Over and Out

Let’s start with the hard part: After five years with Passports with Purpose, I’m resigning from the Board of Directors.

The “Why?” is a mix of public and private. There’s work I’m neglecting. My ridiculous music career is weirdly engaging and takes a lot of time. That partially written nonfiction manuscript on my hard drive won’t stop nagging me for attention. And there’s mundane stuff like laundry and the lawn and what’s for dinner and the day job; that gets in the way too.

PwP has grown from a scrappy, wired together with string and bubble gum internet project to a five year old sustainable annual fundraiser. It’s a news maker and a prominent voice in the part of blogland where “travel for good” lives. It’s got big sponsors and big prizes and and is held up by the support of hundreds of participants. I certainly had no idea when we started this that we’d be looking at a six figure global fundraiser.

And that’s awesome. We built that together.

I’m a Version 1 kinda gal. I like string and bubble gum and scrappy little projects. PwP is completely capable of walking on its own now. I’m very proud of the work we’ve done. I’ve been grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with a team that Gets Thing Done. But with PwP in in V5 (I can hardly believe that), it’s time for this V1 character to step down.

You have all been part of growing a life changing organization. That’s not hyperbole, there are kids learning to read and families in new homes and communities with clean water because of our work together. But PwP is big now, and it’s self sustaining.

You know what? I like small. (I play the ukulele. Have you seen the ukulele? It’s small.) I’m going to turn my focus to smaller things. If PwP has taught all of us anything, it’s that the smallest act can make a huge difference.

Thank you.

[Cross-posted on the Passports with Purpose website]