Doing Good While Having Fun with Betsy Wiersma

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Betsy is a consummate organizer and has been at it since she was a teenager. Missing the camaraderie of her biological sisters when she moved from the Midwest to Colorado she gathered a “chosen” sisterhood of friends who’s motto is to “Do good and have fun.” In 2005 she, with her friends, began the CampExperience^tm Network which is a three day retreat for women consisting of brief presentations by some awesome and accomplished women, delightful activities, and raising money for charities in unique and entertaining ways. The idea is to be a summer camp for women to have fun together and make a contribution to the greater good. Betsy has a commitment to over-deliver. She often says—when making an announcement of what’s coming up next—“Wait, there’s more.” She is the most exuberant cheerleader for worthy projects you’ll ever meet and participates and encourages what can be described as a “good old girl’s network.” Her business model is based on love. She says, “What if we first say, what could love do in this business setting? What could kindness do? What could education do? What could inspiration do? What if we drop all assumptions and all labels? What if we come from love, which means ‘Hello. I accept you, I'm interested in you, I'd like to listen to you.’ Perhaps you're very different than me. But what if love is the place we start?” One of her most recent projects is being the author and curator of the book, The STEW, which stands for Smart Talk, Exceptional Women, which is a collection of over 60 women writing about what inspires and enlivens them. Tune in and be inspired to create such awe-inspiring events in your own community. (hosted by Justine Willis Toms) 

Bio

Betsy Wiersma is the founder of the CampExperience^tm Network started in 2005 and has raised over $1 million dollars and in-kind support for charities in Colorado and around the world. She's the owner of Wiersma Experience Marketing, offering creative strategic solutions for organizations and businesses and is host of Boost Power Podcast. Wiersma was honored as one of the top 25 women in Colorado by the Women’s Chamber of Commerce and is recipient of the Francis Wisebart Jacobs award (known as Colorado’s” Mother of Charities”) for philanthropy. In 2019 Betsy was a Speaker at TEDx Colorado, Cherry Creek Women on the topic “Choose Your Family, Change Your Life.”

Betsy Wiersma is the author of:

• Exceptional Events: Concept To Completion (Second Edition) (Kari Strolberg) (Chip Books 2003)
• The STEW: Smart Talk Exceptional Women: Art & Insights by Women For the World (Vervante, Inc. 2020) 

Topics Explored in This Dialogue 

• What is the “Sock-It-To-Me” campaign that donated over 650,000 socks to the homeless and others in need
• How were the “Thousand Acts of Kindness” backpacks organized and filled with 20,000 “goodies” and delivered to charities in Colorado Springs in 2019
• How the “Power of the Purse” auction got started and how it has raised thousands of dollars for charity
• How women clean out their closets to bring items to be sold at the Bow-tique with all the monies going for charity
• How she and her “sisters” come up with ideas and creative ways to raise money so that everyone feels good about it
• What is Betsy’s advice about creating a WOW event for your charity which is the thing that contains a surprise for participants
• How Betsy became a craftlete—dedicating herself to using crafts and art to encourage people to be creative together
• What is micro-giving
• How to become a mentor and why it is so deeply satisfying
• What is meant by creating an ecosystem for collaboration 

Host: Justine Willis Toms   Interview Date: 11/16/2020   Program Number: 3719 

Music Playlist

From Album:  Sanctuary
Artist: Radhika Miller
2020 Radhika Miller Music B088N3WSJV

Opening Essay: Track 05 - Jubilate
Music Break 1: Track 08 - Happiness
Music Break 2: Track 13 - Surrender
Music Break 3: Track 21 – Tribute to Tony