Here's an idea. In the spirit of Pay It Forward, what if mini-action recipients recommend another mini-action project for someone else? Seems like a way they could help pay it forward, even if they themselves cannot contribute financially. Is doubling up and doing two mini-actions each time too much?

Hey Mark - that's a great idea!

Cynthia/Erin, this is a great idea. I'm no illustrator, nor a tech guru, but happy to help out in the writing or background research as to what we might want to put on the site or in a short story/guide. Cynthia, if we didn't want to burden people with too much flash work (great job on the sickle cell site, by the way!), maybe we could write/illustrate something up and create a simple pdf that could sit on a site and be printed for distribution. Not as pretty, but certainly worthy.

Hi - I would love to pitch in too - though not sure in what capacity?? Perhaps once the project sort of solidify - we can identify the tasks by skill group.. :)

Thanks, y'all. Yes, this will be really simple and clean. The content will be largely determined by what the parents/medical experts tell us is beneficial. I'll do some sort of outline on skills/development process over the weekend. Then, if we can get a couple more people to join in I saw we go for it.

Erin, can you talk to your cousin and ask what would be beneficial information to put out there? Get her to look at SickleCellKids.org to give her an idea of what is possible. I agree with Dean that it will be good to have a lot more printable materials. It can't be as big as SCK.org 'cause that Flash work took forever! But it can certainly be worthwhile. Also, if you would find out if there's a contact at the organization that I could talk to about partnering on medical content.

THanks!

Hi all. I will do my best to check those things off the list, but this weekend is a bit difficult for me as my grandfather passed away last weekend and this weekend and Monday are the preparations and the memorial service. Again, I will do my best, but I might not be able to get the info until early next week. Thanks for understanding.

Erin-

We have plenty of time. By all means be where you need to be this weekend. Next week is fine.

I am so sorry for the loss of your grandfather. We'll be thinking about you.

I would love to help too, Cynthia. Just tell me how. This sounds like a great idea.

-Zeb

Hi all, Just wanted to post an update. I've been in touch with Kim (Marissa's mom) and she would love to help out with this project. She is a wealth of information on the topic, so I invited her to join us here and help us understand what information would be most helpful to tell people about. I'm going to try to bring her up to speed on how omidyar.net works in the next day or two, and then I think things will be taking off.

Hi Erin- Looking forward to hearing from Kim! I would be interested in hearing not only what information she thinks is most important to get out, but who the most important target audience might be. There are several web sites that have the basic information for the general public. My original thought would be to do a web site for children with the disease. In my experience that has been a more effective way of getting the public interested than another info site. Would love to hear Kim's thoughts on this.

There are some commonalities with the work I've been doing with sickle cell and cancer, like the bone marrow issues, and the increased risk of infection. I'm hoping some of the hematologists I work with will be able to help, but I know Kim will have great connections to help us.

I can't wait to get started on this! Thanks for bringing this to the network, Erin!

Cynthia,

I guess you are getting ready for some web space?

I'll put in an order tommorrow night.. for Mini-Action.net 's own space.. ok?

it will take 24-48 hrs for site name to propagate..

Brad

Hi Brad-

Thanks, but I wonder if that is what we need for this site. It will be disease specific, does it make sense to have an outside site for the mini-action network? Yet, I've been told I need to think bigger. How do you see it working?

hehe.. I'm not sure!! :)

I don't know Cynthia.. what-ever you wish.. I'll just get it for you when your ready !! :)

just let me know Brad

I think the current workspace will work for the ideas/development of the project. Later when it needs it, it can move into its own web space. Good idea Brad. I too am looking forward to hearing from Kim about this disease. Good job everyone! Have a great day.

-Zeb

Hi Erin, Any more info from Kim on the web site project?

Sorry, Cynthia and everyone. I haven't heard back from her since Wednesday, and she's on my list of people to call tomorrow. This project seems to be moving along a bit slower than I think we all expected, so would it be better to put it on the back burner as project #4 while we're gather info for it, and find something more short-term actionable for project #3? What does everyone think?

Erin, I tend to agree with you on this one. The key to anything "working" in this network, in terms of creating buzz and moving forward, is that it hatch and then move quickly.

One of the keys that we bring as a network, I feel, is a general expertise (not mine certainly!) in the online medium. Combine this with the general business and organizational savvy of others, and what you've got is the capability to help small orgs to think through and execute a web strategy or create a web presence, in a very short amount of time.

Now then, putting on my thinking hat: what or who's a good candidate? Children's ideas, international organizations, and micro-local orgs.

I can only think of a group in the third category that might be able to use some quick web help. It's a youth center in Burundi run by Italian Fathers who are the epitome of good. It has a Catholic organization to it, and uses prayer as one of its tools for creating dialogue, but what it is in a nutshell is a youth center for 16,000+ kids of all ethnicities in Bujumbura, the capital. Emphasis is on sports, ping-pong, plays, performing music and singing. Together.

I taught English there for 4 months while I was working in Bujumbura (natl languages are French and Kirundi). The most commonly asked question I received was: can you get us a penpal so that we can practice our English?

I've just looked into epals.com (thanks to Will Glennon for the reference!) and we could "buy" a solution off the shelf. Don't know how it works, but have signed up for a demo, and 25 email accounts for the Fathers and a group of kids would cost $200. Welcome to any other suggestions. Thought I'd throw this out there though.

Here's a link to their simple English website.

Hi folks, this morning I received a big packet of information from Kim about SDS and about Marissa. I will work on posting the info in workspaces over the next couple days, and we can figure out where to go from there. I will also get in touch with Kim to bring her onto omidyar.net. Like I said above, maybe it's best if we find a new project #3 and move this one to #4. Open to all suggestions for a new #3. :)

Hi Dean - that sounds like a great idea. Also, in terms of penpals - have you seen the Stanford Peace Project? You might want to get check out their pages too - they are recruiting kids for penpals..

Thanks, Niny. I'm taking a virtual 45-minute tour of epals.com on Monday at 3.30pm EST. If anyone wants to join, let me know and I'll set up a conference call.

I started a workspace called Uplift for Marissa and will try to continue adding additional info and links in the upcoming days. Kim sent me several pamphlets and articles about SDS, but I know that copyright laws prohibit us from posting entire texts of articles on this site (and even in the files section). What do people think would be the best way to get this info out to group members who are interested in helping out?

What about making an announcenment in Community General?

Sorry, Niny, my fault with the confusing question. :) Instead of info, I should have said materials, as in the specific pamphlets and articles that Kim has sent me (so that others who have volunteered to help can also read what's currently sitting on my desk). Hopefully that clarifies my previous message.

I would still like to help with this project if I can. :) I might not have much time right now though. Finals and all that :/ Good job everyone. This is shaping out to be a really good project.