If I can make this it will be nearly as good as appearing on the Rachel Maddow show.
United Way
The United Way of Douglas County Board announced the following community goals that United Way will be targeting beginning in 2012.
- Children and teens are successful in school.
- People of all ages have access to health care (mental, physical).
- People have steady jobs and financial stability.
United Way is best known for annually inviting the community to invest in community solutions. As issues continue to grow, United Way is working to adapt to a vibrant community with dynamic needs. We are looking at needs and determining future funding based on a community-wide lens that relies on several different components. The United Way Board of Directors identified these goals utilizing several informational tools to create a comprehensive picture of current community interests. This included a survey which gathered a broad perspective on community priorities, focus groups for a more in-depth analysis of those priorities and community data focused around health, education, and self sufficiency.
The identification of community outcomes within these goals is another step in a two-year transition process. Throughout the late winter and spring of 2011, United Way will be working with community partners and issue experts to identify strategies to address outcomes. “No one organization or strategy will achieve these outcomes, but by mobilizing community resources and building partnerships, which is United Way’s mission, we think we can make progress on Douglas County’s most pressing community issues,,” said Erika Dvorske, President/CEO.
Creating a Gift Closet - Saving Money on Gift-Giving Throughout the Year
Gift giving can be one of those activities that really eats into your budget, especially this time of year. But by planning ahead and purchasing things on sale or clearance, you can save some serious money. A gift closet, or some other dedicated location for gathering all of your gift items, can be an excellent way to stay organized and allow you to give gifts without busting your budget.
First, use a simple calendar to track all of your gift-giving information. This does not have to be a fancy, expensive, or electronic calendar. Use whatever you have. You can even make a calendar on your computer and print it out if that's easiest for you.
To use the calendar method, write down all of the birthdays, holidays, and other gift-giving events that happen throughout the year. Don't forget to include things like teachers' gifts at the end of the school year and any upcoming weddings or baby showers. Also list the names and ages of the recipients. Starting right after Christmas (with the holiday clearance deals), begin scouting for things that you think people will like. This is also a great time to pick up things like wrapping paper, gift bags, and other gift-wrapping items, as well as greeting cards.
The real key to doing this effectively is to find things that aren't necessarily holiday themed (or overly holiday themed) if you are buying post-holiday clearance items. The other key is to have an intention in mind for the item you buy, although some items that you will find will be good general-purpose gifts for those unforeseen events.
When you buy something with an intended recipient in mind, put it in your gift closet with a post-it note with that person's name on it. Also make a note of what you bought for them in your gift calendar. If it's something you think will make a nice gift but don't have an idea of who you will give it to, put it in the gift closet and write it in your calendar (on a separate Notes page perhaps) as a gift that you have available.
It can be especially great to do this on gifts for kids. You will find many toys, fun books, or even clothes that are marked down. When you keep these kinds of items in your gift closet you will always have something on hand for the kids in your life.
Whichever way you choose to store gifts, I do recommend that you have a system in place - otherwise your gift closet can turn into a disorganized nightmare! With a tracking system in place, you are more likely to actually give those gifts away and not have your gift stash turn into just another junk-filled closet.
Our new header
We have changed our header, but what do the photographs signify?
The first photo is of my favorite front door, the grill is original and was to prevent a sword being pushed through.
The second is of the home I was bought up in back in the UK. Called Redcote, it was designed by Sir Earnest George in the late 1800s. There are indications of Edwyn Lutyens’ influence. Lutyens was one of the UK’s principle architects and he worked for George for a short while. Lutyens is famous for designing landed country homes as well as the Cenotaph in London. He went on to design Delhi and my Grandfather worked for him on the Imperial War Graves Commission. The commission designed the huge European war graves after the first war. For the gardeners amongst us Lutyens worked with Gertrude Jeykel who designed many of his gardens and his iconic garden bench.
The middle picture is of me leaning on a garden gate designed by Lutyens.
The house with the Ivy is part of the family home. It is finished in flint. Built around the early part of the 1800s it forms part of the Beechwood estate North of London.
The boat….. Mahogany power boats are my hobby. I have a collection of 7 ranging in age from 1947 to the mid 60s.
