Family Ties

A Family Tree Story

When the workmen from Bert’s Trees were clearing the huge branch that had fallen on our patio, I took pictures. Three men struggled hard to move the heavy log that damaged chairs. They were happy to pose for me!

A few days later Bert brought another crew to our neighbor’s house. Their job was to take down the tree that the branch had fallen from. It looked as if another even larger branch could easily fall. We were relieved when the tree was gone, but sorry to lose the shade it had provided.

I took another picture, this time of the man high up in the tree, cutting section by section.

There was a crane parked on the neighbor’s lawn. The cutter (sawyer?) attached the rope from the crane to lift away each part as he cut. Another man held a rope near the bottom.

After I took their picture, I showed them the one from days earlier. “That’s my son, the one in the middle,” the man who’d been up in the tree said. “He just started university today!”

He couldn’t have been more proud, and I was thrilled to hear his exciting news.

My Tesla’s Name 

I told you about my new Tesla. But I forgot to tell you its name.

When Sam and I were setting up my driver profile, the first question was what name did I want to give the car. I started to say just use Cathonye, a way I often shorten my long first and last name when I have to provide an easy id.

But then I thought the car deserved better. So I thought for a minute and the perfect name came to me! Ijeoma, our daughter’s middle name, which means Go safely or go well. It can also be used to signify someone has made a safe journey.

My father-in-law gave our daughter that namer. She was born in 1967, not long after we had left our home in Lagos to move to the newly secessionist Biafra. Two weeks later the civil war began, and soon we had to leave for Clem’s ancestral village of Nanka. We lived in the village for a year’ then I took her and our son Chinaku away until the war was over.

As she travels now for her new job – she went to London on Wednesday and is going to Geneva tomorrow – I believe the name has served her well!

Who Likes to Ask for Money?

Most people do not like asking for money, even for a good cause.

Our Unitarian Church in Westport is holding a capital campaign to raise money for badly needed renovations to our 50-year old building. In the early phase we have received commitments of $927,000, putting us nearly halfway to our $2 million goal. Now we need to ask the rest of the congregants to contribute.

The best way to engage donors is with a personal ask. So we have recruited the people we call Visiting Stewards. Many have had this role each year when we are raising the funds for our annual budget. Now we need them to ask others for their commitments to the capital campaign. We added a few new people. I led the training yesterday.

A new member, Beth, volunteered to provide a segment on Principles of Customer Engagement, something she has taught professionally for many years. She gave us three rules:

1. 1. 1. Focus on the customer
      2. Persuade through involvement
      3. Earn the right to advance

Her comments were exactly what we needed! Focus on the person you’re speaking with, ask about their commitment to the church, and earn the right to ask for a gift because you have listened well!

She ended with this quote from Maya Angelou, which I love.

Later I asked participants to reflect on what is most compelling for them about the church, and what is their vision. Then I had them pair up to practice sharing their stories. The pictures are of several couples in their practice sessions. You can see the glass walls. One of the major needs is to replace the single pane glass with more efficient solutions.

Mandela to Speak in Westport

Zoleka Mandela, the granddaughter of Nelson, is coming to Westport, I learned today from Dan Woog’s blog 06880.

WestportMoms is a fairly new multi-platform resource that provides all sorts of information. They have joined with female-owned business groups to help African refugees in the neighboring town. Dan said,

“And they’re helping bring Zoleka Mandela to Westport, for an inspirational evening of hope. The event is Wednesday, September 18.

Mandela — who serves as ambassador to the Global Access to Cancer Care Foundation — will speak about her organization’s mission to educate physicians and oncology specialists, in areas where mortality is high. Healthcare issues and income are closely related.”

Dan even provided the link to get tickets for this event which is benefitting the GACCF. I have choir and a meeting that night, but I hope someone I know will be there so I can hear about it afterwards. Anyone? Let me know!