Category Archives: Hospice

Educating Women

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“Life is a big canvas, throw all the paint on it you can.” ~ Danny Kaye

On Friday, I had the honor of speaking to the Yampa Valley University Women. The title of my presentation was “On the Fast Track: The Independent Publishing Industry.”  I kept the presentation to the basics, but wanted to share with all the University Women the fact that the independent publishing industry was grown 40% since 2008 and it now represents almost 50% of the publishing industry revenues. I mentioned that desktop publishing software has become user friendly, short run printing is now available and freelance consultants are readily available to help with every part of the publishing process. We talked of the power of the internet and of selling books worldwide through e-commerce.

I set up a display table with examples of independently published books, DVDs and cds. After the women had a chance to see the publications, a remark was made that years ago, independently published books were quite “amateurish” in appearance. The group was astonished to see that,  now, there is nothing that distinguishes an independently published book from a book produced by a big-top traditional publishing house.  My comment was that “we could thank the advances in desktop publishing software for that.”

As I spoke, I looked around the room, and realized that there was not a woman in the crowd that did not have an interesting story to tell. I determined they were all “artists in life and living.” All were well educated and many have had extraordinary experiences throughout their time on this earth. Many have traveled the world – far and wide, and have parenting words of wisdom to share. Some have interesting multi-ethnic heritage, family histories or information about their own niche interests they could write about.

Women love to communicate, women love to share – is there a  “book inside of you?”

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“Amy’s Angels” Rise

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“At the end of the day when we bow our heads, we are not so different at all.” ~ Judy Jones

This summer, regular readers of this blog followed the loss of my dear friend, Amy. She, like many other women each year, succumbed to breast cancer. I blogged about the dignity and strength with which Amy handled her illness until the very end. What she taught us all is a story of strength and inspiration. She demonstrated, in the most eloquent way, how to continue to live life in the face of terminal illness.

On March 5 in Stowe, VT at the Trapp Family Lodge, Amy will  be honored by a team of her friends and family in the Relay for Life, Nordic Style. “Amy’s Angels” have risen to the top in fundraising efforts. We have raised almost $8,000 to date, with several weeks to go! My sister and our friends will be doing a lap or two on my behalf on March 5, which coincidentally was Amy’s birthday. I will be remembering the beautiful and fun times we shared as friends for 30+ years, and all that she taught me throughout our friendship.

The money that has been raised for “Amy’s Angels” and by all the other teams participating in Relay for Life ,along with all the other fundraising events that the American Cancer Society sponsors each year, represents a joint belief among Americans that a cure for cancer must be found.

Go, “Amy’s Angels” Go! ! I will be with you all in spirit on the day of the event and so will Amy!!

Fulfillment at Any Age

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“The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance.” ~ Aristotle

Have all of you seen the documentary film “Young at Heart?” Has it come to your PBS affiliate state yet www.pbs.org? Over the holidays, my son and I had the opportunity to see a screening of this film together.

The documentary is about a group of senior citizens in western Massachusetts who form a chorus and travel all over to entertain. At the first organizational meeting, the chorus director promptly informs the members that they would not be singing any of the songs of their generation but rather, songs of today.  Oh, yes, songs from Cold Play, Jimi Hendrix, Sonic Youth and other relatively current hits became the repertoire of this “Lawrence Welk generation” of singers.

Did they like it? Of course not, not at first! But things began to rock and things began to roll, as the seniors slowly began to get an ear for what they first thought were raucous, discordant sounds.

Seeing movies with my son is a bit like a chef eating in competitor’s restaurants. He tends to be more critical than the “average Joe.”  Never the less, our consensus was that it was a heartwarming and poignant film, worth seeing.

To me, this film well-demonstrated what Art is all about! Finding courage in doing what you love, and sharing it with others, at any age!  To order this DVD go to www.youngatheartchorus.net.

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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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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Being Caught Unprepared

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“All speech, written or spoken, is a dead language, until it finds a willing and prepared hearer.” ~ Robert Louis Stevenson

Well, I have done it now. I do not mean this statement in a bad way, because I am happy to support a great cause. I have jumped in with all two feet and committed to something that may be beyond my expertise. I have volunteered to cook a dish for an International Dinner which is proposed to be in early March to benefit the Macedonian Mission for Humanity.  This worthy non-profit is hosting the dinner along with the Culture Club of the Steamboat Springs High School to raise money to ship a container of medical supplies from the USA to Macedonia. The medical supplies are needed for children’s hospitals in Macedonia, and the alternative would be for all of the no longer needed supplies to end up in America’s landfills.

As I have mentioned in my blog writing before, I am a comfort food junkie, so for me to commit to cooking a dish with international flair is a stretch! I will have to dig deep. Deep into all the international cookbooks at the Bud Werner Library, to see what recipe I can find that I can handle. Thankfully, I have some weeks to prepare.

I guess I could even call on my brother-in-law, a chef who has worked at some of the most impressive restaurants and a few embassies in Washington, DC and the Capital district. His recipe book might be a little too complicated for me, though.

This town is filled with all kinds of talent – good writers, good Artists, good restaurants, good cooks. Perhaps there are others that would like to join me in supporting the International Dinner and can rustle up some good international flavors and foods to donate to the cause. I challenge you and don’t forget to stay posted for more information on this event! It is a win-win cause, and the MMH could use all of your support, by attending the dinner or by bringing a dish to share. It is all about community sharing and the children in Macedonia are waiting!

Hungry yet?

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Who is on Your List?

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“If we were all like angels, the world would be a heavenly place.” ~ Author Unknown

Are you a list maker? Not all of us are, but I have always been. I make lists of things to do, books to read, movies to see, friends to call, bills to pay.  They all keep me going in the right direction and organized. For businesses, database lists are essential and they take real effort to update and maintain.

The other day, I decided to start a new list. One I have never thought of making before. It is a collection of angels! I read an article in the newspaper about a new kind of angel that I have never heard of before. The subject of the article was micro-nutrients that are added to our food – things like iodine, zinc, vitamin-A, folic acid, and other vitamins. Without these supplements to food, children in many countries suffer from heart-breaking defects. There are groups such as Project Healthy Children, Helen Keller International and Vitamin Angels who give aid to countries that are deficient in providing essential vitamins and other micro-nutrients. A variety of these essentials are only about 30 cents per person per year. Yet, many countries do not have the resources to invest.

I am going to put Vitamin Angels right at the top of my list along with book angels, providing books to needy children and film angels, investors in films. All are important contributors to physical health or cultural well-being.

Is there a non-profit organization or individual that you would like to add to our list of angels? Perhaps we are missing some one!

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Ripe Retirees

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“It is not enough to have a good mind, the main thing is to use it well.” –Rene Descartes

I am living in a community filled with extremely active retirees. Not only only are they physically active, but their minds don’t miss a step either. They have all chosen to live in an active mountain community so they will continue to stay involved and engaged in life long after the generation before them would have called it quits!

Recently, the Aging Well program of the Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association independently published a calendar highlighting an amazing group of retirees who lead active lives by continuing to play tennis, ice climb, ski, swim, brand cattle, volunteer and participate in other forms of vigorous sport and hobbies well into their 60s, 70s and 80s. This calendar encourages all older adults to stretch beyond what they feel they are capable of at their ages and to live fully and well at any age. For more information, visist www.agingwelltoday.com.

Within this community, I have met a wealth of highly successful retirees who lead fascinating lives. Their experiences through past careers, parenting, travel and contributions as Board members of non-profit organizations and other associations provide fodder for stories and lessons that should be shared with younger generations. Independent publishing provides an excellent opportunity for all retirees to share knowledge and wisdom with generations that will follow in their footsteps.

Writing and journaling keeps the mind active. Merely through published words, you can become a mentor to others! Think about that! It is never too late to become an aspiring writer!

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Once in a Blue Moon

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“The only thing you live to regret are the risks you didn’t take”~ Unknown

Today, I am feeling very fortunate. Since starting my company, I have had the opportunity to meet many incredible people that I would not have ordinarily met, had I not taken a risk. Among them have been extraordinarily talented artists, filmmakers, and individuals who serve their communities through the non-profit sector – all of them independent publishers. All have had similar goals – to share beauty, kindness and knowledge through their unique and creative talents.  All have been so very committed to changing our world for the better and each person is awe-inspiring in their very own way.

Tonight, as the New Year approaches, I will be taking some time to reflect on these past few years to remember some of the individuals that I have crossed paths with. Many of these individuals I have not met face to face, yet through an e-mail or a telephone conversation, they have left a mark on me. I can recall the discussions we have had about their goals and aspirations for their independent publishing companies. All have inspiring, educational or entertaining stories to tell through their books, films or music or through their commitment to a cause or a mission. All are the kinds of people you meet only once in a blue moon.

We want to hear from more of you! By posting your comments to our blogsite, we can together build a community of like-minded people who have independent thoughts, ideas and dreams to share.

Happy New Year 2010! May this coming year bring publishing success to each and every one of you!

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A Gargantuan Gift

“Love is, above all, the gift of oneself ” ~ Jean Anouilh

For me, the greatest gift on this earth, is the gift of my family and our independent publishing clients, who allow us to serve them each and every day. They are the purpose of our work. I know blessings when I see them!

This blog will remain silent throughout the holidays so that I can give the best gift of all to my family – my time. If you have children, give them your undivided attention when they need it most. It is the best way to demonstrate how much you value their presence in your life. Unlike other things, nurturing children is not something that can wait.

We appreciate and value the feedback we have gotten from loyal followers of this blog site. In 2010, you will be able to post your comments on this site. Our aim is to provide a community of like-minded readers sharing our dreams, ideas, goals and needs as independent publishers. We want to hear from you and your comments will be a gift to us!

We look forward to sharing some exciting news with you, our loyal readers from around the globe, in 2010.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to All!