That's our reward for getting up and getting out there.
Team Letter | October 16, 2023
October 16, 2023
Good morning, Team Alpaca!!
It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day, and we’re feeeeeeelin GOOD!
I’d love to share with you a little story about a friend of mine, Kali Baker. A few years ago, I was out running early in the morning at Memorial Park. As I turned the corner, I saw Kali, who at the time was a leader at the Omaha Community Foundation and an absolute force of nature.
You can point to almost any big community initiative in Omaha between 2010-2020 and Kali was likely involved in pulling together community members, businesses, and nonprofits. If you remember Omaha Gives, that fund drive was Kali’s brainchild and it funded hundreds of nonprofits in our area every year. Beyond her absolutely incredible impact, Kali’s smile lit up a room — she had that way of making every single person feel like the most important person in the room. That’s a gift.
That morning, I turned the corner to run up the hill on Underwood and there was Kali, walking with a cup of coffee, a huge orange and pink sunrise behind her. We both paused briefly to say hi and she said “how about this sunrise?!” I told her that it made me glad I didn’t stay in bed. She exclaimed “YES!!! This is our reward for getting up and getting out there!”
That same month, Kali’s breast cancer, which had previously in remission for more than a year, came roaring back without notice. We lost her 3 years ago this week, just about 2 weeks after I saw her happily walking in the park, marveling at the day ahead.
I carry with me from Kali the idea that “getting up and getting out there” has its quiet and delightful rewards. I thought of it early this morning as I drove across Iowa and saw the first crack of light, and I’ll think about it as I enjoy the sunset coming home.
I think last week’s retreat was our team getting up and getting out there.
I think meeting hundreds of principals and district staff at events in the first half of October is getting up and getting out there.
And I think every pack, thoughtfully chosen and packaged and branded is getting up and getting out there.
Getting up and getting out there is what gives us our “14 month year”, new customers, and funding to sustain us. But maybe more importantly, it also gives us road-trips with colleagues, the literal best banana pancakes I’ve ever eaten, bullseyes caught on camera, sunsets on a row boat, and epic photo shoots complete with a fish head mask.
I know Kali would love Alpaca for its mission, but I think she’d love it more so for our joyful team. Thank you for getting up and getting out there together - this team is its own reward. 💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛
Oh, and let’s GO!!!!!
KB