Picture Tribute (4 min 15 sec)
Played at the memorial service. Sorry for the ads on this video. It was the only way I could use the songs. Just click on the “X” to close them.

Memorial Service – Family Stories (20 min)
This video includes the opening comments from Jim Burns and then the stories from Bob’s two son-in-laws (Rob and I) and his two daughters (Kristen and Kelly).

Time Markers:
Rob (00:00:39)
Mike (00:04:57)
Kristen (00:08:03)
Kelly (00:14:10)

Memorial Service – Friends and Eulogy (47 min)
This video includes the opening prayer from Jim Burns, the readings from Bob’s small group, reflections from Tom Thompson, and the Eulogies from Jim Burns and Tim Timmons.

Time Markers
Jim (00:00:05)
Brandy (00:05:05)
Erik (00:06:13)
Russ (00:07:35)
Bob (00:08:15)
Tom (00:09:52)
Jim (00:20:29)
Tim (00:30:00)

EffectiveUI and 15 Million Elephants Help ‘Fight the Famine’ in East Africa with Action Emblem

“Fight the Famine” Action Emblem is part of the 50/50 Project to raise £1 million for Africa’s worst famine in 60 years

DENVER – Nov. 8, 2011 – EffectiveUI, an award-winning user experience agency, has joined forces with 15 Million Elephants, a social enterprise focused on using technology to support the missions of non-profit organizations, to develop a digital awareness and fundraising application: the “Fight the Famine” Action Emblem. The application is part of the 50/50 Project, which called for digital agencies to create 50 projects in 50 days that would raise £1 million for famine relief in East Africa.

Funds raised through the “Fight the Famine” emblems go directly to UNICEF, which has stepped up its efforts to provide aid to those in need in the Horn of Africa. According to UNICEF, an estimated 13 million people are at risk, and tens of thousands have already died. To donate to the cause and display the emblem, visit http://5050.gd/projects/fight-the-famine.

Action Emblems: The “Digital Bracelet” for a Cause

Action Emblems, created by 15Million Elephants and developed in partnership with EffectiveUI, are digital symbols that non-profit supporters can display in their digital communications, including Facebook, email, blogs and websites. Similar to a cause-related wristband or ribbon seen in the physical world, Action Emblems create visibility and awareness for a cause online. Unlike bracelets or ribbons, however, the emblems provide the unique ability for people to immediately take action by clicking on the emblem to make an online donation and/or become an instant ambassador for the cause by adding the emblem to their digital communications.

“Non-profit organizations have had a hard time with social media because it’s not tangible like a ribbon, lapel pin or bracelet, which is a common way to raise awareness,” said Jason Manke, who drives social media strategy to fundraise for more than 100 non-profit organizations in his role as media director at Community Shares of Colorado. “Action Emblems shift the medium from one’s physical self to one’s digital self – focusing not on what people could wear, but rather on what their Facebook pages, email signatures, and websites could display.”

Technology for Good

According to Pingdom, there are nearly two billion email users sending an average of 17 emails per day (excluding spam). This led the team to focus on email integration as a critical component to the Action Emblems. The development team built a solution that automatically adds the emblem to email signatures, while also adding “Emblem On” and “Emblem Off” buttons to the compose-mail interfaces of Outlook, Gmail, Hotmail and Yahoo! Mail, making it easy for supporters to decide when to include the emblem in their communications.

A mobile-optimized version of the experience features the ability to add the emblem to Facebook and Apple’s iOS Mail.

“When we heard about the 50/50 Project, we knew that the emblem could achieve widespread awareness for a cause that needs more visibility,” said Anthony Franco, president, EffectiveUI. “Our team contributed to an application that we hope will bring fundraising power to the online world, not only changing the way non-profit organizations reach donors, butalso the way people show support for their cause. We’re proud to be part of 50/50, working alongside other leaders in the digital world to help supportrelief efforts for the crisis in Africa.”

EffectiveUI will match funds raised through the Fight the Famine Action Emblem.

About EffectiveUI
Founded in 2005, EffectiveUI simplifies complex experiences, bringing value to people’s lives. By researching and articulating user needs, our team of customer insight, design and development experts create custom applicationsthat improve digital interactions and enhance emotional engagement with a company and brand. Focusing on customer insight, EffectiveUI has worked with some of today’s top companies – including AAA, Boeing, National Geographic, Discovery Channel, eBay, GE Health, Navy Federal Credit Union, CenturyLink, TIAA-CREF and American Greetings – to provide a strategic vision and to increase revenue, brand awareness, customer loyalty and usability.

To learn more about EffectiveUI, visit www.effectiveui.com, send an email to info@effectiveui.com or call 888-310-5327.

About 15 Million Elephants

15 Million Elephants is a social enterprise that provides people with a highly effective way of promoting worthy causes through Action Emblem digital symbols, thereby giving nonprofits and non-governmental organizations a better way of raising awareness and funds. The organization has launched a pro-bono public beta of its ‘Fight the Famine’ Action Emblem, which is raising awareness and funds to support famine relief in East Africa. Thecompany name comes from “On the Origin of Species,” the seminal work of Charles Darwin, who wrote about 15 million elephants in explaining the power of exponential growth.

In mid-November, 15 Million Elephants will present the “Fight the Famine” Action Emblem application at Silicon Valley Comes to Oxford – Europe’s most prestigious entrepreneurship forum.

Supporting Resources

• “Fight the Famine” Action Emblem
• 50/50 Make or Break Project
• EffectiveUI
• 15 Million Elephants

Bernard Amadei gave an assignment: each one has a gift, a mission statement. Write down your mission statement. Feel free to change it but write down your mission statement. The day you write it down and you walk the talk then fasten your seatbelt.

John Hickenlooper gave one inspired action: it’s one thing to be empathetic. But compassion implies action. People figure out a way to get involved with a school.  Find someone to teach to read.  Tutoring can’t be that hard.   Show up once a week.

Eric Berlow (via a TED video) said complex doesn’t always mean complicated.  Step back … Simple answers will emerge.

Robyn O’Brien asked the question, “Since when has food become so dangerous?”   Then she reminded us our country was founded by courageous and creative entrepreneurs.  Lend your talent to help.

Stacey Kramer via another TED video shared her story of cancer and how it was a gift.

Jeff Olson enlightened me about a term Areté.  It’s the excellence inside you … “ultimately bound up with the notion of the fulfillment of purpose or function: the act of living up to one’s full potential.”

Jeff also gave a great plug for Denver to host the Olympics.  Wouldn’t that be something!

Got to run.  No session III highlights from me.  Gotta jet home and read some kid’s books.

A great Colorado musician NRateliff played a few great songs.  Listen to some of his work here:  http://www.myspace.com/nathanielrateliff

It’s been a great first session.  Truly enjoying my first Tedx event.

I can change the world
With my own two hands
Make a better place
With my own two hands
Make a kinder place
With my own two hands
With my own
With my own two hands
I can make peace on earth
With my own two hands
I can clean up the earth
With my own two hands
I can reach out to you
With my own two hands
With my own
With my own two hands

I’m gonna make it a brighter place
I’m gonna make it a safer place
I’m gonna help the human race
With my own
With my own two hands

Let’s go out and make a difference.

Who is Tom and why do I want his shoes? Check out his cause and you’ll soon find out. In the meantime, take a look at the YOUTUBE video. It’s worth pointing out that Oprah, Time Magazine, Elle, Vogue and many others all think Tom’s Shoes are worth buying.

And yes they are comfortable. I’ll post again once I’ve worn them 20+ times.