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Subject: NAPO-LA Sept/Oct 2009 Los Angeles Organizer
Newsletter
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September/October
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
July 2009
46 members, 6 visitors
August 2009
43 members, 8 visitors
Total Membership
Regular members: 134
Associate members: 16
Mini Board Minutes
The Board approved the NAPO-LA 2009-2010 Budget ahead of schedule.
As of 2009-2010, membership renewals will be moved from September
to October.
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Volunteers
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August: Toni Scharff
July: Donna Rosman
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
College Hunks Hauling Junk
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
Acting Editor: Susan Culligan
editor@napola.org
Assistant Editor: Beth Zeigler assistanteditor@napola.org
Rewrite Editor:
Claire Flannery
Proofreaders:
Millie Hinkle
Donna D. 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 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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18
Hollywood Neighborhood Group
Pasadena/Glendale/Burbank Neighborhood Group
Orange County Neighborhood Group
Los Angeles Organizer Newsletter Published
21 Board Meeting 2:45pm
Los Angeles Organizing Expo
1-3 NSGCD Annual Conference
18 Golden Circle Autumn Meeting
NAPO-LA Ventura County Neighborhood Group
24 EDC Workshop: Double or Triple Your
Appointments
with New Clients
26 Board Meeting 2:45pm, New Member Orientation 4pm,
Chapter Meeting 6:15pm
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 Be Prepared
By Chantale Bordonaro, CPO®, CRTS™
President
Preparedness: the state of having been made ready or prepared
for use or action; "putting them in readiness";
"their preparation was more than adequate."
August 27th, 8:30 pm: I am driving home to South Redondo Beach
after finishing a move and enduring the hottest day of summer. As I
park the car in the driveway, I see over the hill a red sky filled
with smoke. I feel sorry for the homeowners in RPV, thinking it was
an isolated event. (As we all know now, it was not, and we even saw
worse). As I write this morning, the blaze is still going, with
over 100 acres burned and only 35% of the fire contained. I have
lived in California for almost 10 years; I felt earthquakes and
heard of friends being evacuated because of fires and landslides.
But in the last two months, with the two shakers in neighboring
Hawthorne (one was a 4.7 magnitude quake) and now these fires, it
hits a little too close to home.
As a family of three, are we prepared? I do this with clients; I
should lead by example right? Hey, I even wrote an article on it!
We did start our "Just in Case Emergency Kit," but we
still don't have a plan. Only last night did we finally film the
whole house for insurance purposes.
Being properly prepared applies to your personal life as well your
business.
Personal Life
- Make a family plan:
Once your plan is
established, make sure to rehearse once or twice a year and update
it with new information based on your family needs
- Create a "Just
in Case Kit": Include
3 day's worth of food and emergency kit. Store your supply kit
in an easy to access spot in your home and don't forget to
change or rotate your water and all supplies to make sure they
stay stays fresh.
- Create a
"Go-Pack"
for all your important family documents and memories
- Get educated: Make sure to gain
general awareness by checking websites like
www.daretoprepare.org and www.prepare.org from the American
Red Cross. These sites will provide you with excellent home
and office safety tricks and provide you with easy to follow
checklists. Attend our NAPO-LA October meeting to learn about
other resources!
Business Life
- Make a plan: Understand the
importance of business planning: It would be great if you had
a business plan but if you don't, at least make sure to know
what your expertise is, what your market is, and who your
target client is. Establish goals and review and/or revise
them every 6 months.
- Create a PO
toolbox:
Include all items you might need in a consultation: pens,
sharpies, tape measure, index cards, highlighters, label
machine and extra labels, Ziplocs and garbage bags, scissors,
thin gloves, masks and booties, etc. Moving clients? Have a
tape gun, a cutter, moving blankets, gloves, pre-printed
labels, blank inventory list, etc.
- Create a
"Marketing Go-Pack": Always carry your
business cards with you. In your car, have samples of your
marketing materials, some blank prospect forms, any materials
you would use in a "needs assessment consultation,"
and of course, your camera to document it all.
- Get educated: Improve yourself,
improve your business. Make sure to seek education from NAPO,
NAPO-LA, and your local Adult School. Check out the upcoming
NAPO-LA Expo or NSGCD or NAPO-SFBA conferences. Whether it's
within or out of the industry, remember that all fields of
life or work might teach you something that will make you a
better Professional Organizer. I just took a class from the
Beach City Health District that focused on Elders ("Not
ready to be old"). It taught me a lot about the way we
should treat our elders.
So, for both your personal and
business lives, get prepared just in case!!
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NAPO-LA 5th Annual Organizing Expo
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It's right around
the corner!
Monday, September 21, 2009
Olympic Collection Conference Center
4 pm to 8:30 pm.
Participating vendors, including Closet Factory, College Hunks
Hauling Junk, Esselte, Get It Together LA!, Go Junk Free America,
National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization, NorthStar Moving
Corporation, Organizing Systems, OrganizIT!, ScanDigital,
ShelfGenie, and SmartBox, among others, will delight us again with
their exciting new products and services.
And back by popular demand, "Ask The Organizer
Panel" experts responding to today's personal and business
needs will be members Chris McKenry (Get It Together LA!), Donna
McMillan (McMillan & Company Professional Organizing), Barbara
Ricketts CPO® (A.K.A. The Mess Doctor); and Dolores Kaytes (Highly
Organized, Inc.). The discussion will be facilitated by Lynne
Gilberg CPO® (Lynne Gilberg Organizing). Bring your questions to
this knowledgeable panel of professional organizers.
Both events are open to the public as well as the
membership. Please use the following links for more information
about the event, tickets, vendor registration, or sponsorship, or contact Barb Schmit, NAPO Expo
Vendor Coordinator, expovendors@napola.org.
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2010 Los Angeles Organizing Awards
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Task Force
Update
November 23, 5:15 pm
The Olympic Collection
(right before the regular Chapter meeting)
For more information, contact Erin Haas, awardsinfo@napola.org.
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Renewals Are Coming Up!
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October is
Renewal Month
Fall is around the corner, and it is annual dues renewal time at
NAPO-LA. Renew online during the month of October for another year of
exciting events and opportunities.
Membership in NAPO-LA gives you unparalled opportunities to build
your business and take it to the next level. Take advantage of our
continuing education, publicity, leadership training, support,
professional credibility, or simply meet new friends at
NAPO-LA. Read about your benefits online: NAPO Los Angeles Membership Benefits.
ANNUAL DUES
Active Members
Level 1 - $100
Reduced annual dues, $10 chapter meeting fee and a listing in the
"Find an Organizer" section of the NAPO-LA website
Level 2 - $165
Includes attendance to all monthly chapter meetings, a listing in
the "Find an Organizer" section of the NAPO-LA website,
and admission to the Expo. Level 2 available October only.
Associate Members
Local Associate Member - $300
Locally based, self-operating retailer, supplier, designer, or
independent sales representative primarily in the manufacture,
distribution and/or sales of organizational equipment/supplies or
organizing industry services.
Branch Associate Member - $175
Operates as a local branch or regional office of a NAPO National
Corporate Associate Member.
- Current NAPO
National membership is required for membership in NAPO-LA.
Lapsed National membership will result in forfeiting your
chapter membership.
- No refunds or
credits will be issued for unused membership benefits.
- Chapter dues must
be postmarked or received online by October 31, 2009 or a $25
late fee will be charged.
- Names of Active and
Associate members who do not renew by October 31 will be
removed from the NAPO-LA chapter roster and website.
- Membership in
NAPO-LA cannot be deducted as a charitable contribution but
may be deducted as an ordinary business expense for federal
tax purposes. Consult your tax specialist.
Thank you for continuing to support the founding chapter
of the National Association of Professional Organizers. You won't
want to miss a minute of the exciting year ahead!
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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
Click here for more details
Professional Organizers Networking Reception
Thursday, October 1, 2009
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Omni Hotel, 251 South Olive Street, Los Angeles CA 90012
The 2009 Annual Conference kicks off with an opening reception
offering NSGCD and NAPO-LA members the chance to network with
fellow professionals. Come join us for hors d'oeuvres and drinks!
Networking provides the opportunity to make new connections, expand
your knowledge, and find ways to improve your organization. Come
make changes in the way you live, work, and think and meet the
professional organizers of NSGCD and NAPO-LA!
Preregistration for the Networking Reception is required; to
preregister go to www.nsgcd.org/conferences/confreception.php
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NAPO-SFBA 20th Regional Conference
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"Foundation
- Evolution - Innovation"
November 7, 2009, San Rafael, California
The NAPO-San Francisco 20th Annual Regional Conference
"Foundation - Evolution - Innovation" conference is an
all-day event focusing on:
- Building a strong
foundation and knowledge base within the field of organizing
- Evolving organizing
businesses with effective marketing and brand strategy
- Learning about
innovative tools, applications and emerging technologies
Click here for the conference agenda and
registration info. Early Bird registration ends on October 7th - a
savings of $76 for NAPO members. [Note: Book rooms at the conference
hotel directly through the conference link off our web page, not through a
third-party travel site such as Expedia or Orbitz]
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Nominations Committee Announced
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John Trosko, Immediate Past President
 As the Chair of the NAPO-LA Nominations Committee, I am
pleased to announce our committee for the current 2009-2010 Term.
As many of you know, our work can have a very profound influence on
the chapter as we manage the entire leadership succession process
on behalf of the board.
The Goal of the Board Nominations Committee
The nominations committee gathers board nominations, reviews
qualifications, validates memberships, presents the nominations to
the membership, oversees the election process and ballot returns,
announces the results, and facilitates a smooth transition to a new
term. Our primary focus and goal is to provide leadership to the
Chapter that closely matches our goals and objectives.
NAPO-LA Leadership Forum
A main responsibility for the nominations committee is to plan and
execute the 2010 NAPO-LA Leadership Forum, a significant
educational program designed to teach and inspire chapter members
to be more effective as leaders not only in the chapter, but also
in their business and civic activities. The Fourth Annual
NAPO-LA Leadership Forum will take place the evening of Monday,
January 18, 2010. Details and the facilitator will be announced in
November.
Nominations Committee Schedule
This year's Nominating Committee consists of one Chair, one current
Board member, and two regular members. All have previously (or
currently) served on the Board in various capacities. Our first
meeting of the Committee will be mid-September. We will provide
updates to the membership in October. Nominations for the 2010-2011
term open late November.
2009-2010 Nominations Committee Members
 Tom Neverman served on the
NAPO-LA Board as Director of Programs for two years prior to being
elected NAPO National President in 1990. Tom's company, The Moving
Doctor, specializes in orchestrating relocation projects for
clients around the world. With over 21 years in business, Tom is
considered a veteran of the organizing industry. He has been
featured in Forbes Magazine, InStyle, HGTV and the Discovery
Channel.
 Marcy Melton, CPO®, served on
the NAPO-LA Board from 1997 to 1999 as Treasurer and has been a
member of NAPO and NAPO-LA since 1996. A 13-year veteran
Professional Organizer, Marcy majored in television and radio at
Ithaca College and spent 20 years in TV advertising sales and sales
management, prior to forming her organizing company, West Los
Angeles-based Bullseye Organizing Solutions. Her current business
focus is bookkeeping and tax preparation, filing systems, paper
management, and time management. She has attended 11 of the last 12
NAPO National Conferences and is thrilled to watch new chapter
leadership emerge.
 Leslie Haber has been a
Professional Organizer for over 16 years and an active member of
NAPO and NAPO-LA for over two years. Leslie is currently serving
her second term as Director of Professional Development, where she
is charged with creating and producing the chapter's regular
meetings and overseeing the NAPO-LA Educational Development
Committee and NAPO in the Schools. Her business career began as a
producer of large-scale special events and directorships at many of
Los Angeles' top hotels. Her company, An Organized Life, serves
clients in Los Angeles and New York City. Leslie is a civil and gay
rights activist and has formed numerous grass roots organizations
to provide a strong voice in local city government.
John Trosko (Nominations Chair), is a Los Angeles-based
Professional Organizer, business owner, blogger, and published
contributing author. Since joining NAPO and NAPO-LA, John has
served on the Board as Director of Professional Development, Vice-President,
two terms as President, and currently, Immediate Past President.
Under his tenure, the Los Angeles chapter received the prestigious
NAPO National "President's Award" for his and the
chapter's collective contributions to the organizing industry on a
national level. Prior to forming OrganizingLA in 2004, John was a
member of the production management staff with Walt Disney Feature
Animation. His company has been featured in BusinessWeek, Self
Magazine, Los Angeles Times, New York Magazine, and Daily
Candy.
For more information on the Nominations Committee, contact the
Chair at pastpresident@napola.org.
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Revamping the Assistant List
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 A Proactive
Approach
Susan Culligan, Director of Communications and
Technology
As of October, the Board of Directors has created a more dynamic,
proactive vehicle for members to connect with other members who
want to work as, or who need, assistants in their professional organizing
work.
This approach is two-fold and, we hope, will be easier to use and
keep current.
First, we'll be using the Yahoo Group for both Assistants
Wanted and Assistants Available announcements. Members wishing to
make themselves available as assistants are encouraged to post
their qualifications and information once per quarter to the
Yahoo Group members informing them of their availability.
Organizers wishing to hire assistants can post their requests on
the Yahoo Group as well, so it pays to be a member! (For
instructions on joining the Yahoo Group, which is a great way to
stay connected with other members, go to the Yahoo Group page on our website and click
the purple button.)
Second, we've created an Assistant List Bulletin Board on
the website (AssistantListBulletinBoard), where assistants
can post their availability and hirers can go to see who's eager to
work. This bulletin board forum is cleared every 90 days, so only
those who've recently posted their availability will appear.
We hope these changes will create a more active and lively way for
members to connect in hiring and working as assistants.
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Volunteers Of The Month
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 Donna Rosman, Chapter Co-photographer
What is your business name?
Progressive Organizing Services
Where do you do business? I recently made a move to the
Pasadena area, but my coverage is the greater Los Angeles area. I
also occasionally work in the Tucson, Arizona area.
What are your main organizing interests or specialties? My
main areas of interest are in the CD population and the elderly.
What are your main non-organizing interests or hobbies? In
addition to organizing, I am a dog trainer and dog rehabilitation
specialist. I have been training dogs for the past 12 years, and
have found that dog training and organizing are incredibly
similar. Organizing isn't usually about the
"stuff," and dog-training usually isn't about the
"dog." I'm a photographer, an avid hiker, skier, and
equestrian. I have four dogs, two cats, and four horses.
How did you get into organizing as a profession? I have two
children with ADD, and I have ADD. We had to get organized.
I have a background in communications, nursing, and business
management, and when the time was right, I chose to put all my
skills together to become an organizer.
How did you come to join NAPO and/or NAPO-LA? I joined NAPO
in early 2008, so I'm relatively new. I found NAPO online, and
immediately attended my first National Conference. When I realized
I was in a room of 900 people who I could totally relate to, it was
a cathartic realization that this is what I wanted to do!
What has been your experience volunteering in NAPO-LA and what
do you see as the benefits of volunteering? I really enjoy
volunteering because it's been a great way to learn from more
experienced organizers. It provides a continuous exposure to
professional peers, and it's a great way to meet incredible people!
 Toni Scharff, Expo Task Force, Newsletter Proofreader
What is your business name?
The Simplicity Project
Where do you do business? Santa Monica, the Westside,
Pacific Palisades, Beverly Hills, and south through Palos Verdes
What are your main organizing interests or specialties? I
specialize in general residential organization, including small and
home office systems, paper flow, and mail management.
What are your main non-organizing interests or hobbies? This
year I've been reading old classics that I missed out on during
those years of formal schooling. On my bicycle, which I use for
commuting and exercise, the longest sport ride I've done is 165
miles to Ventura and back; and I like to view the world from
mountaintops. My husband and I enjoy flying to small airports in
the western half of the country in our single engine Cessna
182. Our recent trip was from Los Angeles to Montana via
Denver. "If you have time to spare, go by air," they say.
We had several weather holds and a layover due to a tornado
warning, but made the round trip in just two days longer than
planned.
How did you get into organizing as a profession? I like to
introduce myself by saying I was born with alphabetical files and a
balanced checkbook, which is essentially true: I came with the
"Obsessively Orderly" gene. In 1999, ten years after
moving to LA from Montana, I was helping an acquaintance, who I've
come to learn was a hoarder. As we struggled through her piles of
possessions, she casually mentioned, "You know, Toni, people
pay for this. There are groups you can join - people do this for a
living."
How did you come to join NAPO and/or NAPO-LA? I was out of
there in a flash, got online, found NAPO-LA, called the hotline,
joined immediately, and the rest is history. I have been a
self-employed organizer and NAPO member for the past 10 years .
What has been your experience volunteering in NAPO-LA and what
do you see as the benefits of volunteering? I started
volunteering to get to know my colleagues, to learn what it takes
to run a chapter, and to "be in the know" about what was
going on in our chapter. Being a Board member, working on
committees and with NAPO projects has expanded my horizon at the
rate that our industry is growing. There's nothing like being
involved in one of the fastest growing and cutting edge small
industries in the country.
 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 Chapter Meeting Information
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 Leslie
Haber
Director of Professional Development
Past Presenter:
Thanks to Mary Ann Williams of School of Moxie (and she's sure
got moxie!) for her wonderful presentation on Record Keeping &
Digital Archiving. Once we all got over our initial shock concerning
the shorter-than-expected lifespan of a compact disc, our group
enjoyed learning about this important and growing field of interest
and informational archiving.
Upcoming Chapter Meeting
Monday, October 26, 2009:
Safety Preparation for Clients & Organizers (aka: "JUST
IN CASE...!"). Presenters will discuss creating emergency
lists, kits, inventories, and emergency plans. We'll also learn about
estate planning, emergency contacts, and basic safety guidelines for
home, pets, office, and car.
Silent Auction
We will not have a Silent Auction at the Expo in September
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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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NAPO LA Members
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Welcome Our Newest Members
 Kendra
Miller
Inner Beauty
Los Angeles, CA
 Arianna Vargas
Casa Bellisima Organized Interiors
Sherman Oaks, CA
310-625-6522
arianna@casa-bellisima.com
Associate
Member Contact Correction:
Our website had an incorrect URL for our newest Associate
Member! We apologize and include the correct contact information
below:
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Golden Circle
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 Organizing
and Safety
Karen Sue Fulks
Organizer Extraordinaire/OE
Organizing and safety - should these two words go together? You
betcha'! Let me give you some things to think about and some safety tips
that might come in handy. More than likely, you will have already
thought of these, so this will be a refresher course.
When you get the original phone call from a client, and as you're
asking the basic questions of what they need, listen - really listen
- to this person. If you get a gut feeling of unease or distaste, or
they've said something that makes you uncomfortable, go with your
gut! Always listen to that inner voice that we sometimes question.
Maybe this is not the client for you. And it doesn't matter why
you're not comfortable, because only YOU know your comfort level.
Now let's say you've decided to meet with the client. If you're not
sure of the neighborhood, it's not a bad idea to drive there
beforehand to "scope out the territory." Make sure that
someone knows where you are - give your office partner or your life
partner or a friend the address and phone number of where you will be
going. Also, make sure that your cell phone is either in your hand or
in an easily accessible pocket. If at any point, as you're making
this initial assessment, you become uncomfortable about the situation
- remember, you don't have to be there, you can leave at any time.
Look at your watch, make up an excuse and get out. Again, your
intuition is your greatest friend in these situations.
Ok, the client turns out to be someone you want to work with. Should
the word "safety" still be in your vocabulary? YES! In your
"toolbox" should always be gloves and a mask. Whether
working with hoarders or straightening out a garage, you can never be
too careful where your health is concerned. You don't know if there
are hazardous materials lying underneath those newspapers. Or, as
you're clearing up a garage floor, filled with old papers and such,
there might be a risk of Hantavirus (researchers believe that people
may be able to get the virus if they touch something that has been
contaminated with rodent urine, droppings, or saliva, and then touch
their noses or mouths.)
Also remember - know your limits in terms of reaching and stretching
and lifting. Most of this might seem like common sense, but sometimes
as we're "in the moment" of organizing and helping others,
we tend to not think of taking precautions. So, remember to take care
of yourself first.
For further information on safety, Debbie Stanley, of Red Letter Day
Professional Organizers, presents a safety teleclass through NSGCD
(www.nsgcd.org)
 Golden
Circle at the Beach
Ann
Gambrell
Golden Circle Coordinator
The July meeting of the Golden Circle was held at the home of Debra
Frank in Manhattan Beach, with brunch cohost Carol Keller and 13
members in attendance. After the tour of her lovely - and can I say
organized - home, we shared a great brunch with an abundance of
networking and sharing over dessert. By the way, as a brand new
Golden Circle member, this was Debra Frank's first meeting - and she
hosted it as well!
Thank you Debra and Carol.
During the quarterly Golden Circle update time, there was no lack of
willing volunteers for a variety of requests. Members came forth to
host the 2010 meetings, to write articles for the chapter newsletter,
bringing organizing tips (on the spot!), and more. Thank you all.
Future meeting ideas were discussed, including a Waste Management
trip/tour, a TV show, a Green/Recycling facility visit, meeting
themes/topics, etc. Members offered to research these possibilities.
Lynne Gilberg brought an update on the newly formed "Helping
Hands" service for Golden Circle members. Lynne &
Rosalind Lakomy will provide members in need with personal assistance
when necessary, which may include ill members' needing meals,
transportation to appointments, shopping needs, moving, etc. Kudos to
all volunteering to pitch in when the needs arise. Contact Lynne or
Ros with such needs. Thank you all.
Long time LA Chapter member Sheila McCurdy will be moving out of
state and will be greatly missed. All our best to Sheila, as we look
forward to connecting with her at our future NAPO National
Conferences.
The next quarterly meeting of the Los Angeles Area Golden Circle will
be on Sunday October 18th, hosted by Sally Hulem and Marcy Melton.
See you then.
Tips from the
Pros
When helping a client clean out a linen closet, consider
donating all those unused towels, sheets, blankets, etc. to an animal
shelter. They are always in need of these items. Donation is tax
deductible for your client.
Claire Flannery, simplify
To organize catalogs and phone books, take a hanging file and cut off
the paper, leaving just the metal rod. Hang this in your file drawer
to hang catalogs and phone books for easy access.
Barb Schmit, Esselte
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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Double
or Even Triple Your Appointments with New Clients
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 Saturday,
October 24; 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Instructor: Michelle Quintana
To register click here
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, October 24, 9:00 am-1:00 pm. Class limited to
20 participants, so register early!
Cost: Early registration: NAPO-LA Members: $99; Public:
$119
After October 21, add
$15
Location: Circle of Care Leeza's Place, 5000 Van Nuys Blvd,
Sherman Oaks CA 91403
To register click here
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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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
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