So, I'm finally getting around to posting what I feel is a very important blog entry. Oh, some of it was just plain fun, but there is a part of it that is for a bigger, more important cause - something that means a great deal to me. And, it's called Let's Get This Foundation (LGT Fdn).
As you know, I was, am and always be a NKOTB fan. Not everyone gets this. And, that's okay. I'm sure there are things that I don't "get" either. But, I digress...
In recent months, one of the members of this group, Joey McIntyre started a foundation in order to "give back." The hope is that we can all learn and get involved together. Step 1: a summer book drive - collecting childrens books. Everyone who reads my blog will know that, while it started out as a way for my friends and family to see my knitting related projects, it has become so much more. And, a very big part of it has been my passion for reading. You may recall this blog entry...Reading is to the mind... in which I discussed how reading books is a big part of who I am.
He opened up a contest for people to enter a 100 word essay to say why they should be selected to be a volunteer at one of the concerts. And, this is what I wrote:
Why I want to be a part of the book drive:
Reading is a big part of who I am today. I'm thankful everyday that I learned to appreciate a good book at a young age. A good book will take you places you never dreamed of going. By starting to read quality books at a young age it will help develop important skills children need in order to lead future generations.
A quote I have for my blog is "Never discourage anyone...who continually makes progress, no matter how slow." -Plato.
I believe what the Let's Get This Foundation is doing applies here because we will make forward progress together.
Thank you for time and consideration.
Well, a few weeks later, people were starting to get notified that they had been selected. So, I thought, okay, maybe I'll go check my email. Imagine the surprise and jubilation I felt when I saw this in my email in box:
We want you to volunteer in Washington, DC!
I felt so honored. Out of thousands who entered, only around 10 per city were being chosen. My passion for reading and this great cause was evident in what I had written. Go me! : ) However, I ended up being able to change my city to Virginia Beach (remember I did a mini tour). I was doing the 5* meet and greet VIP experience in DC, so there was a conflict, but asked if I could do the Virginia Beach location instead and there was an opening.
That night was a night to remember. We met at the will call at 4:30 p.m. per the instructions, waited about an hour or so and as "Joe's guests" were escorted to meet him for the briefing. He was so gracious and appreciative of us. He asked each of us our names, gave us hugs and asked if we thought we could handle setting up the easels, lol. We said, "of course!" And, one thing that I chuckled at, but absolutely loved, was the meticulous way Joe was counting out the download cards (if you donated a book, you get a free download for his song, "Five Brothers and a Million Sisters)." Maybe it was the accountant in me and his attention to detail that struck such a cord with me. Hee, hee. Then, he was like, oh, let's take a picture. And, here is the result (they did another one - a "switch out" so different ladies could be by Joe - I was one of them in that photo):
And, here is a picture of me at the volunteer station:

And, then we were off to set up. Well, most of you know the rain that a good portion of this country has been having this summer. Well, the sky decided to open up in Virginia Beach that night (a "monsoon" as Jonathan Knight called it - lol, love ya Jon). Fortunately, it was right after the venue staff provided a tent for us to stand under. All of us were so thankful for that tent. Otherwise, we would have been drenched. But, of course, it would have been worth it because we were there for a bigger cause... This group of ladies quickly bonded. And, now we're keeping in touch via social networking on a daily basis. We want to be able to reunite and do a show together. Maybe go on the cruise together (yes, there will be another NKOTB cruise and you can bet I'm gonna be on that boat! Some of my best local girls and I are already planning for it - see how many wonderful people I have in my life because of these guys? It's kind of like that special group of knitters that I've met through Ravelry and The Loopy Ewe - friendships that warm my heart. Priceless...)
So there you have it- my wonderful experience as a LGT Fdn volunteer. I look forward to the things that come with this organization. This is only the beginning and I know I want to be a part of it as it grows. As we learn from each other - "Helping the World, Step by Step."