This Is The End

This semester has taught me a lot about the greater Baltimore area, and the basics of social entrepreneurship. I have learned the most about Fells Point and the Curtis Bay area specifically. I have gained insight to the affects that manufactures can have on a community, because of the cultural documentation papers I have written. I learned about Fells Point because of the numerous times I was down there looking for donations, and it just happened that I would end up going there in my free time just because I liked the area. Curtis Bay is the obvious answer since it is the center of the entire class for this semester. I also learned about how to do research on a specific area and how to find different resources in order to find the information. Also, from a business stand point I learned about fundraising, cold calling and networking.

The things I think I did well in were the donations and the silent auction. Donations I felt I did well on because Conor and I went and cold called each of the businesses in the Fells Point area; I felt we did a lot better than what we would have if we only tried to email the restaurants and businesses. They seemed to respond and acknowledge the fact that we took the time to go and see their business. The silent auction was something I felt I did the most work on since I was the head of it for the class, it showed me the time and effort necessary to be able to put something like this together. Also forced me to think critically about how we could get the most money raised by combining different items from a combination of businesses.

Things I think I could have done better with were being better with deadlines, and also better with research. I think I could have been better with the deadlines for the last cultural documentation and also the silent auction ideas. I'm usually a punctual person with these sort of deadlines which is what upset me the most about having this be one of the worse things I had in the class. Also, my research I think I could have done better with in comparison with the rest of the class and you it seemed like. I didn't think however for my first time doing such specific and far back research it was as bad as I had expected. It showed me however the tools and knowledge to do something like that if I had to do something similar again.

Personal Assessment:
Attendance & Participation: 9/10
Blogs: 17/20
Documentation Projects: 23/30
Final Paper: ?/20
Outside Events: 9/10
Group Committee: 10/10

Final Stretch

This last full week before the Garden Gala is going to be hectic, but as long as we communicate well during class and keep our different comities focused on the end result everything will run smoothly. For the event putting together the silent auction and raffle items into different groups will be my main focus this week. Also, along with that for the event the food and drinks are the other main concern to make sure is on time and prepared correctly. This isn't as much of a pre-event worry as it is the morning of the event it seems like, since everyone has stepped up to either make food or has found donations. Conor or I are still contacting Adela and Anastasia to pick up the money for their ads in our brochure. Also we are picking up the dozen muffins and gift card from the cafe next week.

Along with the concerns for the event are my concerns for the Garrett Park documentation, not being able to find anything online is beginning to become aggravating and tedious. I am still trying to make my way down to the park itself, but is becoming more and more of a difficult task than originally expected. However, I am going to continue to try to find more obscure search engines or other searches to find some sort of background on the park.