Silence is a virtue...except when it comes to blogging

We formally apologize for our blogging delinquency. We returned from Peru in January energized by the sweet taste of success. Unfortunately, that taste was quickly washed away by a sobering bucket of reality filled to the brim with the deliverables required to meet our objectives for 2011. These objectives were the result of our formal decision to place NuSol on an accelerated growth path in order to meet the expanding potential of our organization. This path is a steep one and the climb has put our blog on the back burner for the past couple months. So, in this extremely lengthy release of the NuBlog, we'll do our best to summarize what we should have been blogging about with dedicated regularity.

Business Plan Revision

NuSol's original business plan was written with well-intentioned ignorance. The lessons learned over the past 2 1/2 years necessitated that a revision to the way we operate take place. To this end, the NuSol team spent endless hours participating in "white-board" sessions (and a small fortune on coffee) until a sound plan for the coming years was hatched. The plan focuses heavily on financial sustainability, partnership development, need based technology deployment, internal organizational development, and most importantly continued research into how we may better serve the communities we work with. We're pretty excited about bringing this plan to fruition.

Additions to the NuSol Team

NuSol is currently staffed by a team of volunteers. Although we look forward to the day when we can support a paid staff, reality dictates that we continue to utilize interns to support our organization. With that in mind, we again turned to the UW Evans School of Public Affairs and brought onboard three dedicated volunteers:

• Melissa Mushadi-Hossein - Melissa is currently completing her Master of Public Affairs and Master of Arts in International Studies at the University of Washington. Her studies are focused on international development and nonprofit management.

• Jim Carroll - Jim holds a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Wyoming and recently received an Master of Public Affairs from the Daniel J. Evans School at the University of Washington. Jim brings a strong background in science and business development to NuSol Capacity Fund.

• Tracy Thompson - Tracy holds a Bachelor of Arts in Film Production from San Francisco State University and is currently a 2012 Master of Public Affairs candidate at the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs at the University of Washington. Tracy brings fifteen years of non-profit and technical experience to NuSol Capacity Fund.

System Design and Engineering

NuSol endeavors to help impoverished, rural communities through the responsible deployment of advanced renewable energy technologies. Over the past months, we've been working hard to come up with a system design that incorporates the lessons we've learned on the ground with the technology available to us today. These efforts have culminated in the design of the NuSol Central Charging Station (CCS). The details of this design are still top-secret, but we've provided the above CAD renderings as a teaser.

In Country Activities

Our work on the ground in Peru continues. Currently, one of NuSol's Directors, Dustin Welch, is conducting a thorough evaluation of the Peru Solar 2010 project in Nueva Union. This evaluation program was created by David Forte – NuSol volunteer and UW Evans School MPA graduate. We are confident that it will allow us to improve on our understanding of how these systems operate in the field and how remote Peruvian communities interact with modern technologies. Once Dustin returns from the Andean Mountains, we'll publish our findings for all to see.

Following this evaluation, we will be meeting with several in-country partners and conducting numerous site-visits for our 2011 projects. Once we formalize the specifics of these projects, we'll update our website with the details.

Fund Raising Efforts

La Isla Fundraiser - This event was a huge success. We reached our financial goal and will be able to fully support the pre-installation operations currently taking place in Peru. Thanks to all who attended and special thanks to La Isla Seattle for their generous support of our organization. If you like delicious Puerto Rican cuisine, visit them in Ballard. You won't be disappointed.

Seattle Foundation Give Big Event - The Seattle Foundation has provided us continued support. We thank them, and those who donated during the Give Big campaign.

Blue Sea Systems - Blue Sea Systems, a leading manufacturer of electrical components for the marine and renewable energy industry, has emerged as an excellent partner and generous supporter of NuSol Capacity Fund. We sincerely thank them for believing in us during this crucial stage in our development.

How You Can Help

If you support what we're doing and want to lend a hand, here are some ways you can help:

• Friend us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, find us on LinkedIn – We are an organization supported completely by community members. Help us grow our community and spread awareness of the issues we are working to address by connecting with us online and recommending us to your social media contacts.

• Make a donation – Installing solar electric systems in foreign countries isn't cheap. Give the gift of light and make a donation to NuSol today.

• Get involved – We're always looking for skilled volunteers. Whether you're an accountant, lawyer, marketing guru or grant writer, I'm sure we can find something for you to do. Contact us today for more details.

This is an exciting time for NuSol Capacity Fund. With our 2011 installations fast approaching, each day brings a new challenge. Our resolve however is reinforced by the continued support received from our friends, family, and NuSol volunteers. Many sincere thanks to all who have helped.

For a brighter future,

The NuSol Team