New Year, New Posts, Same Mission (aka Changing the World)

The summer wrapped up with many changes for our global community, our NETwork community, and myself.

For starters, I headed off to college this year which is a major change. College is definately an adjustment: the workload, being away from home, sharing a room with someone who was a stranger 2 months ago, buffet style meals (Chinese food and pizza in the same meal minus portion control! That's a dream come true!). It's a major change but one I'm thrilled to have made.

For our world- politics, governments, natural disasters. It's been a buzy summer.

AND FOR NETWORK?

We distributed 1,000 bednets to the children of Hoima. Our vice president and co-founder travelled to Uganda and attended this distribution. I'll include a picture and a few links.


I'm so excited to talk to you again and you'll hear from me really soon!

It's May 24th and I feel like my life is starting to calm down again, like I can breath again.

That's the thing about taking on many responsibilities as youth volunteer. You need to keep up with them and it can be overwhelming. But with May wrapping up and June soon to follow, my lungs seem to fill with air more easily and my chest doesn't pound quite as much. I hope you're starting to feel the same way.

But, in my humble opinion, its all worth it. Its worth the confussion and exhaustion and all other things. Its worth it to be a person of conviction. It is worth it to strive for character.

We Are Young.

We are young. We are frustrated. We are uncertain. We are even confused. We are angry. We are disappointed. We are constantly finding things are not as we had hoped.

We are young. We are exhausted. We are overwhelmed. We are overworked. We are unappreciated.

We are young. We are discouraged. We are saddened. We are continuosly seeing the world is filled with cruelty.

We are young. We are spirited. We are, despite it all, optimistic. We are young. We find energy. We are hopeful. We are determined.

We are young.

We will change the world.

ART CONTEST ANNOUNCEMENT!!!

NETwork Against Malaria Weill Cornell Medical School Chapter would like to invite you to participate in our 1^st Annual Art Contest in Recognition of World Malaria Day—April 25, 2011. Our theme, NETs work Against Malaria.

World Malaria Day is a day to remember malaria victims and celebrate global efforts to control malaria. In honor of World Malaria Day 2011, the Weill Cornell Medical School Chapter of a national nonprofit, NETwork Against Malaria, is hosting our first annual art contest to help spread awareness of a disease that threatens nearly half the world population and claims the lives of nearly one million people every year. Most of these are of young children living in sub-Saharan Africa. It doesn’t have to be this way. When mosquito nets are heavily used, malaria transmission can be cut by over 90%. Although nets can have a major impact, few families in sub-Saharan African have the ten dollars needed to purchase one.

To facilitate learning about mosquito nets and the people who need them, NETwork Against Malaria has established an art contest. By creating artwork that nurtures understanding of serving others with malaria, NETwork aims to help students develop an appreciation of other cultures, increase awareness of the problems others face, foster the growth of the global community, and teach children how they can make a global impact. For additional curricular resources visit www.networkagainstmalariaartcontest.blogspot.com; for additional information about malaria and NETwork Against Malaria please visit www.networkagainstmalaria.org.

For rules please see attachment and information below.

Thank you for your efforts to educate the next generation.

Sincerely,

The NETwork Against Malaria Weill Cornell Medical College Team

Attached: rules

Contests Rules for participating children:

Please email all submissions to: NETworkagainstmalariaCornell@gmail.com Or mail all submissions to: NETwork Against Malaria Box #820 445 East 69th Street New York, NY 10021

Deadline: postmark May 12, 2011 or email by 11:59pm May 11, 2011.

1. Create an original piece of art using the theme: Nets Work Against Malaria. The theme should appear on the front of the work. Art should reflect the theme.

2. Use 8.5 x 11 inch paper (for both mailed and emailed artwork).

3. Make your poster colorful. Use markers, colored pencils, crayons, paint. (Do not use glitter or glue.)

4. Original art only. Please no stencils or coloring book pages.

5. Please label the artwork: For mailed entries: student’s name, school, teacher, grade must be written on the back of the paper.

For emailed entries: The art should be scanned or photographed. Student’s name, school, teacher, grade must be included in the name of the file in the format: FirstNameLastName.School.Teacher.Gr(grade number) (e.g. JaneDoe.WeillCornell.MrsDoe.Gr8). Please submit files in .GIF, .JPEG, or .PDF format.

6. Prizes will be awarded to 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, and honorable mention winners in each division.

7. The divisions are as follows: grades K-1, 2-3, 4-5, 6-8,

Winners will receive a certificate and a goodie bag with a NETwork Against Malaria T-shirt.

Teachers/educators of winning participants will also receive a NETwork necklace made with fair trade Ugandan beads.

Please mail and postmark submissions by May 12^th or email by 11:59pm May 12^th.

Questions?

Email: Vlad Thomas or Margaret McGlynn at networkagainstmalariacornell@gmail.com

Phone: Margaret McGlynn (618-581-6046)

For curricular resources please visit www.networkagainstmalariaartcontest.blogspot.com

for more information about NETwork Against Malaria please visit: www.NETworkAgainstMalaria.org

Fr. Mujule

Meet Fr. Mujule!

With one Bead

With just one bead, you can change a life. NETwork volunteers make jewelry using beads made by Ugandan women. The women go to trash dumps and get old newspapers and magazines. They cut them into strips and roll them into paper beads. The women seal the beads and send them to America where volunteers string the beads to make jewelry.

The jewelry made by our volunteers is sold to purchased bednets for Ugandan children.

We can do a lot with a single bead like save a life.

How to Save A Life

Saving a life can be rescuing a child from a building. It can be pushing a person out of the way of an oncoming bus. It may even mean giving a life for a friend. It can generous- donating food to an impoverished family, providing funds for medical bills, or giving a bednet to children in the developing world. Saving a life can be more simple. It can mean showing someone their purpose and dignity. It can mean helping someone realize they are important, and matter and their life is precious. It can be as simple as being someone's reason to live.

5 Way to Counter Animal Homelessness:

5 Way to Counter Animal Homelessness:

1. Support your local animal shelter. Not only will you inspire limitless loyalty from your rescue pet, you will enjoy your time with a remarkable animal. There's a place for dogs with distinguished breeding, but I promise a lovable mutt form the "pound" will fill your heart. Often, mixed breed dogs have better personalities and fewer health issues because they are not inbred.


2. Spay or nueter. Self explanitory.


3. Tag and microchip your pet. The last thing you, or anyone else wants, is for Fido to end up on the streets. If more people tagged their dogs, more could be returned.


4. Volunteer, fundraise, or donate to your animal shelter. They need your help!


5. Educate others about pet homelessness and pet responsibility. Together we can make a big difference!

A Dog Called Sky

So I have a story.

I have a dog named Sky. I'm not sure if his favorite food is chicken fat or bananas.

He's a pretty funny dude. He eats carrot peals like its his job.

Whenever I'm with Sky I can't help but laugh. He has this giant goofy face that always looks a little concerned, happy, and confused at the same time.

He loves people. And that's it. Completely. Totally. And unrelenting. And that's Sky.

The Weight of the World

After giving my speech, I took my place in the audience at a youth rally. The next keynote speaker rose and began his speech by saying that ours was the first generation in the history of mankind that had the ability to end global poverty. For a moment I had such a high, such a great feeling of purpose, dedication, and hope that I could hardly keep from running laps around the rally. What he said next sobered me up pretty quickly. "What a grave responsibility." He looked at the group with heavy eyes and no smile. He continued on to talk about our ipods and laptops and excessive spending. He went on to say that we were squandering our opportunity to save the world. I felt my shoulders slump back into their resolute, determined position. The way he said it made it sound daunting. Alleviating poverty would not be a success if achieved. It would be a failure if we did not achieve it. I found myself feeling slightly discouraged. After the speech I took a few moments just to think for myself. I sat there for a long time and finally something occurred to me. If we had the ability to eradicate poverty, it was because we had already achieved other things. We had learned effective farming methods, ways of getting water to rural regions, and improved health. We had the resources to educate children and the knowledge to cure diseases. The reason my generation, our generation, has so much potential is because for centuries humankind has been building on one anothers accomplishments. Because of what past generations have accomplished, our generation is in the position were we literally (arguably) can eradicate poverty. That's empowering. But, no matter the outcome of our work, we all have a responsibility to honor our impoverished neighbors. BUT the fact that we would honor this responsibility is, in fact, a gift. SO no matter what is accomplished or not accomplished, the generation can build on the accomplishments of our own. Hopefully we can eradicate poverty, but nothing could possibly diminish such an accomplishment. We all have a responsibility to one another, but everything we do is a gift.

A World Away

Our American and Ugandan volunteers may feel a world apart, but both are essential for NETwork's sucess. Pictured are some of our chapters in the US and Uganda. (Thanks Google for the map)

Sharing in a Simple Project

"Last wish from a little 12 year old boy dying of terminal cancer. He lives in Neola, Iowa. His last wish is to receive one million cards in the mail. I think we can make his wish come true if enough people pass the word. It is not too much to ask for a 12 year old boy. One million cards. Let your fellow employees know and your churches and school children. We need to take the time to do this for this little boy.

Let's make his last wish come true.

His name and addressas published in the Ottumwa Courier newspaper is:

Max Low.

c/o Greg and Bambi Low.

P.O. Box 111

Neola, Iowa 51559"

This was sent to me via e-mail. I am sharing it with you now.

Being a teenager is hard. College, tuition- these are impending time bombs ticking from the time you meet your guidance counselor freshman year. Of course college is always the goal, the dream, the target in the sky. Of course from the very beginning everyone says, "I'm so ready to get out on my own, so ready to find my own way." We beg for Independence. If its denied, sometimes we take it anyway. We argue, we defy, we oppose, sometimes for no other reason than to show ourselves and those around us that we are capable of doing these things.

But we try. So hard. Everyday. We crave people telling us we're doing it, making it, being our best self. We try so hard and sometimes this trying is exhausting, overwhelming, confusing.

People say these are the best times of our life and sometimes we believe them- when we're with our friends on something that feels like an adventure. When we laugh so hard that nothing else seems to matter and when we wake up to find we were smiling the entire time we were asleep.

But usually we hope this isn't true. Because we 15, 16, 17. Because we hope to live to be 85, 86, 87. Because we don't want the best times of our life to be over before our life is even 1/4 gone.

And somehow I think we all understand, realize that the best times in our life, they're always before us. Because the best day of our life should be the one we are living at that moment. Because each day truly is a wonder, each night an escape and each new day more wonderful than the last.

An Ocean Away

Bridging the gap from your school to Uganda, can be simple by working through NETwork Against Malaria. Its phenomenal to see how far away your efforts travel in the fight against poverty and malaria.

This picture shows the distance between a fifth grade class from South Eastern Illinois who raised funds for bednets and the Ugandan children who received these nets a continent away.

Go the distance!

St. Patty's Day: Parades vs. Protests

Parades are someplace you bring the kids. Candy flies from float. Beads get tossed into crowds. There's popcorn vendors, loud crowds, unpleasant Johnnys, marching bands, goofy clowns, floats, and the list goes on and on.

Protests. They usually aren't someplace you bring the fam. Sure they can be quiet, respectful. They can be enjoyable and fun. But they're not really about celebration.

Parades= fun.
Protests= causes.

I am not saying we need to get out there and protest the way protests are viewed, but I do think we should find some middle ground. I am not really talking about political issue protests but on cause related protests. We need to find some middle ground, grow in our understanding, and realize there are many important ways to use our time- making our voices heard included.

Off the Shelf

Les Miserables by Victor Hugo is a great read for a young change maker. After Jean Valjean gets out of prison, one man's kindness is enough to turn his life into one of selflessness. Through kindness, love, and devotion he becomes a new man.

Jean Valjean is pursued by the ghosts of his past and one man who is determined to send him back to prison. Could Jean Valjean's compassion be so powerful that it could influence the very people determined to bring him down?

Another Ugandan Prover

You can't dig with a spade handle, but it helps the spade to dig.

For Them

It is more than a project. Service benefits real people.

For them take action.

My l...o...n...g Day

Today was a long day. This morning feels like a year ago and its only four o'clock.

Usually when I say this it's an extraordinarily exciting day: I started at five thirty and my head didn't hit my pillow until midnight. Sometimes I travelled, hit up an event, hung out with friends, and accomplished something major all on the same day.

Today was a long day.

Sometimes I mean it was an emotionally trying day. I felt drained. I was excited, demoralized, disappointed, and relieved. Sometimes it means this.

Today was a long day.

And I really don't know why. It was a good day- not an overwhelmingly exciting day. It was a consistant day- no remarkable dissapointments or excitements. It was just a long day.

Looking back on this long day I can't help but smile. It didn't look like an important day but it was a good day. I got to school early and helped plan an upcoming event. We went to service. I got back a test I thought was difficult (and did okay) and took a test that really was difficult (and hoped I did okay). I ate lunch with great friends, learned a couple of new things, came home and worked on NETwork stuff and sat down trying to think of something to blog about.

So yeah- today was a long day. It wasn't exceptionally exciting or exceptionally emotionally trying, but it WAS exceptional- because I had fun and learned and suceeded and struggled and accomplished and laughed and just loved being me today.

And the funny thing: its only four o'clock.

Shout out to some awesome volunteers!

Thanks so much Rachel, Donyelle, and Nate!

DYC Weekend

NETwork Against Malaria supporters are prepping for this weekend with beads, baskets and a couple bottles of caffine. We're headed off to the Dioceasan Youth Conference to share our wares and our story with teenagers from across southern Illiois. Our goal: Walk away with a few bucks, a few more pieces of jewelry, and a bunch more volunteers. Cross your fingers and we may even get a chapter out of the weekend.

So this weekend is about youth empowerement and NETwork-ing. It's about meeting people and inspiring people and causing them to take action. It's about showing people the faces of Ugandan children and challenging them not to look away, not to ignore, not to forgot. It's about helping people realize that although we're an ocean away there is so much we can do for those smiling children.

Off the Shelf

As you may know I think picture books say in just a few words what many poigniot novels say in a few hundred pages. As a book junkie I think lots of great longer books deserve more attention but the most unsong literature of all are the books with illustrations.

Check out this breif bedtime read which is sure to make you smile, think of another, and, hopefully, take action.

The Quilt Maker's Gift

My Ironic Dog

My dog's name is ironic. Actually, that's how I learned that word.
"Nice dog," someone would say. "What's his name?"
"Snowman," I'd say while beaming at the black dog. "It's ironic."
The truth is, anyone who said that my dog was a "nice dog" was really just a nice person. He was horrible.
I was in third grade with a border collie mix who knew not only that he was a heck of a lot stronger than me, he was a heck of a lot smarter to. We did 4-H together and he'd drag me from one tree to the next as the rest of the class heeled beautifully in a ring.
Around this time we were introduced to the gentle lead which I equate to a horse halter. It looks like a muzzle giving some ill-informed people the idea that at any moment the dog may attack. I could guide him by his snout and whenever he pulled it brought his head back to the right place.
Have you ever seen the movie Spirit? Ok. That movie. 8 year old girl. Giant dog. It didn't end well. He threw his head back in forth, ran in circles while we walked and made quite a spectacle of himself. Come to think of it, I can't really blame anyone for being distrustful of such a beast.
Eventually I gave up on the whole gentle lead thing. I still kept training him and working with him and laughing at him and loving him and thinking in general that I had the best, smartest, most beautiful dog whoever lived. And honestly- who's to say that I didn't.
The rest of the world didn't agree. Although he's ten now, he really hasn't calmed down that much. He's perfectly behaved when he wants to be and my increased body weight gives a little more resistance. We qualified for the state 4-H dog show because he decided one day he may as well cooperate.
When I'm trying to explain my dog to someone who thinks this crazy creature is unpleasant I tell them this story. Snowy chases anything that moves. Its his hearding drive- his instinct (not to mention his greatest passion in life). Anyway one day I come into the backyard to let him in and a mother and two baby possums are walking around our backyard. Snow is not chasing them or staring at them with his intent "I would chase you if I knew it would cost me in future pieces of string cheese" look. No. The babies would come within a few feet of my "untame" beast and he looked up at them curiously.

My point is this. Everyone- even crazy dogs- has a great heart. Lots of people missed the opportunity to adopt Snow from the shelter or get to know him later because they took one look at him and said, "No thank you!" But my advice is this- weather its a person, dog, elephant, or volunteer project, give them a chance. Odds are if you don't, you'll miss out on a great experience or, in my case, a best friend.

Meet the Beaders

You've heard a lot about and seen a lot of our amazing Ugandan volunteers and net recipients. Now check this out: http://networkagainstmalaria.giving.officelive.com/Meet_the_Beaders.aspx. These are just a few of the thousands of American volunteers. Learn about these young people. get to know them. Realize there are people out there right now taking an active role in their global community. Realize they are not that different from you!

Already involved in NETwork and want to be added to the page? E-mail me: NETworkAgainstMalaria@gmail.com and just answer the questions everyone else did.

Want to join these amazing individuals in their fight against malaria? Well don't just sit there GET INVOLVED!

Inspirational Leadership Quote

"Go to the people. Learn from them. Live with them. Start with what they know. Build with what they have. The best of leaders when the job is done, when the task is accomplished, the people will say we have done it ourselves. "
-Lao Tzu

Thanks for the penguin Flicker

Gumballs for Change

I first saw this video on GenV Youth Venture. It's really cool, inspirational, and well done. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Check this Out!

Check out this really cool approach to malaria prevention!
This is an article from the BBC.
Jumping spiders with a blood lust for anopheles mosquitoes and a strange passive obsession with gym socks. This is the stuff insect horror movies are made of!

What Can You Do?

• Donate
• Buy jewelry and t-shirts
• Start your own NETwork Against Malaria Chapter
• Have a jewelry drive
• Help NETwork Against Malaria make jewelry
• Shovel snow, water flowers, or rake leaves for donations
• Invite NETwork to talk at your school
• Use our Grade school curriculum to teach your class
• Sell lemonade on your street corner
• Host a beading event
• Organize a bake sale
• Plan a benefit concert
• Collect Office Supplies- Paper, staplers, software, cds, DVDs, cameras, etc.
• Mail us your old cell phones to recycle
• Host a Battle of the Bands
• Set up a tournament
• Customize T-shirts for events in your community
• Have an art show and sell your beautiful work
• Collect Change at your school, church, or sports games
• Organize a competitive penny drive or donation collection
• Sell t-shirts and jewelry
• Design promotional materials
• Write for the newsletter
• Collect pledges for a 5k, marathon, or sports event (i.e. a nickle per basket/ three dollars per mile)
• Give presentations to class mates, churches, youth groups, etc.

Think of your own ideas. Fresh ideas are always welcome. Volunteering is more fun if you personalize it and do what you love.

Have fun with NETwork. Volunteering and saving lives should be things you enjoy!
We Can't Wait to Hear from you: NETworkAgainstMalaria@gmail.com




**Please e-mail NETworkAgainstMalaria@gmail.com for a copy of the curriculum.

Never Under Appreciate

While frantically searching for notes from my sophomore year, I found my old box of grade school memories under my bed. I smiled at the ridiculous smiling alien-giraffe-bus thingy staring up at me and sat down on the floor. It was late and nothing I needed to do that night was going to go away, but that didn't really matter. I pulled out the "best" stories I had written. Most of them were written on "T0-DO" pads and scraps of napkins. I saw my first ever fast facts test that I finished and got them all correct on. My teacher had failed to put on a sticker, so I had drawn one on myself. I saw some ridiculous looking people, objects that were either flowers or balls, poems, projects, and tests. However, most of the things I pulled out were gifts.

They were thank you cards from my teachers, birthday cards from my grandparents, and "artwork" from my sisters. They were pictures of me and friends glued onto construction paper, short poems that rhymed my curly hair with things like chair, and lots butterflies and dogs. Once each person in my class wrote me "Get Well Soon" cards and I laughed at all the creative was to spell simple words.

Even- no especially- when I was little I understood the value of notes and thoughtful gifts. I'm sure some of those people gave me stuffed animals at birthday parties, but those weren't the things I had the foresight to keep. Even then it was the simple things that really mattered.

So here's my point. Every person out there can make a card. Every person out there can do one simple thing to make someone's life better. As I put away all the stuff and kept searching for those darn notes I was grateful that I had this box filled with meaningful things from people who cared for me. I hoped that someone had something from me in a box. I hoped I taken the time to make sure someone else knew how much I cared for them.
This is my challenge to you and myself. Fill as many "boxes" for as many people as you can. It doesn't have to be posters or artwork. Just let them know that you care.

Another Ugandan Proverb

"He who loves you, loves you with your dirt."

My Dad's Favorite Tie

My dad just might be the most "boring man." He only wears blue or black shirts, wears the same pants in rotation, and prefers to stay home than go out. For Christmas, he gave my sisters and I a tie and said, "This is what I want." We walked into the store where they said they hadn't carried that tie for years.

My dad is pretty darn one of a kind. I don't really know how to explain that. Come to my house sometime, observe and you'll know right away.

My point is this, even my dad's predictabilities make him unique. His clothes, his ties, his laughs, his jokes- sometimes he annoys me and purposely embarrasses me. Mostly I'm proud of him and love him and laugh at him.

Sometimes we all appear to be boring and sometimes we appear extraordinary. But even the boring part is truly extraordinary. Because we are so "darn one of a kind" we each have something unique to offer.

So what can you do with your something?

A Ugandan Proverb

"It is no good asking the spirits to help you run if you don't mean to sprint."

What can you do with what you have?

Video from August 2nd Distribution

During this distributino bednets were distributed to schools and women's groups. Check out our newest video of the kids receiving their nets!

Small Town Big Team, Small People Big Dream

As a personal St. Louis Rams' fan, the last few post seasons have been pretty slow for me- its been a rough couple of years. This year though, things have been a lot better. Post season play I embraced my Wisconsin roots and pulled on the cheese head.

I think the real reason I really like Green Bay is the size of the city. There's about 100,000 people who call Green Bay home. It's not quite small town, rural but it also isn't concrete country. The idea that a fan-owned team that calls home a city of 100,000 can claim the biggest title in the nation is pretty cool.

The same principle applies to volunteerism. A small group of people can make a major difference. With commitment and passion you can overcome anything. There's no stopping you- Get Out There!

There may not be a convertible on the otherside but you may find something even better!

An Inspirational Quote

"A gentleman is one who puts more into the world than he takes out."
-George Bernard Shaw



What will your legacy be?

George Clooney Gets Malaria

George Clooney, the famous actor, is now added to our list of famous people with malaria. He contracted his disease while volunteering in the Sudan.

Bednet Distribution October 2010

See your impact on the lives of those on the other side of the world!

Keep up the great work!

The Faces of NETwork Against Malaria

Take a look at some of the many impacted by NETwork Against Malaria. This collage was made in 2009.

Volunteering

As I mentioned before I'm at a children's hospital for senior service and right now I'm home sick. This is the first time I've chosen to stay home sick since I had the stomach flu freshman year. And do you know what the worst part is- I don't want to stay home. Some of my favorite kids are going home today and I don't even get to say goodbye.

Wow. I just totally twisted the purpose of volunteering. I made it about me- what I wanted. I want to say goodbye to these kids. I should be excited out of my mind they're going home(which I am) but I should also be happy that I stayed home and didn't get them sick.

It can be really easy to make volunteering about you- about how you feel. "I feel good when I help someone." "I love to feel like I'm making a difference." "I feel like volunteering has taught me a lot and opened doors."

Yes! These are good things- good feelings. And its fine and normal and healthy to have good feelings and to like good feelings and be motivated by good feelings. Let's face it- these may be some of the best good feelings out there to be motivated by.

BUT I have to keep in mind that volunteering is about putting others first, attempting to fix problems in our communities, and making an impact. THESE things are more important than feelings.

Picture from Distribution Oct. 2010

Thanks for all your support guys!

THANK YOU!!

You did it!

Thanks for all the votes. Because of you, NETwork has earned a permanant spot on GlobalGiving.org.

Senior Service

For the first three weeks of January, don't look for me-or in that case any of my classmates-in a high school classroom. Instead of heading back to school, we head out to the community. People go to grade schools, day cares, retreat groups, etc. For me, I've spent my morning playing trains and holding babies and my afternoons playing ski ball and Sorry!.

I love volunteering at Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital. Each day I am amazed by the sincerity and optimism of the kids I'm surrounded by. Sometimes the kids are so enthusiastic and energetic, I forget they're sick. Each one has such a unique personality.

One more reason to volunteer- the people around you will astound you!