This past Monday evening, I was joined by five community members, as well as Mike and MacKenzie, for a brainstorming session, at the Cornell Cooperative Extension offices outside of Canton. Our conversation began with a basic overview of the North Star model as well as how the Liberated Learners Organization is set up to help folks replicate North Star and progressed to brainstorming a space that would be suitable. There are classrooms available in the Old Clarkson Buildings in Potsdam, however, I expressed my desire and preference to be located in the Canton Village. We were able to generate a long list of possible sites. Who knows, maybe down the road we will have two centers, one in each village. The discussion then turned to folks in the community with specific talents who we should be talking to and from there funding and fund raising, which is contingent on our filing our Not for Profit Articles of Incorporation with New York State and for filing for 501c3 status with the Feds.
This was such an amazing experience. I can’t express how powerful it is to be able to tap into such an awesome energy force. There is nothing that compares to face to face communication, especially when it is a brainstorming session, where everyone is invited and encouraged to throw out as many ideas as possible, from plausible to the most ridiculous and other worldly. Besides the emotional high this kind of session generates for the participants, I find that just the act of listening to others ideas, generates more in my own brain. It is a give and take whose power can not be underestimated. So again, I want to thank everyone from the bottom of my very full heart who was able to attend that session.
With those powerful feelings, I took the first step to become a replication of North Star and made a down payment and a formal payment plan towards the fee. We will receive a long list of intellectual property that includes: slogans, the philosophy verbiage, membership forms, website wording, marketing materials, etc. We will also receive among other items, the IRS application to become a 501c3 organization, many hours of consultations through email or phone, as well as a visit by the North Star team for a public promotional event.
Mike was also able to make a connection for a possible space to rent. My very long to-do list begins with a phone call to find out more.
Our Articles of Incorporation should be filed by the end of next week.
We are doing this together and I couldn’t be more excited!
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Important LinksNorth Star Blog
http://www.northstarteens.org/blog Princeton Learning Cooperative Testimonials http://princetonlearningcooperative.org/?page_id=21 Compass Center |
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Pass it on…If you know of anyone who would be interested in helping us with the organizing process, or a youth who is ready to say “good-bye” to school and “hello” to real learning, please pass this on!
Healing one heart and opening one mind at a time! |
Deep Root Center for self directed Learning 