These are some of the smartest and most social impact-oriented consultants in the Midwest. Spent a lovely day with them last week sharing strategies and hearing how they are raising funds and building capacity for nonprofits in our region and beyond. If you know an org looking for some help, I'm happy to make an introduction for you.
Photo credit: @woosterworks
Had an amazing time in Central Europe recently, some of which I spent touring pipe organs (because of course)! Here are a few favorites. (Non-organ related pics coming soon.)
Image 1: The grand organ of Strasbourg Cathedral in France. It’s been perched in this location since the 14th century!
Image 2: Close-up of Strasbourg’s grand organ. The detail is stunning.
Image 3: The nave of Cologne Cathedral (Germany). Construction began in the 13th century and it took 600 years to build. Peep the swallow’s nest organ high on the left side. There's another one in the transcept.
Image 4: Close-up of Cologne’s nave organ, built in 1998 to celebrate the cathedral’s 750 (!!!) years.
Image 5: The transept organ at Cologne Cathedral. Apparently there is also a third organ I didn’t see somewhere in the crypt. 😱
Image 6: Organ at the Church of Our Lady (Liebfrauenkirche) in Koblenz, Germany. Couldn’t find out much about the organ, but the church dates from the 5th century, and has been rebuilt many times, most recently after being badly damaged in WW2.
Absolutely unforgettable bucket-lister of a week in the Galapagos Islands with @bgwithrow hosted by @lindbladexp on the naming voyage of the National Geographic Gemini. Gracious crew, incredible local guides, delicious food, and the most extraordinary wildlife and geology to explore. I'm now the godparent of a ship! David Attenborough was right about it all.
See my highlights for pics and videos (all above water) and see Brandon's reels for some of our mind-blowing underwater adventures. This place has left its mark on me in the best way.
(Brown Pelican on board the National Geographic Gemini, and completely unperturbed 😆)
#galapagos🐢
Recently I got to spend an evening with my longtime friend @staycuriouskarynart . Karyn is one of the most fascinating and talented people I know. She's based in Alaska where she works as a naturalist, bear guide, and artist. She plays the violin, reads ancient languages, and makes her own pigments from foraged natural objects. Of course I forgot to take a photo of the two of us together! But this is a miniature wall hanging she gifted me, woven from salmon skin she tanned and paper she handmade from seaweed collected near her home on Kachemak Bay. She's not much on IG these days, but you can view more of her work (and discuss commissions, if you're interested) at birchbarkstudio. com. Look for her books made from shells!
Reviewing my sketches and reliving this awesome comic-drawing workshop with @rosemarymosco and @bellandpixel at @biggestweek . Drawing from live models is challenging! even when they are as handsome as Edison, this South American Spectacled Owl. Rosemary is as delightful in person as she is in this hilarious book (buy it!), and Charlotte teaches a sharp 3-minute sketch! Also, we had a lot of really clever class participants... can't wait to start seeing their comics in the world!
Thank you to @kimmkaufman for capturing my face of joy at being in such proximity to this charming predator!
Surprised myself by having SO MUCH FUN hosting the banquet at @biggestweek birding festival on behalf of @bsbobird !
Getting 250 people to respond in unison to a knock-knock joke, introducing famous guests, seeing the delight on people's faces as they received some very special swag. Grateful for an incredible group of people who showed up in support of bird migration research and habitat conservation along Lake Erie!
#biggestweek2025
Hey marketers/communicators: Have you set an intention in 2025 to build community and pursue growth SUSTAINABLY?
I’m launching a newsletter 🎉 🎉 🎉 to help you strengthen your comms—and remind you you’re not alone. I’m calling it “vitaMinD” because 1) each issue is like a boost of energy and confidence to keep you going and 2) it has my name in it! 😆
First issue drops in February. Sign up via website in bio for storytelling inspo!
#vitaMinD #communicationstrategy
Reflecting on 2024's serendipitous encounters (like my moment with this Little Egret in Japan) and reminding myself to approach 2025 with curiosity. Happy new year!
