My little nonprofit, the VISTA Expertise Network, just went through its dark winter. From April last year through now, we have weathered a tough time.
This was not the result of any lawsuit, the way it was with Wizards of the Coast. We are highly respected in the VISTA community, and had just completed phase one of a contract to upgrade the toughest application in VISTA - File Manager - which we did on time, on budget, and with all promised features delivered. We got glowing reviews from our contract officer, and we were riding high, but then all the cards fell wrong for us on the table, so that suddenly no one had any full-size VISTA gigs for us to work on. The sponsors of our VA project all simultaneously left VA, leaving our project without a champion. Multiple sure things fell through. Other projects were a year or more late in actually starting, leaving us with very little income for most of 2013 and the start of 2014.
In November, after we put on our successful VISTA Expo and Symposium in Seattle, we had to lay off most of our staff, because we just did not have the income to pay them. We shrank down to a small core and stayed there for four months, but now things are finally turning back around, and we are beginning the process of bringing everyone back on board.
The parallels with what happened to Wizards did not escape me during that time, nor did the irony of my previous post - that I was celebrating my restart of this blog right as my opportunity to do so was taken from me, and that I quoted Ward Proctor's insight about why simple survival is the key to success, so that we get the chance to execute when the right time comes along.
It took all my concentration to keep our little nonprofit afloat, and the hard work of Sam and Linda, and the sacrifices by those staff members who agreed to go on unemployment, with only our shared faith that this was only an aberration in our economy that when corrected would let everyone come back. It also took the small but vital opportunities given us during that interregnum by our allied organizations in the VISTA community, who found small projects here and there for us to do, which brought in the small stream of revenue we needed to cover the costs of the small core, from which we can now rebuild. That left no time for written reflections on Wizards's history, though we spoke of it often during the past year.
Paradoxically, although this means things are about to get a lot busier for the Network, it means I can go back to normal hours and income, which gives me back the time I need to pick this story back up and carry it further for you all.
In light of the recent untimely death of beloved Wizards alumnus Cliffton Anthony "CJ" Jones - about which more soon - many of us felt it was time to resume telling the Wizards story. Beverly and I are discussing the right sequence for the next series of posts, and in the meantime I have some housekeeping posts to do, to link in other discussions from the past year about Wizards of the Coast and its history.
I hope you will enjoy them.
Gamer ADD: Suleiman Subsector Gazetteer Part 2
-
1110 Quaver C111469-B
Prior to the Civil War, Quaver was a major trade hub overseen by an
opportunistic dictatorship. Seen as a possible disruptive force i...
2 months ago
Sorry to hear about your rough year, Rick, I'm glad things are turning around for you. It'll be good to have you back and blogging again.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear of your rough time - here's hoping the upturn keeps on turning up! Looking forward to the next chapters in the story, too :-)
ReplyDeleteTrue story, I'm one of the people who have benefited from Dr. Ogbeifun Love Spell. Dr. Ogbeifun appeared in the middle of my life when all hope was lost. I gave up on life and thought the best way to care for my broken heart. I have several experiences with my husband who have been working with me for many years. I made up my mind to continue with my suicide before a strange spirit. Afterwards, Dr. Ogbeifun Temple, I reluctantly looked for and found testimonials and recommendations for him via his email. He answered and asked me to go away and take my life; he said that my case is solvable after consulting his Oracle. Well, here I am today thanking Dr. Ogbeifun for saving my life and bringing back my Husband. We are so happy today and happier than we have ever been. He also helped me stop my cardiac arrest problem. I am grateful for being among the people sharing this testimony. Contact him at this email ogbefunhearlingtemple@gmail.com call or add him on whatsapp +2348102574680 website
ReplyDeleteBring Ex love back Permanently +27605775963 lost love spell caster South Africa
ReplyDeleteTraditional Healer in Johannesburg
Drmaam latifah of Spiritual Love Spells Powerful Psychic Love Spells that work +27605775963, Best Traditional Spiritual Healer | Herbalist | Sangoma with trusted Spells | South Africa’s Top lost love spells caster, cure couple break up spells, magic (black or white) love spells, marriage spells, Sangoma healer based in South Africa and spiritual Marriage consultant, Specialist in Love affairs and clairvoyant using native divine spiritual healing analyze uses ability to tune into most relationship problems and focuses on the emotions related in all aspects of the reading. Love magic is celebrating one's love for the self, and being the love that is wanted from another. Romantic love requests an equal partner to enjoy their desires. Note this it can be implemented in a variety of ways, such as written spells, dolls, charms, amulets, potions, or different rituals. We mix variety of strongest herbs and traditional spiritual medicine, the herbs are made strong for all our spells and love spells to react faster than you expect and ensures that it brings back your lost loved one to you for LIFE. I work with your guides and my spiritual guides to bring about as much information as possible that will help you grow as a person and allow you to move forward. Sometimes as humans we just need a helping hand to guide us through a difficult period which will never tell you what you want to hear, so please feel free to consult us for reliable and affordable great services as follow; ((LOVE CHARMS)) (((BINDING YOUR LOVER)))
1- We Bring Back Lost Lover Even If Lost for a Long Time
2-Is your love falling apart?
3-Do you want your love to grow stronger?
4-We could strengthen bonds in all love relationship and marriages,
5- Is your partner losing interest in you?
6-Divorce or Court issues,
7-Preventing your partner from cheating on you,
8-We may help to keep your partner faithful and loyal to you,
9-We may recover love and happiness when relationship breaks down,
10-Making your partner love you alone,
11-We may create loyalty and everlasting love between couples,
12-Get a divorce settlement quickly from your ex-partner,
13-We could create everlasting love between couples.
14-We help you look for the best suitable partner when you can’t break the cycle of loneliness,
15- Are you an herbalist who wants to get more powers?
16-Buy a house or car of your dream
17- Unfinished jobs by other doctors come to me,
18-I help those seeking employment,
19- Pensioners free treatment,
20-Win business tenders and contracts
21-Do you need to recover your lost property?
22-Promotion at work and better pay,
23-Do you want to be protected from bad spirits nightmares?
24- Financial problems,
25-Why you can’t keep money or lovers?
26-Why you have a lot of enemies?
27-Why you are fired regularly on jobs?
28- Speed up money claim spell, delayed payments, pension and accident funds
29- I help students pass their exams/interviews
30- Removal of bad luck and debts,
TRADITIONAL MEDICINE, DR MAAM LATIFAH POWERFUL PSYCHIC LOVE SPELLS, LOVE SPELLS THAT WORK, GAY LOVE SPELLS, MAKE HIM MARRY ME SPELL, SPELLS TO BRING BACK LOST LOVE.
JOIN ILLUMINATI HOME OF RICHES,FAME AND POWER FROM ANY COUNTRY +27785167256… Are you a businessman,student,teachers, trying to become rich. here is the opportunity you have been waiting for to get the riches. the Illuminati are welcoming new member to the brotherhood which are going to be bless with money. Once you are a member there are benefit you are going to receive such as: A Cash Reward of USD $9,000,000 USD, A New Sleek Dream CAR valued at USD $800,000 USD. A Dream House bought in the country of your own choice One Month holiday (fully paid) to your dream tourist destination. One year Golf Membership package A V.I.P treatment in all Airports in the World, A total Lifestyle change Access to Bohemian Grove Monthly payment of $5,000,000 USD into your bank account every month as a member. illuminati home of riches,fame and power help you get to your dream,where you can rule the world, contact Us to proceed with your initiation,,
ReplyDelete,WHATSAPP US +27785167256 The Illuminati is World wind organization. Bringing the needy and the talented to lamplight of fame and riches. Get money, fame, powers, security, get recognized in your business, political race, rise to the top in whatever you do, be protected spiritually and physically! WELCOME TO ILLUMINATI How to join Illuminati In Switzerland – How to join Illuminati In Sweden -How to join Illuminati In Norway – How to join Illuminati In Dubai – How to join Illuminati In Saudi Arabia -How to join Illuminati In Oman • How to join Illuminati In Austria • How to join Illuminati In belgium • How to join Illuminati In Netherlands • How to join Illuminati In Australia • How to join Illuminati In China • How to join Illuminati In Botswana and other How to join Illuminati In australia. How to join Illuminati In spain and angentina and molaysia and mexico and ghana nigeria and all the countries…. hello everybody i am very happy to share with you this good thing Lord Lucifer has done in my life i want to use this medium to testify of his good work in my life…i was strangely struggling in other for me to earn a dime for a living… but with his help and all i was initiated into the great fraternity of Illuminati which great things happen i was asked to decide and choose between the riches and the life of poverty so i think twice and i remembered that even though i looked round and go for help from other people they will always turn me down so i made up my mind and decided to make a deal with the lord Yohan Jean and then things started happening at first i was asked to do so many things so with the few money i had, i used it in initiating myself into the great brotherhood so immediately i was initiated, and was also asked to render my bank details to them and then they surprise me with a huge amount of MONEY. Further i was issued a MAGIC RING,MEMBERSHIP ID AND GOWN, Later on shiped to me Illuminatiam, Talisman and in less few days i was called out for a meeting and i got my Amulets for supper powers and protection of me all round. I also attended the grand anniversary and the great pyramids of Ancient times.JOIN ILLUMINATI HOME OF RICHES,FAME AND POWER FROM ANY COUNTRY +27785167256… .