There is a constant tension for me in life between living life fully and reflecting on it and documenting stuff that might be useful to me or others at some point.

My life is so good and getting more exciting every day. I quickly want to recap some exciting things that have happened in the last month...

re: Austin CarShare - A nonprofit carsharing organization that is the first in Texas
* Our 6-month member survey results were outstanding! Our members report that they are 94% satisfied or highly satisfied with the program and everything we predicted would happen is happening... members are driving less, carpooling, busing and walking more, some have sold vehicles, and even more have put off the purchase of a vehicle they were expecting to buy. Kudos to Elliott McFadden our founder and Executive Director who has provided the excellent customer service and management to deliver on the results we intended.
* We had a positive article written in the Austin Chronicle that praised Austin CarShare and pointed to the fact that the City was not taking ownership of the pilot they approved last year.
* At a meeting (soon after the article) with Roger Duncan and Austan Librach at Austin Energy, Roger said that Austin Energy would take on managing the relationship with Austin CarShare and put it under the Austin Climate Protection Plan. He didn't even flinch when I told his we needed $100K in funding. Hope that leads to more good news when the new City Budget comes out in October!
* We got some very promising encouragement from a significant potential funding source.
* We were asked to present at EnviroU for EnviroMedia, and the Renewable Energy Roundup and Green Living Fair.
* It looks likely that we will get a table at the Greenlights for Nonprofit Success' Board Fair where we can recruit some talent to expand our board and provide for capable succession.
All this is to say that I feel certain we are on the verge of bringing this organization to the point of sustainability. With at least four more vehicles in our fleet and a partnership with the City we should have enough money flowing through our members' user fees to support a full-time Executive Director and even start moving toward hiring a part-time fleet manager.

re: Austin EcoNetwork
* meetings were held and emails exchanged that led to a revitalized effort to get a website launched for the AustinEcoNetwork
* After Mark Yznaga recommended GreenCityBlueLake.org we checked it out, Diane Miller arranged a call with the director, and Selwyn has already gotten to work creating our version of that same model of Drupal site.

re: Pachamama Alliance
* Through a scholarship arrangement I set up, five Pachamama Symposium leaders and volunteers attended the most recent VisionForce Boot Camp. They all seemed to get a lot from it and will use their new sense of honor and renewed energy to effect even more positive change in the world.
* I am working with Linda Shaw, Polly Mertens and other capable volunteers to produce the second "Awakening the Dreamer: Changing the Dream" Symposium in Austin, Texas on Sept 22. We are having it from 9:30-3:30 at the Casa de Luz Auditorium.
* The first Texas training for future symposium facilitators will be held November 1-4. I am excited to be trained as a presenter for this most excellent workshop.

re: housing
* I gave notice that I am leaving my East Austin house with Donna on the first of September. I found a nice condo back in the Bouldin Creek neighborhood to share with a cool woman named Teal. It is only one mile from my work, walking/biking distance to some of my closest friends, 2 blocks to SoCo (the coolest district in Austin), and 3 blocks from Magnolia Cafe.
* I looked at what is on the market and for where I want to live...the market is nuts! For under $200K I can get only get an 800 square foot condo. I spoke to a woman in Elgin yesterday who paid the same amount for a 2,400 square foot, three-bedroom house on 30 acres. Quite a contrast.
* After a visit with a banker for a financial reality check I am going to plan on investing less than I had dreamed of in the bank AND hold off until a year from now when I have a better financial track record to get a loan on (good job for a year, debts paid off, low overhead) to buy a place to live. Plus maybe prices will chill out a bit.
*  I am still entertaining the idea of living in Kaleidoscope Village, the first real cohousing community in Texas.  I am equally called to a) healthy, sustainable, community living with some shared meals and lots of common amenities b) downtown (or very central) walkable/bikable living. I would still need to explore first-time homebuyer support programs and see what's available if I wanted to buy into the cohousing project.

re: personal development
* After completing the Landmark Curriculum for Living and a few more seminars, I signed up to be a coach for the Self Expression and Leadership Program. I am looking forward to helping create transformation in lives and communities as we take on bold projects that will create new realms of possibility in the world!
* Katie, Carol and others who I introduced to Landmark took the Forum last month and have thanked me over and over for opening the door to huge possibilities for them. I love it when my friends and loved ones "get" their power and really own creating a wonderful life for themselves.
* I was an assistant at the July VisionForce Boot Camp and had the profound privilege of sharing a powerful experience of honor with 25 visionary leaders, half of whom I was responsible for getting there.
* Through my friends' and my own personal health issues I've come to really appreciate the health I have. I am honored to be supporting a dear friend through his skin cancer surgeries later this week.
* My new housemate is an Avatar trainer so I'm sure I'll learn some more just by being around her.