Greetings!  This week's report covers miscellaneous "stuff" to clean up loose ends and explain where Jigsaw is at.    

Last week many of you tried to link to the Sustain Blaine report on Blaine County's Economy in 2011, but you couldn't find it because the report was temporarily off the site. Here's a link that will work. If you don't still have the May 24 Jigsaw Weekly in which I discussed the report, click on Jigsaw's archive to get it.   

Before I went on vacation I was exhausted by my level of involvement in different activities and wondering how much longer I could continue. Rather than giving activities up, however, I realized I needed to enlist more help from people who support what I do.  I came back recharged to put Jigsaw more on the map as an organization that helps entrepreneurs and points out the valley's needs to build a more sustainable economy.   

To that end, we've begun scheduling speaker lunches again: two in June (see the Events box below) and an expanded business competition in the fall. We will investigate creating a revolving loan fund for local entrepreneurs, based on the New Economics Institute's turnkey SHARE Microcredit Program.   

Having started out as a membership organization, we cancelled that business model after realizing it's an administrative sink hole. Since then, we've never had a budget to speak of - doing things pro bono. Now, we're seeking collaborative relationships to help with our work, including donations and sponsorships for Jigsaw events and the Business Weekly, and partnerships with other organizations on selected activities.  

We're expanding our Board of Directors/Advisors. Continuing members include Reuben Perin (retired EVP of U.S. Steel) and Lisa Holley (artist and investor). New members are Carol Jensen (CPA), Marcia Liebich (Wood River Women's Charitable Foundation), and Julie Johnson (NourishMe entrepreneur). We're talking with a few more people to join us as well. This expansion has led us to a consistent date for our Board meeting: the second Tuesday of each month, 1-2 pm. You are invited to attend if you call me ahead of time to clear it!  And, if you wish to be considered for the Board, call me.   

Finally, Jigsaw's Business Weekly is on a new track seeking financial support, as I'm sure you've noticed. After four years of testing our concept and winning awards for  excellence from Constant Contact, we're asking our market of 80% readership to tell us if it would miss Jigsaw's Weekly if it went away. Preparing the Weekly takes a lot of research, careful thought, a willingness to take and respond constructively to criticism, and a sense of what's urgent and "ahead of the curve."  Many of you think of us as "the knowledgeable alternative voice" in the valley and we like that. We also appreciate that many of you don't always agree with us but still want to hear our thoughts.    

As Chas Bonner, a donor who agrees with Jigsaw's perspective, recently said, "Please continue with the Weekly. We live in Boise now but have family and property in the Wood River Valley. We want to see the best for the valley and you give us the straight news. Plus, your focus on developing a variety of businesses, not just tourism, is damned important."   

Please let us hear from you and receive your support as part of our team by a donation or check according to your means.  Thanks.

Until next week...Jima Rice