Introduction of Annet

We are in the beginning of a new week and a new month here in Uganda. We have made new friends, acquired new experiences, and gained new comforts. We see the same faces as we pass by the same stores so that now we can acknowledge each other, often by name. In other words, we have become familiar in a foreign place. This is one of the most exciting aspects of traveling: seeing how well we adapt to one another. The recipe is always the same: an open mind and a common belief that we are sharing this life together. And so we would like to introduce to everyone, Annet, our new friend.

Now that you have all met Annet and been properly introduced to Hope Primary School, we would like to address some of their sincerest needs: Food and Water, that which is needed for the pursuit of a better life. We understand that there are countless schools in countless countries under the same conditions, but we shall begin here because we can.

Over the next few months Global Ties is going to begin fund raising on behalf of Hope Primary and the refugee families of our community. We are going to assist these children, their teachers, and the parents to build an organic garden big enough to feed all of them. Most importantly we will give the children an opportunity to eat lunch at school…for the first time. We will also be working on bringing running water directly to the school. Currently, children must carry jerry cans, many of which have holes and leak, down a treacherous path to fetch water. We want to change this.

Some friends and family have already expressed a very enthusiastic interest to help facilitate some of our ideas. Two close friends of Jimbo’s, Jesse Danger Johnson and Ryan Sir Friendly Horn, have agreed to sponsor a show of the musical variety on the beautiful St. Simmons Island. It is said to be sometime around Christmas. Mary, a.k.a. Mundawger or Jimbo’s mom, has also agreed to host a benefit party we are calling Cocktails for a Cause. The date has not been arranged but the location will be at her home in sunny Naples, Florida. As well, Mollie’s awesome sis and bodacious brother(in-law), Katie and Mack, have agreed to host a fabulous winter party at their home in snowy Jackson Hole to raise awareness and money for this community.

We also have a new seasonal idea that could allow just about anybody to get involved if they are interested. We have designed a special edition 2009 Global Ties Fund Raising Christmas Ornament that will be available to order by the beginning of next week. It is made from traditional African Kitenge fabric and traditional bark cloth and will look excellent adorning any Christmas tree this season. The refugees of Kamba Cooperative are making all these awesome ornaments, and all proceeds will benefit the children of Hope School. So, if you are a teacher and you think your class could help us, your church, your business, or just yourself we would love to have you support.

(we will post a picture as soon as we have the first ornament ready)

For all the fly-fishing men and women out there, we will also be fund raising through our program Global Ties: Tying the World Together One Fly at a Time. We will be selling our Bead Head Midge Nymph flies for $2 a piece and preferably by the dozen. We pay a lot of attention to our quality control so that we make qualities flies that will catch you fish.

(Picture to come)

We have also secured a few willing participants that will be sponsoring change collection bins. Our first partner is Griffin GriffTown VanMeter. He will be placing a change bin at Stella’s Deli in Lexington, Kentucky. If you happen to be dinning there, and you should be because it is delicious, please check it out. We would be very grateful and appreciative of anybody willing to participate in this.