Category Archives: Publishing for non-profits

The Arts & Alzheimers

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“Art therapy is all about the moment, all about the process, all about happiness…”  ~ Valerie Kent

Art enriches the lives of so many Americans and people all over the globe. Much research has been done regarding the effects of art therapy with Alzheimer’s patients. Among the positive effects are reducing stress, aggression, anxiety, apathy and anxiety.

For persons in the earlier stages of Alzheimer’s disease, viewing art and listening to music often brings back memories, and has calming effects. Participating in the arts through dance, stimulates neuron activity in the brain, improving concentration and focus.  For those in the later stages of Alzeheimer’s when communication is more difficult, art therapy provides an outlet of expression, when words can not be found.

Not only do professionals in Alzeheimer’s facilities use art therapies , it can be used by caretakers of Alzeheimer’s patients in private homes. It provides a quiet, peaceful activity for patients and caretakers alike. By engaging the patient in a creative activity, it can provide relief for caretakers who are often subjected to repeated questions and demands that are placed upon the caretaker.

For more information on the field of art therapy for Alzeheimer’s patients, please visit:

Although scientists are still trying to determine the cause and risk factors of Alzeheimer’s disease, research shows intellectually stimulating activities, such as Art, may lower the risk of developing the disease.

 To me, this sounds like good reason for artists to paint up a storm! If someone tells you to put down the paintbrush and go do something else, tell them you are working on your “mental health.”

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Weekend Indie Publishing News

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Looking for good Mother’s Day gifts?

It is critically important to our society and all of our world to have decent homes and families with decent values. This Mother’s Day, order your wife, your mother, or any woman raising a family, a copy of  the book Building Materials for Life by Millard Fuller, Founder of Habitat for Humanity. The three volumes of this book are filled with short essays about raising families with common sense, good values and giving children a solid, strong foundation. Proceeds from the sale of this book and other books and DVDs from the Fuller Center will be used to purchase building materials for Habitat for Humanity houses.

Thanks to the Fuller Center, hundreds of children around the world have decent housing and brighter futures!

You can also honor the Mother in your life by donating to the Fuller Center or win free flowers for entering your essay of what your mother means to you! For more information, please visit http://bit.ly/c9S9cG.

Hurry, Mother’s Day is only 9 days away!

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Being Tortured!

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“The world does not have to change…the only thing that has to change is our attitude.” ~ Gerald Jampolsky

I am being tortured and I am in a snit! Old Man Winter will not leave me alone! Does he not realize what month it is? Does he not own a calendar? It is Friday, the last day of the month of April and I am calling “May Day, May Day.” I need help! Old Man Winter has messed about with me all too long! Snow has come back to haunt me far too many times in the past few weeks.

I have made a decision. It is for the best. Here is my plan of action:

  • I am not going to hang around with that Old Man Winter any longer.
  • I am going to hang around with others that have a positive influence on my life, instead of the negative.
  • I’ve decided there is no one that can bring about change, other than myself.
  • I am replacing the negative with the positive!
  • I am going to associate myself with those that give me energy and motivation, not someone that drags me down.
  • I am going to change my mental picture!

It is time to lighten up!  I will show you who I will be hanging with, so you will know I’ll be in good hands. Join me! We can share! Take a look!

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Cultural Understanding

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“Things go wrong because people build walls instead of bridges”   ~Unknown

For those who do not work in the arts industry, understanding the value of a creative industry is difficult to understand. When you understand the scope of how many are employed in creative industry, how the Arts help to build the fabric of community life, how arts education touches the lives of children and how Art provides for cultural exchange between countries, supporting Americans for the Arts Action Fund www.artsactionfund.org is not a hard pill to swallow.

Mayer Michael Nutter recently testified about  the importance of the Arts in his city of Philadelphia. His testimony and arguments for the importance of the Arts, could be echoed by cities, big and small, across America. To listen to Mayor Nutter’s testimony, please go to http://bit.ly/bZetCV.

Even in small cities, like Steamboat Springs, Colorado (population 9600), the Arts are very important. The Macedonian Mission for Humanity (Colorado based non-profit organization 5013(C) is focused on humanitarian assistance and cultural exchange between Macedonian and U.S. artists.

On May 15, the non-profit will be hosting a Concert, at the United Methodist Church in Steamboat, between an international award winning concert pianist, Kalina Mrmevska from Macedonia, and soprano soloist, Keri Rusthoi from the U.S. It is bound to be a beautiful evening of entertainment between two artists who come from very different backgrounds.

All proceeds from the concert will go toward the expense of shipping no longer needed medical supplies from the U.S. to Macedonian children’s hospitals. For more information on this non-profit, please visit http://bit.ly/askllQ.

The Macedonian Mission for Humanity is building bridges between culture and humanitarian needs. What vision this represents!

 

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Seeing the Light

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“All personal breakthroughs begin with a change in beliefs”                    ~Tony Robbins

It is interesting, now that spring has arrived in most parts of the country, it seems independent publishers are beginning to emerge out of their hiding places. After being cooped up and in the dark all winter long, many have decided it is time to be seen and heard from!

It seems independent publishers took time this winter to think and mull over their publications, their marketing plans and strategies, and now they have decided they have been inactive long enough. It is time to take action! Many have decided to take the plunge in to the world of e-marketing/social media marketing!

For more information on how marketers are using social media to grow their businesses, please visit http://bit.ly/YbyEU.

Sometimes, it takes time to readjust our thinking, adapt new ways of being. Social media marketing/e-marketing is a bit scary for those who have only used traditional methods of marketing – such as print advertising, bulk mailings, hiring a traditional publicist or agent, doing book appearances. All of these marketing techniques are still valuable but marketing trends do change. Life is so interesting when we decide to let go of old ideas and follow new paths!

What is it they say about growth? “Do the thing that scares you the most” ? Don’t let fright stop you from drawing closer to becoming more visible and fulfilling your dreams!

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Wisdom Comes from Living It

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“All men make mistakes, but only the wise men learn from their  mistakes.” ~ Winston Churchill

There is nothing worse than having a deep concern and not wanting to share it because you know others will not understand. I am talking about something that only those who have lived it can relate – such as having a child struggling with drug and substance abuse.

Out of her experiences of living with a teen hooked on drugs, public speaker, author and Mom, Mitzi Rudderow has written a book called “Coming Clean: Drug Addiction – help and hope.” This book should be in the household of every family with children. For a parent, learning how to identify addiction before it becomes a crisis is of paramount importance.

Through this book, you will learn how to avoid the mistakes this Mom made, what the red flags of substance abuse are and parenting do’s and don’ts. This book is made very affordable for every parent because Mitzi is truly committed to helping other parents learn from the mistakes she made with her teen.

As a radio broadcaster, Mitzi learned so well how to communicate with others and she has used her skill to communicate about an issue, through her book, that is all too pervasive in today’s world – drug and alcohol abuse.

Take your first pro-active step, as a parent of a teen, by educating yourself rather than denying that your child could very well face these struggles in his or her teenage years.

For more information on this book, please visit www.mitzirudderow.com and visit her blog http://www.comingcleantogether.wordpress.com

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Postage Due!

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“Customers don’t expect you to be perfect. They do expect you to fix things when they go wrong.” ~ Donald Porter, V.P. British Airways

A few weeks ago, I received notification from the USPS that they had a package that being held for pick-up, with postage due.  I was a bit baffled because, I was not expecting a package. So, off to the Post Office I went, to pick up my package. As I drove to the Post Office, I began to get all excited. I thought “perhaps one of my friends had sent me a little surprise gift.” After all, who doesn’t like a little unexpected gift in the mail?

When I arrived, the postman presented me with the package, with postage due. The return address was not familiar to me – not at all! The address and return label had both been handwritten. I did not recognize the handwriting and there was no company name on the return address – just the street, town, state and zipcode. So, I questioned the validity of whether I was paying postage due for junk mail or for a promotional piece that I did not want anyway.

Now, I was faced with a dilemma, “do I pay for the postage due or not accept the package?” My curiosity got the better of me! I paid the postage due and accepted the package.

When I opened the package, I remembered 8 weeks prior, I had ordered an independent film (DVD). The shipping time took so long that I had completely forgotten I had ordered it.  I also checked my order confirmation and, sure enough, shipping and handling was included in the purchase price. Why then, was there postage due? Not a real great way to attract return buyers, now, is it? I also began to wonder how many other orders this company had shipped that said shipping and handling was included, but there was postage due when the order came? And also, how many other buyers had questioned whether the package was junk mail since the packaging and labeling did not give the appearance of having come from a reputable company?

Being an advocate of “don’t sweat the small stuff” I was happy to get what I had paid for – finally. A little extra postage due, really was  “just small stuff.” But, a quick courtesy call, a quick email or an enclosed note with the order explaining the reason for the additional postage due would have built tremendous good will between customer and company, don’t you think?

In business, small stuff does matter, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Your customers will be the first to tell you it matters.  They will tell you by just going elsewhere!

Weekend Indie Publisher News

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It is a big day for all the participants of the Young Authors League of the Colorado Independent Publishers Association (CIPA). Today they will be premiering their new publication “Making the World a Better Place.”  The group premieres it’s book at Southlands Mall Barnes and Noble in Aurora, Colorado from 4 – 8pm today! Head on in, and support a new generation of young authors! www.cipabooks.com

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Guess what has gone viral? Painters Workshops! Join classes without having to leave the comfort of your studio.  For more information, please visit Workshop Magazine, a great magazine resource for Oil and Acrylic Painters. Workshop, a magazine published by American Artist Magazine will take you into the classes of top oil and acrylic instructors. Learn from them and from their critiques of students work. For more information, please visit www.artistdaily/workshop.com

It’s A Perfect Fit!

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“The only thing that will redeem mankind is  c0operation.”        ~                       ~Bertrand Russell

In Steamboat Springs, CO and in places all across the country, there are so many non-profits that are quietly contributing to the betterment of others and to the world, in their own special way. Many of these non-profits are unheard of to the “average Joe.” With funding and grant opportunities being cut, it is never more important for non-profits to become visible and to demonstrate how they are helping others to fulfill their needs.

There is a way! To bring visibility and awareness to a non-profit, independent publishing can help. An independently published book or film, about your non-profit, may provide a way for non-profit organizations to spread the word about their mission and obtain corporate sponsorship. Also, it is a creative way for others to learn and see how satisfying it is to volunteer for a worthy cause and to increase your volunteer base by recruiting others who will commit to an exciting project or mission.

Independent publishing is a perfect fit for alternative marketing for non-profit organizations. One of the most successful global non-profits  has chosen independent publishing to advance their visibility throughout this world. To watch a preview of a great example of non-profit work and independent publishing joining together to bring visibility to a mission, please visit www.MillardFullerMovie.com.

Is your non-profit doing all it can to be recognized in your community, in your world?

 

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Fast & Fascinating!

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“All positive change in the world comes from our ideas of what we believe is possible.” ~ Alexandra Jamieson

Over the past few months, I have done some public speaking about order fulfillment for independent publishers and also about the independent publishing industry in general. One of the questions that I have posed to my audience is “Can you imagine that a manuscript can be downloaded from a digital file, printed, pages trimmed, bound and covered with a custom-designed book cover, all within 15 minutes time?”  All eyes meet mine with a look of disbelief!

Well, it is true, folks! Learn about the Expresso Book Machine! No longer do you have to print 20,000 copies of a book at at time, have them sit around in warehouses waiting to be sold and pay for excessive warehousing fees. Books can now be printed in small batches and be reprinted as they are sold. The Expresso Book Machine is evidence that there is a revolution taking place in the publishing industry, specifically the independent publishing industry. For more information, please visit http://bit.ly/NQWc.

The independent publishing industry has taken responsibility in their approach to a green economy. By printing only what will sell, a whole lot of trees will be spared and dollars can be spent on publishing and marketing rather than unnecessary warehousing. Makes green sense, doesn’t it?

Furthermore, people without big name visibility as writers, but with great stories to tell, now have a chance at becoming publishers! As I have spoken with groups over the past months, it has been interesting to see the eyes of disbelief turn to eyes of excitement! Almost everyone has a story to tell, educational information to share,  inspiring thoughts or a wish to entertain – what do you have  under your hat?

To begin your journey into the world of independent publishing, start with a few minutes of education about the Expresso Book Machine, documented in this short, 2-3 minute, independently published film. The independent publishing industry is growing and fulfilling the dreams of many “want to be published,” who through traditional publishing would not ordinarily have a chance. It is exciting – now readers get to decide whether a book is any good, and not editors!