Supervisor Meeting

I met with my supervisor, Mrs. Novak, today to go over what I have been working on. I am planning the bear drive, by reaching out to Ms. Karen and Ms. Schafer and creating posters and flyers. I plan to have the barrels set up the week after we return from Spring Break. I am still awaiting the brochures from TBWH, but as soon as I get them, I can hand them out and promote their organization.

Teddy Bear Restrictions

The restrictions that I have learned are the following:

- NOT JUST BEARS!!!

- No batteries

- Not a hard body

- 3 & under bears (tag)

- New or lightly used

Post 2

This week, I wrote up all my questions for my meeting with the TBWH Board Members. I was very excited to meet everyone and learn more about the organization. When we (my supervisor, Mrs. Novak and I) arrived, Ms. Karen and Ms. Barbara introduced themselves and led us inside. They have been meeting at the Moose Lodge for about a year now to discuss plans, and accomplishments, and such. I got to ask my questions, and I received great, and very thorough answers.

1. Can you please tell me about your organization?
We are a part of the global organization "Good Bears of the World" and we collect and donate bears and stuffed animals to children in crisis, terminally ill, and the forgotten elderly. Susan Hansen started our organization seven years ago because she had a whole bunch of bears and recognized there were people who needed them more than her. We started by having meetings at Susie's house and bringing a bear each, every time. The five of us bagged and tagged the bears in the living room, and delivered them to the fire and police stations ourselves. We started getting volunteers and hosting bear drives and hundreds of bears began to come in. Our organization expanded to other counties. So far, we have collected 45,000 bears.

2. Why did you begin?
We began because we had an overpopulation of bears, and felt that there was a need of comfort in the community with children needing comfort in difficult situations.

3. How did you inform the community about your organization and the events you host?
We have advertisements on the radio, K Pig and K Ocean, and in the paper. Our organization has a Facebook page and a website. A large part of raising awareness of our organization is word of mouth.

4. What are some ways you collect bears?
We collect bears through bear drives, word of mouth, purchase and donations.

5. How would you suggest I promote TBWH when I collect?
You can use our pamphlets and make your own flyers and signs.

6. When are your next events?

 

7. How do you deliver your bears? Where do they go after you collect them?
Volunteers help us so much! They help deliver to the organizations we donate to.

8. How can I best help?
You can best help by planning a wonderful bear drive!

9. Do you have any suggestions about collection?
We suggest that you collect in your own community -- your block/street. Maybe place a paper bags, with a letter outside everyone's house and after a week collected the bags and donated any collected bears to TBWH. A boy scout group made Christmas decorations, sold them, and bought bears with their profits, which they donated to us.

Project Action Plan

Project Title: Teddy Bears With Heart

Need: To provide comfort and show support to those in crisis

Community: Hospitals and nursing homes

Global Context: Fairness and development

Goal: Helping bring comfort to children in crisis, terminally ill and the forgotten elderly.

Time frame: My plan of action will take 2-4 weeks.

Location: My event will take place at the International School of Monterey and the Portola Hotel and Spa executive office.

Specific tasks/activities to complete: (I will continue to update this section) Email my community partner, Mr. Madden (Director of ISM) and Ms. Janine (General manager of Portola Hotel and Spa).

Community members needed to complete the action: Ms. Susie and Ms. Karen (TBWH), Mr. Madden (ISM), Ms. Janine (PH&S).

Publicity plan: I plan to use flyers, posters, emails and signs.

Materials needed to complete the action: Computers, signs (pencils, paper, markers, TBWH design), barrels.

Material cost: Not any that I can think of.

Project Proposal

Action Goal:
Helping bring comfort to children in crisis, the terminally ill and the forgotten elderly.

Need:
To provide comfort and show support

Targeted Community:
Hospitals and nursing homes

Global Context:
Fairness and development

Post 1

I met with my supervisor over the weekend and we discussed plans of action. My "To Do" list includes the following:

Actions	Date Completed By
Project work plan/student contract & agreement?	I have already completed my Project Plan and submitted it to Managebac. I spoke with Mr. Will about the Student Contract and Agreement and he explained that this is for group teams only. Completed 3-3-16.
Create the blog to be used as the process journal	Being created -- in the process of being added to and edited. Ongoing.
Work on Action Plan
Contact Teddy Bears with Heart to arrange to get a barrel to collect donations	Within the week 2-29 I sent an email 3-5-16.
Contact Janine Chicourrat at the Portola Hotel and Spa	Will send Monday 3-7-16
Contact Mr. Madden at ISM to see if I can place barrel to collect bears at ISM	I sent an email 3-5-16
Arrange next student/supervisor meeting	Within the week 2-29. I met with Mrs. Novak on 3-5-16 and we will met again on 3-13-16.
Update process journal	Weekly
Arrange a meeting with Ms. Karen, my community partner	Meeting Wednesday, March 9th

I have emailed Ms. Karen with TBWH, and I got a response shortly after. We will be meeting on March 9th to discuss the TBWH organization and for me to learn more about it. I will also be meeting the board of TBWH and get a chance to ask questions. My plan for this week is to prepare my questions for our meeting on Wednesday.

Ms. Karen shared that they will be having a fundraiser event in April, and I am thankfully available to help that day. I am very excited to participate. She also said that she liked the idea of me providing barrels at the International School of Monterey and the Portola Hotel and Spa. I have contacted Mr. Madden in regards to making this a possibility, and will be contacting Ms. Janine Chicourrat, the General Manager of Portola Hotel and Spa, as well. If this becomes a reality, I will make flyers and posters. I am so excited to do so as it is an important cause and the TBWH logo is so cute!