http://myshellbrd.tigblog.org/ What's on the minds of young leaders from around the globe? en-us http://myshellbrd.tigblog.org/post/6828
SCHOOL SCHOOL SCHOOL!!!
I'm (almost) finished my first semester of my last year of uni!!! Very excited. This has overwhelmingly taken up most of my time (I'm in geography at York for those not in the know). I took 4 fourth year classes including Geography of the 3rd World and Asia-Pacific Geography. They've given me great perspective and knowledge I can definately apply in thinking about TIG. Because I'll want to pursue my masters at some point I wanted to get the highest marks possible...I have 2 more assignments to hand in but it looks like I'll get straight A's!!! Yeah! Very happy, worth the frustration. Next semester I'll be taking another 4 fourth year classes so that'll occupy me again, but like this semester I'll (try) to keep on the int'l emails.

TIG TIG TIG!!!
Well, as Reggie and Jen know, I've been communicating with half our interested country site supastars...now that school pressure is over I can increase this as there are a few peeps feeling neglected....developing these relationships will be my focus for December.

PATHFINDERS PATHFINDERS PATHFINDERS!!!!!
Some of you know I'm a Girl Guide leader...I run Pathfinders for girls aged 11-14. Usually our units only have about 6 girls but this year we have 21....wow! Puberty on a large scale! We meet once a week and it's been a lot of fun but definately challenging...a lot of them know about TIG already but I want to use it to make them more aware....

WORK WORK WORK!!!!!
To pay that evil corporation called York I've kept my job at the hair salon, working there about 15-20 hrs per week and at a restaurant called The Academy of Spherical Arts, working there 35-40 hrs per week....there's something to be learnt from every situation, I tell you....

Ca c'est pour moi a ce moment! Through the emails I've been able to see all the awesome stuff y'all are working on, and just want to say you are all a constant inspiration and motivation for me. I feel so lucky to be able to contribute to this revolutionary entity! Keep rockin da casbah!

~~~~m~~~~
]]> Fri, 29 Nov 2002 12:38:00 EST http://myshellbrd.tigblog.org/post/6828 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://myshellbrd.tigblog.org/post/5649
In terms of TIG, I feel I have been reactive instead of strategic, working on many individual projects and not really having time to revisit the International Strategy ideas.....
*Helped Rana in Pakistan plan TIG Youth Day on August 17. In the end, 9 countries participated with a range of events...looking forward to the reports and pictures coming in! This took up a lot of my time in August, working with coordinators to plan their events and so forth.
*Also helped out with the Preparing for the Changing Workplace conference - in the end, we had a great panel of 4 speakers.
*Have been involved in receiving and interviewing applicants for the 2 internship positions here in Toronto, an admin position and one with international development. How strange to be in the position to interview and hire!!
*Have been working with various individuals that have popped up, building relationships with them and directing them towards the country sites, which have gotten great response. Thinking of next steps - sustainable communication structures, more features and improvements...
* Have been reading over youth rep applications, but haven't had a chance to take action on this.

The rest of my life outside TIG has been busy...working a lot of hours between the tall ships and waitressing and the salon, went to a Girl Guide conference this past weekend and am taking my girls camping this upcoming weekend, am on the committee for the Run for the Cure of Breast Cancer....am still trying to plan out school and errrrk student debt nastyness.

The next few weeks will be me planning for the Youth Employment Summit, wrapping up on TIG Youth Day, finalizing internship applicants, and starting to meet/email people interested in working as part of an international development "support team" to push for greater relevance and action within our membership globally.

Bye summer.....never long enough.....]]> Tue, 20 Aug 2002 16:12:00 EDT http://myshellbrd.tigblog.org/post/5649 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://myshellbrd.tigblog.org/post/5082
Let's see...with TIG stuff, things have been going well. I contacted every person that I met at Citizen You and am starting to build relationships with people in various countries with regard to TIG initiatives. Am very excited about the YR and Int'l stuff that has been developed (Connect Local .TIG.org) and that the YR's are all excited about TIG Youth Day. Right now, that's my main focus and I've started organizing the various initiatives. As well, super happy that Jessica and Ben are helping out with the zine. Yeah yeah!

Also have been working on my personal plan for the next year - have chosen classes, more research on thesis....working a lot at the salon and on the tall ships. Tonight we're hosting a rave that goes until 4am and then I start at the salon at 9am....e gads...

But mainly am super duper jazzed up about all the fresh energy being generated by TIG Youth Day from youth reps everywhere. Great idea Rana!!]]> Fri, 19 Jul 2002 16:38:00 EDT http://myshellbrd.tigblog.org/post/5082 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://myshellbrd.tigblog.org/post/4933 From June 30-July 6 I was at the Citizen You conference in Sunderland, England.
Before I left, I worked with Susheela on revamping how creative writing volunteers are understood. I also worked on ICubed a bit, on the summer project plan, approving articles, and contacting writers.
As well, worked on text for the Take Local Action site and revamping how the Youth Reps are understood.

Prepared for the Citizen You conference - it wasn't what I expected, but very inspiring and successful! Was expecting young people that were "in the know" and have done the conference thing before...instead, it was young people from the 54 Commonwealth countries, many of which are developing nations, and many of the youth delegates had never travelled outside their countries. I was working with and speaking on the globalization theme, and for many delegates it was their first chance to truly explore the idea and all that it contains. Some delegates didn't have email or use the internet and it was great to be able to teach people new skills. It was so inspiring connecting with people that are attempting to positively impact their communities!

I learned a lot from the experience - about speaking, responding to questions....about perceptions and expectations...my belief in the vision of TIG was renewed, and I am finding most valuable the idea of creating a meaningful network of people with common opinions, hopes and goals. Many of the friends I met from Africa told me how their countries are being torn apart by HIV/AIDS...yet these people were the most inspirational, optimistic and positive individuals I've ever met....how fortunate I am to be a Canadian citizen, and how necessary it is for me to use the opportunities handed to me to help others.]]> Tue, 09 Jul 2002 16:00:00 EDT http://myshellbrd.tigblog.org/post/4933 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://myshellbrd.tigblog.org/post/4855 Thu, 04 Jul 2002 13:35:00 EDT http://myshellbrd.tigblog.org/post/4855 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://myshellbrd.tigblog.org/post/4823
Ello! Mornin to all ye...yesterday was a GREAT day here at the conference - lemme see...I'm still amazed at how many different countries are represented here. It's wild! I've had some really interesting conversations with people from Fiji, the Grenadines, Swaziland, Ghana, Cyprus, Malta, the BVI, Anguilla, UK, Bangladesh...they're an interesting bunch coming from an interesting network. I'm really looking forward to speaking tomorrow to the whole group about TIG and globalization.

Yesterday the opening ceremonies featured Prince Edward and Sophie, and also this absolutely fabo speaker from CIVICUS named Kumi Naipoo - he was definately an inspiration for all of us. I spoke to him afterwards and we talked for a bit about TIG and I told him we have CIVICUS on the site - very impressed!

I'm just so humbled by all the people here, and love so much learning about their countries and what they're involved in. Tis all for now, will update tommorow to inform of how presentation went!]]> Wed, 03 Jul 2002 07:11:00 EDT http://myshellbrd.tigblog.org/post/4823 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://myshellbrd.tigblog.org/post/4802 Tue, 02 Jul 2002 03:59:00 EDT http://myshellbrd.tigblog.org/post/4802 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://myshellbrd.tigblog.org/post/4619
Things are truckin' along in a happy and groovy way. Lots has been happening!

TIG STUFF!
*Ran Connect to your Career workshop (quasi success)
*Drafted Action Plan for 'zine in response to Membership Engagement Plan
*Moving forward with International Strategy in great ways - sites for Connect, Take Local Action and Country Sites are almost ready, as well as new ideas about Youth Reps...

Other!
*Just workin, workin, workin at other jobs...summer school is goin ok....

That's it! Just a skim over everything, quick update!]]> Fri, 21 Jun 2002 11:45:00 EDT http://myshellbrd.tigblog.org/post/4619 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://myshellbrd.tigblog.org/post/4425
A busy past two weeks:
1. "International strategy" has mucho evolved in the past two weeks. It has taken a lot of time and discussion, and it seems like we'll be able to move forward this week with clear ideas.
2. Have taken over approving articles from Maria, which I like because I can read the great work that members around the world are submitting. As well, Karis and I drafted a schedule outlining the topics of ICubed until the beginning of next year! Gettin the system down....
3. Great meeting with Marge Lam about an idea called Boldface, read Rana's idea about TIG Youth Day, met with a crowd to discuss TIGVibe, and I'll be running a workshop called Connect to your Career this week.
4. Otherwise in my life, jobs are going well (TIG will be working with the salon I work at to create their site), bartending is mucho fun, getting some rollerblading and volleyball in, kinda neglecting internet class (eek essay due this Friday!!), and I'm taking my Pathfinder youth group camping next weekend!!
Staying surfaced for now,
Michelle]]> Mon, 10 Jun 2002 12:10:00 EDT http://myshellbrd.tigblog.org/post/4425 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://myshellbrd.tigblog.org/post/4271 *Weather seriously affected my productivity. I am really psychologically connected to what's happening out my window, and now that the sun is shining I feel a billion times better. Couldn't ever live in Vancouver.
*Had personal bull to deal with. Evil government. Grrrrr.
*Spent much time at York U's library, researching for my thesis and also organizational structure wrt TIG. It is challenging attempting to be new but restrained by the reality of now, isn't it?
*Really feelin the yoga stuff, I love the mindspace it takes me to and I'm definately commiting myself to it.
*Bartending is mucho fun! And the establishment I waitress at for some reason is going through a rash of Bar Mitzvahs, which are fascinating.
*Goals for next week are getting moving on TIL stuff and approving articles, getting more authors in the zine loop and planning with Karis on a topic timeline.
GO LEAFS GO!!!]]> Mon, 27 May 2002 21:57:00 EDT http://myshellbrd.tigblog.org/post/4271 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://myshellbrd.tigblog.org/post/4017 TIG Things in my world:
1.We had a TIG@York meeting on April 29 where we decided to develop the website as a starting point...I'm not sure where we stand...I'll send out an email...
2. Working on a strategy for Taking IT Local and the country sites. This has been very challenging because the concepts are huge and hard for my wee brain to wrap around...also I'm not the greatest writer so I'm definately learning from it all! I'm working more at the library @ Hart House, my most inspiring place to work.
3. Meeting tonight with Jen to hopefully get a contract from the salon I work part time at to develop their website. Yeah!

Other stuff in my life now...
1. My summer school Urban Studies course started and looks really interesting - one text is called "The Geography of Nowhere"
2. Haven't had time to work on my thesis at all - grrrrr
3.Working a lot of hours at the salon where I'm receptionist - seen half the Leaf hockey team in Yorkville - Domi, Corson (twice!), Sundin, McCabe...:)
4. YEAHHH! Got hired to work as a bartender on tall ships in the Toronto harbour - good money and great views!
5. Also working insane 10 hour shifts waitressing....yars, those uni loans are getting paid off!
6. On rare days of good weather, have been rollerblading by the lake, and also have started yoga which I mucho love.
7.EGADS!! Need to go out dancing and have some fun, sheesh!]]> Fri, 10 May 2002 15:03:00 EDT http://myshellbrd.tigblog.org/post/4017 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://myshellbrd.tigblog.org/post/3774
it was a space of the past filled with feelings of another time when i was someone else ah but it was sweet how at times i yearn to get back to that yellow bliss place how quietly it walked away from me and the realization that it was gone was slow, the measured gradual rise from the murky bottoms of a lake up through the levels sunlight diffusing more penetrating until i am left at the surface gasping with confusion blinded by the light of day.

a fish knows not water until it is pulled into air.]]> Fri, 26 Apr 2002 17:24:00 EDT http://myshellbrd.tigblog.org/post/3774 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://myshellbrd.tigblog.org/post/3733
*School be jest about dones, I'll be jivin in zee office more on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays unless wild horses prevent me.
*Smiley news: tig will be the focus of my honours thesis in which i am investigating the geography of social movements on the internet...all quite fascinating...hope everyone's up for being lab rats...
*Zine launched!! Mucho happy it has manifested.
*Focusing currently on "TIG Local" structure and working on a sustainable structure in which teams can grow. Grow, grow!
*Working with TIG @ York team - we have some great ideas about starting up a TIG team at York University.
*Tis all for now. Good start....]]> Wed, 24 Apr 2002 13:52:00 EDT http://myshellbrd.tigblog.org/post/3733 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://myshellbrd.tigblog.org/post/3458
coming to a withering finale is astonishingly third year uni. and all in war with time for love of you...indeed the tickings escape me. feel self infinately expanded by the day i am a new person it's all quite breathtaking and beautiful i wish it all to slow that i might suction all the essence of it every moment of awakening every shirt against my skin every smile every

ah i do have a tendancy to ramble

i think much of late of physical space. i direct result, i suppose, of being geography major. friends of late have decided to believe body is just a shell and that the true goal is to transcend to a state of physicallessness. i concur, my dear. the space around me in which my shell exists influences fertilizes shapes the very me of me. pretty or no, the straight concrete lines of my beloved city impart themselves upon me. the lurch of the elevator in my apartment, the tiles of my bathroom floor, the rumble of the bus home down a street straight and right angled. how disconcerting it would be not to see the CN Tower out my living room window as i check the weather in the morning. how odd the sensation if most of the steps i took did not fall upon solid concrete, sealed earth. this city moves through me, not i through it. all the pretty places and the ugly places. i cannot detach this shell this mind from it...



]]> Sun, 07 Apr 2002 22:38:00 EDT http://myshellbrd.tigblog.org/post/3458 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://myshellbrd.tigblog.org/post/2855 Tue, 19 Feb 2002 12:20:00 EST http://myshellbrd.tigblog.org/post/2855 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://myshellbrd.tigblog.org/post/2579 Fri, 01 Feb 2002 21:02:00 EST http://myshellbrd.tigblog.org/post/2579 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://myshellbrd.tigblog.org/post/1406
next topic...i believe humans need to evolve. we've evolved from apes (supposedly) now we need to evolve to the next level. another level with more than 5 senses. i think it involves this connectivity thing. flows of energy between people. something we can't define now but are in constant quest of. deep meaningful relationships with each other. that's what i want. yeah.]]> Mon, 29 Oct 2001 17:41:00 EST http://myshellbrd.tigblog.org/post/1406 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://myshellbrd.tigblog.org/post/962 my voice is raspy. i will go out tonight, and swallow myself into music, drown in it's medicine.]]> Mon, 17 Sep 2001 16:34:00 EDT http://myshellbrd.tigblog.org/post/962 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://myshellbrd.tigblog.org/post/939 Fri, 14 Sep 2001 18:53:00 EDT http://myshellbrd.tigblog.org/post/939 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://myshellbrd.tigblog.org/post/893 Wed, 12 Sep 2001 10:50:00 EDT http://myshellbrd.tigblog.org/post/893 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667 http://myshellbrd.tigblog.org/post/212 Tue, 12 Jun 2001 17:30:00 EDT http://myshellbrd.tigblog.org/post/212 43.6666667 -79.416666743.6666667-79.4166667