Nonprofit Connectors

Wednesday Tip: Greeting refresher

I saw this timely tip in my December issue of Women Business Owners of Prince George's County.

A Friendly Communication Reminder to Women Business Owners

How many times have you attended an event, only to run into someone whose face you remember but name you couldn't?  What do you do?  Do you call them Honey, Sweetie, Girlfriend, or nothing at all?  Suffice it to say, it's embarrassing.  So let's help each other out.  If we're not wearing a name tag and we've drawn a blank, here's what we can do:

• If you're with someone, tell them this, "If I don't introduce you to the person with whom I'm speaking, introduce yourself",
• Re-introduce yourself and give the other person an opportunity to introduce themselves; or
• Graciously ask for forgiveness and admit you can't remember their name.

Have you ever been on the other side and felt that the person you're talking with doesn't remember you?

• Do not say, "You probably don't remember me." (You're right they don't, that's why we're writing this).  Just say, "Hi, I'm Jane.  My company is XYZ.  It's good to see you."  (Make conversation). 

We all have full plates.  It's the overload factor.  We are trying to remember the laundry list of things we have to do to keep the business going.  We don't need one more thing to add stress.

Let's start practicing now so we'll be flawless in 2010!

 -Doris McMillon, Sponsorship Director

Give until it feels good

I love this time of year because it is ideal for someone with my condition – the giving condition.

I have always enjoyed showering my friends, family, and even complete strangers with random acts of kindness. Just a few days ago I had the double pleasure of treating my mom to some delicious ice cream, and then blowing away the stand worker with a tip toward her “Tips for College” fund. These things are great for the getter, but are absolutely awesome for me. I must admit that I do them a little selfishly. I love seeing the look on people’s faces when I surprise them with an act of giving.

The Holiday season is usually the time we take to do outward expressions of kindness. And, I’m going to highly advocate that you do. Nonprofits are hurting during this economic crunch time. Reach outside of your family and friends and give to a charitable organization this year. Consider donating time and things, but mostly money as that is what they really need. They need our $5 here and there. Because as you know with pennies, they add up!

So, if you want to find a charitable organization to give to, or check on the credibility of one, here are a few resources: Better Business Bureau, Guide Star, and American Institute of Philanthropy. Then you can consider making giving a family or group event. Gather your best friends, and suggest that you give to a charitable organization instead of exchanging Christmas presents this year!

 

The haunted town I love

I lost my heart to Savannah! I can’t remember going anywhere and feeling more comfortable. I didn’t feel like a stranger in Savannah, and yet it was my very first time ever setting foot in Georgia. One thing I learned about me, while I’m from the District of Columbia, I’m definitely not a southern girl; I’m city through and through.

Savannah is a quaint place full of ghosts. Every house tells a tale of a haunting, or the prevention of such a thing. There’s one house that is said to have been mailed ordered, and was assembled with every single window installed upside down (see picture). This was done to ward off evil spirits.

I took the trolley tour around town several times, and spent hours hearing different renditions regarding the same historical sites. Each trolley driver had their own unique way of telling a story. The St. Patrick’s Day was my favorite. One driver said, “The St. Patrick’s Day parade is the second in the country to New York. Everything in Savannah turns green: the river, the water fountains, the beer, and the next day the faces of the people turn green.”

The food in Savannah was by far the best I ever had! I ate at the Olde Pink House, Lady and Sons, and I cooked my favorite meal at the 700 Kitchen Cooking School. We made Low Country cuisine, and it was further proof that I’m not a southern girl. Every other dish started with biscuits and grits both yuck in my personal opinion. Yet, when in the South one must try it out. So, I ate enough (a very little) to at least be able to say that I tried them. I know my former mean coach would’ve been proud of me!

However, I do love fried green "tamadas"!

In search of Junior’s cheesecake

A few weekends ago Ryan and I drove to New York City to visit Noel and Sonja Chevere who were there from California to visit family.  So, in essence we imposed on their family time for the weekend, and I don’t reject a moment.  

Noel, my friend I used to like, walked me through the streets of New York City until my legs were about to fall off. I still look at the map to trace all of our steps and it amazes me that while we were walking for hours, we only walked a couple miles at the most a day. I experienced the New York subway, did all the touristy things: Time Square, Ground Zero, Rockefeller Center, just to name a few.   

My most memorable stop was to Grand Central Terminal, affectionately known to me as the place where the animals emerged in the movie Madagascar. I was in awe at this beautiful train station. I marveled at the clock in the center, and the stairs that came up from every direction, and the beautiful chandelier in the station; things that seemed out of place in a train station, but yet completely fit in here with the hurry and bustle. 

Anyway, we rushed to the Grand Central Terminal because it was the closest place to where we were, in Greenwich Village, to get Junior’s cheesecake. Now, let’s talk a little about cheesecake, you have cheesecake, you have Jello like stuff they call cheesecake, and then you have CHEESECAKE. I mean baked, creamy, stick to the fork, cheesecake. Oh my! I wasn’t disappointed with Junior’s at all. As a matter of fact, I was delighted to hear that they ship cheesecake, as it was absolutely worth all the trouble we went through to get it.

Next time you're in New York, please stop and have some Junior's cheesecake. And be sure to let me know what you think. Next month, I'm in search of a Philly steak n' cheese!

The Wilderness with Nieces

Every summer for a week, I take my mom and two youngest nieces to the Wilderness Presidential Resort for a summer get-away. We stay in a trailer, grocery shop every day, swim, eat out every night, and just have a great time. It is fun, but not very relaxing as there is ALWAYS something to do.

This year is the first one where I’ve been completely disconnected from the internet. The Wilderness is isolated as cell reception isn’t the best, and the only wifi is at the reservation lodge at the very entrance of the park. There’s absolutely no opportunity for someone like me with two busy little girls and one impatient mom to stop playing and check FB, Twitter, and god forbid check email.

Also, this year we tried something new, we did activities off property. The most memorable for my nieces may have been the lunch theatre performance of The Little Mermaid. However, for me and my mom, it was the Trolley Tour of downtown Fredericksburg, VA. My mom was completely fascinated by the civil war history as told by our trolley tour guide. He showed us battle scenes that have lived over the course of 140 some years. It was absolutely overwhelming to hear stories about actual battles, and to walk through the battlefields where men gave their lives in a war that nearly divided the country.

It gave me a new appreciation and deepened my fascination with this horrific war fought, in part, to afford me the freedom I have today. It amazed me to see a slave auction block still standing in the central part of town. Would you allow your child to play on this?

So, while we are a united nation there will always be signs of our divisions.

The saddest sight I’ve ever seen

One of my favorite poems from childhood is by John Greenleaf Whittier is an excerpt from "Maud Muller" The Saddest Words.

...of all sad words of tongue or pen,

The saddest are these: “It might have been!”

I’m sure you have had some moment of regret in your life. You look back at a situation and wonder how you could have done it better, differently, or perhaps you shouldn’t have done it all. Then you utter these words to yourself.

Well, I have those same feelings every time an ice cream truck comes into my neighborhood. I can hear the music from miles away. As the truck gets closer, and the little jingle gets louder, my mouth starts to water, and then the truck is turning the corner onto my street. The saddest thing, I usually never have a dollar nearby, and am forced to watch the ice cream truck go by.

Yet, I’m saved by not adding the calories, or fat, to my diet by not having that delicious ice cream. So, there really is a silver lining behind every cloud!