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Death on the Baja Salt Flats

Discovering Baja for the past 5 years was always filled with adventure, at least that’s how it felt to me. Some of my inexperienced travel companions may not considered this story as an adventure though. They may describe the story I am about to tell you as a near disaster or a terrible turn of events. I respect that perspective because I respect their feelings. However I believe that they feel this way because they expected something they shouldn’t have! I’m sure they have now learned their lesson and understand that when they decide to join my friends and I for a quick drive to an unknown beach it probably won’t be what they expect.

When you spend weeks on end in a place that is remote like rural Baja, (which is mostly undeveloped) with any sense of adventure you will naturally get in your vehicle and drive. You will drive to places that someone told you existed but can’t really point out on a map. You will drive to places that seem closer than they are and you will without a doubt decide that there is still enough sun in the sky to make it home before it get dangerous.

There was such a place that we could see from the main highway for years. It was flat, and led straight to the blue pacific ocean. A place that was desolate and enticing because as far as we knew it could lead to one of the most beautiful beaches in the area. So finally one Thursday afternoon after wrapping up our aid work for the day we climbed into a very large truck and filled all 6 six seats with 5 adults and one 18-month old baby (the baby was mine).

As we drove out onto the salt flats we felt the exhilaration of the vastness before us. We could see the beautiful sand dunes rise ahead of us, beckoning us to the refreshing coast line.

The air began to change though, a hint of the future maybe? A strong and terrible smell filled the truck and we threw down the windows as we continued to speed ahead. The tracks of other vehicles that had been tempted by the vast unknown of the salt flats began to fade and soon we were making our own tracks to a place that we began to dream of as a private get-away spot of respite. Excitement filled our hearts.

As we neared the sand dunes the air began to clear and the smell was fresh again, but the ground began to change texture. No longer hard and firm, the driver (my husband) began to go around very large areas of thick mud and misshapen ground.

We finally arrived to a place where we could get out of the truck and trek up the sand dune. Carrying a my small child and raising my hand to my brow I was taken away at the beauty of the beach we had found. The wind swept us all back as we smiled at each other in glee. This was it!

A private unknown beach. Spending a few moments to relax let the baby’s toes dip in the water I headed back to the truck.

The sun was getting low and dinner time was approaching. Buckling in we noticed how back at the vehicle the wind of the ocean was only a small breeze. The perfect place for a quick tailgate BBQ set-up when your at the beach! How perfect this place will be.

My husband began to drive back to the main road and we all talked about the plans to utilize this beach space for the families we served in Baja, and for the volunteers who came with us to build homes and execute our programs.

And then it happened.

Slowly we began to sink. And although we had much experience in driving in muddy conditions the truck traction was not cooperating. And soon a terrible smell filled the cabin.

Throwing down the windows we begged for fresh air! And as my husband overcame the road inch by inch it was also slowly overcoming us!

What had looked like solid ground was just as deceiving as that terrible quick sand that Daffy Duck was always running into!

Finally we found ourselves sunk and no matter how many times we tried to rock the truck back and forth to escape the muddy nastiness of the salt flats, we could not escape. Every trick in the book that usually got out of the mud failed us.

Soon 4 people were pushing the truck, while the baby and my husband attempted to drive the truck out of the muck.

First an  hour passed, then another and soon hour 3 was approaching.

We called for help, but telling our rescuers the exact location was a bit like describing the backside of the moon. Everyone knows it’s there but it is not that easy to explain in detail to someone.

We decided that walking back to the visible road would be best for the baby and me to catch the first truck of two that was coming to rescue us. I bid goodbye to my husband and the truck and left with half the adventuring party to find rescue. It was at this point many would deem this adventure a fail. But this is when it got interesting.

Even though we could see the road, it still felt like another world. Like Mars so flat and uninhabited.

Soon we came across a point in the land where the angle of the sun coming down for the evening and the light reflecting on the flat ground made the perfect mirage of scattered light that bounced and waved before us. It was almost magical had we not been exhausted covered in terrible smelling mud.

As the light finally sharpened the ground ahead it revealed something even worse smelling than the mud on our clothes. It was a dead cow.

Dead like you would see in a western movie, rotting like you would imagine it would, in the hot sun for several days.

It was then that I thought wow, this is an adventure for the books.

A best friend who had now taken over carrying my baby began to sing out loud and the baby laughed with glee. Why not break into song now, If it was a major motion picture the director would have definitely placed a crescendo at this point!

Soon a vehicle came into view. As it drove towards us avoiding the misshapen ground, we began to feel some relief. And then as it came into a better view we realized it was not our rescue party, but maybe another vandal dumping a dead animal or trash to rot alongside the terrible smell of the salt flats. And for one fleeting moment I thought if this was a major motion picture well then they would be the murders who made this story worth telling on the big screen.

Looking at me, my friend and my baby as if were insane, they continued to drive past.

Nearing the road, we could see our rescue truck waiting. Not a mirage, not potential murderers, just real life friends laughing and scratching their heads at our somewhat frightful looks on our face and muddy feet.

The second truck with a tow rig pulled up and we pointed them in the direction of the rest of the party. Lights turned on bright they ventured out into the unknown salt flats. Never to be seen again…

JUST KIDDING. It did however take them about another hour and a half before they along with our stuck truck would arrive at dinner much too late for something warm to be served.

These memories make me smile and laugh. The picturesque beach, the hours of frustrated friends arguing about how to get a truck out of the mud, the frightful dead cow and then the end of the night when we all clapped our lost muddy party into the restaurant are the adventures that help make this life of servitude worth it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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How to Name your Organization

I live in California. My state secretary’s office requires me to incorporate as a nonprofit if I plan on filing for exempt status through the state and the federal government.

But in order to do this you have to first register your name with the California State Secretary’s office.

The name of your organization matters just like naming a child – its that important.

It is your first marketing tool and it will lay the foundation for your mission statement or should reflect it if you haven’t got one yet.

It did not take us long to find our name because I followed a set of rules that my friends and I came up with several years ago while mocking terrible names of other institutions, businesses, and organizations. You don’t want your nonprofit to get made fun of when it is out there in the public. I’m serious about this guys – I make fun of the names people come up with all the time. I guess, I’m either a terrible person or just good at being a jerk.

  • Imagine if the acronym for your non profit spells something terribly embarrassing. Gross.
    • Peoples Organization Of Patriots = P.O.O.P
  • OR your so trendy that people shrink back in just 9 months-time from the name of your organization. Ew.
  • OR If you think you have the best name full of creativity and expression. Ugh.
    • [Insert your creative name here]

So those were a few reasons. Not to mention copyright infringement or a name that is misspelled!

Now, some readers may have just got a little offended by my dislike of creativity so I want to explain in a few lines why it’s not a good idea before I give you my naming rules.

Your creative name is not a good idea because:

I don’t doubt your ability to make something sound out of this world and inspiring, but I do believe that it can lead to confused people who don’t understand what “Wild Pineapples” does. Save your clever genius for more creative avenues like a subtitle that evolves over time or a RAD program name. Being the Executive Director of Wild Pineapples can only mean one thing. You’re a farmer. ONLY if you are a farmer and this is a nonprofit for Wild Pineapple farming, than go for it! If not, then I have to say your name is terrible.

Anyways…

My friend’s and I have always believed in naming simplicity. And to give you a clear understanding of type of results that the rules will yield, here are some of the best names that don’t leave you confused at all:

Church – Church of [CITY NAME]

Health Center – [CITY NAME] Health Center (Or Centre if your English)

Youth Group – [CHURCH NAME] Youth Group

Advocacy Group – Advocacy for [ISSUE HERE]

Animal Rescue – [ANIMAL TYPE] Rescue of [CITY NAME]

THE RULES

I think you’re getting my point. So below are the rules…

ORGANIZATIONAL NAMING RULES TO FOLLOW:

  1. Keep the name simple
  2. Let the name communicate what you do/who you serve
  3. Add your region, city/town, or some other area landmark to the name
  4. Add a subtitle to express more clearly your work and/or your creativity
  5. Avoid imagery and flowery language.
  6. Avoid inappropriate acronyms / initialisms like P.O.O.P (Also, if you are working with people across languages you should double check with a native speaker of the people you serve!)

Now you may come to an impasse here if your city had a genius that came before you and established an organization using their old timey version of these naming rules. In that case you are then allowed to get a little creative, but stick to the basics of keep it simple!

In California the State Secretary’s office has a name checker online to see if your desired organization name is available. Use this if available and try out many variations of the name.

My Story of Naming the Youth Center:

I live in Sacramento, California. A city that was first established in 1850. There have been many organizations established over the years here. Many of which do/did what I want to do – start a youth center. Knowing this I  did something crazy in one of the oldest cities in the west, I went for the simplest version of my naming rules yet: Sacramento Youth Center.

And guess what? It was available!

No one in the entire city since 1850 had ever thought to use this name for their youth center! Wow.

Not only does this name say it all, but it also commands a level of respect (that I am happy to live up to).

I tell people the name of the center and you know what they do? They nod their head like they have heard of it. Haven’t you heard of it!? I have a built in level of legitimacy that I wasn’t expecting, a name that makes it easy for me to communicate my mission, and one that will stand the test of time.

Now there was one caveat to this name, and that was the initialism format “SYC”. There is a local yacht club that uses SYC, but I felt like it was a different enough organization that should someone find us using that acronym that wouldn’t be confused and vice a verse. I typically only use SYC when I am filling out grants at this point and for a few small marketing materials like our business card so it isn’t likely that people would need to find us by SYC just yet…

OUTCOMES

Ok, I hope if you are here you at least skimmed this post, and read through the rules, and now understand the importance of the name. If not here is a brief list of the results you can get from using the rules.

3 Outcomes of a Simple Name:

  1. A name that markets itself
  2. A name that brings you legitimacy
  3. A name that will stand the test of time

Good luck choosing a name. Don’t screw it up!

 

–Raquel

 

 

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Why a “No” Can Prepare You for the “Yes”

Well, I got my first official “NO!”, I have had these types of “No’s” before, in my work with other nonprofits, but this one was different because it is for MY nonprofit. The type of “NO” that I am talking about is “No, we will not fund you.”  

This “NO” was for a small start-up grant. A grant that seemed too good to be true! When I went to the grant seminar and they explained the funding parameters I left the place thinking “EASY!!!” Ohh to think so grandiose about something like that. HA! 

To be honest when I wrote the final draft of grant I was in major crisis mode. My life was filled with family health issues, but grant deadlines don’t move for your circumstance. So, I went ahead anyways with the proposal, writing it with tears in my eyes, because I was dealing with a lot of personal stuff and I was beyond exhausted. And still I thought, “DONE DEAL. That grant is mine.”  

And then I went and curled into a little ball, as I prepared my self for a very difficult weekend. 

November was a CRAZY month. I lost my grandfather to parkinson’s disease and my husband’s grandfather was in and out of ICU several times. Needless to say I had a lot of confidence but was clearly distracted, and for good reason! 

I had done exactly what I had done before on other grants, I proof read the final version, had a colleague  look it over and then sent it off. At least that’s what I thought I did. Little did I know I had a major email fail and it got stuck in my outbox. Which I promptly noticed the following Monday after it was due.  

If you are fearing a “NO” don’t worry! Its part of the process to learning how to do this better.

I called and tried to plea my case and even was honest that my life at the moment was not going smoothly. Then they gave me a chance, a chance that I still think matters. 

 In my tear filled confidence I honestly thought “I am going to get this.” But when phone call came in and the voice over the phone said so delicately “We unfortunately will not be funding your proposal.” I was disappointed. 

I did however find some pride in the “NO” a few hours later as I talked it over with some friends. A pride which stems from the fact that I was able to find clarity in my fundraising pitch. A clarity that I was able to put words to, that just this morning, turned into an offer for funding for our first event we plan to do!  

Writing the grant forced me to hash out all the things that I had in my head, my vision, my experience and my legitimacy. It helped me to find important words through the prompts that I responded to, words that I have used multiple times this week in networking meetings.  

It forced me to research and define sources for the data that I know to be true. And it forced me to open up and be honest with strangers who have money that I want for my nonprofit. 

 “Thank you grantors for your consideration” is how I ended my email when I finally got it submitted, and today I say thank you again! Because your consideration may have led to a “NO”, but your opportunity for funding led me to better communicate who I am and why I am doing this.  

If you are fearing a “NO” don’t worry! Its part of the process to learning how to do this better. Keep the grant proposals that you got a “NO” on and use them to make the next proposal a “YES!”. If you truly did a good job in explaining yourself and answering the questions then they were in right to say “NO” because that means the proposal doesn’t actually fit their parameters. AND if they offer to explain why it was a “NO” take the feedback and swallow your pride because they are obviously impressed enough by you to give you more of their valuable time.

–Raquel

 

 

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The Start of a Nonprofit

Over my nonprofit career I have learned a lot, but this new adventure of starting a nonprofit is a whole new game. I want to share with you all the excitement and experience of starting a new nonprofit, from the very beginning.  

Starting the nonprofit didn’t begin the day I registered with my state secretary’s office. Nor did it start the day the incorporation letter came with my state’s approval. It didn’t start the day we purchased the web domain or when we came up with the name in a stroke of genius. It didn’t even start the day that I told my husband about my idea.  

The process started back in January of 2018. I was a nonprofit development director for the same youth nonprofit that my husband worked for. I worked as a full-time volunteer and stay at home mom to two toddlers. Working from home with toddlers was a job that as a new mom, that I was learning how to do! Learning the very careful balancing act of timing naptime & homeschool lessons with webinars & phone call meetings. And so, the house was as you would imagine it, a laptop precariously placed on the edge of a sofa, note pads strewn, alongside the sippy cups and piles of laundry & toys.  

And so, the day that I spoke the dream out loud was the very beginning.

The work I did from home was to raise the funds for the very modest west coast salary my husband received as a program coordinator. In addition, I assisted the executive director with vision and program implementation. It was great work and it was always the intention of the executive director and my own, to eventually pay me an income once enough funds were raised to allow for additional salaries. But even without the paycheck I enjoyed the work as a “glorified” volunteer, because I believed in the good that it was bringing to the youth of the cities we served. Because of the efforts of the team I worked with, the impact of program we ran was getting notice from the larger communities and even local governments. This was an exciting time.  

In January 2018 we were preparing to move to a home in an older part of our neighborhood. The home was built in the 1940’s requiring a full renovation of the kitchen, wood floors, yard and bathroom. Despite the work needing to be done, moving to this neighborhood was a dream come true. When we first put an offer on the home, I wrote a letter to the owner of the past 35 years, telling him how we were helping the youth of our city. I explained how this home would serve as a home base for the fundraising and program development for innovative youth work. I described how I worked from my small desk alongside my beautiful toddlers to ensure that youth are afforded the same opportunities regardless of their socio-economic status. The homeowner loved the letter and soon the home was SOLD to us.  

Every day for one month I drove through the neighborhood while we renovated the old home DIY style and made it our new home. In those days Joanna Gains was my daily inspiration – and I even joke that my husband became her with his vision for beautiful design. I remember reading her book and finding similarities between her entrepreneurship and my nonprofit development. The streets surrounding the house and the boulevard that is adjacent to the historic neighborhood, to the home we had purchased had befallen to great poverty and disarray nearly 30 years prior. Very similar to the neighborhoods that the Gains were conquering on their popular TV show. The problems of the neighborhood had made the home affordable for a single income household like our own, but that meant that plight and poverty were present on every corner of the boulevard.  

 

Driving past that plight, empty buildings and issues that the streets were filled with, I felt compelled to look closer. And finally one morning my heart breaking for my neighborhood, I said out loud in a prayer & proclamation, that I would start a youth center on the boulevard, because it wasn’t fair for the kids that lived in that neighborhood to not have a beautiful space to grow into young adults and citizens of our city.  

And so, the day that I spoke the dream out loud was the very beginning.

When I told my husband he was receptive, but the path to this new dream was unclear. Our work was going well with the organization that we worked with and the programs that we had both helped to develop & install in several local schools were thriving.  

A youth center was different direction that we had envisioned up to that point. With this new dream, our work in the schools could translate into a permanent space for youth and help our neighborhood in a small way. Another factor to overcome was that I had yet to be able to raise the funds for my own income, which our growing family could desperately use! I have college loans looming over my head every day, and often I was choosing to start a new program rather than starting to pay myself first. This is a topic I hope to explore more in this blog soon.  

Needless to say there were MORE reasons to stay where we were, but the dream had been had and now it was up to us to see it through.  

–Raquel

 

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