It's Confirmed!

Wow, beautiful!


Our event, Eat So They Can will be held at Timberland Heights on October 16, 2010 at 11am. For more pics, go to the Eat So They Can page of this blog.


I am looking forward to working with all of you in making our event the most memorable and successful fundraiser ever!

Outdoor exhibit

Here are some wonderful outdoor sculptures that I've seen here in Seoul. I hope you get inspired by these beautiful creations. And it is my sincerest wish that you all do something even more spectacular.

Woman and half a car

Stacked books

Left: sideview of sculpture
Right: front view of sculpture

Man and dog

2nd Round of Checking: AUGUST 29

ATTENTION

The next round of blog checks will be on August 29,2010.  Get your new articles ready by then. As usual, you can include photos, videos, essays, poems etc.  Just make sure there are at least 2 entries.

For groups that haven't been followed by this blog yet, you are required to upload at least 5 articles!  Blogs that have not been followed by this website have not been graded yet so make sure you submit your blogsites to me.

Update your blogs at least every other day, that's why you guys are doing this per group!

I look forward to more creative reads, views and videos of you!

Networking

TIPS
Linking: The Way To Go


The success of your event depends on your willingness to expand your networks.  For you to be able to connect with people and convince them to support you in your cause, you must practice being resourceful, inventive, creative and confident.

Here are some random tips you can do to start practicing for these desirable qualities:

1.  Invest on your social connections

This may refer to the connections you have right now, and potential connections that are available for you.  Sometimes, it is just as simple as talking to an old friend, an aunt or a far-flung acquaintance whose values are in great affinity with your cause. 

It is not that difficult.  Anyone can do this.

There are a lot of ways in doing this... you just have to flex your social muscles... talk to people, engage them in meaningful conversation.

It all starts with a 'Hi, how are you?'

2.  Add a personal touch

You may have a lot of ways of getting your message across:  posters, invitations, videos, brochures etc., but nothing beats a personal, direct approach to invitation.  It shows your friend that they are important enough not to be just a part of your "email forwardees". 

If in case that is impossible, write them a letter... with your hand and very nice (smelling) stationery.  It would be best if you hand it to them personally as well. 

If that is still impossible, call them, don't just send a text message. 

Take the time for them, and I'm sure they would find it be to say 'no' to you.

3.  Maintain a little black book

Your phone memory may seem like a good storage for your contacts' addresses but it would be better if you maintain a permanent address book--or something called a, 'little black book'.

This is important because not only is it a back-up in case, God forbid, something happens to your phone/ipod, but also an indicator of how large your network is. The more entries you have-the greater your social skills are. So hurry and get one (or make one) now!

4.  Keep in touch

Making friends is good, but remember to keep connected.  It's not enough to recruit people, we also have to keep them interested in our causes.  Keeping in touch, doesn't necessarily texting them forwarded messages every day (just because you have 'unli').  It means surprising them with a random act of friendliness when they least expect it.  For all you know, your thoughtfulness could be the highlight of their day.  Spread the sunshine and happiness around!

5.  Smile

By virtue of reciprocity, people smile back (they can't help it) when you smile at them.  This is the greatest secret in networking because this is the hook in which your social skills hang on. It's not only good for them, it's also good for you!

Rememember these five tips everyone, and happy networking!

Good Blogs (So Far)

Bravo
To all of you whom have tried and succeeded to make your blogs, again I say, "Bravo!"

So far, I am happy with what some of you have done.  Blogging  is a great way of practicing your skills in photography (and modelling), video-editing (and acting), writing (and storytelling) and just being computer savvy (nerdy)... all of these are in-demand skills in the future.

Information Management
Blogging is basic information management. You guys and girls are already doing this while you're young, and that's great.  If you get any good at this, you can have an edge in your future career because we are moving toward a generation of hypercommunication--everything is lightning fast.  In fact, you can even make a career out of it in the future!

But blogging is more than just writing stuff, taking pictures, making videos and then uploading all of this in the web.  It's as I said... INFORMATION MANAGEMENT.  This means that the information is wanted or needed that's why people go to your blogs/sites.  Managing means that there are standards that you have to set for yourself and your blog.

So, bottomline is, make your blogs as if you are drafting a masterpiece.  Make a standard for your blog and stick to it.  Put relevant articles, stories, poems or essays that you want to share.  Take artistic photos and exhibit them to the world.  Make memorable videos that has social meaning...

This could be a great learning opportunity for you.

Who knows... you may even like it.

Words of Encouragement

Here's something to think about... why do we have to do our main event?  Doesn't enough people volunteer?--specifically those who have money, time and energy?


Yes, a lot of people volunteer because they have all those.  We will volunteer, not because we are required... not because we were forced... not because of our grades... we will do it because it may be the best thing we ever do--without expecting anything in return.


Giving... is reason enough. It is time we start now!


Click here!
Statistics of Volunteering 


(If you have more words of encouragement for the class, post them in the comments below!)

Main Event: Eat So They Can

EAT SO THEY CAN is the worthy cause that our class will be fundraising for this coming October.  This project is a worldwide event that raises funds for:  women empowerment, child poverty and hunger, disaster aid, anti-trafficking etc (for more info go to: http://www.eatsotheycan.org/discover-what-we-do/our-causes) .  Our participation would mean a lot of support for these causes, so let us help the GVN foundation help others.

Since we will be pooling our efforts (all SFFG 20 students) in raising funds for this cause, our target is to raise P25,000 in this dinner.  Therefore, we need all of your support in terms of skills, talents, networks, ideas etc.  in making our event a success.

I will be doing the overall planning, but before I leave I want to schedule a meeting with group leaders (Pres, VP, Sec and Treas.) so we can discuss the details of the event.  I expect that milestones will be reached efficiently and on time.

Meanwhile, for the others, here are the committees that we will form:

Program

Responsibilities: the program proper, hosting the event, special numbers, prizes/awards, seating, documentation (photo and video) etc.

Food

Responsibilities: the menu, distribution of food, budget of food etc.

Marketing and Decorations

Responsibilities: decorations for the event, promotional materials (posters, flyers, stickers etc), selling and distribution of t-shirts etc.

Guest Relations

Responsibilities: invitations, sponsors/sponsorship, entertaining and taking care of special guests etc.

Logistics

Responsibilities: transportation of people and materials needed for the event, inventory of materials and people, attendance of sffg students.

There must be at least 5 members for each committee.  Members must work together to achieve their milestones, as will be discussed in class/by your group leaders.

Stay in the loop! Always check this site for updates about this activity.  Let us all look forward to this very exciting event! 

Polls

Make an Online Poll


Your next assignment is to make an ONLINE POLL.  The questions we want answered are:  


What is interesting about Forestry?
 -or- 
What do students think about the Forestry course (Cif and BSF)?


Formulate one question that would help you answer any of the two questions.  Make sure your poll question is unique and different from the other groups.  Don't forget to offer choices (2-5 only) and remember to state them clearly.


There should be at least 100 unique respondents from your polls, excluding all current SFFG students.  


The poll survey gadget must already be visible in your blog by Aug 15. 


Looking forward to your polls,
Fergie Gaga

Upcoming Class Activities

GROUP ACTIVITIES

BLOG

1. At least 2 entries per week. Your blog must be up and running (with already 2 entries) by AUG 15.

2. Follow the sffg 20 blog, so you can be updated with any announcements, reminders, resources, videos, photos etc. Link your blogs here as well:   http://sffg20.blogspot.com/

3. Author(s) must 'sign' their posts

4. Post only original works... if possible, do not repost or copy others' works.

EXHIBIT

1. The outdoor sculpture will be made out of PAPIER MACHE. Several materials can be used to fortify your sculptures: wires, plastic bottles, wood etc. But make sure that your work looks essentially like it's made of papier mache.

2.  It must be weather-proof (it should withstand the test of rain or intense sunlight).  There is a one-week time period for displaying your works.  It must look shiny and new for as long as it is displayed.  

3.  Ingress (setting up of sculpture) can start as early as SEPT 5.  The formal display or "opening" of the exhibit, will be on SEPT 8.  By then, your works will be graded by 2 other faculty members of DSFFG.  I will grade you during the last day of the exhibit (Sept 15)... so make sure your works are still standing and is still beautiful! 

4.  Make sure your sculptures have your members' names and group name on it.  Make a small description of your work and type it in a 1/2 index card (index card should be UNRULED-- meaning no LINES).  

5.  Take down the exhibit on Sept 15.  Do not dump your finished work in the SFFG building or in any place where people don't want it.  Dispose of your sculptures properly.  Groups who don't abide by this will get a deduction of 50 pts from the Final Project Grade!

EVENT

1. Plan your fundraising events as early as you can.  The event is scheduled for October 16.  Consult me in case you plan a different fundraising scheme (than dinner formal).

2.  Remember that ALL the funds you raise in this event must be DONATED to GVN Foundation through the EAT SO THEY CAN project.

3.  By Sept. 15, both sections must submit the form attached here, regarding your planned activities.  This is the Fundraising Plan that you will be following to make sure your activity is a success. A pre-evaluation grade will also be submitted by your leader to me, which will be worth 100 points in your "Participation" criteria in your final grades.

4.  Communicate constantly with me for your event.  I am here to support you, but make sure that you make me proud of your activities... make me proud girls and guys!

5.  Our target is to raise P25,000.  That is our Target. If we do not reach it, our event, however good it may be, will be a failure.  So let us all work together to raise this amount. If we all work together, we can reach this goal.

INDIVIDUAL ACTIVITIES

PODCAST

1. Make at least ONE podcast and post it on your group blog. I

f in case you wish to make more than one, then inform me what podcast I will grade.

2.  Your podcast must be 2-5 mins long only.  Do not exceed the time limit.  

3.  Since your podcast will replace the extemporaneous speech part of the class, please make sure YOU (yourself and not a substitute) appear on the podcast--speaking, talking, explaining etc.

4.  The theme of the podcast is:  "I am a CiF student, and I am the future of the Philippine Forests"... it's about being proud of who you are and what you will become.

5.  I will grade all podcasts on OCTOBER 3 so make sure your podcast is already uploaded by then.

PHOTOESSAY

1.  Prepare your digital cameras! We will be exhibiting your photo essays online. Upload them on your group blogs.

2.  Pick only 3 of your best photos.

3.  Adhere to this theme:  My environmental philosophy.  This pertains to the belief you adhere to about how we should treat the environment-- or in other words, what you believe is the relationship of humans with the environment.

4.  This will be PEER evaluated-- your classmates will grade your works (anonymously).

REPORT

1. This report is an individual write up of all the things that you have learned in all of the SFFG 20 activities.  

2.  This will be submitted on OCTOBER 11... until 5pm only.

3.  I will provide the format on Sept 2-3.

As you will notice, most of your grade relies in COLLABORATION and COOPERATION with your groupmates.  Communication is a lot about sharing, understanding and working with our fellow beings and so these opportunities will provide you the exercise in being better communicators.

Email me if you have any questions (suggestions, objections etc.)!  :)

Hello World

Welcome to one of the most exciting classes in your CiF course.  For this semester, we have a lot to do.  One of the exciting activities we will be doing is this... blogging.  As I have told you in class earlier, all groups must create a blog.  This blog of yours (your group's blog, that is) has several goals:

1.  To tell your experiences about being a CiF student (and being an SFFG 20 student);
2.  To share your stories (what is , what may be ) about forestry to the world;
3.  To express your creativity (photos, videos, podcasts);
4.  To network and share announcements, resources (learning resources) etc. with a greater audience;
5.  And, to state the things you have learned in class.

I hope that all of you can participate in this blog,  and may you find this a great learning experience.

I am looking forward to your posts!