One Kind Act Using New Technologies

Don't Isolate Our Seniors.

It occurred to me after I wrote a blog about not isolating our seniors that the very thing that isolates our seniors could be turned into a kind act. Why not use the new technologies to help them. Consider a talking book club for seniors.

My experience with talking book machines began as a volunteer  The Library for the Blind Regional office in the city where I lived. My employer was the Southern Bell Telephone Company. Its employee service organization is the Telephone Pioneers of America who are known for their outstanding services in the communities in America. The Telephone Pioneers repair the talking book machines and record many of the books for the US Library for the Blind. Books in large print, braille and audio books are available on loan and free shipping.

Over The years the digital talking books have appeared for a new and easier way to read a book. Many local libraries have the digital talking books in which they loan. They may even have the talking book instruments on loan.

Why not start a Digital Talking Book Club for seniors. Meetings could be in a local library by arranging time and space. Local Senior Centers would love to have a new activity for its members. A neighborhood meeting space would be good. After all it would be for seniors who need activities and interactions with others. An assisted living facility could let their clients here new books just published or perhaps some of their old favorites. How wonderful it would be to hear them discuss "The Help"!

It would be a wonderful experience for everyone:the book leader who does not have access to a book club; The senior who can't see well; the nursing home patient who needs more than medical care; and the housewife who needs to interact.

How to get started?

* Contact your local library for the availability of talking books.
* Contact local Senior Centers for space and time. Also, contact assisted
    living facilities for interest time and space.
* Contact any known local book clubs for volunteers to lead a book club.
   Librarians and library volunteers could be available. Teachers would be
   another good source.
* Find companies who would donate audio books and equipment to play
   them. Some local libraries have both. Many companies have a volunteer
   program to help subsidize programs for the seniors.
* Contact companies who manufacture audio books and equipment.

  Using new techies will brighten a seniors world by staying connected.

Networking Not New

Every time I hear the word networking I think about my mother. Way before the computer was introduced to the world and even before the Business Networking Groups were formed she knew how to network. We would always take a walk downtown, look through a few stores, then sit on a park bench to do a little people watching. It was our exercise and entertainment. Yes, it was before we had television or a phone. My mother loved people and she loved to talk. She was known for her friendliness and her big beautiful smiling brown eyes. She never met a stranger.

One incident I remember very vividly was her conversation with a new resident in town.I new she was new because my mother didn't know her.
The woman sat down on the very end of the bench and just looked up and down the street as though she needed help. My mother asked the woman if she was new in town. She also ask her if she was interested in any particular store or item. By the end of the conversation my mother had recommended a grocery store, where to buy the fresh eggs, the best department store, and the woman's church of worship. And of course, she recommended my Dad, the carpenter.

What brought this method of networking back to me? It was the networking business event where you shake the hand, exchange a business card as you work the room with a drink in one hand and a plate full of calories in the other. It was the new power networking at the time.It went viral and considered innovative. You dressed up, spent a couple of hours at the event and brought home a hand full of business cards. What did you do with them?

What has happened to the interaction and building trust and respect. These are the people we actually do business with and gain them as a customer. Recommendations from a friend who has used the service you need is likely the business you try. Your friends will also benefit from your experiences.You don't have to deal with those business cards of those businesses you will probably never need.

There are still needs of social interaction to build a business or organization. Join and organization that meets and shares ideas, people who are like minded and help you grow. Use your social media to connect and engage. It gives you a chance to connect and engage building trust and respect. It still takes my mother's old fashion networking to build trust and respect. It takes interaction on social media to build trust and respect. It takes the creative ideas of a group sharing ideas and interaction to help realize the greatest reward of networking- a business or organization built on trust and respect.

Boo The Black Cat

The very black cat named Boo that you see in the photo was a subject of a conversation I had with a lady at a bingo party. I had just met her as she sat down beside me. We exchanged our greetings, introduced ourselves, and began to discuss hobbies we liked to do since our retirement. I explained to her I loved art. It was then I described my studies of colored pencils.

She immediately told me about her best friend losing her pet cat. The friend was so lonely and lost without her Boo! She took a picture of Boo from her purse. She told me she had taken the picture of the cat sitting in the front window of her friend's retirement apartment. Do you think you could do a portrait of the cat so I can cheer her up a little?

The question stunned me. I had never done a portrait of people or animals and, of course being considered a beginner in the medium.The thought of this woman wanting to help her grieving friend made me say : "okay, I will take the picture and try" So that I did! I tried and I tried, in colored pencils to do a black cat that showed a little hint of color. It took about twenty layers of color built up to come up with the portrait.To me it was a lesson in art and sharing it with another. I matted the picture so all the friend had to do was place it in a fame of her choice. I also made prints of the picture on note cards for her.

I gave the lady at bingo the picture and the note cards. She was so excited and wanted to pay me. I said no fee. I had so much fun working on Boo that I couldn't charge for helping her to bighten her friends day. She asked for my address and I gave it to her. Two weeks later, I received a thank you note telling me how much the portrait meant to her. Her Boo is with her through the picture.

Even though I never met the woman, I feel that I know her and will always be grateful for the opportunity to "share my joy of painting" with someone. With Halloween coming soon I will place my copy of Boo on my coffee table,

Make The Most Of What You Have

Make The Most Of What We Have.

The packed boxes in my garage have been sitting there for a while-a couple of years in fact. I came to realize they were not essential items I needed for everyday living. So why are the boxes still there? Are they items I couldn't part with because they tugged at my heart strings ? So on a rainy day recently my daughter helped me unpack them. It was then the thought hit me-here are items I no longer use. They are on good shape so why not let others benefit from my treasures.

For example:Two boxes were full of award plaques, given to me over the years for my various services. In fact, there were too many to hang in my little/library office. So should they remain in boxes as they had been in my former home? My daughter suggested removing the engraved plates from their wooden backs. She suggested donating the wooden backs to youth sports organizations. It would cut the cost of complete new awards. This would enable the organizations to award a youngster in his or her sport at a time when they need help in building character in our youth.

One box contained pencils, colored pencils, crayons, scissors, craft brushes
and many items left from my crafting days-all in good condition. I use to make table decorations for banquets.Here again my daughter reminded me of some one's needs. Now a school will get a gift to help fill the shelves of supplies for the teacher to reach all of her students.

The unpacking experience has taught me a new way of "being green". Creativity with matching items to needs and causes can help someone along the way. Furniture, bedding, nick-knacks in good condition are all items that a person might need for a better life. A dress from the "Clothes Closet" may give a woman re-entering the workforce the confidence to go for a job interview. Even the clipping the box tops for school education is a start.

May we make the most of what we have.

Be True To Yourself

What a glaring, knock out message it was when I read" Who has been doing your tweets for the last couple of days? It doesn't sound like you". Oh, my! What did I do differently. Will make a check list.

I used my 10 free Buffer tweets for automatic disbursement. My followers have increased and I wanted to say thank you in addition to pressing the follow button. I did a few shameless plugs for my little art business. Most people do that now and then. I promoted Profastpitch Softball because I love the game. People like to share with what they love. I support and re tweet others as well, promoting them and their websites. Used my "old saying: Grandma says: which matches my vintage soul where I can truly say
I am true to myself and my name. Ah ha!- that's it! I started adapting to what others are saying and doing!...Check

What is wrong with that? If you copy someone else, lesson learned. It is not you! If you take their message, learn from it and be creative in your own style and thoughts you will succeed. So I will go back to Twitter 101 and do some lessons on personal branding....Check

What I want to say-be creative and make messages interesting for others to like and share. Make it match the experience you want people to have. Be true to yourself. Does it match your personality?...Check

From Mari Smith, I learned the importance of my name-GrandmaOnDeck-which I chose for my brand name. The name is a true match for my love of fastpitch softball and the love for old sayings I heard from my grandparents and parents. They showcase my message Mari expressed: "the experience I want readers to have. She also said: A Brand of You! It's all in the future"...Check

Reality check time:

Devote time and energy.

Develop what you want to say.

Develop a list of those I want to engage

Don't be intimidated by others writings. Work on writing skills.

Build  my brand with my name, thoughts and experiences.

Be proud to say" I did it my way".

Do You Have A Dream Team?

The question is not new but one relevant to each and every organization. It must be answered by the businesses, services, and non profit industries a like.
Take a look at your organization.

Does each member participate in some way to the team? It takes them all to work toward the goals of the organization, Are they called upon for their expertise-their best skills? In order for the team to be successful each task should be match with the person's best skills for the job at hand. The Television show Apprentice is a good example. Each week the two team's success depends on each ones contribution to the task. For example; you don't trust your advertisement with a person who has no computer skills or graphic art design or even where to advertise.

Another important point the show brings out is the ability to collaborate and get along. It has been quoted in many articles on business that 90% of success is attributed to getting along with people. Each team member must be responsible for their responsibility,accountability, integrity, sportsmanship, and teamwork for any success. Mike Kryzewski, Head Coach of the 2102 Men's Olympic Basketball Team was interviewed on NBC right after their gold medal ceremony.He was asked how he chose the ones he did for the "Dream Team" There are many highly skilled , successful basketball players in the NBA. It was a hard choice. The one thing he said he look for was "Is he a team player. Did he play for himself or for the betterment of the team-backing each other up. Does your team work together as a team to achieve success for the task at hand? Do you have an unselfish desire for each team member to participate and share the success.

You can readily see the word sportsmanship pop into this discussion. For example, a good sports person respects teammates equally. He is responsible for his actions. He is responsible for being prepared and equipped to speak with authority. He is accountable and doesn't blame others. I added integrity . He asks for suggestions and advice when he needs it. He also provides honest opinions. The qualities of sportsmanship are the same whether it is on the playing field or in the board room. These qualities can boost morale, promote teamwork, lend to positive thinking which will provides good honest solutions.

Fastpitch Softball-Not A Simple Game.

After reading a statement on the internet declaring softball as a simple game, I had to write my thoughts. In support of the National Profastpitch Softball League; and, to promote equality for women in their chosen field, I must support their qualifications.

Softball is a sport that a lot of people take for granted. It is not a simple game. There is a great deal strategy and concentration. You can not walk out onto the field and do as well as experiencxed players. The more experienced you are the better you do. That is a given. What most people do not understand is the amount of concentration you have to have for a ball coming at your head going 65 to 70 miles per hour is no joke.

The game takes skill, talent and the love for the game. It requires speed on the bases. It takes mental fitness and concentration to hit a ball 70 mile per hour. Smart strategies, smart plays. smart hitting and smart base running all come into play. Then there is the speed in the outfield to run down the soaring balls and accurate throwing to make the outs. Infielders, are in the hot spots fielding hard hit balls, ones that comeback as fast as they were pitched. They show great glove work. The pitcher and catcher working in tandem and being accoutable for their play.

The game takes talent, skills, mental and physical fitness, and love for the game. When you watch a Profastpitch game you will see highly skilled players who are physically and mentally fit. They are very well educated
women. They play with heart and love for the game. These players are mothers, teacher's coaches, business women and play in their chosen sport.