(ARA) – Baby boomers are reaching the age of retirement and it’s a great time to do the things they’ve always wanted to do. For many, this means traveling and experiencing different places and cultures. What if that passion for travel and people could be changed into a second career? Being a tour director can do just that, providing the opportunity to see the world with the flexibility to work whenever you want.
Tour directors are the special people who take care of all day to day the details that make for a successful vacation. They oversee airport, motor coach and hotel check-ins, handle customs and airline problem solving, schedule sightseeing arrangements and act as a congenial host generating enthusiasm and melding a group together into a happy “traveling family.”
“Tour directing is great job for those who have retired. You don’t need to be away for months on end, you choose your schedule, where you want to go and when you want to work,” says Ted Bravos, who 30 years ago founded International Tour Management Institute (ITMI), the first state-certified school for training professional tour directors and guides in America. “I feel older people with their extensive life experience can really make a difference in this industry. They get to share their wisdom while guiding others. They also get the added benefit to stay mentally and physically active while creating unforgettable memories.”
Lee Burch did just that. After retiring from a 40 year career he decided he was ready for a new adventure. “Tour directing has allowed me to travel to places I probably wouldn’t have been able to travel otherwise, and I’m able to help people,” says Burch. “It combines both the travel, which I have a passion for, with being able to make a difference in people’s lives. It has made a difference in my own life as well.”
Sound too good to be true? ITMI’s 30 year track record speaks for itself. With the right tools, determination and personality, it can be a reality. The school prepares students for a tour directing career in a 15-day intensive training program. Students learn about the tour and travel industry through practical “hands-on” experience in the field, including 5 days training aboard a deluxe motor coach and an overnight fieldtrip where they actually perform the role of a tour director. After graduation, ITMI have a more than 85 percent placement record.
Tour directors range in age from 20 to 70 with almost half over 50 who have either raised families or had other careers before taking on the new challenge of leading tours. After becoming certified, tour directors can work as much or as little as they choose. Leading tours can also be financially rewarding as well. Besides getting a free trip, tour directors receive approximately $200 per day, plus all expenses, meals and their own private accommodations.
Joanne Connors began her career after raising three children. She had always dreamt of traveling the world, but marriage and family came first. She first learned of tour directing on a trip to the Grand Canyon.
“My tours started in New England where I was born,” says Connors. “From there the whole world opened up to the most exotic places for me. My biggest dream was to go to Africa, but on my route I went to India, Egypt and the Soviet Union. It’s been such a pleasure and a joy.”
Connors spaces out her trips so that she will have plenty of time to spend with her family, including her grandchildren. She has found being a tour guide is a rewarding and flexible career that can be tailored to complement her other interests and responsibilities.
For more information about a travel career and becoming a tour director, visit www.ITMItourtraining.com or call (800) 442-4864.
Courtesy of ARA Content
(ARA) – For students across the country, the beginning of a new school year is just around the corner. And, if you haven’t started your back-to-school shopping yet, you may soon find yourself dealing with large crowds and pricey cash register totals.
Back-to-school spending is expected to jump 6.9 percent this year, and families with school-aged children are expected to spend a total of $18.4 billion, an average of $563.49 per child. According to the National Retail Federation’s 2007 back-to-school survey, here’s how the register totals break down:
* Clothing and accessories: $231.80
* Shoes: $108.42
* School supplies (notebooks, backpacks and lunchboxes): $94.02
* Electronics or computer-related equipment: $129.24
To reduce the financial strain of back-to-school expenses, use these five tips to develop a strategy before you venture to the malls.
Tip No. 1 - Generate a list of necessities and stick to it.
Younger children typically receive a list of required supplies directly from their school. Most teenagers will want to generate their own lists — make sure to spend time reviewing it together before you head to the stores. Often a teenager’s definition of “necessity” may be slightly different than their parent’s.
Sending kids off to college? Remember — they’ll need a lot more than the basics. Make sure to include items such as linens, laundry supplies, computers and more.
Tip No. 2 - Watch for sales.
It seems like back-to-school sales start earlier every year. Start as early as possible and stockpile supplies little by little as they go on sale. By spreading out back-to-school expenses into several smaller purchases as you find the sales, you’ll feel less of an impact on your budget, and you’ll save money overall.
In addition to the basic school supplies and clothing, bigger ticket items such as electronics, laptops, calculators, cell phones, MP3 players and digital cameras tend to go on sale as new items are often released to hit stores in time for holiday shopping.
Tip No. 3 - Take advantage of price matching.
Many retailers now offer to match their competitor’s prices. If an item on your list is on sale at a store that’s too far out of your way, look for a more convenient, competitor store that will match the offer. You’ll not only spend less on the item itself, but you’ll save yourself time and gasoline.
Tip No. 4 - Supplement your budget with your change.
Concerned about how you’re going to pay for all the things your list? Coinstar, Inc. estimates that there is approximately $90 worth of change in the average American home waiting to be put to good use.
Take your change to the nearest Coinstar Center and have it counted for free when you place the value of your change onto a gift card or certificate from retailers like Amazon.com, Circuit City, iTunes, Timberland and more. Or, turn your change in for cash (there’s a nominal service fee) and spend it anywhere you like. (Visit www.coinstar.com for details and to find the nearest location.)
Tip No. 5 - Ask for student discounts.
Don’t forget about student discount programs. While most are geared towards college students making their own purchases, many are extending to middle and high school students. Depending on the amount of the purchase, the savings could be substantial.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
(ARA) – Remember when your biggest back-to-school shopping challenge was finding your elementary student the coolest pair of sneakers and trendy T-shirts?
Now they’re high-school or college bound and it’s a lot more complicated.
Today, shopping for school means making sure they have all the technology they’ll need to make it through the school year. But before you buy, make sure you do your homework and know what kids really need to succeed.
“Computers in school are now as commonplace as computers in homes,” says Paul Ewert, executive vice president and general merchandising manager of CompUSA. “Parents and educators have come to rely on technology as an important tool to enhance learning for children.”
Preparing your children in terms of technology requires more than just making sure their laptop is in working order. Ewert and the technology experts at CompUSA offer the following tips to help you make smart back-to-school shopping decisions:
* If your teenager carries his laptop to school, be sure to invest in locks. Locks will prevent unauthorized users from stealing or accessing the computer. Choose cut-resistant galvanized steel combination locks. CompUSA offers locks that can be user-programmed with up to 10,000 different combinations.
* A great alternative to carrying the entire laptop is to invest in a USB flash drive. “USB flash drives have become hugely popular as reliable, portable pocket-sized means of saving papers, presentations and even music and photos in a device smaller than your thumb,” Ewert says. “For most students’ needs, 1GB and higher capacities are recommended, with 2GB becoming the new standard for safe storage of information large enough for most purposes.”
* For safeguarding important schoolwork, as well as photos, videos and music, an external hard drive acts as a “safe-deposit box.” The drives can be used to back up data in the event of a system crash, corrupted files, accidental erasures or similar maladies common in computers used in a student environment. “Students should consider an external hard drive of 300 MB or greater, up to 1 Terabyte,” says Ewert. “The bigger they are, the more information they can store.”
* Many students are also using their cell phones or digital cameras to store photos, videos and music. Additional memory cards greatly expand the storage capacity of these devices. “The most popular memory card is the mobile Secure Digital (SD) cards for cell phones,” suggests Ewert. “These are good for saving hundreds of pictures, music files, etc., on a student’s phone or Blackberry.”
* Repetitive motion injuries are common among people who spend hours a day typing, including students. An ergonomic keyboard and mouse can help prevent injury and improve posture by helping position the hands, wrists and forearms naturally. Ewert recommends you test-drive a model in the store before you buy it. “Everyone’s hands and wrists are unique,” he says. “It’s important to find the one that best fits you.”
* All work and no play makes for very bored students, so be sure to throw in some technology that’s just for fun, like Slingbox, which allows students to tune into their local TV shows while away at school, and add-on TV Tuners that can turn a dorm room PC into a complete entertainment center.
* Finally, on a practical note, consider how you will handle situations when your computer and other technology are not working properly. Consider investing in a technology service plan for your students. Often, this can be available at a discount when you purchase a new laptop or desktop computer. This back-to-school season, CompUSA is offering 30 days of unlimited technical support for just $29.99 with the purchase of a PC. Many computer retailers charge $50 or more for a one-time service call.
To learn more about back to school technology, stop by your local CompUSA store or go online to www.compusa.com to view a Back to School Buying Guide.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
7) Seven ways to better promote your craft product
Dont forget to use off-line and local advertising on Garnernc-online.com.
First of all we as crafters, know that its hard to get paid for the labor you put into you projects, and if you are not marketing at the right places you might find it hard to get paid a fair price for your work or your creativity. First you must know the difference between handmade or handcrafted as to homemade.
Homemade the term can be used but most people think homemade means just make and sell it, and they may forget that it still has to be presentable in a nice presentation and not just put together in hast, clean packaging, with instructions etc.
1.Attend local crafts shows,fairs, festivals,farmers markets these places will appreciate your handiwork, do not take your products to a flea market its a big! big! mistake.(more on this later)
2.Don’t forget your community, sell your crafts at your church, community clubs, team up with fund raisers, work a deal out to your liking that benifit all.
3.Sell to your friends, family, the people you work with, Display your crafts at home inviting customers.
4.Try consignment shops, remember anything over 25% is too much.
5.Advertise! advertise! in your local papers once a week, your city guide or shoppers and bi-weekly publications, most of these ads are fairly inexpensive.
6.Build your own website with shopping cart,
Web max studio offers the whole package that you can add 500 products and shopping cart is included, plus extras. Go here: Webmaxstudio
7.Get a merchant account it will increase your sales and your customers will respect your business more. Paynet Systems offers a phone merchant account for crafters with no monthly minimum fees and 95% approval rate. This account is great for at home, shows or in remote locations,very affordable.
Get a retail or online account with good rates and the equipment is fair also. Go to http://www.tools-and-things.com and scoll down to Paynet systems Banner and click.
Please send us your feed-back and help us make this a great community for all businesses, crafters and webmasters.
Mora said he reached out to Vick and exchanged text messages before Vick pleaded not guilty.
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
6:47 AM EDT, July 30, 2007
KIRKLAND, Wash.
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Jim Mora is so shocked about Michael Vick being indicted on federal dogfighting charges, the former Falcons coach doesn’t know how he should feel about his ex-quarterback.
Mora, now the Seattle Seahawks assistant head coach and defensive backs coach after the Falcons fired him New Year’s Day, has been in contact with Vick.
Mora said Sunday that he reached out to Vick a day before Vick pleaded not guilty last week to participating in a dogfighting ring that allegedly executed underperforming pit bulls by hanging, electrocution or other brutal means.
“We have a very good relationship. He and I exchanged text messages Wednesday. I just wanted to let him know that I was thinking about him,” Mora said of Vick.
“And that’s not to condone what he supposedly did, at all. Just, on a human level, to let him know that I was here (for him).
“I think it’s a real unfortunate situation, and I hope for the best for him. You obviously hope the charges aren’t true,” hesaid.
The seriousness of the accusations and the bond Mora and Vick formed in three seasons leave the former Falcons coach conflicted.
“You know, it’s really tough for me to comment on what’s going on with him, because I don’t know how I feel about it. I go back and forth. I think you can understand that,” Mora said.
“It’s a tough call, for me. I’m trying to keep my focus on my family and the Seattle Seahawks. And hopefully things play out down there how they are supposed to play out, for everybody.”
Read More:Dailypress.com
GARNER - Garner police this morning identified a moped passenger who died Sunday when he was struck by a driver fleeing a DWI checkpoint.Christopher Gonzalez-Guteinrrez, 25, of 6112 Old Wake Forest Road, Raleigh, was killed as he rode on the moped on U.S. 70 in Garner, police said. Officials postponed releasing his name until early today so they could first notify his family.
The driver of the moped, Jesus Gonzales-Orozco, also 25, was seriously injured and was being treated at WakeMed’s Raleigh Campus.
Garner Police Sgt. Joe Binns said in a news release that authorities are continuing to seek the man driving the vehicle that struck the moped.
The driver fled a checkpoint manned by Wake sheriff’s deputies at Legend Road and U.S. 401. Deputies chased the vehicle but lost sight of it.
The vehicle was heading east on U.S. 70 near Loop Road when it struck the moped. It then exited the highway at Vandora Springs Road. There, the vehicle blew through an intersection, hitting a car occupied by Jaquanna Hester and Jewia Taylor. Neither suffered major injuries, Binns said.
After the second crash, Binns said, the vehicle spun out of control, went down an embankment and stopped in a parking lot at Forest Hills Shopping Center. The man then jumped from the car and ran.
Garner police have asked that anyone with information call the department at (919) 772-4688.
SOURCE: News & Observer
Squirrel repellents do they really work? How can you stop these sometimes pest from getting into your feeders? Grey squirrels and eastern fox squirrels can keep you busy filling your feeders while your feathered friends are without feed. They can also damage or you may end -up with a total loss.
Despite efforts by home owners and bird-watchers, squirrels usually can gain access to your bird-feeders, even the experts with all their testing on bird-feeders and squirrel repellents have yet to find the “magic bullet” … So how or what can we do about these serenity takers?
The grey squirrel and the eastern fox squirrel can jump 8 feet sideways and 4 feet straight up from the ground, and can leap 15 feet down and hold on to where it land, “most likely your feeders” This some of the things I was told to try and have not tried them all but one is working just fine.
1. Avoid hanging feeders from trees, instead use a large post or pole and a baffle. Go to Lowe’s Home Improvement Center on 70 highway in Garner NC and get a fence post made of white plastic, its is squirrel proof.
2. Elevate your feeder at least 5 feet off ground.
3. Hang your feeders by chain from the arm of the post with a baffle over it.
4. If you can’t beat them, feed them! Use food to attract them from feeders, corn, soybeans, nuts, or seeds.
5. Mix Fine Crushed Hot Red Pepper in with your bird feed. No it won’t hurt the birds or the squirrels but they will remember not to go to that feeder again. This works for me and most people.
6. Bulb booster with Bobcat Urine.
7. Hot Pepper Wax.
8. Ropel you can find ropel online from gardening catalog websites.
Buying Birdhouses And Bird-Feeders Things to consider and questions to ask before you purchase a bird-feeder or birdhouse. What is the product made of? Most handcrafted birdhouses and bird-feeders are made from the very best exterior grade woods, like cypress, western red cedar, eastern yellow pine, eastern red cedar, and plywood Baltic-birch or a very good grade from eastern Europe, these are all good for making birdhouses and bird-feeders.
Warning do not buy a birdhouse or bird feeder that’s been constructed with pressure treat lumber!
Ask how it was constructed? what kind of paints? what type of glue was used? a good polyurethane or marine glue is a good choose. Is your birdhouse or feeder guaranteed? There are some companies and crafters that do guarantee their products but as a rule you should not ask for guarantee if the product (birdhouse, feeder) is under $90.00.
For expensive birdhouses and bird-feeders don’t be afraid to ask, they just might include it with your purchase. Also get your guarantee in writing and full detail on how it works.
Ask where to hang it or the best place to put it? When to clean it and how to clean it? What type of food? Loaded with the right info you should be able to beat the squirrels and purchase a great bird-feeder or birdhouse.
Revenue is up for online advertising three years in a row, keyword ads targeted at specific searches still at the top. Officials in the industry are saying that the record $12.5 Billion in 2005 could grow as much or more than 35 percent for 2006. Internet advertising account for only 5 percent of all US advertising revenue up 1 percent from 2004.
More business and personal advertising online is good news for local businesses and local news portals, with more people have access to computers and internet access, businesses saving money and time with lower cost high traffic local news portals, generating traffic to online and off-line businesses and people in general. Garnernc-online.com is starting a large local business recruitment campaign, offering businesses a more economical way to advertise and promote their business, product and services.11/12/06 for the 21,000 plus citizens and businesses owners of Garner NC to use their high traffic News and Local Advertising Portal.
Shopping in Garner NC for a soap that I could shave with, I’ve tried all
kinds of soap products. I was told a time back, that I was shaving my skin in
the wrong direction and that I needed to follow way the hair laid to the face.
Well it helped some, but I still got bumps and skin iratations.
I tried name brands soaps, bar and liquids, I tried shaving creams and still
the same problems. Then I remembered my mom used to make homemade soaps,the old-
fashioned kind, “you know” the kind with animal fat and lye, she would burn oak
wood and soak the ashes in water to make the lye if she could’nt get box lye.
I went to one of my older sisters to get the recipe and I got an old wash-pot,
all my supplies and got started making lye soap. I followed the recipe, used
lord instead of vegetable oil. I used lye, I boild it to the right temperture
and poured to molds, “WOW! I GOT SOAP” well it looked odd, had a strange smell
and got slimy after washing with it. I asked myself, what went wrong?
Well I did eventually make a good batch of lye soap, after about four tries. I learned a lot from this, not to mention the humorous jokes that was made about
the soap that looked like cheese, clay pies, half cooked bread and more memorable
ones I won’t mention. I used and sold untill it was gone but the soap did not work
on my skin problem.
Once more I learned from this by learning how much work goes into making a good product.
How much time and effort it takes to package the product, pricing, selling and promoting.
I also learned while making soaps, your heart have got be into this craft, or it’s not for you. I did find a soap maker that I buy from now and it’s all natural, made in local NC
by HOPE SOAPS. I buy Hope Soap at the North Carolina State Farmer’s Market, located 6 miles from Garner NC
I tried the soap in spring 2006 at the NC State Farmers Market Craft Fair in Raleigh NC, I
was blown away! after the first use of the soap and I still use it. I don’t have the skin
problems I had before, it’s packaged nice and professional, the colors are great and it smells good but not too much scent, it cleans and suds up great.
Hope Soaps are handmade and contain a variety of natural ingredients, including Neem. Since Neem is proven to have anti-bacterial, anti-viral properties, these soaps are beneficial for many skin ailments. Hope Soaps are true alternatives to synthetically produced soaps.
With Hope Soaps and JustGreen Inc. a non-profit company that plant Neem trees in africa
and other parts of the world for taking back the deserts of the world.
I love this product and its a win! win! All Hope Soap and Little Hands sales will support the Neem tree project in West Africa
(ARA) - When you’re ready to enter the workforce after high school or college, compiling your first résumé can feel daunting — you know you have the skills and a good head on your shoulders, but how do you convince someone else that you have what it takes to do the job well? However vicious the cycle seems, quell your worries and the anxieties of future employers by really focusing on your résumé.
When you’re first entering the workforce, resist the urge to compile a traditional résumé. If you don’t have previous experience working at the job title you are applying for, then you shouldn’t have a conventional résumé that will only highlight your lack of experience as opposed to showcasing your relevant skills. In addition, tailor your résumé to the specific job for which you are applying. Examine the specific qualifications the employer is looking for, and evaluate how you could meet those standards. This is just the beginning; below are some helpful tips for ways to elevate your first résumé:
* Don’t write a chronological résumé. If a specific degree or level of education is required, list your education at the top of your résumé, followed by a section entitled, “Relevant Experience” that details the skills you’ll bring to the table. If a degree is not required, put this at the bottom of your resume.
* Find a job description for your ideal position by using job postings on popular Internet job boards and identify key terms used within. Under the “Relevant Experience” section, use your experiences from life, high school or college to mirror the job description, and try to use the same terminology used within the job description. For example, if you’re looking for a job in sales, and the job description requests experience with “cold calling,” you might list any fundraising calls you’ve made as, “Performed cold calls for fundraising efforts.” Using the same terminology will tie your experience to the specific skills the employer is looking for in a candidate.
* List internships and job experience in chronological order at the bottom of your résumé, and specify if a position was summer employment. If you held a position for a few months this could raise flags for a potential employer. But, you can avoid being crossed off the list by offering clarification. Next to these entries on your résumé, you should provide a brief explanation in parentheses such as, “Summer/Part-time employment to finance education.”
* Highlight extracurricular activities and your role within the organizations to which you belonged. Showing employers that you are able to balance extracurricular activities with other activities demonstrates time-management skills. Likewise, if you held leadership positions in any organizations, you should list those to exhibit your leadership abilities.
Before you mail off your résumé, remember that it will be your first impression — spell check your cover letter and résumé thoroughly. If you’re in college or even high school, ask a career counselor to go through your résumé to check for grammar and spelling errors. Once you have your base-model résumé completed, it will be easier to adapt the document for other positions that interest you.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
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EDITOR’S NOTE:
The author, Heather Mayfield is vice president of training and operations for Snelling Staffing Services. Snelling delivers temporary, career and professional staffing solutions to companies, with almost 200 offices throughout the United States. For more information, visit www.snelling.com
