Mountain Spirit's Blog

SUMMER 2010 FUNDRAISING APPEAL
Mountain Spirit Institute needs your support!

WHO WE ARE

Mountain Spirit Institute, www.mtnspirit.org, is a 501-(c)-3 non-profit organization dedicated to helping people better connect to themselves, each other and the natural world with a greater sense of joy and peace.

Richard Louv in his book “Last Child in the Woods” coined the term ‘nature deficit disorder’, which describes people’s lack of contact with the natural world, and the drastic results of what happens to individuals and society when this happens. MSI not only addresses this issue but instills a sense of place, compassion, and responsibility impelling our participants to take action towards a more holistic and sustainable lifestyle.

WHERE WE’VE BEEN

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  Learning about other cultures, Peru

  We have been in existence for over 11 years, offering a variety of programs, including the Kearsarge Wilderness Experience, a Peruvian/USA Folklore music exchange and tour, regular educational programs to Peru, The Art of Living shamanic studies program, a film series and author lectures plus other exspiritiential* education programs that support our mission.  (*This is a term coined by MSI to summarize our mission).

• We give back to the local community by hosting the Sunapee SunFest and continue to offer the Sunapee High School/Outward Bound MSI Scholarship Program.
• Our website and popular blog have a worldwide audience sharing global ideas about community, holistic lifestyles and sustainability.
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  Getting the word out

  100% financial giving by our directors to MSI as well as gifts in kind, and volunteer hours. The founder’s belief in the mission is illustrated by his loan of over $24,000 over ten years for start-up costs.  We earned our official non-profit status in 2005, but in some ways we are still a start-up.   We have conducted many successful programs over the years, and made a significant and positive impact on people’s lives in the region and beyond. Our programs have paid for themselves, showing strong administrative leadership. We’ve existed without major outside funding from individuals or grants.  In order to move on to the next stage, we are seeking donations to not only fulfill our mission but to be a sustainable organization.

NOW AND LOOKING FORWARD

Our Board of Directors has held two retreats to assess our place in the world, and to determine where our energy should be directed this year.   The MSI Board is committed to continuing its mission by creating new energy and relationships, not only within the organization, but with all who are coming in contact with us – participants, facilitators and donors alike. We are paying attention to aligning our work in a practical way for the betterment of our world.   These goals and programs are the epitome of our mission and we would be honored to continue our work with your help. Just a few of our upcoming programs are:

H.A.W.K program: Healing, Adventure, Wilderness and Kamping: a healing bereavement wilderness experience to provide a sense of community, contact and communication for teens and adults who have lost a loved one. More info here.

Snatam Kaur Fundraising Concert: featuring an artist whose ethics and message align with ours.  We will be introducing Snatam Kaur’s music to the Upper Valley/Lake Sunapee regional audience (www.snatamkaur.com) when she performs at the Lebanon Opera House on September 1^st 2010.  Snatam’s internationally acclaimed music has been presented at yoga and personal development retreat centers throughout the world, and is the epitome of heartspace music. Learn more here. More info here.

Peru 2011: An important program, (our first was conducted in 1998), has the fundamental mission of expanding Americans’ view of the world through experiencing the compassion of the Peruvian people, and the stunning spiritual landscape of the Andes. Giving back and service are important aspects of this program. More info here.

Kearsarge Wilderness Experience and Solo: These programs serve to directly help participants realign their internal compasses in today’s busy lifestyle by finding vital time to connect with nature, with themselves and thereby be of better benefit to the world around them. More info on KWE here, and on Solo, here.

AN OPPORTUNITY TO FINANICIALLY CONTRIBUTE TO MSI’S MISSION AND GOALS

Specifically, we are seeking funds to build a solid foundation to increase our capacity to deliver more programs, and to be a truly sustainable organization. We realize these are difficult times and that there are many competing organizations seeking your support. Check out our website and blog, talk to a Board member or a former participant.   Learn more about the difference that Mountain Spirit Institute makes in the lives of individuals and communities. Your tax deductible contribution will enable us to continue to make that difference.

We need to raise $5,000.00 by AUG 15^th in order to continue to offer the cultural and exspiritiential programs that distinguish us from other adventure-travel or outdoor organizations.  All those able to attend/participate in Mountain Spirit Institute events and programs will be grateful for any contribution you feel you can make, whether it is $25, $50, $100, $200 or more, toward our unmet needs.

You may contribute financially to our annual fund, by sending a tax deductable donation by mail to:

Mountain Spirit Institute
P.O. Box 626, Sunapee, NH 03782
or, to make a donation using PayPal, click here.

Thank you to all our past and present supporters of MSI. See a list of them here.

On behalf of Mountain Spirit Institute’s board of directors, thank you for considering donating to Mountain Spirit Institute.

D.R. Richards, Founder
Mountain Spirit Institute