Turn Right at the Dancing Cow

In one of the darkest, most hurting, and often overlooked corners of the world, one woman is showing a way out of misery, poverty, and pain. Holding up a beacon of light, Maggie Josiah offers an all-too-rare ray of hope to Ugandans grasping tenuously at the subsistence level. Carrying her own scars, Maggie knows suffering but also knows, regardless of one’s past or current circumstances, anyone can transform his or her life. What she and her students do every day bears brave testament to her unwavering belief in the power we each hold. Through rough a chance encounter, John Shimer learned of Maggie’s struggles, recovery, and fierce determination to help others. With her vision always before her, after visits to Africa and mentoring in fund-raising from John, Maggie made her dream a reality. She established African Hospitality Institute, or AHI, in Uganda to teach young people the skills needed to succeed in the hospitality industry. Continuing his support and remaining in touch with Maggie, John finally visited AHI. Turn Right at the Dancing Cow records John’s two-week visit to AHI, looking back at how it came about as well as revealing incredible transformations—in Maggie, the students, the country, and even himself. With sensitivity, insight, and a sharp eye, John introduces us to the people of Uganda, especially the students at AHI who are so intent on succeeding that most secure positions in the hospitality industry even before graduation, this in a country with 30 percent unemployment.

In one of the darkest, most hurting, and often overlooked corners of the world, one woman is showing a way out of misery, poverty, and pain. Holding up a beacon of light, Maggie Josiah offers an all-too-rare ray of hope to Ugandans grasping tenuously at the subsistence level. Carrying her own scars, Maggie knows suffering but also knows, regardless of one’s past or current circumstances, anyone can transform his or her life. What she and her students do every day bears brave testament to her unwavering belief in the power we each hold. Through rough a chance encounter, John Shimer learned of Maggie’s struggles, recovery, and fierce determination to help others. With her vision always before her, after visits to Africa and mentoring in fund-raising from John, Maggie made her dream a reality. She established African Hospitality Institute, or AHI, in Uganda to teach young people the skills needed to succeed in the hospitality industry. Continuing his support and remaining in touch with Maggie, John finally visited AHI. Turn Right at the Dancing Cow records John’s two-week visit to AHI, looking back at how it came about as well as revealing incredible transformations—in Maggie, the students, the country, and even himself. With sensitivity, insight, and a sharp eye, John introduces us to the people of Uganda, especially the students at AHI who are so intent on succeeding that most secure positions in the hospitality industry even before graduation, this in a country with 30 percent unemployment.

After thirty-three years managing and consulting on capital fundraising campaigns ranging in size from $5,000,000 to $100,000,000 plus ten years serving as a board member of the Fortune Family Foundation, John Shimer now devotes his retirement years to raising money for a handful of special projects that have deep and lasting meaning for him. To support his favorite charities, John sells one-day “How To Do It’ workshops to organizations contemplating capital campaigns, and occasionally, when the cause and case are extremely compelling, makes his services available without charge. John’s workshops focus on 1) case development, 2) leadership identification and cultivation, 3) teaching human motivation principles for building and sustaining long-term relationships with donors, and 40 how to build thrive teams for higher purpose projects of all kinds.