Just wanted to say a quick thanks to Fred Wilson, Donorschoose.org, and all of the donors. I am one of the teachers whose class recieved goods donated through this blog. It was great to meet the people who made this all possible! I hope to do more work with everyone in the future. Sincere Gratitude, Stephanie Fisher
fredwilson
· 1 month ago
I think the gratitude should be for the work you do with the kids
andyswan
· 1 month ago
One thing I think that would make DonorsChoose exponentially more valuable:
Turn some of the projects into "experiments" using new technologies (supplied by donors) and methodologies (that the teacher is passionate about). The teacher could then publish their experience and recommendations to other teachers through the DonorsChoose network.....thus allowing other teachers to "piggyback" on the most successful ideas and donors to continue funding EFFECTIVE projects/technologies.
Just thinking there is a lot of power to create real CHANGE in the network they are creating. Assuming the government schools allow them to stray off course from the top priority of self-esteem boosting ;)
Mark Essel
· 1 month ago
Great idea Andy. That clause at the end is what we have to change, self esteem should develop naturally from honest learning. Not peddled in a charlatan manner to kids.
DaveinHackensack
· 1 month ago
Before doing that, someone ought to collect and centralize the results of all of the previous educational experiments over the last several decades, so people don't try the same things and expect different results. There's a rich history of failure following educational experiments over the years.
andyswan
· 1 month ago
Good point.
William Mougayar
· 1 month ago
It was a great meetup. I met additional new faces, but the highlight for me was to learn more about the Donors Choose organization- I was very impressed by their dedication and vision.
Mark Essel
· 1 month ago
Great to meet up in person William. Glad to hear things are rolling along well for eqentia and looking forward to seeing where you aim that discovery portal.
William Mougayar
· 1 month ago
Mark- Thanks for your support! And meeting you was another highlight as well.
awaldstein
· 1 month ago
Fred--great meetup. The process of being able to donate efficiently, get a personal response from the teachers and then meet these folks seems like that way it should be. Just felt right.
As well, for many of us who are at the cutting edge of tech, finding out that many of the children in these classes didn't even have computers at home, connects me personally to the process. Thnx.
Mark Essel
· 1 month ago
Oh darnit I missed saying hi Arnold. That's it next time I'm hopping on a chair and saying hi to everyone :)
awaldstein
· 1 month ago
Next time Mark. Or just come on down to NY anytime.
William Mougayar
· 1 month ago
Hey Arnold, Nice meeting you too, and putting a real face between those sunglasses...
awaldstein
· 1 month ago
;)
ErikSchwartz
· 1 month ago
Who are the Yankees?
Carl Rahn Griffith
· 1 month ago
They are a bit like Sheffield Wednesday, I think, Erik ... a sleeping giant that has woken up!
fredwilson
· 1 month ago
I told everyone that would listen that Jay-Z gave em back their mojo before game two
ErikSchwartz
· 1 month ago
Seriously. Terrific event. Important cause.
Thanks.
PS The Red Sox will sign Matsui and win the World Series next year.
Satish
· 1 month ago
Thank God the Yankees won. My wife still blames me for the Yankees losing to the RedSox in 2004. She met me in person for the first time on the day the Yankees lost the first game after being up 3-0. She didn't watch baseball for a couple of years after that.Just followed scored online :) And if they lost his year i might have been searching for a divorce lawyer. :P
ShanaC
· 1 month ago
hehe.
kidmercury
· 1 month ago
the phillies really blew an opportunity in taking the mojo back by not trying to get some of the folks jay-z beefs with to open for them. jay-z beefs with everyone, that's his marketing strategy, the phils really could have used it against him. oh well, next year.
ShanaC
· 1 month ago
Explain that to a phillies fan. While sitting next to him.
fredwilson
· 1 month ago
Good point
William Mougayar
· 1 month ago
We should have piped in Kid via video conference. A meetup without him is not the same. I really wanted to meet you, not Fred :)
fredwilson
· 1 month ago
I think there's a lot of us who feel that way william
William Mougayar
· 1 month ago
You may have to organize a repeat event!
Carl Rahn Griffith
· 1 month ago
Sounds great, Fred. Would have been great to have been there. We all have a lot to learn from such altruistic initiatives. As you may recall, Helen (my wife) is a teacher so this is a subject especially close to my heart.
We cannot wait for/expect 'government' to manage and support education - we all need to be far more proactive in this domain. It's too important. Well done, everyone - especially Sarah!
Mark Essel
· 1 month ago
It was jaw dropping to realize how much she raised. I felt a little embarassed our blog community only raised a tenth. Can't help but feel competitive when it comes to great activities like empowering teachers :)
ADstruc
· 1 month ago
Great to meet you and get a chance to catch up last night, Fred. It was an amazing event to be a part of and I look forward to future ones.
Wish I could have been there but the trip from Switzerland's a bit much.As the husband of a teacher (like Carl) more than happy to help out the cause. See you in Paris!
JenC
· 1 month ago
Great meet-up - so good to get "real time" with the DonorsChoose group - wonderful, intelligent and dedicated people. Definitely helps keep my overall view in perspective. And might I also add - though I enjoy a cheesesteak from Pat's every now and then, I much prefer the Yankees!
Keenan
· 1 month ago
There is power in community and blogging/social media are increasing the velocity of creating community every day. We are in amazing times. It's exciting to see.
Congrats on a successful effort Fred.
Chris Robison
· 1 month ago
Thanks for hosting the meetup Fred. While many of us are from the Internet/high tech space, it was great to meet people from other industries with a different set of interests and perspectives. I'd love to see more events that bring together this type of diverse group, linked though a similar entry point -- DonorsChoose and you in this case.
andreaitis
· 1 month ago
Thanks also to Elaine for coordinating on the Donors Choose side. Loved meeting her -- her energy and enthusiasm is completely contagious. I'm glad we could all help make a difference.
ErikSchwartz
· 1 month ago
I met a bunch of folks who read regularly, have really interesting things to say, but never comment. Don't be shy, join the fray!
Jeff Judge
· 1 month ago
You should do meetups in other cities - like Chicago :)
fredwilson
· 1 month ago
I know. That's what I am going to try to do. When I travel, I never make time to stick around and meetup. I've got a wife and kids that I want to get back to. So its a challenge
ShanaC
· 1 month ago
You love them and are committed to them. That's a good thing. From what I hear, and what I see, being on the road is already hard. Having that torch for them is good. Keeps people honest.
Dave this is the worst possible time. I'm in an absolute panic. One of the peices I posted on Fred's daughter's blog, Art Dova, on facebook, may or may not be violating their terms of service. It's starting to be treated as spamland, except it reallt is a peice of
I invited people from my dorm/university with the login (dovafacebook@gmail.com) and the password(psswrd) Someone gave me the advice of inviting my friends randomly, and to push it further and invite randomness randomly. Andf people are randomly using it too. So I have no idea what is going on. It's a piece of Net.Art with a completely expansive asyncronous collective mind. The people who have logged in (and new people keep coming forward every day) have a variety of reactions from awesome, control, hate, fear, and non-understanding (which is really good for art.)
Except trying to harness social networks. I might try other stuff, but right now I may be legally at stake. I have no clue what is going on. What do I do?
DaveinHackensack
· 1 month ago
Sorry, wish I could help you, but I clicked on the links and still don't quite understand what your project is and what the problem with it is. Besides, I'm not a lawyer. I'd consult one if you think you need one. That's one area I don't skimp on. E.g., with my new venture I made sure to hire a lawyer familiar both with the relevant IT and securities issues.
If your project is a not-for-profit art project, maybe there are lawyers who work with artists on a pro bono basis, I don't know.
ShanaC
· 1 month ago
The EFF and probably a friend of a freing of mine. Marks also wieghing in on the "is this art and what do you do" People ha e really strong reactions to contemporary art, one of which is yours. Internet art is fairly new. And I'm being very radical in that field too. And a little headstrong. so uhh yeah, hopefully it should be ok. But uhh yeah (world, if you see this, artists are complexly wierd creatures that bang at stuff until it works, it works, and then it goes sort of wrong)
ShanaC
· 1 month ago
There are enough people here that we could self-organise, you know. Just because Fred happens to exist in New York and some of us exist in other cities, doesn't mean the other city people can't get together and do our own thing. It actually might be a good thing long term to see who is where as people move around the country. Webspaces might be more central meeting points, and we organize to re-inforce those commitments. So mini-meetups. So that we know what's what.
Mark Essel
· 1 month ago
I wish we all wore giant labels, "Hey I'm Mark Essel." I felt like I may have known so many there by name, but ended up only talking to those I was able to recognize.
fredwilson
· 1 month ago
I hear you. But I veto'd that. I don't like badges. But erik's idea that we wear our disqus avatar instead is awesome
Mark Essel
· 1 month ago
We forgot a group picture, that would have been nice!
fredwilson
· 1 month ago
Yup. Live and learn
kidmercury
· 1 month ago
lol yeah i'm definitely down for wearing our avatars
jim hirshfield
· 1 month ago
I was surprised to meet people from the Caribbean, Toronto, and California at the event. It was a nice mashup of backgrounds (tech, edu, finance) and a unique vibe in contrast to all the tech meetups out there.
dangoldin
· 1 month ago
I had a great time. I met a lot of interesting people and I'm glad that the teachers were able to make it out!
Sarah D Bunting
· 1 month ago
Thanks for having me, Fred -- great to meet you (and all of YOU) at last, and I appreciate your many kind words about Tomato Nation and its readers. Looking forward to the next meet-up.
ShanaC
· 1 month ago
Sorry I missed it- but at least I met some new people down here.
Jamie Lin
· 1 month ago
Great event. Thanks, Fred.
Nick Giglia
· 1 month ago
It was a great event. I am thankful for the opportunity to meet so many exciting people and to contribute to the worthy cause that is DonorsChoose. There is an incredible community of people reading this blog, and it felt great to be a small part of that.
Fred, it was a pleasure to meet you in person. I'm glad you liked the phrase on my card.
fredwilson
· 1 month ago
I love the attitude you express on your card
kirklove
· 1 month ago
I sense too much glee in "put the Phils away" statement, still, very great meeting you, Fred. ; )
Thanks for the event.
Kid, I feel your pain. Go Birds.
fredwilson
· 1 month ago
I'm not a yankee fan but as a met fan, any pain the phils feel fees good to me
Angela
· 1 month ago
Hi Fred,
I think that it is nice that you help out start-up technology companies. I'm trying to get the word out to VC's like you, about a new website called Conektinc at http://conektinc.com. It matches VCs with entrepreneurs. If you are interested, you can enter in your e-mail address at the link I provided to receive a notice of the launch of this new site. Thank you!
robsanchez
· 1 month ago
Thank you for putting together the meetup. It was great meeting you - nice to meet the man behind the advice and conversations. I loved having a chance to talk with the teachers and learned a lot about ESL and special ed classrooms.
All Comments
Sincere Gratitude,
Stephanie Fisher
Turn some of the projects into "experiments" using new technologies (supplied by donors) and methodologies (that the teacher is passionate about). The teacher could then publish their experience and recommendations to other teachers through the DonorsChoose network.....thus allowing other teachers to "piggyback" on the most successful ideas and donors to continue funding EFFECTIVE projects/technologies.
Just thinking there is a lot of power to create real CHANGE in the network they are creating. Assuming the government schools allow them to stray off course from the top priority of self-esteem boosting ;)
As well, for many of us who are at the cutting edge of tech, finding out that many of the children in these classes didn't even have computers at home, connects me personally to the process. Thnx.
Thanks.
PS The Red Sox will sign Matsui and win the World Series next year.
We cannot wait for/expect 'government' to manage and support education - we all need to be far more proactive in this domain. It's too important. Well done, everyone - especially Sarah!
I'll keep you posted on ADstruc's progress.
All the best,
John
www.adstruc.com
Congrats on a successful effort Fred.
I invited people from my dorm/university with the login (dovafacebook@gmail.com)
and the password(psswrd)
Someone gave me the advice of inviting my friends randomly, and to push it further and invite randomness randomly. Andf people are randomly using it too. So I have no idea what is going on. It's a piece of Net.Art with a completely expansive asyncronous collective mind. The people who have logged in (and new people keep coming forward every day) have a variety of reactions from awesome, control, hate, fear, and non-understanding (which is really good for art.)
It is descendent from things like this:
http://www.0100101110101101.org/home/biennale_p...
and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jodi_(art_collective)
Except trying to harness social networks. I might try other stuff, but right now I may be legally at stake. I have no clue what is going on. What do I do?
If your project is a not-for-profit art project, maybe there are lawyers who work with artists on a pro bono basis, I don't know.
I felt like I may have known so many there by name, but ended up only talking to those I was able to recognize.
Fred, it was a pleasure to meet you in person. I'm glad you liked the phrase on my card.
Thanks for the event.
Kid, I feel your pain. Go Birds.
I think that it is nice that you help out start-up technology companies. I'm trying to get the word out to VC's like you, about a new website called Conektinc at http://conektinc.com. It matches VCs with entrepreneurs. If you are interested, you can enter in your e-mail address at the link I provided to receive a notice of the launch of this new site. Thank you!
http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/11/06/zynga-scam...