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Quest Quote

“I now know that anything one can do on behalf of true self is done ultimately in the service of others.”

- Parker Palmer

Quix Pix

Every month we will share some of our currently favorite books, music, movies and TV shows.

Movies

Spellbound –  A documentary about spelling bees, Spellbound is way more fun than it sounds. If you’ve heard of any of the words that these kids spell you have a larger lexicon than we do. Our favorite was the “Do I sound like a musical robot?” kid.

Pocket Poem

Small enough to fit in your pocket, big enough to be of use.

Driving my Parents Home at Christmas
by Robert Bly

As I drive my parents home through the snow
their frailty hesitates on the edge of a mountainside.
I call over the cliff
only snow answers.
They talk quietly
of hauling water, of eating an orange
of a grandchild's photograph left behind last night.
When they open the door of their house they disappear.
And the oak when it falls in the forest
who hears it through miles and miles of silence?
They sit so close to each other, as if pressed together by the snow.

From the Founder

We’re excited about our newest charity team building program Give the Kids Music. We’re huge believers in the power of playing music together – we do it in our office to energize our meetings. And we’re big believers in connecting work with a sense of purpose, to tangibly see the positive effects of the hard work that we do each day. We just helped Nestle Waters do just that with our Charity Bike Build build-a-bicycle program for under-served children.

Give the Kids Music combines both play and purpose. First, the teams learn how to build and play instruments, choosing from harmonicas, guitars, flutes and percussion. Then they teach under-served children in their area how to play and give the kids the instruments to take home.

Micro Loans are a wonderful way for you to give with purpose this holiday season. Check out John Sorenson’s story of visiting the farmers in Vietnam whom he has connected to micro loans. His compelling story will be continued next month as well.

And finally, Happy 40th anniversary Sesame Street, one of our models for combining play and purpose!

On with the quest,
Rob Fletcher

Give underserved children the benefits of playing music! Give the Kids Music is a philanthropic music team building program that will get your team and community in tune. In a very short time, your team will learn how to play (and in some cases even build) a musical instrument – either harmonica, guitar, flute, or percussion instruments. They’ll learn songs and then be given a short tutorial on how to teach their new skills.

Then, it’s time to put those skills to the test as each work team of 8-12 people teaches children how to play the instruments they just learned! At the end of the program the instruments are donated to the charity or school, as well as instructional materials. The children walk away with a head start to a more fulfilling and...

For a complete program description, please click here.

Click here for resources to further integrate this month’s topic into your quest.

The number one reason why people give is that they have an opportunity. Micro-loans provide that opportunity to give in a new way, allowing people to make small loans ($25 and up) to individuals around the world. You get your money back after a certain time period. With Kiva for example, you get it back within six to 12 months. Then, you can funnel the money into another loan, donate it to Kiva or return it to your bank account.

I spoke with entrepreneur John Sorenson about a recent trip he made to Vietnam to see the effects of micro-loans he made possible there, as well as to help with unexploded ordinances left from the Vietnam War. John took a break from celebrating his 70th birthday last week to tell me his story:

Audio:
How John got involved with micro-loans and his trip to Vietnam to see them in action

Audio:
The positive effects John saw in Vietnam from his micro-loan.

Click here for the complete Quest Story and to read an excerpt from one day’s entry in John’s Vietnam Journal.

Take a quick break from your work and try these yoga poses from our Office Yoga program right at your desk. Click here for Seven Helpful Yoga Hints.

Stand tall and face a chair with either no wheels or with wheels locked so it doesn’t move. Raise your right leg and place your foot on a chair with your leg bent at a 90 degree angle. Try placing your hands in different locations for different benefits:

• Lengthen your arms at side and lower shoulder blades.
• Rest hands on thigh (not knee).
• Rest hands on back of chair.
• Switch legs.

I believe that the location for a meeting plays a key role in its success. A venue that is unique lays the ground for a memorable and productive event. I enjoyed leading a Charity Bike Build build-a-bicycle program for Nestle Waters at just such a place right down the road from our office in the Berkshires in Massachusetts.

My first thought driving up to the Cranwell Resort, Spa and Golf Club was, “this is going to be different.” The elegant mansion on the hill has a great view of the part of Massachusetts that I love so much. I was curious, so I talked with Chris Schaefer, Senior Sales Manager at Cranwell. Here’s what she told me:

“We’ve got a Berkshire ‘cottage’ (much like a Newport ‘cottage’) that’s been turned into a conference center. It has a lot of character – it’s not your average conference center.”

“We have 16,000 square feet of meeting space, a state of the art spa that was opened in 2002 with 16 treatment rooms and an 18-hole championship golf course. People love it – 80 percent of our group business is repeat. They come back.”

“The area has a lot to offer culturally as well – Tanglewood is close, as well as museum and theater options. It’s easy to get to: New York City is two and a half hours away and Boston is only two hours away.”

I recommend Cranwell for groups from 50-150 who want to reward their team members and make their multi-day retreat memorable. Chris can be reached at schaefer@cranwell.com.

Quix Tip

Share Your Favorite Song - Link Purpose & Play

1. Think about what your favorite song is. If it’s hard to pick a favorite, choose the first one that comes to your mind, or your favorite song this week.

2. Tell someone close to you, whether co-worker or friend or family member, what your favorite song is and why. Does it make you happy, relaxed, get you pumped up? When you share your favorite song you share something of your self.

3. Find out what their favorite song is and why.

Click here for the complete Quix Tip.

Statisticity

Q. What is the number one reason why people give?

1. Compassion for those in need
2. To give back to their community
3. Because they are asked, or presented a giving opportunity
4. They personally believe in the cause
5. They are affected by the cause

Panza's Proverb

"By giving quickly, one gives twice."

Sancho Panza, Don Quixote’s squire, was famous for his proverbs.

Spread the Word

This is your monthly word challenge. Identify the correct definition for the following word. Once you know the definition, spread the word!

Zatetic

1. Pondering, questioning
   
2. Blend of baking soda and cider vinegar, used to relieve indigestion
   
3. Rapid response
   
4. Witty; wry

Good News

Take a break from bad news headlines with this article, In Month of Giving, a Healthy Reward. When Cami Walker of Los Angeles learned three years ago that she had multiple sclerosis, her health and her spirits plummeted – until she got an unusual prescription from a holistic health educator.

Have you read some good news lately? Send us a link and spread the good news!