I've got butterflies...

Hi loyal readers -- I'm back after a long hiatus. And as we work to finalize the Greatest Gift Foundation Web site, I'll be ramping back up on this blog and trying to post three times a week. Once we launch, the blog will move there as a permanent feature of the site. Which gives me butterflies, both figuratively and literally! We hired an outstanding design and brand identity firm, Spyglass, to design our logo and brand, and after viewing hundreds of design sketches and ideas, we landed on one that surprised me but delighted me and everyone in the room and completely fits with our nonprofit's ethos. A simple butterfly, conveniently crafted out of a couple of lower case 'g's. Can't say for sure we're going to run with it as the final, but I suspect we will.

So I had to grin when I first saw the cover today of a new book published in part by UNOS: The Gift that Heals: Stories of hope, renewal, and transformation through organ and tissue donation. Nice little butterfly on the cover! I love the choice of the words "hope," "renewal," and "transformation," too -- all of those came up when we were talking through the butterfly logo concept with Spyglass, and all of them ring so true. I haven't read this book yet but it sounds inspiring. This is from UNOS' news release about the book, which came out in January 2008:

A few years ago, UNOS approached writer and donor dad Reg Green with the idea of writing a book about organ and tissue donation. The recently published book is titled, "The Gift That Heals: Stories of hope, renewal and transformation through organ and tissue donation." What makes this book unique is that it consists of 42 personal stories covering almost every facet of the donation/transplantation process -- the experiences of donor families, living donors, transplant candidates and recipients, donation and transplant professionals. "The goal of this book is to give readers a feel for the wide range of emotions and experiences that are inherent in this fascinating, life-saving procedure," said Walter Graham, executive director of UNOS, who conceived the idea for the book. "At the same time, we want readers to be inspired to support organ and tissue donation -- especially by declaring their intention to be donors themselves."

The book is available through publishing company AuthorHouse. It is also available through Amazon.com. The price is approximately $13. Electronic copies are available from AuthorHouse for $4.95.

Not able to take credit cards

I was overly optimistic before when I said we'd be able to accept credit cards. Very sorry! We can accept checks and cash, and there are two ATMs on site at Stella's.

We're truly sorry for the inconvenience!

The schedule of events

For all you fabulous people who are joining us this Saturday for the fifth annual Jingle Jangle, here is the schedule of events....

7:00 - Doors open! Silent auction begins, food and drinks are served. House music by DJs Bryan Gerrard and David Drone of Celebrity Records goes into the night.
9:00 - Very short program: Thank you message from the Greatest Gift Foundation, introducing guests of honor, and drawing for door prizes, including a weekend getaway for two with airfare and hotel!
9:30 - Silent auction ends.
10:30 - Another round of door prize drawings. Doors open for any donation.
1:30 - Last call
2:00 - You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here.

Let's call it "Festive Flirty"

Dress code? Well, it's winter and it's Minnesota, which means your flannel pajama pants are not only practical but probably socially acceptible no matter where you Jingle your Jangle on a cold December night. As for me, I'll be wearing sequins and showing some cleavage. It's the holidays! So let's call the dress code "festive flirty," like this happy young woman with very natural hair color seems to be all about. If you're hopping, come as you are. Its YOU we want to see!

(Gents, tuxes would be definite overkill. And yet, you look so darned gorgeous in them, so who am I to stop you if the mood strikes?)

The car and parking situation

Parking: Stella's offers a $6 valet service, which will be a good choice if you're planning to stay for a few hours. Otherwise, a cheaper option may be to park at the Calhoun Square lot (Lake and Girard, one block east of Hennepin and across the street from Stella's) or at the Lagoon Cinema lot (Lagoon and Girard, one block north of Stella's).

Remember, though, good little elves don't drive at all if they've had too many martinis. A steady stream of cabs is available at Figlio's across the street throughout the night, and we'll have plenty of non-alcoholic choices for the DD in your group.

It's the silent auction, woot woot!

Fabulous holiday gifts, not only at a bargain, but also for a good cause? YES! Our not-so-silent auction will include, among other things:

A certified-authentic Brett Favre autographed game ball

BOSE QuietComfort II headphones

Gift certificates to Stella's Fish Cafe, Wildfire, Kip's Irish Pub, and other great restaurants

Minnesota Wild suite hockey tickets

Jewelry sets by Silpada

A bottle of vintage red Bordeaux

The coolest U of M popcorn and crock giftset you ever saw

Aveda gift baskets

Morningstar Coffee gift basket

Tastefully Simple gift basket

Subscriptions to Mpls.St.Paul Magazine and Metro Magazine

Original, hand-carved wooden Santa Clauses made by my awesome Dad

A set of collectible Mad Magazines and comic books

A gift certificate to Midwest Mountaineering

Plus holiday ornaments, a collectible Wells Fargo plush pony, and other great gift certificates and merchandise!

And yes, you read it right... we will accept credit cards. See you there!

The time, the place

December 8, 2007
7 p.m. - 2 a.m.

Stella's Fish Cafe
3rd Floor Private Lounge
1400 West Lake Street
Uptown, Minneapolis

Tickets are on sale now for a minimum donation of $35. We have room for all your friends, and tickets will be available at the door -- spread the word! To purchase tickets, contact Becky Waller or Mindy Gudmundson.

All net proceeds will go to the brand-new Greatest Gift Foundation (see next post).