Category Archives: Building community through partnerships

Following Tradition

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“Grandfathers are for loving and fixing things.” ~ Author Unknown

Oh, how sweet it is! Isn’t that the truth? Pop was the best! He loved us all so unconditionally that he even loved us when he shouldn’t have. The four of us grandchildren were the apple of his eye, the light in his day, and we knew it!

I recently joined Kiwanis International. This service organization was established in 1915, when my Grandfather was a young man in his early twenties. Several months ago, I mentioned to my Dad that I was contemplating joining this fine service organization.  He reminded me of a few things – that my Grandfather, who was a fine custom homebuilder and my uncle, who was a medical reseach doctor, both were Kiwanians. Once I was reminded of this fact, I did vaguely recall that my Grandfather had a Kiwanis plaque hanging in his office.

Many might wonder why a person would join a service organization. It is simple! I was given so much as a child, in ways that have nothing to do with material goods, that if there is some way I can give back by being involved with this great organization, it will be my pleasure!

Kiwanians are involved in all sorts of service projects which benefit children. They aid in providing for homeless children, building playgrounds, raising funds for pediatric research, mentoring disadvantaged children, and much more. Great things come out of stepping out and giving a child a chance in life! I am going to follow in my grandfather’s footsteps, because being a Kiwanian is a tradition worth following!

This short trailer will give a little insight into what Kiwanis is all about! Take just a few minutes to watch fellowship, caring and community happen!  For more information on Kiwanis International, please visit http://www.kiwanis.org.

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The Art of Friendship

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“Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.”  Voltaire

We have all known others who would give the shirt off their back for anyone. They give almost greater attention to others than themselves. They are so full of kindness, generosity and beautiful gestures that their souls are as golden as honey. You know the kind of person I am describing, each of us have friends like that!

I have a new painting sitting in my home that I love! I acquired it through a friend whose kind, giving nature makes the world better for so many others. I happened to see the beautiful painting hanging on her wall and remarked how well I liked it. She took the painting right off the wall and gave it to me!

The painting is unsigned, and it may not be an original, but what matters is that it brought beauty to my friend’s life by hanging in her home, and now it brings joy to my life. Is that not what art is all about?

As I brought it home and hung it on the wall, I began to think of the likeness of my friend and the artist. To each, creation of beauty in art and friendship is more important than name recognition.

Thank you, my friend, for your beautiful act of kindness. Your own art, of friendship, is noticed, valued and greatly appreciated.

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It’s All Good!

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“We immediately become more effective when we decide to change ourselves rather than asking things to change for us.” ~ Stephen Covey

You all must think that this blogsite only focuses on independent publishing. Not so! I will read any book or watch any film so long as it adds value to my life, independently published or not!

Although we all stop growing physically at a certain age in life, that does not mean our intellect and self improvement skills need to stop growing, too. Growth from that perspective should be never ending.  Our evolution as human beings should be ongoing, especially if we are to live the kind of life we want for ourselves.

Last week, I stopped by the library and picked up a book that I never expected to be as useful to my own life and business as it is. It is called “Daily Reflections for Highly Effective People” by Stephen Covey, published by Franklin Covey Company. What a treasure chest of writings this book contains for a values based business. If every business operated with the same synergy suggested in this book, we would all be living in a diamond mine.  Every company and organization would shine so brightly, we would all need blinders on! There is no “preachiness” in each short daily reflection in this book, only empowering principles for living life effectively and with great integrity.

We are all diamonds in the rough. This helpful book may add polish to your life, and contain the very things you have been searching for along your path to an enriched life. Check it out!

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Being on Target

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“All great men are gifted with intuition. They know without reasoning or analysis what they need to know.” ~Alexis Carrel

Hah! I knew I should listen to my intuition or the big guy in the sky who has been telling me to press on, not to listen to all the doubters, to carry-on with what feels right and just! I am talking about social media marketing!

One of the most high of all feels the same way I do! The Pope just advised his people that they need to spread the word by responding to “today’s cultural shifts” and if that means messing about with electronic technology and the virtual world, so be it! The Pope is an advocate for the use of electronic images, blogs, websites and videos to communicate with the masses of people throughout the world.

I concur! This is also what I have prescribed for opening up doorways of opportunity for all of our independent publishing clients! See that, sometimes it really pays to listen to your intuition or whatever elevated “being” you listen to!

Are you paying attention?

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Weekend Indie Publishing News

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Have all of you spent time with Frank lately? I have an appointment with him at 9:30 am MT, and you can listen in, too! Frank Gromling’s radio show “Cover to Cover” for authors and publishers will be well worth listening to. It is every Saturday morning at 11:30 am Eastern Standard Time, 10:30 am Central Time, 9:30 am Mountain Time and 8:30 am Pacific Time.

It is a great way to stay on top of the ever changing trends in publishing, hear interviews with local and nationally known authors, tips for independent publishing and industry tips of the trade. Tune in to www.wnzf.com.  You’ll be glad you did!

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Prepping for An Event

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“The potential possibilities of any child are the most intriguing and stimulating in all creation.” ~ Unknown

The buzz has begun, excitement is in the air, things are  beginning to transition and I am getting ready!

A few hints won’t hurt a soul-

  • The location could be here or elsewhere
  • It will be worth the wait
  • The anticipation is more than I can stand
  • It will all come, in due time
  • You won’t  be left out

What is it you may ask? That is for me to know, and for you to find out! In the meantime, I am getting dressed. We all hate to be left waiting. Come on back, anytime!

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Writers Revelations

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“The root of all superstition is that men observe when a thing hits, but not when it misses.” ~ Francis Bacon, Sr.

I didn’t know writers were a superstitious group! In truth, it never crossed my mind. Except for a few, all superstitious beliefs escape me. Every once in a while, I will search for the allusive four leaf clover and I walk around rather than under a ladder. But that is more out of concern for safety than thinking bad luck will befall upon me.

Yesterday, I was reading Poets and Writers Magazine www.pw.org and there is a page where writers recommend their secrets to success. Each had unique words of wisdom, but writer Jonathan Lethem suggested that his belief in superstition has helped him succeed along the way. To quote him “Have lucky things. It doesn’t matter what they are. I bought a green cardigan sweater for a quarter at a thrift store in Bennington, Vermont and wore it nearly every day through the writing of my first three novels, until it was in tatters.”

Jonathan has struck my curiosity! Are writers really, as a group, a superstitious lot? What would you add to a list of quirks, habits, superstitions and rituals that you practice when engaged in a publishing project? You can post them on this blogsite for all to see.

I’ll bet Poets and Writers Magazine has some words of wisdom they could add – they have been publishing the magazine for 40 years! I hope they remember to blow out all the candles on the cake! Happy Birthday, Poets and Writers Magazine.

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Beyond Ourselves

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“Compassion is the basis of all morality” ~ Arthur Schopenhauer

Yesterday, we had a very timely speaker at our Kiwanis International weekly meeting. Dr. Dawn Obrecht and her husband Erik Landvik were there to speak with our group about the disaster relief work they have done all over the world. They set up a medical clinic to assist the victims of the Indonesian tsunami, Dr. Obrecht doctored the injured after Hurricane Katrina and has in fact, volunteered her time to five other calamitious events resulting in great loss of life and widespread destruction.

As we watch all that has happened in Haiti over the past week, it gives me pause to think, what this world would be like if Doc Dawn and her husband Erik and thousands of other extraordinarily compassionate individuals did not exist in this world.

Dr. Dawn Obrecht has chronicled her experiences through the writing of her independently published book, Mission Impossible: A Missionary Doctor’s Journey of Healing. http://www.docdawn.com/book1.php.  The perils that she has been up against in her work as a missionary doctor will leave you with an increased understanding of the compassion, kindness and unique human qualities that exist in individuals that are so willing to put themselves, at their own expense, on the line for others.

Dr. Obrecht’s work is not done, she has gotten calls to help in Haiti, however, until there is more order and structure with the relief efforts, she has been advised to wait. Hopefully, Erik will be at her side as this extraordinarily gifted couple work together to fulfill the work that is so important in their lives and to the survival of others.

It has been an honor to begin to know Dr. Obrecht, who like me, was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland! We will  be working together with the Macedonian Mission for Humanity, to help raise funds through an international dinner,  to ship a container of much needed medical supplies to children’s hospitals in Macedonia.

What small thing can you do to help your community or another community of people who are in dire need of help?

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Weekend Indie Publishing News

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One of the best on-line guides to what is happening in the publishing world that I know of is the Southern Review of Books!

http://www.anvilpub.net/southern_review_of_books.com

This on-line resource is choked full of breaking news on books, trade shows, book fairs, book festivals, seminars  for authors, publishers and micropresses. Check it out, and subscribe!

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Guess who is featured in the March 2010 American Artist Magazine?  Artist Nancy Guzik! The March issue will be hitting magazine stands on January 26 and I have heard from one artist, that his issue has already arrived via subscription! The article features Nancy Guzik’s portraits and still life paintings and she shares her personal artistic journey with readers.  Don’t miss this important issue!  www.interweave.com.

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Is This Just for Me?

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“All that is valuable in human society depends upon the opportunity for development accorded the individual.”~ Albert Einstein

Isn’t it funny how chance and timing lead to opportunity? We all have situations from time to  time that work out perfectly in our favor, in very unexpected ways.

This Saturday (tomorrow) is a perfect example of what I am referring to! My plans were to drive to Denver to drop my son and his college roommate off at the airport so they can  return back to school. My plans got even better when I received a telephone call this morning from a Colorado Independent Publisher Association member asking me if I would like to attend their Saturday meeting. www.cipabooks.com.

Perfect! I will be driving right by the site of the meeting just in time! Any opportunity to network with this group of publishing professionals is a great one! And to make it even more worthwhile, the speaker of the morning will be Brian Jud. The program will be The Buck Starts Here – How You Can Sell More Books in Special Markets!  He is also author of Beyond the Bookstore. Is this not just what I blogged about yesterday???

Turn down the chance to learn all I possibly can about this subject matter? No way!! Not when the timing is this perfect!!

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