new t-shirt/new drawings

It's time for a new Change the Truth t-shirt! I requested some line drawings from the kids at the orphanage to use as this year's design. Here are some of the drawings I received. The "winning" entry will appear on the new t-shirt, which will be available in a few weeks. It's going to be something you will definitely want to add to your fall wardrobe!

change the truth update

There is a seasonal rhythm to life at Change the Truth. Summer is the annual Friendraiser/Fundraiser and follow-up. Fall means getting ready for the next volunteer trip to the orphanage. Winter is all about that trip. Spring is spent preparing for the next fundraiser. Running alongside all these things is the constant flow of raising funds and awareness, staying on top of things at the orphanage and keeping in touch with the very generous and big-hearted people who continue to cheer this project on – YOU!

It’s high time I bring you up to date on what’s been happening lately.

*The 2009 annual event netted slightly more than the previous year, and that is because everyone stepped up to the plate: the incredible committee of volunteers, as well as CTT friends who made it a point to attend. Net proceeds totaled approximately $35,000. This will enable us to continue our commitment to providing food, education and medical care to the children at St. Mary Kevin’s. THANK YOU! Given the current state of the economy and how that has affected philanthropic giving, I think we did quite well.

*Many people were out of town or had other commitments on the night of June 11th. Therefore, we are having another screening of Lynne Melcher’s movie, “Changing the Truth.” It will take place on Thursday, October 1st, at the Screenland Theatre in Kansas City at 7:00 PM. There is no charge to attend. Please tell your friends and family. Even if you have seen this powerful and informative thirty-minute documentary, come see it again!

*Speaking of “Changing the Truth”… It was entered in the “Filmanthropy Film Festival” and was one of six short films accepted! The festival will take place in LA on September 18th and will provide a great opportunity for us to spread the word about the work we are doing. Congratulations to Lynne for this well deserved honor.

*A supporter of CTT has offered to host a Friendraiser/Fundraiser in San Diego in September. If you live in the area, or have family or friends there, please let me know so that I can make sure you/they get an invitation.

*Six people have signed up to go to Uganda as part of the “Team 3” volunteer trip. Four others are getting closer to deciding if they’ll be able to. If you would like to consider going, I can send you the information and place you on the waiting list. Please let me know as soon as possible if you are interested. It’s a life-changing trip, as all who have gone before will tell you. The dates for the trip are December 19th – 29th.

*December also brings the fun and exciting CTT shopping night at Ten Thousand Villages. This is a great way for you to get your holiday gift buying done at an amazing store and still manage to help the kids at the orphanage. 10% of all purchases made between 4 PM and 8 PM on Thursday, December 10th will go to CTT. This will be our third year participating in the program. Ten Thousand Villages loves having us. They say we have the nicest supporters, and we also generate more sales than any other group!

*The children at SMK are doing very well. The twenty-three sponsored secondary school students are working hard and are always sending me notes expressing their gratitude. Douglas, our nursing school student, couldn’t be happier with his studies and his work on the hospital ward! He is going to make us all very proud one of these days when he becomes a nurse and begins to give back in a way he never could have imagined. Rosemary, director of SMK, writes me to tell me the children are happier, healthier and more hopeful because of us. CONGRATULATIONS TO EACH OF YOU FOR HELPING TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

*Don’t forget that you can shop for CTT items any time of the year. The “store” is chock full of beautiful beaded earrings, necklaces and bracelets, as well as tie-dyed fabrics, fabric bags, artwork and plates by the kids, CTT t-shirts and tote bags, and the book Kutuuka, which features my photographs from Uganda and artwork by the children. You can shop online at the website or contact me.

*Speaking of Kutuuka, don’t forget these important reasons why you might want to get a copy: 1. Ann Thomas, member of CTT Team 2, wrote one of the essays. 2. The artwork by the kids is fantastic. 3. The hardcover copies are almost sold out. 4. Because this project was underwritten by a CTT friend, EVERY PENNY OF THE PURCHASE PRICE GOES TO HELP THE CHILDREN AT THE ORPHANAGE!

Thank you for taking the time to read through this and for continuing to care about the precious children at SMK. They thank you each and every day. Even though you can’t hear them, please allow their very sincere gratitude to fill your heart.

good stuff

beginning:

I walk out the door of the condo and board the streetcar. It’s an orange one this morning. I ride about a mile, get off and then walk for ten minutes. Next I am in a forest, hiking up a trail that runs alongside a trout stream. It’s a decidedly cool morning, my favorite kind of weather: fleece vest weather.

On my walk home after my hike I go into the FOOD CO-OP. I have not been in one since two days ago, but before that I hadn’t been in one since the Willy Street Co-op in Madison, back when we were hippies. I load up on their freaking fantastic “Woman’s Vitality Trail Mix” (freaking fantastic = anything laced with chocolate chips) and continue my walk back home, eating the aforementioned delicacy. I see a sign in a window in someone’s house that says “No one died when Clinton lied.” Everyone I pass says good morning, and as I return the greeting I try to catch a glimpse of their tattoo or their cool Chaco shoes or, of course, their dog.

middle:

I open the windows of the condo to let in the cool air and get down to business in the temporary headquarters of Change the Truth (my small but mighty Portland kitchen.) I read my emails and am reminded why I love doing this work.

From Joan (young woman who is the first from the orphanage to have graduated from University and who now assists the director):

“Dear mama,

Thank you very much mama indeed I have no words to express your generosity. To us you are ‘stress relief’. I have learnt a number of issues from you:

You have taught me that ‘I shouldn’t undermine humble beginnings because a small seed always grows into a big tree’. Your coming to SMK was humble.

You have taught me that to try and fail isn’t crime, but failure to try is an absolute act of faithlessness. You have always tried to put things right where they have gone wrong.

You have taught me that achieving starts with ambition. I have to be ambitious like you because it’s good.

You have made me believe that ‘There is something good in each one of us’ That is trust you have towards people like us.

And above all you have made me understand that what brought us (SMK and CTT) together is stronger than anything that may try to pull us apart or separate us.

Your family must be proud of you.”

Next, an email from Douglas, who is being put through nursing school by CTT.

“Hi mama,

I have passed all the exams. I had a tough time during exams but I passed with Distinctions. Already I am in the second semester of the course. People at the ward are so wonderful! Thanks very much for every thing. I really appreciate you and Change the Truth, mama.”

When Melissa came back from her trip to SMK in May, she brought me a special letter and drawing from my good 12-year-old friend Nicholas (Nicky.) The drawing was a new Change the Truth logo, one that Nicky thought would work well on our letterhead and on shirts. So I made a t-shirt for him with his logo on it and sent it to him at the orphanage. Many weeks later, it finally arrived. I was then sent an email with a photo of Nicky wearing his new shirt. This photo makes me really miss him. The email containing it wasn’t in today’s inbox, but I open it every day anyway as if it is a new missive – just so I can look at his face.



end:

It hasn’t happened yet, but what it will consist of is dinner with good friends from Kansas City who now live in Portland, followed by an outdoor screening of short documentaries made by regional filmmakers.

Not a bad day.

amanda/arthur

I received this lovely email from a friend of Change the Truth. He purchased one of the limited edition copies of Kutuuka; those include an original drawing or painting by one of the children from the orphanage or one of my photographs. DB selected the painting by Amanda. I love what he had to say about it in his email:

"Gloria,

I just wanted you to know how much I am enjoying the Change the Truth book. Love looking at your photographs and the children's artwork. Speaking of artwork, the painting Amanda did is even more beautiful than the picture of it in the book, something that isn't always true. It is also beautifully framed.

Several people who have seen Amanda's painting have asked me if it is an Arthur Dove. I can assure you it will be hung in a place of honor and enjoyed over the years.

What you and the Foundation have done, and are doing, is truly amazing and I am happy to be a small part of it.

DB"

I plan on sending his missive, along with some samples of Arthur Dove's work to Amanda. Imagine how exciting this will be for her! In the meantime, take a look for yourself. On the top is Amanda's piece; below is a Dove.

assembling team 3

Sarah, member of Team 2

Unbelievably, it is time to put the finishing touches on the formation of the Change the Truth team that will travel to Uganda this December. We will again be at the orphanage around Christmas time; our dates on the ground will be December 19th through the 29th. At this point there are five volunteers (including me) who have made their plane reservations and five more who are inching their way closer to doing so. Of the former group, three are returnees.

This is the last call for interested travelers. There is a possibility that of the five who are still considering their options, one or more may not go, and this will open up spaces. Please contact me as soon as possible if you'd like more information about becoming a member of Team 3!

more plates

These plates by Isabella, Sam, Amanda, Catherine, Godfrey and Brian are among my favorites.

circling back to change the truth

Ooh, sorry. Couldn't resist.

When I went to the orphanage in December, I carried along several Make-It Plate kits so that the kids could make drawings that would later be transferred to melamine plates. These plates are the coolest. I have a whole set made by my own children. Once a year I made them do a plate drawing. I love eating my lunch on a plate made by Abbie when she was six and then dinner on one made by Max when he was thirteen... you get the delicious picture.

The children at St. Mary Kevin's loved the challenge of drawing within a circle. Some really took to it, including Willy, Brian, Nicky, Ivan and Annet. Their plates were among the best sellers at our Friendraiser/Fundraiser earlier this month. I figured I should share them here on the blog so that my readers can see how beautiful they are. If anyone would like to purchase one, two, a complete set for six or more (!) please contact me. They are $20.00 apiece.

I can't wait to return this December with plates in hand for all the artists who participated in this project. They will go nuts! Maybe even run around in circles...

kutuuka

Kutuuka, my new book, is now available at Photoeye.

In the Kansas City area, it can be found on the shelves of the Nelson-Atkins Museum bookstore, Leopold Gallery, Dolphin Gallery and Rainy Day Books. Remember, all proceeds from the sale of this book go to Change the Truth and will assist the children at the orphanage in Uganda.

The supply of hardcover books is being quickly depleted (only 150 were printed.) Of the 50 limited edition copies (which come with a drawing or one of my photographs) 23 have already been sold. So... get 'em while they're hot!

party pics: finale

If you weren't able to attend our event this year, do make plans for next year. You can begin that endeavor by getting on the Change the Truth mailing list. Please contact Gloria.

If you are interested in getting information about going on the next CTT trip to Uganda, that's another good reason to get in touch. Plans are now being made.

Here is the last batch of photos taken at the Friendraiser/Fundraiser. Enjoy!

Ann and Rob Thomas

Paula Shteamer

Jesse DeMartino and Amy Duke

Bob Tostevin, Sarah Deacy and Lisa Tostevin

Wynne Wurster Winter

Harold Melcher and Gloria

Kit Smith, Kelsey Smith, Brooke Vittor, Laura Gibbons and Vicki Reisler

Xavier, drummer from the Traditional Musical Society

Lee Winter at work in the Kajjansi Marketplace

Brenda and Lonnie Powell

Wesley Blann

party pics: part 2

Max and Eddie Feinstein

Dancers from the Traditional Music Society

Anna Svoboda-Stel and Paige Harper

Melissa Mosher, David Andre and Carol Joseph

Drummers from Operation Breakthrough

Silent auction

Abbie and Sam Brandao

Silent auction

Tom Corbin and Andy Forbes

party pics: part 1

Just as he did last year, my good friend Michael Spillers generously volunteered his time and talent taking pictures at the Friendraiser/Fundraiser. He said it just makes him feel good to help.

Did you know that helping others actually increases the amount of serotonin in your system? Receiving help from someone does the same thing. And unbelievably, WATCHING someone help someone else does the trick, as well!

We were all on a real high Thursday night, that's for sure.

Dancers from the Traditional Music Society

Mary and Sarah Deacy

Ellen and Stuart Eisen

Gloria with Lynn Kaufman

Dancers from the Traditional Music Society