A recent article in the Globe and Mail reminded me of one of my latest endeavors.

After the sale of ActiveState I joined the BCT SVP and seeded the Major Projects Fund.

Being the “kind of guy I am”, the “business model” of a Social Venture Partnership resonates with me. The BCT SVP makes “investments” in non-profits that allow the organization to rise to a new level of service, but in a sutainable manner. In essense, the teaching them to fish rather than feeding them fish.

I recently did a review of KidSafe and was surprised how much value they got from just being part of the SVP portfolio. The contact list of the partners is extensive, and being part of the portfolio, has given them increased legitamacy that has openned doors that were closed before. Funny, this is what VCs promise will happen in the for-profit world when they invest. =)

Was in Galway attending the FOAF Workshop. The weather was great the first day, and I thought “Hey, all those comments about it being rainy all the time, Hah!” The second day it was like a miserable February day in Vancouver. On the way home, I knew it was “just another day in Galway” when I saw these guys out fishing.

Later that evening we went on a nauseous one hour bus ride for dinner. I have never been to a castle, and this was a real castle with an moat (well, water around most of it) and an outer wall and a tower.

We were greeted by a lovely lass that served us Mead.