Trailblazin'

So these past couple weeks I've been working for Ever After Gowns, and I'm loving it.  I met with the president, Maggie, at Starbucks before I turned in my contract and we got along really well. She's such a passionate woman who really cares about giving girls a night as Cinderella who normally wouldn't be able to. I'm just amazed that the whole business is non-profit, and that no one, not even the board members, are paid any sort of salary. Everthing is strictly volunteer. And I think that that's pretty cool.

Since they've never really had an intern before, I'm kind of helping to create the position and (hopefully) pave the way for future interns.  Over the course of the next year, I basically have two main jobs. From now until about March I'm supposed to be researching creative ways to get donations and to bring a fresh "young" perspective to the organization.  Then from March until the botique in April, I'm going to be helping the volunteer coordinator, Jaclyn...well, coordinate volunteers (SIDE NOTE: If any of you girls are interested in possibly volunteering for the botique on April 17 or have dresses you want to donate, let me know and I'll get information for you!)

So far, the creative thinking has been going relatively well. Besides researching vendors to donate door prizes and such, I've had a couple of ideas that I feel are really worth something. First, EAG is always low on jewelry donations. I remembered that at my high school they offered jewelry making classes as an art credit. So my big idea was, why not check the local high schools who participate and send students to the botique and see if their art departmens have any one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces that they want to donate. My second idea that came to me was the prom problems that girls from and ethnic or a more conservative background might have. I mean, what do all the Muslim Somali students do at prom time? I know their culture does not allow some of the trends that we see becoming popular in prom fashion. My second objective will be to research options for them; just because a girl comes from a different background than everyone else doesn't mean that she can't feel like Cinderella on prom night.

So far, both of those projects are in the research stage. Depending on what Maggie thinks of these ideas depends on what direction I'll go in from there. Tomorrow there is going to be a big dress sort at EAG's storage facility in Bloomington that I (and possibly Heather) will be going to. Amidst all of the papers and things that I have all do at the same time on Monday, it'll be nice to be spending time sorting through gorgeous gowns on Saturday. I call it "Princess Therapy." But more about that later. For now I'm going to continue trailblazin' my way through the organization. Hopefully I'll come up with a few fresh ideas for EAG by the time I'm done!