I have been busy creating a new Live More Lightly site and trying to set up more workshops. Developing these types of programs takes time, so I must learn not to be so impatient.
The latest progress I have made is to attempt to help fund my environmental effort in the traditional open source way — by asking for donations. I have set up a PayPal account and this little button below will appear on my new site sidebar. I am placing it here to make sure it works!
It is really important for me to try to connect to a larger community to try to get help with my project. I know that I will need to build support before I can get recognition and funding to enable me to encourage individuals to “Live More Lightly”. Today, I posted my solution, The Live More Lightly Project on Wiser Earth, a networking and community site. You can vote on the project and make a comment.
I was inspired by their tagline, “Connecting You to Communities of Action”, so I developed a more modest motto, “Changing the World One Small Action at a Time.” I don’t think it’s perfect yet, but it’s a start.
I have observed many individuals who are very successful in promoting their projects and it seems that joining networks and having lots of ratings and comments really helps. I continue to be inspired by Diane McEachern of Big Green Purse as she starts a women’s business initiative, Big Green Breakthrough. She is an author that has built on her success to make a real difference to the environment by offering a list of green products and rating claims of “earth friendly” and “natural”.
As I am looking for more work right now, I am going to try the Bright Green Talent site to try to obtain enough contract employment to support my project and myself with environmentally friendly work. Due to the downturn in the economy and the fact that I have not received any funding, I have had to reconsider my idea of riding my motorcycle across Canada. I still might be able to achieve this goal, but I really need to establish some financial stability before I can bring my workshop to the people.
It is time again for the Knight News Challenge, a contest that funds ideas for using open source internet tools.
Funded by the Knight Foundation, the contest seeks to assist the development of internet news that serves a constituency of readers.
There are only four rules. Winning entries must: 1. Use or create digital, open-source technology; 2. Use news and information to serve the public interest; 3. Benefit at least one specific geographic community; 4. Be innovative.
The Live More Lightly Project entered an application last year, but was unsuccessful. This year, I will try to make the case that I [Victoria] am an internet griot or troubador who is delivering the message of personal responsibility for the environment. Changing the world, one personal action at a time.
The project has evolved since last year, but because I have received no funding, my progress has been slower than I hoped. I will post my application here for comment.
Live More Lightly Knight News Challenge Application — You still have time to vote for me.
I only asked for $5,000. because that would be enough to do the tour and really investigate the on-line streaming video concept. Unfortunately, I have been turned down again. I will keep on trying to get the needed funding to complete my project.
The part of a project that rarely is presented to an audience — especially a jaded internet audience who can click away to a more exciting space in a nanosecond — is the administrative process. Right now, I am watching the summer weather slip away as I struggle with paperwork. So far, I have not received any grants, so I have had to keep working to support the project. Time spent working allows me to move forward in buying motorcycle gear and technology for the trip, but subtracts from the time I have to actually do the book.
The basic version of the book is almost in manuscript form and ready to start editing and moving forward to the next stage. I really want to spend time now recording the music and preparing a draft of the disk that will be a companion to the book. However, before I do anything else, I have to finish doing my taxes for 2007. This should not be a difficult undertaking as I do not have a lot of money to count, but I am always overwhelmed by book-keeping and even have trouble keeping up with invoicing for my work hours and keeping track of receivables.
This is where “CGA Man” should swoop in through a handy open window and say, “I’ll save you!”, but no. Accountants work in mysterious ways and I have to produce many spreadsheets to get the job done. I have to force myself to do this as the little neat piles of paper all over the studio are driving me mad.
If I can get my taxes done, I have prepared the draft of a business plan so I can get a line of credit to produce “The Live More Lightly Songbook and Workshop Guide” and have a financial cushion in case someting unexpected happens on the tour. As a responsible parent, I have to make sure that I can afford to be safe and I am not placed in dodgy situations due to lack of funds.. Continue reading Mundane Project Administration
I have created a new page to record all support and funding that the Live More Lightly Project receives. I also want people who may be reading these pages to know that I am working hard to make this project a reality.
I have applied to several arts funding programs and have recently received notification of a few more that I can try. So far I have not been successful in obtaining funding, but it has been really encouraging to be considered for project support by the Second Inclusiva-net Meeting: Digital Networks and Physical Space. The project development would have occurred in Madrid, Spain, which was a bit daunting as I do not speak Spanish. I planned to collaborate with European artists using internet translation similar to the service provided when the flags on the top left of my blog are selected.
The Live More Lightly Project has already opened horizons for me as I investigate the work of other artists internationally. I am still hopeful that I will obtain support to produce the project the way I envision. Even if I have to scale back due to self-funding constraints, I will still do my best to realize the spirit of the project.
The idea is to change lifestyles in the developed world one action at a time. We are each capable of doing some small effort that can add up to a big difference.
I am using the ancient methods of the musical troubadour combined with all of the most powerful modern technologies of the internet to deliver the message “We can live more lightly upon the land”. I believe this is an important message and I hope that some of these funding and sponsorship coordinators will think so too.
