Is it me, or has everyone noticed the holiday lights and greeting cards that seem to be appearing at every turn? As the holiday season becomes apparent (and you're reminded that it is only 5 or 6 weeks away!) it does for me prompt a pause to consider what a time of giving the weeks upon us truly are. From the conception of the Mothers Online Movement, I have been reminded over and over again how fortunate I am to be surrounded by an incredibly giving group of family, friends and colleagues. It has also been a gift to meet and connect with so many new people who are as moved as I am by the issue of online child exploitation, and have signed up to do what they can to help.
I thought it important to take the time in this blog to call out some of those who made the launch of MOM possible. The video that launched the campaign is the result of a conversation with my friend Mia Wedgbury from High Road Communications - who upon hearing the idea for MOM (and before I'd completely told her my vision) said "you have to do it" and put me in touch with Lee de Lang of Flashframe Digital Media.
Lee offered his time and expertise to shoot and edit the MOM video and did more than we could ask of any guy by spending the entire day with a group of ladies (the women who volunteered their time at High Road Communications and my awesome neighbours who showed up en masse to help) as we agonized over what backdrop to use and what words to put on the cards. Thank you for taking such a difficult story and helping us tell it in such an meaningful way.
The board of the Kids' Internet Safety Alliance without hesitation agreed to support what at the time of my presentation to them was just an idea - pretty gutsy, but not surprising given the "make stuff happen" nature of these committed and passionate individuals. With that support came somebody pretty special - Vicki Ziegler, who took the MOM ideaa and gave it an identity, a home and through unmatched tenacity combined with a good dose of humour has built a pretty snappy online presence and destination for supporters of the Mothers Online Movement.
Although I tried really hard not to drive people nuts (which I have a tendency to do with any new idea) I really want to thank my colleagues, friends and family for enduring my 1:00am "what about this?" email messages, for crying with me when I read the vision out loud, and your patience when I asked for your feedback on cuts 1, 2 and 3 of the video.
To those of you who I know and don't know who have called, e-mailed, signed up for the blog, donated and joined our Facebook cause page - THANK YOU. You have shown me that we all have something to give and can make some pretty amazing things happen when we bring those things that we have to give together.
As you think about what a time of giving the weeks ahead of us truly are and if this prompts you to pause ... take a moment and visit www.mothersonlinemovement.ca.
Our goal is to rally the support of 2 million MOMs and raise $2 million dollars. Be A Voice!
Paula KnightMothers Online Movement (MOM) Founder andKINSA Advisory Boardwww.mothersonlinemovement.ca