising efforts and sharing our mission and vision to the animal community.  We hope to be a 'go to' source for when rescues and animal organizations need a helping hand.  We also want to be able to address the needs of the animal community and we are working extra hard on getting this accomplished.  Every little step counts, every effort is towards the bigger picture of helping out as much as we can.  Both challenging quests to conquer, but we will get there.  

Our D.O.G.S. crew was able to get together this past weekend and work on two much needed agenda items that have been postponed due to busy schedules, lives, and whatnot.  Inventory and candy machine clean up and assembly.  

 Our sweet baby boy, Leche (one of D.O.G.S.'s inspirations) helping us out with inventory after the clean up.  Guarding some of the supplies for his fellow animal friends.

Our D.O.G.S.'s crew working diligently on cleaning out candy machines for our "Sweets for Sweeties" program-Candy machine fundraising efforts.  Contact us today if you would like to DONATE some real estate space for us to place a D.O.G.S.'s candy machine.

100% of proceeds go to assisting ANIMALS in need.

It takes MUCH manpower and dedicated individual's time to make things come to life, to put ideas into action.  And here at D.O.G.S. we do what we can, when we can, and however we can to make our MISSION and VISION possible.  During the journey of course we experience bumps and smooth roads, just like any other start up or established organization for that matter.  We agree, we disagree, and we agree to disagree.  As long as we remember TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK  we can do ANYTHING.  Anything is possible with a team, especially a team like D.O.G.S.  We are very fortunate and grateful for them!  So gather up your team and GO!  Or come join ours!

Goofing around!

Mission possible!

Share us, Like us, Tweet us, Connect with us, we would love to hear from you.   

Interested in being part of our crew, contact us today for more information on how YOU can work with us towards the goal of the betterment of animals and society. :)  YES YOU CAN!

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

Until next time....

If I Was A Billionaire?

Hello everyone :)

I missed you all last week.  I was on vacation!  Yes vacation in sunny Cali, it was great I had the opportunity to work on D.O.G.S. in the sun, but now I'm back in the D.O.G.S.'s office where I can focus more!:D

This week's thoughts revolves around wanting to be able to do more with limited resources-non profit world 101.

While I was in beautiful California I got the chance to see beautiful scenery, luxurious houses, and so many animals.   This combination got me thinking, randomly so "what if I was a millionaire?  A billionaire?  What would I do with that money?"  Easy peezy!  I would rescue all the animals in the world, help all the rescues, pay the volunteers well, build a state of the art home for those FURBABIES waiting for FUREVER homes, have a supply center warehouse, spread the word with education, awareness and advocacy work!  It would make this journey SO much easier if I was a billionaire right?  Yes and no.  It was a nice fantasy thought...however dreams can become reality; as I stand here today, dreams have become my reality.  Hey it could happen.  

It's nice to fantasize what would you do if scenarios, because it helps you think about what you would want to do, could do and will do to get to what it is you want to do.  It's a healthy mindful exercise that we 'dreamers' have to do from time to time and anyone else for that matter.  Get our goals into focus-what is that saying...visualize, verbalize, realize.  Love it!  

There are so many wonderful organizations out there doing amazing work helping animals in need.  However, with little to no resources can put a major damper on things.  With passion, compassion, and the motivation to trek on is all it takes to keep that spark alive.  This is a HUGE motivator for me as well, I look up to them.  

D.O.G.S. is here to help and we strive to continue to grow and help more.  I don't need to be a billionaire, though it would be nice, but all you need is heart and the rest will follow.  Believe it!

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

Until next time,