The Little Words Mean the Most

Gone to Cleveland, put sauce on my boots

Foster: Land of Plenty

Ms. Indispensable: Toronto AFP Congress 2012

Introducing my friend and yours, Simone Joyaux. L-r: Helping Darth suit up for a big night of evil ("You know, hon, this breastplate feels kinda snug.""Maybe if you didn't gobble down every planet on your plate...."); speaking of love (and butter); and acting grumpy, with the equally indispensable Ken Wyman, CFRE, distinguished professor of fundraising at Humber College. Click photos to enlarge.

My life as Darth: Toronto AFP Congress 2012

Mark Phillips wrote a skit about storytelling, casting himself as Luke Skywalker, with me as Darth Vader, his father revealed. The news from dressing room #5 and the sign that was carried across stage, to stir up the audience against me. Conducting a sword fight in Vader's helmet was like driving at night through a blizzard. Like a lot of fights, it was over in seconds. Then we hugged. Click photos to enlarge.

The venue: Toronto AFP Congress 2012

Stage fright, go away. Come again some other day. Click photos to enlarge.

Rehearsal for Fundraising Theatre: Toronto AFP Congress 2012

L-r: creative sparkplug, Mark Phillips, founder of the UK's Bluefrog, with Fundraising Theatre mastermind, Tony Elischer, bent over unbecomingly; the Theatre's producer and magic wand, Jon Duschinsky; and Beate Sørum, over from Oslo.

Why we love this conference: Toronto AFP Congress 2012

It's not just for the gussied-up bathrooms at the convention centre. This conference is different! In the best way: warm AND grand AND pulsing with new ideas. Those "ME-volution" T-shirts announced the publication of a new book, curated by Jon Duschinsky and Tony Myers. And Steve Thomas, founder of Stephen Thomas, doubled down. Let's be brutally frank: we love Steve and Mary Thomas, and their kids, and their agency, and their parties for visiting foreign speakers! Click photos to enlarge.

Street poutine: Toronto AFP Congress 2012

Food trucks, of course, are all the rage. This is my all-time favorite food truck livery, parked right in front of our fancypants hotel.

Brunch at the King Eddy: Toronto AFP Congress 2012

Sunday brunch with Pearl, Frank, and Sharilyn, cherished friends and colleagues. Also the day of Toronto's big Christmas parade. By the way, that bland facade? The windows have tales to tell you. Or imagine you're own, the frame invites. Click to enlarge ... and see the real story.

Workers memorial: Toronto AFP Congress 2012

This succinct and moving memorial to workers who died on the job is in the midst of the financial district in Toronto, right across from the fancy hotel we stay at during the Congress. I invite you to click on an image, to enlarge and read it.