Fundraising!

It is officially the holiday season! Though this year, if you haven't noticed, the economy is in a bit of a tailspin so times are tough. If you belong to any kind of club, organization, or business I'm sure you've begun to feel the effects, but not to worry...there is a way to fight against the sinking economy. And it is something any organization can do.

It's all about creating a new profit center, or a new way to bring in money. Too often, we get set in our ways and suffer from something that is called "Marketing Myopia" when the organization's scope is too narrow. Imagine a horse with blinders on...it can only see directly in front of it, and will certainly miss anything going on in its 'blind spots'. Businesses and organizations need to take the blinders off during difficult times in order see new opportunities.

Where am I going with this? For most organizations, fundraising is a great way to well...raise... funds... And when you have just the right product to sell, everyone involved wins. There are all types of products that meet different kinds of needs and I would encourage anyone that is searching for a fundraising opportunity to think about their potential audience and their specific needs. That said, I would also encourage you to go HERE if you are interested in a great fundraising opporunity.

Happy Halloween!

Hello, All!

Just wanted to take this opportunity to wish you all a happy and safe Halloween. And if you use the coupon code:OCT31GHOST between October 31st and November 7th you can save yourself 10% on any purchase! Just enter in the code upon checkout.

And, for your enjoyment, I found a list of Halloween games that you can play at your Halloween party! FYI these games are mostly for kids, but I figured if you're going to put on a costume and go to a party, these might be fun! Enjoy!

http://familyfun.go.com/games/indoor-outdoor-games/specialfeature/halloween-games-ms/

Phone Book Tabs

It's been a while, hasn't it?! Well we are quickly approaching a new year and with that new year we will all surely receive a new phone book! For many that use a phone book daily ( I'm looking at you cold-caller!) the entries can often been difficult to navigate. That's why we have Phone Book Tabs! These tabs stick right into your phone book and mark off each letter of the alphabet. A set also includes pre-printed tabs with common sections of the phonebook, i.e. community, phone service, gov't... , and blank tabs for you to customize yourself. I will be the first to tell you that for those that use a phone book often, these tabs are a great time saver! Check them out today!

We all know that gas prices are rising, but food prices seem to be rising right along with them. So how can you combat the rising prices of your favorite food items? Coupons! I found on the web, an article from the Chicago Tribune (link below) that states that less than 1% of all coupons are actually redeemed! I've also heard stories of people feeding their family of four (or larger) for less than 10 dollars per week. Sounds crazy, right?! But you can do it too. It just takes a little effort and organization. So the newest way to use your Rite-On Index Tabs is to create and organize a coupon book!

The first step is to collect all the coupons you can get your hands on. There are websites that offer printable coupons, coupons that come in the mail, and of course the Sunday newspaper offers hundreds. Next, you need to organize these coupons somehow. I use clear plastic sheets to hold my coupons and store them in a binder. I then use my Rite-On tabs to create different categories like "Albertson's" or "Pizza" so I can easily find them before I go to the store. Another way to organize them would be to use Month Tabs to organize the coupons by their expiration date.

The key is to stay organized and save money...or at least spend money on fun things, not food and gas!
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/yourmoney/chi-ym-spending-0713jul13,0,1919184.story

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8 Tips to help you get organized at work!

As we all know, staying organized at work can be a difficult thing to do. Sometimes for me, the hardest part of organization is just getting to a point where I can actually see my desk! So we've found a great list of tips to help organization at work. I can especially relate to #2 on the list: Make Lists. I need to physically check something off of a list in order to feel that sense of accomplishment. Making lists also helps to prioritize different activities throughout the day, week, or even month! So here it is, 8 tips to help you get organized at work:

1. FOCUS ON WHAT’S IMPORTANT.
Remind yourself of your long-term goals and revise them when necessary. Set daily priorities to meet your goals. Keep photos of your family or inspirational pictures nearby.
2. MAKE LISTS.
Make daily, weekly and monthly to-do lists of important tasks. Review your daily priorities at the beginning of each day.
3. MANAGE YOUR TIME WELL.
Schedule quiet time at work to accomplish tasks that need extra concentration. Do your most challenging work when your energy is at its highest; save less demanding work for other times. If you tend to procrastinate, focus on the sense of accomplishment you’ll feel when the job is done. Use commute time to plan your day’s activities.
4. USE CALENDARS AND PLANNERS.
Check your work calendar daily to review your activities and avoid conflicts. Write down all commitments in pencil rather than trusting your memory. Use planning and scheduling forms and software to help you map out long-term projects.
5. DELEGATE TASKS.
Assign tasks to others when the task is not on your level of expertise. Provide adequate training and feedback on assigned projects.
6. MANAGE YOUR MAIL AND PHONE CALLS.
Sort incoming mail into categories by priority or action. Use voice mail to screen phone calls.
7. REDUCE CLUTTER.
Clear your workspace. Keep only the most critical items and information you need daily on the top of your desk. Archive resource materials you rarely use. Toss out duplicate information and materials that will soon be outdated. Leave blank space on bookshelves for growth.
8. STAY ORGANIZED.
Organize files by priority and keep the most important ones within arm’s reach. Spend 15 minutes at the end of each day clearing your desk and 15 minutes the next morning planning for your day’s activities. Review items one through seven on this list.

You can find this list in its original context at: http://www.cignabehavioral.com/web/basicsite/consumer/educationAndResourceCenter/articleLibrary/focus_work9.pdf

Add a little flare to your files!