About
The Wildseed Organization is in its infancy.
We’re currently investigating what form of non-profit status we want to take and how to go about getting the thing all set up. (Fortunately, we do have a commitment for funding our first set of initiatives.)
Our mission is to help North American teachers gain international experience, and to translate their (ad)ventures back into their classrooms.
We will do this by forming partnerships with various volunteer agencies, whereby we can assist in placing selected teachers on assignments outside of North America.
Should you wish to learn more, please send an email to mwerner(AT)infosourcelearning.com, and we will contact you when we have further details.
Additionally, should you have information to provide (contacts in organizations who can help us fulfill our mission), please feel free to contact us at that same address.
Adios and bon voyage,
Michael Werner
Acting Head
A LITTLE MORE BACKGROUND
Okay, so a friend of mine, with quite a bit of non-profit experience under his belt, advises me that if I want this thing to grow big and fast I’ll need lots of volunteers and a paid staff.
And, that was exactly the advice I wanted to hear, because that’s certainly the opposite of where I’m at right now in my life and my feelings for and about the Wildseed Organization.
So, hold the phone right here and now.
You see, for probably (actually, definitely) the first time in my life I DON’T want this thing to go fast! And, I’m probably not going to try to raise money beyond what I can generate — hey, if someone throws something at it, fine, but that’s not the point.
I’ve spent my whole life building businesses, hiring people, gnashing my teeth over one problem or another, trying to do things bigger/faster/better . . . and, while I’m definitely not tired and I’m certainly not ready to mosey on down the path to the rocking chair and the front porch swing, I want The Wildseed Organization to be different.
It’s not about raising the most money or helping the most people. Rather, it’s about supporting a few individuals with a passion to learn, grow, and change.
When my mom died she left me a little money, so I wanted to do something to honor her and my father’s interests. They were both lovers of all things education (my dad started his work life as a teacher and my mom was a teacher her whole life), foreign languages, international travel, and just anything-that-had-to-do-with-learning-or-interesting-people kinds of things.
I grew up, actually, with a house that was constantly hosting foreign students for one event or another — whether for a day, week, or year – we had students living with us since I can remember.
At any rate, my intent with The Wildseed Organization is to provide a few “scholarships” every summer to teachers so they can participate in volunteer opportunities abroad – you know, those “volunteer vacation” sorts of things.
The Wildseed Organization is a tribute to my parents, Jacquolyne and David Werner.
Should be fun.