Walk Now for Autism Speaks!

Location: Soldier Field

Date: Saturday, May 18, 2013; 6:00-11:00 am

I had been to Soldier Field for various events, but never had I an opportunity to step on to the actual playing surface.  That all would change today, since my assignment for this event would take me inside the stadium and I must admit that I was looking forward to that.  What I wasn’t looking forward to was the 6 am reporting time and there was very little light when I arrived for my check-in.  As they tried to locate my information, there was some confusion regarding my role and they thought that I would be handing out t-shirts at the entrance.  There was no way that I was going to miss out on going inside and so I clarified what my duties were and almost reluctantly they sent me inside to locate someone called Katrina.  I found her on her way out since she had realized that she had parked in a wrong spot and she asked me to continue her task while she took care of the car.  The task was to walk in the stands and ensure that the sponsor’s signs were secured to the seats and facing inwards, pointing to the field.  For this purpose she handed me a bunch of tie-wraps and some cutters to trim the edges.  The cutters she asked me ‘guard with my life’ and then it was up to me.

The 'reveal'

There is a strange, almost indescribable sensation that I feel when entering a sporting arena.  I remember years ago when my parents took me to my first sporting event and I was so excited that I couldn't sleep the previous night.  The excitement continued all the way as we drove to the stadium and walked through the gates.  The best part was what I term, the ‘reveal’ of the lush green playing field, nestled inside mammoth spectator stands and if I could feel the goose bumps just sitting in the stands, I could only imagine how the athletes must be feeling as they stepped on to the field.  I think part of the reason why I felt like that was because all this time I had only seen sports on the television and just like the players, the stadium itself had become a celebrity in my mind.  Years since I still get excited to go watch a sporting event live and it's amazing to walk into the arena for the ‘reveal’.  Back when I lived in Pittsburgh, I used to walk past ‘PNC Park’, home of the ‘Pirates’, and ‘Heinz Field’, home of the ‘Steelers’, almost every Sunday during my walk and while I may not have supported those teams, the stadiums were a magnificent sight and something that I miss visiting.  So this morning as I stepped inside for the ‘reveal’, I knew that waking up before dawn had been worth this sight.  

The signs facing inwards

I saw what Katrina had been referring to and walked through the stands checking the sponsors signs and while most of them were quite secure, a few needed a nudge in the right direction, while only a couple actually required additional tie-wraps.  While doing this task I kept staring at the field, imagining the view during an actual game.  I finished one side and then it was time to cross the field and over to the other end to do the same.  Walking across the same field where NFL greats have played was once again a terrific feeling and I savored it, taking several pictures from various angles.  I was just finishing the signs on the other side when Katrina came back and asked if I could help organize boxes in ‘The Village’.  While it sounded cool, essentially it was a tent where the various teams would come to collect their t-shirts.  Many people would be walking as a part of a team and there was a contest to see which team had come up with the best t-shirt.  These were the boxes with team t-shirts and our job was to organize them alphabetically so as to ensure easy distribution later. 

The entrance way that we had to guard

Once that was done, a man name Robert gave us our next assignment, which was to go to one of the 4 entrances on to the field, and guard them.  Well, we were to prohibit anyone from bringing liquid on to the green and more importantly, nothing with wheels was allowed to come in either.  They expected several sponsors to bring they supplies on a cart or trolley and we were to stop them and help carry to their assigned tents.  This was a directive from the stadium officials, who did not want tread marks on the surface. I went to the Northeast entrance with three other youngsters and then it was a lot of waiting.  The entrance led straight into the loading-unloading area and while everyone had been made aware of the rules prior to arriving, we did have to tell a few people and at one stage help some of the sponsors with their boxes.  More than the ‘no wheels’ rule, I had to point out the ‘no liquids’ rule to people.  To be quite honest, this was not making much sense to me since most people were carrying water and unless I am missing something, water is good for the grass, right?  But I have learned not to question authority unless you absolutely have to and so I just did my duty and to their credit, many people complied. 

The field was getting filled

Right next to our entrance was where the entertainment stage was set-up and so for the next hour, we saw each of the acts practice their performance.  This was fun to watch and I saw that a lot, in fact almost all of the performances, were by youngsters.  Teams of boys and girls or just girls came and practiced and some of them were quite good.  Robert came and handed us aprons with pockets that had pens, sharpie tie-wraps etc., everything that the sponsors may require.  Sure enough, the VIP tent needed a sign to be tied with tie-wraps and I was able to perform the handy-man duties.  I saw that the other three had our entrance covered and so went to find Katrina and ask if there was anything else that she wanted me to do.  She said that one of the other three entrances had let someone with wheels through and would I mind walking around and reminding those ‘guards’ about the rules.  Now, this operation had to be done tactfully since you do not want to appear condescending and keep telling people to do their jobs.  So I approached it as if I was out for a stroll and inquired if people had been giving them trouble.  This seemed to work and I came back to see that most of the sponsors were already set up.  In fact the field was now getting full with people and all sorts of festivities were underway, such as games and a kids play area.  I walked about the field and also the perimeter of the stands to visit some of the vendors and get a good view of the activities on the field. 

The acts were underway

Our main job for this event was to be ‘Sponsor’s Attendants’, and so I came and stood next to a sponsor to see if they needed any…well attending.  They were doing various activities, one of them being decorating nails with ‘Autism Speaks’ stickers and so it was a hugely popular tent and there were long lines with women wanting to ‘get their nails done’.  They also had a bean bag throwing game with a tiny net and I helped run it for the kids in the line.  While there were no prizes for getting the bag into the net, many kids just loved participating and my job was to encourage them and then get the bag out of the net and hand it to the next person.  In the meanwhile the entertainment stage was active and many of the performers, whom we had heard practicing earlier, were now doing the real thing.  One of the more pleasant surprises for me was to hear that some of the performers were actually diagnosed with autism as kids and had overcome tremendous odds to today be on the stage, and share their talent with all of us.  One gentleman in particular narrated how he had been told as a kid that he would never amount to anything and how he had proved everyone wrong by graduating with a degree.  It was great to see him as well as listen to other peoples stories, such as the guitar player who had flown in specifically for this morning’s event and not only had he taken time out of his schedule, he had somehow managed to secure over 360 iPad donations from people for 'Autism Speaks’. These people were upgrading to a new model and rather than trade-in, they had chosen to donate.  I know I have said this many times in the past but hey it never gets old: “Everywhere life is full of heroism.”

Pollock

We heard stories about Autism and what is happening with the research.  According to the ‘Autism Speaks’ website: “Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autism are both general terms for a group of complex disorders of brain development. These disorders are characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors. They include autistic disorder, Rett syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) and Asperger syndrome.  Autism appears to have its roots in very early brain development. However, the most obvious signs of autism and symptoms of autism tend to emerge between 2 and 3 years of age. Autism Speaks continues to fund research on effective methods for earlier diagnosis, as early intervention with proven behavioral therapies can improve outcomes. Increasing autism awareness is a key aspect of this work and one in which our families and volunteers play an invaluable role.”  This is why all of us were here.  People had come out in thousands to support the cause, including Pollock, who is a 5 year old service dog.  I asked his owner about him and she said that he is a therapy dog for kids with learning disability and she takes him to schools where he sits while kids read to him.  The cuteness of the idea is outrageously overwhelming and I told her that Pollock would be more than welcome to come for Chicago Cares’ ‘Pet Therapy’ project. 

My day was off to a great start

Soon it was 10:30 and people were ready to set off for the walk.  As they left the stadium, sponsors started packing up and I asked if there was anything that I could do.  Most had things under control and so I walked about the field and took some more pictures before heading out.  Today was a big day for me with an event later that I had been looking forward to for a long time.  But based on all that I had witnessed this morning, my day had already got off to a terrific start. 

American Cancer Society Making Strides Steering Committee Meeting

Location: American Cancer Society Office

Date: Wednesday, May 15, 2013; 6:30-7:30 pm

This was the first of our monthly meetings since the inception of this Steering Committee.  Unlike the last time where the conference room had been arranged like a lecture hall, today all the tables were placed around the room to form a square and it looked like a true committee meeting.  Adam was there along with some of the other ladies who I had seen at the previous meeting.  There were also some new members and now we were looking like a real committee.  As before, I was the only other male besides Adam.  We waited for people to arrive after their work day, but soon Adam called the meeting to order. 

ACS Offices

We started as before by introducing ourselves and then saying why we were doing this - being a part of the committee.  Almost everyone was directly or indirectly affected by breast cancer and many were survivors.  This meant that we were applauding quite a bit and soon it was my turn and I apologized again for not having an inspirational story.  I said I am doing it because I can and I want to.  There was no applause, but it was good enough for them and we moved to the first item on the agenda.  We started with a ‘Mission Moment’, which is meant to remind us all what we are trying to accomplish.  We talked about ‘Cancer Prevention Study-3’, which is a 20-30 year study for anyone who is between 30-65 years old and who has never been diagnosed with cancer.  After an online survey and a on-site visit for some lab work, all one would have to do is answer questions every 5 years for the duration of the study.  We were encouraged to publicize this and if possible, recruit people as well.

Next, we took another look at the committee structure and since our last meeting, some of the key sub-committee places had been filled, especially ones for sponsorship and fundraising; a difference which I wasn’t sure about.  I asked about it and Adam, who was taking copious notes, explained that while fund raising can be at any scale, sponsorship was usually at a corporate level.  One of the main things that we need to do in the immediate future is spread the word about the walk.  We talked about the various options available to us such as sending out emails to people we knew, posting notices at laundromats, gyms or in coffee shops such as Starbucks or more so in local ones where people tend to read notices.  Someone mentioned putting up notices in their building and us recruiting our neighbors.  I said that while I did not know any of my neighbors, I could mail everyone in my Company or post it on the intranet.  What I needed was content of the message.  This prompted Adam to show us the brand new website for the walk, where we could find the message content as a part of the email template to send to people for fund raising purposes.  I next asked about cross-promotion and boy, did I learn a thing or two. 

We could learn from this

My question was if we could promote it through other organizations that I volunteer with.  To this Adam responded that every organization has their own agenda.  But of course they do, hence the words ‘cross promotion’!  This surprise was nothing compared to the next one where I asked about the difference between various organizations such as ACS, Susan Komen and Avon; all of whom are fighting for the same cause.  Everyone immediately went on the defensive and started elaborating on how “We”, meaning ACS, does a "lot more than any of them”.  One survivor said that during her battle, Komen did not do as much for her as ACS did.  A few years ago I read a book called ‘Tribal Leadership’, which talks about different stages of culture in the organization and 'Stage 5', which is the highest levels of culture, is when you realize that your competition is not a particular organization, but the cause that you are trying to overcome.  Based on that, we had some work ahead of us because I failed to understand who was “we” and who was “them”!  I said that when anyone asks me the question that I just asked my intention was to stay true to the overall cause and then narrow down to what ACS was doing.  We cannot say anything bad about others, but rather say good things about ourselves. 

We talked about some of the targets that we could approach for sponsorship and promotions, such as 'Bears' or the 'Cubs'.  We discussed day of activities such as kids tent, zumba, photo tent and some free giveaways.  Someone mentioned having a cupcake tent to which another countered saying we should be healthy and serve something with less sugar, but was immediately overruled.  When it comes to cupcakes, resistance is futile.  The next thing was to schedule the next meeting and also discuss the August kick-off breakfast, which would be on a weekday, but early enough for everyone to make it to their work on time.  The final thing was for Adam to take us through the website and show us how to register.  We decided to have our team and next thing was picking the team name.  We tossed around a few till someone proposed ‘Saving Second Base.’  Ponder on that for a bit as I conclude this article! 

That night I registered and joined our team.  My account from last year, when I was a walker, was still active.  I remember that day in October, when I did the walk; never imagining back then that a year later, I would actually be on the committee that organized this year’s event.  We are still learning how do this and what our roles and responsibilities are.  But we are all enthusiastic and while we may still have some ways to go before we attain ‘Stage 5’, as described in ‘Tribal Leadership’, we were at least all pulling in the same direction. 

Goody Bag Packing with Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

Location: The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

Date: Tuesday, May 14, 2013; 6:00-8:00 pm

My only visit to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society had been my very first project with One Brick.  So while it wasn’t quite the prodigal son returning, it felt good to be back where it had all begun.  As I arrived at the location, my first problem was finding the right door to enter.  Once that minor hurdle was crossed, I ran into a security guard who was determined to perform his duty to the extreme and refused to let either me or other volunteers through, till someone from the Leukemia Society came down to find us.  Now this is good on principle and a policy followed by many buildings in the city.  But the problem I had was that the gentleman refused to call the offices himself, and wanted us to do so.  This meant that I had to locate the number from One Brick email that Laura - our EM - had sent and after reaching the voicemail a couple of times, Regina from the society came down.  We went upstairs and besides Laura, there were other familiar faces like Amanda, Dianna, April and Jake. 

The green bags

Our task tonight was to stuff goody bags for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s upcoming Grand Finale Gala of the ‘Man and Woman of the Year Campaign’.  According to the project description on One Brick website, ‘Every year candidates throughout the country accept the challenge to vie for the title of Man & Woman of the Year. After ten weeks of campaigning, the announcement of the Man & Woman of the Year is announced among community supporters at the Grand Finale Celebration. During year following the Finale, the Man & Woman of the Year winners are profiled in local press, advertisements, and other announcements. Pediatric Honored Heroes are asked to participate as our local Boy & Girl of the Year, to motivate and encourage the candidates and their supporters to help in Creating a World Without Cancer’.  There was a long table in the center of the room and we would be walking around it, filling a green bag with things such as, Chicago magazine, some gift vouchers for places such as 'Paris Club' brunch and some winery, pen and notepad, water bottle, shoe horn, letter opener, beer sleeve, nail polish and a protein bar.  Some of the items were at our discretion - such as choosing between either a letter opener or a beer sleeve - but the rest was just a mechanical job and all we had to ensure, was not tripping over a wire connecting the TV to the wall plug point.  I was about to mention that Wilson would call that a hazard and lo and behold, the man showed up!

The nail polish

We all gave Wilson a hard time for being late, but he had just wrapped up the AIC program and had rushed here.  Since we were just going around the table over and over, we did not have much of a choice but to converse; not that it was a chore since everyone is quite friendly, especially Amanda.  I hadn't see her in some time, but we caught up about all that we had been up to and since we both love Classic movies, chatted about the greats of Hollywood like Jimmy Stewart, Bogart, Cary Grant and Billy Wilder.  I can talk about movies till the cows come home with a fellow aficionado and we could have talked for hours about movies like, ‘Philadelphia Story’, ‘Sunset Boulevard’, Some Like It Hot’ and ‘Double Indemnity’.  Wilson knew all of these and got in the conversation as well.  Seriously, when does he have the time?

I chatted with April and learned that she was going to volunteering at ‘Chicago Green Festival’ this coming Sunday, something that I had signed up for as well.  Laura mentioned that I was going to get trained as an Event Coordinator soon by Polly, who leads One Brick Recruitment and Training program.  That was happening a week from Thursday, the same evening that my building was having a patio party with Cuban themed menu and drinks.  I told Laura that such was my commitment to One Brick that I was giving up Mojito’s and Cuban sandwiches for something called ‘Coffee With Polly!’  We were still going round and round and I asked Wilson to keep track of how much we had walked that evening.  As I put the nail polish in the same gift bag as a men’s shoe horn, something didn't add up and I said both things couldn't possibly be useful to one person at which Wilson replied, “It’s for their significant other”. Of course!  How silly of me. 

All filled up

Wilson’s arrival did help speed the process because he was trying to fill two bags at the same time and when we ran out of water bottles, rather than removing one at a time, he just cut the bottom of the box and removed 20 at the same time by lifting the box around the bottles.  We talked about some upcoming One Brick projects including some which involved Beer and Wine, not that we as volunteers would be eligible to drink during our duty hours.  As we went around the table, soon we started running out of some things such as pens and then shoe horns and then water bottles etc.  Regina told us to put whatever was available, but soon it was apparent that we would just be left with the magazine and nail polish!  We called it a day for the bags and instead started putting the bags inside boxes.  My job was to tape the boxes so that they were ready to be shipped.  Soon we were done packing and as Regina thanked us, we asked her how the ‘Man of the Year’ was determined.  She said that one dollar constituted one vote and person with most votes won.  This led to Wilson asking the obvious question that I expected from him, “How much can a man of the year be bought for?”

We left after having walked several miles – as calculated by Wilson – and found a bar with outdoor seating.  It was a pleasant evening and it gave me further opportunity to chat with Amanda about travel and especially New England.  Dianna, who went to college in Massachusetts joined as well and we talked about travelling in the Northeast and I told them about my experiences in visiting Acadia National Park on a misty morning or having pancakes and maple syrup in Vermont on a chilly dawn or the cliff walks of Newport.  I recounted my favorite New England story of Thanksgiving 2006 when me and a buddy went in search of the best breakfast place in Massachusetts and found one on the small main street of Plymouth.  It really was a relaxing evening for me, chatting with people that I have grown to like, sitting in the pleasant breeze and being set adrift on memory bliss.  Let’s see the ‘Man of the year’ beat that.  

Job Coaching

Location: Open Door Shelter

Date: Monday, May 13, 2013; 6:45-8:30 pm

I was delayed at work and had to hustle to get to the ODS on time.  Eventually the cab dropped me off with a few minutes to spare and I went inside to see that Claire was there along with another volunteer, Chris, who would be leading the project alternately with her.  Two other volunteers showed up besides Wendy, who is a Director at Chicago Cares.  I had previously exchanged emails with her regarding other things, but today was the first time that I was meeting her.  She told the other volunteers that I was famous in Chicago Cares, having done most of the projects on the calendar.  I said that while I have enjoyed almost all of them, some like 'Garfield Conservatory’, I may not return to since I did not enjoy the environmental projects.  I prefaced by this by saying that ‘Garfield Conservatory’ did have one of the best Chicago Cares leaders.  At this Claire said, “Hey” and I quickly added, “Present company excluded”, at which we all laughed. 

Claire said that today we would be helping the residents develop Resume building skills.  We went upstairs and I immediately spotted Kallie from my last visit and asked her where her ice bowl was.  We sat down for the introductions and I asked Kallie if she remembered what I did.  She said she almost had it and when I said that I worked in the field of energy, she said replied, “I knew it had something to do with atoms.”  To this Claire said, “Everything has something to do with atoms!”  I always look forward to Claire’s ice breakers and today she gave us each a question.  We had to go around the room and had 30 seconds to talk with the other person, during which we had to ask them that question and also answer theirs.  Everyone was ready to begin and I looked at my question, which was “Which is the best book you have ever read”. 

The first girl I asked this question to replied that it was some thriller which she had not finished.  She then asked me, “What do you like doing on your day off?”  I said that I would probably sleep in and then would love to spend it with friends.  The next girl had also not read their most recent book completely and her question to me was, “What event would you like to visit in the past?”  I said that I was more excited for the future than the past and so couldn't really think of any at that moment.  Next I got asked what my favorite food was and I said that it was a sandwich since I could change whatever was in it.  The girl who asked me this said it wasn’t fair and so when in doubt, always go with chocolate.  To this she replied that if I only ate that, I would be fat.  The next person asked, “What is the one thing that you are most proud of?”  My answer to this has not changed since December and I promptly replied, “Being Santa’s elf”, referring to my time doing the ‘Believe’ campaign for Make-A-Wish.  The young man that I met next said that his favorite book was ‘The Client’, which is also a movie.  I asked what did he do first, read the book or watch the movie and said, “Good call”, when he responded that he had read the book first.  His question was, “How do you like spending your free time?” and while I replied, “Relaxing on the couch”, I really do not think I would be happy doing just that. 

My favorite book

This circle had finally landed me in front of Kallie and she had two questions to ask me.  The first was, “What would you like to learn?” and I replied that it would be playing the guitar.  Next she asked me, “Whom would you like to meet for dinner?”  Now I have been asked this before and I although I almost said, ‘Chris-in-the-morning’ from my favorite show, ‘Northern Exposure’; I replied “Einstein” – an answer which she liked.  I had finished meeting with the residents and while they wrapped up with the other volunteers, I had an opportunity to converse with Claire.  I asked what her favorite book was and she said that it was ‘The Prince Of Tides’.  Then she asked me what my least favorite food was and I said it had to be raw veggies like beets and cucumbers.  She said that she did not like pickles and I said that if we ever went out for sandwiches, I would eat her pickle! No one asked me what my favorite book was and if they had, the answer would have been quite simple. Its Carlos Ruiz Zafon's, 'Shadow Of The Wind' - one of those books that I look forward to reading every year and I don't just like it, I love it. 

The ice breaker was over and it was time to start the session.  I paired up with a girl, Sylvia and she was completely engaged in the coaching and conversation; displaying a lot of interest, listening and asking a lot of questions.  She said that she wanted to do journalism and when I asked in what area, she said either Sports or Healthcare.  Next we went through the handout that Claire had provided and I discussed with her the importance of having a good resume as the first step in the pyramid of job search.  We went through the various components that constitute a resume and she was asking me questions such as if it was acceptable to put the line, “References available upon request” in the resume.  I said absolutely not since it added to no value.  If you wanted to include a reference, do so.  Else it’s just a wasted line and space on a resume is a precious commodity.  I repeated my usual spiel on how numbers and quantification is very important and she understood that.  I also said that she should tailor her resume for the job that she was applying for, specifically including the key words from the job description. 

The fact that Sylvia was committed could be gauged from the questions that she asked.  She inquired about including extra-curricular activities and I said that it is fine as long as it is relevant to the job or towards establishing her character.  She asked about Computer skills and I said that she should definitely include those since all jobs nowadays require the candidate to have those.  She said what if she was applying for the job of a server in a restaurant, why would the computer skills be relevant.  I posed a counter-question asking what if the restaurant has another opening or something comes up soon that requires someone to have those skills.  Now I know this may seem contradictory since I had told her to only include things relevant to the posted job, but computer skills is almost a mandatory inclusion.  She asked if she should also include a cover letter in her applications and I said absolutely yes.  Cover letter is what gets employers interested in the resume and a good cover letter can help a lot.  One of the mistakes people make is repeating everything that is on the resume in their cover letter. This should not be the case and the cover letter should be more specific to the job that they are applying for rather than recounting the background of the candidate. 

Now that's a 'Super' resume

Sylvia was taking notes while we were discussing and it once again, demonstrated her commitment and willingness to learn.  Claire had given us three resumes and asked to find mistakes in each.  She could spot those easily, one being poorly formatted, other having an unprofessional email address of ‘supercutie’ and the third stating that reason for changing previous job was a better offer!  Then we saw examples of good resumes, one of them being for ‘Clark Kent’.  All of us had a hilarious time reading it and amongst other things, for his references, ‘Mr. Kent’ had listed Christopher Reeve, Dean Cain and Henry Cavil!  Using these resumes and our discussions as examples, I asked Sylvia to write down her skills and other activities.  I saw that she had a lot of volunteering experience and while that is great and something that may impress the employers, I asked her to tone it down if the job she is applying for is not in a non-profit. 

Our time was up and I gave Sylvia my email address in case she had any further questions or wanted me to review her resume.  I have done this in the past but no one has followed-up.  Oh well, at least I have offered.  I chatted with one other resident who said that his dream job was to be a bartender.  Considering he was underage, I thought it was a stretch and told him that it was not what it seemed and that once he was of age, he should go and see how much of a hard work bartending really is.  My buddy Kallie was nearby and I told her that since we already had a Resume for ‘Clark Kent’, she should make one for ‘Bruce Wayne’ or ‘Peter Parker’.  Never at a loss for words, she immediately responded saying she wanted to do so for ‘Tinker Bell’.  I laughed and said she should definitely look to Disney for employment.  We left after another great evening and the more I come here, the more I like this project.  Not only do we have a great leader in Claire, but now I am beginning to meet some fantastic people at ODS as well.  I would have never imagined this to be true, but Monday’s at ODS has become something for me to look forward to. 

*All the client's names have been changed in order to respect their privacy

Super Sunday III: Sunday Dinner In Rogers Park

Location: United Church Of Rogers Park

Date: Sunday, May 12, 2013; 4:30-7:30 pm

A couple of days ago, I had received an email from Chicago Cares warning me that my projects were overlapping and unless I took myself off one of them, they would be forced to do so themselves.  I responded by saying that I was coordinating with Wilson and that he was going to drive me to the next one himself.  I had copied Wilson on my response and he replied saying that the two projects were within 5 minutes of driving and we would arrive at our next stop before the main activity began.  So  we rushed towards the United Church Of Rogers Park right at 4:30 and arrived a little after 4:45; but with plenty of time to spare before the dinner service. 

As I finished washing my hands, Wilson asked if I had sung ‘Happy Birthday’ twice – a ritual that is designed to get rid of all bacteria on your hands!  We went to the main dining area, where the guests had arrived and Jody was assigning duties.  Wilson and I were going to be running today while we had an assembly line of servers ready to go, including Tash, who is becoming a regular at Chicago Cares events.  I walked down the line to see tonight’s menu and we were serving barbecue glazed chicken, rice with black beans, green beans, fruit salad, clam chowder soup and either cherry or blueberry pie.  As with last time, Jody would be directing the runners towards the appropriate tables and I was the first one with the plate.  Jody was at a table and when I got there, she said that since it was ‘Mother’s Day’, the women at the table should be served first.  It sounds like an appropriate protocol to me, no matter what day.

Mmm...Pie

The assembly line was moving efficiently and we were serving in record time.  There weren't many special requests, though one gentleman asked for nothing but green beans.  He did not want the rice or chicken or anything else.  I whispered to Wilson that he must be on Atkin’s diet or something, but we were happy to oblige.  Soon everyone was served and I moved to the kitchen to help with the dishes.  The previous time Wilson had explained the merits of drying using two towels and as soon as I went inside, he tossed me a couple.  Tash joined us and we started chatting about various things, including my day-time job.  As I explained the concepts of Energy Management to everyone, Wilson asked why a computer couldn't do my job, since most of it is based on data interpretation.  I said that decisions we make are sometimes different for each of our customers and not all conclusions can be socialized based on the output of a calculation.  This is true of most things in life and especially so in some of the projects we do with Chicago Cares.  Personal attention is critical and successful businesses and human beings are those who do not apply the same formula or behavior with everything and everyone.  A computer is programmed; humans operate on instincts and situations. 

Wilson had to leave for his Mom’s and another volunteer took his place by my side to dry the dishes – but with just one towel.  We talked about musicals and shows and when I told her how much I liked ‘The Phantom Of The Opera’, something she was not a fan of, we had a healthy debate on the merits of the show.  I have always believed that the more popular something gets, there comes a tipping point where people start disliking it because of its popularity.  It’s true of movies, shows, songs, books, celebrities, athletes and sometimes, even people!  The ridiculousness of this thought is laughable and I for one do not want to get into an argument with someone who follows this line of thinking.  If you do not like all of the things I mentioned because of their quality, I completely understand because everyone’s tastes and standards are different.  But if you teach – even convince - yourself to dislike because you want to be differentiated, well then you are missing out on good things in life and I never want to miss out on greatness – be it a person or a performance. 

The washing and drying was taking forever and at one stage Tash took over the washing duties.  The assembly line had 4 stations – Scrubbing, Wash, Rinse and Sanitize.  While Tash was responsible for the last three, our Volunteer leader for the day, Raj, was doing the dirty job of scrubbing.  He was a popular guy with the regulars and I could see why.  A great leader always sets an example and leads from the front – Raj was doing that.  After a lot of wiping, we were finally done, and so was the crew cleaning the main dining area.  I left for the train station and realized that this was the farthest North that I have been for a project.  As I came home to unwind, I reflected on this triple-header day that had started promisingly before hitting a few bumps in the road.  But then I had spent a wonderful afternoon with my friends at Pat Cowley House and learned something ennobling from them and Wilson.  Finally, I had an opportunity to serve alongside heroes like Jody and others in Rogers Park.  On this one day, I was on teams helping eliminate Cancer, Senior Isolation and Hunger – It was a Super Sunday indeed.  

Super Sunday II: Paint The Town Red

Location: H.O.M.E. – Pat Crowley House

Date: Sunday, May 12, 2013; 2:30-4:30 pm

Since I was done with my morning duties earlier than expected, I came back home for a few hours and was on my way to the train station when Wilson called asking if I needed a ride to the Pat Crowley House.  I was happy to accept and so waited for him at a street corner and sure enough, he pulled up with barely enough room for me in his car and we were off.  I asked where he was coming from and he said something about helping someone at McCormick place.  I told him about my experience in the morning and as usual he encouraged me to find the bright spot and I couldn't argue against that.  We were both doing two back-to-back projects and he said that he couldn't drop me home afterwards since he was leaving early to make it to his Mom’s for ‘Mother’s Day’.  It was nice that despite his fervent desire to try and help as much as possible, he knew his priorities for today.  I asked what present he had got for her and he showed me a camera. 

The Mobile

We arrived at our destination more than 30 minutes in advance.  This gave me an opportunity to play with Wheezy, who was the RA – Resident Assistant - Christina’s little dog and also chatting with Annabelle and Andrew.  Andrew said that he wasn’t feeling too well and he did look a bit tired, though his mind was as sharp as usual.  Other volunteers for today were Noel and Fran and once we had all assembled at the table, Wilson mentioned that the project for today was making a ‘Mobile’ inspired by Alexander Calder.  Making what by whom?  Now I apologize if my cultural knowledge did not extend to this, but although I had seen the things Wilson was referring to, I did not know what they were called, or who was the pioneer in that field.  Well, I knew now!

Wilson showed us an example of a Mobile that had been made by a resident the previous summer and was now hanging on the ceiling.  It was a beautiful structure and I could see why babies may be entertained by staring at the Mobiles on their cribs.  Wilson then pulled out his projector and we saw video’s on Calder’s life, art and then a fantastic one on his puppet circus shows.  We chatted with the residents – Mabel, Wendy and Jane – while this was going on and Noel mentioned about a Calder sculpture outside the Post Office in the loop.  Jane couldn't picture it and kept asking us where it was, saying that she’s probably been around this place several times.  I said that all of us may have passed by it several times without noticing, similar to Parisian’s and the Eiffel Tower!

And mine!

As we saw some of the bigger Mobiles in the video, Wilson kept talking about how it was about finding the ‘Harmony and Balance’ in one’s life, while Jane being a more realistic person said it was all about Physics.  I agreed with her completely, though I could see Wilson’s point, for it truly looked remarkable and was indeed a peaceful sight to watch these things glide through the air.  All this time Andrew was chatting with a girl who used to be a RA and had come to see him.  As I have always said, one of the reasons why I like coming here is because of the people and this was an example where someone had come back to meet with them.  As I went over to their table, I heard him talk with her about his guns and how he was still strong and fast when it came to handling one of those!

The video was over and Wilson wanted all of us to make our own Mobile and in doing so “find balance”.  Besides the balance in the sculpture, he was referring to finding balance in our daily lives.  I made a sorry attempt with some heart shapes and was really struggling to get the ribbons firmly fixed to the straws.  Fran and other made fun of my knots and Wilson said it was like trying to tie your shoelaces.  I said that that’s the reason why I wear slip-on’s, leading to another round of laughter, which happens a lot during this project.  During our conversations today I learned that Wilson’s family used to own a restaurant.  We asked what he did and he said that he was a bus boy till his sisters left and then he graduated to being a server.  We also learned that he loves to watch movies, though none of us could figure out when he found the time to do so. 

Andrew's sketch

While we were chatting, Andrew pulled out his sketch book and we saw a sketch of a woman which was the spitting image of the actress from the TV show ‘Cold Case’.  I complimented him, especially on how he had sketched the features such as lips.  He said that he usually started with the mouth and the eyes and called the eyes as “Windows to the soul”.  “Amen to that”, I replied.  Jane had brought some musical instrument which I had not seen before and it looked like a string guitar that you play by putting it horizontal on your lap.  She was playing it and was quite good.  She mentioned that she had turned the strings around since she was left-handed and I said she could have kept them the same and played upside down like Hendrix!  Jane is quite a musician and told us about her singing group that has been meeting every week for the past several decades. 

Wilson kept reminding us to work towards a balance and when I complained about my difficulties, he said that an almost blind man had made the Mobile that hung on the ceiling and so there was no reason for me not to do it.  I joked that since he was almost blind, his other skills and senses must be enhanced, such as dexterity in his fingers.  But Wilson was right; I was making a mess out of it and could have been more involved.  But I have always enjoyed the conversations a lot more and so was chatting with the residents more than worrying about my knots.  Annabelle had decided that the Mobile was not for her and so was making a dog out of craft paper – yes, a dog.  In fact, it turned out to be quite good and when she mentioned that she was going to throw it away, I said I would be honored to have it on my wall of souvenirs.  She agreed and so I requested she sign it for me. 

Annabelle's dog

With that safely in my bag, it was time to leave.  My Mobile had just made it to the second level and I abandoned it for this session at least.  Noel said that she was taking over the leadership for this project and that a wonderful thing since she is not only a talented artist, but she has the requisite empathy that is essential for a project like this.  It had been another afternoon of great conversations and we could have stayed for a long time, but Wilson and I had a project to get to.  Almost every project that I have has led to one lasting memory and today was no exception.  After finishing the work on her dog, Annabelle had had been busy making a card for a friend of hers who is a teacher.  I asked what the occasion was and she said that her friend worked tirelessly to help children and Annabelle wanted to remind her that she appreciated it.  I looked at the card and it said, “It made a difference to that starfish”, a reference completely lost on me.  Annabelle then told us a story about this old man who was walking down a beach and came across a young woman who was picking up starfish and throwing them back in the ocean.  When he asked why, she replied that the tide was going out and if she did not do it, the starfish would die.  To this old man replied that there were thousands of starfish lined up along miles of the beach and she could not possibly save them all or make a difference.  To this the young woman just picked another starfish, threw it in the ocean and said,“It made a difference to that one.” 

And her card

People like Wilson and Noel and Fran and even I have had fantastic experiences through our projects with Chicago Cares and other organizations. I personally, have always considered it a privilege to be involved and have an opportunity to contribute.  We often joked that despite Wilson’s superman efforts, even he cannot be everywhere.  Others compliment Wilson and me on the time we put in and apologize that they are unable to do so.  All of these theories and comments are wrong.  I have been told multiple times by people how much it means to them to have us visit.  Wilson may not be able to solve all of Chicago’s problems by himself but he does the best he can and also inspires others to do the same.  And I would respect more a person who gives a hour of their time each year to help someone with complete commitment and dedication, than a volunteer who logs hundreds of hours but is disinterested.  The idea is to focus on the one person, the one project that you are on and live in that moment.  Make a difference to that Starfish.  And if you really do that, you will understand the meaning of true happiness and peace. 

Wilson had constantly, almost irritating, reminded us throughout that afternoon to work towards finding a balance.  After listening to Annabelle’s story, I finally knew what he meant. And at that moment, everything was in harmony.

*All the client's names have been changed in order to respect their privacy

Super Sunday I: Komen Race For The Cure

Location: Butler Field

Date: Sunday, May 12, 2013; 6:45-11:00 am

My t-shirt

Yes, this was another ‘Super Sunday’ with 3 projects, starting with ‘Susan Komen Race For The Cure’ at crack of dawn.  Furthermore, it was ‘Mother’s Day’ as well.  I had signed up as a volunteer long time ago and there were multiple events going on, including a timed 5 and 10 K run, as well as something called a ‘Fun Walk’. There were several volunteering opportunities, but I couldn't pass up on something called a ‘Fun Walk’ and hence I signed-up as a ‘Course Marshall’  for this 1-mile walk.  It was a bit cold when I checked in at the Volunteer tent and was directed towards Sunny, who would be my coordinator.  Sunny was a very perky and enthusiastic person and since I was early than she had expected, she told me to walk around the park, but with a plea to come back! 

The festivities started early

Amidst the White Cherry Blossom Trees, Butler Fled was starting to buzz with activity.  The food tent was serving Hawaiian Bread and other baked goodies and while there were some game tents, the largest crowd was around a giant speaker and they were doing the ‘Cupid Shuffle’ at 7 in the morning.  This is what I call brilliant festivities.  True to my promise to Sunny, I came back to my waiting area but no volunteer was showing up for the 1-mile walk.  I told Sunny to go inform the main Volunteer sign-up tent and ask them to send us new signees.  Since we were waiting, I had an opportunity to converse with Sunny and learned that she was a nursing intern, who was visiting from South Korea for 9 months.  She had spent 5 months in New York City and was in middle of a 4 month stint in Chicago.  I was impressed that she had found time to volunteer, even during her short stay in the city.  She asked about my schedule and when I told her, she said that it was like a job, calling me ‘Professional Volunteer’.  I laughed and disagreed, thinking she should meet Wilson to be truly impressed.  I complimented her on her dedication and even though she said that mine was more, I disagree. 

We were still waiting for other volunteer’s to show up, and I chatted with another man who said that he had just come back from running in the ‘Hong Kong Marathon’, something that he wanted to do before he retired.  I said that he looked young and he replied that he was 55.  I said perhaps in body, but not in mind, and he responded that in body he was perhaps 85!  He mentioned that he does not listen to music while running, since there was enough entertainment around him and he liked observing and listening to other people.  Finally, Sunny came and directed me and 4 other ladies who were 1-mile walk volunteers, to a van.  There was a group of high-school kids in there and the van was going to drop all of us at different locations on the course.  The kids were volunteering as marshals for the run and were clearly excited.  They were chatting about eating Escargot’s the previous evening and referred to them as gummy bears with garlic mushroom flavor.  I have never eaten them and after listening to this description have no intention of ever trying them.  I told them that it was ideal since yesterday was in fact ‘Eat What You Want Day’, having learned about that in ‘As You Like It’.  Then I told them that May 18^th was ‘Pizza Party Day’ and this led to an interesting discussion since one of the girls had never eaten a pie.  For the rest of the journey we discussed the merits of sweet vs. savory pie and another of the ladies who was volunteering for the 1-mile walk chimed in as well.

Walkers to the left, Runners to the right

Me and the lady were to be deployed on lakeshore drive and our job was to direct the walkers along the correct path.  The tricky thing was around the corner and along lakeshore drive where the sidewalk was going to be shared by the walkers and the 10K runners.  It was a narrow sidewalk and there were some cones separating the path – left for walkers and right for the runners.  The lady and I separated and I was positioned right at the turn where the walkers and runners were to merge.  There was a slight flaw in the design and I couldn't see how we could keep everyone honest, without having more volunteers downstream.  My fears were realized when the mass of walkers started to come.  I tried my best to ask them to stay to the left, but these were groups of families with strollers and dogs and after a few meters, they started drifting towards the runner’s lane.  In the meanwhile the runners were coming down full-steam and had to yell out for people to make way.  I really did try my best, but short of yanking people to the left, there was nothing that I could.do.  I mean, these people were out supporting a good cause and they deserved to complete their walk in peace.  The fault lay with the organizers and the poor planning in route design. 

What really matters

Soon the inevitable happened and one of the runners went and complained, leading to one of the organizers coming down and reprimanding me for not doing my job.  Plus, he caught me at a moment when I was giving directions to someone, and said that I could spend less time chatting and more time making sure people follow instructions.  I told this ignorant man that he was welcome to join me and try; and told him that we could do with some other volunteers down the road to manage traffic.  Soon, the walkers stopped coming down the path and I could leave.  This episode had left a bad taste in my mouth and I went down to the Volunteers tent and told Sunny about the ignorant man.  She was apologetic, but just like the 'MS Walk’ as well as ‘ACS Walk and Roll’ from before, the organizers could do well to respect the volunteers who are trying to support the men and women who are out there for the cause.  Susan G. Komen institute has done some great things for Breast Cancer Research and according to their website, is a global leader of the breast cancer movement, having invested more than $1 billion since its inception in 1982.  The following week I gave a somewhat bad review in my feedback to the institute and they deserve better than my complaint.  In any case, besides my uncomfortable encounter with the ignorant man, the people doing the walk had enjoyed themselves and based on the turnout, we had raised a lot of money.  That’s the main point isn't it?  

Get a Blank Slate! Help at a Fundraiser for Tabula Rasa!

Location: The Shambles

Date: Saturday, May 11, 2013; 6:30-9:30 pm

Technically this would be my third project of the day, but the walkthrough for ‘Wish Ball’ shouldn't really count.  So this day doesn't quite qualify as ‘Super Saturday’, through tomorrow may be another story.  I had returned from UIC and worked on some of questions for an interview that Chicago Cares was conducting for Serve-A-Thon.  That completed, it was time to head to this One Brick event.  I took a cab to the location and arrived to find a dive-type bar which looked like it had seen better days.  I was sure that once again, I had managed to get lost, but heard some activity happening on the 2^nd floor.  I went upstairs to find a group of people gathered around the Karaoke Machine.  It looked like they were trying to fix it, and leading the effort was none other than your friendly neighborhood fix-it-all man, Wilson! 

 

The location was cozy

Our contact at the site was Chelsea and besides her, the other people there were her husband and two other friends.  They were all trying to fix the Karaoke and before Wilson got there, they had been struggling.  However as is usually the case, Wilson had it under control and it was ready to go before any of the guests had arrived.  Besides Wilson, who was the Event Manager, we had Jo-Elle who was the Event Coordinator, and 8-10 other volunteers.  Today we had all assembled to help ‘Tabula Rasa’.  According to the information on One Brick’s website, “Tabula Rasa provides transitional support services for juveniles returning to society from incarceration.”  Meaning Latin for blank slate, the information goes on to say, “Tabula Rasa is here to support, educate and guide 17-21 year old Chicago ex-offenders toward a life free from incarceration. We offer education and housing referrals, weekly support groups, one-on-one mentoring, individual and group counseling and life skills classes. Tabula Rasa clients also partake in cultural field trips and community service projects. We believe that our holistic approach to rehabilitation coupled with our infinite commitment to the client is exactly what this population needs to succeed. 73% of incarcerated juveniles in Illinois return to imprisonment within 3 years of being released. Without the proper transitional services, how can we expect these young people to succeed?”  Chelsea is the President and founder of the organization, and this was a fund raiser to support it. 

 

Snacks for the guests

Amongst other things like raffle, one of the main fund raising activities was the silent auction.  Almost every item had been donated and Jo-Elle had gotten a beautiful glass piece, which she had made herself.  I could tell that unlike some of the other fund raisers that we had done, this one was more intimate and more personal to some of the One Brick folk.  Chelsea told us that the previous year; Wilson had made beautiful signs for the event, all from the supplies in his car!  Our job that evening was to sell raffle tickets, at the entry point where the guests registered, and also by mingling with the crowd.  There were 5 prizes, ranging from ‘Chicago Sky’, Women’s NBA tickets, to iPad mini.  I was one of the raffle sellers and said that we would have better luck once people had a few drinks.  However, I needn't have worried; people were helping out and buying the tickets.  One guest said to me that he had already contributed to the cause, when I offered him a ticket.  It was all good-natured and I responded by saying that him buying the raffle tickets would in fact be the cherry on the cake.  He laughed at this and bought the tickets.  The gentleman said that he would prefer any prize, but the WNBA one and As luck would have it, he won that one!

The winners were being announced periodically and after this gentleman won, I was telling everyone that I had the lucky touch and that they should get their ticket from me.  This was in fact turning out to be true, for 3 out of the 5 winners came from my tickets, including the grand iPad prize.  In between selling the tickets, I was chatting with some of my fellow volunteers and one of them was Meghan.  She told me that she does art direction for pharmaceutical companies and design events such as ship inauguration as well as launch.  I asked her about the tradition of breaking a champagne bottle during the launch of a new ship and she said that each bottle is actually fitted with an explosive as a fail-safe in case they do not break, for it is considered a bad sign otherwise!

Jo-Elle's beautiful art piece

The party was on in full swing and the Karaoke machine was being utilized extensively by Chelsea as well as Jo-Elle.  Everyone was having a good time and I really liked the crowd.  These were nice people and almost all of them were Chelsea’s teacher friends, who had come out to support her.  I unsuccessfully bid on a necklace and Wilson was also outbid on Jo-Elle’s glass art piece.  But that was good since it meant someone had offered money that we had.  I left at 9:30, but it looked like the people were just getting warmed up.  I have been to some fundraisers, but I found this one to be more special, and I mentioned that to Wilson.  It was perhaps because none of the people there were as rich as some you find at such events.  But they were still trying to do their best to help out and were really having a good time as friends usually do.  I was happy to have done this and while there had been no Tiramisu like before, I had really enjoyed myself a great deal. Tomorrow would most definitely be a 'Super Sunday'. 

Wish Ball 2013 - Part 1: The Walkthrough

Location: UIC Forum

Date: Saturday, May 11, 2013; 1:30-2:30 pm

I was going to the ball!

I have been to some galas through One Brick, but nothing was more appealing than going to Make-A-Wish Foundations premiere fundraising event of the year – ‘Wish Ball 2013’.  It is the one night of the year when MAW celebrate their success by inviting the ‘Wish Kids’ and also host a black-tie dinner event to raise money.  To be able to attend, you either need to have a lot of money, or be invited as a volunteer.  Even the latter is not a guarantee since it is a very popular event and the volunteers are chosen through a lottery.  As soon as the RSVP opened, I was the first to respond, but that would amount to nothing and if I was to be picked, it would be through a draw.  Well, as luck would have it, I was picked.  I was going to the ‘Wish Ball’.  The name alone conjures up a magical image. 

Even 'Brooks Brothers' were in the act

The first task was to arrange for a black suit or tuxedo.  Since I owned neither, I had to go shopping one afternoon for a black suit, complete with a black tie.  I managed to find the right one, though I still required a white shirt and so stopped by ‘Brooks Brothers’ on Michigan Avenue.  As soon as I entered the store, I saw a poster with a ‘Make-A-Wish’ sign; since they were raising money for MAW as well and somehow it felt appropriate that I wear their shirt to the event.  The shopping done weeks before the event, the next thing was to wait for my assignment.  That was announced the week before and I was supposed to be….the coat check person.  Having served in that role at a One Brick event, I knew that it would involve a lot of waiting around and not much mingling.  Plus, my duty was for the second shift that was only supposed to start at 8:30 pm.  I wrote to Julie, the volunteer coordinator, and told her that I was willing to come earlier and contribute in other areas - something that she appreciated a lot and thanked me for my initiative.  Plus, she said that she would take me up on my offer and find me some other tasks – perhaps only because I told her that I had purchased a new suit and wanted to get maximum mileage from it!

All the volunteers were asked to sign-up for one of the three mandatory walkthrough sessions prior to the main event, and I had chosen this Saturday.  It was at UIC Forum, the same place where the Ball was going to be held.  It was also UIC’s graduation day and so not only did we have limited time for the walkthrough, the entire place was crowded with students.  As I went inside I saw Michelle, whom I had met at an earlier MAW event and with whom I had stayed in touch.  Her wish partner Sid was also there and he appeared to be a jovial person.  While we waited for the organizers to get settled, Michelle and I talked about the previous year’s event, which she had attended and what we could expect this year.  We were all called to attention and told that this year the theme of the Ball would be ‘Superheroes’ and the 6 invited ‘Wish Kids’ would be all dressed in a cape.  Each of them would have a volunteer as an escort and those volunteers would be called ‘Wish Ambassadors’.  Their job would be to accompany the kids throughout the evening, especially when they helped the sell raffle tickets.  Being a ‘Wish Ambassador’ is something that I want to do for next year, meaning that I should do everything to impress Julie this year! 

Not ready for a ball at all

The organizers went over the evening’s agenda, which included a stand-up comedy routine by the chief celebrity guest, Martin Short.  It also had a performance by ‘CircEsteem’ and I was the only person amongst the volunteers, who had heard of them; having seen a performance just recently.  But for me, the highlight of the evening was going to be a speech by two parents, who had lost their son; and about his wish to meet Steve Carell on the set of the TV show, ‘The Office’.  The mom was now a ‘Wish Granter’ herself and was going to share the story with everyone present.  After discussing the agenda, all of us were taken to the grand ballroom and it looked like a high school gymnasium with stands and chairs.  Julie promised that it would clean up very well and magically transform into a ballroom worthy of the occasion.  With this, the walkthrough was over and once again I told Julie that I would be available to come earlier.  As I left UIC, with a week to go for the actual event, I realized how fortunate I was to have been invited to volunteer and if that meant sitting by the coat-check room for 3 hours, so be it.  At least I would be one of the most well-dressed coat-check people to have come to UIC!