Katherine Macey

We're excited this year to have several changes in NAPO-LA. To begin with, our new Vision and Mission statements were developed at the Board's annual retreat:

Vision Statement: NAPO-LA, comprised of passionate and innovative professionals, is the premier authority on organizing, serving the greater Los Angeles area.

Mission Statement: NAPO-LA is the organizing industry leader committed to providing the public with resources; providing professional organizers with education and support; and providing related industry professionals with unique channels for their products and services.  

From these statements, there are three exciting developments:

1. CEU eligible programs - Our monthly meetings will be CEU eligible whenever possible. CEU stands for Continuing Education Unit and is important for certification and re-certification as a professional organizer. Our Program Development Director, Leslie Haber, will have certificates available at the end of the meeting for those who need them. Having our meetings be at the educational standard where CEUs can be earned is a great benefit for members. Topics that broaden our knowledge of the organizing industry will continue to be offered.  Please contact Leslie at if you have any particular topic you would like to see covered.
2. Combining the Awards and Expo events - This year, to provide more exposure for our Expo vendors, the Expo will be combined with the 2011 Los Angeles Organizing Awards. These changes are still being finalized and there is plenty of opportunity to volunteer and help shape the event.  If you are interested in volunteering for the 2011 Los Angeles Organizing Awards and Expo, please contact our VP and special events coordinator, Donna Rosman at vicepresident@napola.org.
3. Community Service - The Board is calling for "Requests For Action" (RFA's) for community projects that NAPO-LA can be involved with this year. We are looking for a non-profit organization that needs our services. If you know of an organization that could benefit from a day of organizing, please submit an RFA.  You may also submit RFA's for your neighborhood community group if the project is a small one. Please submit to Leslie, professionaldevelopment@napola.org by July 21 for consideration at the July meeting.
   

The Board is looking forward to the exciting developments this year and to your involvement in your NAPO-LA chapter. 

July 26 Meeting, 6:15 pm
 
Mastering the Art of Time Management

Presented by Susan Eleftherakis
of Spatial Clarity Consulting
 

Learn time management principles and priority setting to effectively manage your time in this special presentation by NAPO-LA member, Susan Eleftherakis.
 
As professional organizers, we must practice time management in order to develop a strong and efficient business. Just as importantly, this very skill is what is almost always needed by our clients! We must "walk the walk" and master our time-management challenges in order to best pass along these vital skills to our clients. Susan will offer tips and techniques for overcoming stress, realistically scheduling events and projects, and even saying "no," so you can teach your clients these best practices while living up to your own highest potential as well.
 
Susan is passionate about enabling businesses to improve their "business process" and establish systems that lead to success. She founded Spatial Clarity Consultingin early 2005. Her unique ability to visualize her clients' reorganization processes along with 20 years of experience, a diverse skill set, and a proven track record provides the expertise for optimizing their potential.
 
Important Note:  This will be the first NAPO-LA meeting to offer Certificates of Completion to those members acquiring continuing education units (CEU's) toward certification through BCPO. Certification/CEU eligibility information can be found by visiting BCPO's webpage - www.certifiedprofessionalorganizers.org.
 

 
An amazing 98.4% of 2009 Conference attendees said they would recommend future NSGCD conferences to their peers.

This year's Sessions:

 

View more details about the conference at www.nsgcd.org

For more information, contact Debra Frank at letsgetorganized@aol.com.

 

 

 

When:   Saturday, October 9, 2010 (Rescheduled)

Time:    9 am to 1 pm

Where:  Circle of Care Leeza's Place

            500 Van Nuys Blvd.

            Sherman Oaks

Cost:     $99 for NAPO-LA members

            $119 for non-members

            (After October 4, add $15)

 

These days, business owners must focus on marketing their services and products in "all the right places" in order to be profitable.  In this motivating, interactive training session, NAPO-LA members, Donna D. McMillan and Regina F. Lark, will help you to refine the skills necessary for successful networking, both on-the-ground and on-line.

 

Networking is an established way to promote your business and your areas of expertise.  Networking also allows you to be an excellent referral resource.  Donna teaches you skills for confident face-to-face networking experiences.  Through demonstrations, Regina shows you how to use social media (e.g. LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook) to its maximum advantage.

 

A. What is networking?

    Understand the mind-set of in-person meetings and social      media.
B.  Why do networking?
     Clarify your motivation and objectives
C.  How to find a good fit?
     Match what you offer with the right people
D.  Where do you find your target market?
     Make connections through groups on-the-ground plus on-line
E.  When do "they" find you?
     Discover which of your power tools will get you noticed
F.  How do you do networking?
     Find out how to go to the right places and do the right things
G.  Where and how do you manage your new contacts?
     Identify paper and electronic solutions that work best for you

 

Learn successful skills and techniques for local and worldwide networking. Class includes lecture, roll-play and hands-on exercises. Bring business cards. You are also encouraged to bring your laptop (MAC or PC), but this is not a requirement. Before the workshop, create accounts on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.  After registering for workshop, you may contact Regina Lark for assistance.

 

Donna D. McMillan, organizing industry veteran in West LA, has been coaching/training Professional Organizers since 1993, both in the U.S. and abroad. Since 1984, she has developed marketing strategies from her own experiences while building her businesses, McMillan & Company Professional Organizing in West Los Angeles and Island Organizers in Hawaii. 

 

Phone: 310-391-7392

Donna@organizer4me.com

www.organizer4me.com 

 

Regina F. Lark is the founder and CEO of A Clear Path, a Los Angeles-based professional organizing business. She works with "Boomers," seniors, college faculty, and campus administrative offices. She credits her success as a business owner to the art and practice of social networking. When she is not organizing, Regina is teaching. She offers de-clutter and social media workshops to non-profits and private corporations.  Regina holds a Ph.D. in History from the University of Southern California.

Phone: 818-400-9592

Regina@AClearPath.net 

www.AClearPath.net  
 

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You've seen their storefronts. Their trucks are seen out and about. Almost all of us have made contributions at their donation centers. Did you know Goodwill Industries is so much more than just donations and thrift stores?  They are a terrific resource for professional organizers, not to mention the general public. When I looked into all that they have to offer, I was really surprised.  I think you will be, too.

Goodwill's mission is to serve people with disabilities or vocational disadvantages. They provide education, skills training, work experience and job placement services. A few years ago, you could drop off a broken toaster or microwave oven. Then, a skilled technician would fix it and it would be sold in one of the many Goodwill Thrift Stores. Profits from the sales would be used to train more people to become skilled technicians. A few things have changed...for the better.

Today, Goodwill Industries is keeping up with the times. They no longer accept items in need of repair. Instead, they are a state-authorized E-waste collector.

Once you drop off E-waste, what happens?

As with income from Goodwill Thrift Stores, income from computer recycling helps people with disabilities.

Did you know Goodwill Industries also has an Information Destruction division?

I had to see it for myself so, with a carload full of a client's shredding, I drove to their main facility (located at 342 N. San Fernando Road, Los Angeles 90031). Trained attendants helped me fill a very large bin  - and the entire lot was only $50 to shred!

Here are a few more facts about their information destruction services:

Make sure to add Goodwill Industries to your resource list, and pass the news on to clients, friends and family. Check out their website at www.goodwillsocal.org. Give them a try. I'm sure you will be pleasantly surprised.

Questions? Email Sara at sara@handsonorganizing.com. Or check out her website www.handsonorganizing.com.