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| Hummingbirds
in Torpor Story and photos by Sarah Ellis
Often when people have good ideas, but no
money or support, the Red
Hummingbird Foundation helps with both. A children’s museum was
put up during last year's Mayor's Cup in Plattsburgh. Though it couldn't
find a permanent home, the support of the Red Hummingbird Foundation encouraged
others to jump on board so the museum could make an appearance.
Lately membership participation in the Red Hummingbird Foundation has dropped to an all-time low as the foundation struggles to find board members. Vivian Papson, founder and former president, said, "The goal of the Red Hummingbird Foundation is to build community and celebrate diversity. It’s a nonprofit organization that has survived on grants, memberships, and donations."
“Basically, we’ve survived on the good will of people who have been inspired by what we have done,” Treasurer Don Papson said. "The Red Hummingbird Foundation fulfills
their mission by “bringing people together for non-political events
which may be spiritual in nature and are open to all people regardless
of faith,” Vice President Kathy Cantwell said. “All of these projects have started from someone's ideals or conviction. Some have brought in money, some have cost money, some have brought in recognition, some have been an avenue to continue an individual's life work,” Cantwell said. Papson tried to uplift seven members who attended the November board meeting last year. “Hummingbirds use a tremendous amount of energy to fly. Sometimes when they use up all their energy, they look like they’re dead. They go into torpor; if they don’t recover, they die. So are we in torpor? Or do we not resuscitate?” Papson said. According to their site, the Red Hummingbird was chosen as their symbol because “it represents the beating heart of Humanity and the power to live and the love that we carry within us.” The Hummingbirds have built a name for themselves over the years by strengthening community-based organizations and ideas. They have worked with the Literacy Volunteers, Clinton Community College, Plattsburgh State University, and the Mayor’s Office, promoting equality, community, and love. They have also participated in the Battle of Plattsburgh Commemoration and donated money to the New Land Trust, the Girl Scouts, and many other individuals. They’ve performed historical readings, sponsored War of 1812 re-enactors, and participated in diversity celebrations. The “Honoring Our Ancestors” celebration last took place in the Champlain Center mall in Plattsburgh to commemorate cultural diversity.
The Red Hummingbird Foundation has had a positive
effect on the community. Vivian Papson started the foundation in 1999. They
started out with only three people: Don and Vivian Papson and Jeff Cochran.
Since then, the organization has built quite the name for itself with over
150 inactive members, several board members, and over one hundred contributors.
“The membership has grown, the vision developed, and more people are familiar with us than before. It has a good reputation in the community. We’ve gotten grants and had many successful projects,” Cantwell said. However, despite the large number of inactive members, board members are seriously lacking. Only six members showed up at November’s meeting to discuss the future of the Red Hummingbird Foundation. This April, only four were at the monthly meeting. “We’re in a weakened condition,” President Cathy Ellis said, “We don’t have enough people to do everything.” This April, board members struggled for over an hour with the future of the Red Hummingbird Foundation in Hawkins Hall at Plattsburgh State. “How can we build community? With union, service, and love. Just because the Red Hummingbird Foundation doesn’t exist, doesn’t mean our energy doesn’t exist,” Vivian Papson said. “Hummingbirds use a tremendous amount of energy to fly. Sometimes when they use up all their energy, they look like they’re dead. They go into torpor; if they don’t recover, they die. So are we in torpor? Or do we not resuscitate?” Papson said. The Red Hummingbird Foundation decided,
for now, to take on fewer responsibilities and become less involved with
other organizations. They’re cutting back on the amount of projects
they usually take on since they don’t have enough board members.
The current ones are already overwhelmed with responsibilities and work.
“The Red Hummingbird Foundation is about individuals making their dreams come to life. What will happen in the future depends on who is involved,” Cantwell said. Don Papson said the Red Hummingbird Foundation is different because “it can go in virtually any direction it wants, wherever community building is needed.” However, with no members, the organization will be forced to call it quits.
This April, Vivian said she’s happy
with how far the organization has come and wouldn’t be heartbroken
if the foundation ended. Though the board members are tired, overworked,
and stressed out about how they will continue, no one really wants to see
the Red Hummingbird Foundation end. However, if they can’t get more
board members willing to take on responsibility, that’s exactly what’s
going to happen.
“The Red Hummingbird Foundation is at a critical point in its life. Can it fly on its own without its parents? The degree to which the foundation passes or fails this test will determine whether or not its mission has been accomplished,” Don said. The Red Hummingbird Foundation struggles to stay alive and attract more board members. Don Papson says, “The greatest loss would be that those of us who want to effect positive changes in the community would lose a vehicle through which we could work. The community would no longer have Hummingbirds humming around with their positive energy.” However, President Cathy Ellis said finding people who have enough spare time to contribute is a problem many nonprofit organizations are having. "I think we are just in a temporary lag, a stupor, and we'll rise out of it just fine," she said. "This is not just a Hummingbird problem. I have a lot of faith in this organization." Cantwell is already talking about doing something for the global art project again next year. |
The
Red Hummingbird Foundation, Inc. The Red Hummingbird Foundation, Inc. was
founded July 1999. The Red Hummingbird Foundation Mission Statement (as posted on their web site): "The Red Hummingbird Foundation Inc. is a not-for-profit educational organization registered with the State of New York. Its mission is to build community. Regardless of our heritage or our personal circumstances, we all want our social environment, like our physical environment, to be healthy and sustainable. It is evident that we possess the resources to fulfill this wish when we consider the wealth of human experience reflected in our cultural diversity and the goodwill and desire for peace that we share. The Foundation works with these elements. It serves by working in collaboration with others to bring these vital human resources into fuller consciousness and expression. The humanities present excellent means for building community. History and the arts help to widen and deepen our sense of shared experience. For this reason many Foundation programs take the form of plays, festivals, historical and poetry readings, stories and reenactments. Through the Red Hummingbird Award, we honor the initiatives of other individuals and groups as well. The ancient Aztecs observed that, through the sweetness of a flower, the hummingbird resurrects itself from torpor and seeming death. To the Foundation this is a reminder that the human experience contains the wisdom we need to awaken to a new day in a new world. In the building of community the operative
word is "WE." We are the Foundation: a vehicle which we have
ourselves created as members, donors and volunteers. All are needed. Each
knows how best to help. Please review the highlights of the 2002-2003
program year which you will find enclosed, and let us hear from you!"
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