Banner LA Organizer
November/December 2009                                                                                Volume 17, Issue 1
In This Issue
President's Message
NAPO-LA Chapter
Meeting Information
2010 Organizing Awards
2009-2010 Budget Approved
2010 Board Nominations and Leadership Forum
Volunteers Recognized
Welcome New Members
Members in the News
EDC Workshop: Improve Your Computer Skills
Golden Circle
CD Support Group
Forward this issue to a Friend 

Quick Links

Who's Who

 
Board of Directors
 
Chantale Bordonaro, CPO®, CRTS™
310-600-2601

 
Katherine Macey
310-806-2580 




 
Treasurer Nicole D. Ballard
562-235-1908




 
Secretary
Regina Lark
818-400-9592




  
Kathryn Masci
805-300-2876 



661-713-3723


Cynthia A. Smith
310-827-3705




Director of Marketing
Heather Furlong
805-577-8267 



 
Director of Professional Development
Leslie Haber
323-935-9235


Immediate Past President
John Trosko
323-512-7039



Coordinators &
Committee Chairs

 
Educational Development Committee
Jean Furuya
 
Golden Circle   
 
Associate Member Coordinator
associatemembership@
napola.org


Greeter Coordinator
Christie Gelsomino
 
Greeters
Donna Rosman
Sasha Escandon
Kim Rocke
 
Historian
Christie Gelsomino
 
Librarian
Cindy Duffy
 
NAPO in the Schools
Deborah Kawashima
 
Neighborhood Groups
Glendale: Robin Davi
Hollywood: John Trosko
Orange County: Gail Gray
South Bay: Beverly Clower
Inland Empire: Millie Hinkle
Ventura: Kathryn Masci
Westsiders: Toni Scharff

New Member Orientation
Toni Scharff
 
Nominations Committee
John Trosko, Chair
Leslie Haber
Marcy Melton, CPO
Tom Neverman

Photographers 
Sara Getzkin
Donna Rosman
 
Silent Auction
Lenora Thomas

Volunteer Coordinator 

Website Coordinator
Susan Culligan technology@napola.org
 
Webmasters
Heidi Chianta
Susan Eleftherakis
Claire Flannery
Millie Hinkle
Shari Richardson
Kim Rocke
 
Yahoo Group Moderator
Dara Fiss 

Meeting Information

 
Meeting Attendance

September
Expo 2009
40 members, 9 visitors

 
September 
Golden Circle Panel
2 members, 3 visitors

October 2009

39 members, 0 visitors
 

Volunteers

Volunteers of the Month
 
2009
 
October: Erin Haas
September:
Gus Gougas
Barb Schmit
Peter Givens
August: Toni Scharff
July: Donna Rosman
June: Linda
Levine-Quackenbush
May: Cindy Duffy
March: Katherine Macey
February: Robin Davi
 
Volunteers of the Year
 
 2008
Heidi Chianta
 2007
Cary Brazeman
2006 
Claire Flanery &
Kristine Oller
2005
Deborah Kawashima
2004
Laurie Clark & Dee Saar

Associate Members
ClosetFactoryLogo.jpg
Custom Closets 310-516-7000 x224
College Hunks Hauling Junk
818-674-3089

Container Store
napo@containerstore.com
972-538-2264

 EsselteLogo
Office Organization Products
Email Barb Schmit
714-328-7973

 
EZNetLogo
Versatile Storage Products
Email May Lee
   
949-261-5888
 
GarageEnvyLogo
Custom Garage Systems
Email Jaime Dietenhofer
310-205-3590

 
Go Junk Free America
Go Junk Free America!
 800-GO JUNK FREE

MASMovingLogo 
Mas Moving Services
 626-810-9200
 
MoldGuyLogo
 Mold Remediation & Products
818-262-5048

 NorthstarMovingLogo.jpg
Moving & Storage

1-800-275-7767

OrganizitLogo
Custom Garage Systems
Email Gus Gougas
818-232-7683

PoeticLogo.jpg
Creative Storage Solutions
Email Bryan Wataru
 818-321-1905

 ScanDigital
Photo Scanning Services

Email Anderson Schoenrock

888-333-2808

Custom Glide-Out Shelves for Cabinets & Pantries
310-980-4906
 
ClosetSolutionslogo
Onsite or Offsite Storage
Email Peter Given

818-365-3408

 
South Bay Closet Lady
Custom Closet Design
310-699-4240

SteriCleanLogo
Extreme Cleaning Services
Division of Crime Scene
Ster-Clean LLC
Email Tammy Chalmers

888-577-7206

Membership

NAPO National Membership

Annual Dues
:
$200 - Active Member*
$150 - Associate-Branch
$250 - Associate-Local
$550 - Associate-Corporate
  $20 - One-Time Processing Fee


*Provisional member dues are $180 plus a one-time $20 processing fee. You are an active member* if you have completed your provisional membership year, or are a new NAPO member with more than one year of professional organizing experiece.

NAPO National dues can be paid online.
Proof of paid dues is required at time of joining NAPO-LA. NAPO National submits its renewal notices directly to members on their anniversary dates. NAPO-LA annual membership dues are renewed each September. You can also join NAPO-LA online.

NAPO-LA Chapter Membership

Regular Members:
Dues are prorated quarterly by 25%.

$100 - Level 1
Yearly dues and Website Listing in the "Find an Organizer" section of our website.

$165 - Level 2
Yearly dues, all meeting fees (with discount) and Website Listing in the "Find an Organizer" section of our website.
$25 - One-Time Processing Fee
$25 - Lapsed Member Processing Fee


Associate Members:
Dues are prorated quarterly by 25%.
$175 - Branch Associate Member - operates as a local branch or regional office of a Corporate Associate Member
$300 - Local Associate Member - a locally-based, self-operating retailer, supplier, designer, or independent sales representative engaged primarily in the manufacture, distribution, and/or sales of organizational equipment, supplies, or organizing-industry related services.

 
NOTE: All members are required to sign a Code of Ethics as part of their membership.

 
The Los Angeles Organizer

The Los Angeles Organizer
 

ClaireFlannery
Acting Editor
Claire Flannery
 editor@napola.org

Susan Culligan
Acting Publisher
Susan Culligan
publisher@napola.org
 
Newsletter Staff
Beth Ziegler

Proofreaders 
Millie Hinkle
Donna McMillan
Toni Scharff
 
The Los Angeles Organizer is published bimonthly (January, March, May, July, September, November). The newsletter is e-mailed to NAPO-LA members, NAPO national board members, and NAPO chapter presidents, and is available to the public on our website. All contents are copyrighted. All rights reserved.

Submission Guidelines

Articles:
NAPO-LA members are encouraged to contribute to this newsletter. Articles are not to exceed 500 words in length. Submissions must be received by the Editor no later than the 15th of the month preceding the month of publication.  You may send your article as a Microsoft Word file attachment or directly in the body of an email. Photos should be .jpg, 72 dpi, sent with your article. All article topics and content must be approved by the Editor. Submit editorial to editor@napola.org

Advertising: Ads must be received by the 20th of the month preceding the month of publication. There are two types of ads available.

Web site Link: This is a small ad containing a link to your website, located in the left side column of the newsletter. The ad can be your logo, a photo, or a short message. Format: .jpg, 72 dpi, 125 pixels w x 100 h.
$25 NAPO-LA Members
$35 Non NAPO-LA Members


Full Ad:  This is a large block located at the end of our newsletter. Should provide details about your company or service, along with a logo and/or photo. See current newsletter for examples. Format: Submit ad copy (100 words max) as a Word document or email, and no more than one logo and one photo as .jpg, 72 dpi.
$35 NAPO-LA Members
$45 Non NAPO-LA Members

Submit ads to editor@napola.org

NAPO-LA CALENDAR


November 2009
  23 Board Meeting 2:45pm
  23 Chapter Meeting 6:15pm

January 2010
   9 NAPO Westsiders Neighborhood Group 1pm
  12 CD Support Group 6pm
  14 NAPO South Bay Neighborhood Group 6pm
  16 Golden Circle Winter Meeting
  17 NAPO Hollywood Neighborhood Group
  18 New Member Orientation 3:30pm
  18 Fourth Annual Leadership Forum
  24 NAPO Orange County Neighborhood Group 1pm
  30 Los Angeles Organizing Awards
  31 Los Angeles Organizing Awards Brunch
 
February 2010
  27 Educational Development Workshop 9am
President's Message
Chantale B1by Chantale Bordonaro, CPO®, CRTS™
Simplicity Source
NAPO-LA President



We have much to celebrate and be thankful for this month, for it is now a well-known fact that organization is (almost) for everyone!

Organization changes everything and makes life easier. When you are able to focus on what really matters to you, you can live a more fulfilling personal and professional life.

We, as Professional Organizers, know that. Our family, clients and close friends know that. The rest of the world is now getting it. The Girl Scouts now have an "Organized for Life" badge. Every week I see another show that raises the awareness of being organized. Children's television shows like "Mickey Mouse" and "Lazy Town" teach kids not only how to be organized but how to stay organized. Shows like "Hoarders" and "Obsessed" significantly raise the awareness of a very serious part of our work with chronic disorganization. Even Kate, from "Kate Plus 8," showed the world that an organized person can really benefit from bringing in organizers from time to time.

As Professional Organizers we can celebrate that our work is now widely accepted and recommended. We can be thankful that our community (NAPO and NAPO-LA) is strong and well.
 
With that in mind, I hope you will take a few minutes to cast your vote for the nominees of the upcoming 5th Annual Los Angeles Organizing Awards. These fine individuals and organizations support us by giving us the tools, the knowledge, and the exposure that we as a community deserve. Voting is open to December 15. Click here to vote right now.

And why not take an additional minute to mark your calendars for the glamorous Awards night to be held on January 30? I hope to see you there to celebrate and support our industry.

Safe and happy holidays to all of you.

NAPO-LA Chapter Meeting Information
by Leslie Haber1Leslie Haber
An Organized Life

NAPO-LA Director of Professional Development


Upcoming Chapter Meeting & Holiday Celebration

Monday, November 23
 
"Build a Successful Referral Engine:  Work Less & Make More"
 
Presented by Audrey Burton
 
You're out there networking, but are you getting referrals? If not, do you know why? Perhaps you just need to make some adjustments.

We will learn:
  • How marketing fundamentals play a huge part in the success of your networking
  • Ways to select where to network
  • How to create fruitful strategic alliances
  • Specific actions you can take to increase the number of referrals you receive
  • How to identify what is not working so you can maximize what is working
  • Networking more efficiently and with a specific purpose in mind will lead to you working less and making more
Audrey has been a small business coach for over seven years, working primarily with women "solopreneurs." She has a degree in business from Arizona State University and is raising her two incredible daughters on her own.  Audrey teaches her clients to be happy at work!  
 
As a special bonus, Audrey will raffle off one copy of her CD program, "The Five Keys to Banishing Marketing Overwhelm in Your Business, for LIFE!" It includes the CD, an audio download for MP3 fans, a detailed workbook and an ebook, "Show Me (where) the Money (is)!" and ordinarily sells on her website for $57 plus S&H. To subscribe to Audrey's free newsletter and get her FREE Special Report, "Closing the Sale is Not Complicated!" visit
www.TigressCoaching.com.
  
Refreshments will be served for this last meeting of 2009.
 
And don't forget to mark your calendars for January's Leadership Forum to be held on Monday, January 18, 2010!



Silent Auction for November - Toni Scharff
 
 Lasso this LA Organizer Cowgirl with the Right Bid! 


Toni Scharff
Toni Scharff's upbringing in Montana's Rocky Mountains had her spending time cleaning out root cellars and pantries and organizing canned elk neck and jars of  mincemeat made from moose. With her eclectic background as daughter of literally both "hunter and gatherer" parents (her father fed his family of six with deer, elk and antelope; her ranch-born mother gathered household goods, clothing and "treasures" from garage and lawn sales), Toni spent ample time involved in the general operations of keeping a family in order.

In 1999, ten years after moving to LA, Toni was helping an acquaintance, who she came to learn was a hoarder. As Toni struggled through this person's piles of possessions, the woman casually mentioned, "You know, Toni, people pay for this. There are groups you can join. People do this for a living." And Toni's business was born.

2010 Los Angeles Organizing Awards

Linda Levine-Quackenbushby Linda Levine-Quackenbush
Event Chair
2010 Los Angeles Organizing Awards
 


Avery Dennison

Awards 2010 Logo

First, Avery Dennison has been confirmed as the Presenting Sponsor for the 2010 Los Angeles Organizing Awards. This is very exciting news and Avery will be an excellent partner for our event.

Second, I am happy to announce that Kim Coles has signed on as our host for the Awards. She is a talented comedian and actress who is known for her roles in the sketch show "In Living Color" and as a member of the cast of "Living Single." She hosted her own show "New Attitudes" on the Lifetime channel and has guest starred in many other television shows including "Frasier," "Six Feet Under," and "My Wife and Kids." In addition to her television successes, she is a successful author and playwright. 

Heather Furlong and her team are busy with sponsorship calls that are a very important part of putting this event together. Anyone who would be willing to help with calls should contact Heather at awardssponsorshipcoord@napola.org.  

Voting for the Awards finalists continues through December 15.  You can find all of the finalists and descriptions of each on the NAPO-LA Awards 2010 Sitemap.
 
Tickets for this event are now on sale -- click here.
 
Thank you  to everyone who has volunteered to help.
 
See you at the Awards!

 
2009-2010 NAPO-LA Budget Approved
by Nicole Ballard
Nicole Ballard Design Group
NAPO-LA Treasurer
 
NicoleBallardThe Board of Directors is pleased to announce the approval of the budget for the 2009-2010 fiscal year. In the spirit of fiscal responsibility, the final budget is available for members on the Members Only page of our website (napola.org). Thank you for your support, and we look forward to serving you in the next year.
Board Nominations
Open on November 23

by John Trosko
OrganizingLA 
NAPO-LA Immediate Past President
and Chair of the Nominations Committee 

Nominations for the 2010-2011 term of the NAPO-LA Board of Directors will be accepted from November 23 through January 22. Each position will be for one year and will run from May 15, 2010, to May 14, 2011.

The primary focus and goal of the Nominations Committee is to provide leadership to the Chapter that closely matches our Chapter's goals and objectives. All interested and qualified applicants are invited to explore the many exciting leadership opportunities that are available. For more information, contact JohnTrosko, pastpresident@napola.org.
 
FOURTH ANNUAL LEADERSHIP FORUM

Monday, January 18, 2010

Another main focus of the Nominations Committee is to present the annual NAPO-LA Leadership Forum. Designed to teach and inspire chapter members to become more effective chapter leaders as well as better leaders in both their business and civic activities, the leadership forum has become a sigificant educational program for our chapter. Details and the facilitator will be announced at the November chapter meeting.
Volunteers Recognized

September 2009
 
The Volunteer of the Month award for September went to THREE of our Associate Members - Barb Schmit of Esselte, Gus Gougas of OrganizeIt! and Peter Given of SMARTBOX - for their outstanding contributions to the 2009 NAPO-LA Organizing ExpoTask Force. Gus served as Event Chair; Barb was Vendor Coordinator and Peter was in charge of Production. Here is a little bit of information about each one.
 
Gus Garage Man
GUS GOUGAS

OrganizeIT!
and an Associate Member
 

What is your business name and website?
 
OrganizIT! at www.organizitco.com.

Where do you live and where do you do business?
I live in Porter Ranch (San Fernando Valley) and do business in greater Los Angeles.

How many years have you been in business?

Since May of 2006.

Where are you from originally?
Granada Hills, about 5 miles away from where I live now.

What do you like to do when you aren't working?
Play poker, golf and all sports, coach my kids' sports team, camp with my kids through the YMCA and spend time with my family.

Tell us about your family.
Married to Jennifer. Two children: Anastasia-11 and Nicholas-9

How did you come to join NAPO-LA?
A business acquaintance recommended I call Chris McKenry.

What has been your experience volunteering in NAPO-LA?

Incredible!  NAPO is without question the best networking group I am involved in!

Anything else we should know about you? 
Now that's a loaded question. I enjoy getting involved. I am in two Chambers of Commerce, plus two additional networking groups, on the board of the local YMCA, nation chief of the YMCA Guides and Princess program, and I coach my son's football team. However, at the end of the day for me, it is all about my family. Spending time with my wife and kids is the most important thing to me.
 
 

BARB SCHMIT

Esselte / Pendaflex
and an Associate Member
 
What is your business name and website?
Esselte / Pendaflex at www.pendaflex.com.

Where do you live and where do you do business?
 
I live in Tustin and cover all of Southern California and Las Vegas.

How many years have you been in business?

I've been with Esselte for 10+ years.

Where are you from originally?

Vancouver, WA.

What do you like to do when you aren't working?

Golf, hike, geocach, read.

How did you come to join NAPO-LA?

Joined NAPO in 1999 at the request of a manager and stayed because I love the organization.

What has been your experience volunteering in NAPO-LA?

Getting to know other members, being involved, growing as an individual and, of course, promoting my company.

 
Peter Given
PETER GIVEN
SMARTBOX Portable Storage  
and an Associate Member
 
What is your business name and website?   
SMARTBOX Portable Storage at www.smartboxusa.com.

Where do you live and where do you do business?
I live in Encino and do business throughout greater Los Angeles

How many years have you been in business?

Two years.

Where are you from originally?

Encino.

What do you like to do when you aren't working?

Movies, physical activity, hiking, board games.

Tell us about your family.
 
Personally, I am single, but our SMARTBOX operation here in Los Angeles is a family-run business with my brother.

How did you come to join NAPO-LA?

We joined as Associate Members, to be a resource for Professional Organizers and to learn their needs since we view SMARTBOX as a wonderful tool for all organizers.

What has been your experience volunteering in NAPO-LA?
NAPO-LA is clearly a community of dedicated professionals. I have had the opportunity to work with several members on the recent Organizing Expo. It was wonderful exposure for our business and most of all a great relationship-building opportunity.
 
 

October 2009
 
October's Volunteer of the Month award was given to Erin Hass for all the time she spends posting NAPO-LA events and news on the many social networking websites.  

ErinHaas
ERIN HAAS

Erin's Simple Solutions

and NAPO-LA's Online Ambassador
 

What is your business name and website?
Erin's Simple Solutions, www.erinssimplesolutions.com.


Where do you live and where do you do business?
I live in Los Angeles near Culver City and do business anywhere in the greater Los Angeles area.

How many years have you been in business?
Almost two. 

How did you get into organizing as a profession?
I used to work as a designer for many different theaters in Atlanta and found that I preferred organizing the props storage areas rather than doing the work I was supposed to do! After two theaters hired me to organize their storage areas, I officially had the organizing bug.

Where are you from originally?
I grew up in a small town in Wisconsin (population 7,000), which I hated at the time but appreciate more and more every time I go home to visit.

What are your main organizing interests or specialties?
I love residential organizing and staging rooms so that they have more functionality, flow and style. 

What do you like to do when you aren't organizing?
I volunteer with Tails of the City Animal Rescue helping dogs find new homes (let me know if you're looking for a furry friend)! I also love making homemade greeting cards and crocheting.

I have been married to my husband Steve for almost six years and we have two fur children: a chihuahua "Mrs. Miyagi" and a cat "Elli." 

How did you come to join NAPO and/or NAPO-LA?
I joined NAPO in 2008 after Chris McKenry invited me to check it out. I really enjoy the comradery and supportive nature of the members and the opportunities to learn more about organizing and growing my business.

What has been your experience volunteering in NAPO-LA?
Volunteering is a great way to get to know other NAPO members and to make the most of your membership. By contributing my time to NAPO, I have become more involved in the organizing community and have made life-long friendships.

Anything else we should know about you?
As part of my business, I also assist other professional organizers.  
 
Have you volunteered yet to help out NAPO-LA in some way? You too could be voted "Volunteer of the Month" or even "Volunteer of the Year." And when you are, it will be your turn to share your story, so that all of us in NAPO-LA will get to know you just a little bit better. To find out about volunteer opportunities, contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Lori Rubin, volunteer@napola.org

Welcome to Our Newest Members



Tina BrooksTina Brooks
Methods Organizing
West Hills
tina@methodsorganizing.com
www.methodsorganizing.com
818-515-8928


Jane DailyJane Daily
Daily Business Management
Northridge
jdaily@socal.rr.com
818-891-8403



Debra FrankDebra Frank
Debra Frank's Let's Get Organized!
Manhattan Beach
letsgetorganized@aol.com
310-545-1628



Pamela KisselPamela Kissel
West Hills
kisselpamela@gmail.com
818-888-2746



Carrie TanenbaumCarrie Tannenbaum
Manhattan Beach

ctannenb@gmail.com
310-344-6221





 

Welcome to our new Associate Member!
 

Container Store 276



The Container Store, with locations in Century City, Pasadena, and Costa Mesa, and a Corporate Associate Member of NAPO-National for many years, recently joined NAPO-LA as an Associate Member. General Managers Josh Hurd (Century City) and Suzanne Meriden (Pasadena) attended last month's chapter meeting and were given a warm NAPO-LA welcome.

Don't forget that NAPO members currently receive The Container Store's special discount of 20% off elfa shelving and 10% off everything else in the store. If you haven't done so already, you can activate your NAPO discount at containerstore.com/napo.
 
All questions about the program can be directed to napo@containerstore.com.

Please support all of our wonderful Associate Members. We appreciate them being in our Chapter and attending our meetings.
Members in the News

Advanced Search ScreenshotTwo veteran NAPO-LA members (Dorothy Breininger of Center for Organization and Star Hansen of Simplified Spaces) were featured organizers on A&E's new TV show, "Hoarders," that airs Monday nights at 10 PM. "Hoarders" takes a fascinating look at the lives of people whose inability to part with their belongings is so out of control that they are on the verge of a personal crisis. Whether they're facing eviction, the loss of their children, jail time, or divorce, they are all desperately in need of help. The series captures the drama as experts work to put each hoarder on the road to recovery.
 
Robin Davi, CPO®, was interviewed recently on the KABC radio show "Business Update Report" with John Criswell during the Sean Hannity show. Robin's talk focused on professional organizing, NAPO and her company, Simply Arranged. She answered questions about the organizing process and also discussed some specific client situations.
 
Regina Lark, A Clear Path, and Evelyn Gray, CPO, CD®, Organizing for Success, were both spotted as volunteers at this year's recent California Women's Conference in Long Beach. Heidi Chianta, Your Project Manager, was seen staffing a booth for one of her clients, and Claire Flannery, CPO®, Simplify, was in attendance for the exceptional program.

Fay Wolf, of New Order Professional Organizing, is a Contributing Writer and featured Professional Organizer in the new HarperCollins book The Game On! Diet www.thegameondiet.com by "Grey's Anatomy" Executive Producer Krista Vernoff and Body-For-Life Champion Az Ferguson. Game On! is a revolutionary approach to health and fitness that encourages you to "kick your friend's butt while shrinking your own."

Susan Culligan, Got to Get Organized, recently moved up North to Santa Cruz, and Carol Keller, Organizing Experts®, moved out of the country to San Felipe, Mexico. Both of these NAPO-LA members will be sorely missed and difficult to replace in the volunteer jobs they did with such gusto!  Susan has long been NAPO-LA's Webmaster as well as serving on the Board as Director of Communications & Technology. Carol's most recent position was as Associate Member Liaison. We thank them both for all their hard work and wish them luck in their new endeavors.

Educational Development Workshop
Computer Skills for Organizers and Clients

Presented by Roxanne Hoerning

February 27, 2010, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Location: Circle of Care Leeza's Place, 5000 Van Nuys Blvd., Sherman Oaks
Cost: $99 for NAPO-LA members, $119 for non-members

Seating is limited, so click here to register early!

This class will help you refine your computer skills to not only enhance your business, but also to learn things that can be passed along to your clients. If you are currently using Word, Excel, and PowerPoint and would like to learn more tips and tricks to improve your proficiency, this class is for you. If you have the basics down, now is the time to take your computer skills to the next level.  

In this class you will learn practical applications to integrate Word, Excel, and PowerPoint to take advantage of the best of each. In addition, you'll learn many shortcuts and tips to make you more efficient.

Excel - What you will learn:
  • How to create a database in Excel for address listings, files or household inventory, client listings.
  • Ways to sort, filter, count, paste link, transpose, and use worksheets within workbooks.
  • Short-cuts for formatting and printing: set print area, update and print multiple worksheets within a workbook at the same time, adding headers and footers.
Word - What you will learn:
  • How to merge data from a spreadsheet into a Word document to create labels and letters.
  • How to create forms for surveys or gathering information.
  • How to create and use tables for better page layout.
  • How to insert pictures and clipart within text or tables and easily size and move them around.
  • How to use the review features when collaborating on a document to track changes.
PowerPoint - What you will learn:
  • Take your presentations to the next level: learn about the Slide master, automation, layout, design and background color.
  • Link data or charts from a Word or Excel file into a presentation.
  • Other uses for PowerPoint beyond presentations, such as creating instruction pages, signs, or binder covers.
This workshop will include both lecture and self-paced hands-on exercises, so once you understand the concepts you will be able to work at your own pace. [Note: You must bring your own laptop with Word, Excel and PowerPoint.] You will leave the class with useful materials for future reference.

Click here to register!

Roxanne HoerningRoxanne Hoerning is extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic when it comes to utilizing technology to create efficient, time-saving processes to automate and track information. She founded her company; You Can be Organized, in 2009 to enable her to branch out beyond her current role in corporate America. She has 25 years of technology and marketing experience and has done hands-on computer training and process documentation throughout her career. Although new to NAPO, she is excited to get involved with other organizers to learn and share experiences.

 

 
Golden  CircleCircle
Boundaries: Our Clients, Ourselves  
 
by Toni Scharff
The Simplicity Project
and Golden Circle Member 


Toni ScharffThe first piece of paper I saw seven years ago when I started my filing project with Helen was the Montana Collegian - the newsletter from my own hometown university.
 
It was evident from the start that Helen did not need organizing help. She had contacted a professional organizer because she was losing her sight and needed help putting some accumulated papers away. The filing system reflected symmetry, order, and the life of a woman with intriguing interests. Her intention was to "get all of her affairs in order" for her children.

After my muffled shriek of surprise at finding the university newspaper, we started to get acquainted. Helen had been raised in a small mountain town not far from where I grew up, and we discovered we had a lot in common. In every corner, I could see evidence of a life similar to the one I had had as a child. There were balls of string, a "kitchen tool drawer," tiny boxes with straightened twist-ties, a knife magnet on the wall, a sewing center.

Helen was 86 when I met her, and one might assume it would have been easy for me to fall into the role of a daughter with her. As organizers, we must immediately be wary not to let commonalities - like those I discovered - allow us to relax into a connection far different from a professional business relationship. At times when we disagreed and her stubbornness irritated me, I remembered: She pays me. I am not a relative. I come with skills and training that her daughter and son do not have.

Organizers are hired to offer suggestions, not give orders. We provide assistance; we do not do it all ourselves. When offering advice or an opinion, we aren't invested in having our own way. Sometimes we simply do a client's bidding, even though the result might be less practical than one we would have chosen. We provide moral support without judgment. We let go of ego and the idea of being right. Unlike friends or spouses, professional organizers bring objectivity and a fresh point of view. A professional who is able to keep emotional distance allows the client to maintain autonomy, and, therefore, to think about new ideas without the pressure of a relative's stress and agenda.
 

Boundaries are important and not just for our clients. For us organizers, they anchor our own emotional foundations, allowing us to approach each new job and client with a fresh perspective, open-minded and un-jaded.

Postscript:
What I found with Helen was camaraderie and a friendship based on a similar sense of humor. We reveled in our irreverence. She is the first older woman I've met who is still introspective and "doing the work" of clarifying, growing and changing in her important relationships. She is now 93. I still meet with her weekly: We hold hands, and I bear witness to her fading away. My sorrow remains secret.

 
AnnGambrellNewGolden Circle's Golden Harvest
 
by Ann Gambrell
Creative Time-Plus,
and LA Chapter Area Golden Circle Liaison
 

What better way to welcome autumn than to gather at the home of Sally Hulem, the "Queen of Fun Decorating?" Sally, along with Marcy Melton, hosted our recent quarterly meeting with a lovely salad buffet and an offering of delicious desserts. As we visited and shared information, Marcy involved us in a fun word game. 
 
Golden Circle

The Helping Hands committee was recently formed to assist our members with any personal needs; e.g., an illness, help with moving, bringing in meals, getting to a medical appointment, etc. The Helping Hands contacts for such assistance are Lynne Gilberg and Ros Lakomy. Thankfully, we have no members in need at this time.
 
Mark your calendars for our 2010 meeting schedule: 
 
    Saturday, January 16  (Host: Lynne Gilberg; Co-Host: Donna McMillan)  
           Sunday, April 11   (Host: Nancy Miller; Co-Host: Toni Scharff)         
          Saturday, July 17
   (Host: Claire Flannery; Co-Host: Rosalind Lakomy)     
      Sunday, October 17   (
If you would like to Host/Co-Host this meeting, contact me.)
 
Field trips to a recycling center or a waste management facility, as well as theme meetings, were discussed. Suggestions included a business topic for discussion, tools, equipment and services, and a collection of items to donate to community charities and other community services.
 
We are so proud of our very own Robin Davi, who is now the NAPO National Golden Circle Chair, and we will work with her to help bring Golden Circle to an even higher level of membership.  In a recent G/C liaison teleconference facilitated by Robin, the many exciting activities planned for our members at the April 2010 conference in Ohio were discussed.  Not to be missed.
 
Meanwhile, save the date of our next Golden Circle meeting on January 16.
 


TIPS FROM THE PROS
 
Photo Files
When setting up photo files, use simple file names like Events, People, Family.  Once those are established, set up folders by dates for "Events" and last names for "People," etc.  Makes it easier to find pictures when you need them.                                                
Submitted by Karen Fulks,
Organizer Extraordinaire/OE
 
Dinner Party Hint

Before your dinner guests arrive, place a small sticky note in each serving bowl, platter or plate to identify the food that is to be placed in that (now) empty dish. Then when guests arrive and want to "help in the kitchen," it will be easy to let them place the food where intended.
Submitted by Ann Gambrell, Creative Time-Plus

NAPO-LA's TIPS Program is managed by the chapter's Golden Circle members. Chapter members are asked to submit their organizing tips via email or on index cards available at chapter meetings for deposit into the "Organizing Tips" box. TIPS are requested in two categories: "Tips from Pros" are organizing tips for clients and the public."Tips of the Trade" are tips for organizers to use in their businesses. When submitting TIPS, include your name, business name and contact information. 
Email your TIPS to goldencircle@napola.org.

CD Support Group
by Jean Furuya
Educational Development Committee Coordinator

If you work consistently with chronically-disorganized clients, you are invited to participate in an informal support group.
 
Next Meeting
Tuesday, January 12, 6:00 - 8:30 pm
 
Topic for discussion"Unsuccessful Client Experiences"
We will spend time sharing our individual issues and experiences with clients.
 
A simple pot luck is planned.
 
Limited to 12 attendees.
 
To RSVP or for more information, contact Jean Furuya.
Email: jean@theofficejeanie.com  
Phone: 310-316-1753

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NAPO Los Angeles 
 
Mission Statement: NAPO-LA is an organization dedicated to bringing Southern California area organizers together through networking, education, professional growth, industry updates, support and public awareness.
NAPO-Los Angeles
PMB 134, 10573 W. Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90064
Phone 213-486-4477

The National Association of Professional Organizers, Los Angeles Chapter (NAPO-LA) is a legal entity separate and distinct from NAPO, Inc. (the National Association of Professional Organizers) and is not entitled to act on behalf of or to bind NAPO, contractually or otherwise.

For questions on our disclosure policy, please contact our Chapter President.

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NAPO-LA | PMB 134 | 10573 W. Pico Blvd. | Los Angeles | CA | 90064