major steps completed today

Today...

• We opened a bank account with the $200 that was given this past weekend. Thanks to all of those who donated for my birthday!
• We put our 501(c)3 application in the mail for the Federal Internal Revenue Service.
• Our website went live (www.overflowcoffeebar.org). It's still under construction but it's up!

A few major hills climbed over... now we continue with the fundraising and await hearing from the IRS regarding our application. It can take 2-6 months. Pray for a prompt approval!

2 weeks...

It's been 2 weeks since the first newsletter was published and at least 91 people have viewed the newsletter at least 156 times. That's a lot. Wow! I'm impressed.

We also have 9 followers of the blog and 23 fans on facebook (Overflow Coffee Bar on Facebook).

On the one hand, this is all very encouraging. On the other hand, we still have $0. I mean, people have given $40 but it's already been used for government applications and filings and such. I'm hoping this changes soon because we need the $750 for the 501(c)3 application that I'm almost ready to send in.

Please note: I'm not all about the numbers... I just find them helpful in articulating stuff. We've also been having some good qualitative conversations with neighbors here in the South Loop. It would take way too long to tell you about them all. :)

A Day of Firsts!

Mark it down. On August 1, 2009, Overflow Coffee Bar had its first board meeting and is distributing its first newsletter. This day will go down in the history of Overflow as having special significance.

During the board meeting, we approved the organization's bylaws and I got the go-ahead to move forward with the 501(c)3 application, with opening a bank account and with fundraising.

Click here for the newsletter. Feel free to download, digest and distribute. (FYI, we will not be printing newsletters for mass distribution so as to save trees. We'll be posting newsletters on this blog, sending them by email and publishing them on our future website.)

Open publication - Free publishing