Friday, January 28, 2011

Mmmmm...Cookies--Lead Project Reflection #3

Well, after some deep thought, I decided that I would start a third lead project instead of a third help project.  I hope this is okay.  This project was a good idea, but it did not take too long either. 

What I did was I made a HUGE thank you card for all of the teachers.  I also had a lot of students sign it to give it a personal touch.  In addition to the card, I made a gigantic plate of cookies to munch on throuout the day.

Since it is finals week and the teachers are busy trying to get all of the final grades in, I thought it would be a nice treat for them.

I would have to say, that this went amazingly smoothly.  I was actually shocked at how well this whole process went.  I made the card and pretty much everyone I asked to sign it did, which I am very grateful for.  Also, I am impressed at how well the cookies turned out.  I got thank you's from teachers throughout the day saying how much they loved them.

In my opinion, this  project was a success and much appreciated.  It was a fun project to do and just a nice suprise.  Also, it is a project I can do in the future.  If I did choose to do it again, though, I may decide to expand in the baked goods department.  I may make a different kind of cookie or possibly make a different dessert althogether.  The possibilities are endless.

This is a sweet and well liked project that is both enjoyable to do, but is also loved by the teachers.

Loads of Clothes--Second Lead Project Reflection!!!

Hello!

This week I had an ongoing clothing drive to benefit people who are less fortunate than we are.  I hung up signs, spread the word, and posted reminders of Facebook to inform people about the clothing drive.  I guess all of my methods of advertising worked, because each day, when I went to the office to check on the drive there were more and more clothes in the box as the week went on!  It was very exiting to see the box overflowing at the end of the week with a huge amount of clothes just ready to be donated.  I was so happy that people donated to such a wonderful cause!

In the future, I might hold the drive for a longer time period.  Since it was close to the end of the semester, I only held it through this week, but in the future, I might get more donations if I hold the drive for a longer period.  Also, if I annonced it in person more, more people may have donated.  Maybe if I put some information about it in the NOTAM or I went around to the adviserites, then even more people may have donated.  But, for the week I held the drive, I am very happy with its outcome.

What went well was that even though the drive lasted only four days, I collected many bags full of clothes to help the needy.  I learned yet again, that advertising is key. Just putting a box in the office and letting it sit there is not going to cut it.  You need to tell people and spread the word.  The key to a successful anything is to let people know about it.  What I may improve upon in the future, is making the drive longer.  I got a lot of donations in the week I held it, but I can't help thinking that I would have gotten more if it were longer.

I still need to find a place to donate too.  I ended the drive just yesterday and need to find a place for the clothes to go.  When I get back to school, I might sort through the clothes and see where the best place to take it would be.  Maybe if there are mostly women's clothes, I may ask a women's shelter or Hospitlality House if they want them.  I guess I will have to do some research to see where the best place to donate them is.


The pros of this clothing drive are:

-People who are in need can receive clothes in this tough ecinomic period

-Students can get rid of their unused clothes that were otherwise going to waste

-It encourages students to think about the needy, and what they can do to help them

-I got a lot of clothes to give to the less fortunate


There are few cons to the clothing drive.  One worry before the drive started was that there were not going to be enough donations, but now that the sale is over, that is not a worry anymore.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Yummy!--A Thought About What I Can Do For Another Lead Project!

So, I was thinking earlier, and I hatched a brilliant idea for a lead independent project.  I can have a teacher appreciation day where I make a big giant "thank you" card and get a lot of students to sign it and then present it to the teachers in the teacher's lounge.  Then, to make it even better, I make a bunch of baked goods like cookies or brownies so that they can have a nice treat.

It is finals week after all, and the teachers are busy and a bit stressed getting final grades in.  It may be a bit of a pick-me-up for them to receive wonderful and delicious baked goods.  I love to bake and it might be a fun thing to do, also it would not take me very long or cost me anything since I already have anything I would need to bake on hand at home. 

I would plan to give them the card and desserts on Thursday, the last day of the semester.  That would give me tomorrow night to bake, which would be more than enough time, I can bake amazing desserts in a suprisingly quick amount of time.

Now, my only road block would be if I am not allowed to distribute homemade baked goods to anyone.  I am not sure what the rules on that are, so if it just so happens that I cannot bake anything, I can always get the desserts from the store.  It would be a sweet project to do, and I am sure that it would be greatly appreciated by all involved.

Valentines Day--My Second Help Project!!!

Hello!

Just today I completed my second "help" project in Leadership class.  After taking some time to scrape some tape off the walls of AHS, I decided to help out with the fast approaching Valentine's Day party.  I helped Sarah, I am pretty sure she is the one in charge of planning the pary. 

I painted a very big and noticable sign  to advertise for the party.  It will help gather attention and entice people to attend.  I learned to make the event look inviting and to relay all the information, so people will know when and where the event is.  As I have learned from past projects, advertising is key if you want a successful event.  

The party is the Friday before Valentine's Day and I want as many people as possible to attend. I hope to maybe help make some more decorations on Thursday, before the class goes to peer tutoring. 

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Just Checking In!

Hello!

I have just decided to update my blog since I have not done it for a while.  As far as my second project, the clothing drive goes, I think I am going to put a box in the office for people to put clothes into.  I think Wendy has a toy drive box, so I think I will put it next to hers.  I am planning on starting this Thursday and then continue into next week.  I will advertise like crazy for this and make sure that people know that there is a drive going on and that they know where to donate.

 Oh, by the way, did I mention that I am working with Wendy on her toy drive?  I am, but I still need a third project to help with. So, I will need to keep my eyes out for a third one to help with!!!

Monday, January 3, 2011

Keeping Warm--Proposal For Lead Project#2

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

I want to hold a week long clothing drive and donate the clothes to Hospitality House, since now, more than ever, they are in such a great need.  I want to encourage the students of AHS to give to such a wonderful cause.  I am also going to entice them by offering hot chocolate to whoever donates.  It will be an extra motivation to donate to the drive.  In these hard times it is crucial that people remember that there are people less fortunate than us and that we need to help them in any way we can.

NEED

Hospitality House is a women-only shelter that provides a safe, warm enviornment to women for up to three months.  It is a new beginning for them to start the rest of their lives, far away from the cold and dirty streets.  It provides them with shelter, food and hope that they will improve their life.  Hospitality house gets women back on their feet and helps them gain the abitlity to function in stable and affordable housing once they leave the house.  Relying on donations from the public for a lot of their supplies, Hospitality House is constantly in desperate need of womens clothes.  With our help, the shelter could aquire some good winter clothes, leaving them with one less thing to worry about for a while.

OBJECTIVE

I plan on holding a week long clothing drive to benefit the women who currently reside at the Hospitality House which is located in Burien.  Hospitality House is a women only shelter that desperatly and constantly needs clothing donations.  Holding the drive will greatly help the women with warmth in these freezing winter months.  I want to hold the drive in the next few weeks, giving time for advertising and preparing for the drive. Also, I may want to get in contact with someone at Hospitality House asking them what they need the most.  I really want this project to be successful.  That means getting as many clothes as possible.  I visualize collecting as many winter womens clothes as possible.  I am going to try to spread the word far and wide so people will know to donate.  The women of Hospitality House are in great need of clothes and their last worry should be where they are going to get their clothes from.  My main goals are to get students to donate what they can.  If they have any womens clothing that is not being used anymore they should donate it.  Also, I want to entice them to donate by offering some sort of treat.  I am thinking that if they donate, then I will give them a golden ticket.  On the last day of the sale, possibly at lucnch on that day, they can redeem their golden ticket for hot chocolate.  That way, people will want to donate their clothes.  I plan to hold the drive during lunch where people can bring the clothes to me and I will keep them in a box.  Then, I will give them the ticket for the hot chocolate on the last day.

METHOD

Before The Sale

1. Do some research on the shelter and find out what their greatest needs are.  Maybe email one of the workers to find out what they are lacking.
2. Spread the word.  Make signs.  Do anything and everything to let people know that the drive is going on and encourage them to donate.
3. Find a plausible way to have the students donate their clothes.
4. Find to distribute the hot chocolate and how I will get the hot chocolate itself.

During The Sale

1. Have students bring their clothes to me at lunch time.
2. In return, they will get a golden ticket redeemable for hot chocolate.
3. On the last day of the drive make hot chocolate avalable to the students with the golden ticket.
4. At the end of the drive, get the clothes to Hospitlality House.

To start off this week and next week I am going to spread the word like crazy to make sure everyone knows about the drive.  I am also going to find out the type of clothes that Hospitality House needs.  I need to find out how I am going to get the hot chocolate and what to contain it in.  These are I things I need to do to prepare for the following weeks. I am going to try to find funding for this and if there are any better options for treats.
I am trying to get the students of AHS to donate to the clothing drive.  I am going to make sure everyone knows about the clothing drive and entice them to donate.  I will make posters and flyers and I will also use Facebook to tell people.  I am going to try to make it inviting to give and make them want to give.  That is the point of the hot chocolate, to entice people to donate.  Hopefully people will want to give.

EVALUATION

I will measure my success based on how much clothes I get.  If I get one scarf, that is not a sucessful drive.  If I get multiple scarves, coats and other clothes, though, then I will consiter my drive a success.  I will ask around and make sure that AHS students would be intrested in a clothing drive and that it is something that they would want to do.

QUALIFICATION

First thing is I want to get into contact with someone from Hospitality House, just making sure what their greatest needs are and that we fulfill those needs.

When I do my drive, I need:
1. a table set up in a clear spot in the cafeteria  
2. a large box to keep the clothes
3. hot chocolate and whipped cream to put on top
4. cups for the hot chocolate
5. a container to keep the hot chocolate

I am not sure exactly who is helping me, but I am pretty sure I will need some people to help me advertise, make signs and spread the word for the drive.  Also, I may need someone to help me collect clothes during lunch.

I am a good canditdite for this project because I care a lot about the women who are living at Hospitality House.  I like the whole program and what it does for the women.  I want to help the women in any way I can.  These women are getting a second chance at life and I want to help them get on with their lives.

TIMETABLE

The project will last one week and will go for January 17 to January 21.  At lunch everyday, I will be at a table in the cafeteria ready to  collect any clothes that people want to donate.  On the last day of the drive, January 21, I am going to have the hot chocolate for the people who have golden tickets.

Start Date: January 17 (students begin to bring clothes during lunch)
End Date: January 21 (this is the day students can redeem their  golden ticket for hot chocolate)

BUDGET

Okay, so this project should not cost to much.  All I really need are some cups for the hot chocolate and some hot chocolate and whipped  cream.  Also I will need a dispenser for the hot chocolate, but I recall seeing them around the school before.  So I am not sure if the school has any or where we can get them, but I am sure there is a way to find them.  My guess is that the cost of the items will be about $20-25.  Not really that much.  Since this is a clothing drive and people are giving and not buying, there is not much cost to it.  I may ask the ASB to fund the hot chocolate buying or I may just spend the money myself since it really isn't that much.

CONCLUSION

The Hospitality House is a wonderful amazing place that helps many women have a second chance at  life.  It is so very important that we help them in any way we can.  The women are in great need of clothes and it would be a horrible thing not to go through with the clothing drive.  Helping the women by suppling them with clothes helps them to focus more important things like on their future and their goals of making it on their own in a house instead of on the streets.

We Are All In This Together

YAAAAAYYY!!! I have successfully completed one of my lead projects.  I sold holiday grams for most of December and my project was a hit. :D

As for a second IP, I have some ideas in my mind, but I am sitll trying to figure out how the logistics would work and if they would have a chance at success.  I may need to do some research before I officially decide to do anything concrete.

I have also helped with one project and that was Emily's bowling night.  I announced in front of different classes the information about the bowling night and answered any questions people had about it.

I have yet to help with a second project or a third, for that matter.  Supposedly, I am helping Driskell with his project, but I have not heard about it in a while, so I am going to get to the botto of it in the following days.

As for a third...well, I still need to help on a third project.  I am not sure what I am going to do yet, but I will ask around in the next few days.  Okay, so I just talked to Wendy and she wants to help me with mine and I am going to help her with her toy drive that she is having, so now I have three projects that I am helping with. Yay!! :)

Get by with a Little Help

Okay, so so far I have helped Emily with her project, which was her bowling night the night before tolo.  To help adveritse, I went to different classrooms and told people about the bowling night.  I spoke to the students and made sure they knew when and where the bowling night was.  I also let them know that they could buy tickets in the cafeteria if they wanted to go bowling.  In addition to going to each classroom, I also spread the word to the freshmen class about the bowling night just when taling to them.  Helping spread the word helped increase sales for Emily's project.  Also, having me help advertise made it easier for her to get other necessary things done.  As I learned from my own IP, advertising is key to have a sucessful IP.  If no one knows that something is going to be sold or going on, then there is going to not be any sales.  But, since there was good adveritsing, Emlily's project was a success!!!

Heck of a Sale...

Oh my goodness!! After such a long time of planning, preparing, adverising and selling, my holiday grams are finally finished.  I spent the two weeks before Christmas break selling the grams before lunch.  Due to a ton of advertising and the word spreading well, I sold a lot of holiday grams.  At first though, I was worried because my first day sales were not so good.  After the first day, I made a huge point in advertising a lot more due to my determination to have a successful project.  I spread the word and told many people to buy.  I also asked people to tell their friends.  I hung up many flyers and posters throughout the school in many key places.  Also, prehaps my most important way of advertising was through Facebook.  Every night, I put on my status the information about the sale.  I am pretty sure that was my key to success.  Steadily my sales grew each day.  There were many people who bought one for all their friends and kept comming back each day.  I got to the point where I was selling out of tags and had to ask customers to come back the next day.  I would say that the key to the success on this project was the amazing advertising.  If a person wants to have a lot of sales, then people have to know that the sale is going on.  If I had not advertised very well, then my holiday grams may have not been a success.  When it came to sorting and delivering, I will be honest, I was really nervous that I wasn't going to get then out in time and the delivering would be a failure.  Thankfully, there were many eager hands ready to sort and deliver.  With the many people I had helping me, the task of sorting and delivering was a much less daunting task.  It was very challenging to get the sale up and running, but the whole process went shockingly smoothly and there is nothing that I would change.  Although at times it seemed that the entire project was going to go up in flames, everything seemed to fit at just the right time.  My holiday grams went better than I ever would have imagined and I am so grateful for that.

I would just like to thank anyone who helped me during the entire process of this project.  There were so any people who helped sort and deliver and I am so grateful to all of you.  Without your help, there is no telling which way the project would have gone.  Also, thank you so much to anyone who bought holiday grams.  Thank you so much for helping me make this project a sucess. :D