Robert Egger´s Piece of Mind

File this under “WHY NOT HERE?”

Just a short, but passionate shout-out to point you towards the UK, and the revolutionary work being conducted the government there to open a Social Investment Bank which would support Social Enterprise and NGOs like YOU and ME, only over there. More to the point, they see a strong third sector as key to their overall ability to rebuild the economy. WOW.

What they just launched is an open source process to get feedback on how such a bank would function. It’s going to be wild to watch…and I’ll bend over twice to keep you informed.

But what is amazing is the VISION. Read this, its quote from their press release…and remember….this is from a GOVERNMENT MINISTRY

 “A strong and growing third sector needs a resilient and sustainable source of finance. Earlier this year, we announced a £42.5m economic action plan to support the third sector through the downturn. But we also understand the importance of investing in the long-term future of the sector.

“This consultation represents an important opportunity to explore the concept of a Social Investment Wholesale Bank, and the role it could play in developing and adding value to the social investment market in a sustainable way. Such an institution could help deliver the Government’s commitment to supporting fair markets and to building the financial sustainability in the third sector that will allow it to grow and thrive.”

NOW go to their website and dig on what could happen here if we nonprofits got our act together and worked for it, together—in earnest.

And working in earnest is what the V3 Campaign is about…WORD

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Got a call from my chum Peter at the Chronicle of Philanthropy yesterday, asking about budget cuts and the opportunities they offer to get nonprofits moving forward…together.

Long story short….a few minutes later we were recording a podcast, which just went live moments ago.

Please help spread the word–this is real, but PANIC isn’t a plan. V3 IS….join!!!

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I love the movie Zoolander.  I think that Will Ferrell’s arch-villain Mugatu is right up their with Iranian Mullah’s, the Alien, Dick Cheney and the Grinch on the bad-guys-o-meter. But I particularly loved the scene in which he yells ”I feel like I’m taking crazy pills” out of his frustration over the fact that nobody seems to realize (or care) that Eric Zoolander’s patented “looks” (La Tigre, Blue Steel) are, in actuality, the same thing.

Anyway….I feel that way today.

On Wednesday, 47 states posted budgets for 2010, which, as of today, total close to $160 BILLION.

Today, as I type, CA is preparing to begin writing $3 Billion in IOU’s. Other states have postponed, extended or all but crossed deadlines without coming to any formal conclusions about how to bridge the gap.

L-O-N-G story short. Nonprofit groups everywhere have got to come together and develop a unified front….NOW.

The V3 Campaign is about that. No talk…action. We’re developing a plan that you can be part of–in YOUR town, YOUR state, THIS country.

Join us. Be part of history. Follow the discussion on the V3 blog, or on twitter at @v3campaign

Anything short of that would be….er, crazy.

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On behalf of everyone at the Kitchen, I am pleased to officially welcome David Kamm into our ranks.

Two years ago, as part of his home education, David came to us for some “life skoolin.”

He grew from a highly dependable volunteer, to a trusted apprentice. Many of you know him as Carolyn Parham’s stone-cold, assistant volunteer, “Welcome to the Kitchen” go-to, right-hand man.

Today, David got his first job…with us.

David now mans our reception desk, where he will keep us all in check, while he earns his.

Knock em silly, D

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