Service with a Smile

I went on a hike on Sunday by myself, just me and a little Kanye West (don't judge). It had been an incredibly busy week not only with work, but my head had been spinning out of control for most of it. I have lived in this town for a relatively short time, next month I will have lived in Los Angeles for 5 years. Don't get me wrong I love it here. It's very different from South Florida where I grew up. Everything is FLAT in Florida. Sunday was one of those days where I really got to appreciate the beauty of this city. When I made it to the top, you could see for miles and miles. The snows capped mountains far behind the Griffith Observatory, The amazing skyline of Downtown and hills with the multimillion-dollar homes all under the famous HOLLYWOOD sign. I love it here and can't imagine wanting to live anywhere else...BUT

This town is full of crazy people, myself included. I have always considered myself "a bit touched" as the Late Dixie Carter would say. The difference is I am aware of it and it's part of my charm :) I have recently been doing a lot of networking for the TLASC. I love going out and meeting people and seeing how I could help someone or someone could help me. I always try to see the good in people and understand who they are but it's not easy in this town. I updated Facebook last week that" I feel like I am on an Episode of V, and I am the only Human in the Mother ship. I don't know what it is; some people in LA act like emotionless zombies. I don't know if they are really focused, have attitude because of insecurities or they just don't give a shit. I have always come from a place of being nice and I always try to engage people by giving a smile. It seems to freak people out. Sometimes a smile is just a smile and nothing else. I find once you chip away at that shield people seem to put up. They turn out to be great people but there are just so many people that seem really “effected." You can have dinner with them one night and then you see them at the gym a week later and they act like they don't know you. WHAT IS THAT?

This behavior baffles me. I have a core group of friends that I love and an inner circle of friends that I really love also. I am very lucky. Like I said I am new to this town and I would eventually like to get to know everyone. I just wish the friggin walls would come down around some of these people. I do believe in my heart that there are a lot of great people out there and probably a lot of real jerks as well. I just wish I could tell who is who.

Lets just stop the cycle now. If someone says "hi" to you at the gym, coffee, club..wherever you are, say "hi" back. Shoot them a smile. It takes such work to give attitude, and a smile looks better on everyone’s face. You never know, you could have just met your future husband, best friend or business partner.

Give it a shot! What's the worst thing that could happen?!!

so what's the deal!? How, Why and Who is the TLASC?

A little background on me first. When I was 11 I read a book called "the Giving Tree" and I got it and from then on it kind of defined who I was. I have always lived my life helping others. When it was in college it was giving people rides that didn't have cars. When I lived in Miami Beach I was always the one getting my friends into the clubs without waiting in line. I have always been of service I just didn't know that is what I was doing but I knew I was good at it.

I came off a very dark place in my life a few years ago and found myself in a spot where it was either flight or fight, so I got off my butt and with the help and the direction of others. I started The Los Angeles Service Club. What we do is show and encourage people to be of service to others on a more regular basis. You can really only get so far doing everything yourself. At some point your going to need or going to have to rely on the experience and knowledge of others to help you move forward in whatever it is your striving to do and that is sort of our philosophy.

TLASC started and I really didn't know what to expect. I didn't know if anyone would be receptive to it or take me seriously but from the start, they did. I have been very lucky and received support from a lot of people who believed in what I was doing.

Our primary purpose starting out was just to provide volunteers for different organizations and events. My first client was Camp Laurel. We provided volunteers for their summer fundraiser and help in anyway they needed and it was successful. They were able to raise more money than they had in previous years and it felt great to be a part of that. Our next client was The Aids Walk of Los Angeles. This was a great opportunity to implement our "Service Field Trip" Program. Not only did we provided 37 volunteers for the event, but 9 of them came over my house at 5a.m., we had breakfast and then as a group we walked over to the event, all worked together. It was an amazing day.. Cold and rainy.. But amazing non-the less.

TLASC is growing so fast that our mission statement keeps changing. It's amazing how things happen. Through a series of meetings we got the opportunity to get an amazing estate in Palm Springs and decided to throw our own fundraiser to benefit The Trevor Project on New Year's Eve. The party was an amazing success and we were able to raise almost $7500 for Trevor. It was a great opportunity For TLASC and I am forever grateful to all those who had a part in it. It was a great way to start off 2011 and we have already moved on to our next client.

I am amazed and astonished by the success and support from others. I am really in awe of the willingness of people to be of service. It has been the most humbling, amazing and best experience in my life so far and it's just the beginning! We are lining up several more events and there will be plenty more opportunities to be of service in the future.

I stated this blog so people have a way of keeping track with what we are doing. If you are interested in being of service please keep up with my updates on my facebook page or subscribe to my blog. It is amazing what we can accomplish by coming together and working towards a common goal. I can't wait to see what the future hold for us.... until next time

In service always,

Harrison Bloom
Executive Director