I've moved my blog to http://loibookstore.wordpress.com/. Wordpress has a lot more features than Blogger, most importantly the stats on who visits the blog, where they come from and how long they stay, etc., etc. So check out the new Light of Islam blog. All my posts and comments from this blog are over there, too.
Today has been a very computer-happy day. More about that later. See you on Wordpress!
Light of Islam
Chronicling the development of Houston's new Islamic bookstore.
Friday, April 13, 2007
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Born to market
Googling nonprofit blogs, I discovered that the blog is a recommended marketing tool for nonprofit organizations. I guess I'm a natural marketing genius! I started the blog because I just wanted to document the steps along the way and I also wanted a place to express my personal feelings about opening the bookstore. Eventually I realized it is a vehicle for people to know what the latest is with the LOI. I don't know if that's marketing exactly, but at least readers can find out what's going on with the store.
And what's going on today? As far as LOI goes, I'm just in standby mode, waiting for this event tonight to be over and then my latest babysitting stint to be over, and then I'm cranking it up and will devote every spare hour (yeah, right) to fundraising. I know I've mentioned this before, but I'm kind of sick of fundraising. I don't want to do it. I JUST WANNA OPEN A BOOKSTORE! Waaahhh...
*****
Light of Islam is a nonprofit bookstore whose mission is to provide the Houston-area community with accurate and accessible information about Islam and Muslims. Find out more at http://www.light-of-islam.org/.
And what's going on today? As far as LOI goes, I'm just in standby mode, waiting for this event tonight to be over and then my latest babysitting stint to be over, and then I'm cranking it up and will devote every spare hour (yeah, right) to fundraising. I know I've mentioned this before, but I'm kind of sick of fundraising. I don't want to do it. I JUST WANNA OPEN A BOOKSTORE! Waaahhh...
*****
Light of Islam is a nonprofit bookstore whose mission is to provide the Houston-area community with accurate and accessible information about Islam and Muslims. Find out more at http://www.light-of-islam.org/.
Monday, April 09, 2007
Public speaking
Readers of my Houston Chronicle blog may remember a post I wrote about my terror of public speaking and how I've tried to overcome it. After over a year in Toastmasters, I feel a lot more confident, although I haven't spoken outside the club too much lately and I worry that my improvement may just be because I feel more comfortable with the club members. Well, the next test will be this Thursday, when I will give a brief talk about Islam at the Interfaith Ministries women's gathering. My Toastmasters meetings are on Tuesdays and last week I asked one of tomorrow's scheduled speakers to let me take his place so I could practice my speech and get feedback. He was kind enough to do so. The only issue is that the TM speech will be 5-7 minutes and I may have to go longer at the event on Thursday. No problem, though. My issue has always been finding a balance between memorizing a written speech (or at least parts of one) and speaking naturally and not letting myself be thrown off if I forget part of what I memorized. This time I'm going for preparing a structure and then allowing myself to speak naturally on each topic I'll go over. Since I'm familiar with the topic, I'm thinking that will be a good strategy. Well, tomorrow's TM meeting will be the test.
The measure of my increased confidence is that I no longer have a feeling of dread at the prospect of public speaking. I hope it's not false confidence.
I need to learn how to do this well, because part of what I'll be doing in support of the bookstore is speaking to people, in small or large groups or even individually, about the store, its mission and how it will benefit the community. I have to learn to do this well.
*****
Light of Islam is a nonprofit bookstore whose mission is to provide the Houston-area community with accurate and accessible information about Islam and Muslims. Find out more at http://www.light-of-islam.org/.
The measure of my increased confidence is that I no longer have a feeling of dread at the prospect of public speaking. I hope it's not false confidence.
I need to learn how to do this well, because part of what I'll be doing in support of the bookstore is speaking to people, in small or large groups or even individually, about the store, its mission and how it will benefit the community. I have to learn to do this well.
*****
Light of Islam is a nonprofit bookstore whose mission is to provide the Houston-area community with accurate and accessible information about Islam and Muslims. Find out more at http://www.light-of-islam.org/.
Saturday, April 07, 2007
Don't forget to turn on the light!
Just a reminder about our Turn on the Light campaign - please send your donations via Paypal or by mailing a check payable to Light of Islam to:
Light of Islam
PO Box 590123
Houston, TX 77259-0123
We've been doing okay in the last couple of weeks but I'd love to see more. And remember you have the option of signing up for a $25 a month automatic donation which can also be done through Paypal on our web site.
Thank you.
Light of Islam
PO Box 590123
Houston, TX 77259-0123
We've been doing okay in the last couple of weeks but I'd love to see more. And remember you have the option of signing up for a $25 a month automatic donation which can also be done through Paypal on our web site.
Thank you.
Friday, April 06, 2007
Acknowledgement of your application
Today I got a form letter from the IRS acknowledging that they've received my 1023 application. The letter notes, among other things, that I can go to their web site to find out the current status of application assignments. I go there to find:
Many exempt organizations and practitioners may have noticed an increase in the timeframe to process an application for tax-exempt status. We apologize for any delays you may be experiencing and we are taking steps to decrease processing time. This delay is the result of a backlog of exemption applications.
[...]
Current Status of Applications Requiring Additional Development: Cases received as of October 2006* are currently being assigned [to reviewers].
Sigh...a six month delay...but that's for the scary category - where they need more than "minor information" to approve it. Per the IRS:
The Process: Upon receipt, exemption applications accompanied by the required user fee are initially separated into three groups: (1) those that can be processed immediately based on information submitted, (2) those that need minor additional information to be resolved, and (3) those that require additional development.
If your application falls in the first or second group, you will receive either your determination letter or a request for additional information, via phone, fax, or letter, within approximately 60 days of the date the application was submitted. If your application falls within the third group, you will be contacted once your application has been assigned to an EO specialist.
So now I'm biting my nails wondering if I made my application Determination Specialist-friendly enough. I may have been too lackadaisical about the budget. Other than that, I think I explained the bookstore sufficiently.
And anyway, any contributions made now are retroactively tax-deductible once we get the 50c3 designation, so it's no real hindrance to fundraising. Insha Allah all will be well.
*****
Light of Islam is a nonprofit bookstore whose mission is to provide the Houston-area community with accurate and accessible information about Islam and Muslims. Find out more at http://www.light-of-islam.org/.
Many exempt organizations and practitioners may have noticed an increase in the timeframe to process an application for tax-exempt status. We apologize for any delays you may be experiencing and we are taking steps to decrease processing time. This delay is the result of a backlog of exemption applications.
[...]
Current Status of Applications Requiring Additional Development: Cases received as of October 2006* are currently being assigned [to reviewers].
Sigh...a six month delay...but that's for the scary category - where they need more than "minor information" to approve it. Per the IRS:
The Process: Upon receipt, exemption applications accompanied by the required user fee are initially separated into three groups: (1) those that can be processed immediately based on information submitted, (2) those that need minor additional information to be resolved, and (3) those that require additional development.
If your application falls in the first or second group, you will receive either your determination letter or a request for additional information, via phone, fax, or letter, within approximately 60 days of the date the application was submitted. If your application falls within the third group, you will be contacted once your application has been assigned to an EO specialist.
So now I'm biting my nails wondering if I made my application Determination Specialist-friendly enough. I may have been too lackadaisical about the budget. Other than that, I think I explained the bookstore sufficiently.
And anyway, any contributions made now are retroactively tax-deductible once we get the 50c3 designation, so it's no real hindrance to fundraising. Insha Allah all will be well.
*****
Light of Islam is a nonprofit bookstore whose mission is to provide the Houston-area community with accurate and accessible information about Islam and Muslims. Find out more at http://www.light-of-islam.org/.
Thursday, April 05, 2007
A week or so
Of the tasks I set for myself in the last post I've completed the first two and am almost done with #3, the newsletter. Taking a look at my schedule for the next week or so, I realize I need to put off further work on LOI till the women's gathering is over, which is on the 12th. My parents will also be here next week, Tuesday through Friday. The 16th and 17th are my last days babysitting my friend's infant in the afternoon. Long story short, the week of the 16th will be my kick-off week, when I singlemindedly dive into the LOI fundraising campaign. I'm almost done with the newsletter. The layout is complete (can't believe I'm saying that, being a graphics-impaired perfectionist who tweaks and tweaks and tweaks); I'm writing the articles. They're short, 150-200 words each, which actually makes the writing a little more challenging. But insha Allah I'll be done with it let's say...this...weekend...yes, I think that's reasonable. Of course once the newsletter itself is done I have to create my list of people to send it to. Hey, if you're interested in getting a copy, e-mail me at ruth@light-of-islam.org. It's currently available only by e-mail. So now I can "relax" and focus on the women's gathering, working (Sunday is an incentive pay day, 5 cents more a line), and entertaining mom, dad and the baby ;)
*****
Light of Islam is a nonprofit bookstore whose mission is to provide the Houston-area community with accurate and accessible information about Islam and Muslims. Find out more at http://www.light-of-islam.org/.
*****
Light of Islam is a nonprofit bookstore whose mission is to provide the Houston-area community with accurate and accessible information about Islam and Muslims. Find out more at http://www.light-of-islam.org/.
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
A big clean-up and a big relief
OK, alhamdulillah, good things happening today. My third board member, who a couple months ago had to back out due to having had her work responsibilities way increase, is still with us, with the understanding that she won't always be able to give 110% - but that's the case with all of us, especially the board, and I'm grateful to all of them, knowing how valuable the time is that they've carved out of their schedules for the bookstore.
Other good news is that I've actually cleaned up the piles of papers that have been growing all over my office. I have just one neat pile now that's primarily contact information I need to start compiling. After I finish that, what next?
I've identified 11 potential donors, so I'm more than halfway towards selecting 20, as Melissa and I had decided. I need to settle in my mind the best way to approach each one - no, wait, I also need to prioritize them and then decide on a strategy. I need to write a case statement - a formal one, probably around 1000 words, though who knows? After the women's gathering is over on Thursday, I need to not do anything except work on developing the bookstore.
The chaos in my office was an obstacle to productivity, and now that's overcome, and I feel a lot clearer about my plans going forward. However, I still have this thing in my mind where I have so much to focus on I may not be sufficiently organized. Maybe the Gantt chart will help with that. Yes, that's the ticket. OK, so I have to:
1) Compile all the contact information into one spreadsheet.
2) Update the Gantt chart.
3) Identify 9 more potential donors.
4) Prioritize those donors.
5) Write a case statement.
Oh, and the newsletter. OK:
1) Compile all the contact information into one spreadsheet.
2) Update the Gantt chart.
3) Complete the first issue of the newsletter.
4) Identify 9 more potential donors.
5) Prioritize those donors.
6) Write a case statement.
That should do it for now. Keep the money flowing, people! And spread the word!
*****
Light of Islam is a nonprofit bookstore whose mission is to provide the Houston-area community with accurate and accessible information about Islam and Muslims. Find out more at http://www.light-of-islam.org/.
Other good news is that I've actually cleaned up the piles of papers that have been growing all over my office. I have just one neat pile now that's primarily contact information I need to start compiling. After I finish that, what next?
I've identified 11 potential donors, so I'm more than halfway towards selecting 20, as Melissa and I had decided. I need to settle in my mind the best way to approach each one - no, wait, I also need to prioritize them and then decide on a strategy. I need to write a case statement - a formal one, probably around 1000 words, though who knows? After the women's gathering is over on Thursday, I need to not do anything except work on developing the bookstore.
The chaos in my office was an obstacle to productivity, and now that's overcome, and I feel a lot clearer about my plans going forward. However, I still have this thing in my mind where I have so much to focus on I may not be sufficiently organized. Maybe the Gantt chart will help with that. Yes, that's the ticket. OK, so I have to:
1) Compile all the contact information into one spreadsheet.
2) Update the Gantt chart.
3) Identify 9 more potential donors.
4) Prioritize those donors.
5) Write a case statement.
Oh, and the newsletter. OK:
1) Compile all the contact information into one spreadsheet.
2) Update the Gantt chart.
3) Complete the first issue of the newsletter.
4) Identify 9 more potential donors.
5) Prioritize those donors.
6) Write a case statement.
That should do it for now. Keep the money flowing, people! And spread the word!
*****
Light of Islam is a nonprofit bookstore whose mission is to provide the Houston-area community with accurate and accessible information about Islam and Muslims. Find out more at http://www.light-of-islam.org/.
One for today
We've gotten donations for the past three days straight - I need at least one donation today to keep the streak going. Any takers?
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