Mi-Tee

Photos from yesterday (Dragon's Den ChangeIT Event)

2009-05-01T14:19:00.000-07:00

Casey and myself at the start of the day!

The CHANGEit sign!

With all the other fellow finalists and their project board things!

Close up of the other finalists' project boards!

The Mi-Tee project board, along with sample t-shirts with the designs on!

The Mi-Tee t-shirt designs!!!!!!! The first two to be printed will be the one on the left and the one on the right.

Close-up of our board!

Casey and me in front of our "doobry"!

Lastly - a massive thank you from the Mi-Tee team to everyone from CHANGEit, and to Common Purpose and Deutsche Bank for letting us have this amazing oppurtunity!

Feeling all buzzy after the Dragon's Den "doo" in London...

2009-04-30T12:52:00.000-07:00

Well, I know all of you that have been checking on this blog want to know whether we won the £750... unfortunately we didn't, but we did win £350 for getting into the final so really we did win! It is a shame because it would have helped us start up quicker, but given the sheer determination and motivation in our team - we'll still make a positive impact all over the world, not just in our local area. We are planning for two designs to go into print straight away, one of mine, and one of Emz' so all of you who have filled out the form on http://www.mi-tee.org/ will be the first to know once the t-shirts are there to be bought. Pictures of example t-shirts with the designs will be up within the next 7 days, SO WATCH THIS SPACE!! Wow... what a day! It has been so unbelievably positive and I'm really buzzing with positive energy from it all! Such wonderful people all making something beautiful happen in such a sick world and so many people to network with! I still can't believe that I met several people who lived in Kenya too, and even know the school I went to! (Sorry, I had to sneak that in, I'm still excited about it - hello to Dance4Life!!!!!)

The only thing I do regret today is that when meeting with the Dragons they asked me what I feel was the most important question right at the end, and they hardly got to hear any of my answer because we had run out of the 5mins we were allocated... so what I shall do, is say my answer here for other people who may be wanting to ask me or the rest of the team the same thing...

"Given that Mi-Tee is a Christian organisation, is it just limited to Christians?" (it was roughly that question - I can't remember word-for-word, so that'll do!)

Although Mi-Tee is a Christian social enterprise (well, will be a social enterprise as soon as Emma gets along to it) we aim to let it have a positive impact on as many people as we can, regardless of faith or background. The designs are all based on Christian ideas, but won't all necessarily be seen as a "Christian" t-shirt - some will just be a positive message that although it was derived from a Christian idea or bible verse, it won't have enough on there for it to be deemed "Christian". I want there to be a selection of designs, those for people who are non-believers or followers of another faith, designs for Christians that want something more subtle, and designs for Christians who aren't held back by wearing a t-shirt that's more obviously Christian. I think as a Christian it is important to do what we can to not limit our produce as "just for Christians" - it's not something that I would see Jesus doing. Another thing is that anyone will be able to submit a design once the webiste is fully up and running so that people all over the world can send in their design and if we think it would sell well, to be made into t-shirts and for that designer to get a percentage of the profit. People don't need to be a Christian to submit a design or to wear the t-shirts. We want these t-shirts to be positive and not to cause offence to other beliefs and faiths.
Lastly, people of all ages, races, faiths, nationalities (EVERYONE) can be impacted in a positive way (I hope!) with this. Profits will not only got to keeping Mi-Tee up and running, but also go to the Shed, to the designers and monthly charity.... not only that but we want the t-shirts to be fairtrade and use recylced stuff wherever we can! Last point (I mean it this time) - people can even get positively impacted by this in the simplest of ways - just one of t-shirts making someone smile is something positive, no?

LETS CHANGE THE WORLD, ONE T-SHIRT AT A TIME!!!!!

Pledge to Buy a Mi-Tee T-shirt!

2009-04-29T07:24:00.000-07:00

Help us by pledging to buy a t-shirt on www.mi-tee.org or for those who I have personally contacted, get in touch with me, Beth Webster, through my personal email or Facebook page and I'll be happy to do that for you. We are estimating t-shirt cost to be between £12 and £14 and for those who live far and wide, don't worry we won't let you miss out as we can easily post them to you! A big thank you to those of you who have already pledged or said that you are interested - we really value your support! Many of you have been asking to see the designs, but we need to copyright them before popping them up for you to see, but those who have said that you're interested or pledged will be the first of the public to see them. Don't forget to pledge ;)

More about The Shed

2009-04-28T04:29:00.000-07:00

The SHED is a project run by OBC. Its mission is to provide a safe meeting place for young people aged between 11 and 18. A place where they can discover positive channels for their energy, creativity and frustrations and where substance abuse and anti-social behaviour is discouraged. Somewhere where personal development - physical, spiritual and emotional is encouraged and also the use of gifts and talents are encouraged for themselves and for others. A safe place where OBC can reach unchurched people and connect them to Christian young people. It is open as the after-school project every weekday, but all sorts of other exciting things happen there too during during the rest of the week. The group is mainly led by young people but with supporting adults.

Why is there a need for this project? Well, firstly there is little going on in Rutland to keep the kids from doing anti-social things such as drugs, graffiti and fights, so the variety of activities we offer helps keep them out of trouble! The project is run by young people for young people so they all get a say in the daily planning and running of the SHED whilst being suppported and facilitated by an adult team.

Still here but working away!

2009-04-04T17:31:00.000-07:00

Myself and Emz are now a year older *sigh*... I actually feel my age makes me feel younger though as I'm always told I was more 18 going on 28......... Anyway, enough of that!

Plenty of birthday "do's" been going on this week, I've had far too many late (/early!) nights this past week, and I have no idea what I am doing writing this at this time when I have to be up at 9:30 to look after the creche and Sunday School at church! Crazy stuff!

Next team meeting should be tommorrow *fingers crossed*! We have much to discuss....

Chris Tomlin, a friend on MySpace?!!!! Dude........

2009-03-25T06:30:00.000-07:00

Wahey, just noticed that Chris Tomlin is a friend of ours on our MySpace page! For those who haven't heard of him, Chris Tomlin is a legend! He is a Christian worship leader and famous songwriter and, he was born where I was born too - Texas! (Sorry I had to sneak that in there!). He is also one of the members for Compassionart, "a charity that joins the dots between art and poverty". Check out: http://www.compassionart.tv/ Crazy stuff!

Woohoo! Mi-Tee now on MySpace and looking Groovylicious!

2009-03-25T06:26:00.000-07:00

Check it out - it's pretty cool!

http://www.myspace.com/miteeshirts

Mi-Tee on Facebook, Twitter and Bebo!

2009-03-25T06:14:00.000-07:00

Check us out!

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Mi-Tee/58310739997?ref=ts

Twitter: http://twitter.com/miteeshirts

Bebo: www.bebo.com/miteeshirts

We should also be on MySpace shortly, unless I'm very much mistaken, so will let you all know when that's up and running also!

A Groovy Way That Emma Came Up With To Describe the Team!

2009-03-25T05:54:00.000-07:00

I thought this was genius, so I had to pop this down on here! While interviewing Emma for her paragraph on here, she came up with this way to describe the team and to help other people understand how our team works. Casey, is the SOUL, she is the one who came up with the big idea that grabbed us all. Emz and I (Beth) are the HEART of Mi-Tee, we are the arty farty ones who design the t-shirts (Emz also helps on the photography side of things and I manage the BlogSpot page). Lastly, we have Jake and Emma, the right and left sides of the brain, or the MIND who come up with ideas for the team (although we all do that really). They both have experience of business and so are amazing at thinking outside the box, and also making all these complex business things easier for the slow ones (i.e. Me) to understand! The time it took for Jake to get me to understand how we were going to copyright the designs was ridiculous, and I'm supposed to be going to Oxford!

Anyhows, without sounding too cheesy, we do actually work well as a team. We all have an understanding of our part in Mi-Tee and what our roles are, we also get along really well which is incredibly important. Wahey for Mi-Tee!

NEW LOGO!!!

2009-03-24T12:54:00.001-07:00

Old logo:

New logo:

We have changed the "T" to look more like a cross.... groovy!

CHANGEit Finalist!

2009-03-24T11:27:00.001-07:00

I'm officially a finalist in the 2009 CHANGEit awards. Keep an eye on my blog to see what happens next!

Emz - one of the awesome Mi-Tee designers!

2009-03-23T08:41:00.003-07:00

Emz (Emily Gardiner) is nineteen and is a designer for Mi-Tee but also helps out on the photography side of things. Currently works voluntarily at the Shed Youth Cafe (/Ministry) in Oakham as an intern and events manager. She enjoys being with her fiance Jon, helping and nurturing youth , art and design, photography, sunbathing, dancing, singing, going on holiday and ladies who lunch! In the future she hopes to become a youth leader and have kids! Her weird fact is that she collects thimbles from around the world!!

Her Favourite Things:

Book - Twilight Series
Films - A Walk to Remember, Twilight
TV Programmes - Lost, Heroes
Quote - "With great power, comes great responsibilities" from Spiderman (I think!)
Band - Paramore

Our Dear Jacob - Part of the "MIND"

2009-03-23T08:41:00.001-07:00

Jake is twenty and in the middle of changing jobs. He'll finish working in European Project Management and after a week's he'll start his new job as a Development Executive. In his free time (when he has it!) he enjoys music (favourite bands include Coldplay and Muse), playing piano and guitar, and also singing. Jake is also a youth leader for the Shed Ministry and leads the worship band. His role in the Mi-Tee team is similar to Emma's because of his experience in business. His creativity also helps him with exciting ideas for Mi-Tee. Jake is proud of being an "Essex Boi" and his hair (or lack of it...!). He is open-minded about the future but would love to work for New Frontiers and continue being involved with youth work and ministry. His favourite films are the Lord of the Rings series and anything with Simon Pegg or Ricky Gervais in. He also likes watching Scrubs, Family Guy and documentaries not about nature. A weird and random fact about our dear Jacob is that he used to have a Polly Pocket! Bless!

Casey - THE ONE WITH THE BIG IDEA!

2009-03-23T08:40:00.002-07:00

Casey was the one who had the big idea that inspired us all. Casey, is thirteen and hopes to become a lawyer (she certainly has the brains for it, from what I've seen so far!). She enjoys films (her favourite is "White Round Fur Rider"... I've never of it so I hope I've heard correctly...!), reading (her fav book is The Da Vinci Code), playing the clarinet and watching the West Wing and Friends.

Emma - THE BRAIN!

2009-03-23T08:40:00.001-07:00

Emma is supposedly the "sensible one"! She is the brain (along with Jake!) for Mi-Tee and is an invaluable member of the team due to her background in business. She currently works as a business consultant (she has an MBA in Business Administration), specialising in HR sales and marketing. At the moment she oversees us and makes sure we're all working hard, and if things go to plan and we become a charity she'll be the consultant to the board of trustees. She also happens to be the parent of Casey, another member of the team!

Emma enjoys solving problems, which so far she's been really good at and I'm sure will continue to be! She also likes seeing people become positive, like they could rule the world! She loves her daughter very much, and in her free time she likes to go rock-climbing. She also works as a DJ, and I've been told that she's rather good at it too! In particular she enjoys deep house music.... (I admit I didn't know what on earth that meant but I have since looked it up and according to good ol' wiki, "Deep house is a style of house music which fuses elements of Chicago house, disco, 80's soul, jazz-funk and Detroit techno"...)

Beth - the other awesome Mi-Tee designer!

2009-03-23T08:26:00.000-07:00

Beth is 19 and is one of the designers for Mi-Tee, and also manages the BlogSpot page. She is an art student working hard towards her goal of doing a Fine Art degree at Oxford Uni and later doing a Master's in Art Therapy, but having to take her time in getting there due to her mental health. In her own time she does arty things, plays hockey, sings and plays guitar. Along side her passion for art she also enjoys working with special needs children and doing the creche and Sunday School on a Sunday morning at Oakham Baptist Church.

Her Favourite Things:

Book - Anything by Frank Peretti
Films - American Beauty, G.I. Jane, Water, The Garden State, Seven Pounds (the list goes on...!)
TV Programmes - NCIS, Heroes, House
Band - CocoRosie
Cartoon - Old black and white Betty Boop cartoons
Quotes - "I can't carry it for you, but I can carry you" (LOTR), "Love God with all your heart and with all your strength... except I'm not very strong... it's mostly body fat!" Her little brother

The Mi-Tee Way

2009-03-20T12:37:00.000-07:00

Mi-Tee (note the pun on "Mighty" ;) ) is a Christian organisation that designs and creates t-shirts with positive messages on. It is mainly directed at marketing for teenagers and young adults but our funky t-shirts can be worn by ANYONE! At present it is only myself (Beth) and Emily (known as Emz!) who are working on the designs but once everything is up and running on the web, anyone can submit a design. Our team will look through and pick the best designs or those that we think will sell the best and the designer will get a portion of the profit. The rest of the profit will go to the Shed, a youth organisation that although run by Christians makes a safe and fun place for the youth (of all faiths and beliefs!) of Rutland to go to after school instead of being somewhere potentialy unsafe or getting into mischief....!
We may also give a small portion of the profits to charities, perhaps we may have a "charity of the month" for this. We would also like to make our t-shirts fairtrade and where we can also use recycled products.
So. Who's on the team at the moment? We currently have Emma, Casey, Jacob (Jake), Emily (Emz) and myself (Beth). I shall be kicking them all up the pants to put a bit about themselves on here and what their role is with Mi-Tee - I might just be a designer but we all work together to make it happen!
The designs are and will be based on Christian ideas and starting points but can be bought by anyone. Woohoo for Mi-Tee!