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July/August
2009
Volume 16, Issue 5
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Who's Who
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Board of
Directors
 President
Chantale Bordonaro, CPO®,
CRTS™
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Meeting
Information
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Meeting
Attendance
June
2009
42 members, 5 visitors
May 2009
48 members, 7 visitors
Total Membership
Regular members: 134
Associate members: 16
Mini
Board Minutes
NSGCD Conference LA 10/1-3. NAPO-LA Board will discuss board/membership
involvement.
Erin Haas is the new Online Ambassador (social networking).
The following additions were made to the NAPO-LA Policy
and Procedures:
-Active President will receive 1
Chapter funded admission to
all chapter-related activities.
-Conflict of Interest Policy and
Disclosure added. (All board
members required to sign)
-Record Retention Policy
updated.
-Whistleblower Policy added.
-Usage of Disclosure Forms
Policy added.
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Volunteers
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June:
Linda
Levine-Quackenbush
May: Cindy Duffy
March: Katherine
Macey
July:
Neighborhood Groups Committee
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Associate Members
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Custom Closets
310-516-7000 x224
American's Junk Removal Specialists
Office Organization Products
Email Barb Schmit
714-328-7973
Versatile Storage Products
Email May Lee
949-261-5888
Custom Garage Systems
Email
Jaime Dietenhofer
310-205-3590
Go Junk Free America!
Mas Moving Services
Mold Remediation & Products
818-262-5048
Moving & Storage
Custom Glide-Out Shelves for Cabinets & Pantries
Onsite or Offsite Storage
Email Peter Given
818-365-3408
South Bay Closet Lady
Custom Closet Design
Extreme Cleaning Services
Division of Crime Scene
Ster-Clean LLC
Email Tammy Chalmers
888-577-7206
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Membership
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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.
For more information on becoming
a NAPO-LA member, click here.
For the NAPO Code of
Ethics, click here.
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The
Los Angeles Organizer
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The Los Angeles Organizer
Newsletter
Staff
Editor: Jennifer Birner
editor@napola.org
Assistant Editor:
Beth Zeigler assistanteditor@napola.org
Proofreaders:
Sheila McCurdy
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 our 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 the e-mail.
Photos should be .jpg, 72 dpi, sent with your article. All article
topics and content must be approved by our 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 assistanteditor@napola.org
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12 Hollywood Neighborhood Group 9:00am
Westsiders Neighborhood Group 1:00pm
15 Los Angeles Organizer Newsletter Published
18 South Bay Neighborhood Group 8:30am
Golden Circle Meeting 12:00pm
Ventura County Neighborhood
Group 10:00am
19 Pasadena/Glendale/Burbank Neighborhood Grp 10:30am
Orange County Neighborhood Group
2:00pm
Waste Management Simi Valley Landfill
Tour
27 Board Meeting 2:45pm
New Member Orientation 3:30pm
Los Angeles Organizing Awards Update 5:15pm
24 Board Meeting 2:45pm
Chapter Meeting 6:15pm
12 Westsiders Neighborhood Group 1:00pm
13 Hollywood Neighborhood Group 9:00am
Ventura Neighborhood Group 10:00am
15 Los Angeles Organizer Newsletter Published
17 South Bay Neighborhood Group 6:00pm
20 Pasadena/Glendale/Burbank Neighborhood Grp 10:30am
Orange County Neighborhood Group 2:00pm
Los Angeles Organizing Expo
November
7 NAPO San Francisco Regional Conference
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Preparing for Opportunity
By Chantale Bordonaro, CPO®, CRTS™
President
Opportunity: Webster's Dictionary defines this 14th century noun
as "a favorable juncture of circumstances." It does
not, however, explain how to create the opportunity in the
Professional Organizing field, especially in the troubled times we are
having right now.
So, what are YOU doing to prepare for opportunity? In slow times, it's
your opportunity...
- To relook at your
marketing materials you have not updated in 3 years
- To refresh your business
image
- To find a targeted market
and drop marketing info to it
- To expand your network
- To reach out and connect
- To take classes to
improve your skills and knowledge
- To think outside the box,
maybe take a space planning class!
- To network and volunteer
with your NAPO-LA peers - you will learn and build stronger
relationships that will make you a better Professional Organizer
- And most importantly, to
take care of yourself - workout, enjoy a good book, or just sleep
more. You deserve it.
Inc.
Magazine
this month says "Tomorrow's success stories.... are the one
blessed with today's tough times." And, "no entrepreneur will
wait for the dust to settle."
So take the time to prepare yourself now. You know that the phone is
about to start ringing (if it has not started yet), and when it does,
you can take on the new opportunity!
"If you prepare yourself . . . you will be able to grasp
opportunity for broader experience when it
appears" --Eleanor Roosevelt
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2010 Los Angeles Organizing Awards
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Task Force Update
Get the scoop on the exciting new plans your 2010 Los Angeles
Organizing Awards Task Force has in store!
July
27, 5:15 pm
The Olympic Collection
(right before the regular Chapter meeting)
We
are full steam ahead for the 2010 Los Angeles Organizing Awards!
Everyone (chapter members and guests) are welcome to join us for an
update on the Awards, whether you want to get involved, have an idea to
share, see how your membership dollars and marketing budgets are being
spent, or are just curious as to how the process is going so far.
The meeting will be moderated by our 2010 Co-Chair Linda
Levine-Quackenbush and will be joined by many of the 2010 Committee
leaders.
For more information, contact Erin Haas, awardsinfo@napola.org.
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5th Annual Los Angeles Organizing Expo
Set for September 21!
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Mark the Date!
The
5th Annual Los Angeles Organizing Expo is coming! LA's only
event devoted exclusively to time-saving products, solutions, tools,
and services, is set for Monday September 21, 2009, at the Olympic
Collection in West Los Angeles. Exhibitors will set up shop for three
hours for this public event. Returning this year is the popular
"Organizing Theater," featuring mini-demonstrations by
participating vendors.
The Los Angeles Organizing Expo exhibitors will feature dozens of new
products, services, books, closet systems and accessories, and
technology and office products. All are designed to showcase the
benefits of better personal productivity, time-saving techniques, and
the advantages of living in a streamlined home and office environment.
The Los Angeles Organizing Expo is produced by the nonprofit National
Association of Professional Organizers, Los Angeles Chapter (NAPO-LA)
and will offer over 5,000 square feet of exhibit space in The Olympic
Collection in West Los Angeles.
Last year's Expo vendors included Blis, Bongo Ties, Closet Factory,
Clutter Stop, Delphi Center for Organization, Esselte, EZnet Organizer,
Garage Envy, Get it Together LA!, MAS Moving, NorthStar Moving
Corporation, OrganizIt!, ScanDigital, Smart Box USA, Smead, South Bay
Closet Lady, The Style Huntress, The Mold Guy, TomBoy Tools, and Touch
Mobile Massage Co.
The 2009 Los Angeles Organizing Expo will be held one night only:
Monday, September 21, 2009, at The Olympic Collection, 11301 West
Olympic Boulevard (at Sawtelle) in West Los Angeles. The Expo will be
open from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm.
Anyone interesting in volunteering for this important and exciting
event please contact Toni Scharf, expovolunteers@napola.org.
Vendors interested in exhibiting please contact Barb
Schmit, expovendors@napola.org.
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NSGCD Annual Conference
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October
1-3, 2009
Omni Hotel, 251 South Olive Street, Los Angeles CA 90012
Dr. Daniel G. Amen, author of 23 books, including the New York Times
best-seller, Change Your Brain, Change Your Life, will present
this topic at conference. Using the latest brain imaging technology
in medicine, Dr. Amen will give give you an intimate look into a
"working brain." He'll teach you
- Brain patterns that
correlate with specific feelings and behaviors
- What happens when things
go wrong, illustrated by many case stories and actual brain images
- Specific exercises to
balance each part of the brain
Click here for more details
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NAPO-LA Chapter Meeting
Information
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 By Leslie Haber
Director
of Professional Development
Thanks to Angela
Small for Her Presentation on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
A very special thanks to Angela Small, who spoke at our last meeting,
presenting the science of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in a practical
and very useful way for professional organizers to better understand
the habits of our clients and ourselves! Angie gave us great
information and demystified the psychological jargon by translating the
concepts into understandable points we can observe and use in our
day-to-day lives. The power of positive thoughts and actions were
discussed at length, and we were delighted to have her in Los Angeles
for this event.
Upcoming Chapter Meetings
July Meeting:
Monday, July 27, 2009
Get Ready to Learn Archivists' Secrets!
Mary Ann Williams, nicknamed the "Library Warrior Princess,"
will share insights and information about physical and digital data
archiving. She is Disney's Archivist, and she holds multiple
undergraduate degrees and a Master of Science in Information from the
University of Michigan School of Information. She is a skilled
researcher with success in individualized instruction. Her company, School of Moxie, provides
unique methods for growing your life and your career.
July: Deborah
Kawashima, CPO, Creative Organizer, NAPO in the Schools National
Committee Chair
creativeorganizer.com
 Deborah Kawashima, CPO, founded her company,
Creative Organizer, five years ago after working in the fashion
industry as a children's wear designer. Her creative background adds a
fresh point of view to being an organizing consultant. Growing up, her
parents owned Montessori schools, and this natural sense of order
influences her approach to organizing. Deborah specializes in working
with parents and their kids, focusing on setting up systems to help
parents model organizational skills and time management to their
children.
As
an active member of NAPO and NAPO-LA, Deborah cofounded and is the
National Committee Chair of NAPO in the Schools, a nationwide community
outreach program bringing organizers into the schools. In 2006, she won
the Volunteer of the Year Award at the first annual Los Angeles
Organizing Awards, as well as the NAPO Innovator Award in 2007 at the
NAPO National Conference, for her work on NAPO in the Schools.
In
addition to working with clients, she is currrently a life skills
instructor at UCLA Extension Pathway, a unique program for
developmentally challenged college students (autism, Asperger's
Disorder, etc.).
August:
Leslie Haber, An Organized Life, Director of Professional Development,
NAPO-LA
anorganizedlife.net
Leslie Haber has been a professional
organizer for over fifteen years and an active, exuberant member of
NAPO for two years. Starting in 2008, she has served on the Board of
Directors of NAPO-LA as the Director of Professional Development, where
she creates and produces the chapter's regular meeting programs and
works with the NAPO Educational Development Committee on seminars and
training events.
Leslie
brings her collective capabilities from varied fields to her present
position, not the least of which are her stints in event planning,
wedding coordination, and hotel catering directorship. Biltmore,
Shutters, and Mondrian were a few of the lucky hotels to have
contracted her expert skills. From her college days managing a dry
cleaning store, to the world of corporate finance in a stocks and bonds
brokerage (on Black Monday, no less), then to LA's top catering
company, Leslie learned that whatever industry she explored, there was
plenty of room for improvement and increased efficiency.
Haber
went on to form her own company, An Organized Life, a professional
organizing service dedicated not only to the elimination of clutter,
but to bringing about organization to all aspects of clients' lives -
their homes, work, families, and selves. She works with people who have
hoarding problems and/or attention deficit issues, the chronically
disorganized, and those that are in need of minimal assistance to help
them live more comfortable, safe, balanced, and rewarding lives. She
teaches her clients organizational skills to manage their time and to
stay organized. She helps clients identify their short- and long-term
goals, and then works with them to eliminate obstacles in their paths
so they can achieve those goals.
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Volunteer Of The Month
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 Cindy Duffy, Chapter Librarian
What is your
business name?
The Perfect Spot...designed organization
Where do you do
business?
Mostly in the South Bay, but I do have clients in the
greater Los Angeles area.
organizing as a profession?
I have a degree in interior design, and I migrated to organizing,
which for me is ultimately much more gratifying and rewarding!
How did you come to join NAPO and/or NAPO-LA?
I joined NAPO-LA in 2005 because Robin Davi and Jean
Furuya were so welcoming and nice.
What has been your experience volunteering in NAPO-LA and
what do you see as the benefits of volunteering?
I was a shadow in the room until volunteering to be the
Chapter Librarian. I'm still in the back of the room, but not so much
in the shadows anymore! I definitely have interacted more with all the
NAPO-LA members...and I have the HUGE benefit of the library available
to me at any time!!
What are your
main organizing interests or specialties?
I am contemplating adding redesign to my resume, but in the
meantime, I do enjoy home office organizing and small business work.
For some reason, I love helping people with paperwork!
 Linda Levine-Quackenbush, 2010 Los Angeles Organizing
Awards Event Chair
What is your business name?
Organize4Life
Where do you do business?
Mostly in the West San Fernando Valley and South Ventura County, but
lately in Beverly Hills and Malibu also.
How did you get into organizing as a profession?
I was a commercial producer for many years, which requires a lot of
organizing skill. As a result, when I retired from production and was
looking for a retirement business, professional organizing was a
natural fit for me.
When did you start your business?
In August of 2007
How did you come to join NAPO and/or NAPO-LA?
When I was researching professional organizing, I found the NAPO
website and decided to come to a meeting of the LA Chapter. After that
meeting I was convinced that joining NAPO and NAPO-LA was the best way
to learn about the profession and further my education regarding
organizing.
What has been your experience volunteering in NAPO-LA, and what do
you see as the benefits of volunteering?
I had an incredible experience volunteering for the 4th Annual LA
Organizing Awards and Expo. I think the best benefit was meeting and
getting to know all of the talented people who also volunteered for
these two events. As a result, I now have the honor of being the Event
Chair for the 5th Annual LA Organizing Awards, a real thrill.
What are your main organizing interests or specialties?
I enjoy residential and home office organizing, but also have been
doing some work with seniors lately, which has been very rewarding.
Anything else we should know about you?
Just that I don't think I could have anticipated a better choice
(organizing) when I decided to retire from production.
 Have you volunteered yet to help out NAPO-LA in some way?
Then 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, Kathryn Masci.volunteer@napola.org
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NAPO
LA Members
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Welcome Our Newest Members
Amanda Hughes
Simplify
Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA
90064
Robyn
Reynolds
Organize2Harmonize
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
310-625-6522
robynstacee@yahoo.com
Welcome Our Newest Associate Member
Evan Berger
Go Junk Free America! Inc.
Los Angeles, CA 90015
sales@gojunkfree.com
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Our New Yahoo! Group Moderator
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Please Welcome Dara Fiss
By Susan Culligan
Director of Communications and Technology
We are pleased to introduct Dara Michelle Fiss, who kindly took
over as Moderator of our NAPO-LA Yahoo! Group when Katherine Macey
stepped into her new position as Vice President.
Dara was a busy professional whose experience as a social worker,
teacher, and business manager has given her the skills that have helped
so many people feel organized, confident, and free to do the things
they need to do. As a social worker, Dara specialized in working with
seniors and psychiatric patients in helping them live more independent
lives. This involved looking at all aspects of their lives and helping
them become more organized, including their physical space.
Dara often helped patients/clients organize and declutter their homes
and worked with them in a supportive manner to develop systems to help
them maintain independent lifestyles. Dara also trained a department of
30 social workers to work with this population. This was in addition to
creating a Social Services and Nursing Management integrated software
for a major healthcare company. Streamlining both departments was
essential for the continued success and integration of member
information in order to ensure members' needs were met.
As a teacher, Dara found that it was necessary to teach organizational
practices to her students in order to help them become more successful
and ready to learn.
In addition to business and residential organization services, Dara
also offers estate organizing to assist individuals and families in the
delicate process of sorting out critical details following the death of
a loved one and for individuals who want to put their own affairs in
order in the event of death. Estate organizing offers a professional
and expedient manner in which to provide peace of mind.
Dara is a proud member of the National Association of Professional
Organizers and the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization. She
serves the San Fernando Valley, the surrounding Los Angeles areas, and
eastern Ventura county.
[You may reach Dara at moderator@napola.org
if you have questions about joining or contributing to our Yahoo!
Group.]
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NAPO in the Schools
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Update
By
Deborah Kawashima
National NAPO-in-the-Schools Liaison
In March the NAPO in the Schools Network Group met and put together
their kits for the Elementary Program. Thank you Cindy Duffy for
graciously opening your home in Redondo Beach for the meeting!
We all had fun and out of that we created a kit for our chapter's
library, so that all Trained Providers in the NAPO-LA chapter can check
it out when needed to do a presentation. It will be checked out on a
monthly basis only, as we have only one set to share amongst us! Future
meetings are open to Trained Providers and those interested in getting
involved with NAPO in the Schools.
All NAPO-LA members interested in attending one of the meetings
(Trained Providers and those interested in getting involved with NAPO
in the Schools) please contact Christie Gelsomino Christie@Scrapbookdesigner.com.
A note about NAPO in the Schools: training is required of all NAPO
members wanting to become NAPO in the Schools Trained Providers and is
available as a benefit of your NAPO membership. The prerecorded
national training calls are posted on the NAPO website along with the
training call schedule. Currently there is training for the elementary
program. In fall 2009, training will be available for the middle school
program. The high school program is scheduled for fall 2010. Please
contact Deborah Kawashima with any questions: Deborah@creativeOrganizer.com.
NAPO in the Schools is a nationwide community outreach awareness
program bringing professional organizers into the classroom to do an
interactive presentation that gives students an awareness that being
organized is important and really does make a difference in their
lives.
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CD
Support Group
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 By Jean
Furuya
Educational Development Committee Coordinator
If you are working consistently and on an ongoing basis with chronically
disorganized clients, you are invited to participate in an informal
support group.
Tuesday, September 15, 6:00 - 8:30 pm
Limited to 12 attendees. A simple pot luck is planned.
Topic for discussion: CD Clients and Family
Relationships
We will spend time discussion our individual issues and
experiences with our clients and how their disorganization and progress
affect their families.
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 How Clients Find Us
By Ann Gambrell
Golden Circle Coordinator
Clients look for us when they are uncomfortable in their environment, or
have a deadline or ultimatum pending. Here are some ways clients have
found me over the past two decades.
1. They read about me in the media: newspapers and magazines.
- Twice I was featured in a huge
newspaper article regarding my unique H.O.W...Home Organizing
Workshop. I received over 50 calls each time. Many became clients. I
made a connection through a newspaper friend. Yes! Another way to
find me.
- Or...they read my bimonthly column
in our local newspaper, which I wrote for 4½ years. It was called
"Getting Organized" and the tag line gave contact
details. Many did! Yes! Another way to find me.
- Or...they read my organizing tips
column in a local periodical. I have written for "What's Up For
Kids" for almost 8 years. I have received many calls and emails
from readers for my classes and Clutter Support Groups. Yes!
Another way to find me.
- Or...they read an article in a
national magazine. Personal contact information is not always listed
in these articles, but readers can Google me or locate me through
the NAPO websites, national and chapter. Yes! Another way to find
me.
- Or...they read about my classes in
a local adult school course schedule (community and college) mailed
to thousands of homes. I have taught in the adult school systems for
24 years. Yes! Another way to find me.
2.
They were referred to me.
- Some people become clients through
referrals from fellow organizers, friends, or family. As we all
know, personal referrals are the best. Stay connected, network, and
create alliances. Yes! Another way to find me.
- A referral may be the result of a
visit to the NAPO website, where they read an article where I was
quoted or had contributed to the article. They can also access the
online calendar of events regarding my events. Yes! Another way
to find me.
- A referral may come from being a
member of a networking group (Leads Club, BNI, etc.). Group members
get to know you and your business and referrals grow. This is how I
originally started my business. Yes! Another way to find me.
- A referral may be from a
psychotherapist with clients needing organizing help along with
their therapy. The therapist helps the client in dealing with the
underlying issues and the organizer assists with the hands-on
dilemma. A very productive alliance indeed! Yes! Another way to
find me.
3.
They received my information.
- Monthly, I email my Tips, Inc.
e-zine, Tips, In The Name Of Clutter. Most receivers either
attended my classes, workshops, presentations, or else were referred
to my e-zine by friends or family. Yes! Another way to find me.
As
you can see, there are many ways for clients to find us. We just need to
be available in as many places and situations as possible so they CAN
find us. Get out there and let them know where to find you! YES!
© Ann Gambrell 6/09
Tips from the Pros
1. By every telephone, keep a
notebook with a pen and a list of friends, family, and emergency phone
numbers taped to the inside front cover (make it a Word document so
you can keep it updated).
Karen Fulks,
Organizer Extraordinaire/OE
2.
Store insurance policies together in your file cabinet for easy
accessibility. Color-code the labels with the same color for quick visual
recognition. Print the folder labels using a consistent format and
description: for instance, Auto - Ford, Auto - Mazda, Health
- Jane, Health - Robert, Life - Jane, Life - Robert.
Donna D. McMillan,
McMillan & Company Professional Organizing
About
the TIPS Program:
NAPO-LA's
TIPS Program is managed by the chapter's Golden Circle members. Ann
Gambrell is the chair and invites all chapter members to submit their
organizing tips via email or on index cards that will be available at the
monthly chapter meetings for deposit into the "Organizing Tips"
box.
TIPS are requested in two categories: "Tips from Pros" are
organizing tips for clients/the public."Tips of the Trade" are
tips for organizers to use in their businesses. When submitting TIPS, you
are invited (optional) to include your name, business name and contact
information. This will serve to promote you when the client/public TIPS
are posted on the NAPO-LA website's home page.
Email your TIPS to: goldencircle@napola.org
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Ventura Neighborhood Group Goes to the Dump!
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And loves it!!
By
Beth Zeigler and Susan Culligan
On June 19, several members of the NAPO-LA Ventura County Neighborhood
Group took an all-expenses paid (that is, free) tour of the Waste
Management Simi Valley Landfill and Recycling Center. On the tour were
Heather Furlong, Fay Wolf, Beth Zeigler, Abbey Keusch, Regina Lark with
her guest Pat Mathews, and Susan Culligan.
Beth's report: When Fay Wolf of New Order Organizing asked
me if I'd like to take a field trip to the Simi Valley Landfill--I have
to admit, I was a little skeptical. How close would we be to piles and
piles of trash? My imagination of what a landfill would be like was
squashed the minute we drove up to Simi Valley's large operation.
First of all, it's located in a beautiful area (think rolling valleys and
clean air). And to my pleasant surprise, we were going to be given a tour
on a comfy van--no wading in trash necessary!
Our tour guide was a lovely woman named Lisa Hemenway, who gave us tons
of helpful information, such as
- The facility reuses the landfill
gas (which is a natural byproduct of decomposing waste).
- That gas provides electricity to
2,500 homes each day!
- The landfill also utilizes 11
million gallons of reclaimed water for irrigation and dust
control on the premises--which in turn saves enough drinking water
for over 100 homes.
- Simi Valley Waste Management is
also required to recycle 60% of their waste (otherwise they will be
fined).
In addition to hearing more about recycling and the life
cycle of our trash, we had the opportunity to meet a trained falconer!
Because swarms of seagulls spread trash around the area and pollute the
waters around their nests with the waste, Falcon Master Joe Suffredini
uses these birds to keep local seagulls from taking up residence at the
landfill. When a group of offending birds start to circle above the
trash, the Joe lets his falcon loose (his return is assured with bait of
quail eggs).
Future plans for Waste Management involve creating an open space and
wildlife habitat of 516 acres and expanding their green energy program.
Susan's Report: In addition to all the great info on how
our trash is treated, we also saw some products made from some of the
things we throw away, such as these really pretty baskets:
As part of their technology to capture the energy from the trash
decomposition, you can see below the gas lines that snake around the
whole facility, transferring greenhouse gasses into processing areas for
use as fuel for the facility as well as for homes in the surrounding
area.
Waste Management has a number of wildlife habitat protection projects in
the works, and Lisa showed us a little protected area in the parking lot
that employees roped off so the killdeer could nest in the gravel in
peace! See more about their environmental stewardship in the Environmental Review.
Anyone interested in getting a tour of the facility should contact Lisa
Hemenway at LHemenway1@wm.com.
For more information on how Waste Management incorporates environmental
stewardship with managing our trash and recycling, check out these links
on their website:
Waste Management's ThinkGreen
website
What is a bioreactive landfill?
Environmental Educational
Resources
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Double or Even Triple Your Appointments with New Clients
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 Saturday, July 25; 9:00 am
- 1:00 pm
Instructor: Michelle Quintana
Does this sound familiar?
- You get a call from a VERY
interested prospect, explain your services, your fees, and answer
all the questions, but ... YOU DON'T BOOK THE APPOINTMENT!
- You continually get objections
about your fees and don't really know how to effectively handle
them, and ... YOU DON'T BOOK THE APPOINTMENT!
- Or the prospect says, "OK, I
need to check with my husband, and I'll get back with you," and
... YOU DON'T BOOK THE APPOINTMENT!
- Your prospect is worried about
spending money on your services during a down economy, and ... YOU
DON'T BOOK THE APPOINTMENT!
What
is this costing you in real lost revenue? Afraid of sounding sales-hypey
on the phone and have no clue how to effortlessly "close" the
appointment?
If you're ready to get outside your comfort zone and begin booking
appointments, then this training session is for you. Just one or two tips
will pay off for the rest of your organizing career. You'll learn exactly
how to master ...
- The three most common objections,
how to stop them dead in their tracks, and what NEVER to say to a
prospect.
- Sounding professional without the
sales-hype -- having them begging to work with you.
- Role playing with colleagues to
break the comfort zone keeping your income in the tank.
Here's
what past attendees said about Michelle's session:
"I received a phone call from a CPA who received a flier of mine. He
asked about my fees, and with that first question I became Michelle's
clone! I qualified him, felt his pain, praised him, told him about my
four-hour minimum and hourly fee. We booked the first appointment to
reorganize his home office. That one phone call more than paid for the
workshop!" --Regina Lark, A Clear Path
"Michelle's workshop was simply great. She's an energetic, highly
knowledgeable, humorous, and motivating speaker, and she got us very
charged up about how to engage first-time callers in order to get to that
first step, which is booking an appointment. Role-play was really fun
(and very revealing!). Anyone who's interested in generating more
business needs to take this workshop." --Susan Culligan,
Got to Get Organized
Make more money and book your calendar with clients who WANT to work with
you!
Michelle Quintana spent 12 years as a
NAPO-LA member and full-time organizer. Now owner of Bulldog Creative
Copywriting, she traded in the clutter for the keyboard, using what she
learned in building a six-figure organizing business and turning that
passion into a career as a professional freelance copywriter.
Date: Saturday, July 25, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm. Class will be limited
to 20 participants, so register early!
Cost: Early registration: NAPO-LA Members: $99; Public: $119
After July 19, add $15
Location: Circle of Care Leeza's Place, 5000 Van Nuys Blvd,
Sherman Oaks CA 91403
For more information contact education@napola.org
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NAPO
Los Angeles
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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
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