we live in public

More than a decade ago, I ran the Personals and Promotions Department at the Philadelphia Weekly. Every week, I’d help hundreds of lonely hearts pen personal ads that would hopefully, land them a love connection (and help fill my 10-page, back-of-the-paper section). In addition to offering up my wordsmithing skills, I’d coordinate singles events on a weekly basis – everything from awkward heterosexual meet and greets at hipster bars to bump and grind gay dance parties to the occasional “Anything Goes” swingers soiree for the dirty birds. I could fill more pages than you can imagine with my experiences, and if you buy me a beer sometime, I may be willing to dish some of the more (ahem) colorful details.

My dating life never sucked more than once I’d started penning the widely popular advice column “Ask Me Anything,” and was deemed the local dating guru. Sure, I was the first point of contact for hundreds of eligible bachelors, and I even dabbled in a few first dates with some of my more charming advertisers, but the most long term commitment I managed to muster up was a stalker who landed himself in jail (and then proceeded to harass me for more than a decade). Since this incident, I’ve been fiercely protective of my identity and whereabouts, going so far as to use pseudonyms in several editorial outlets and use a mailbox service several miles from my residence.

So when the world of social media started to evolve, the idea of sacrificing my privacy gave me serious pause. I’d fought so long to keep a low-profile, but was wooed by Facebook and Twitter and blogging and new possibilities of networking and personal connections that I decided to take a chance when I launched my Kickstarter fundraising campaign last November. I mean, there was no way in the world I could ask strangers to help fund The Global Citizen Project without full disclosure of who I was. I don’t regret my decision for a second.

Since then, I’ve made countless friends via social media networks and have never, ever had a less-than-stellar experience with a cyber someone I’ve met in real life (or IRL in Twitter speak). There’s a long “wish list” of Twitter friends I hope to someday cross paths with, but in the meantime, I practice reasonable cyber caution and welcome the possibility of making acquaintances via avatars, handles and 140 character limits.

Next week, I especially look forward to meeting Raquel Segura (@aireslibre) on a long layover in Miami, then Alison Garland (@AliAdventures7) when I arrive in Quito, Ecuador. When it comes to socializing and making connections, we live in a very different world these days. It's weird and crazy and absolutely fascinating, and I find that if you open yourself up to it, there are some really beautiful connections to be made via social media.

media mention: the faster times

If you know anyone who works in the creative sphere—writers, photographers, designers, filmmakers, artists, what have you—you’ve probably heard of Kickstarter. Read more of Amy Westervelt's article "Help Fund a Travel Show that's Actually Good" here, which includes a nice mention of The Global Citizen Project. Thanks, Amy for your continued support of my project!

how to increase your pledge

If anyone wishes to increase their pledge, I wrote out the play-by-play, since it's kind of confusing (and a lot of people have been asking - thank you!):

1. Go to the Kickstarter page here.
2. Click on My Projects, then “Projects I’m Backing”
3. Click on “Manage Your Pledge” (in blue box on right hand side of the page)
4. Enter your NEW pledge amount (change reward if applicable)
5. Scroll down and click “Adjust Your Pledge”
6. Click “Continue to Amazon”
7. Sign into your Amazon account to complete transaction
8. You will receive a “Congratulations” page with the updated pledge amount post on the right hand side of the page (and a thank you from me!)

media mention: national geographic traveler intelligent blog

The Global Citizen Project and Kickstarter are featured today on National Geographic's Intelligent Travel blog. Thank you, Janelle Nanos for the coverage! Read it here.

seattle on sale. 24 hours only - starting at midnight tonight (PST)

It is my plan to swap my BlackBerry for a backpack to serve 12 different community causes in 12 countries over 12 months, with a project I conceived, The Global Citizen Project. TGCP has raised more than $10,000 so far, but only has TEN days remaining to reach its $20,000 funding goal or else the project will not happen and I will not receive a cent. Donations start at $1 and there are several tokens of gratitude being offered for different levels of pledges.





For 24 hours only, from midnight tonight until midnight tomorrow night (PST), you can support a great cause and save money of lots on several really cool Seattle items. Prices will be adjusted on Kickstarter at midnight tonight (PST), so if you see something you like, please pledge ASAP. Prices will be switched back to pre-sale amounts at midnight tomorrow night. Thanks in advance for checking out TGCP!

ONE FREE BURRITO, BURRITO BOWL, SALAD OR ORDER OF TACOS AT CHIPOTLE
$8.50 value. NOW, a $5 pledge to TGCP.
(Valid in WA and OR only)

THE SEATTLE TOURSAVER 2-FOR-1 TRAVEL DISCOUNT BOOK
$80 value. NOW, a $40 pledge to TGCP.
Over 115 buy-one-get-one FREE Seattle travel deals for Seattle, San Juan Islands and Victoria BC. Save on flightseeing, adventure travel, whale watching, harbor cruises and hotels.

ONE NIGHT STAY AT ACE SEATTLE
$165 value. NOW, a $82.50 pledge to TGCP.
Ace Seattle is a 28 room hotel located in the heart of Belltown. It’s near downtown, and within walking distance of many popular destinations, like the Space Needle, Pike Place Market, and the Seattle Waterfront. Blackout Dates Apply.

SOLD! ONE NIGHT STAY AT HOTEL VINTAGE PARK
$250 value. NOW, a $125 pledge to TGCP
This charming Kimpton hotel in the heart of downtown Seattle celebrates Washington's Wine Country by dedicating each room to a local winery and vineyard.. It was recently named to Travel + Leisure's "Best 500 Hotels in the World" list.
The gift certificate will be valid for one year from date of issue and some blackout dates may apply.

ONE NIGHT STAY AT TULALIP RESORT CASINO + $25 FOOD CREDIT
$200 value. NOW, a $100 pledge to TGCP.
The 370-room luxury hotel, next to the very popular Tulalip casino, includes a deluxe spa, restaurants, meeting rooms, a ballroom and a special area for weddings around a landscaped pool.
Good for: One night deluxe accommodation and a $25 food credit. Valid until: 2/28/2011 Disclaimer: No redeemable cash value; gratuities and alcohol not included; based on availability, certain blackout dates may apply and is not valid during New Year’s Eve or Valentine’s Day.

TWO NIGHT STAY AT THE WOODMARK HOTEL YACHT CLUB & SPA
$550 value. NOW, a $250 pledge to TGCP.
The Woodmark Hotel, Yacht Club & Spa is the only hotel on the picturesque shores of Lake Washington. The Woodmark features 100 rooms, most with views of the lake, and all with luxury amenities, as well as a full-service spa, two exceptional restaurants, distinctive event spaces and an intimate, residential, waterside ambiance.

Photo courtesy of net efekt

if you get 25% of your funding on kickstarter, you have 90% chance of getting the rest

"If you get 25% of your funding on Kickstarter, you have 90% chance of getting the rest."

Kickstarter co-founder, Yancy Strickler

The Global Citizen Project is 51% funded with 12 days to go. Please don't let me fail. I need to raise about $9,700 or $800 per day. Please help me do this.

Right now, I want to thank the latest backers who believe in The Global Citizen Project and the impact I can have around the world:

Andrew Collins, About.com Guide to Gay & Lesbian Travel. We live one state apart, but our travel paths only seem to cross in places like Colorado Springs and Santa Barbara. (Not that I'm complaining.) You can follow Andrew on Twitter here.

Buzzy Gordon, another travel writer friend met in Antigua (on not such a great press trip), just completed writing the first Frommer's Jerusalem Day by Day Guide, to be published in 2010 by Wiley & Co.

Garren Katz and NW for Haiti. Garren is a kind-hearted new friend who also appreciates good food, wine and friends. (We'll get along just fine.) He managed to organize and execute the NW for Haiti event a few weekends ago at The Vineyard Table and raised more than $3,000 for YELE, Doctors Without Borders and The Global Citizen Project with the help of more than a few generous, wine-loving souls. You can follow Garren on Twitter here
.
Rich Lucas, talented screenwriter friend from Philly whom I've known for more than a decade (wow). I haven't seen Rich in ages, but love hearing about his travels and travails, and have my fingers crossed to see one of his scripts on the big screen someday.

Juliana (I think I know who this is, but need to confirm before I start outing backers.)

Isoul Harris, Atlanta's Managing Editor of  944 magazine, also known as Ver Sach, we met on one of the all-time best press trips to Costa Rica last year and I am itching to travel with our group, "V" again. When you find a travel writer dynamic that works, it's best to cross travel paths again. In the meantime, I enjoy the groups' company immensely via Facebook and Twitter. You can follow Isoul on Twitter here.

Mary A. Harris, Isoul's supermama. We haven't met, but if we did, I've give her a high five for raising such a classy kid with a heart of pure gold. I mean it.

media kitty, karikuy and matador network (holy trinity of this weekend's good news)

Whew. A lot has happened in the past few days. The Global Citizen Project hasn’t seen much financial love since its last $1,000 pledge, but has been getting an abundance of feedback, suggestions and media interest. Thank you to everyone who has donated, visited my blog/Kickstarter site, or spread the word about the project. If this project happens, it's because of you.

Media Kitty, my go-to travel industry resource for connecting media with related business professionals, highlighted me in its Friday newsletter, as its “Member Shout Out.” It is a huge honor to be recognized amongst my travel media peers and I want to thank Morgan Sommerville for making it happen.

Late last week, I also got word from Julie Schwietert, managing editor of Matador Network, that a student in its travel writing school will be doing an article on The Global Citizen Project. I’m very much looking forward to the interview. Also, I wrote a blog post for Volunteering Travel, which should go live very soon. I’ll keep you posted of my (ahem)cyber media appearances and promise to post links when articles are live on the internet.

Lastly, I committed to volunteering for Karikuy, a tourism company geared towards humantitarian efforts in Lima, Peru for two-and-a-half weeks in July 2010. I’ll be part of a writing project to promote Peru and its culture (Perupedia). Airline tickets have been secured (thanks to an abundance of American Airlines’ frequent flyer miles). I have faith that The Global Citizen Project will get fully funded ($20K by February 22, 2010), but if for some reason it doesn’t, I’m 100% committed to this project on my own dime. (But it would be really nice if it did happen, so please donate whatever you are able.)

Sending big cyber hugs out into the universe...xo

what is kickstarter?

So, I realize most of you probably don't even know what Kickstarter is. I didn't know until a few weeks ago, either, but I'm not exactly the poster child for tech savviness. Before you part with your hard-earned money in the name of The Global Citizen Project, I encourage you to read more about this fantastic new resource to fund creative endeavors here.

I've done plenty of fundraising the old fashioned way (knocking on neighbors' doors, hitting up co-workers, and guilt-tripping the parents) but Kickstarter allows for far-reaching experience that can be as interactive as you want it to be. Plus, it's plain old fun to check the site every day to see what percentage I've reached toward my goal. There you have it. Check it out. It's very cool.

i'm $5 shy of $1K, oh my

Pledges were rockin' and rollin' right to my Kickstarter project today. The latest thanks, love, high fives and hugs go to Susan Kim LeComte (a dear, dear writer friend) and Thompson & Company Public Relations (the fabulous Anchorage firm that handles my latest travel weakness, Alaska, and specifically the Alaska Travel Industry Association. Thank you so much for being so darn sweet.

kickstarter up

Whew. Those IT folks at Kickstarter sure are speedy. After a short, off-line hiatus, the site is back in action and ready to accept your pledges for The Global Citizen Project. So, please, help put me over the $750 mark tonight. My $20K goal is ambitious, but I'm go getter kinda gal and your show of monetary love will help send me to 12 countries over 12 months to volunteer with 12 different programs. As always, big thanks in advance for your time and consideration.

rock and roll. $625 in pledges and it's not even time for happy hour yet

It's not even time for happy hour here yet in Seattle and The Global Citizen Project has been backed $625. (Blush.) It is amazing to see the power of Kickstarter and I'm blown away by people's kindness and generosity. I am very appreciative and will do everything I can to make this project happen. And if you like what I'm doing, I'd be forever grateful if you'd pass the word along via your social media networks.

Big gobble filled thanks to Amy and Andrew.

wow. i am blown away. (and very thankful)

Day One of The Global Citizen Project isn't even over, and already $500 has been backed. I haven't celebrated Christmas in years (commercialism killed it for me), but it sure felt like ten types of festive when I opened my inbox this morning and saw all sorts of generous, project-backing love. Thank you so much Clare, Michael, Roland and Peter. I really appreciate it.

the global citizen project is live on kickstarter

I did it! My Kickstarter project just launched on Kickstarter. You can check it out here. I'm trying to raise $20,000 between now and February 22, 2010 so I can volunteer with 12 projects in 12 countries over 12 months. Let the fundraising fun begin.

yay. i got a kickstarter invite

I got a Kickstarter invite thanks to Rick Marson and the Nancy Drew-esque power of the Google. I'd been scouting for an invite on Twitter for a good 48 hours, when I decided to search the Blogosphere for some kind-hearted, invite-wielding souls.

Well, I stumbled upon Marson's blog, shot him a comment and within a few short hours had a reply and an invite in my trusty inbox. Wow. And thank you. Here's wishing Marson lots of luck with his super spooky iPhone app project. (I'll post details once he's up and running on Kickstarter.)

Anyway, I'm going to jump into the deep end of the pool sans water wings (at least metaphorically) and hope to post my plans for the The Global Citizen Project on Kickstarter tonight. I'm ready to make this happen. Sit tight and stay tuned -- I have a feeling this is going to be a fun, fulfilling ride.

what is "the global citizen project?"

“I never went to Europe,” my mother sighed in a Percocet-induced state of delusion. (That comment was followed up with “And I can never have sex again,” but I readily ignored that statement.) It was a Thursday night in 1990, exactly two weeks before my mother’s 38-year-old body would surrender to metastatic lung cancer after a brief, half-year battle. At the time of her diagnosis, I was 17 years old, and the “C” word made me take a step back, examine my life and redefine what I wanted it to mean. As a result, my mother’s words have inspired me to live my life fully, spontaneously and with purpose. Okay, maybe it’s also been influenced by some strong-willed Taurus tendencies (the blessing/burden of sharing a birthday with Earth Day), but regardless, I’ve made deliberate choices to live a life of travel and authenticity.

January 2010 marks the 12-year anniversary of my career as a freelance travel, food and lifestyle journalist. 2010 also marks the 20th anniversary of my mother’s passing. Nice round dates, numbers and new years seem like a good time for introspection, and I’ve decided to refocus my personal and professional efforts.

So, here’s what I propose. I’ve given a lot of thought to what aspects of travel teach and inspire me and it comes down to the beauty, virtue and power of the people I cross paths with. Over the past few years, I’ve been fortunate to spend time in communities around the world, including Honduras, Costa Rica, Peru, and Chile. It is clear to me that despite the countless cultural differences, we all have dreams, we all strive for happiness and, really, we’re all not so different.

In an attempt to understand, connect and contribute, it is my plan to swap my BlackBerry for a backpack and volunteer around the world as part of what I’m calling, “The Global Citizen Project.” I would like to volunteer with 12 community projects in 12 countries over 12 months. I know it’s impossible to save the world with bite sized stints of service, but I want to give something to the bigger picture, spread the love around, share my experiences in an editorial capacity via this blog, social media and a eventually, a book, and promote responsible travel and volunteer tourism.

I am in the process of creating a “wish list” itinerary of volunteer projects I feel my skills are best suited for, spanning 12 different countries and 12 areas of service (i.e.; health education, eco-tourism, reef conservation, sustainable farming, national park service, etc.). I am seeking a KickStarter.com invitation (fingers crossed) to help fundraise money for this project, as well as brainstorming creative sponsorships. Thankfully, I have a lot of frequent flyer miles banked, but am fairly certain, no matter where I go, I won't log anywhere near 150 flights in the process. I promise to keep readers posted with details as they come together. Right now, I'm shooting to embark on this adventure in June 2010. I’m very much a “Believe it, achieve it” kinda gal (ask me how my first book got published sometime), so if anyone has any insights or ideas to share, please feel free to shoot me an email at cpfeuffer@yahoo.com. Thank you for reading.