Tag: charity

Kind supporters of Cupcake Camp Sydney

On By Kate CarruthersIn community, future

A number of organisations have stepped up to offer prizes for Cupcake Camp Sydney. I wanted to take the opportunity to thank them for their generosity, and also to show the prizes that our cupcake makers could win.

The Plantronics has provided one of their Discovery 925 Bluetooth earpiece.

It is a nifty designer headset for both men and women.

“Delivering exceptional audio performance, complemented by bold lines and distinctive finishes, the Plantronics Discovery 925 Bluetooth earpiece embodies technical craftsmanship previously unseen in the mobile accessories category.”

Plantronics has also provided on of their GameCom 367 Closed-Ear Gaming Headsets.

This headset “delivers an immersive audio experience with

50mm stereo speakers and earpods that redistribute pressure for maximum comfort.

The headset features a noise-canceling mic boom which allows you to

Adjust audio levels using in-line volume

and mic-mute controls.”

Altec Lansing have provided one of their Muzx 126 SnugFit noise-isolating earphones.

These are iPhone, MP3 and iPod compatible.

“Sound quality is excellent thanks to the use of wood and other materials to help sound resonate and gold plated plug for superior sound transfer.

The earphones also feature fashion detailing.”

Everyone who makes or buys and brings cupcakes to share is in the running to win one of these prizes. Again, a big thank-you to the donors.

Who should we invite to judge Cupcake Camp Sydney?

On By Kate CarruthersIn ideas2 Comments

Cupcake-DayJust wondering who we should invite as a judge for Cupcake Camp Sydney.

We’ve had @Neerav volunteer to help out so far.

But we also need a few more people who are willing to put themselves on the line to (a) taste cupcakes & (b) help out the RSPCA, raising awareness of the event & what we’re trying to do.

Feel free to nominate yourself or others below in comments – or on twitter using tag #cccsyd

REGISTER NOW for Cupcake Camp Sydney

Cupcake Camp Sydney goes animal

On By Kate CarruthersIn ideas4 Comments


Cupcake-Dayw00t! Cupcake Camp Sydney is on!

Date: Friday 28 August 2009

Time: 5.30 pm – 7.30 pm

Venue: CBS Interactive Sydney

We are running this as part of the RSPCA Cupcake Day fundraiser – if you are a cupcake maker you can go to the RSPCA site & sign up to receive a cupcake kit.

Register (opens a Google Docs form)
Sponsors Needed
If you’d like to help out as a sponsor please let us know – we need some prizes for the fabulous cupcakes & their bakers, & a food or drink sponsor would be nice too.

What is a CupcakeCamp?
CupcakeCamp is an ad-hoc gathering born from the desire for people to share and eat cupcakes in an open environment. It is based on similar principles as other unconferences such as BarCamps and you can find some more information here.

In this instance we are also going to try and raise some funds to help out the RSPCA as well as enjoy each other’s company and a cupcake or several.

Here is a real school in need

On By Kate CarruthersIn ideas1 Comment

In real contrast to my old high school (as discussed in yesterday’s post) here is a school that really needs donations.

Kilimani village secretary Juma Hassan lila Kalibu shows off the new computer room at their school
Kilimani village secretary Juma Hassan lila Kalibu shows off the new computer room at their school

As my friend Stilgherrian describes: “This is Juma Hassan lila Kalibu, secretary of Kilimani village in Zanzibar, showing off the village school’s new computer room. As you can see, it has no computers. Or electricity. Or desks. Or chairs. Or anything, really.”

Unlike my old school (which has excellent computer facilities, swimming pool, etc.) here is a school that does not even have the basics.

One of the big drivers in improving living conditions across an entire society is education.  Basic literacy is one of the foundations of a civil society, and technology is a key enabler of innovation.

It would be great to see all schools with access to technology together with basic literacy tools.

Check out the Action Aid website for ways to help.

Charity, donations and community

On By Kate CarruthersIn ideas2 Comments

Just got the annual letter from my old high school. As an ex-student they reach out annually to ask me for money. That’s pretty much all I hear from them. There’s no attempt to stay in touch or to create a sense of community.

They might be doing more, but I’m on their mailing list for donation requests and I don’t get any other correspondence from them!  They don’t even write back to say what the money was used for or enumerate the results of the programs it funds.

It appears that on the basis of a few years acquaintance a long time ago they think it’s alright to just ask me for money without any preliminaries or attempts at conversation. And that is really quite presumptuous of them!

Sure it’s an admirable thing to give a tax deductible donation to the College Scholarship & Bursary Fund so a young woman can have an Australian private school education. But why would I bother giving money to them when they don’t even bother with foreplay?

On the other hand the WSPA stay in touch with me often, ask me to get involved, find out what I think about issues as well as asking for donations.

I feel like I have a stronger relationship, or a deeper level of engagement, with the WSPA than with my old school. And, when making the decision on where to allocate my charity dollar, the organisation with which I feel an affinity is going to win.

Also, since I suspect that children living on the lower north shore of Sydney* could probably survive an education in one of the local state schools, it looks that some of my money is going to the animals instead.

* For those not from round here, Sydney’s lower north shore is a relatively wealthy region with a median house price of $1.03M post GFC.