Since I'm clearly not challenging everyone enough...

I'll set out another mission. Obviously this crafting thing is just becoming old hat now. Hmph.

I would very much like it if everyone could bring one person to the community by June 30. Whether it's a friend you get to sign up who doesn't usually blog or whether you post to a community and you see that someone from there joins...I dun care. But since the gods of LJ don't want to put us in the spotlight, we are going to just have to start ourselves a word-of-mouth campaign.

This goes for livejournal or blogspot, but I want us to be AT LEAST 100 strong by the middle of the year. We're almost there.

Be ambitious again...for the first time :)

19 more in April

OK - well - since I like to post all at once at the end of the month (because then I know where we are on our goals, etc.) here is my monthly contribution. Holy moly we blew that monster away!! Thank you to everyone for all of your hard work!!

7 scarves for the Mary Read Memorial KAL. 12 Warm Up Americ Sqares

One Last April Post

Even though we have blown through our April goal already, I have 3 more afghan squares to add to the number - another two for WUA and 1 for Va Tech.

I think it is just terrific that the group exceeded April's goal. And I have no doubt we can reach 750 by June 30th!

I also want to take a moment and thank you all for making me feel so welcome here. Your enthusiasm is infectious, and I know that I have been more productive than usual in the past few weeks, thanks in large part to all of you. I'm glad that I could contribute to the April goal, and I look forward to adding to our May/June numbers as well!

The moment you've been waiting for.

Alright. We've all had 24 hours to slap each other. I meant, slap each other on the backs. Metaphorically. In other words, we have had 24 hours to celebrate the fact that we not only made our April goal of 300 items, but we are also 10% of the way to our ultimate 2007 goal of 3000.

Now enough celebrating already!

I am going to lay out some pretty aggressive goals here.

Instead of setting up a specific goal for May only, I'm going to establish a goal for June 30, which will mark the half-way point through 2007. That number...

750.

Now, if you think about it, that's only 450 items from where we are. Actually a little less than that. And if we do around 200 items per month, which is not much more than what we've been doing...I think this is feasible.

At 750, we will be a whopping 25% towards our goal. True, that will mean we have 6 months to do the other 75%, but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it.

I'm kind of thinking (perhaps wishful thinking) that with warmer weather, there will be less blankets and afghans and more small things, cuz it's tough to make a wool afghan when it's 80 degrees outside. Of course, I'm assuming it won't snow in June.

Are you ready for this?!?! 750 hooooooooo!!

10%

I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone in this community for helping us get to the lofty 10% mark.

When this thing first started out in January, we finished around 12 items. I tried to calculate things out. Well, if we could get up to 15-20 items a month...maybe we could get to 300 or so by the end of the year. Maybe we could get to 10% by 2008.

Instead, we have gotten there in 4 months.

3000 has always been the goal in my head for this year, but I never really thought it was reachable in any kind of major way. You all are making me think that we could actually have a shot at it. And that is one of the greatest feelings I have had in a long, long time. Thank you for coming together and making this stuff work and happen. You all are the best! This has been a great day!

Now...let's keep it up :) I'll post goals for May tomorrow or Monday...in the meantime, if any of you have any goals you'd like to see accomplished...speak up! Love to hear 'em.

Attention Bakers!!!

Share Our Strength is doing something called the Great American Bake Sale. You can go to the website and sign up for information. I am hoping to find a group here to donate baked items to! YIPEE!

We do count baked goods donated for bake sales, so this is a great opportunity if you are tired of knitting *gasp* (not that I will ever EVER tire of knitting!!!)

Bag O'Sunshine, Take 2

arian_diana has probably the easiest access to a VA, so right now I am looking at the VA in her town being kind of our adopted receiver. It's Indiana, it's the heartland. Who can argue with that? If doclegs finds out other places, we could always donate to more than one place. Similarly, per leftygirl, if you have a VA in your own hometown that you want to contribute to, just let us know.

funfairiegirl made the point that instead of having a point person to stuff the bags with whatever, all items should be sent to the person who will actually be going to the VA. If little games or whatever are purchased, those can be sent and hopefully the person won't mind sticking those items in little bags...or whatever.

doclegs has already volunteered to purchase little items that are needed. If there are any other volunteers for that kind of thing (emmiegray, I'm thinking of your previous kind offer here) then let us know.

arian_diana will also let us know what other items are needed, but I'm thinking this is a good start for now. Please continue to offer insight, whether for or against.

Thanks everyone!