ENTHUSIASM

"Fires can't be made with dead embers, nor can enthusiasm be stirred by spiritless men. Enthusiasm in our daily work lightens effort and turns even labor into pleasant tasks." 

-James A. Baldwin

It is true. That gritty drive and persistence described by many of the most successful people may seem daunting and tiresome to those who struggle to just get out of bed in the morning, much less take over the world...their own world. This is not so once you have discovered your passion. Yes, a journey of hard work likely lies before us, especially if we are interested in accomplishing anything of value and meaning, but the fire in our hearts for the goal we are pressing toward will give us the drive and tenacity we'll need to get there. Either this, or you will be a drag on our forward march. We will work hard, but we will be having a blast while doing it. Why work hard under any other circumstances? Do you think marathon cyclists aren't working hard, such as those who travail the 2200 mile Tour De France? Chile please!!! Those who complain about being drained at their office setting job will get tired just watching them for one day. Truth is, if you're not burning yourself out from sheer passion, you're not tired, you're uninspired. I want you to know that the work that we are engaging in, institutionalizing group economics among Atlanta's Black LGBT citizens as a model for all Black People and minorities groups worldwide, do you get how powerful that is? It is indeed possible. The worst case scenario, you will end up at least a millionaire within 10 years or less. You know most people have no plans of ever attaining a million dollars in their lifetimes. And you have it here, based upon how scientific we are in our approach in systematizing it for duplication in other cities by packaging and franchising our educational program, our magazine and other marketing platforms, our networking apps and tools and our investment apps and tools. Atlanta is one of the best laboratories for us to get this done. You know by seriously engaging in this work, we stand to make history and change the course of the destiny of our people, no less significant than the March on Washington or the Selma March. The million dollar question is, will we have half their passion? Can we march 27 miles in our efforts of the 54 miles they marched under mortal danger for the right to vote and change their destiny, our current situation? Do we not owe them this, at least our best attempts to take it to the next level? I can not answer that for you. It is really then all up to that. We have a plan, we have the intelligence, it is legal, it is sensible, it is possible, our intentions are pure and noble all we need is the gasoline of passion to get this car rolling. Think about that, between now and our next meeting on January 9th, and when it is settled join us then ready to work. Otherwise, let us know now that we should look for another. 

Just before our last meeting on 2016, Harold Leffall agreed to come on board with us as our Dean of Education if we should have him. There will be plenty of time between now and when we official sign the legal paperwork on our officers to get to know this man and confirm his fitness for this position. Just to give you a preview, he has taught entrepreneurs the world over and counseled 2 million dollar corporations. Do you then think we are in good hands, not only for forming our unique educational program of using business and entrepreneurship to improve and edify a community, but good guidance for us to get up and running on solid ground? 

After then, our Deputy Director and I met for what will be our at least quarterly Director huddles to map out the direction for the 1st quarter of 2016 and more detailed in the 1st month of January. 

The BOTTOM LINE goal for us by the end of the 1st quarter of 2016 is to be in a position to goal public within the 2nd quarter of 2016. That means beginning to host Business Presentation and Networking Socials.

To achieve this BOTTOM LINE, these are some of things we will need to get done of the next 90 days: 

1. Completing Constitution and Bylaws
2. Completing Business Plan for the first 2 years
3. Fully Recruiting Board of Directors
4. Incorporating
5. Contracting all officers of the First Administration of The Baldwin Project Board of Directors 
6. Setting Initial Budget
7. Securing Funding For Initial Budget
8. Establishing as a fully functioning business with all necessary parts.

We set our calendar pattern to progressively get this things done. To increase the organization among ourselves, we are adding a Saturday Morning Conference Calls on those Saturday's we are not schedule to meet in person at 10 AM for about 30 minutes to 1 hour for the sole purpose of "Tying our shoelaces" getting updates, touching bases and getting prepared for our meeting the following Saturday where we must "RUN" in making progress and getting work done on our agenda.  We will have these briefer meetings facilitated round-robin by members of the board, to give each board member the opportunity to give us a deeper insight into the overall developments within their department of the organization and direct us from that vantage point.   

While we will still need to come together in person on the same bi-weekly schedule to for our 2 hour sessions, giving more detailed updates and determining, proposing and voting on next moves, we are going to need to alternate this format with a (work-til-we're-done) workshops wholly focused on one project at a time and nothing else, such as putting together our constitution and bylaws, and then our business plans and other projects we may need to work on together as a group. To give us the time, we may need to start our workshops earlier such as 2PM and work until we're done and I can probably find another location for us to meet where we will be able to bring food and get work done. At our next meeting, we can fine tune these proposals to scheduling needs of our group. 

So to name these formats:

Biweekly 30 min-1hr "Catchup" Teleconferences

Bi-weekly Huddles alternating between 2 Formats:

1.) D DAYS: Report and Decision Days (monthly)

2.)Workshops: Group Projects (monthly)

We should also begin scheduling fun social events ONLY for Board Members to build camaraderie and friendship ideally once a month, but at least quarterly.

So to start us off with this pattern this will be our January Calendar of Meetings: Please connect with our Google Calendar for this: Please Bookmark it.

Saturday, January 9th 4PM: D-DAY (Introductions of ourselves and 2016 calendar pattern and goals, rescheduling of meeting originally set for December 16th, 2015)

Saturday, January 16th, 10AM: Catchup Teleconference facilitated by Executive Director, Branden Mattox

Saturday January 23rd, 2PM: Workshop (Constitution and By-Laws)

Saturday, January 30th, 10AM: Catchup Teleconference facilitated by Deputy Director, Cleon T. Day

MONEY

"Money, it turned out, was exactly like sex, you thought of nothing else if you didn't have it and thought of other things if you did." -James A. Baldwin

Could it possibly be that money's ability to remove the concerns surrounding survival allows our minds to be able to tend to the more spiritual, altruistic and purpose driven matters of life?

Preparing to head into the 1st Quarter of 2016, we must make this period about establishing ourselves on Terra Firma. By the DEADLINE of March 26th, 2016. These are our goals. 

1. Completing Constitution and Bylaws
2. Completing Business Plan for the first 2 years
3. Fully Recruiting Board of Directors
4. Incorporating
5. Contracting all officers of the First Administration of The Baldwin Project Board of Directors 
6. Setting Initial Budget
7. Securing Funding For Initial Budget
8. Establishing as a fully functioning business.
9. Begin Business Presentation Parties.

As you can see starting off the year, we've got our work cut out for us so might as well get ready to roll up our sleeves. To increase the organization among ourselves, I am going to propose that we add Saturday Morning Conference Calls on those Saturday's we are not schedule to meet in person at 10AM for about 30 minutes to 1 hour for the sole purpose of "Tying our shoelaces" getting updates, touching bases and getting prepared for our meeting the following Saturday where we must "RUN" in making progress and getting work done on our agenda.  We can have these briefer meetings facilitated round-robin by members of the board, to give each board member the opportunity to give us a deeper insight into the overall developments within their department of the organization and direct us from that vantage point.   

While we will still need to come together in person on the same bi-weekly schedule to for our 2 hour sessions, giving more detailed updates and determining, proposing and voting on next moves, we are going to need to alternate this format with a (work-til-we're-done) workshops wholly focused on one project at a time and nothing else, such as putting together our constitution and bylaws, and then our business plans and other projects we may need to work on together as a group. To give us the time, we may need to start our workshops earlier such as 2PM and work until we're done and I can probably find another location for us to meet where we will be able to bring food and get work done. 

So to name these formats:

Biweekly 30 min-1hr "Catchup" Teleconferences

Bi-weekly Huddles alternating between 2 Formats

D DAYS: Report and Decision Days (monthly)

Workshops: Group Projects (monthly)

We should also begin scheduling fun social events ONLY for Board Members to build cameraderie and friendship ideally once a month, but at least quarterly.

We should work on putting together our 2016 1st quarter calendar with these meetings at our next meeting this Saturday, December 19th. 

ORGANIZING BOARD

Harold Leffall who will be interviewing for our Dean of Education position is scheduled to be vetted on Saturday, December 19th at 11AM.

We will still continue our process for recruiting for the remaining position on our board using the process listed below.

Please view our system for recruiting, by clicking HERE.

Right now our Board looks like:

Executive Director: Branden Mattox

Deputy Director: Cleon T. Day III

Executive Administrator: Kacey Frierson-Nixon

Treasurer: Steven T. Austin

Steven is to follow up with Lee Perrimon for Director of Public Relations

Soon enough we may need to schedule a workshop session where will phone bank our contacts to set up meetings with prospective nominees for our board.

CONSTITUTION

At our next Board Meeting we will need schedule one of our bi-weekly meetings to be wholly devoted to a workshop on putting together our Constitution. To get prepared for this, please answer the questions below.

So far, Cleon has begin adding his input to the constitution.

Questions for us to begin answering:

What impulse happened to bring us to the resolution to create The Baldwin Project?

After the racist statement hung on the front and back door by Blakes’ management, the Atlanta Black GLBT Community needed to make a stand. “Black Lives Matter” even in the gay community! 

Why are we doing this in the first place? What is the need? What is our purpose?

We are doing this to fill a void, to transform a community who has been asking to have a seat at the table for years. It's time for us to make our own table, build our own chairs, then sale them and keep the dollars flowing in our community.

What if we don't do this?

The profound saying comes to mine, “if not us then who and if not now then when”.

What's possible for us when we do pull off a success with The Baldwin Project?

The Black heterosexual community will finally get it and realize it took gays, lesbians, Bi-sexual and Transgender to show them how to create community wealth!
What is that worth?

It could possibly put a dent in homophobia in the Black heterosexual community when they see we are more than an orientation.

How will we know when we've succeeded?

We know when The Baldwin Project has succeeded when the Black heterosexual community comes to us to get a piece of the pie or even duplicate our model. 

What is our mission?

Our mission is to create and set into motion wealth building principles within the Black GLBT community.


What is our vision? What is our Manifest Destiny?

I believe our vision is to support Black GLBT in their vision to become successful business owners, entrepreneurs and inventors through providing finance, education and mentorship. Our Manifest Destiny is truly having our real "Black Mecca".

What is our overall strategy for achieving the mission of The Baldwin Project?

Our overall strategy for achieving the mission of The Baldwin Project is maintaining our integrity throughout our vision.
How do we need to be organized to execute these strategies?

First of all, we need to keep an open mind, to listen, defy logic and maintaining our faith in "the process".
To begin drafting this, I will email this to you through the Google Groups so that you can plug in your answers. Once, we're done, I will organize your answer into a draft we can begin revising together.



PREPARING THE FIELD


SURVEY

Intentions:
To stimulate public awareness to the social constructs which pose a challenge to the development and achievement of The Baldwin Project, and begin considering how to make changes to support what The Baldwin Project promises.

To provide an accurate picture of the field in which the The Baldwin Project will be operating to assist The Founder's Committee and Board with smart planning.


Survey link: https://www.quicksurveys.com/s/n9S2Gb

Sample invite script: "Please take part in this survey to help the board of "The Baldwin Project" strategize for the implementation of a group economics, investing and entrepreneurial program among Atlanta's Black LGBT Community. After completing, please share this with at least 3 other members of our community. Our goal is to poll 500, but at least 100. Thank you!"

Marketing Strategy:

1. Use the link above to email to 10 Black LGBT Atlantans in your email list, asking them to share with 3 others.

2. Please directly Facebook IM 10 Black LGBT Atlantans asking them to share with 3 others.
Over the course of 30 days.

3. share the link above in 1-3 discussion groups for with a Black LGBT audience at most daily, at least 3 times a week.

4. Respondent Goal: 550

5. Status toward achieving this goal: was 3% last meeting, now 4% with 20 respondents

Our next steps beyond this is now under debate. Please read the details about this debate determining our next direction HERE and be prepared to vote at the next or following Board Meeting. 

BOOK CLUB

Intentions:

To condition our market for the psychology conducive to enterprise, entrepreneurship, creativity, community leadership and hope.

For our new book selection in December, I have been polling this group to set the best meeting time.

We now a have a facebook discussion group for this. We are hosting it at Black Gay Owned Lounge, Studio No. 7. 393 Marietta St Atlanta GA 30313

NEXT MEETING Saturday, December 19th at the Decatur Library 4p-6p.

THE STRUGGLE

"Anyone who has ever struggled with poverty knows how extremely expensive it is to be poor."

-James A. Baldwin

Truer words may never have been spoken when considering, interest rates, insurance, healthcare costs brought on by poor health stemming from economic stress, lacking of time and space to exercise and how food is more expensive and at a lower quality at corner convenience stores in economically distressed parts of town. The school districts are lacking in competence and material which depresses opportunities for higher education which often can only be obtain by the poor through burdensome school loans which damages credit and causes high interest rates. If you think education is expensive, try ignorance. Because of the desperate condition of the poor, car dealers, renters, bankers, creditors, realtors, pawn shops, title loan sharks, check cashing facilities often take advantage of their situation and make hand over fist in dealing very shrewdly with them. So, if you can afford to be poor, you can certainly afford what it takes to become RICH!

Our Next Meeting will be our first official BOARD MEETING with the Board Members we now have in place assuming their positions.

ORGANIZING BOARD

We will continue our process for seeking and vetting members for our board, but in order to attract decent talent, we will be adding to our compensation package, not only the stipend, but ownership in the corporation at 11% for all members of the first Board of Directors and a seat on the Founders Committee. This adds Gratuity (stipend), Ownership and Legacy.

Harold Leffall is excited to help out with provided us a curriculum and organizing our educational program as our Dean. I will need to send him the information regarding that position and if he wishes to move forward, we will schedule a confirmation interview before inviting him into our Founders Committee.

Please view our system for recruiting, by clicking HERE.

Right now our Board looks like:

Executive Director: Branden Mattox

Deputy Director: Cleon T. Day III

Executive Administrator: Kacey Frierson-Nixon

Treasurer: Steven T. Austin


Steven is to follow up with Lee Perrimon for Director of Public Relations

CONSTITUTION

So far, Cleon has begin adding his input to the constitution.

Questions for us to begin answering:

What impulse happened to bring us to the resolution to create The Baldwin Project?

After the racist statement hung on the front and back door by Blakes’ management, the Atlanta Black GLBT Community needed to make a stand. “Black Lives Matter” even in the gay community! 

Why are we doing this in the first place? What is the need? What is our purpose?

We are doing this to fill a void, to transform a community who has been asking to have a seat at the table for years. It's time for us to make our own table, build our own chairs, then sale them and keep the dollars flowing in our community.

What if we don't do this?

The profound saying comes to mine, “if not us then who and if not now then when”.

What's possible for us when we do pull off a success with The Baldwin Project?

The Black heterosexual community will finally get it and realize it took gays, lesbians, Bi-sexual and Transgender to show them how to create community wealth!
What is that worth?

It could possibly put a dent in homophobia in the Black heterosexual community when they see we are more than an orientation.

How will we know when we've succeeded?

We know when The Baldwin Project has succeeded when the Black heterosexual community comes to us to get a piece of the pie or even duplicate our model. 

What is our mission?

Our mission is to create and set into motion wealth building principles within the Black GLBT community.


What is our vision? What is our Manifest Destiny?

I believe our vision is to support Black GLBT in their vision to become successful business owners, entrepreneurs and inventors through providing finance, education and mentorship. Our Manifest Destiny is truly having our real "Black Mecca".

What is our overall strategy for achieving the mission of The Baldwin Project?

Our overall strategy for achieving the mission of The Baldwin Project is maintaining our integrity throughout our vision.
How do we need to be organized to execute these strategies?

First of all, we need to keep an open mind, to listen, defy logic and maintaining our faith in "the process".
To begin drafting this, I will email this to you through the Google Groups so that you can plug in your answers. Once, we're done, I will organize your answer into a draft we can begin revising together.

PREPARING THE FIELD


SURVEY

Intentions:

To stimulate public awareness to the social constructs which pose a challenge to the development and achievement of The Baldwin Project, and begin considering how to make changes to support what The Baldwin Project promises.

To provide an accurate picture of the field in which the The Baldwin Project will be operating to assist The Founder's Committee and Board with smart planning.


Survey link: https://www.quicksurveys.com/s/n9S2Gb

Sample invite script: "Please take part in this survey to help the board of "The Baldwin Project" strategize for the implementation of a group economics, investing and entrepreneurial program among Atlanta's Black LGBT Community. After completing, please share this with at least 3 other members of our community. Our goal is to poll 500, but at least 100. Thank you!"

Marketing Strategy:

1. Use the link above to email to 10 Black LGBT Atlantans in your email list, asking them to share with 3 others.

2. Please directly Facebook IM 10 Black LGBT Atlantans asking them to share with 3 others.
Over the course of 30 days.

3. share the link above in 1-3 discussion groups for with a Black LGBT audience at most daily, at least 3 times a week.

4. Respondent Goal: 550

5. Status toward achieving this goal: was 2% last meeting, now 3% with 18 respondents

FORUM

Intentions:

To publicly stir the conversation surrounding the need for an organization like "The Baldwin Project"

To convict an audience into our first group of supporters and followers to fill any remaining Board Positions or committees not yet filled, to join The Founder's Committee if we have not reached 10 members, and those committed to attending, supporting and promoting our first social.

Primarily, we will be capturing emails from the survey to form the base of our market to invite to this forum.

Our first Business Presentation Party (BBP) is scheduled at Kacey's house in Jonesboro, Saturday, January 30th from 3PM-5PM with a game of Monopoly for those who wish to stay after 5PM for a more social setting. Starting small, each of us would be expected to focus on inviting only ONE friend to this event who may have the slightest interest in what is developing with The Baldwin Project. We can potluck this event. This event is to be given to Kacey's direction (You're the leader on this.) 

I have some fundraising ideas to include in this which will be given to Steven's direction.

BOOK CLUB

Intentions:

To condition our market for the psychology conducive to enterprise, entrepreneurship, creativity, community leadership and hope.

For our new book selection in December, I have been polling this group to set the best meeting time.

We now a have a facebook discussion group for this. We are hosting it at Black Gay Owned Lounge, Studio No. 7. 393 Marietta St Atlanta GA 30313

NEXT MEETING Saturday, November 7th at the Decatur Library 4p-6p. RSVP HERE