This past July 2008, I attended a family reunion in Michigan. I am passionate about family reunions! You see, if it were not for two grandmothers, I would not be where I am today! I’m a Genealogiest both personally and professionally. Currently, I am a family historian for two different family reunions, in two different states, Michigan and Pennsylvania. In the past, many years ago, I had been a secretary and historian for the reunion in Michigan. Since 2001, I have am a recording secretary and historian for one reunion in Pennyslvania. As an oasis (Offsite Administratiive Secretarial Innovative Support), I virtually assist both reunions from Northern Shores of Lake Erie in Ohio.

I have learned many things from my event planning experiences. For starters, it helps to work with a great team of people. The main thrust of the officers is a great team of volunteers. An oasis (Offsite Administratiive Secretarial Innovative Support), teams up with your association to support you along the way. I love being a part of a project where I am assisting to bring people who haven’t seen each other in ages together or introducing missing family members to aunts, cousins and uncles they have never met. It is an energizing experience!

Family Reunions and Class Reunions are two group assocations for which I am passionate. Family Reunions and Class Reunions need Virtual Assisting. An oasis can help updating and maintaining mailing lists, keeping track of RSVPs, preparing the flyers and handling the dirty work of addressing what documentation you’re sending. There are many things Virtual Assisting can handle, and take away the major task of preparing your mailing. If you choose to send it from your home state, your oasis can send the final product to you so that you can organize and arrange a collating party to fold, seal, place stamps in position, and get them to the post office.

 

 

 

 

As an independent telecommunications CSR call center specialist, I contract with different clients to handle their inbound lead generation communications.

For example: In my area of Ohio we get things in our mailboxes for Val-Pak It comes inside a blue-colored envelope. It is a blue envelope filled with a whole bunch of information (this information junkie loves this envelope!) from different companies who are trying to inexpensively adverstise their services and products. Most of them, yet not all of them have a telephone number or a website to go for more information, but do not have the big bucks to do this same type of thing in house. Those businesses want you to call them for further information.

So, you’re asking yourself, what does that have to do with an OASIS (Offsite Administratiive Secretarial Innovative Support)? Everything. Who handles your lead generation calls? Does it take a lot of time and energy from things on your to-do list?

Well, this oasis does the same thing, but on a much smaller scale. This oasis covers special project times when there needs to be a person monitoring the telephone number or group eMail box as people see to receive more information about a product, service, or maybe a special event.

 

 

 

Crafters & Consumers are two groups of people I love to bring together! 

Having said that, if you are a crafter or Artist in Northeast Ohio….Breezewood Party Center, located in Sheffield Lake (Lorain County) is looking for crafters for its 26th Annual Craft Show being held on Saturday, 11 Nov 2008.  If you want more information, call this number: 440.934.5708.

Transitions: A Free Networking Group for Lorain County

Business Professionals

Could you use a free job search networking group for business  professionals?

 

 

Are you a business professional who is

• currently in the job market
• concerned about losing your job, or
• looking to change careers?

The group meets the second and fourth Monday of each month, from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m., in Room EIC 132 A-B in the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center. The EIC is located across the south parking lot from the Spitzer Conference Center.

For a map and directions. Information regarding GLIDE

 

 

 

OR contact: mfield@lorainccc.edu
tell them an alumni of LCCC sent you…Krista K Gable

 

 

It’s great to have a great network of friends! Many of my them are colleagues from my previous employment. We have each embarked on paths that have lead us to greater challenges.

One of those persons is DeBorah Hamilton-Levy, she is the owner of Destined For Greatness Enterprises, whose motto is “empowering you to become all that you were created to be”. Her niche is organizing activities, events, and seminar presentations.

Her worlshops include: Entrepreneurship, Finances, Goal Setting, Parenting, Relationships and Time Management. She is also an instructor teaching classes for Basic Computer and Software, Career Development, Internet Skills, and Life Skills.

 Need a realtor? Contact DeBorah is located on the east side of Cleveland, Ohio  with Century21 Home Star  She’s a member of NAR, OAR and CABOR.

DeBorah is also the owner of DeBorah’s Bridal Boutique which sells, rents and consigns gowns reasonably priced. She is always collecting wedding, prom, evening and bridesmaids gowns for her boutique. As an accessory to the bridal boutique, a a Carlson Craft Dealer of exquiste wedding, business, and social stationery. Everyone that places an order with her will receive a 10% discount off their total order. www.carlsoncraft.com If you would like to donate or consign gowns, please contact 216-926-6612.

One of my deepest passions is Genealogy and preserving History!  Genealogy…helps unite families!   Actually, that is how I got where I am today. If it were not for genealogy, I would not have my virtual assistance practice.  Remember, I am a trustworthy and reliable offsite preservation support.

I just love people who say to me, “Krista, Genealogy is a free hobby”.  No, it’s not.  If you are reading my blog I know you have an internet connection.  In order for you to view one of the many online FREE genealogy sites, you have to have an Internet connection. Do you, or do you not, pay a Internet Service Provider for your connection to the Internet?  If you do, then genealogy is not FREE, is it?

Over the last 20 plus years, I have spent a small fortune working on different genealogy projects.  I have the receipts to prove it.  I have traveled to many states to get the information I have.  I have dug into moldy-smelling records in storage facilities that do not have their information on the Internet. Most of what I have found for myself or for others was not on the Internet.  It came from good old-fashioned digging in the trenches. Historical societies, public libraries, walking through cemeteries, printing the facts from  microfilm / microfiche readers (printouts are not free).

Although I have access to expensive online databases – I have discovered not everything can be found on the Internet!  Apparently me, and countless others have family members who were missed by the census takers!  There are states I just am unable to drive to – even I have have to ask for assistance.  This means that yes, you will have to ask for help, and no,  they don’t the work for free. 

 

 

 

 

WOMEN HELPING OTHERS (WHO) will meet for a dinner meeting at 5:30pm, Thursday, at the Nordson Depot, Amherst, Ohio. The Menu will will consist of stuffed cabbage, potatoes, scalloped apples and beverage. Cost $6.00. 

Members are asked to bring a brand new item or $10 to be used for the auction at the Pasta Dinner fundraiser.

I am passionate about bringing Crafters & Consumers together!

Lorain County Craft Shows this weekend:

Saturday, 25 Oct 2008
9A – 4p
3rd Annual Holiday
Happenings
Bake Sale &
Our Italian Kitchen
Italian American
Veterans Ladies Auxiiary
4569 Oberlin Ave
Lorain OH
Admission: $2 or
$1 plus a canned good

Saturday, 25 Oct 2008
10A – 3P
Lorain County Fall Craft Show
Lorain County Fairgrounds
St Rt 18 just off St Rt 58
Wellington OH
FREE ADMISSION

Saturday, 25 Oct 2008
9A – 4P (huge show!)
Lorain County JVS Youth
Clubs Craft Show
Lorain County Joint
Vocational School
15181 State Rt 58, Oberlin OH

These are the Craft Shows occurring the 1st Weekend in November 2008.  As stated before I love bringing Crafters & Consumers together!  I am a consumer and I love attending craft shows with a few of my friends.  Now, if I only had the money and time to attend each one. I don’t – but you might.  

Saturday, 1 Nov 2008
9A – 3P
Santa’s Christmas Stocking
Craft Show
Norwalk St. Paul Convocation Center
31 Milan Ave
Nowalk OH
$.50 admission / donation at the door

Saturday, 1 Nov 2008
9A - 3P
Midview Craft Show
38199 W Capel Rd
Grafton OH
FREE ADMISSION

Saturday, 1 Nov 2008
Annual Craft Bazaar & Food
Fair
Park Ave U.M. Church
396 Park Ave
Amherst OH

Saturday, 1 Nov 2008
9A – 3P
Holidays in the Collins 
Craft Show
sponsored: School Bus Safety 
Awareness Organization
Western Reserve 
Elementary School
3851 US Rt 20
Collins OH 44889
Admission: $2 

Saturday, 1 Nov 2008
9:30A – 3:30P
Sunday, 2 Nov 2008
11:30A – 4P
Pokrova Hall
6812 Broadview Rd
Parma OH

Saturday, 1 Nov 2008
9A – 4P
St. John Lutheran Church
Craft & Gift Show
1140 W River Rd
Elyria OH

Saturday, 1 Nov 2008
9A – 4P
Greenbriar Party Center
50 Riffel Rd
Wooster OH

Saturday, 1 Nov 2008
9A – 4:30P
15th Annual Autumn Harvest of
Fine Arts & Crafts
Rocky River Memorial Hall
21016 Hilliard Rd
Rocky River OH
Admission $2.00
Children 12 & under FREE

Sunday, 2 Nov 2008
Lorain Lions Pancake Breakfast &
Craft Show
8a – 1p
Lorain Admiral King High School
2600 Ashland Ave
Lorain OH
Tickets $5

---

Not long ago, I had an interesting conversation with a friend’s daughter from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. We discovered we had quite a bit in common. The biggest? Genealogy. One of the things we discussed was our “obsession with verification”. I took notice that our obsessions regarding verifications were nearly identical. We both agreed verifications takes TIME and it is not free. Did you know you have to pay MONEY to receive the documentation showing proof of your suppositions?

Did you know that Aunt Molly’s stories to her family over the many years may not be true? Been there, done that. Verify her stories! Remember, it is not a correct fact until you verify it. You can verify facts from deeds, wedding licenses, obituaries, newspaper articles, wills, orphan court records, censuses, etc. Nearly every document you use to verify a fact costs MONEY.

One last thing, although a little off topic – we both found out the hard way, if you have things in your gear that records facilities will not allow or will not go through metal detectors – sometimes you have to RENT a locker located nearby the guard’s station and leave the items there. Why? You may not have driven to the location where the records are located or your car is parked too far away so you don’t have a place to put them while you are inside the records facility.

Where do these costs come from? I’m not just talking about printouts from microfiche and microfilm. There are online database subscriptions, fuel or fare to get to the locations where the records are stored, admission fees to use special libraries, toll road coins for the trip there and back, vehicle wear and tear, overnight accommodations, and, oh yeah – parking fees, especially to the parking garages for locations that do not have their own parking lots, or those pesky parking meters in some parking lots. Nothing I like better than running to the parking meter every couple of hours to toss more coins in the meter so I can keep gathering the facts!

Bottom line: She and I agree we go to great expense to verify the past facts; we have the receipts to prove it.

 

Are you stumped where to shop for every person on your Gift List? May I suggest an alternative to the traditional shopping mall or plazas? Local Craft Shows may be your answer.

Did you know you do not need to attend the Christmas Craft Connection at the IX Center in Brook Park, Ohio? There are other inexpensive craft show options in the area! Check them out! 

When you attend the local craft shows you’re helping to support local small businesses, school systems, and charity organizations; you may be introduced to unique products and services you’ve never seen before!  Enjoy.

 

Did you know that you don’t need to travel to the Christmas Craft Connection at the Cleveland IX Center to find great seasonal shopping opportunities?

You may discover that Craft Shows are how local small businesses show-off their unique goods and services; craft shows are an economical source of advertising.

Here are this week’s local craft shows:

Friday, 14 Nov 2008
11A – 8P
Saturday, 15 Nov 2008
10A – 3P
Christmas in the Country
Craft Show
Strongsville Holiday Inn
Rt 82 & I-71
Strongsville OH
Admission $4.00
No Strollers Please

Saturday, 15 Nov 2008
9A – 3P
March into Christmas Holiday
Craft Bazaar
Elyria Catholic High School
725 Gulf Rd
Elyria OH

 

Saturday, 15 Nov  2008
9A – 3P
3rd Annual Heritage 
Craft Fair
Heritage Presbyterian Church
Leavitt Rd
Amherst OH

Saturday, 15 Nov 2008
10A – 4P
Holy Trinity 
Christmas Boutique
Holy Trinity Hall & School
2610 Nagel Rd
Avon OH
Admission $1.00

Lorain County Community College Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) and the Great Lakes Innovation and Development Enterprise (GLIDE) are bringing Global Entrepreneurship Week – Nov. 17-23 – to the LCCC campus with a variety of events to inspire innovation.

“The goal is to inspire people of all ages to embrace innovation, imagination and creativity,” said Cliff Reynolds, director of GLIDE.  “Global Entrepreneurship Week encourages people to think big, to turn their ideas into reality, and to make their mark.”

During Global Entrepreneurship Week thousands of activities are being planned in more than 75 countries around the world. Activities on the LCCC campus include:

• An open house at GLIDE – located in the LCCC Entrepreneurship Innovation Center – from 10-11:30 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 19. The EIC building will be open to students, faculty, and the community. About 30 entrepreneurs will be available to interact with all who attend. Most of the LCCC Foundation Innovation Fund award winners will be present either in their GLIDE office or in the EIC lobby area to discuss entrepreneurism. Attendees will be treated to a pizza lunch from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The open house will continue with a short lecture series from 1:15-2:30 p.m. Three entrepreneurs will tell their stories and a student will discuss her internship experience with one of the GLIDE entrepreneurs. Additional information will be available about Entrepreneurship Experiential Educational Opportunities at LCCC.

This open house, lunch and short lecture series are free and open to all.  For information on this event, call GLIDE at (440) 366-4310.

 • “New Visions” Seminar for Women Interested in Developing a Business

 LCCC Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) and the Great Lakes Innovation and Development Enterprise (GLIDE) will host a “New Visions” seminar for women interested in developing their own business from 9 a.m. to noon, Wednesday, Nov. 19 in the LCCC Entrepreneurship Innovation Center.
The seminar will be organized in a speed-dating format that will give attendees valuable information about how to start their own business. Some topics will include getting started, business plans, legal issues, marketing, insurance, website development and accounting. The session will also include a light lunch and a question and answer session. The cost for this event is $25. For more information or to register, visit www.lorainccc.edu/visions or call SIFE at (440) 366-4935.

• Workshop for Musicians to Learn the Business Side of the Profession

SIFE will also host “The Beat of Business,” a workshop designed to help aspiring bands or musicians learn the entrepreneurial and business skills necessary to succeed as a professional in the music industry, from 3-5 p.m., Thursday, November 20 in the LCCC Spitzer Conference Center.

Topics will include band and musician management, marketing, promotions and finance. This event is open to high school and college aged bands or musicians. Bands may bring a CD of their music to enter into a mock battle of the bands to win prizes from event sponsors: North Olmsted Guitar Center and the Leader of the Band software.

 For more information or to register for this event, visit www.lorainccc.edu/beat or call SIFE at (440) 366-4935.

 

 Global Entrepreneurship Week is founded by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and the Make Your Mark campaign; sponsored by NYSE Euronext, IBM and Ernst & Young; and, supported by JA Worldwide, Endeavor, Entrepreneurs’ Organization, DECA, YPO-WPO, National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship, Young Americas Business Trust, YES – European Confederation of Young Entrepreneurs.

To view a complete list of participating countries and organizations or to learn more, visit www.unleashingideas.org.

Amherst, Ohio – Women Helping Others meeting at 5:30p.m. Thursday for a dinner meeting at the Grange / Schoolhouse at the Sandstone Museum, Milan Avenue.

Menu is chicken fettuccini alfredo, garlic bread, salad and cake. Bring your own beverage. Cost is $6.

A program will be given on Pain Management, and members are asked to bring children / baby items for Blessing House.

Transitions: A Free Networking Group for Lorain County Business Professionals

Could you use a free job search networking group for business professionals?
Are you a business professional who is

• currently in the job market
• concerned about losing your job, or
• looking to change careers?

Transitions November 24, 2008 Meeting:

Holiday Networking

Is it appropriate to network for a job over the holidays? The answer is a definite “Yes”. The holidays are no time to take a break from your job search! If holiday networking is done properly you can be viewed in a very postitive light by all you meet.

Some benefits of holiday networking include:

• An abundance of parties, special events, and family gatherings to see and meet people.
• An opportunity to meet people in a traditional time of giving, when they are more likely to listen and help.
• The chance to lay the ground work for securing a job during the prime hiring months after the first of the year.

If you’d like to learn more about holiday networking and your job search, plan to attend the November 24th meeting of Transitions. This session will be facilitated by Cyndi McCabe, Job Placement Coordinator and Christopher Wenz, Development Specialist from Lorain County Community College.

To register for this session, or for more information about Transtions, call 1-800-995-5222, ext. 4076, or 440-366-4076. Registrations can also be made on-line at http://www.lorainccc.edu./careeers.

Transitions, a FREE networking group for business professionals, is sponsored by Lorain County Community College’s Employment and Career Services Department.

Transitions meetings feature short seminars on topics relevant to a successul job search, and opportuntities to share job leads and to strengthen your network of helpful contacts.

Transtions’ meetings are held the second and fourth Monday of each month from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. in Room EIC132A/B in the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center at Lorain County Community College. The EIC is located across the south parking lot from the the Spitzer Conference Center. For a map and directions, please go to www.loraincccc.edu/map

Please click on the following lin for additional Transitions Information:
www.lorainccc.edu/transitions

May I suggest shopping at a Craft Show / Bazaar?  There are small business crafters/artists out there who want to introduce you to their unique goods and services. 

Here are this weekend’s list of Craft Shows:

Saturday, 22 Nov 2008
St. Martins
1800 Station Rd
Valley City OH

Saturday, 22 Nov 2008
9A – 3P
St. Mary Magdalene
5390 W 220th St
Fairview Park OH

Saturday, 22 Nov 2008
Holiday Bake Sale & Bazaar
10A – 2P
St. George Serbian Orthodox Church
33rd St & Grove Ave
Lorain OH

Admission is FREE

Saturday, 22 Nov 2008
9A – 4P
Holiday Craft Fair
North Royalton High School
14713 Ridge Road
N. Royalton OH 

Admission $1.00

Sunday, 23 Nov 2008
1P – 6P
Living Waters Ministry
1959 Grafton Rd
will host its annual
bazaar 245 Bath St
Elyria
There will be baked goods,
crafts, antiques, glass, 
jewelry and lunch.
Admission FREE

 

Amherst, Ohio – Is anybody on your gift list a book worm?  Local Author Ms. Debbie Alferio  has released a new book in her “Forever Love” series of moral and tasteful fictional romance books. The title of the most recent book is, “Waiting for Tomorrow”.  Her first book is entitled, “A Forever Kind of Love” which came out in 2005.   

Debbie will be attending a book signing event for her highly acclaimed “Forever Love” series of books at the Amherst Public Library, 222 Spring St, Amherst, Sunday, Nov 30, 2008, from 2 – 4 p.m.  Please note that a portion of all profits from book sales are donated to the American Cancer Society. 

Her other book signing appearances will be as follows:

• Saturday, November 22, 2008
  1 – 3 p.m. – Borders Express, 4248 Kent Road, Stow OH
• Friday, November 28, 2008
   1 – 3 p.m. – Borders, 4314 Milan Road, (St. Rt. 250), Sandusky OH
• Saturday, November 29, 2008
   9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Holiday Craft Show
   Cornerstone United Methodist Church, 2949 West River Road N.
   Elyria OH
• Saturday, December 6, 2008
   1 – 3 p.m. , Joseph-Beth Booksellers, 24519 Cedar Road (in Legacy Village)
    Lyndhurst OH
• Saturday, December 13, 2008
   10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Homspun “Holly” Day Craft & Gift Fair
    Brunswick High School – East Gym, 3581 Center Road, Brunswick OH

A free preview of the story Waiting for Tomorrow can be found on www.authorhouse.com. Click on “Book Store” at the top and type in Debbie Alferio. You will be directed to the book; simply click on the title or cover to get to the page.  To read the author’s Blog, click here.

Over the years I have gone to great lengths to verify facts and gather information. One of those was to subscribe to out-of-state newspapers. Many newspapers still do not have online website visibility and most of them do not make their archives available online. Some do, most do not. Some newspapers in recent years post the obituaries online for seven days and then they disappear – poof!

Years before the internet, I began subscribing to a daily newspaper called the Lebanon Daily News.  Do you have any idea how much newspaper subscriptions have gone up over the last 20 years? A lot.

The Lebanon Daily News is from Lebanon County, Pennsylvania – located between Harrisburg and Reading, Pennsylvania.  About now you’re probably wondering why a person from Northern Ohio takes this newspaper.  My ancestry from my paternal side is all from Lebanon Valley, Pennsylvania – my grandparents are buried there.  I spend a great deal of time in this area every year visiting relatives all over the state, attending family reunions, being a tourist, shopping at Vanity Fair  in Reading, enjoying the scenery in Amish country, eating at the Shady Maple in Blue Ball, going to Roots Market in Manheim to purchase my Shoofly pie from the Amish ladies, and doing as much genealogy as I can squeeze into my schedule! 

What started out to be an inexpensive RISK to watch for obituaries, anniversaries, births, engagements, weddings, family reunions, class reunions, 3-4-5 generation pictures, and real estate transactions really has cost me MONEY. Course, I must admit there are many articles I love to read in this newspaper. Years ago, Schulyer C. Brossman, deceased, of Our Keystone Families was a column favorite. These days, James M. Beidler, of the column Roots & Branches has my attention.  I look forward to every issue!

Obituaries that appear in the Lebanon Daily News come from people living in Lebanon Valley area including the following counties: Berks, Bucks, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Lancaster, Lebanon, Schuylkill, and many others.  In addition, obituaries appear for individuals who are being buried in Fort Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, located in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, but are not necessarily originally from this area.

Anyway – in my possession – I have Lebanon Daily News Obituaries for 1992 – 2000 – but I also have the obituaries from 2001 – current.  Am I obsessed with the Lebanon Daily News Obituaries or what? 

I have an on-going mission’s project – inventorying all the obituaries in my possession.  The inventory databases, (yes, I said databases. I build them as I go) are quite simple.  They list the surname of the deceased, the prefix of the deceased, like if they are a Doctor, Reverend, Sergeant 1st Class, etc., First name of the deceased, middle name or middle initial, a suffix – are they a senior, junior, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th, nickname, maiden name if available, age at the time of death (if available), and the dates the obituary appear in the newspaper.  I’ll probably be doing this project the rest of life! It is okay, I’m passionate about this project.

Did your relative(s) have an obituary in the Lebanon Daily News?  You never know, I may till have the obituary in tact; or, I may have typed up an obituary abstract for an individual. No, I am not parting with the obituaries – I am offering my services to research my archives for the Lebanon Daily News Obituaries.  I’ve become keenly aware that the obituaries from 1992 – 2000 might not be on the internet.

Truth – when I need obituaries for years prior to 1992 (when I didn’t keep the obituaries from the newspaper), guess what?  I have to pay MONEY to find someone to locate them for me.  Click here to learn more about my Lebanon Daily News Archives.

Amherst, OH – The Amherst Community Chorus has annouced a program and schedule for their annual Christmas performances. The Chorus is in its 13th season under the direction of Simone and Steve Gall.

The 80-voice adult choral group from Lorain, Erie and Cuyahoga Counties will present a seasonal celebration of “Classical Noels”, a pairing of classical works with Christmas Carols and “The Best Time of the Year,” a medley of popular Christmas music centering around the family, home and children.

In addition the men’s chorus will perform “The Boar’s Head,” a secular English carol and the women will perform “From Bethlehem,” a gentle lullaby about the Nativity. The choir will begin with “Jazz Gloria” and end with a surprise renedition of “Deck the Halls.”

The schedule of performances includes the biannual concert for Wesleyan Village in Elyria is on Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. in the Cascade Room.  On Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. the group will be singing at Morningside in Lorain in the Community Center, and on Dec. 10, they will travel to  Abbewood in Elyria to sing at 7 p.m. 

The concert for the Amherst Community is held each year at St. Joseph Social Hall, St. Joseph Dr. in Amherst at 2:30 p.m. This year it will be staged on Dec. 14.  Tickets at the door: Adults - $5, Senior Citizens - $4, Students –  $3. Children 5 and under, Free.  Homemade refreshments will be served and there will be door prizes.

Bringing you to the attention of LCCC/Employment and Career Services’ Upcoming Job Search Assistance workshops, please click on the following link to view and register.

These workshops are FREE and you may sign up for as many as you like.

P. S. Krista K. Gable, (Eagle’s Beagle) is an LCCC Alumni – in 2006/2007 I was in the midst of a job/career change.  I attended the Transitions group twice a month and also attended LCCC’s Career Boot Camp.  Awesome programs! 

Career Boot Camp reminded me of “What Color is Your Parachute?” (which I read in 2002/2003) only you are in a Class / workshop setting. 

You DO NOT have to be a current student of Lorain County Communicty College in order to use LCCC Employment and Career Services; alumni and non-alumni can attend. You also DO NOT have to be from Lorain County to use these services.

Amherst OH - 

Marion L Steele – Class of 1979 – 30th Class Reunion

When:      Saturday, August 1, 2009
                      - Dancing in the Streets weekend (Downtown Amherst)

Where:      Amherst VFW, 165 Cleveland Ave

Time:         5:30pm – Cocktails;             6:30pm Buffet Dinner

Cost:           $30.00 / person 
                       Cash bar ($2.00 / bottle bear or alchoholic drinks)

Please join the FACEBOOK group
                              - “Marion L Steele Class of 1979, 30 Year Reunion! “

Or, eMail mlsclassof1979@hotmail.com for more information and updates.

No computer? Call Ken Daidone at his work number and leave a message: 800-211-0017 Ext 102

or mail payment to:
JLS Marketing Concepts Ltd
4884 Higbee Avenue NW, Suite 200
Canton OH 44718
Attn: Ken Daidone

Please RSVP by Tuesday, June 30, 2009

30th year Reunion board members:
Ken Daidone
Tracy (Warstler) Anderson
Nancy Reph-O’Keefe
Krista K Gable
Ramona (Graziano) Ockajik

Amherst OH –

The Annual Women Helping Others (WHO) Club old-fashioned ice cream social will be Sunday, May 17, 2009 from 1 – 3 p.m.
It will be held at the Amherst Veteran of Foreign Wars, 165 Cleveland Ave., cost is $5 per person.

Tickets can be purchased at the door.  All proceeds to local scholoarships.

I’d like to congratulate Eric “Rick” Bender of New Mexico. I read in James M Beidler’s column, “Roots & Branches” in the Lebanon Daily News dated Mar 2, 2009 that while attending a funeral in Connecticut he acquired a “treasure trove” of information by way of a photo album from 1872.

I’ve been there! As a family historian of two family reunions in two different states it amazes me how I “acquire” items from people (some relatives, some not) that have major “clues” in them. Family Reunions (sometimes family reunions occur at funerals or any other location when least expected, like a pretzel shop in an old town, Manchester, Washtenaw County, Michgian where I just happened to stop on a trip home) take on a whole new dimension!

Many years ago I acquired my great-great-grandmother’s velveteen photo album from the same time period as Mr. Bender only in Michigan. While I was ecstatic to own the heirloom album, more than half of the pictures are unmarked and unidentified. Some are marked, most are not. So, I have beautiful photographs in great condition that I am unable to identify them - to make it worse, the relatives most likely to be able to identify the photos are either deceased or are in various stages of dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease. Sigh.

Mr. Bender, you’re very lucky! 

I’m on a mission. Every photo I take or photo that is given to me un-marked – gets identified.  Even if I have to pester the person who has given in to me by eMail, visit them in person, send them via US Mail, Facebook, Fax Machine, PDF,  or telephone to get the names of the persons in the photos.  Depending on the method used - it can me an expensive endeavor! 

It saddens me when I attend a garage sales and flea markets where family members are selling old photographs and I don’t understand why.  Matter-of-fact, in the past I have tried to talk them out of “selling” the photos.  Do you know what the response is? “The photos are no good to us, the person(s) who could identify them do not remember who they are – she/he has Dementia / Alzheimer’s”.  The translation – the patriarchs of the family never shared the photos with family members when they were younger.  It is SO sad!

In years past, acting as a Genealogy Professional, (not a hobby Genealogist) I have been known to purchase those photos on behalf of families selling them, interviewing them to write down the family history / background, and then review the antique photos for “clues” on the backside of the photos.  What is my goal?  To find the community where the photos were taken and see if there is a Historical Society in the community or county in which to turn in the documentation and the photos.  I assure you somewhere out there – someone (family members or family reunion historians) is  looking for the information and the photos!

Please – those of you who have access to old photo albums or boxes of old photographs, please attempt to identify the people in the photos and write “lightly” on the back of them so others – can not live through the nightmare we (me and others) have been through. Otherwise –  identifying antique photographs will be an expensive endeavor.  Genealogy is not FREE!

Local Women Business Owners Network (WBON) meets
Thursday, May 7, 2009 at Mutt & Jeff’s in Amherst Township.

Speaker
Our very own WBON member, Shirley Hull of Business Advisory Services

Topic
“Marketing Ideas in a Tough Economic Climate  – How to get the Most Bang for Your Buck”

Location / Time:  
Mutt & Jeff’’s at Dragon Ranch Golf Club
                                     9488 Leavitt Rd., Amherst Township (1 mile south of St. Rt. 113 & St.Rt. 58) 
                                     6pm

Business Spotlight

Brenda Van Dress of Dove Chocolate Discoveries

It is Very Important to R.S.V.P.
Locations, Speakers & Spotlights – Subject to Change
Call: Debra James 440.985.2570 or
Fran Campana 440.396.5454

At every meeting we collect items for:
 Second Harvest Food Bank
and Veteran Welcome Kits.

Please bring only Non-perishable, Non-ethnic items
for Second Harvest Food Bank

Veteran Welcome Kits.  A list of needs can be found here.

Please bring collections to the meeting.
Karen Cheshire will collect and deliver the items.

Amherst OH -  The world renown “one-man volleyball team“, Bob Holmes  is coming to Northeast Ohio. 

This is the same Bob Holmes who has been been interviewed by CNN  and  has been written about by Ripley’s Believe it or not, twice!

He’s beaten:
the Miami Dolphins, the Washington Redskins, the Buffalo Bills (three times), the New England Patriots, the Baltimore Orioles (with Cal Ripken & Jim Palmer), and yes, even the Pittsburgh Steelers!

In Amherst, Bob Holmes, is coming to Amherst Steele High School Main Gym,  450 Washington St.,  Wednesday evening, May 6, 2009, at 6:30p.m. to challenge teams from Trinity Evangelical Free Church  and the Amherst Steele High School Girls volleyball team as he shares inspirational encouragement.

Other Northeastern Ohio school systems teams being challenged are in Streetsboro and Lorain’s Admiral King High School, Longfellow, and Whitter Middle Schools.

Actually – I think I already know! Over the Easter Weekend, I was reading a backlog of Lebanon Daily News newspapers I have received in the last several weeks. I love this out-of-state newspaper from Lebanon County, Pennsylvania! It’s folksy (Is that a word?). One of the columns I read in this paper is a genealogy column called Roots & Branches by James M. Beidler which normally appears in the Monday edition of the paper.

In the paper dated March 23, 2009 – the headline got my attention: “DEATH-CERTIFICATE EFFORT NEEDS NOISE“. Mr. Beidler states, “It’s time for genealogists in Pennsylvania to make some noise about access to death certificates…”

There is a group organized by a man named Tim Gruber of Allentown, Pennsylvania, called “People for Better Pennsylvania Historical Records Access” has spearheaded reintroduction of legislation to the state. One of the Representatives of the state of Pennsylvania, Richard Grucela, of Nazareth, Pennsylvania has introduced “a vital – records modernization measure as House Bill 931 because the bills introduced last year died with the end of the last 2007-08 legislative session.

The Bill has 67 co-sponsors in the house! The Bill has been assigned to the Health & Human Services Committee“.  The column goes on to quote Mr. Gruber, “that legislators and the Governor need to hear from genealogists for the Bill to become a law – remaining SILENT won’t get them to do anything.” (I wonder can residents outside of Pennsylvania – raise a little noise?)  The answer, YES!

The column continues to say, “The Bill that has been introduced would address the Number ONE problem from a researcher’s standpoint: That there is no type of index available to the public in which to search”.  This is due to the fact that Pennsylvania is a Closed Record State“…which really means only “certain” people can get a copy of a certificate.

The column continues to say,  “The Bill that the group is backing allows for a “blackout” period of 50 years after the person’s death before access to a certificate is eased. The blackout period was inserted to address the privacy concerns.”

The column continues….”One of the main ways that the Division of Vital Records enforces this provision is to require quite a bit of information (Do you remember when you gave blood? Do you remember the registration process and procedures you went through to give? Well, the process to verify the facts in Pennsylvania, feels the same way for me!) on the application for a death certificate – including items like dates of birth and death” (which you’re trying to VERIFY, right?).

It’s a challenge to verify any facts be if for yourself or for a client. Look at this way, they’ll release the record to you if all the pertinent information you submitted matches the information in the record!  Which costs $9 by itself - that does not include the cost of two envelopes and postage for each (yes, I said two).  Think about it, you send one envelope with postage on the outside and inside is the request form, a brief letter to accompany the form, your payment, and a Self-addressed stamped envelope.  Then you wait for months for a reply and HOPING it is for the RIGHT person.  That’s right; you may have requested a record that when you finally receive it – it’s not the right person.  The dates matched, the name matched, the birth and death locations matched – BUT – it MIGHT not be the right person(s).  Guess what? You’re out the money!

At any rate this article has hit my hot button.  I think I know exactly how I became a Lebanon Daily News Obituary Data Hog, remember I confessed several months back that I am Lebanon Daily News Obituary Archivist; I am pretty sure it’s because of the Pennsylvania “closed record law”.  I’m pretty sure over the years I got annoyed at the wait time to get a record and you have to know the person real well before the record will be released! 

Pennsylvania is the Keystone State – the early years of the United States. If  a person of record has been deceased over 100 years – why is it so difficult to verify the facts? As I stated before, Genealogy is not FREE is it?

Amherst, Lorain County OH -

“Women Helping Others will have their April meeting Thursday, April 23, 2009 at 5:30 p.m.
Members will enjoy a dinner of ham, scalloped potatoes, corn, rolls & beverage – $6 per person.
The program is “Card Creations with Julie”.

In preparation for the Ice Cream Social fundraiser everyone is asked to bring a new item which can be used as a door prize, or $10 in cash.
Prospective members can call Marie, 440.988.8477 for more information about the club and its mission. “

Lorain County OH.

Your  Local Women Business Owners Network (WBON) meets April 16, 2009 at 6pm @ IHOP (International House of Pancakes), 1160 W. River Rd., N. Elyria, (near Midway Mall).

Our speaker will be Joe Butler, personal trainer of Prescription Fitness, discussing the topic, “How you Can Drop 1 Dress Size Before Bathing Suit Season”.
Business Spotlight will be Carla Harbert of Remax Pros Realty. 

Prepare a 30-second commerical of your business and bring enough business cards for a business card exchange.

All women who own businesses or are thinking of owning one are welcome. Feel free to bring a friend.

For reservations, directions or further information call Fran Campana at 440.396.5454, Debra James at 440.985.2570, or eMail campanabusiness@aol.com
Further information can also be found on the WBON website.

Amherst, Lorain County OH:

Your local Women Business Owners Network  is meeting this Thursday, March 19, 2009 at Donato’s Pizza (Amherst Location), 901 N Leavitt Rd at 6pm.

Speaker: Rachelle Grimmett, American Family Insurance 
Topic: Auto, Renters & Home Insurance
Business Spotlight: Sun Dunn, Tupperware: Quality – Yesterday & Today

It is very important to R.S.V.P. – Locations are subject to change
Please call Debra James 440.985.2570 or Fran Campana 440.398.5454

Prepare and deliver a 30-second commercial of your business. 

Bring at least 30 business cards to share with others.

Lorain County OH – Okay – besides me – whose MOM or DAD owns Tupperware? A quality product that has been around as long as I can remember! Tupperware has changed over the years. Did you know their products can be used in the Dishwasher and the Microwave? I didn’t. According to my WBON friend Sue Dunn Tupperware has come a L-O-N-G way!

For example – I remember the days when you had to HOST a party in your home. Depending on the woman you spoke to that meant she had to prepare for MANY guests coming to her home (extra foot traffic), think of where to park all the cars and arrange for the family (husband and kids) to disappear for several hours or arrange for them to be somewhere else during that time.

Several years ago, Tupperware started their website presence on the Interent. Then I noticed they tried an additonal experiment. They had kiosks in several enclosed shopping malls. Personally I liked that – but they only tried the experiment during “seasonal” times – Christmas and Mother’s Day are the two I can recall. Well, now they’ve gone back to basics – their roots “so-to-speak” -only now you don’t have to MEET in your HOME! Do you like the thought of winning FREE TUPPERWARE as Bingo Prizes?

Have you considered HOSTING a Tupperware Bingo Party? Yes, I said Tupperware Bingo Party. In our local area (Lorain County), the Tupperware Bingo Parties are held at the Sheffield Lake Community Center on the following dates in 2009 – April 16, May 14, September 10, October 8, November 12 and December 3. Tupperware Bingo parties are not held during the summer months.

So – would you like to HOST a group of friends at the Sheffield Lake Community Center? – if the answer is YES – Contact Sue Dunn at 440.366-0330 for more information and reserve tables for your party guests.  It’s really quite simple. Sue always suggests to her Host/Hostess’ to OVER INVITE!

What does the HOST / HOSTESS need to know?

• Bingo is 6:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
• Contact Sue ONE week before your party to finalize your PARTY GUEST list.
• The Tupperware Bingo Host / Hostess needs to bring snacks, beverages, plates, cups, napkins, plastic silverware and ice for drinks. Or, if your party is held during the cooler months of the year -  no ice.
• Have your GUESTS BRING snacks inside Tupperware containers they already own.  Makes for interesting “party conversation” – your guests have, own and use “antique” Tupperware Containers that are alive and doing well years later…it’s a great testimony to Tupperware! 
• You as a Tupperware Bingo Host/Hostess may become the QUEEN / KING by bringing the MOST outside orders (Sheffield Lake location only).
• You as Host/Hostess can collect orders from your friends and family that are unable to attend your Tupperware Bingo Party.
• Bingo Cards are FREE
• You can learn from your consultant how to get FREE Bingo Cards.
• There are SEPARATE RAFFLES: Tupperware Raffle and Split the Pot Raffle
• You can PURCHASE THREE (3) Tickets for $2 or 25 Tickets for $5.
• Don’t forget to BRING with you four (4) Quarters for Tupperware’s Special Quarter Mania Raffle.
• Water is provided at the Bingo Locations.
• Yes, there are other Tupperware Bingo Locations – in other counties – each with different promotions
  There are FOUR other locations: 
  Sandusky Bingo-Comfort Inn Suites, 6011 Milan Rd., Sandusky (Erie County) 
  Fremont Bingo-Fremont Recreation Center-St. Joseph St. (Sandusky County)
  Cleveland Bingo-Ridge Manor Banquet Center, 4630 Ridge Rd.(corner of Biddulph & Ridge Rd.-Western Cuyahoga County)
  New Parma Bingo-Ridgewood United Methodist Church, 6330 Ridge Rd.(corner of Southington & Ridge Rd. – Western Cuyahoga County)     
• Before I forget -  Remember – you’re playing for FREE TUPPERWARE!

Reservations are required! Contact Sue Dunn  at (440) 366-0330 …..for more Bingo information. 

Sue says you can EARN FREE TUPPERWARE by hosting a book or home party. For a 25% Tupperware discount all the time, call 1-866-376-7518, then call Sue at (440) 366-0330 and ask her about the Tupperware Opportunity.

 Tupperware: Quality – Yesterday & Today