Update and Saturday Invite

The following is an email/letter I sent to the Our Response distribution lists; if you would like to be on these lists, please let me know…

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Greetings to those connected or interested in the efforts of Our Response to bring transformation to both Kivuruga, Rwanda and East Central Minnesota.

Before I go further, I have reserved 20 places for the first 20 people to attend a mobile exhibit called “Step Into Africa” next Tuesday at 5:30pm in White Bear Lake.  This is a dynamic, powerful experience of life in the shoes of a child in Africa.  This is free of charge, but reservations are required.  If you want to fill one of the 20 slots, let me know ASAP!  This is something we are considering bringing to Cambridge (www.worldvisionexperience.org).

 There are a number of other exciting updates that I will be sharing and we will be discussing at an open meeting this coming Saturday from 4-6pm at First Baptist Church in Cambridge.  Although I will give a number of updates, a primary purpose of the meeting is to collaborate on strategies for the upcoming year to bring momentum to this movement.  You (and anyone you choose to invite) are welcome to join us at this input/strategy meeting.  If for no other reason, show up to have one of the world famous Tracy’s Chocolate Chip Cookies!

Some of the things we’ll be talking about on Saturday include:

• Currently over 80 sponsored children
• Official Federal Non-Profit status 501(c)(3) granted
• Finances: Currently $1,500 in our account, matching funds
• Funding options: 30-Hour Famine, Team World Vision (running group)
• Consider bringing “Step Into Africa” to Cambridge later in 2010
• Potential to launch a malnutrition project in Kivuruga
• Possible return trip to Rwanda in November 2011
• Descriptions of various leadership positions needed (board, leadership team, admin, events)
• How  we could get momentum in churches, businesses, schools & throughout community
• Distribution of sponsorship summary and children available to sponsor

We will only “bite off” the efforts we think we can “chew” — whatever we do, we will do well.  We need your input to determine the most effective ways to raise awareness, funding, and sponsorship.  We have a volunteer to watch kids in another room during the meeting; if this is something you wish to utilize please let me know so I can make sure we have enough help.  If you can’t make it, we’d still love your input.

For those of you not aware, there is a Facebook group called Our Response which is a great way to stay current with what is happening.  You can also check out our blog at ourresponse.wordpress.com (which includes accounts from our November trip to Rwanda).  We will be making an effort to communicate updates in a variety of ways (Facebook, email, and paper mail) to keep you up-to-date.  If you are receiving this update via U.S. Mail and you have an email address, please provide that so we can reduce all expenses.

Thanks so much!  I’m excited to join you in this effort to transform Kivuruga, Rwanda and our community.

Steve Fredlund, Director of Our Response

stevefredlund@gmail.com — Cell: 651.587.5435 — Home: 651.674.8507

Ourresponse.wordpress.com