I Am Going To Laos

Through a generous donation to my Laos travel fund from a couple of dear friends who believe in what I am doing, my trip to Laos is confirmed. Before this momentous event occurred, I was getting really worried that the trip might not happen at all. Now I can concentrate on the other major components: booking my flight, getting all my shots, and gathering all the necessary gear I will need for my trip, which is planned for early December 2011.

Chapters Indigo Event Date Revised

On June 3, I announced on my blog that a date had been secured for an appearance of Adopt a Village in Laos at Chapters Indigo (Bay and Bloor). A couple of weeks after that announcement, it was realized that the chosen date would coincide with the Toronto International Film and needed to be revised. Yesterday a new date and time were finally announced: Saturday, September 24, 2011 from 1pm to 2.30pm.

Information Display

On Saturday, July 16, I initiated the first in a series of information displays, which will be set up on select days each week for the next several weeks, outside my neighbourhood cafe, Java Jive. I decided to take this approach to give the organization a more visible presence. Such a strategy will hopefully encourage passersby to stop and engage in conversation with me.

The display is very simply laid out and primarily focuses on water filters. The secondary focus is the promotion of my 'Adopt a Village in Laos' T-shirts. Sign up sheets for both water filters and T-shirts are readily available.

New Twitter Follower

Last night I received a new Twitter follower notification. Much to my surprise and delight, my new follower is of Laotian ancestry. That in itself is amazing. More amazing is that this follower resides in Toronto. Even more amazing, my new follower lives right in my own neighbourhood!

Each time I accept a new follower, I always send a quick little message back thanking that person for following me. However, shortly after doing so on this occasion, I received an introductory reply from my new follower.

In an email today, my new follower explained that, "I was actually posting an event on Snap and saw your event post about Laos! Sounds like a great project.

I will try to pop by to one of your presentations at Java Jive in the near future. I live down the street!!

Thanks for supporting my motherland and I will talk to you soon."

First Batch of T-shirts Almost Gone!

I am absolutely amazed by what has happened in the space of less than a week. When I picked up my first order of shirts last Thursday, I had no idea that they would sell so quickly. I am happy to report that of the seventeen which I had available to sell I only have three left. Now I will definitely have to order more.

A week from this Saturday night I am planning to set up a small information table at my neighbourhood cafe, Java Jive. In addition to handing out literature and running a multimedia presentation on my laptop, I will have a T-shirt sample on display to show to passersby. I will also have forms on hand so that I can take pre-orders for the next batch of shirts.

The 'Adopt a Village in Laos' T-shirt

Yesterday morning before work, I picked up my T-shirt order from Has Marketing. Shortly after arriving at work, I opened the box and pulled out one of the shirts. I was absolutely delighted with the result and shared that excitement with some of my co-workers.

That evening I dropped by Java Jive, my friendly neighbourhood cafe, and showed one of the shirts to some friends on the patio. One of them had promised to buy one and, true to her word, she did. My first actual sale!

This morning while at the cafe,  I showed some of my other friends one of the shirts and, in short order, sold two more. Amazing!

To assist with sales of the shirts, I prominently displayed one of them inside the cafe.

With three sales now under my belt and three orders pending, this is a fantastic start to this new project.