It's official - We're Incorporated!

We have been non-stop in our preparation for the trip to Hawaii and the Hawaiian Research Project. With the aid of the Nolo "How to Form a Non-Profit in California", we have finally finished both our State and Federal Tax Exempt Applications!

The State Application was sent out immediately once we received our Officially Filed Articles of Incorporation back from the Secretary of State! After one missed and one successful filing attempt, we celebrate being an official organization as of July 6th, 2010. Therefore, we are now waiting for the response back about our State Tax Exempt Status. There were no fees for filing, unlike the $400 it will take to file the Federal Application. (That will have to wait until after our Hawaii adventure, to see if it is in our budget)

We are confident that everything will go smoothly in the evaluation process and we will hear back from the State within a couple of months.

Articles of Incorporation - Dropped Off!

On the way up north for the Oregon Country Fair, we stopped in Sacramento to drop off our Articles of Incorporation Directly to the Secretary of States office! It should take a lot less time now since it doesn't have to go through the mail processing.

But HOORAY! They are submitted again!

D.r.e.e.m. Reality at Fresno Pride!

This past Saturday, June 5th, was the first time D.r.e.e.m. Reality had an official booth at any public event!

Four of our Directors, all who are very proud, manned a booth at Fresno's Gay Pride Festival. I feel we had one of the most beautiful booths around with colorful tapestries, drums, and hand-made incense, oils, and bath soaks hand-made by our Director Ashley.

In order to prepare for the event, we found ourselves in full force to get the basic public image tools in place. We now have:

• A website published at www.DreemReality.org
• Business Cards
• An "About Us" Pamphlet
• A "How to Compost" Pamphlet
• Refined Logo, and Rainbow Colored rendition for Pride
• An understanding about making Tshirts

It was a challenge getting all this done - but worth the work. Even though we didn't end up selling ANY Tshirts at the event (Haha!) - we did learn a lot. We made about $12 in donations, and handed out all of our Pamphlets.

The main goal of being part of an event is to start getting our name and presence out there. And as always, to learn.

We hope that if anyone does wonder to the website or blog from the Pride Event, they give us a holler!

~Dani

So many exciting developments!

One of our new Directors, Ashley, has provided us with fuel to quickly evolve D.r.e.e.m. Reality. This Saturday, June 5th, we will be hosting a booth at the Fresno Pride Parade in the Tower District. Here we will be selling Tshirts, Handmade Incense and Essential Oils for Donation.

We will also be handing out pamphlets containing information about D.r.e.e.m. Reality, How to build your own Compost, and hopefully about the Oil Spill and how we can move away from Oil Dependency in the future, for a more Sustainable Energy Option.

Also, we have finally published our website! www.DreemReality.org

Such amazing developments in such a short span of time. Very busy, but very exciting!

~Dani

Developing a Universal Philosophy for D.r.e.e.m. Reality

We are always on the mission to conceptualize and communicate the mission, fueled by great passion, of D.r.e.e.m. Reality. Our scope of goals is ultimately to change the world of course but we have to be more focused to be truly effective.

In the process of trying to explain the multi-level purpose of D.r.e.e.m. Reality to our new Directors, I thought that an inverted triangle or better yet, a spiraling model, or concentric circles like a stone-in-a-pond would work well. Also, I think it would be an effective "marketing tool" to have our goal/philosophy on one solid graphic. BOOM, put it on pamphlets, the "about us" page, all that.

So here is the start of that project. First we need to verbalize the ideas...then comes the fun graphic!

We all must initially start with creating a Healthy Self, then that in turn will allow for a Healthy Community, furthermore a Healthy Globe (both environmentally and culturally), and Finally a Healthy Universe and Cosmos. This concept isn't completely new of course, but we think it is an especially effective path for D.r.e.e.m. Reality.

***

Universal Values of D.r.e.e.m. Reality:

• Health of Self - Nutrition, Physical Activity, Self Discovery, Self Love, Life Path Satisfaction, Spiritual Fulfillment

• Health of Community- Local Sustainability, Local Ecosystems, Community Identity, Strength, and Unity

• Health of Global Environment and People- Renewable Energy, Cultural Appreciation, Global Peace, Love of Allkind

• Health of Universe and Cosmos- Greater Awareness, Energetic Cooperation, Spiritual Regeneration

Big Day! Sent out the Articles of Incorporation!

Today was a big day for D.r.e.e.m. Reality! After spending a lot of focused time to ensure that we were ready, we finally have sent our Articles of Incorporation to the California Secretary of State today - April 20th, 2010.

As recommended by our instructional book, How to Form a Nonprofit Corporation in California, we made sure to have a sound Statement of Purpose ready, as well as the Bylaws written. So with three copies, a check for $30, and a calligraphy, hand written, self-addressed stamped envelope, we sent it off! Once we hear back from the Secretary of State, we will officially be a Corporation. Then can file for non-profit status.

Very Exciting!

~Dani

With that, here is a copy of the Articles of Incorporation for D.r.e.e.m. Reality:

Articles of Incorporation
of
D.r.e.e.m. Reality
A California Public Benefit Corporation

ONE: The name of this corporation is D.r.e.e.m. Reality.

TWO: This corporation is a nonprofit public benefit corporation and is not organized for the private gain of any person. It is organized under the Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation Law for charitable purposes. The specific purposes for which this corporation is organized are to create a self-sustaining institution that actively promotes and participates in the education of environmental and humanitarian awareness, improvement and preservation.

THREE: The name and address in the State of California of this corporation's initial agent for service of process is 9360 N. Blackstone Ave #220, Fresno, CA 93720.

FOUR: (a) This corporation is organized and operated exclusively for educational purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the corporation shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (1) by a corporation exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or (2) by a corporation contributions to which are deductible under Section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code.

(c) No substantial part of the activities of this corporation shall consist of carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the corporation shall not participate or intervene in any political campaign (including the publishing or distribution of statements) on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for public office.

FIVE: The names and addresses of the persons appointed to act as the initial directors of this corporation are:

Name Address

Danielle M. Stinson *****

Melinda L. Crabb *****

SIX: The property of this corporation is irrevocably dedicated to educational purposes and no part of the net income or assets of the organization shall ever inure to the benefit of any director, officer, or member thereof or to the benefit of any private person.

On the dissolution or winding up of the corporation, its assets remaining after payment of, or provision for payment of, all debts and liabilities of this corporation, shall be distributed to a nonprofit fund, foundation, or corporation which is organized and operated exclusively for educational purposes and which has established its tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Date: __________

____________________
Danielle M. Stinson, Director

____________________
Melinda L. Crabb, Director

We, the above-mentioned initial directors of this corporation, hereby declare that we are the persons who executed the foregoing Articles of Incorporation, which instrument is our act and deed.

____________________
Danielle M. Stinson, Director

____________________
Melinda L. Crabb, Director

New Focus! More Evolution!

The journey of making Dreem Reality a reality has been an educational one. It's taken some "step-back" time to really try and figure out what the best thing to do with it is. And I'm pretty excited to announce that there is a rejuvenated effort going into it!

I've decided to make it my Career. At 25, without a "real" career in my back pocket, I can't help but flinch when people ask what I want to do with my life. But really, I am proud of the fact that I haven't just jumped into dedicating myself to a specific career without having the confirmation of my intuition to back it up. Now, I know this is what I want to dedicate myself to. And that I find ultimate fulfillment in what Dreem Reality has been created to achieve.

With that, we have refocused our efforts and refined the Statement of Purpose to be more direct and thus better able to bring in the needed support! So here is the new rendition (always in healthy evolution of course).

Statement of Purpose for Dreem Reality

A) To create a self-sustaining institution that continuously cooperates and promotes the research, education, production, and application of environmental, economic and social awareness, improvement and preservation.

B) To apply various research techniques, including but not limited to literature review, case study and survey conduction, observation, participation, and documentation.

C) To disseminate research results through various educational venues, including but not limited to literature publication, online media, lectures, workshops, and film production.

D) To create, produce, and distribute relevant technologies and products, including but not limited to solar panels, alternative fuels, organic food and drink, mindful clothing and art.

E) To put research results into practice through applications, including but not limited to consultation and community building.


Once we feel comfortable that this is an appropriate rendition to send in for the purpose of Incorporation - we will! Also in the making is to update the Bylaws from the previous version, as well as to add on a few more important members to the Board of Directors.

Onward!

~Dani

Dreem Reality Hiatus

It has come to our attention that right now we (the directors) aren't ready to organize this non-profit yet. We hope to keep it alive, like a glowing ember, ready for us to stoke it when we are prepared.

The project ideas are still flowing through excited brainstorms, but as far as creating something "official" - that's on hold for now.

Here's an idea that I'm really excited to pursue eventually as it pertains to the senior programs that was discussed at one of the last meetings: Stroke Victim Group Walks. Again starting "locally", Phoenix' grandfather has had several strokes and is working on improving his strength, flexibility, and independence. It occurred to me last week that a Stroke Group Walk would be motivational to the walkers, and therapeutic in physical, emotional, and social ways! Eventually, with success and growth of the program, we could have volunteer physical therapists chaperon the group and make suggestions for stretching and such. Perhaps even have other types of volunteers that could give them advice and techniques while walking.

That idea and others will continue to come and when we are ready to take on this project fully, WE WILL! Preparation is an essential part to creating your Dreem, and we are taking the time necessary to prepare fully to be successful.

Until next time...

~Dani

Election of Officers!

We're in Redding, California right now and have finally had a chance to sit down and talk about a few official things for Dreem Reality. The goal was to have the Articles of Incorporation ready to be sent out by the beginning of 2009. Which we do! However, the book we are reading ("How to Form a Nonprofit Corporation in California") has suggested to also have the Bylaws ready so that we have some idea of our responsibilities before we commit to incorporation.

Today we were able to accomplish a few major goals! We have determined the offices as well as fleshed out a majority of the Bylaws. The only thing missing from the bylaws is to create the finalized "statement of purpose", which is a bit more detailed than the one for the Articles of Incorporation. Once we have that we'll be done with the Bylaws. Then it seems the next step is to fill in the application for Tax Exempt Status. Once we have that ready, I will fill confident in sending in the Articles of Incorporation. My goal is to have that completed by the end of this week.

So, that means that we have our new President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer! Being that the same person can hold multiple positions, except that the President can NOT be the same person as the Secretary and Treasurer that has meant that our officers are:

President: Phoenix
Vice President: Dani
Secretary: Dani
Treasurer: Dani

The Secretarial and Treasurer duties are more my thing than hers at this time. We have decided that at the annual meeting on May 5th, 2010 we will re-evaluate the positions if we have new directors to fill the spot of Treasurer and Secretary.

Hooray! Big step today!

One of my first acts of Treasurer will be to get a Quicken account set up for the non-profit. Which I'll probably go work on now.

~Dani