Monday March 3, 2008, 11:12 pm
Can you spare $1.00? $5.00 or more? I have talked at length with the founder of this project, Michael Rossignol. He is bright, talented and ambitious. He has set out to do something to help the First Nations people help themselves when no one else will. I believe in this project. I hope you will take the time to check it out and learn more about Michael's vision and help to support The Standing Proud Project.
< href=" http://www.care2.com/c2c/group/TheStandingProudProject">The Standing Proud Project Group at Care2


The Standing Proud Project is an initiative to positively address in a realistic manner some of the serious social issues affecting the First Nation people of Canada. We will mention just some of these serious issues but also share with you the positive developments of Canada's aboriginal entrepreneurs.

Here are just a few critical issues:

-First Nations’ homes are four times more likely to need major repairs. Less than half of First Nations’ on-reserve homes are considered adequate by the federal government.

-Aboriginal youth are 8 times more likely to be incarcerated due to a series of factors one of them being higher rate of families reliant on social assistance (47%).

-First Nations with disabilities are twice as likely to not be able to afford medical transportation and child care. Nearly two-thirds of children with special needs are refused child care services by licensed facilities because they do not have the funding to adequately meet the child’s needs.

-Most First Nation recipients of income assistance live well below the poverty line.

Now to shed a positive light:

-Over half of new Canadian businesses that fail do so in the first two years. Approximately two-thirds (68%) of BC’s Aboriginal businesses surveyed had been in operation for more than five years. In 2002, most Aboriginal business owners reported profits and expected their business to grow during the next two years.

-Two-thirds of the businesses surveyed operated under a sole proprietorship structure, and over half stated that they operated in a highly competitive industry.

-Aboriginal business owners in primary industries were the most likely to hire Aboriginal people, with 7 out of 10 reporting one or more Aboriginal employee. Professional, technical and social services had the lowest proportion of Aboriginal employees with 44%. Overall, over one-third (35%) of Aboriginal businesses had at least one full-time employee.

-Most Aboriginal business owners (80%) indicated that they needed less than $50,000 to start their businesses and (34%) needed less than $5,000.

-Most businesses surveyed focused on local markets to sell their goods and services, while 13% sold goods and services outside of Canada.

The goal for The Standing Proud Project is to establish a funding source for First Nation individuals that are on Social Assistance who simply need seed money to start a business.

The criteria would be that the business must be culturally inclined thus preserving and encouraging our First Nation’s diverse culture and rich heritage. In addition, all grant applicants must successfully demonstrate their ability to run their proposed business.

First Nation individuals on Social Assistance cannot have access to funding from existing channels to start a business, regardless of their skills, talents, education or experience due to the fine print of conventional funding programs.

It is part of my vision to see my people become inspired from individuals in their own community who have succeeded in following their own dreams and goals. Many talented individuals are simply in need of an opportunity to present itself to them. I strongly believe that through business we will finally be able to start tackling these critical social issues.

The Standing Proud Project is an initiative for realistic change and we need funding to maximize the full potential of such a project. Your generous donations will be used for all related expenses in the important setup phase to ensure a strong and accountable charitable organization that can perpetuate its mandate in helping First Nation people in areas such as health, poverty relief, arts and culture.

Monday March 3, 2008, 11:40 pm
I love this project, Lauren . . . and I am so glad to see it being promoted!

Thank you for doing so.

Monday March 3, 2008, 11:58 pm
Have signed, joined the group, and will pass this information around to my friends. Very worthy project ...and even more worthy people it's helping! Thanx, dear one! xxx

Tuesday March 4, 2008, 12:24 am
Thanks Lauren, Noted

Tuesday March 4, 2008, 12:33 am
noted ! Thanks Lauren !

Tuesday March 4, 2008, 1:40 am
Noted, has some of you already know, I have been trying to help stop this eminent domain thing happening to our 1st peoples for quit awhile now.. Here is some recent updates Homeland Security preparing to seize Apache lands Eminent domain of any kind on anbody is illegal in my opinion, that amendment or law or what ever it was should have NEVER been passed. The bill of rights clearly states that private property may in no way be taken UNLESS it benefits the WHOLE government and in such cases, just compensation SHALL be made. This eminent domain thing DOES NOT BENEFIT THE WHOLE GOVERNMENT and is ILLEGAL PER THEE BILL OF RIGHTS!! That is how this must be approached I believe……for the 1st Peoples and all people. My 2 petitions to save 1st peoples, federal lands and parks have "stalled" i.e.;

The American Petition;

Americans, Click Here to Sign
For Americans and Everyone else to sign;

Click Here to Sign

If you could "help" these petitions, please do....

Tuesday March 4, 2008, 1:42 am
nj ty smile :)

Tuesday March 4, 2008, 1:43 am
oooo and yes my dear friend Kathy sent this to me ty gf u rock :)

Tuesday March 4, 2008, 1:51 am
Noted and helpin'

Tuesday March 4, 2008, 2:09 am
noted and donated

Tuesday March 4, 2008, 2:52 am
Noted!

Tuesday March 4, 2008, 3:03 am
Kathy, Thanks for sending this news, The Standing Proud Project sounds like a good one, And Michael Of course, The Apache Land should not be seized!

Tuesday March 4, 2008, 3:11 am
Thank you! You signed at 3:07 AM PST, Mar 4, 2008

Tuesday March 4, 2008, 3:24 am
Great article & goal for these people!!

Plant life.....plant seeds.....grow trees.....

Tuesday March 4, 2008, 3:54 am
hi yes thanks lauren,very good article.

Tuesday March 4, 2008, 5:27 am
Noted...TY for the link Kathy!

Tuesday March 4, 2008, 5:46 am
So noted!!!! Have it bookmarked for review!!!!

Tuesday March 4, 2008, 5:52 am
Noted, Thanks Lauren. Sgned yours too, Michael.

Tuesday March 4, 2008, 5:58 am
thank you ...great article

Tuesday March 4, 2008, 6:10 am
Have joined. Great idea. Like a lot of things, it needs to happy.

Tuesday March 4, 2008, 7:56 am
Noted and sent on. Thanks a lot for sharing it.

Tuesday March 4, 2008, 8:06 am
Noted! Thanks for sharing. This is great.

Tuesday March 4, 2008, 9:07 am
Noted. Thank you Kathy for sharing this.Thank you Lauren for posting.

Tuesday March 4, 2008, 10:04 am
If somebody can come up with a reasonable business plan (neccesary part of "successfully demonstrate their ability to run their proposed business"), then why won't normal banks loan the entrepeneurs such rediculously small amounts of money ? $5000 - thats nothing.
Banks should love to lend money to people with good business plans, so why aren't they ? This is bak core business.

Is "Standing Proud" about lending money, investing money or giving money away as gifts ?

Lending money to potential entrepeneurs has been very sucessful in the third world - often more than hading out gifts.

Tuesday March 4, 2008, 11:09 am
Noted. Will help as possible. The 5% of me who's Native wishes I could help 100%

Tuesday March 4, 2008, 12:22 pm
Thanks so much Lauren for bringing this very worthy cause to the forefront. I think it is a wonderful progrm and would only hope that the money could be gotten through conventional means. It's succh small amounts of money that I would think that conventional means would be eager to help out.Wherever the money ends up coming from, I hope the program continues to work and evolve and help all of the people who are willing to do the work.

Kathy, you can send me any news you think is worth noting and passing on anytime. I look forward to getting these alerts from you always. Thank you for being so diligent and determined to do whatever you can with all the causes you come across. You are the best!!!

Tuesday March 4, 2008, 12:44 pm
thanks, kathy noted

Tuesday March 4, 2008, 11:21 pm
Great cause, noted, thanks Lauren and Carole.

Wednesday March 5, 2008, 10:59 am
Why $10,000?

Here is a breakdown on what will make The Standing Proud Project a success:

The incorporation and charitable registration of a new federal charitable organization will be handled by Benefic Group (www.beneficgroup.com).

Their fees are as follows:



$3,000 plus 5% GST to cover the initial consultation and strategic planning.


$2,000 plus 7% SST & GST for preparation and filing of incorporation documents.


$3,000 plus GST for all dealings with Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) in applying for registration as well as preparation of a comprehensive reporting letter and document book on both the corporate documents and CRA correspondence filings.


$400 for out of pocket expenses related to incorporation fees, name reservation and the production of documents and the Minute book. Additional services rendered with respect to tax planning and gifting issues will be quotes and billed separately.


$1,600 for Taxes & Other Associated Costs


Help me raise these funds, all donors should be directed to go to:

www.givemeaning.com/project/pride

(all donations all eligible for tax receipts in both the U.S. and Canada)
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I was just forwarded this email, and it gives a breakdown of the fees. I would like to get in touch with Michael R. if that is possible-- I have some questions in regards to the above-mentioned.

Wednesday March 5, 2008, 11:14 am
Please join the group and Michael will be happy to answer questions and discuss the issues involved.
The Standing Proud Project Group at Care2

Thursday March 6, 2008, 2:42 am
thank you.very good

Thursday March 6, 2008, 10:07 am
noted!

Friday March 7, 2008, 10:00 pm
Noted and thanks.

Saturday March 8, 2008, 6:13 pm
Noted and thanks Lauren

Sunday March 9, 2008, 3:52 pm
I know I am a member of this group but I can't seem to log in to add my name to the list of supporters. If anyone out there has a solution to my problem, please send me a message. The group sounds very worthwhile.

Tuesday March 11, 2008, 2:58 pm
I am very humbled by the amount of support that I have received here at care2. I used to think that as an individual we can only do so much but life taught me that the truth is one individual can make a difference, especially times one hundred, one thousand or more! Each and everyone of us do take part in the bigger picture of things whether we realize it or not and for all of you who wish to donate, please visit: http://pride.givemeaning.com/

Thursday March 13, 2008, 10:53 pm
Noted. Michael, this is an exciting and important place to put energy and support into. It also is something I can afford to do on a tight budget. I will schedule a donation for early next week. Thank you for bringing this to us.

Thursday March 13, 2008, 10:59 pm
Sorry, meant to thank you, Lauren, for bringing this and to tell Michael that I'd taken action on petitions he mentioned. Been at C2 since 6AM and it is now 12:50 a.m. Think I will leave before I mis-speak about something else. Thank you!