September 2010 Newsletter

admin — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 12:49:40 +0000

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P.R.O.N.T.O

Personal Records Organizer Newsletter Tips Online

Vol. 8, Issue 11 Publisher: Shirley M. Green

info@proorganizer.com

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IN THIS ISSUE

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1.   Welcome
2.   Recent Events
3.   Featured August Article
      Preparing For Mother Nature 2010

4. Organizing Tips A & A

5. Organizing Tools
6. Affiliate Programs

7. Future Events

8. Important/Interesting Dates

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1. Welcome

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A special welcome to our new subscribers! And welcome
BACK to our longtime subscribers.

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2. Organizing Events & News Items
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Exciting news!!

Last Spring I was interview by Selling Books and I am honored
to say that interview will be posted on their website J
uly 11, 2010. www.sellingbooks.com

This interview is about my ebook Diary of a Lay Caregiver,
which is offered on my website under the PRODUCTS tab.

MORE Exciting news!!

I have added my skills as a Virtual Assistant to assist those who

have down-sized yet need some Administrative Assistant type

duties performed. Over the past few months I have also
helped several folks “revamp” their resumes. So if you are
looking for such assistance or know of someone who is,
please contact me or feel free to share my contact
information.

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3. Preparing For Mother Nature 2010
Featured Article of the Month

“Tis the season”….. Hurricane & Fire Season…and hundreds of

thousands of people are effected every year.

*********FOR THOSE FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN WITH ME
FOR AWHILE—YOU ARE WELL AWARE OF MY PASSION
FOR BEING PREPARED; SO YES, THIS IS A REPEAT, BUT
THERE ARE MANY NEW SUBSCRIBERS WHO HAVE NOT

READ THIS INFORMATION, THUS I REPEAT THIS
VALUABLE INFORMATION*********

September is PREPAREDNESS MONTH….there have been fires
in CA, tornadoes and flooding have hit several areas of the
U.S. this Spring and Summer. Hurricane season started in
June but just really starting to rock n’ roll now. As I type this
newsletter….hurricane Earl is out in the Atlantic and the East
Coast of the U.S., hopefully, is preparing.

Six years ago I was located in the greater Orlando
metropolitan area. Hurricane Charley hit us hard on Friday,
August 13^th. Residents’ along the Gulf coast were evacuated
and many came to the Orlando area for refuge. Then
Charley made a last minute turn, came ashore in the
Punta Gorda area and then tore up Polk County as he

headed over Osceola and Orange counties. Charley

continued on a north-easterly route devastating the areas
around Daytona Beach.

Labor Day weekend hurricane Frances was heading towards
central Florida. Depending on which news station one
listened to or watched, Frances was due to be in the

greater Orlando area anywhere from noon Saturday to
8AM Sunday. What a Labor Day weekend that was!

Not knowing exactly where all the PRONTO subscribers reside;

I want to devote a lot of time this month on preparing for
such a disaster. L-O-N-G before a disaster is thought, once

the disaster is a true possibility AND the aftermath.

One should always prepare for an evacuation to make that
actual event go as smooth as possible but continue those

optimistic prayers for the best. The family evacuation plan

should be developed LONG before the storm or disaster hits.

In other words—DO IT NOW! Don’t wait! Do it while everyone

Involved is under a relaxed manner, minds are thinking

rationally, there is plenty of time to locate a “designated

single-point-of-contact”, evacuation routes can be

determined. The plan can be reviewed and revised in a

calm and logical manner. In other words, the more

organized you are now, the easier you and your loved ones

will tolerate the emergency event.

OK…let’s get started. I cannot address everything in this

newsletter so will address the most important…like anything

in life…let’s start AT THE BEGINNING.

Everyone should have an emergency family plan.

This plan can be utilized for any type emergency,

(i.e.: earthquakes, floods, fires, tornadoes, blizzards)

What should be in a FAMILY PLAN?

>> Discuss with the entire family the various hazards that

could affect your family. Be well aware of your home
and vehicle’s vulnerability to the storm or hazard.

>> Locate a “safe” room or THE safest area in your home for

each hazard identified in the previous step. In many

circumstances, the safest area(s) may NOT be in your home

BUT within your community.

>> Determine escape routes from your home and places

for loved ones to meet. Keep the mileage just “outside” the

storms expected “initial target” spot, rather than hundreds

of miles away.

>> Designate an out-of-state family or friend as a

“single-point-of-contact” for family members to check in with.

>> Make plans for pets

>> Make certain your pets are well identified with tags. You
might even consider the “chip”

>> Post emergency telephone numbers by the phone,
placing a copy in each person’s wallet/purse. Make
certain that children know how and when to call 9-1-1.

>> Check your insurance policies. Many homeowners
insurance policies do not include flood damage. Beware
that many insurance companies have a “cut off” time for
any changes to policies prior to a major storm season
arriving.

>> Stock up on non-perishable emergency supplies

>> water

>> food

>> blankets

>> pillows

>> clothing

>> first aid kit

>> toiletries/hygiene items

>> flashlight/batteries

>> radio – battery operated

>> cash

>> keys

>> toys, books, games, special stuffed animal

>> important documents (place them in a waterproof
container)

>> tools

>> full gas tank in all vehicles

>> pet care items

>> NOAA weather radio…this is a nationwide network of radio

stations broadcasting continuous weather information direct
from a nearby National Weather Service office.

>> First Aid kit….be certain to include prescription drugs

>> Be certain that you have written down the drug name,

strength, dosage, prescribing Dr., pharmacy
name/number…place this information in a waterproof
container (just in case something happens to the First Aid kit)

>> It is wise to have a copy of the original prescription

Let’s say you had these items together and the disaster is
growing nearer and nearer and the decision is made…do we
stay in our home or do we leave? (if the situation is a
“voluntary evacuation”).

If the situation is at a “mandatory” evacuation status,

PLEASE…DO NOT play “macho” and say “we can stick it out”.

Emergency Preparedness folks study these disasters for a living
and get paid BIG BUCKS for what they do, PLEASE…DO NOT
second guess them!

Make a list of things to take with you if evacuation is
determined, categorize for the following:

>> 24 hour notice

>> 12 hour notice

>> 6 hour notice

>> 2 hour notice

>> 1 hour notice

>> 0 notice

These lists will differ and you really need to give some serious
thought to these lists. Be realistic!

OK, the disaster has passed and you are allowed back into
your residential/business area. You are now astutely aware
of what you wish you would have had recorded and stored
for the disaster you have just experienced. Make some
detailed notes while these thoughts are fresh in your mind.
Place these notes in a secure area. Once the situation has

settled down a bit and life seems a “tad bit more normal” then

start working on the notes you made earlier. In addition, if the

below was NOT part of your notes, you need to incorporate

them into your action plan.

By creating a family plan and setting up an area of your home

to be stocked with non-perishable emergency-need items is an

excellent way to organize and prepare for the non-pre-warn
disaster. In the area with the supplies….replace items
(such as batteries) every 6 months. Rotate the non-perishable

foods out and replace them with fresh items. Go over your
family plan…there may be updates that need to be
documented.

The out-of-state single point of contact is “a must” in any
disaster. So many times a large portion of landline
phone-lines are knocked out and everyone is trying to use

what is still working thus overloading the circuits…not to

mention people who are trying to call into the area from
who knows where in the world. Many times, the landline

phones that are still working are only working on an

“outbound” call format. Then the cell phone situation…more
than likely a lot of the cell-towers have been damaged, thus
restricting call flow. Also, keep in mind…Emergency personal

should be given TOP priority to those cell phone airwaves.
Respect their needs, they ARE trying to help you and your

loved ones!

I want to share with you part of the discussion when the FEMA

representative came to my apartment in the Orlando area. I

shared with him the two products I had created and was in the

process of obtaining the proper paperwork thru the

City/County/State governments so that I could work out of my

apartment. The FEMA representative thought both products

were very valuable but his comments about the

Personal Paper Tracking System were the strongest.

This FEMA representative said “if the folks I have already

seen had had this kit AND completed it, life would be much
easier for them and FEMA right now, not to mention the
Insurance companies”.

With the tornado season starting so early this year, people
are thinking about how they are OR are NOT prepared.
As you sit in the comfort of your home and watch the
devastation caused by such disasters as Katrina, or the
tornadoes and flooding, that have hit VA, CO, IA, KS, NE,

TN, OK, MO; you probably say to yourselves “how terrible, just
look at that”. Let me tell you something, now that I have been
thru 4 hurricanes in 5 weeks, I have a different respect for
Mother Nature. As the old saying goes “it takes a disaster to
bring it to reality” (or something like that)…PLEASE do not let
such a disaster hit you “head on” to make you realize that you
need to prepare. Even with all the preparing I did, it did NOT
stop my life from being turned upside-down and inside-out,
but the preparation I did do…truly was a worthwhile. If I
was not living thru this ugliness on a daily basis…I would not
believe how fast a person’s life can change. Heed the
warnings as best as possible, trust me…you will thank yourself
after-the-fact.

A couple that lived in the apartment building I am in, moved
to Windsor, CO in early 2008. A fierce tornado tore thru
Windsor on Thursday, 22 May 2008. This couple came into the
Denver area for Memorial Day weekend and stopped by.
They sat in the Community room with several of us and
explained how they never thought they would experience
such a storm, the sounds, the devastation and how it was so
sporadic around town. The experience was beyond
belief—how I could relate to what they were saying.

Not only do I have a greater respect for Mother Nature but a
greater respect for the importance of donating and
volunteering. With the current tragedies so much on

everyone’s minds the donations and volunteering are in full
swing everywhere. I fear that in a month or two the rest of the
country is going to go back about their everyday

lives and forget that their donations have run dry and need
to be replenished. Food and clothing banks need to be

replenished continually, PLEASE do not forget this.

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4. Organizing Tips Q&A

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Question #1: from Lucinda

Do you think it is a good idea to photograph items in your
home/business?

Answer from PRO:

Lucinda, thank you for this question; it fits perfectly with
the main topic of PREPARING FOR MOTHER NATURE.

Oh YES…I am a STRONG believer in the still photographs and
videoing your possessions. I would also recommend

taking shots of your home, inside and out, your vehicle, your
business. The photos, along with the inventory documents

should be kept in a secure “off site” location. The more
information you have for “after the fact” the easier your
“to do” list will be. With photos, serial numbers, etc, you
will be able to assist the insurance companies more than the
person who does not have this information…making the entire

process run as smooth as it possibly can under the

circumstances.

If you have the resources, I would definitely recommend both
still and video but if you don’t have both available to you…do
whatever is available. Any amount of documentation is
better than NONE!

Many people ask me what I mean by “off-site” storage.

Off-site storage can be a safety deposit box, it can be

someone else’s home/business. One could even have
a fire-proof safe in their own home/business and place the
information there. However, a tornado or hurricane could

easily pick one of the portable safes up and drop it some

distance away.

Ali, Thank you for this excellent question and I hope this
has helped.

Do you have a specific question you would like me to address

in the newsletter? I can only handle one per month so first

come, first serve. Email your question to
info@proorganizer.com or go to our website
http://www.proorganizer.com and click on
the link in the upper right corner labeled “click here for details”.

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5. Organizing Tools

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Being organized is simply the only way you can adequately

handle and cope with problems – should they happen to you
or any people you know.
I designed two “how-to” kits to help me and others get
organized. I created the Pink Sheet medical organization kit
to ensure proper and efficient medical care of my mother

during the last several years of her life.
I also created the Personal Papers Tracking System to help

individuals, couples, and families organize their household

documents, so they are unconditionally prepared for any

emergency.

Please check these two kits out at
http://www.proorganizer.com We now have these kits totally
accessible online.

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6. Affiliate Programs/Profiled Associates

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Shopping Cart……….

For those of you who have your own small business, I would

like to share with you one of the best shopping carts around.

This Shopping Cart goes way beyond what their competitors

are doing as it automates the entire process, NOT just a

shopping cart but also affiliate program, follow-up

auto-responder program, tracking, pop ups, broadcast,

and other powerful features. This system automates an

Internet business like no other can.

KickStartCart has various levels to choose from. Click on

the link for a free demo…..check it out!

http://www.kickstartcart.com/app/default.asp?PR=31&AFID=34871

The reason I chose this cart is the availability of:

>> Auto responders

>> Technical support is wonderful…both online and via
landline

>> Can start out with the lower level of service and easily

upgrade

>> Easability to add/remove/change product information

>> Can handle products from multiple websites

I spoke directly with one of the top employees of the ”lead”

Shopping cart while at the BIG SEMINAR in San Francisco in

ugust 2003 There are some wonderful tutorials now online.

1ShoppingCart.com is the “lead” shopping cart with affiliate

links…..KickStartCart.com is an affiliate link which I am

registered thru.

Since I have enhanced my personal website….I

will be utilizing more and more auto responders from

KickStartCart As my site grows, as my business grows……

I do NOT have to worry whether my shopping cart will be

compatible. I am already in that comfort zone with this

shopping cart.

I send my newsletter out thru the shopping cart!

>> Other Organizers

My friend Janet Hall is a fabulous diverse person. She is an
Organizing Consultant in addition assertively addressing
energy and health, time, beliefs, dreams and feng shui.
Please check out what Janet has to offer at
http://www.overhall.com. You will NOT be sorry.

>> More “Other” Organizers………

Check out the new site of my friend Ramona Creel. If
the name sounds familiar, yes, this is the Ramona Creel,
former owner of Online Organizing.

Ramona is a wild and crazy gal who I envy for her
newest adventures. I hope you check out her new site

http://RamonaCreel.com.

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7. Future

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>> Ongoing

As I have told many people during and after hurricanes

Katrina and Rita….unless you have actually “experienced”
such an even first hand you have NO REAL concept of what
it is really like. You can sit in the comforts of your home and

watch on television, listen to the radio in the comfort of your
vehicle or watch streaming video from the Internet and say
“how sad, I just can’t imagine” That statement is very truthful

as you can NOT have a real concept at all. I know, before

I was a “victim” of the 2004 Florida hurricanes I used to set in
such comforts, say the same things others would say and then
go about my happy life. Victims of hurricanes, fires,
earthquakes, tsunami’s, etc…CANNOT! Many of us have to
literally start all over. I want to share some wonderful non-profit
organizations with you that are often forgotten during such
devastation. Please remember these and other non-profits.

Identify a cause you would like to support and ask them how

YOU can help, volunteering will make you feel SO good!

>> Make-a-Wish

(I am partial to Make-a-Wish Foundation of Colorado,

http://www.wishcolorado.org since I am in Colorado and

have worked with them in the past)

>> Second Wind Dreams, http://www.secondwind.org

Second Wind Dreams Mission statement is: Through the

fulfillment of dreams and innovative educational programs,

Second Wind Dreams, an international non-profit organization,

enhances the quality of life for those living in Elder Care

Communities and changes the perception of aging.

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8. Important/Interesting Days

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SEPTEMBER

Sept ———- Gynecological Cancer Awareness Month
www.thegcf.org
Sept ——— International Self-Awareness Month
Sept ———- Mold Awareness Month
www.moldfacts.org
Sept ——— National Coupon Month
www.couponmonth.com
Sept ——— National Preparedness Month
www.ready.gov/america
Sept –——— Reunion Planning Month
www.reunionsolutions.com
Sept ——— Shameless Promotion Month
Sept 3 ——- National Lazy Moms Day
www.lazymoms.com
Sept 5 ——- Be Late For Something Day
Sept 5 ——– National Waffle Week
www.wafflehouse.com
Sept 6 ——- Labor Day
Sept 8 ——- New Moon
Sept 12-18 —- National Assisted Living Week
Sept 12 ——– National Grandparents Day
Sept 12 ——- National Hug Your Hound Day
www.dogdoright.com
Set 15 ——- First Quarter Moon
Sept 15 ——– Oct 15 – National Hispanic Heritage Month
Sept 17 —— Citizenship Day
Sept 17 ——- National POW/MIA Recognition Day
Sept 19 ——- International Talk Like a Pirate Day
www.talklikeapirate.com
Sept 19 -25 — Prostate Cancer Awareness Week
www.prostateconditionsorg
Sept 20 -24 – National Love Your Files Week
Sept 21 ——- World Alzeheimer’s Day
www.alz.org
Sept 22 —— National Centenarian’s Day
Sept 23 ——- Full Harvest Moon
Sept 24 —— Hug a Vegetarian Day
www.peta2.com/feat/hug
Sept 25 ——- Fish Amnesty Day
Sept 29 ——- National Women’s Health and Fitness Day
www.fitdessday.com
Sept 30 —— Last Quarter Moon

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PLEASE NOTE: I answer my own email…I do NOT delegate

that to anyone. Keep in mind that if I am “on the road again”,

either at an exhibition or giving my “ROLE-REVERSAL seminar”

my response to an email or phone message may be a tad

delayed. I don’t ever anticipate a delay of more than 3-5 days

(but then I didn’t anticipate the horrendous computer problems

I encountered either—-if there is such a delay…it will be due to

such Uncontrollable and unforeseen problems)

Until we meet again next month, please send any special

questions OR requests that you would like to see

addressed in this newsletter. If you like this newsletter,

please share it with a friend. If you do not like this

newsletter, please email me info@proorganizer.com
and tell me what it is you do not like. It is my goal
to have a very informative and useful newsletter.
Constructive criticism will be warmly welcomed.

Newsletter Archives

September 2010 Newsletter

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