ensure isn't just for old people

Today:  I was stocking the fridge in the break room at work with some Ensure.  One of my co-workers asked me if I was getting ready to celebrate my 80th birthday.  Unfortunately, no. I had to explain that I have a health condition and sometimes this is the only thing my stomach can take.  It's nice to be able to leave some here so I don't have to carry them back and forth all the time.

we're awesome airlines

I just paid $25 to check my bag....I am annoyed. delta can stick that in their baggage compartment. And so can all other airlines.  I do not fly as often as possible for the reason that it is a huge rip off to have to pay to check a bag. Airlines are a joke. Will they really start charging for Carry-on now too?

I should just come up with my own airline. It will be called we're awesome airlines because we will be awesome. No bag fees. Check what you want, carry on what you like. No assigned seats and no cattle call. Normal size snacks, and more than 4oz of tomato juice.  And complimentary. Why? Because we're awesome airlines!

Palouse Cares Food Drive After Action

Palouse Cares Food Drive - Saturday, December 1, 2012

Thousands of Volunteers gathered at 9am in 7 communities with one goal - collect as much food as possible for local food banks in just a couple of hours. Several communities also hosted silent auctions.

The food drive was covered ahead of time on Inland Northwest News Radio Stations and also had commercials on KLEW TV and Inland Northwest Broadcasting Stations. In addition to post coverage on KLEW TV and in the Moscow-Pullman Daily News, our effort in Colfax also earned coverage in the Whitman County Gazette.

In Colfax, 50 volunteers collected 1,850 pounds of food going door-to-door, and earned $2,300 overall with financial donations, silent auction proceeds, and a contribution of $500 in gift cards to Rosauers from Palouse Cares.

We presented the to-be-collected proceeds to the Colfax Food Bank at the Lighted Christmas Parade on Thursday, December 6.

The overall effort of Palouse Cares raised $25,000 in contributions and silent and live auction proceeds and 38,000 pounds of food by going door-to-door with the help of thousands of Volunteers.

In Colfax, I have to recognize the gracious time and effort given of the following families who volunteered that day:

• Kelley Messinger
• Jacqueline Miller
• Tim Miller
• Sam Oien
• Len Mathina
• Joe Nelson
• Keelyn Nelson
• Bailey Short
• Betina Workman
• Ken, Eden, Oakley, Ivy & Georgia Workman
• Darian & Jadyn Manfredda
• Terry & Beth Asbjornson
• Mark, Kendall and Kailee Clinton
• Sam Dailey
• Kirby Dailey
• Ysabeaux Ng
• Ben Brison
• Tracy and Joe Solis
• Bruce Heiner
• Aleta Heiner
• James Heiner
• John Langston
• Chris Davis
• Anne Marie Davis
• Bob Krikac
• Darrell Nastasi
• Gary Martin
• Janet Nastasi
• Cathy Martin
• Don Kocb
• Dillen Livingston
• Francisco Aguilar
• Amy from Colfax Subway
• Gail Webster
• Suzy McNeilly
• Jim Berdal
• Santa Claus
• Kathy Clark
• Sabrina Kennedy and Family
• The Employees at Rosauers
• and many others

I am also so incredibly grateful to the businesses, individuals and organizations who made special contributions to make our success in Colfax possible, who have not already been mentioned: 

• Colfax Les Schwab
• Kathy Mayer
• Debbie Glass
• The Employees at Whitman Hospital
• Holly and the Employees at Colfax Arbys and Taco Time
• Brian at Cougar Food Mart
• Rick Minard and Don Frei with Palouse Cares
• Jon Carson and Greg Meyer
• Kimberly at Best Western Wheatland Inn
• JoReen Brinkman, Colfax Subway
• Tick Clock Drug and Gifts
• Flowers and More 
• Events on Main
• Colfax Grange
• Palouse Brand 
• Pete and Kandis at Top Notch Cafe 
• WSU Athletics Marketing
• Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
• Barry at Colfax Ace Hardware
• Lube Plus
• Shawn McAddams at Colfax Rosauers
• Mark Clinton
• Colfax Rotary
• Sam Dial Jewelers
• Huber Action Freight
• and many others

Donors also included: 

• Daniel and Jennifer Wood
• Colfax Thrifty Grandmothers
• Sally Ousley
• Charli Hochsprung
• Jennifer Booker
• Jim Berdal
• Diane Monson
• Jane Roberts
• Joel Hurley
• Whitney Mueller 
• Gail Webster
• Suzy McNeilly
• and many other cash contributors!

We are so grateful for your help and we look forward to working with you again next year!  We are told the Colfax Food Bank will use all of what we raised by Christmas.  So please give as much as you can, and give often.  Merry Christmas! 

Whitney Mueller

O Christmas, Tree

It is amazing how adding a Christmas Tree (From Wal-Mart Pullman) to our home makes it finally feel like Christmas inside and out.  

We started with a fake, 6.5 foot pre-lit tree. Added red tinsel garland. Topped with an angel.  Red and Silver sparkly ornaments and Red and Silver ball ornaments. not to mention, candy canes, my favorite.  Next year - star wire garland and bows.  And MORE ornaments. 

We were going to do just the outside this year, and I couldn't resist. It's been literally five years since I've decorated a Christmas Tree.  A wreath and our garland on the outside looks great, but it didn't bring the Christmas spirit inside quite like the tree did. 

All three of these pictures I must credit to my Super Husband to Be, Francisco.  This last one is the view from our open door to the neighbors across the street.  Every one is getting in to the Christmas Spirit.

I will digress that I finally opened one of my Christmas Gifts from Last year - a bottle of Peppermint Schnapps. That will tell you how much we drink around here.  And I must say that little pour of minty goodness in my hot chocolate was the perfect way to celebrate a job well done, here at home, and yesterday morning. . .

The Palouse Cares Food Drive in Colfax was a huge success.  I'm waiting on numbers from the other communities.  But here in town we did:  1800 pounds of food (in 3 hours).  Plus at least $1800 in fundraising from our efforts minimum when all is said and done.  Now that  tops off the warm and cozy Christmas feeling at our house as we reflect on the weekend and look forward to the coming week.

Palouse Cares - 4 days away

Saturday, December 1st is the biggest single-day food drive on the Palouse.

Volunteers in communities around the area will meet for a door-to-door food drive with one goal:

Collect as much food as possible for local food banks.

In addition to collecting food and cash donations, there are also silent auctions in Colfax, Pullman, and Moscow. Check out the lists online at www.PalouseCares.org.

World-Class Entertainment in my backyard

As a long-time sponsor and personal fan of Festival Dance, I encourage you to purchase tickets for the Shangri-La Chinese Acrobats, this Sunday at 3pm at Beasley Coliseum.  Or, please spread the word to a friend who you know would enjoy this experience.  Call Festival Dance and save $2/ticket – (208) 883-3267.  Your ticket helps benefit the continuation of Festival Dance programs which emphasize Diversity, Accessibility, Nurturing local talent, Community involvement and artistic Excellence. 

I appreciate your consideration to help spread the word about this world-class event happening on Sunday.  Check out the email invitation below and watch a video preview! 

Thank you for your consideration! 

Upcoming LCSC SBDC Workshops!

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Business Websites Cost:  $40 per workshop Location:  LCSC Campus, Sam Glenn Complex Room 122 When: Mondays from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM 1. Website Basics, Purpose & Design Websites can be economical to build and operate and even be less expensive to maintain than the cost to advertise in Yellow Pages.  You know you should have a website but maybe you are not sure where to begin.  This workshop will get you started.  Learn what good websites look like, elements they contain, and pitfalls to avoid.  This workshop includes an eCommerce course book for you to refer to. Instructor:  Ben Troka Date:  October 22, 2012 2. Website Construction Learn basic steps and terminology to get your website online and how to obtain a web domain.  What to look for in software and host sites will be covered.  Determine who should build and update your website.  We will also look into how much it all costs.  Load your material into the software.  Customize your own page. Instructor:  Tedi Roach, MS, SPHR Date:  October 29, 2012 3.  Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Search Engine Optimization is how your great website gets found by internet searchers.  Learn how search engines work and how elements of your website affect the results.  This workshop will cover analyzing Keywords, Titles, Tags, Meta Descriptions, Content Development, Links, Headings, and Site Maps.  Use the WebBuilder software to locate these tools for your website.  This is an essential class if you want more potential customers finding your website. Instructor:  Mark Williams Date:  November 05, 2012 4.  Social Media for Your Business This workshop will help you understand what is likeable and what is not.  Why, how, and when to use Facebook to help your potential customers find you or even your webpage.  Link to Google Places.  LinkedIn shouldn't be missed.  Working with blogs, ratings, comments, discussions, and events. Instructor:  Keri Wilson Date:  November 12, 2012 Employee Management    Hiring the right people for the right positions is a big challenge.  Add management of payroll taxes, withholding requirements, and legal ramifications and you will want to attend this workshop before you add employees. Cost:  $30 Location:  LCSC Campus, Sam Glenn Complex Room 229 When:  Wednesday, October 24, 2012 from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM Instructor:  Tedi Roach, MS, SPHR Key Financial Reports & Decisions Making profitable business decisions can depend on understanding key financial reports.  This workshop starts with setting up your bookkeeping system and helps you to understand the three key financial reports:  break even analysis, reducing taxes, and what lenders want to see.  In the afternoon, you will learn to determine if you are headed in the right direction by reviewing the complexities regarding your team, business structures, risks, regulations, records, taxes, credit, and capital. Cost:  $30 Location:  Orofino Outreach Center When:  Friday, October 26, 2012 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM Instructor:  Barbara Leachman Leadership Managing & Motivating Front Line Employees This interactive workshop is designed for managers and owners working with our younger generations.  Learn about the challenges others have faced and how they have found success.  Finding the right rewards and communication strategies may reduce your turnover training expenses. Cost:  $30 Location:  LCSC Campus, Sam Glenn Complex Room 229 When:  Thursday, November 08, 2012 from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM Instructors:  Mark Whitinger and Barbara Leachman   Registration You can register online atwww.idahosbdc.org or call 208.792.2465 Charlie Sherman, ISBDC Program Assistant 500 8th Avenue, Lewiston, ID 208.792.2465 Stay Connected The Idaho Small Business Development Center (Idaho SBDC) is partially funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration.  It operates in partnership with the SBA, Boise State University, and other funding sources.  The support given by SBA through such funding does not constitute an expressed or implied endorsement of the co-sponsor's or participant's opininions, products or services.  All programs are offered on a nondiscrimination basis.  Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made, if requested at least two weeks in advance.  Contact Charlie Sherman, 208.792.2465.

Forward this email

Just not that in to You

http://www.tlnt.com/2012/10/10/heres-why-your-employees-are-just-not-that-into-you/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=linkedin&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+tlnt+%28TLNT%3A+The+Business+of+HR%29&goback=%2Egde_35258_member_173905848

Here's why Your employees are just not that in to you:

#3 You don't give employees a reason to care about contributing
"Employees get worn out from a culture of mediocrity being tolerated, commitments not being kept, and feedback and requests being ignored"

#6 Bad Behavior and Poor Performance go Unchallenged
Dysfunctional and disrespectful behavior, unchallenged, poisons the work environment.  It damages morale, productivity, customer service quality, and it damages Respect for Management.
Allowing poor and mediocre performance drives out Top Performers.
Bad apples should be expelled from the bunch.

#7 Employees feel Unappreciated
When the sacrifices they make, the extra effort they put in, and the great job they do is taken for granted, they learn what they do does not matter.
They stop feeling like it matters.

Do They really stop doing the work?
How can You make Employees feel Appreciated?  Have They told You?
How can You keep a Promise, that You Did Not Have The Power To Make!
Are You taking Them for granted?

It's Good to be a Coug

Go Cougs!

Floyd IS a visionary.  I am proud of this President!
Read this article from the Spokesman
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/oct/10/shawn-vestal-floyds-tuition-plan-for-wsu-overdue/


And
WSU College of Business - also my alma mater
45th among Public Universities
from WSU news
http://news.wsu.edu/pages/publications.asp?Action=Detail&PublicationID=33167&TypeID=1


PLUS
FINALLY A NEW MAP!!!!
http://map.wsu.edu/

Gratitude

I'm so thankful for today and every day
where one door shuts, another one always opens

There are so many opportunities
And I am so blessed

I'm grateful for old friends and new
Clients and contacts

There's someone very special who I'm fortunate to work with
and something very special coming
HR HTs on 102.5
starting 11/5 Mondays  7;35 and 8;35

And a Job Shadow too

Still on the high of success with the Radiothon
And looking forward to the After Action

Tomorrow, another day,
it's going to be a great day

Big Cakes and Flowers and More

I'm so excited!  I finally feel like I'm getting things achieved with my wedding.
The pricing options for the cake I think
are going to work for what we want to do.
And we're going to be able to get it right at
our favorite hometown bakery
Rosauers Colfax
3-tiers, Round
Buttercream

Decorated with Flowers
From Flowers and More

We're also working on getting the contract from the Photographer
I like her already
And our deposit is paid on the Videographer, who
is a professional in his field and up and coming star

All great local people
The Dresses are ordered
and we're ready to talk about Thule and picture frames
and candles
and vases

Next....
napkins -
dishes?

NEED to talk to Abbot

Why I still read the newspaper

"Why I Still Read the Newspaper"

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