Important Info 4 Activated 501c3-Nonprofits!

As the founder for Youth Voice Initiative, a 501c4 nonprofit a social organization to push the social changes necessary to better protect our abused children in this great society, there is a reason why I made it a 501c4, and not a 501c3, which is for charitable or faith based organizations (before anyone says they’re not the same thing, yes, duh, I know... the word “or” is an identifier for a choice, not to say that 2 things are the same). Some faith organizations are very charitable, yet many charitable organizations have little to nothing to do with faith organizations.

Faith based or not, there are a lot of things a 501c3 can do. Rescue abused animals; adopt homeless pets; raise awareness and collect money for homeless veterans; create a safe place for those who are abused; organize to ensure foster children have suitcases or backpacks instead of garbage bags to hold their personal items; start a community center; find a faith based organizations; and the options are almost limitless... One thing that does not cover, is how much lobbying, political activism, etc. involved... A 501c3 is also tax exempt, and also can apply for government grants to help fund charitable activities, such as food for the poor. These organizations can also do as much awareness campaigns as they see fit, also. But I think (don’t quote me) that the amount of government campaigning or lobbying efforts are limited to 10% of the money/efforts, and there are rules as to which areas of that are allowed or not.

See, YVI, as a 501c4, can dedicate as much time to political activities, such as changing laws, etc. as it sees fit. Awareness can be anywhere from 0-99%, but taking political stances on issues like child abuse can take anything from 1-100%. Here is the official website: https://sites.google.com/site/youth... 

So, just as an FYI, I want to be able to give you links, to understand what is or isn’t allowed as a 501c3, because without the awareness and charity organizations to put forth toward this topic of how childhood abuse and trauma lasts a lifetime, YVI’s job would be so much more difficult... Here are the links:

Limits on political campaigning - http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclope...

How much lobbying is allowed - http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclope...

Risks to Nonprofit status - https://www.councilofnonprofits.org/...

IRS Reporting issues - https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-p...

 

There are many more articles online, from reputable areas. So... Any 501c3 out there who deals in part or in full about childhood abuse & trauma, I, as the founder of YVI, am offering to partner up with you, to be able to expand your reach into being able to pursue these endeavors under the Youth Voice Initiative mission, to help make our corner of the planet a safer place for abused children. Carry on!

Elections, Candidates, and Why This Curious Mind Wants to Know...

As I've stated in the past, I have been active with the election and campaigning process for a very long time.  It is fun for me to participate in this action, as well as gratifying to be an activated advocate.  The biggest reason being that I just love the way our Founding Fathers have laid it out as a governmental system run BY the people FOR the people.  To me, it represents the fact that ordinary, regular, everyday people like us get to speak to our elected officials, and voice our concerns, support, and even suggest what kind of law to be maid.  I am most definitely dating myself, but, here is my hard work in action, and while it died in committee due to a study that didn't finish before the 2 year legislative session, I was proud of myself for being able to push it to the point of being heard in the Committee for Criminal Justice & Corrections.

Please click for the article:  The Force Behind April's Law Wisconsin 

In any case, I just love the Preamble for The Constitution:

The 1st 3 words speaks for it all...  "We the people"...  This reminds me of the song I Got the Power which rings true for every American citizen...

Okay, sorry, I digress...  Thanks for bearing with me.

Because voting at every election is very important to me, because these are the events that shape the direction of where our country, state, county, and municipality will be going for the next 2-6 years, depending on how long each term is.  I encourage everyone to vote at all elections, even small primaries, because the decisions at these primaries will decide who is on the ballot for the general election, which will pick the person to represent us in what ever political position they are running for.  So, if anything, please pay attention to what is going on at home.

I, on the other hand, am interested in what goes on all over the country, and some election races are more important than others.  Sometimes it's because of the issues.  Other times it's the candidates.  This election run, a specific candidate (out of my voting arena) grabbed my interest.  You probably already know...  The professional wrestler named #Rhyno, whose real name is Terrance Guido Gerin, is running for state representative in Dearborn, MI - part of the Greater Detroit area.

I have to admit, I'm really not a huge fan of supporting celebrities who run for office.  When Arnold Schwarzenegger and Donald Trump ran for office, I had a few of those eye-roll moments where I think I showed up a group of teenagers being lectured by the neighborhood eccentric about behaving...  I still can't believe Trump made it this far...  There were so many other Republican candidates who would have been so much better qualified...  Arnold was pretty unremarkable as the governor of California.  It was cool to have a real live action figure in office, but, for me, there wasn't too much of interest after that.

On the other hand, when Clint Eastwood and Jesse "The Body" Ventura ran for their respective offices, I was curious, because both of them have their intellectual aspects that is extraordinary even in the everyday world without the fact that they are famous for their acting, and Jesse as an athlete as well.  I especially appreciate the fact that Jesse Ventura ran under a 3rd party, and won.  He ran as a part of the Independence Party, which was previously called the Reform Party.  I found that very interesting, and very neat.  (You see, as a tame rebel myself, I love when people "break the rules" and do it their way, and succeed; and it's actually LEGAL)!

Okay, okay, sorry...  I'm famous for going on tangents...  Back to Rhyno the Wrestler who is running for office...  Anyway, what intrigues me is the fact that I would have NEVER pegged him as a candidate.  So, when I heard the news, of course, I had to investigate.  I read up on him in as many venues as possible, to ensure that I pick up even the smallest piece of information because he piqued my interest as to why he took such a huge leap from doing extreme wrestling to running for state assembly.

What I can gather from what I have read, and I think I'm mostly correct in my assessment of him, is while Mr. Terrance Gerin is a self admitted workaholic, I think he has this urge to want to be a people pleaser and wants to do it in the best ways as possible.  Just like Madonna wants the whole planet to love her, Terrance Gerin wants everyone to be proud of him for doing a good job for them.  It interests me further, that as the character, Rhyno, he is a tough force to be reckoned with, more like Mother Nature, while as the person, he comes across more like an eager Father Time, in my opinion.  I say this because he wants to stay on the active roster for WWE as a wrestler, while busting his chops as an elected official.

The Michigan primary was on August 2, 2016, and Mr. Gerin won the Republican ticket against several other contestants.  He is now gearing up for the general election in November, where we have one of the most heated presidential race to date in this country.  I believe that since presidential elections always bring in the biggest crowd, he has a better chance of winning his seat because of this.  I also think that after being elected, that you will see he will be the change this country needs, because of his dedication to his hometown and the fact that he loves being American, and being a hometown hero, who truly has his best interests in his community.  I think he is going to be awesome, in the true sense of the word.  I just wish all other candidates had his passion for our country and community as well.

To tie his passion and love for his work and for the elected position, his campaign slogan is, "Vote for Rhino; he will fight for you".  Perfect.

Here is a telephone interview, courtesy of Syma Chowdhry, an Emmy Award winning reporter and fill-in anchor for Detroit News station WXYZ-TV:  Rhyno Speaks to WXYZ-TV
He is running for Michigan's 15th district for State Representative.

To stay in the loop, please like his facebook page:  Vote for Rhino 

Or if you're on Twitter:  Rhyno313 

To support the campaign directly:  Terrance Guido Gerin for State Rep 

Or buy a T-Shirt as a souvenir and support the campaign at the same time:  Pro Wrestling Tees 

Lika's Kitchen Lab: Italian Egg Rolls

For anyone new to my blog, yes, I do blog about various things, but there are two categories you'll see most, maybe three.  My passions in life to blog about:

1) Child Advocacy - There is  HUGE difference between disciplining your children and abusing them.  A swat on the hand or back side to get their attention or to let them know the seriousness of the action is one thing.  But to lock them into closets for literally hours, just to beat them for messing themselves; or to repeatedly hit, kick, punch, throw, etc. for basic offenses is overkill.  Sex abuse as well as psychological/emotional abuse are two of the most hurtful types of abuse, because you're violating their inner most person to the core.  Gross neglect can lead to nutrition and other physical problems due to lack of hygiene and skin conditions.

2) Food,  Glorious Food - Different things call for the gathering of our friends and family, and we all celebrate (or mourn) with food, to make any situation a festivity.  I love to cook.  People love to eat.  I love to feed people.  It's a perfect situation.  Which leads me to say unto you, I play with my food.  No, it's not one of those gross things.  My kitchen is a lab, to see what new things can be invented to make traditional favorites into something new and different, or, maybe it's an ethnic thing that gets made healthier (or sometimes worse but tastier) eats, while still preserving the flavors of what is considered comfort foods, which we all have those unique flavors that we are used to eating.

3) I am politically activated.  I know, duh, right?  Most people who know me know that already.  And while yes, many of my views and stances are liberal, but, I do break form and take a more conservative stance on some issues, while not taking one due to the fact that I do not have the knowledge necessary to say something about it.  The crazy thing about how I got started...  I came to the fine city of Racine, WI as an 8 year old in 1977.  The next year, I started helping with the political campaigns with my aunt, who is also my God-Mother.  I didn't learn much about the whole entire political system and how government worked, yet, but, thought it was pretty neat, that, as a citizen, even if not of voting age, could be as involved as much as I was...

Then, there was my American Government class...  Mr. Doug Lockrem taught that in high school...  Learning and reciting the Preamble of the Constitution was what got me hooked...  Here it is:

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

Signed in convention September 17, 1787. Ratified June 21, 1788

The first three words is what says it all.  "We the People..."  So, from the murky waters of the swamps, through the upper crust of the perfect apple Americana, we are all able to take part in this process.  Maybe I'm just weird...  But, I use this as my inspiration to advocate for abused children, and to feed those who are hungry.

Yes, I know, I know....  I am being a tease.  You're here about the Italian egg rolls...   NOT to hear about why or how I came to be who I am...  Why I do things, and what drives you crazy with my teasers before I get to the point...  Okay, okay, you know I love you all, right?  Why do I love you so much?  Because I do, and I want to make you happy, so you can pay it forward.  So, finally, yes.  Here you go.

Italian Egg Rolls:
2# of 90% or leaner ground beef, pork, or poultry*  **
2 raw large eggs**
2/3 - 1 cup of your favorite dry cheese - Parmesan, Romano, Asiago, or any combo, depending on how stiff you want your balls.
1/4 - 1/3 cup garlic powder
2/3 - 3/4 cup parsley
2-3 TBS Basil
3-4 TBS Oregano
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper (or to taste)

Mix all ingredients together, and place  in refrigerator while you prepare the sauce.

Lika's pasta sauce (batched specifically for these eggrolls):
3 heaping TBS of minced garlic
1 medium yellow onion, minced
1 bell pepper, minced
8 oz fresh mushrooms (No shiitake, flavor clash), minced
8oz fresh spinach, chopped
18 oz tomato paste
5TBS basil
6-7TBS oregano
Red pepper flakes to taste.

In a large kettle, saute the garlic and onion until aromatic.  
Add remaining minced/chopped veggies, and saute until spinach leaves start wilting a little bit.
Put in 18 oz tomato paste, and reconstitute with 3 cans worth of cold water.
Turn up heat. Add spices.  Mix well.  When it comes to a boil, turn heat down to simmer at least 90 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Turn on your deep fryer, using peanut or canola oil.
Bring out meat mix and 15-20 egg roll wraps.
Place wrap so it looks like a diamond in front of you.
About 1/3 way in, put about 3oz meat mix (going across).
Dip finger in a water dish, wet a dot in your corner, wet sides from the opposite corner going out toward the outer corners.
Roll up, place on baking sheet.

Deep fat fry, let them drip dry on rack, place on baking sheet with paper towel, place sheet in oven on warm, until ready to serve within 45 minutes.

Plate the Italian egg rolls onto plate, serve with the sauce on top or in a small dish on the side.  Enjoy!

* For a vegetarian twist, use two (3) - eight (8)oz packages of cream cheese, softened (Ricotta works, too).
1+1/2 cups dry grated cheese
1/2 cup fresh mozzarella, shredded
1/4 cup garlic powder
3/4 cup parsley  
(Yes, use the 2 eggs), mix well, stuff into egg roll wraps, and savor.

** For a vegan twist, use 1# of Tempeh and 1# portobello mushrooms, processed through your food processor.
In place of the cheese, use raw/plain oatmeal, coarsely ground.
** In place of eggs, use 2-3TBS ground flax seeds with 3TBS water for one egg, and a plain pumpkin or squash puree for the other egg.