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!
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?
Monday, April 02, 2007
A "key" component of our success
That's my pun-laden way of saying that I walked out of the post office today with a key for the Light of Islam Bookstore's new post office box. So you now have another way of donating - send a check payable to "Light of Islam" to:
Light of Islam
PO Box 590123
Houston, TX 77259-0123
Now look at this, dear readers -
That's me every time I go to the post office and the box is empty. Don't let me be sad. Please.
*****
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
PO Box 590123
Houston, TX 77259-0123
Now look at this, dear readers -
That's me every time I go to the post office and the box is empty. Don't let me be sad. Please.
*****
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/.
Sunday, April 01, 2007
Twenty at a time
Phew.
I have to give ENORMOUS thanks to Melissa for all her help with creating the bookstore! May Allah reward her - she's given me so much of her professional expertise and personal advice. I am very lucky to have her on board.
It only took a couple of hours, but I think we got the first part of the fundraising plan down. In a nutshell, we're going to, um, start fundraising. Not as dumb as it sounds...we've (or I've) been struggling to figure out where to start, how much to ask for and from whom. After looking over everything we've got going, it's clear that the best thing to do is to simply start asking. So we brainstormed means of asking and rated them for expense and impact, and then brainstormed lists of people/organizations to ask, sorted into different categories. Melissa suggested that we start with 20 chosen from across the different categories and see how that goes.
So...there's no telling, dear reader, it could be you that will be hearing from me soon! Or if you'd prefer to avoid me, please feel free to go to the web site to join the "Turn on the Light" campaign. Using the Paypal button on the site you can now either donate a specified amount or sign up for a recurring $25 a month donation. You can also contribute by telling your friends about the Light of Islam Bookstore and encouraging them to donate.
Tomorrow I get to go back to my favorite place, Office Depot. My last notepad is down to a few pages and I'm going to get two-sided information/donation sheets printed. And tomorrow I'll start making calls. Hmmm, I wonder which 20 I'll select...
*****
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/.
I have to give ENORMOUS thanks to Melissa for all her help with creating the bookstore! May Allah reward her - she's given me so much of her professional expertise and personal advice. I am very lucky to have her on board.
It only took a couple of hours, but I think we got the first part of the fundraising plan down. In a nutshell, we're going to, um, start fundraising. Not as dumb as it sounds...we've (or I've) been struggling to figure out where to start, how much to ask for and from whom. After looking over everything we've got going, it's clear that the best thing to do is to simply start asking. So we brainstormed means of asking and rated them for expense and impact, and then brainstormed lists of people/organizations to ask, sorted into different categories. Melissa suggested that we start with 20 chosen from across the different categories and see how that goes.
So...there's no telling, dear reader, it could be you that will be hearing from me soon! Or if you'd prefer to avoid me, please feel free to go to the web site to join the "Turn on the Light" campaign. Using the Paypal button on the site you can now either donate a specified amount or sign up for a recurring $25 a month donation. You can also contribute by telling your friends about the Light of Islam Bookstore and encouraging them to donate.
Tomorrow I get to go back to my favorite place, Office Depot. My last notepad is down to a few pages and I'm going to get two-sided information/donation sheets printed. And tomorrow I'll start making calls. Hmmm, I wonder which 20 I'll select...
*****
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 wall
No, not more Pink Floyd. I hit it about half an hour ago, after being up so late last night. Drinking some tea. Fortunately work was slow today, so I was able to get some more information together in a coherent way. Today is really important. There are two essential activities: Raising funds and getting into the store. The latter is a whole other ball of wax I haven't even blogged on yet. Yesterday I went to Office Depot and got a big easel pad. I think better on big paper, LOL. Also, hubby put the tasks and goals we have so far into an MS Project folder. Very helpful also, because I can see what we're doing and when. It's been a real struggle for me to get into project planning mode. My mind has been resisting it all the way. I just wanna open a bookstore...
It occurred to me that some readers may be wondering why I'm not taking out loans - it's because of the interest, which is prohibited in Islam.
OK, time for me to get my easel pad out of the car, maybe take a nap for a minute, and start cooking the chili we're having for dinner. Report to follow.
It occurred to me that some readers may be wondering why I'm not taking out loans - it's because of the interest, which is prohibited in Islam.
OK, time for me to get my easel pad out of the car, maybe take a nap for a minute, and start cooking the chili we're having for dinner. Report to follow.
1:37 a.m.
That's what time it is and I'm making myself stop planning for tomorrow's fundraising meeting. I think I'm prepared now, better than I was for the last retreat. More later. Good night.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Burning out
I had to turn the PC off today and stay away from it. I actually did some housework this afternoon and then made a conscious decision to watch TV all evening (Law and Order back-to-back marathon on TNT). I've been obsessing over the store too much, endlessly tweaking the web site (yes, still) and the information sheet and trying to design the newsletter (any graphic-minded people out there willing to help out?), and then I start worrying worrying worrying about money and fundraising and then I get depressed because after the IRS cashes our check for the 1023 fee we'll have $180 in the bank, and then I start wondering why only one (yes, one) of my friends has made a donation, and then I feel obnoxious for continuously blogging about raising funds, but then I realize that there is no way for LOI to function without donations. I still haven't lost faith in the project's worth. Just obsessing over money - $180 to raise $125K...ain't gonna happen. Insha Allah we'll find a way. I'm meeting with Melissa on Sunday and we're going to devise a fundraising plan. I'm going prepared this time.
OK, folks, while Melissa and I are planning and plotting and figuring things out, I'd still be grateful if you could donate $50, or $25, or $20. The minutes on the LOI phone are going to run out soon, I need to get a PO box, hire an accountant, and as we start some more serious fundraising we'll need more money for that. You can make a donation through Paypal on the LOI website at http://www.light-of-islam.org/ (bear in mind you don't need a Paypal account to do so).
Anyways...ironically enough this post was supposed to be about me getting burned out thinking about LOI, and as soon as I start writing about it I start worrying again. I have to find a way to chill out, focus my energy and structure my time. OK, no posts till after Melissa and I meet on Sunday.
*****
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/.
OK, folks, while Melissa and I are planning and plotting and figuring things out, I'd still be grateful if you could donate $50, or $25, or $20. The minutes on the LOI phone are going to run out soon, I need to get a PO box, hire an accountant, and as we start some more serious fundraising we'll need more money for that. You can make a donation through Paypal on the LOI website at http://www.light-of-islam.org/ (bear in mind you don't need a Paypal account to do so).
Anyways...ironically enough this post was supposed to be about me getting burned out thinking about LOI, and as soon as I start writing about it I start worrying again. I have to find a way to chill out, focus my energy and structure my time. OK, no posts till after Melissa and I meet on Sunday.
*****
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/.
Glass half full
I've been amazed at how much negativity I've gotten from a variety of people about creating the bookstore. You can't do this, that won't work, this is too difficult, etc., etc.
I've blogged before about how this project is different from anything I've done before, and how my attitude is different. By nature I'm pessimistic, but with LOI I really feel that with God's help it's impossible not to succeed. I hope I can get people to share my vision, especially my board and community members. Yes, there are obstacles to raising funds with something that seems to be a retail project, and yes there are obstacles to raising funds without tax exempt status, but obstacles can be overcome. I didn't realize until Melissa and I sat down exactly how much start-up money I was going to need and therefore how far back we would have to push the opening, but I'm willing to forge ahead because this is, after all, a dream. I've swallowed my disappointment. Alhamdulillah it's not all bad. It's all good. I want to meet with my board in a few weeks and do some real brainstorming - throwing ideas out there, no matter how outlandish, and then working from there to form a plan. I hope they will see the glass half full, too.
*****
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 www.light-of-islam.org.
I've blogged before about how this project is different from anything I've done before, and how my attitude is different. By nature I'm pessimistic, but with LOI I really feel that with God's help it's impossible not to succeed. I hope I can get people to share my vision, especially my board and community members. Yes, there are obstacles to raising funds with something that seems to be a retail project, and yes there are obstacles to raising funds without tax exempt status, but obstacles can be overcome. I didn't realize until Melissa and I sat down exactly how much start-up money I was going to need and therefore how far back we would have to push the opening, but I'm willing to forge ahead because this is, after all, a dream. I've swallowed my disappointment. Alhamdulillah it's not all bad. It's all good. I want to meet with my board in a few weeks and do some real brainstorming - throwing ideas out there, no matter how outlandish, and then working from there to form a plan. I hope they will see the glass half full, too.
*****
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 www.light-of-islam.org.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Turning on that light!
BTW, I am still urging readers to "Turn on the Light of Islam!" Of the four things I planned to do when I brainstormed Turn on the Light, I've done one - I determined the status of pre-501c3 donations as far as tax deductions - and learned that they will be tax deductible retroactively when I get my tax exempt status.
UPDATE 3/26/07: I was advised by a reader that he spent five minutes searching the site to see how he could donate - so there is now a donation button on every page. If you went to the site and gave up, please go back and try again - thanks!
As for the other tasks I assigned myself, I'm still doing this planning, planning, planning that the more rational people working with me (Melissa and my husband) keep insisting I do, and the bigger fundraising plans will come out of that. I should have the newsletter done soon, too.
And thanks to my sister for urging readers to turn that light on!
UPDATE 3/26/07: I was advised by a reader that he spent five minutes searching the site to see how he could donate - so there is now a donation button on every page. If you went to the site and gave up, please go back and try again - thanks!
As for the other tasks I assigned myself, I'm still doing this planning, planning, planning that the more rational people working with me (Melissa and my husband) keep insisting I do, and the bigger fundraising plans will come out of that. I should have the newsletter done soon, too.
And thanks to my sister for urging readers to turn that light on!
Islam 101 has another success
At yesterday's Islam 101 class we had three students, all of whom became Muslim within the last year. One of them has worked really hard to memorize the components of formal prayer as well as some surahs. The other two, a brother and a sister, didn't know the fatiha. One knew Bismillah ir-rahman ir-raheem but nothing more.
Yesterday they memorized the fatiha and its English meaning. Alhamdulillah!
These are the people we risk failing. I don't disregard the Muslims who are working hard to educate, and may they be rewarded, but it's simply not easy to find a place to learn these fundamentals. I'm not blowing my own horn - Light of Islam is responding to a great need in this city. These Islam 101 students have gone for months after their reversion without learning how to pray, even though prayer is the foundation of Islamic practice. I want to open this bookstore because Houston needs a place that's visible, well-known, well-publicized, easy to find on the net and accessible. I finished an info sheet for LOI this morning. The copy is:
Although there are learning opportunities at mosques around the city, they aren’t consistently publicized or made accessible to a range of people. If you’re not Muslim or just became Muslim, you may not know about them or feel comfortable going to a mosque.
The small number of Islamic bookstores in Houston are primarily targeted to Muslims and focus mostly on religious issues.
You can go online to buy books and CDs about Islam, but a web site doesn’t offer the opportunity to browse, ask questions of a staff person, or attend classes.
And that is exactly what it's about. I'm so proud of these students. May Allah guide them to learn more all their lives and never stop learning.
Yesterday they memorized the fatiha and its English meaning. Alhamdulillah!
These are the people we risk failing. I don't disregard the Muslims who are working hard to educate, and may they be rewarded, but it's simply not easy to find a place to learn these fundamentals. I'm not blowing my own horn - Light of Islam is responding to a great need in this city. These Islam 101 students have gone for months after their reversion without learning how to pray, even though prayer is the foundation of Islamic practice. I want to open this bookstore because Houston needs a place that's visible, well-known, well-publicized, easy to find on the net and accessible. I finished an info sheet for LOI this morning. The copy is:
Although there are learning opportunities at mosques around the city, they aren’t consistently publicized or made accessible to a range of people. If you’re not Muslim or just became Muslim, you may not know about them or feel comfortable going to a mosque.
The small number of Islamic bookstores in Houston are primarily targeted to Muslims and focus mostly on religious issues.
You can go online to buy books and CDs about Islam, but a web site doesn’t offer the opportunity to browse, ask questions of a staff person, or attend classes.
And that is exactly what it's about. I'm so proud of these students. May Allah guide them to learn more all their lives and never stop learning.
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Friday, March 23, 2007
Application for recognition of exemption under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, AKA form 1023
IS OUTTA HERE!!!! ON ITS WAY TO COVINGTON, KENTUCKY VIA CERTIFIED, RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED PRIORITY MAIL!!!
Now the wait.
I've been told processing the application for charitable tax-exempt status takes anywhere from two to six months.
And so I wait.
Please pray for my application to be expedited, and LOI granted 501(c)(3) status. The sooner we get it, the sooner we can start fundraising in earnest. Hard core fundraising, not please-click-on-my-Paypal-button-if-you-have-a-chance fundraising. (Although everyone who reads this should be donating something through that button! Come on, could $25 or $50 really hurt that much? That's a couple weeks of lattes, for God's sake!)
I did finally have a revelation today about raising money during this sorrowful time pre-501(c)(3). It's the "Turn on the Light" campaign. I'm going to offer certain people the option of either giving now to help start things up or signing up for the LOI newsletter and being notified when the tax-exempt designation comes in. I'm going to make a version of my info sheet that includes that option. (I also need to find out what kind of deduction the IRS offers for a donation to a non-501(c)(3) organization. It may be that it's deductible despite my status.)
So now I have to:
1) Make the info sheet tailored to "Turn on the Light."
2) Create the first newsletter.
3) Figure out a way to create a database of potential victims - I mean donors.
4) Find out about the deductible status of donations to non-501(c)(3).
Which means I have to stop tweaking the web site. But I think I finished today by adding the copy clarifying the whole thing about a nonprofit retail:
What is a “nonprofit bookstore”?
A bookstore is a retail business, so how can it be nonprofit? Very simply, it can be both, and they are not mutually exclusive. Light of Islam Bookstore is a retail bookstore, but the profits don’t go to anyone but the company itself. Light of Islam is a registered nonprofit organization, and as such no profits can go to any individual involved with the store. The organization is governed by a board of directors and managed by an executive director who is an employee of the organization. There aren’t many models like this, but they do exist.
The primary purpose of selling books and providing educational activities is to fulfill Light of Islam Bookstore’s mission. It will be run just as a retail business would, but won’t rely solely on profits from book sales. That’s why we need support from donors, just as any nonprofit organization does.
You know, by reading this blog you're getting this genius for free, people. Buck up. $25. $50. This is me you're talking about. We go way back. Make me proud.
Now the wait.
I've been told processing the application for charitable tax-exempt status takes anywhere from two to six months.
And so I wait.
Please pray for my application to be expedited, and LOI granted 501(c)(3) status. The sooner we get it, the sooner we can start fundraising in earnest. Hard core fundraising, not please-click-on-my-Paypal-button-if-you-have-a-chance fundraising. (Although everyone who reads this should be donating something through that button! Come on, could $25 or $50 really hurt that much? That's a couple weeks of lattes, for God's sake!)
I did finally have a revelation today about raising money during this sorrowful time pre-501(c)(3). It's the "Turn on the Light" campaign. I'm going to offer certain people the option of either giving now to help start things up or signing up for the LOI newsletter and being notified when the tax-exempt designation comes in. I'm going to make a version of my info sheet that includes that option. (I also need to find out what kind of deduction the IRS offers for a donation to a non-501(c)(3) organization. It may be that it's deductible despite my status.)
So now I have to:
1) Make the info sheet tailored to "Turn on the Light."
2) Create the first newsletter.
3) Figure out a way to create a database of potential victims - I mean donors.
4) Find out about the deductible status of donations to non-501(c)(3).
Which means I have to stop tweaking the web site. But I think I finished today by adding the copy clarifying the whole thing about a nonprofit retail:
What is a “nonprofit bookstore”?
A bookstore is a retail business, so how can it be nonprofit? Very simply, it can be both, and they are not mutually exclusive. Light of Islam Bookstore is a retail bookstore, but the profits don’t go to anyone but the company itself. Light of Islam is a registered nonprofit organization, and as such no profits can go to any individual involved with the store. The organization is governed by a board of directors and managed by an executive director who is an employee of the organization. There aren’t many models like this, but they do exist.
The primary purpose of selling books and providing educational activities is to fulfill Light of Islam Bookstore’s mission. It will be run just as a retail business would, but won’t rely solely on profits from book sales. That’s why we need support from donors, just as any nonprofit organization does.
You know, by reading this blog you're getting this genius for free, people. Buck up. $25. $50. This is me you're talking about. We go way back. Make me proud.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
My space
No, not the virtual community, a real space. Yesterday afternoon I took a look at the retail space I spoke to a realtor about. Now I have it implanted in my mind that it's the future Light of Islam Bookstore.
(One day I'm going to write a post about the difference between obsession and determination; sometimes I can't tell the difference, like in this case - am I obsessed with that spot because it makes me feel like I can picture the future and so in my head I can envision an actual location? Or am I determined to achieve the goal of making that space the future LOI?)
Anyway - as I mentioned in yesterday's post the store is 980 square feet, which I thought was definitely going to be too small, but when I eyeballed it I thought it looked like the right size. It's in one of the strip malls that abound here in Clear Lake (virtually every retail business is in a shopping center of one size or another). There's plenty of parking and it's on a major street less than 1/4 mile from the intersection of two major streets, which makes it easy to access from the highway. (It's a little over 3 miles from my house, another bonus.) It has good visibility and unlike some shopping centers around here it's very easy to access from the street and in fact has two entrance/exits, one from the major road and one from the intersecting side street.
It was formerly a video store and has a couple small rooms in the back, one of which must have been their x-rated room. If I expanded the larger one a little it would make a good enclosed classroom. The store is a total dump right now. The convenience store next door has been using it as a storage space for their discarded or unused equipment and fixtures (e.g., there's an ice cream freezer sitting in there). It looks like no one ever cleaned up after the video store closed. I asked the guy at the convenience store how long it's been closed and he said he'd been working there 8 months and it had been closed since he started. The rent is $1400 and if I seriously considered it I would definitely negotiate that and see if I could make a deal regarding renovations.
Anyway, I really like the space, and even though it's probably going to be a year till I open, it may very well still be vacant in a year.
(One day I'm going to write a post about the difference between obsession and determination; sometimes I can't tell the difference, like in this case - am I obsessed with that spot because it makes me feel like I can picture the future and so in my head I can envision an actual location? Or am I determined to achieve the goal of making that space the future LOI?)
Anyway - as I mentioned in yesterday's post the store is 980 square feet, which I thought was definitely going to be too small, but when I eyeballed it I thought it looked like the right size. It's in one of the strip malls that abound here in Clear Lake (virtually every retail business is in a shopping center of one size or another). There's plenty of parking and it's on a major street less than 1/4 mile from the intersection of two major streets, which makes it easy to access from the highway. (It's a little over 3 miles from my house, another bonus.) It has good visibility and unlike some shopping centers around here it's very easy to access from the street and in fact has two entrance/exits, one from the major road and one from the intersecting side street.
It was formerly a video store and has a couple small rooms in the back, one of which must have been their x-rated room. If I expanded the larger one a little it would make a good enclosed classroom. The store is a total dump right now. The convenience store next door has been using it as a storage space for their discarded or unused equipment and fixtures (e.g., there's an ice cream freezer sitting in there). It looks like no one ever cleaned up after the video store closed. I asked the guy at the convenience store how long it's been closed and he said he'd been working there 8 months and it had been closed since he started. The rent is $1400 and if I seriously considered it I would definitely negotiate that and see if I could make a deal regarding renovations.
Anyway, I really like the space, and even though it's probably going to be a year till I open, it may very well still be vacant in a year.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Feeling icky
I don't know...this talk of money has me feeling yucky, maybe kind of dirty. I like the part where I had a dream a whole lot better. I like the beginning part (see archives) where I was so excited over the stupidest little things like getting my EIN and preliminary board meetings and so forth. I wish money had nothing to do with it. And as more people have started reading this blog, I'm finding that I self-censor a fair amount. I don't like that. I'm struggling with the bookstore having become some big other thing than it started out being. I don't want to think about raising $100 grand in 5 months. I want to think about selling great books and having great classes and picturing myself in the store, making it a success and feeling gratified. So from now on let's keep it simple. Rest assured, fundraising will be discussed on this blog, but I want to talk about me and how I'm building this thing. (But don't forget to go to the Paypal link on the web site and donate generously...darn it, I can't stop myself!)
So...my big focus now is on getting accurate numbers of budget items (darn! there goes that money thing again!) There's a commercial spot near here that's 980 sq. ft., which is smaller than what I was thinking, but the rent is about $500 less than what I had budgeted, so I think I'll stroll on over there and take a peek. The real estate agent told me I can get the key from the convenience store next door. (Wow, BTW.) I realize I won't be ready to sign a lease for what, like, 10 months, 9 months? But it's worth investigating, and you never know. OK, I'm shutting down the computer and heading out.
So...my big focus now is on getting accurate numbers of budget items (darn! there goes that money thing again!) There's a commercial spot near here that's 980 sq. ft., which is smaller than what I was thinking, but the rent is about $500 less than what I had budgeted, so I think I'll stroll on over there and take a peek. The real estate agent told me I can get the key from the convenience store next door. (Wow, BTW.) I realize I won't be ready to sign a lease for what, like, 10 months, 9 months? But it's worth investigating, and you never know. OK, I'm shutting down the computer and heading out.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Crunching money and gnashing my teeth
Oy vey...I've been going over the budget Melissa and I drafted and trying to fill in holes, rethink some of the estimates and organize it. The bottom line:
That's the very least it will take to turn the Light of Islam on :)
I originally planned to open in October. That's clearly not feasible.
I'd like to shoot for April 1, 2008. That gives me a year total of fundraising, with two caveats:
1. I probably won't have the 501(c)(3) until around September - seven months of fundraising.
2. I'll need most of it in place by January - five months of fundraising.
So...time to get down to business. This is all going to get funded by individual and corporate donors, mostly by individuals.
I need to figure out if I can open by April. I think the numbers tell me I can't, but I want to open tomorrow, so it's hard to be more realistic. Darn it! Well, I guess I'll work as hard at opening it as I will when it's open. I wish I didn't have a day job - BUT - one more sign that God wants me to do this is that the only job I got despite the many, many applications I put in was the one I do from home. Insha Allah this WILL get done. The Light of Islam Bookstore WILL open. No obstacles, no hindrances, no setbacks, no problems - ONLY SOLUTIONS AND WAYS TO SUCCEED!
$100,000
That's the very least it will take to turn the Light of Islam on :)
I originally planned to open in October. That's clearly not feasible.
I'd like to shoot for April 1, 2008. That gives me a year total of fundraising, with two caveats:
1. I probably won't have the 501(c)(3) until around September - seven months of fundraising.
2. I'll need most of it in place by January - five months of fundraising.
So...time to get down to business. This is all going to get funded by individual and corporate donors, mostly by individuals.
I need to figure out if I can open by April. I think the numbers tell me I can't, but I want to open tomorrow, so it's hard to be more realistic. Darn it! Well, I guess I'll work as hard at opening it as I will when it's open. I wish I didn't have a day job - BUT - one more sign that God wants me to do this is that the only job I got despite the many, many applications I put in was the one I do from home. Insha Allah this WILL get done. The Light of Islam Bookstore WILL open. No obstacles, no hindrances, no setbacks, no problems - ONLY SOLUTIONS AND WAYS TO SUCCEED!
New car, caviar, four star daydream
(With apologies to Pink Floyd...sorry, it goes through my head every time I think about money.)
Got $500 toward the $750 fee for filing the 1023!
(If you understand that you've either been reading my blog or know way too much about nonprofits or the IRS.)
It was supposed to be a loan but they made it a birthday gift, about a month early. I am soooo grateful for this help in addition to what they've helped me with all my life.
I put a Paypal button on the web site today. I worried that it might be tacky or seem wrong to solicit donations before LOI is tax-exempt, but I really don't know how else to cover the expenses that are coming up - things like accountant's fees, business cards and promotional materials, the phone, professional association fees, and all the other things that are coming up in the next few weeks and months. It is a nonprofit bookstore, after all, and nonprofits rely on the generosity of others, and generosity doesn't come without asking. Hopefully the 501(c)(3) will come through quickly.
I want to once again say how grateful I am for the money towards the IRS application. I hope I can achieve something to make them proud and happy.
Got $500 toward the $750 fee for filing the 1023!
(If you understand that you've either been reading my blog or know way too much about nonprofits or the IRS.)
It was supposed to be a loan but they made it a birthday gift, about a month early. I am soooo grateful for this help in addition to what they've helped me with all my life.
I put a Paypal button on the web site today. I worried that it might be tacky or seem wrong to solicit donations before LOI is tax-exempt, but I really don't know how else to cover the expenses that are coming up - things like accountant's fees, business cards and promotional materials, the phone, professional association fees, and all the other things that are coming up in the next few weeks and months. It is a nonprofit bookstore, after all, and nonprofits rely on the generosity of others, and generosity doesn't come without asking. Hopefully the 501(c)(3) will come through quickly.
I want to once again say how grateful I am for the money towards the IRS application. I hope I can achieve something to make them proud and happy.
Will the IRS ever hear from me?
I know in a month or two I'll be complaining that I haven't heard from the IRS yet about my 1023, but right now they haven't heard from me! My first goal was to have the application for 501(c)(3) submitted by the end of February, then that got revised to early March; now it's mid March...but I believe tonight I actually finished it. Now that's an accomplishment. Now I just have to get it in the mail. Right now I'm just waiting for the wonderful people who are loaning me the $750 application fee to show me the money, and then that huge step will have been taken.
Speaking of money, I'm considering putting a Paypal link on the LOI web site and soliciting small non tax-deductible donations to help with all these things I've been paying for - it's been adding up, and I really have no way of raising significant money without the tax exempt status, so any small amounts I can get here and there from friends and supporters chipping in will go a long way.
It's 12:25 a.m. What is wrong with me? I keep staying up late working on all these things - tonight it was the budget, the web site, and the 1023. I'm off tomorrow so I don't have to get up on that account, but I'm setting myself up to sleep through fajr. Instead of continuing to talk about being up, I am just going to go to sleep.
Speaking of money, I'm considering putting a Paypal link on the LOI web site and soliciting small non tax-deductible donations to help with all these things I've been paying for - it's been adding up, and I really have no way of raising significant money without the tax exempt status, so any small amounts I can get here and there from friends and supporters chipping in will go a long way.
It's 12:25 a.m. What is wrong with me? I keep staying up late working on all these things - tonight it was the budget, the web site, and the 1023. I'm off tomorrow so I don't have to get up on that account, but I'm setting myself up to sleep through fajr. Instead of continuing to talk about being up, I am just going to go to sleep.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
A plan! A plan! My kingdom for a plan!
Today was the looong planning day for Melissa and me. I feel bad because I should have been better prepared and more organized. The hours I've spent away from the PC were therapeutic mentally but left me with some tasks undone. It's difficult to do a business plan right now without the missing information, but I'm not sure we'll need anything that formal until we apply for grants (if we do). A nice proposal will do for now, which I've started drafting already - with a lot of the copy on the web site right now.
The big achievement was drafting an initial budget and determining start-up costs. Melissa was invaluable in helping me figure that out. There's still a lot I need to confirm, like utilities costs and advertising and so on, but at least we have a rough idea.
So now that we know approximately what it's going to cost to get this party started, it's time to complete a fundraising plan. We struggled over that, she being doggedly realistic and me being "we can get it done if we just believe!" Somewhere in the middle we came up with an initial plan.
Stay tuned...the Light of Islam Bookstore newsletter will be out soon...and more developments to come. We've found our footing, and insha Allah this is where the project is going to really come to life.
The big achievement was drafting an initial budget and determining start-up costs. Melissa was invaluable in helping me figure that out. There's still a lot I need to confirm, like utilities costs and advertising and so on, but at least we have a rough idea.
So now that we know approximately what it's going to cost to get this party started, it's time to complete a fundraising plan. We struggled over that, she being doggedly realistic and me being "we can get it done if we just believe!" Somewhere in the middle we came up with an initial plan.
Stay tuned...the Light of Islam Bookstore newsletter will be out soon...and more developments to come. We've found our footing, and insha Allah this is where the project is going to really come to life.
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Islam 101 - a year later
...and still plugging away...
On April 1 of last year we had the first "Islam 101" class at my masjid. I helped coordinate the class in response to so many people saying we need a class for new converts.
Say my fellow Muslims time and time again. Well, I do what I can, and so for a year I've been struggling to keep the class afloat, to publicize it and increase attendance, which has been tough because it's usually just two or three students (including me) there every Saturday. Some weeks there were no students, and some weeks no teacher. The class should have been one of those masjid projects doomed to die of inertia and lack of interest, but I've insisted on keeping the class going because it's needed. Even if just one or two people can be helped by it, that's a blessing for them and for us.
Today we had two new students, a woman and her teenage daughter who found out about the class on a web site where it was publicized, probably houstonmuslims.com, although she can't remember for sure. The woman recently married a Pakistani brother and converted to Islam before they got married. A couple months ago she said she suddenly really felt it - that Islam was right and she wanted to learn more and do more. Subhanallah. It's our fitrah - and when it's reawakened it is indeed a great feeling. Anyway, her daughter is inclined to also embrace Islam but the mom wants her to be really sure it's what she wants and that she understands it.
Our teacher reviewed tawheed, they asked some questions, and after he left we talked a bit and then they came to the prayer hall with me for asr. Neither of them knows how to pray, so they first followed along with me as I prayed my two rakat and then the three of us stood for the formal prayer and again they followed along. They were so happy! I gave them both the children's prayer and wudu books we use so they can look them over and I'll go over salat with them at next week's class.
Amazingly, when we were talking after class she said, "What's your last name?" When I told her, she said, "You have a blog, right? And you're opening a bookstore?" I was so thrilled...she said she had been to the LOI web site, although I think it was actually this blog, and had even called the phone number, although it wasn't connected yet. I don't even recall the weird ways that she found me in two different places but again, the qadr of Allah. Anyway, she enthusiastically agreed that something like LOI is absolutely needed. She had to search quite a bit before she found Islam 101. I worry that many converts or other interested people never have.
On April 1 of last year we had the first "Islam 101" class at my masjid. I helped coordinate the class in response to so many people saying we need a class for new converts.
We watch them say shahadah and then never do anything for them, never
follow up...
Say my fellow Muslims time and time again. Well, I do what I can, and so for a year I've been struggling to keep the class afloat, to publicize it and increase attendance, which has been tough because it's usually just two or three students (including me) there every Saturday. Some weeks there were no students, and some weeks no teacher. The class should have been one of those masjid projects doomed to die of inertia and lack of interest, but I've insisted on keeping the class going because it's needed. Even if just one or two people can be helped by it, that's a blessing for them and for us.
Today we had two new students, a woman and her teenage daughter who found out about the class on a web site where it was publicized, probably houstonmuslims.com, although she can't remember for sure. The woman recently married a Pakistani brother and converted to Islam before they got married. A couple months ago she said she suddenly really felt it - that Islam was right and she wanted to learn more and do more. Subhanallah. It's our fitrah - and when it's reawakened it is indeed a great feeling. Anyway, her daughter is inclined to also embrace Islam but the mom wants her to be really sure it's what she wants and that she understands it.
Our teacher reviewed tawheed, they asked some questions, and after he left we talked a bit and then they came to the prayer hall with me for asr. Neither of them knows how to pray, so they first followed along with me as I prayed my two rakat and then the three of us stood for the formal prayer and again they followed along. They were so happy! I gave them both the children's prayer and wudu books we use so they can look them over and I'll go over salat with them at next week's class.
Amazingly, when we were talking after class she said, "What's your last name?" When I told her, she said, "You have a blog, right? And you're opening a bookstore?" I was so thrilled...she said she had been to the LOI web site, although I think it was actually this blog, and had even called the phone number, although it wasn't connected yet. I don't even recall the weird ways that she found me in two different places but again, the qadr of Allah. Anyway, she enthusiastically agreed that something like LOI is absolutely needed. She had to search quite a bit before she found Islam 101. I worry that many converts or other interested people never have.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)