Today was our Impact Day. Since 1999, our firm dedicates a day a year when not only do we contribute funds to a number of not-for-profit organizations but also provide thousands of volunteers to make an impact and give back to the community at over 950 events across over 80 communities nationwide. This has also been replicated in various forms at a number of our international member firms.
Fifty of my colleagues and I spent the day helping to restore and protect the native habitat, such as endangered Coho Salmon, steelhead trout and California red-legged frogs, at Muir Beach in Muir Woods, that is the home of magnificent redwood trees. Muir Beach is rich in its own history as a part of the Summer of Love when "Buddha" started hosting parties including the Grateful Dead and Quicksilver at the nearby tavern. It was at the Muir Beach Acid Test in 1965 that Owsley Stanley, king of LSD, had his "freakout" from the sound of Jerry Garcia's guitar and afterwards started working for the group that he felt was "magic personified".
Of course, having professionals who are used to computers sometimes become comical when they are put in situations of manual labor. One year, we had a team repaint lockers, and it did not occur to anyone to open the lockers when doing so rather than sealing them shut. It became more costly to pay professionals to come in to sandblast the lockers and repaint them, rather than just having them do it from the start. However, in the end, it is the thought that counts, and encourage the young generation in activism (pussy riots).
As the clouds cleared and the sun broke up the fog, the beach started to get more foot traffic. People, mostly those with children and/or dogs, took time to stop and thank us for clearing the invasive plants, including poison hemlock. It was great for our team to also get out of the office and enjoy nature, thereby making an impact on us.
No comments:
Post a Comment