I'll give you the longer answer soon, but for now I'll say that Mighty Lola is a new way of giving. My way of giving anonymously to women who dare to be different. Every once in a while a woman is surprised by a messenger carrying an envelope. Inside of the envelope is some cash and a letter that reads as follows:

Morgan Doctor

Worldly and multifaceted drummer/percussionist, Morgan Doctor has been developing her art, recording and performing for over 10 years. Her skills span from Jazz to East Indian rhythmic styles, to Indie Rock. In 2005 she put together her own album of originals. I ran across the album one night during one of my aimless online clicking marathons. I fell in love with the music almost immediately. Her composing and recording style is very intuitive and natural. I couldn't describe it any better than that; to me it seems to be music that is meant more for feeling than thinking (listen for yourself!). This is great music to take with you when you want to enjoy a long drive and get lost along the way.

Morgan takes her music seriously, but she is also committed to contributing back to the community. As she puts it on her website she "believes extending the experience of playing music to the community is an important part of being a musician. Thus, she has led drum circles in disabled children's schools, rape crisis centers and has played for various community events fundraisers. Morgan hopes her drumming and composing is a vehicle not only to entertain, but to transform and inspire.". My kinda girl!

For this award, I enlisted the assistance of Nicole. Nik was practically an acquaintance at the time (we had really only known each other for a few weeks), but it was instantly clear that our beliefs resonated. I told her about Mighty Lola and why I wanted Morgan to be the next recipient. She was immediately excited and - before I could even ask her to be the messenger - she jumped in "can I deliver the next envelope?".

Morgan was to be performing at the Yoga Conference, so we thought this would be the ideal place to find her. With a little Googling, we knew exactly when she would perform and where. Nicole picked up the envelope, and she was on her way.

I've always asked my messengers to deliver and then leave (it's important to give recipients their own space to enjoy the gift, without the awkwardness of this unexpected stranger nearby). The issue with this situation, though, was that she gave the envelope just as Morgan was about to go onstage. Morgan put it in her pocket without opening it. Since the envelope had cash in it, Nicole wanted to wait and make sure she didn't lose the envelope before realizing what it contained. She hid out of sight and - when Morgan finished her set - Nicole called me from her cellphone to describe the event. It was wonderful to hear about Morgan's reaction; she read the letter a couple of times, her friends read it, everyone was surprised and delighted. I think Nicole told me that they kept asking each other "Who is this person??". It was lovely. Nicole and I talked about it - and smiled - for weeks.

The giving part of this project has always been impactful to all involved on the awarding side, but what always amazes me is the meaning that comes from the experience of receiving.

Here's Morgan's side of the story:

Right Timing . . .

Being a drummer I more and more believe that life is all about right timing. Getting an Endowment from the Mighty Lola Endowment Fund, definitely came at the right time.

As many independent, creative artists know, it is a roller coaster ride financially, emotionally and mentally to be self-employed. Some years are great years and others are not: for no apparent reason.
The day I received my endowment, I was definitely having a downer artist day. All the tapes that run in my head - especially about how maybe this isn't the life path for me, maybe I should give up the drums and music all together and work at the airport or a hospital - were running at full speed.

I had a gig that day at the Yoga Conference at the Convention Center. I went there early for sound check and then had some time to walk around and decided to check out a Kirtan (Bhakti Yoga practice of chanting) of someone I knew. I guess I should explain what Kirtan is because it will make much more sense if I do. Most people are familiar with yoga as an asana practice - the physical practice people do on a mat and sweat a lot. There are other types of yoga that can bring people the same results that asana yoga is meant to bring, which is to cleanse our body of impurities, open the heart and bring us closer to an enlightened/free state of mind and body and especially
spirit. Kirtan, does this by reciting and repeating ancient mantras. In the process these mantras replace negative or toxic thoughts and calm the mind by giving it something to focus on.

Okay, so as you can see I was definitely in a space where I could use a little mental cleansing. I participated in the Kirtan, following along with the chanting. It is amazing how if one turns their attention away from their own suffering and focuses on others and their well being-suddenly their own suffering dissipates. As you can guess that is what happened. Music is a beautiful gift that way-it goes straight to the heart. The intentions for this particular kirtan was mainly about giving it all away, giving your prayer to others,
surrendering and dreaming big. So I gave it all away and dreamt big and what came to me was that. . . the one thing I love the most is playing the drums and even though it is not always an easy path it is the one I have to take.

The Kirtan concluded and it was time for me to play (I was also playing for a kirtan). Just before stepping on stage to play a woman came up to me and told me I had received an endowment from Mighty Lola. The first words out of my mouth were "What for???"
and she said "For being you." If that isn't a sign from the universe then I don't know what is.

Morgan Doctor

Montreal Underground Film Festival (The MUFF Girls!)

As the girls put it: "MUFF celebrates and promotes low-budget filmmakers and those who challenge the boundaries of mainstream Hollywood and the conventional film aesthetic attitude. We encourage you to confront your artistic freedom, through the experimentation of filmmaking and art production, making the world a more exciting, challenging place to live.".

Here is the MUFF girls' depiction of their "Mighty Lola Moment"

Once upon a time there were two girls, Zoe Brown and Karina Mariano. They were colourful characters to say the least, and they would spend lots of time together dreaming up fun things to be when they grew up. They both studied art at a university and became phenomenal and slightly off-beat filmmakers. Karina became obsessed with making cheap, low-budget vampire films, while Zoe's approach was more from the self-expression, filmmaking-as-therapy school of thought.

Over the years, the two girls had a slew of different jobs. Karina sold beer out front of gas stations, while Zoe went on hot dates with boys for cold, hard cash, all the while conjuring up the next feast of filmmaking frenzy that would exercise the girls' creative potential.

After far too long toiling away in mediocre jobs and wanting more out of life, the girls met for a drink one day. Zoe said she wanted to start a film festival and call it MUFF. What a great idea! It could stand for Montréal Underground Film Festival. Zoe was surprised that no one else had thought of such a genius name for a cool underground film festival. The two girls jumped with joy, turning circles round each other all the way to the licence bureau, where they would register their new future as creators and directors of the Montréal Underground Film Festival.

When they put on their first MUFF gig, they were pleasantly surprised to see people actually turning up for the show! And paying for it! Wow, what a momentous occasion in Montréal film history. Then, after most of their festival entries had been received, a letter suddenly appeared. The girls looked at each other with confusion and surprise, since this wasn't a film at all, but a flat white envelope. Slowly opening it, they took out the card inside and found a note and a fan of 50-dollar bills that added up to $500. The girls jumped around happily like a pair of kangaroos on a trampoline. They were grateful and excited that someone had acknowledged and endorsed their dream of establishing an independent, women-run film festival in the beautiful city of Montréal. Who could this generous superhero be? the girls wondered. But the only name on the note was Mighty Lola...