This week was yet another exciting week "gearing" up towards the art auction. The Workshop/Outreach group is well on our way with lesson plans and tons of anticipation as we continue to prepare for each of our workshops.

This past week I gave Angie--who graciously spent tons of time editing!--my very first lesson plan-on the bike innertube wallets. I got awesome positive feedback and tips on how to further push my lesson plan. I have to admit, for my very first lesson plan, I think I did a fantastic job!

I'm so excited to teach for the very first time! I have started creating actual pieces as visuals that will help guide and act as examples for the workshop I facilitate. I have also been researching some other techniques and ways to create the wallets! Inspiration! These are so awesome!

Jewelry!

This was a busy BICAS week.  Tuesday, Shana, Jessi, Angie, and I met with Casey to discuss the jewelry and mall workshops.  I told Casey I hope we are not bombarding her with questions and meetings and she said we are actually making her job easier.  She is very happy about all of the work we are doing.  I took home several bike parts and soaked, scrubbed, and simple-greened them before making two bracelets, a necklace, and a pair of earrings.  It is truly addictive and I had to literally put the supplies away so I could get back to work on my thesis! 

Tonight was our jewelry workshop.  Shana was great at organizing the supplies and Jamie, Jessi, and I all helped put things in her neatly labeled bowls.  Jessi made a beautiful necklace and Shana made a binder with how-to images that were very helpful.  I was very disappointed with my demonstration as I didn't ask everyone to come in closer from the start.  Some large photos of each step would have been helpful as well, but I was grateful that Shana's book served that purpose.  If you all had been teenagers, perhaps I would have remembered how to teach!  I kept thinking community teaching is much different than school teaching, and I treated it differently, but I don't think it is that different after all. 

Other than that, the workshop went well.  We counted about 20 participants and they made some really nice pieces.  

BICAS and ART, yea!

This week was yet again full of BICAS fun. On Tuesday I had the chance to meet with Casey and ask her some very pertinent questions about the jewelry workshop (which was today) and the first mall workshop (which will be on Tuesday). This was very helpful and it was great to see/hear that Casey was excited about all the work we’re doing. This was especially inspiring because I was getting a little concerned that we might be creating more work for her. She reassured me that this was not the fact and had some great ideas for both workshops (the image is taken from Casey’s notebook). She also met with our group before the workshop to show us how the make the inner tube wallets for the mall workshop. These seem very fun...

The jewelry workshop today was WONDERFUL. In preparation, I created a binder that had bike jewelry from the BICAS website and another website that Jamie found. Additionally, it had some “how to” info on basic wire skills, which are necessary when working with the bike parts. I felt hopeful that the visual and written directions that this binder contained would help people during the workshop.

Michelle and Jessie created some wonderful samples that we displayed along with the binder, and Michelle gave a helpful demo on how to do some basic wire/jewelry techniques. All together, I think that we had options for all kinds of learners for the workshop. I also fulfilled my desire for organization by separating all the jewelry parts and labeling them in different bowls. Erin, Jessie, Sarah, Michelle and Jamie helped and did not laugh at my uber organization.

We had almost 20 people in total create jewelry (about half from outside the class/university) and most donated it for the auction (yea!). Personally, I felt that the workshop was a success but I felt frustrated artistically. I wanted to make jewelry but was also dedicated to helping people make their own art. I spent some time with some cute 13 year old girls helping them with their jewelry as well as preparing the paperwork for them to donate their creations. I should have realized that I would not have as much time to create while helping and facilitating. I did manage to make a pair of earrings and a necklace, but am VERY excited for the jewelry workshop facilitated by the outreach/workshop committee as I will get to create more!




Tuesday is our next challenge…inner tube wallets…very exciting.

Amazing Workshop!

Today was the jewelry workshop and we had a great turnout about 20 people, give or take a few, and everyone participated.  I made a necklace and it took some time because I have never worked with wire before, so I had to practice and play around a bit before I got the hang of it.  Michelle was a great help because she knows how to make jewelry and she taught me and basically everyone who came in how to work with wire. Thank you Michelle!

We had people who came by themselves and some came with their kids and all made great items and all of them made some type of donation, either an item or money donation.  One thing that was really fun was that my family came, my parents and my aunt and uncle and they all made something, even my dad who is not artistic in any shape or form! :)

My dad!

Tonight we also got supplies for our workshop on Tuesday and we learned how to make the wallets and the different variations that can be done with it.  I think that it will be a hit.  It's nice to see all of our work being put into action.  Tonight was a lot of fun and time just flew by.  I helped a little boy make a necklace and that was just so much fun! My family had such a great time that they want to come to the workshop next Friday and I hope a lot more people feel that way.

Group time and Jewlery

I felt like this week really smoothed out some of the issues that were starting to worry me. I realized as I was trying to go to bed one night that this is all a lot of work and it makes me a little nervous, am I doing enough? Am I helping enough? Am I on track? The Thursday reflection was really helpful to me. It made me organize my thoughts and keep track of my goals. I also felt like as we met in groups that some of the details became more solid. I really liked that Shana asked us if we wanted to vent or felt that there were any issues going on with Bicas or our group. I was a little anxious about all the things going on and felt like her opening that door was great even though I didn't feel any real issues. I had a lot of fun at the jewelry workshop today. It took me a little to get the hang of all the bike parts but it worked out well. I liked having so many choices of materials. I think everyone made great pieces. I would love to do more things like this in the future. It also got me very excited about my own workshop.

Pictures to come, I'm currently having a camera errror

Jewelry Workshop

Today was really fun! I was suprised to see that so many people ended up showing up. The workshop went very well, and it was nice to create something that I could actually use. I made a keychain out of a bike barring, which is now adorning my key-set. Overall, the workshop had a nice creative energy. Everybody chatted about whatever was on their mind and collaborated to make their bike jewelry. It seemed like all the guests were really enjoying themselves.

While at the workshop I also talked with Casey to see what we needed for the Mall Workshop. She gathered BICAS flyers and informational packets as well as some signs that we could use for Tuesday. One of our worries was that we wouldn't have enough sitting and table space. Thankfully, Casey let us use a large table that was in BICAS as well as a folding card table. This should be efficient enough since we decided to place blankets on the floor for the actual workshop.

I have already made a donation sign and a workshop sign, so I will probably make one more additional sign this weekend as well as decorating the donation been. Other then that, and the delegation of some jobs, we seem to be all set! I'm excited to see how our first mall experience works out. I think the main success of it will be just getting the word out about the auction. I'm not sure how many people will be excited to create art between classes, but at least we will spread some BICAS awareness.

Types of Funders

While we are waiting to get a meeting with both Casey and John, I've spent my time doing some research. Today I looked into different grant funders and their differences. Next I plan on looking at the specific forms that many grant providers use for documentation and for taxes.






From library.pima.edu Grants and Nonprofit Info Center

Types of Funders
I. Grantmaking Public Charities
a. Is a nongovernmental, nonprofit organization
b. Supported by:
i. Individuals
ii. Foundations
iii. Churches
iv. Governmental agencies
v. And sometimes with income from charitable activities
c. Receive most foundation and corporate grants
d. Some raise money and make grants
e. Some local examples are:
i. Angel Charity for Children, Inc.
ii. Tucson Conquistadores


II. Foundations
a. A nonprofit, nongovernmental organization
b. Established to aid:
i. Education
ii. Social
iii. Charitable
iv. Other common welfare activities
v. Other common good activities
1. Done through making grants to other nonprofit organizations
c. Has a principal fund of its own
i. Usually derived from a single source
1. Such as a family, an individual, or a corporation
d. Managed by its own trustees and directors
e. Ex. Flinn Foundation in Phoenix


III. Difference between a Grantmaking Public Charity and a Private Foundation
a. Public charities generally get funding and support from the general public
i. Individuals, government, and private foundations
b. Private foundations generally get funds from a single source
i. Individual, a family, a company
c. Why does that matter?
i. They follow different regulations and rules of taxation
1. For example
a. Public charities are eligible for maximum income tax deductibility
i. Private foundations are limited in this
b. They both follow different annual IRS reporting requirements
i. Public charities file Form 990 and Schedule A
ii. Private foundations file Form 990-PF


IV. Government Grants
a. Available from federal, state, and local governments
b. Arizona Networks:
i. Monthly e-newsletter listing federal, state, and federal grants, RFPs, RFQs, and bids relevant to Arizona’s nonprofit community
ii. http://datamonster.sbs.arizona.edu/SGPP/index.html
c. Federal Sites
i. Grants.gov
1. Federal grant info
2. Allows electronic access to find and apply for competitive grant opportunities
ii. Catalog of Federal domestic Assistance
1. Searchable database of info on federal assistance programs
2. http://www.cfda.gov/
iii. Federal Register
1. Daily publication that includes announcements of federal grant opportunities
2. http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/
iv. Foundation Center
1. Up-to-date list of web sites for government grants
2. http://foundationcenter.org/getstarted/faqs/html/government_grants.html
d. State Sites
i. Arizona Department of Education Grants
1. Info pertaining to educational grants
2. http://www.ade.az.gov/GME/default.asp
ii. Arizona Game and Fish Heritage Fund
1. For urban wildlife habitat; public access; environmental education; schoolyard grants; and inventory, protection, management of sensitive species and habitats
2. http://www.gf.state.az.us/w_c/heritage_program.shtml
iii. Arizona governor’s Office for Children, Youth and Families
1. General info on the Division for Children, Division for Women, Division of Drug Policy, Division of Domestic Violence Prevention, Division of Community Outreach, and Division of Volunteerism
2. http://gocyf.az.gov/CYFBoardsComm.asp
iv. Arizona Judicial Department: Administrative Office of the Courts—Fund Administration
1. Lists programs available through this department
2. http://www.supreme.state.az.us/aoc/fund.htm
v. Arizona Date Procurement Office
1. Learn doing business with the State, mailing list for State RFPs and calendar of recent RFP announcements
2. http://www.azdoa.gov/agencies/spo/default.asp
e. Local sites
i. City of Tucson community Services Department
1. Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program
2. http://cms3.tucsonaz.gov/hcd
ii. City of Tucson’s Department of Neighborhood Services
1. Supports neighborhood associations and efforts to enhance the quality of life
2. http://cms3.tucsonaz.gov/hcd
iii. Pima County Community and Economic Development
1. Info on RFPs, grants, contracts, and funding sources/partnerships
2. http://www.pima.gov/CED/Grants/index.html


V. Corporate Philanthropy
a. Grants given by businesses
b. Give primarily to:
i. Employees
ii. Their families
iii. Residents of specific locations where the company conducts business
c. Support to nonprofits through:
i. Direct-giving programs
ii. Private foundations
iii. Or both
d. In-kind gifts
i. Contributions of equipment, supplies, or other property distinct from monetary grants

Buzzing around on inner tube wings

At this point our Outreach/Workshop committee is buzzing with excitment and anticipation. The lesson plans are in review and are looking great. We have some exciting workshops planned ahead so keep an eye out.
I feel we are all at a comfortable point, everyone pulling their own weight. When trying to think if my goals are being met I came to one conclusion, yes! So at this point we need to maintain our communication with BICAS and within our committee.

This weekend I will be handing back lesson plans with comments. By early this next week they will be spruced up and ready to go. Good job everyone!
Several meetings will be set up in the near future with Casey, our committee facilitators, and each workshop teacher before they teach for the first time.

The Waiting Game

We have yet to discuss logistics with BICAS regarding grants, so it appears we are still playing a bit of a waiting game to determine how our goals and responsibilities are going to pan out. We are waiting to see if Sunday will work to meet with both John and Casey. As we wait, I will delve more into researching documenting their funding and hope it will fit in with their needs.

10/23-29: Promotions, Donations, and Workshop Planning

Last weekend I created two flyers for BICAS workshops taking place today, Oct 29, and distributed via our class blog and the School of Art Listserv. I also sent to BICAS staff and used them as invitations to friends on Facebook. I have been researching online media sources/calendars for posting the art auction’s event information/workshops and have begun to make a few contacts for a potential news story. Erin and Sarah have created flyers for the two workshops we will be conducting on the UA Mall, Nov 2 & 16. These have been/will be distributed to BICAS and the School of Art listserv.

Michelle and Shana were able to meet with Casey earlier this week to speak generally about our group’s goals and to make arrangements for today’s Jewelry-making workshop and those taking place on the mall. Casey came to class on Thursday to touch base with all groups and I was able to speak with her about what BICAS needs for promotions and donations.

Promotions: Casey is going to send me a list of the media sources already contacted and those she would still like to contact. She is also going to send me the details of the event and some various BICAS collateral so that I can create a press kit to be distributed by various group members.

Donations: Casey let us know that she would like us to use the donation letter BICAS has created. What we need to do is send her the list of contacts we have collected (with addresses) and she will send the personalized letters back to us for distribution – either mailing or hand delivery.

It would be a good idea to develop a short list of the kinds of items we need to help donors in giving. The following are the areas where BICAS needs donations – there will be a different letter for each:

Workshop supplies (fabric, jewelry/mobile making materials, tools, etc)
Food (and dinnerware supplies, like compostable cups and plates)
T-shirts
Books (how-to, art and craft)

UA Mall Workshop: It was decided that wallet-making would be a good workshop for the UA Mall. Casey will be joining us as a rep from BICAS and is giving a tutorial today to those group members who will be conducting the wallet workshops. We are also meeting to figure out what supplies we need and how we are going to transport them to campus.

NOTE: When I completed the paperwork to reserve our space on the mall, the events scheduling office said there wouldn’t be a problem and put a ‘hold’ on the space. I called to confirm our reservation yesterday and this morning, but as of yet, have not heard back. It does no good to wait at this point and am proceeding as though we have the space.

We’re on Our Way!

This week was exciting because the grant writing group has decided to write a proposal for a Wells Fargo grant. Our conversation with Casey in class today helped give us a place to start in terms of what BICAS needs funding for. We are hoping to set up a longer meeting with John and Casey in the near future, but in the meantime, Casie and I have set a time to get together and begin writing!

The photo is of some bubble brainstorming I did this past week to get myself thinking about different programs we could address in our grant proposal, and also some ideas of businesses and organizations in Tucson that might be sources of in kind donations to help fulfill the art supply Wish List and other needs of BICAS.

Staring into the Abyss: reflection on the creative process.

Friday at the Metal Workshop was very interesting. When I arrived I sat at the table, and began to converse with my fellow peers who were present. Then suddenly, in mid sentence, I became aware of a young boy named Zeven(sp?). He seemed very quiet, and slightly overwhelmed by the presence of so many people who weren't in his age bracket. As we began the workshop I tried my best to enjoy myself and create something out of metal but I couldn't help but return to the fact that the young boy was very disconnected. For the first half hour this troubled me and made me feel upset. After a talk with Julian, I regained my sense and decided I would take it upon myself to try to see this boy smile, because for me that was the real challenge... making him feel a part of something and engaged.

So, I came back from my walk and decided to befriend the young critter. Hahaha, I began to walk with him around BICAS. At first we just talked about Bikes. What kind of Bikes he liked? If he liked bikes at all? What were his pastimes? Then we entered the art gallery and began to wander. Some sense of wonder came into his eyes. Which was interesting to watch. He began to ask me what some of the art pieces were for... what their purposes were. It was interesting to see that how he reacted to the pieces, and to see what he found interesting. Then he saw the large crack in between te BICAS floor space and the BICAS art gallery. It is a large crevice, about 2 1/2 inches in width that seems to go on forever. He peered down into the abyss and asked, "What is this for?" I sat with him as he was transfixed. I teased, I don't know maybe they hide the boogeyman down there... it seems awfully lonely. He replied that he thought that maybe spiders and monsters were down there. As his voice trailed off and he stared, I realized how interesting this whole observation was. I asked him if he wanted to make a spider? Out of metal like the lizard which was next to the crack. He got up, agreed, and seemed very excited. So we returned to the workshop table with a new fervor, and a new purpose.

We began to collect pieces to contruct our metal spider. He was very animate on how the piece should look, and finding all the pieces he needed. As we worked, a new image came out of our piece. He decided, that the beginnings of a spider looked more like an image of a man climbing. We adorned him with a bowtie.

I won't go as far to say that staring into the abyss made Zeven(sp?) think about struggle, and the ultimate loneliness which is he human condition. Climbing out of the darkness, or into it. I won't even go as far to say that the abyss might have unearthed some childlike fear of the unknown. But it is possible. We may never know what truly made the boy create "the climbing human" as he called it. But I do know, that that walk was integral in making him feel truly a part of the program. I believe that he found purpose in this walk, his opinions, and he began to loosen up. Experiencing the space, he found that it as well as he had a purpose and a function. I know first hand that people hate feeling like their presence is unneeded or worse, just filler.

Overall, I think the workshop was a good learning experience. I didn't end up getting to weld anything, I got too involved with hanging out with Zevin, but, I did get to see him smile. Somehow, that became enough of a purpose for me.

Very cool. :)
-Shantaye McMorrow

October 23, 2010

Friday was our first official workshop at BICAS. I attended as a participant, but also got to scout out what I can use for my workshop, "Jewelry Mechanics." After attending the 1st workshop, my nerves are eased a little bit. I am excited to start working on my workshop! Working with BICAS is something very new for me, and quite out of my comfort zone. I'm so excited to see what comes of all of this and all I'm going to learn. I also can't wait to see the relationships that are going to be built between the U of A and BICAS, as well as relationships between BICAS and the community!

Picture from Friday soon to come!

Workshop with Ben's Bells!

Hey everyone,

So I met with the head director at Ben's Bells and she was excited and happy to work with me on collaborating for a workshop! It's going to be on a Sunday, which is a bit different but nonetheless it's on Nov. 7th. They are already having an event in the courtyard right there on University so I will have an area set up for my workshop. The idea of a bike bell is still in progress but I have some great ideas I'm ready to get down on paper and look into different materials to use. Jeanette, the BB director, was very helpful and they might even make a specific ceramic piece to use for the bells! Anyways, I'm excited to get started!

Promo Workshop Flyer #2 for 10-29

Promotional Workshop Flyer #1 for 10-29

Friday Workshop Metal Madness

I had a great time on Friday making candle holders for the art auction and Day of the Dead masks with Val. It was awesome to see so many people there. We all spent some time rummaging through bike parts, checking to see if they were weldable, and composing our objects. We all finished about the same time which made it easy for Troy to weld. The atmosphere was friendly and comfortable. Members of my committee became acquainted with the materials at BICAS for their workshops and got a feel (like they have said) of how greasy and dirty you can get. Ashley's little boy brought a great evergy to the workshop and he made some amazing sculptures - one was a human )that's what he called it). I'm excited for the other workshops!

If you wish to watch a 4 second video that I captured of the sound of welding here you go:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVWRP8zPiPE

Looking Up!

It looks as though the grant group is finally seeing a clear direction to take our project. We have contacted Casey at BICAS who has also forwarded us a few grants they are interested in. We hope to have a meeting with them in the following week were we can sit down and discuss just what their needs are and how we can help. Helping them write a few grants would be very exciting and a great opportunity for us to be a part of and learn the steps it takes to apply for a grant.

This week has been both productive and hectic. I think many of us have been feeling pressure. Even though it may feel like we aren’t making much progress, we have been getting work done. That’s part of the purpose of these reflections. It gives us the opportunity to take a step back and see what’s going on.

The Grant Writing Group has managed to work out and gather some base knowledge on grant seeking and writing. We have also gotten into contact with Casey in hopes of setting up a meeting to ask questions and get more information on what BICAS is looking for. Casey has emailed us some links to grants that BICAS is interested in and we are looking into these.

That being said, we’ve started to shift our roles within the group. We are collaborating on specific things that BICAS is looking for and doing research when it is needed.

Bike Art

Today, my son and I went to the workshop at BICAS. Zevin (my son) had so much fun! He made several masks and other little projects that Val provided the materials for(Thanks Val). The purpose of participating in the workshop today was to create art that is to be sold in the art auction. It was really exciting to see that a decent size group of people came to participate. I thought that the whole experience of taking bike parts and being able to transform then into something else was amazing. Having gone and participated in this makes me more motivated to work on outreach for this organization. I really enjoyed the fact that everyone was very receptive and excited to collaborate with my son J. With the help of others he was able to create what he called “a man climbing a mountain” out of the parts and Troy was able to weld it for him. He was so proud that he was able to participate with the adults. The art that was created by everyone today was incredible! The members of our class are so creative. All in all I really enjoyed my self and plan on participating in the workshop next week.

Screen printing?

After our last class meeting, we were uncertain as to whether we would be able to continue with our original screen printing workshop idea.  Does BICAS have screens for us, do they want us to screen print, etc.?  So, today, I went to BICAS in search of clarification.  I talked with Troy about screen printing items to sell at the auction.  They will be creating the loteria designs on shirts and said we could help them pull screens and go to thrift stores to buy plain t-shirts.  Troy will be e-mailing us to let us know when they will be printing.  He also said we could make thank you cards to give out to artists who make donations to the art auction.  We decided to block print onto postcards to save money on postage.  Shana and I also wrote notes/addressed envelopes inviting previous donors to donate their work to the auction again this year.  Hopefully, this will bring in more donations.

I also received an e-mail from Casey today.  I was glad to hear from her so we can set up an appointment to meet with her.  She made a wonderful powerpoint for a BICAS mobile workshop I invited her to lead at the Union Gallery last semester.  I'm hoping we can show those same images at the upcoming mobile workshop our group will facilitate. 

love, peace, and bicycle grease

This week was full of BICAS related activities. On Wednesday I spent some time posting “call for artist” flyers. Assigned to the “east Speedway” area, I went around and was surprised that all businesses that I approached were more than willing to support BICAS. Along the way I found some cool bike racks (see pictures below) and I felt good that I was promoting the auction and supporting BICAS, but I did begin to wonder how much these flyers contribute to art collection. Perhaps I’ll ask Troy if they have any way of tracking how art donors find out about the auction. Maybe they should be asking if they aren’t already…

We received a new email from Troy this week asking if some people could help create mailers to send out to people who donated art for last years auction. A few of us agreed to stop by BICAS to help with that. I arrived today and began the process. Each donor got a “call to artists” flyer with a personalized message on the back – what Troy requested. He gave me some ideas about what to say and I formulated a two-sentence message: "Dear Blank, It’s time for the BICAS art auction again! We loved your piece last year and hope that you’ll donate something for the 2010 auction! (heart) BICAS." I managed to get about half of them done before the welding workshop, and Michelle finished them up. Great teamwork!

I finished the day participating in Troy’s welding workshop. I met Kristen, another BICAS employee, who was super nice and helpful. After creating a jewelry tree/stand (which was very fun) and having Troy weld it together, I donated it to the auction (yea!). Kristen showed the necessary paperwork to fill out, where the auction binder is kept, and where they store the donated artwork. This information will certainly be helpful for future auction related workshops. I also checked out their jewelry making supplies for next weeks Friday workshop and noted what was needed. Shantaye and I also asked Adam (yet another BICAS superstar) about any signs/banners that they might have available for the mall workshops.



Overall, I felt great about my participation with BICAS this week. I’m excited for the jewelry workshop I’m facilitating with Jessie next week!

Hold Your Horses!

When I came to class this past Thursday I didn’t feel like anything was moving along and I began to feel really anxious. I felt like I needed to have something concrete to show my productivity and usefulness. Time is ticking, I thought, and I must do something now! It was helpful to talk with my group mates and Marissa to realize that I had overlooked much of what has been happening. It’s just not manifest in the forms I have become accustomed to measuring progress by (a finished document, a grade etc.). A lot of progress has been made in building relationships with each other and negotiating our ideas. Because of this, we will be even more prepared and ready to act on the ideas that come from our discussion with Casey, once we are able meet with her.

My experience Thursday reminded me of an idea the instructor spoke about in the yoga class I attended this week. She said that studentship is the willingness to show up and learn from whatever is presented. Although I have been showing up with the willingness to learn, perhaps I have not been fully open to what has been presented. I definitely have a new intention going forward.

My goals for next week are to meet with Casey at BICAS, look at some examples of grant proposals, and to hopefully begin an application for a Wells Fargo grant with my group.

Anticipation!

Work with BICAS and preparing for our workshops has been so exciting! This past week I created my very first lesson plan for the Workshop and Outreach Group! It was totally different than I had expected it to be... I am facilitating the "Green Up Your Wallet" workshop on November 19th. This workshop will involve creating fantastic-and fashionable, of course-wallets out of rubber bike inner tubes. While I have been creating this lesson plan, I am so so so excited to actually facilitate and teach it! This will be my first time teaching in this particular type of setting! This next week I plan on creating examples of each step to show participants who learn more visually-like myself! I also plan on doing a more "virtual outreach" by creating facebook events for my workshops.



My wonderful group members had their very first workshop today-the metal workshop with Troy. I was unable to make it down to BICAS today due to a conflicting work schedule-but I kept BICAS in my thoughts all day and sent all my positive vibes! I have spoken with several of my group members and have received nothing but great comments! Go team!

Promotions and Logistics

This past week was marked by promotional work and logistical workshop planning. I created a flyer of the workshops taking place at BICAS, helped distribute some flyers on campus, reserved a space on the UA mall for workshops, and sent a list of flyer distributions to Troy. I also contacted Casey for a planning meeting, but as she is still out of town our group is at a stand still for work other than what we have been done this past week. Our group has brainstormed many great ideas. We can continue to plan for our workshops to a point and can continue to post flyers about town and online.

Troy emailed this week to ask our group to help contact last year’s donors and/or artists to encourage participation in this year’s event. Next week I plan to more heavily promote the event online and through local media. Michelle, Shana, and I are compiling an email for Casey of the questions we have and our suggestions for involvement.

Doing work and getting dirty

Today was pretty awesome. October 22, our first workshop, was metal-oriented. The fact that we were handling metal today made me somewhat giddy, as I miss working with metal quite a bit.

Upon starting our workshop, everyone rummaged around for bits of this and that, to make something they had in mind or had seen previously. I feel like we all started out pretty uptight and gradually got very loose and comfortable in the setting. Jokes, laughter, and even a bit of language to match the cleanliness of our hands marked a good connection between the artists and art in the setting.

I collected several parts, mostly U-locks and sprockets, and devised what became a utilitarian towel rack. It was quick to assemble for Troy, who also added a few very helpful changes of his own. The piece was donated and will hopefully be auctioned off. Small details which come from different artists in a community art setting are extremely important, so take note when you see people giving each other helpful hints and praise; these situations often lead to epiphanies and always lead towards artistic development.

I also encountered a guy named Mattie and his brother Justin who were hanging around Bicas looking for a new bike. Mattie explained to me that he was somewhat new to Tucson, and worked with special needs students at a local High School. I gave him a few Bicas pamphlets and Art Auction flyers after explaining to him what our workshops were all about, when they were taking place, and what we as UA students and Art Educators were aiming to accomplish. I also got to pet his super cute puppy.

All in all I’ve (and WE have) come off on the right foot. I feel productive and optimistic, and am looking forward to new workshops and experiences. I have a couple pictures that Val is sending me, which I will edit in at a later time to document today’s work.

Flyers!

Today I decided since the weather is just so wonderful it was a good time to distribute flyers!! I biked down university stopping at all the good spots. There were a lot of people out because it is bear down Friday before homecoming. I even was given a bike map from a fellow bike association in Tucson! Along with supporting BICAS I brought my camera along to document my trip for a day journal assignment for black and white photo. It was the first time in awhile that I've ridden my bike and I'm glad that I got to do it and promote at the same time!

BICAS Reflection and Goals for the week of the 25th

BICAS Reflection Goals for the of the 25th
Today I went to BICAS! I wasn't sure what to expect, but I definitely had fun. First we got our hands greasy by rummaging through bike parts to use for a sculpture-functional or non-functional. It was a bit challenging coming up with something create as well as steel so it could be welded. I finally found some good materials and decided to make a spider to express my Halloween spirit! I assembled the peddle and gears in a spider-like fashion and then brought it out the Troy. I explained to him my design plan and showed him how I wanted my spider’s legs to be welded to its body. Then while waiting for my sculpture to be finished I converse with some friendly fellow classmates. I also started a "day of the day" looking mask, which I plan on finishing at home. After my sculpture was welded I got a great sense of accomplishment. I hope it makes for an eye-catching item for the art auction.
My week of the 25th goals are to revise, edit, and finalize my workshop one lesson plans. Once those are finished I will start my workshop two lesson plans, which, will be easy since I’ll have better sense of what I’m doing. I also want to get out to BICAS again next Friday to make some jewelry. I think that will be very fun and interesting. Another goal that I have is to get a better understanding of what will count towards my community work hours. I keep hearing different things and everyone seems a bit confused on whether showing up to BICAS in general counts. I’ll figure it out eventually. Well, that’s all for now!

Spreading the Word

This week I have been "spreading the word" about our workshops on Fridays and about the ones on the mall. Shana and I have not had an opportunity to meet with Casey about the jewelry workshop next Friday, but we are doing a practice run this coming Tuesday. I have had some experience with making jewelry so I hope practicing on Tuesday will prepare me for Friday. I am excited to make bracelets and pendants and I excited to learn what materials we have to work with. Our mall workshops are coming together and we came up with a great idea for thank you cards for the people who participate. Wish us luck with the workshops!

Making connections

After perusing an email Casey sent us with links to possible grants available, it became a little more clear that general purpose grants rather than project grants might be more feasible to apply for, since project grants involve way more in terms of application process, matching funds, and actually developing and following through on a project such as a lecture or exhibition and the follow-up required afterward. We only have one semester, after all!

Grants available on the azhumanities.org website were more complicated than the corporate giving grants from Wells Fargo, and we might actually be able to produce a grant for them to submit (or not) later on since there are no deadlines with Wells Fargo. What other banks or corporations could we solicit? TFCU had an ad that supported La Pilita in the newsletter I just received and it gave me the idea to seek out other corporations that love to support community development. The possibilities seem endless, but we'd really like to create something concrete that will benefit BICAS and the people they serve.

Here is a link Casey sent us about grants given to Austin artists to make bike racks for the city! They're really cool!

http://impactnews.com/northwest-austin/256-recent-news/7757-council-approves-grant-for-sculpture-bike-racks-downtown

We're getting there!

We may feel slightly that we have just started and our goals seem far away, but actually - our first workshop is right around the corner. Also, our committee members are hard at work building there lesson plans for workshops and devising ways to reach out to the community. I am excited that some in our group will be teaching for the first time and I will make every effort to support them. Lesson plans are coming in for review already!

We still might be circling around waiting to land and anticipate our collaboration with BICAS but we are very close to having our feet on the ground.

Our first workshop this Friday!

Updates & Reflections - Art Auction Group

So, for the Art Auction I have 2 specific individual goals:
- Organizing the Mall Table Event
- Facilitating a Mobile workshop

This whole process is pretty exciting. As of late, I have contacted the ASUA in regards to renting a table. In order to get the table and rent supplies you must be an affiliated club within the University. At first we had some concern on how to get the table through our interaction with the BICAS program but fortunately, we were able to think of affiliating it with the Art Education Association. So soon, we will be able to get the final okay on our rented supplies. SWEET!

Currently I'm thinking about certain signs and posters we will need to highlight our table on the mall. I know I saw some posters in the corner of the storage room which Casey showed us, but on Friday I want to investigate and see if they are up to date and usuable. Otherwise, we'll probably all just collaborate and make some more. Either way, I like making signs and designing pretty fonts so this should be fun.

My goals for this week are to:
- Investigate BICAS signs
- Finish postering in my assigned area
&.... research mobile designs for Emma and I's workshop.

Overall, I think our Art Auction Group is working well together, and our communication is efficient.

This blog thing is pretty cool. Hasta Luego.

- Shantaye McMorrow

What does BICAS need?

As part of the grant writing group, I have initiated my research by reviewing the grant writing resources on the Pima County Public Library’s website . Within the library’s website you can go to ‘Research & Resources,’ and find the ‘Grant & Nonprofit Info Center’ which has a great deal of information. We as a group decided we should all listen to the ‘Grantseeking Basics’ as well as the webinar, ‘Grantseeking Basics for Individuals in the Arts.’ 

Alongside gaining basic grant knowledge, we have reached out to John Salgado and Casey at BICAS to set a meeting time with the two of them to discuss their needs and establish a more concrete plan for our group. On October 1, 2010, myself, Whitney and Megan briefly introduced ourselves and discussed our group and how we could support BICAS. This meeting was very brief as both John and Casey had only a few moments after our Skill Share and their appointment with a potential site for their art auction. We haven’t heard back from BICAS, but we did send the outline we have created that clearly defines our group goals as well as our individual responsibilities so they will have an idea our groups plan and know if that will fit in with what they are needing. We also proposed some times that we could possibly meet with them. 

Our main focus going forward is to meet with BICAS to decipher what exactly it is BICAS really needs! 

Crossing into new territory

I think that the workshop outreach group has done amazing job so far. Our goal as a group are to create a book of lesson plans for BICAS to have to be able to reference and use at thier leisure as well as to host workshops that will help create art for the art auction. My main focus is to find venues other than BICAS to host workshops. I am trying to find a way to combine my interests in the health field with the interest of bicas, by finding a way to host a workshop in wither the hospital or the facilities that i work at. My goal is to be able to take what we learn in this class and in our experiences with Bicas and be able to apply them later on down the road in my career.
Ashley

Tape and Push Pins Included!

Working with a group of nine active members has its challenges and it’s benefits. For the most part, our group dynamics prove to be strong and successful. It seems to me that the challenge has come from the need to keep everyone updated, provide time to listen to and develop each individual’s ideas, while coordinating with Casey and respecting the graduate students’ leadership. BICAS proved themselves more organized than I had previously thought when Troy provided our group with packets of flyers. The packets were sorted by location and included a list of places to post flyers, a map, flyers, tape, and push pins! The group has agreed that it would be more realistic and efficient for the only grad students to meet with Casey for our next conference with her. I have confidence that after this meeting much progress will be made and our tentative plans will be clarified.

Jewelry Mechanics

I am so excited to begin working with BICAS this semester! I am in the teaching option for the Art Education program, so I am really excited about getting to teach a workshop at BICAS. However, I am also very nervous because this is all new territory for me. I have never done anything quite like this.

In the Workshops Outreach group, we have set up dates for workshops to be held every Friday at BICAS until the Art Auction takes place. The workshop I am in charge of is "Jewelry Mechanics;" a workshop on bike art jewelry. This will be held on November 19th along with 3 other workshops.

(Picture taken from bicas.org)

The art auction group has done a great job at brainstorming ideas for BICAS so far!  We have decided to do two workshops at BICAS as well as two on the UA mall (which I think will be a huge success!) and we are still trying to come up with ideas about how to get people to donate for the auction.  Our group is at a standstill because we need approval from Kasey for all of our plans and she has unfortunately been out of town.  Now that she is back I know we can get the ball rolling and start on our projects.  I am helping with a jewelry making workshop on the 29th and I have made jewelry a few times so this will put my skills to the test.  As for the mall workshops we have put together a schedule so that everyone knows their shift and we are going to try and see if the BICAS guys across the mall will collaborate with us and make it even more fun and successful!  I am worried about our short time frame, but I'm sure that we will get everything done.   

posting around downtown

For the art auction group we really want to expand the audience to people who normally donate and come to the Bicas art auction. Today I went around down town and put flyers up. Although I didn’t get to all of downtown I did cover a good amount. A lot of people were happy to have flyers put up in their windows, one girl even asked if she could have a flyer because her sister was an artists. It feels good to generate interest about the art auction. Doing this makes it feel like a real thing instead of just an idea. A couple people weren’t allowed to put flyers in their windows but were very sympathetic about it. Recently Erin and I talked to our classmates about possibly donating art to the auction. I think the student base is a good place to start because its familiar to us and they seem more willing to help out then the casual artists. Hopefully we can get a good number of students to donate work and additionally come to the art auction in December. Here are some pictures of downtown and me posting flyers brought to you in the form of Legos.

Embarking on Research

These images are from my first research trip to my local library branch, Martha Cooper, to use the grant database. I like this branch in particular because the architecture is exciting, especially at night.

All members of the grant writing group began by viewing one of the free online webinars hosted by the Foundation Center. I watched “Grantseeking Basics” and found it to be helpful in formulating a broad understanding of grants and what grantors look for, as well as an introduction to some research methods. Below, is also an answer to one of our questions.

Foundation Center “Grantseeking Basics” Webinar

Highlighted Points of Interest:

http://foundationcenter.org/getstarted/training/webinars/gsb_webinar.html

Foundations make up about 13% of private giving. Private giving is about 13.7% of total revenue for nonprofits.

What funders look at to decide if they will give support to an organization:

Phase 1:

-Does the organization have legal nonprofit status – 501 (c)(3)

-What is the mission of the organization? Needs to be compelling!

-Does the organization have a board of directors?

Phase 2:

-What documentation does the organization have to show what they have done before and the results?

-Does the organization have a history of success?

-What leadership/organizational structures are in place so that once the money is allotted the organization will use it effectively?

Phase 3: Is it a perfect fit?

-Does the mission of the organization fit with the mission of the funder?

-Does the organization serve a particular community/population the funder concentrates on? (Often funders address specific issues in a specific geographic area.)

-Does the type of support requested match what the funder wants to give? (ex. seed money, research money, money to continue an established project)

-Is the amount requested within a range the funder gives?

-Does the funder know exactly how the money will be used and exactly how much is being requested? The more specific the better!

Tips for searching for matches:

- Using the Foundation Center’s database to look up by issue, and type of funding

- Get a list of the grants made by a foundation and how much they have given in the past 2-3 years. All foundations are required to disclose what grants they make to the IRS. Does this history match your nonprofit’s needs? (Foundation Center has search engine for this).

Research findings addressing the question:

What is the difference between larger grants and smaller project grants?

A project grant is one type of support that a grantor may give. In addition to grantors supporting certain causes aligned with their mission, they can also be specific in the type of support they want to give. For example, a foundation may be interested in supporting research, the purchase of real estate, or evaluation of a program. Project grants, referred to as “Program development” by the Foundation Center, is defined in their directory as, “Grants to support specific projects or programs as opposed to general purpose grants.” General purpose grants are defined as, “Grants for the day-to-day operating costs of an existing program or organization or to further the general purpose or work of an organization; also called “unrestricted grants.”

To see the source for this information and to get more information about types of support go to: http://foundationcenter.org/getstarted/faqs/html/tos.html