COOP Ale Works: Beer Made in Oklahoma, by Oklahomans for OKC and Beyond

Back on the topic of public outreach activities that work. I'm a total COOP Ale Works lover now, and the transformation happened over the course of 2 hours.

Our friend Rachel won a tour for 10 of the OKC-based COOP Ale Works Brewery at a United Way fundraiser. Lucky for us, she invited me and John to come along. It was such a blast. Our guide, Blake the brewmaster, walked us through the brewing process, showed us all the ingredients and equipment and answered dozens of questions about recipes, history of beer and of COOP, industry, yeast, regulations, graphic identity and more.

Along the way, we got to sample each of the beers from COOP Ale Works including a very limited one-batch special edition. The brewery doesn't officially have a tasting room. In fact, there is warehouse space directly behind me as I took this picture. We were part of a quality control tasting. Two enthusiastic thumbs up on your quality, COOP Ale Works!

Blake taught us so much about beer and brewing and COOP, it was enough to make your head spin. I was particularly impressed with the company's sense of community and social conscience. That in and of itself was enough to make you want to buy their beers. (Speaking of the beers, I'll tell you more about those tomorrow.)

We got a pretty in-depth tour because it was part of their donation to the United Way, but you can tour the place too. They give drop in tours on select weekends, and for about $100 you can reserve the place for a private event, bring in your own catering and have guests take tours.

If you want to learn more about the company and how you can go on a tour like mine follow them on Twitter, Facebook, Flickr or online.

Lopped for Locks of Love

A few years ago, my sister Sarah chopped off about a foot of hair and sent it off to Locks of Love. I was intrigued. We're used to giving money and giving time, but this was a new way to give. I decided I would do the same thing.

It wasn't hard work, but I certainly invested more time in this particular gift than I have in anything else I've ever donated. If I hadn't been waiting for my ponytail to hit 10" (the minimum donation for hair to be used in a Locks of Love hairpiece) there is no way I would have put up with it for so long. I'd forgotten what a hassle long hair was!

I was so excited to chop it off in one long ponytail. How often do you get to do that? (about once every 3 years!) I felt instantly lighter. Here's what it looks like after you whack a ponytail off the back of your head. Well, what it looks like when a very talented hairdresser ties it up, then whacks a ponytail off. Don't try this at home! Jeanie has the magic touch.

TaDa! I'm pretty pleased with the final product and I'm excited to have my short hair back. Jeanie even left me room to go shorter next time. (She likes her clients to take a couple cuts to get to a change this dramatic).

You can see here, it's pretty short in the back. Hopefully this ponytail will help a little kid feel as beautiful as I feel today.

Friday's Orange Letter Day: OSUF Launches a Campaign for OSU

The entire OSU family is invited to tune in this Friday as the OSU Foundation hosts the launch of the campaign for Oklahoma State University. I've been looking forward to this event for a while (although not as long as my friends at OSUF). It's going to be so exciting!

The main event will be on the Stillwater campus in the Student Union at 11 am, but each of our branches is hosting a watch party as well. If you can't make it to one of our campuses, you can watch it live at www.witnessOSUhistory.com.

As an event planner myself, I love the opportunity to sneak a peek at other people's parties. This one is sure to be packed with fun ideas. There will be a big unveil of the campaign theme and logo (very top secret until then!), and our campaign fundraising goal (game changing! dare we say "audacious" Burns did). There will be a major gift announcement. I'm so excited about this one, I might just bust. It is so inspiring, so generous, just so wow. And, the OSUF will be announcing the winners of the OSUccess.com contest.

I was super honored to be called in as a last-minute preliminary judge for the OKC and Tulsa text entries. And just as exciting, I'll be pushing out the social media content on behalf of the Foundation on Friday. If you are looking for tweets, twitpics and Facebook updates from me during the event, you'll find them on the Foundation's account. Better yet, as you are watching live, run a twitter search for #okstate, so you can see what everyone has to say about it.

This Week I Heart: OSU Foundation's OSUccess.com

My friends over that the OSU Foundation are full of interesting ways to secure donations and then pass those dollars on to students. This newest project is so fun, I'm kind of a little obsessed with it.

OSUccess.com (see already how clever it's title is?) began last week and runs until Feb 20. Students enter for 10 chances to win a $1,000 scholarship. Students answer a question "How do you define success at OSU?" with a 300 word blog entry, a 30 second video or a high-resolution photo.

Easy, right? Where were these kind of scholarship applications when I was in school?

Winners will be announced on Feb. 26 (more about this special orange-letter day, later), and they receive the scholarship that day. So, even graduating seniors can enter. The best-of for each category will be selected (3), then one randomly drawn entry from each campus (4), then the remainder are drawn randomly from all entries (3).

Here where the obsession comes in. You can watch the entries as they are submitted via a live feed. Too fun.

Photo Feed

Video Feed

Pet Pics Can Win Prizes

Think you have the cutest pup or kitty? Snap a picture and you could win $100.

FOGAS (Friends of the Guthrie Animals) is hosting a Cool Cats, Dashing Dogs Photo Contest this spring. The contest is open now and the deadline is April 15. (That should be an easy deadline to remember, I think something else is due that day...)

It's $5 per entry; enter as many times as you like. The extra money goes to support FOGAS's low-cost spay and neuter program.

John and I plan to enter a couple times. You should, too. If you think your pet can beat out that cute face above.

You Can Be a Microlender, Who Knew?

This week, John and I joined Kiva.org and made our first "microloan." I learned about Kiva from Stuff You Should Know.

Kiva is an online community that connects individuals willing to back small loans with entrepreneurs around the world (mostly in third-world countries). A Kiva Field Partner (the financial institution administering the loan) pre-distributes the money, then Kiva members backfill the loan. The entrepreneur pays back the loan, and the Field Partner pays back the Kiva members.

If that's not cool enough for you, you get to pick your businessperson. You can search by gender, industry and region of the world. You can see a short bio and description of the loan need. You can also see the other Kiva members financing the loan.

Loans start at $25. It doesn't seem like much, but a dozen or more members come together on each loan. John and I contributed $25 toward a $1200 loan to tailor in Lebanon who needs to buy a new sewing machine to meet the growing demand of her business. Her repayment starts in February, so I'll let you know how it goes.

Here, Josh and Chuck (my favorite Stuff podcasters) taunt the Cobert Report. Whose Kiva will make it to $100,000 in loans first?

Christmas is in the Bag

In the shopping bag that is.

Today's mission: Christmas shopping. It was a complete success. Not that we have all our presents for everyone, but we took a serious chunk out of the shopping list. As a shopping team, John and I only have 4 more gifts to buy.

I'm feeling pretty good about it because typically I'm a last minute Christmas shopper. In fact, one year I did all my shopping on Christmas Eve. In my defense, I had all four impacted wisdom teeth removed on the first day of break. So, I spent most of the week and a half leading up to Christmas in a pain killer stupor.

Surprisingly, if you hit the mall first thing on Christmas Eve, it is dead. I guess if you wait that long to do your shopping, you're likely not a hop out bed and hit the ground running type.

But there will be none of that for me this year. Out of town gifts are shipped, online orders are placed, John's "big present" is tucked away. Preen.

This Week I Love: Thanksgiving

Need I say more? While Thanksgiving is not my absolute favorite holiday, it's pretty darn good. I means what not to love about a holiday that is basically food-based. I think every holiday should have a food component.

My favorite Thanksgiving dish is green bean casserole. As my sister Sarah said as a toddler, "Bean Beans!!"

What's your Thanksgiving fave?

Oct. 24 is International Day of Climate Action-Even in Oklahoma

At SchipulCon '09 I learned about so many great things I want to share here, but I decided this one needed to come first because it's actually coming up really fast: October 24!

The International Day of Climate Action is coming to communities all over the world thanks to a group called 350.org. This is what they do:

"350.org is an international campaign dedicated to building a movement to unite the world around solutions to the climate crisis--the solutions that science and justice demand.

Our focus is on the number 350--as in parts per million, the level scientists have identified as the safe upper limit for CO2 in our atmosphere. But 350 is more than a number--it's a symbol of where we need to head as a planet."

It's a pretty awesome movement and it is everywhere even here in Oklahoma. So maybe next Saturday I'll see you at one of these events:

• Local Food Dinner for 100: 4-10 pm
  5900 CR 90, Red Rock, OK, 74651
  100 people will gather at Turtle Rock Farm Retreat Center to eat local foods along Doe Creek. We'll raise a glass of local wine and a 350.org banner to a healthier planet and take a photograph.
• 350kies Take a Stand for Climate Change: 2-4 pm
  6th & Peoria Centennial Park,Tulsa, OK
  Fun activities planned, such as bike ride at 2 p.m. around downtown Tulsa and an interactive art project. Learn ways to reduce carbon emissions and take action by contacting your legislators. Join the picture at 3:50 p.m and show your support for this momentous international day of climate action!
• 350 Climate Action Festival:
  Muskogee, OK, 74434
  Jean will wear her Polar Bear costume, she has 2 other Polar Bear caps...Hold signs
  that say "350" outside the electric power plant..Wave, smile and be friendly.
• 350 Climate Festival and Contest: 10 am
  Norman, OK
  Bike Riders Festival and Costume / Decoration Contest
  

Moore War Run Number 1

When the WHS Alumni Association decided to host a joint 5K with our rival school's Alumni, I thought it sounded like a great idea. I also thought there is no way in hell I'm getting out there to run. Sorry guys.

I did show up at an ungodly hour (6:45 am!) to volunteer, though. And it was awesome!

I think it may have been the best volunteer experience I've had. I was told where and when to show up, and I got a reminder the day before. Once I got there, the gals running the show gave me instructions on what needed to be done. They doled out tasks one at a time, so it was easy to keep track and not get overloaded with information.

I got a t-shirt and lots of thank yous the day of and after. They even let me wear this nifty orange vest. How'd they know I love orange?


I want to say thank you to Kelly and Holley for organizing before and the day of. These ladies did an amazing job, and the first Moore War Run was a huge success in my opinion. We had more than 250 runners!

Hey Runners, You Totally Want to Do This!

Since 1988, Lions and Jaguars have sparred against one another in a race to determine the big cat in town. When it comes to Moore War, rivalries run deep and emotions run high.

Saturday, August 29th, alums from Moore and Westmoore, as well as members of the community, will put aside their differences to come together for a common cause--current students. The Moore and Westmoore Alumni Associations are excited to team up to present the Inaugural Moore War Run.

This 5K run through downtown Moore will benefit the scholarship funds for both high schools. This run is sanctioned by the USATF and will be timed with ChampionChips. Registration packets will be available for pickup on Friday, August 28th from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at Old School Business Center, 201 N. Broadway, Moore. Timing chips and packets will be available the morning of the race beginning at 7am.

Advance registration open through August 15, 2009. You can register online here. Your support will help both Moore and Westmoore Alumni Associations present scholarships to their graduating seniors in the coming years.

Disclaimer: I will not personally be running in the 5K, but I do plan to be there working the event. Tell me if you are racing and I promise I will cheer extra loud for you!

We're Walking for Autism Research. Want to Help?

On June 6, the Cain family is once again joining the Oklahoma City Autism Speaks Walk to raise funds and awareness for Autism Research. Our team name is The Penguins, and you can visit our team home page at http://www.walknowforautism.org/oklahoma/penguins.

One in 150 children is diagnosed with autism. With a statistic like that you often hear of families being "touched by autism." That always sounds kind of mushy to me. We’re not a mushy kind of family. I prefer to think of it as a poke, a quick unexpected jab that demands your attention. Our family has been poked by Autism.

Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the U.S. It's time we started poking back. You can help us raise awareness by joining our team and/or participating in the June walk. You can also help support Autism research by making a donation from our homepage: http://www.walknowforautism.org/oklahoma/penguins.

Thanks!

It's Not too Late to Join me for Ostrich Eggs

Tomorrow, John and I are taking my mom and baby sis to the Zoo for the annual Ostrich Egg Breakfast. I can't wait. We've wanting to attend this event for a couple years, but something always seems to come up.

The breakfast includes all-you-can-eat pancakes, sausage, scrambled hens’ eggs, waffles, Krispy Kreme doughnuts and ostrich egg omelets cooked to order. There will be live music and a free Sea Lion show. What fun!

Tickets are $10 ($8 if you happen to be a ZooFriend) and you can buy them at the door tomorrow. Breakfast starts at 8 am and runs until 10 am. Maybe I'll see you there.

Bow Wow Luau

John hasn't even been sworn in yet and already the Councilman benies are coming in. Today, we were comped two tickets to the Bow Wow Luau.

We were already planning to go to the Luau, and one of John's friends told an organizer we were interested. Bam, free tickets. I should actually say "free" tickets because John and I are planning on writing a check at the event that will more than cover the $20 for the two tickets. But still, it kind of makes you feel all warm and fuzzy that someone wanted you especially to be there.

And who wouldn't want to be there?! It's going to be awesome. The Luau is May 16 at 6 pm; Dr. Anna, one of the super duper bestest vets ever, is hosting. There is going to be a pig roast (even as a flexitarian, I'm intrigued to see this!), an auction, door prizes, hula girls, and cocktails ($10 tickets and there are drinks? Score). All the proceeds from the tickets and the auction go to support the low cost spay and neuter program in Guthrie.

I know, I know, now you're thinking "Gosh, Bonnie, I want to go to the Bow Wow Luau." Well, you can. Stop by the Guthrie Pet Hospital or the Emporium in downtown Guthrie and pick up your $10 tickets. And Dr. Anna is so nice, I'd bet if you wanted to just call the Pet Hospital (at 405-28-8796) and make reservations, they'd let you pay at the door.

Tough Questions about Giving

On Thursday, Valerie and I joined Chad (the Library's Director of Development), Linda Anthony (Library Board Member) and about 200 others to see Jackie Joyner-Kersee.

Women for OSU, Leadership and Philanthropy hosted the event. So, giving back was obviously a big theme. Over lunch every table was given a list of discussion questions. I was pleasantly surprised that the list actually resulted in some interesting lunch chat. Here what they asked us:

What people, experiences, and institutions have had the most impact on your life and in what ways have they influenced you?
At our table, there was definitely a theme of family and mentors.

Please think about your personal values. Would you say your giving (time, treasure, and talent) matches up with your values?
I, personally, hadn't thought of it this way. Everyone seemed to be able to draw a connection to values and giving. Everyone seemed to give back to the "community" that had impacted them, the city community, a school or a program or an organization that supports an issue impacting their family.

Have you considered what you desire your philanthropic legacy to be? What steps led you to this vision of your legacy?
I had never really thought about my "giving legacy" until this question. Surprisingly, everyone a the table admitted they had never thought about legacy either, but we had a great talk about it. The basic theme I heard from everyone was that they wanted to impact people. They wanted to help the community that had helped them. They wanted to inspire others in the ways they had been inspired.