Presentation and Events

Sunday night I presented Kilimanjaro and Beyond to a small but enthusiastic crowd at the Barrhaven United Church.  There were great questions, African treats and some generous donations to the micro finance project! Thanks to all who attended.

Stay tuned for exciting events coming up in Ottawa, Canada.  I can say that the 3rd annual golf tournament is a "go" for August and I have been making some phone calls to line up an exciting event for October.  I wish I could tell you more, but you will just have to be patient.  There will also be a Book Launch in Ottawa in the summer and some others across the country in the fall.  No wonder the time goes by so fast!!

A little more about the new project...

I just received the funding proposal for the "Economic Security for Families in Tanzania" project.  While in Tanzania we saw it in action.  Young women were either requesting or paying back loans to establish small businesses.  After a lot of encouragement, one woman told us she bought fish at the market, took it home, cooked it and resold it for a profit of $20 per day.  Another needed a loan to buy soft drinks in bulk so she could sell them from her home. Another buys cloth and makes suits for resale. When we congratulated them, their faces absolutely lit up.  The self esteem and satisfaction they are achieving from their work is immeasurable and they will be able to send their kids to school or buy groceries with the money they are earning. 

These young woman have little or no education but they have pride and it makes me proud to be associated with the project.  We will be raising money to provide Village Savings and Loan training and kits that will benefit over 79,000 people, including 11,000 women and youth.  In keeping with our theme of education as a means of resolving many of the world's issues, by helping young mothers, children will be be able to go to school. And the best part is that every dollar we raise will be matched 3:1 by the Canadian federal government.  Let's make the government pay!!!!      

Donations can be made by clicking on the link at the right.  We will also be holding events in support of our new project.  The first one will be the 3rd annual golf tournament in Smiths Falls, Ontario on August 27.

I hope you will agree that this is a project worth supporting! Stay tuned for further announcements!!

I'm Waiting Just As Fast As I Can

Thanks to musician son Trevor who gave this title to one of his compositions because it seems to be appropriate.  I received an email from the publisher on Friday concerning the cover concept so things are definitely moving on my book.  But as everyone knows, waiting for somthing special to happen can be difficult.  What is that saying?  Patience is a virtue?  I guess I am not feeling very virtuous these days! But wait, I discovered that there is a second part to the quote: "Possess it if you can, Seldom found in woman, Never found in man."  There I feel better!

R.I.P. Todd Cerney

I am very sad to announce that Todd Cerney, husband of Kip Kirby who edited my manuscript, has passed away.  The following was posted in the CMT News tonight.

Todd Cerney, Co-Writer of "Good Morning Beautiful" Dies in Nashville


March 14, 2011

Todd David Cerney, co-writer of the No. 1 country hits "Good Morning Beautiful" (recorded by Steve Holy) and "I'll Still Be Loving You" (Restless Heart) died Monday (March 14) in Nashville following a battle with cancer. Cerney was also a noted musician and singer who performed internationally. He backed the Dixie Chicks on their first radio tour and was a member of the Nashville Mandolin Ensemble. Among other artists who recorded Cerney's songs are Aretha Franklin, the Four Tops, Ty Herndon, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Cheap Trick and Etta James. As a backup singer, he recorded with Kenny Rogers, Michael Johnson, John Conlee and Levon Helm. "I'll Still Be Loving You" won ASCAP's country song of the year award in 1988. Cerney is survived by his wife, Kip Kirby, the former Nashville bureau chief of Billboard magazine.

Good Morning Beautiful

Quiet, Anxious Period!

Yesterday was an exciting day as all the material was sent to the publisher. I am told by the publisher that this is the quiet, anxious period as I will be twiddling my thumbs (as far as the book is concerned) for six to eight weeks while the cover is being designed.  There will be a flurry of activity when Chris and I get to see and approve it, then it will be another period of apparently nothing happening while the interior is designed.  There is a review and approval process for about 25 pages, then the same thing for the entire book.  All of this to say that I am expecting a finished product and launch in the summer. 

Letters for the Children of Tanzania

Last night I made a presentation to the Youth Group at our church about our recent trip to Tanzania.  They had written letters to the kids in Tanzania and we brought back letters that the kids at the school wrote in returrn.  We explained to the Youth Group that the children in Tanzania don't really understand what snow is so the  Youth Group decided it would be a good idea to show them.  Here is the result.
I should mention that the one on the right isn't a youth.