Last year at this time, I was a very unhappy worker bee in Columbus, OH, in a job that I was growing to hate – but, I was volunteering on the side with ONE which kept me motivated and inspired that change was possible – around the world and in my life.

In the New Year, I started searching for my dream job and continuing my duties as volunteer lead with the ONE Columbus group. Never did I imagine that I would be hired for ONE in August. Now I have the opportunity to thank all the hard-working volunteers in my region (Ohio, Michigan and West Virginia) for a job well done in 2006!

Here are some highlights from the region:

• 
  ONE groups formed: ONE Cincinnati (Thanks, Bonnie), ONE Ann Arbor (University of Michigan-Thanks, Mike, Zina and Rocky), ONE WVU (West Virginia University–Thanks Stephanie), ONE OSU (Thanks, Beth)!

• 
  ONE Coshocton joins as a “City of ONE”

• 
  Jeffrey Sachs mentions the Columbus STAND UP Against Poverty event

• 
  Mayor Coleman announces Columbus as a “City of ONE” at the STAND UP Against Poverty event

Although 2006 was great, 2007 will be even better. My New Year’s dream for ONE in my region would be the following…How happy I would be.

• 
  5,000 Sign-Ups on the ONE Declaration from ONE group activities

• 
  7 new “Cities of ONE” – I’m rooting for the following: Detroit, MI, Livonia, MI, Ann Arbor, OH, Cincinnati, OH, Hamilton, OH, Morgantown, WV, Charleston, WV

• 
  2 “College/Universities of ONE”: Come on WVU & University of Michigan!

• 
  5 additional ONE groups: check out the yahoo groups listing to see if there’s a group in your area…if not, start a group today!

• 
  ONE members in Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia meeting with their representatives (calling and writing is good, too!)

But most importantly, let me know what ONE activities you are doing in Ohio, Michigan and West Virginia by creating a yahoo group. Keep bringing ONE to your schools, churches, synagogues, social groups and communities as a whole. I look forward to working with you in 2007.