<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 12 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>This morning, I was perusing my Facebook feed and I came across something that really struck me. A celebrity is winning an award for service and donation to an organization called the Dream Foundation. I investigated. This foundation makes dreams comes true for those who are in their last year of life due to illness. According to dreamfoundation.org, "The mission of Dream Foundation is to enhance the quality of life for individuals and their families facing a life-threatening illness by fulfilling a heart’s final wish." These dreams range from helping someone to receive a refrigerator or stove, helping them to have a last trip with their family, meet a celebrity, or even to see their child go to a circus. This organization is located in Santa Barbra, California. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Looking at the site really touched me. That got me thinking about our community service group. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>For us to be motivated to serve, maybe each of us must be touched somehow in that special way. Something must occur to us or strike that chord in our heart. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The investigation of the Dream Foundation lead me to articles and blog posts from someone who gave up his career to serve others. He started his life change by committing to doing 30 service projects in 30 days. For your viewing and inspiration-educing pleasure, each day, I will be sharing his written accounts of each of his 30 days of service. After all, we can't produce fruit if we don't first plant the seeds.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Today's post will be an article that really hit me. It offered something that helped me understand what makes service important. Maybe each of us can find and share an article or experience that has touched us in the way that makes us want to be in this group and to serve others in communities. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Stay tuned for the first article in my series.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Mary Ann <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></body></html>