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April 16, 2005
Pretty Big Rock
Today I'm writing to tell you that I'm now a volunteer for the Mprize. Most of you know that for the last few months I've been working full-time as a fundraiser. Well, I decided that a big way I could maximize the money that goes into the Prize and life-extension research as a whole was to take what I've learned in my three months of full-time employment to become one of the most active Mprize volunteers. So I'm going back to my old job, and freeing up the money that was going to pay me. All the money that people donate goes directly into the Prize, so none of that ever goes to salaries, but a generous sponsorship donation had been given to fund my work. That donation funded an extremely speedy learning curve for me, and by working full-time for these months I've been able to set in motion (working with all the other dedicated volunteers) a series of events that I believe will generate considerable revenue for the Prize. While I'll be returning to my old job, I'll still be able to coordinate all the events we've planned to raise money for the Mprize, as well as keeping up my regular functions like recruiting Three Hundred members, corresponding with donors and potential donors, and writing grant applications when I find foundations that might be convinced to donate to the prize.
I'm very proud of what we've accomplished in the last several months. As most of you know, we've reached the $1 million mark with the signing on of Dr. William Haseltine of Human Genome Sciences fame. We've also doubled our number of Three Hundred members. The combined efforts of all of us working together have yielded tremendous results, and I feel like what I've learned during my full-time work prepares me to be an excellent volunteer fundraiser.
One thing that working with the other Mprize volunteers has made extremely clear to me is how efficiently an organization can run on all volunteer efforts. Some of us refer to ourselves as "full-time volunteers" because we spend so much time and energy on the Mprize. I've been reading this book called The Wisdom of Crowds that talks about how frequently, a group will know better than even the most expert of individuals. The Mprize works like that. Sure, some people have more time to devote, know more science, have more business skills, make up more entertaining metaphors, or have more computer skills, but everyone's opinion matters. From the moment I got involved I was amazed at how welcoming and friendly everyone was, even though I was so new to the life-extension world.
As I was doing strategic planning for the year, I started to realize that so much of what I was doing I could do as a volunteer, even while working hard at my other job. And then I started to think... if there was no need to pay me, then the money that would have gone to pay me could go more directly into the cause... that would be a great donation! In fact, that would be a larger donation than even my Three Hundred membership! At that point it seemed only right to point out that we could leverage even more funding for the Prize and the cause as a whole if I moved back to full-time volunteer status.
I'm still going to SENS in September, and we're working on something in spring of 06 that my bloggiefriends just might be interested in... more on that when it's nailed down! I won't be giving up hanging out with Aubrey de Grey and all my Mprize brothers.
Speaking of hanging out with Aubrey de Grey, I want you to put this date on your calendar: Sunday, August 7. April's 31st birthday party. Philadelphia. 1 pm - 7 pm. Aubrey de Grey and MR will both attend, and will sign autographs. CR food will be served. Conveniently located between NYC and DC. And yes, it will be a fundraiser. So bring your checkbooks and your own wineglass, plate, and silverware. (Someone in my immediate circle is a serious environmentalist, so I'm trying to mimimize the paper products. Besides, who wants to drink wine out of plastic? Certainly not I.) Anyway, come consume some resveratrol with me and MR and Aubrey. It will be a giant gathering of east coast life-extensionists, CR folk, and my random friends who will enjoy gawking at all of you. Seriously, you'd better show up. I'll be serving megamuffins!
But back to my decision to go all-volunteer. One of my Mprize brothers commented that he sensed that doors were opening. I agree. The avalanche of new donors and Three Hundred members, the great press that Aubrey de Grey is receiving, the sudden tonge-tiedness of the naysayers... things are happening. I believe that my decision to stop getting paid for the Mprize work I do will free up resources to speed this process. We all throw whatever little stones we have into the pool, hoping that the ripples they create, when added to the little stones that every else throws into the pool, will have some effect. Well, the money it takes to pay me is a pretty big rock. I'm throwing it in.
Posted by april at April 16, 2005 7:22 PM
Comments
Well, congratulations. You've just ruined a beautiful weekend for hospital mgmt executives across PA. :)
Posted by: James at April 18, 2005 3:27 PM