During the month of November 2007, the Destination ImagiNation Alumni Association is conducting a Campaign for Thanks. Take a moment to express your gratitude for the Destination ImagiNation program and all of its volunteers.

Email you stories or words of gratitude for how DI has helped shape you and your life today. We’ll post your comments, and those of others, here as well as forward them on to DI Headquarters and to the thousands of people who keep DI a vibrant, glowing organization full of creativity.

Send your works of thanks to campaign.for.thanks@gmail.com

November 4, 2007

Fellow Creative Problem Solvers-

Being Destination ImagiNation alum is more than just saying I was part of the program growing up.  It has expanded from my childhood to my present day adult and professional life, and I’m sure will follow me long into my golden years.
My parents are wonderful people.  They have always made sure my brother and I had anything our heart’s desired and experiences that many other people would never have the opportunity to enjoy so that we would not grow up with regrets.   However the most rewarding experience they brought into our lives was creative problem solving.  Looking back on my childhood, I can’t help but smile at the thought of many of my most vivid family memories involve Destination ImagiNation. 
It’s such an amazing feeling to know that I am still a part of such an amazing program.  In 2000, when I graduated from high school, my graduation from Destination ImagiNation was so much more rewarding than my graduation from high school.  I was invigorated to continue my involvement with DI by becoming a team manager, appraiser, and challenge master.  Even today, I continue to work with the youth of Wyoming as I am employed by Wyoming Destination ImagiNation.  I would have never imagined being able to do what I love every day of my life.
I’ve learned so many valuable life lessons from DI.  Teamwork, expressing my individuality, following directions, making lasting friendships, organization, and excitement for learning are just a small amount of the lessons that I have learned from DI.  Most importantly I have learned from my parents, who serve as the Affiliate Directors for Wyoming, that as an adult I can change kids lives, by listening and understanding, teaching and encouraging.  For that reason alone I will be forever thankful for my experience with Destination ImagiNation, and hope to continue the enthusiasm that I feel for the program to the lives of children that I encounter.
Thank you Destination ImagiNation for changing my life!!

Creatively Yours-
Jillian Maulik
Destination ImagiNation Alum
Wyoming Association for Creative Youth
Program Evaluator

---

About me:
I participated in DI from 1990 to 1997 and I've gone on to serve as an appraiser at my affiliate/region and at Globals + an affiliate/regional Challenge Master and affiliate/regional board member in Utah, Tennessee and now California. I love DI!

Thanks to DI...
I grew up in a tiny farming community where a lot of us kids didn't have much of a future. I got involved with OM/DI in elementary school and participated until I graduated from high school. FYI, our teams got good enough to qualify for Globals a couple of times. Well, it's been well over ten years now, but I've kept tabs on what is going on with all of my former teammates. I'm happy to report that every single one of them has graduated from college and now have happy and productive lives. A few highlights: one has a successful career as an actor on Broadway, one is now studying to be a doctor at Harvard, several of them are now working as engineers, and I work as a writer for a Fortune 500 company. I'd call that success when you keep in mind that we were all a bunch of podunk farm kids. :) On a personal note, DI meant so much to me as I was growing up. It was my passion, my creative outlet and the source of some of my most meaningful friendships. I wouldn't trade that for anything. So now I see it as my duty to be a DI volunteer to help make it possible for other kids to have those same experiences. Thanks, DI!

--Alyssa Rock
Silicon Valley, CA