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Last week I attended the TEDxLive talks via TEDxCalgary. The talks on crowd-sourcing and social change really perked my ears. It was exciting to hear people sharing their thoughts on things that I have been thinking about for a while and how they took my thoughts to a new level. Isn't that the whole point of TED - to make us think and dream bigger?

Check out this link for answers to the question about what donors are thinking of charitable fundraising tactics.

"As a donor to charity, what do we nonprofits do that REALLY annoys the tar out of you?"  This question was posed my Marc Pitman.

While you are on LinkedIn, check out the group Generating Social Capital.  A very interesting gathering of people trying to foster social change.

Finally, a few words on last nights speech by Barak Obama as it pertains to social change and social capital.  Here is a man who, for the first time since I have been engaged on the periphery of politics, actually moved me and made me believe in what he said.  Most importantly that he will deliver.  I have pulled out an excerpt from his speech that speaks to the generative changes that his government intends to make. 

This past week I have been in NYC.  Everywhere I went I asked people thoughts about the election.  One person's response was to ask me why I was interested.  The importance of this election does not simply impact the lives of Americans, this election and the policies that come out of it will directly impact the lives of Canadians, Afghanis, Iraqis, Africans, Chinese, Israelies, Russians... the globe.  I know for this Canadian, the need for change is desperate, change in environmental standards and policies, change in foreign policies, change in economic policies. 

As the American economy sinks further, the Canadian economy is also slowing.  This in turn can have major effects on charitable investments and the services that our non-profit organizations provides; as part of the social safety-net, as part of the cultural activities, as part of the educational opportunities provided and as part of the environmental securities we seek out.

Obama's platform is all about social change.  Hopefully his fiscal policies will reflect generating social capital to assist in that change.

Here is the excerpt from his speech.  The whole version can be found on his website - Barak Obama.

...What is that promise? 

It's a promise that says each of us has the freedom to make of our own lives what we will, but that we also have the obligation to treat each other with dignity and respect.

It's a promise that says the market should reward drive and innovation and generate growth, but that businesses should live up to their responsibilities to create American jobs, look out for American workers, and play by the rules of the road.

Ours is a promise that says government cannot solve all our problems, but what it should do is that which we cannot do for ourselves - protect us from harm and provide every child a decent education; keep our water clean and our toys safe; invest in new schools and new roads and new science and technology.

Our government should work for us, not against us.  It should help us, not hurt us.  It should ensure opportunity not just for those with the most money and influence, but for every American who's willing to work.

That's the promise of America - the idea that we are responsible for ourselves, but that we also rise or fall as one nation; the fundamental belief that I am my brother's keeper; I am my sister's keeper.