I am getting used to Kathie’s reminders of my Presidential duties. My response has gone from “MY WHAT!??” to “Oh, ok”.  So here I sit very late at night when most people are sound asleep, well at least most normal people. I find it very peaceful this late, when not a creature is stirring.  During the day, I have a bad case of what I call “Popcorn Brain”, my thoughts just bouncing around with every interruption.

My installation/coronation was on January 17^th, when I officially became President /Queen of the Redlands Chamber of Commerce.  Kathie Thurston and Jan Nowlin, the heart and soul of the Redlands Chamber of Commerce, not only support my business efforts, but they were right there encouraging me as I gave my first public speech, a terrifying experience for me. I was given a giant gavel for my presidency which I got to hold for 30 seconds before it was taken away, and a crown for my queenly coronation which I got to keep, an experience I will not soon forget.

So, what is happening in February?  Oh yes, President’s Day. Not that I aspire to the greatness of Presidents Washington and Lincoln, but it does give one a sense of duty and responsibility when you are president of an organization.  I continue my mission to bring in a new member as I talk some ears off, as I honestly believe that a business receives so much more in benefits than what they give in membership fees.  Once again, I ask that our members try to sign up at least one other member during the year.  If you know of someone who may be interested but don’t want to talk to them, please let me know and I will be glad to go and talk with them about the benefits of becoming a Redlands Chamber of Commerce member.

February is also Valentine’s Day. Now it is a little harder to tie in Valentine’s with its mushy lala-lovey dovey theme, but love is about relationships . In a love relationship, you want to do things for the other person, you want them to grow into being better and you stand by your loved ones side in good times and bad; you defend your loved one when someone or something tries to do them harm. The Redlands Chamber of Commerce does the exact same thing in its relationship with the business community without the hugging and kissing. They always have your back when it comes to what best for doing business in Redlands.

Until next month.

 

 

I can’t say I am sorry to see 2012 go, it was not a great year for me; but, we have seen an increase in blueprint activity for the past six months, a sure indication the economy is on the mend, so I am looking forward to a much better 2013.

Hmmmm, there seems to be something about 2013…something I’m supposed to do…Then it all comes home to roost when Kathie Thurston, our Executive Director, tells me, “your first column for the newsletter is due next week.” MY WHAT??! Obviously there is a huge discrepancy between my version of “easy” and Ms. Thurston’s. The woman needs to run for office as she has all the makings of a politician. None-the-less, I did agree to be President of the Redlands Chamber of Commerce, so I am stepping out of my comfort zone in order to grow… so here it goes.

There is no better advocate for local business than our Redlands Chamber of Commerce. They take up their swords and do battle daily with city, county, state and federal government on behalf of the membership. They constantly have our backs so we can go about doing the things we do best, making pizza, brewing beer, selling insurance and printing blueprints.

Thank you very much for your membership and supporting that effort, I look forward to working with you this year. I would also ask your help in bringing in at least one business to become a member. The membership dues are a small pittance compared to having an attorney write a letter on your behalf, or having one of the government entities add some kind of “fee” to one of your bills. This happens when there is no one there to shout “Wait a minute, this is unfair to businesses” This is what our Redlands Chamber of Commerce does…they have a “mighty voice” and thank God for that.

Never in my wildest dreams did I aspire to be a President or a Madam and now I am both.

Here’s to a healthy and prosperous 2013.

 

Madame President

If one of your New Year’s Resolutions is to get organized, you are in luck this year.  Practical Solutions, a Redlands based organizing firm, has programs designed to help you be successful.  The programs include daily assignments in January to organizing the entire home, workshops and hands-on organizing help.

Cathy Bates, owner of Practical Solutions Organizing said “after the holidays most people find they have let their house go, just like they have let healthy eating go.  They are ready to get both under control.”  That is probably why losing weight and getting organized are on the top of everyone’s New Year’s resolutions.  Practical Solutions wants to make sure those people resolving to get organized are successful.

The first part of the program, brought back by popular demand from last year, is a step-by-step guide to organizing your entire home in the form of daily assignments. If you sign up for their free newsletter at www.psorganizing.com or “like” them on Facebook, each day in January you will receive an assignment to organize something in your home. If you follow the steps by the end of January your entire home will be organized.  One participant from last year said “My home had extreme clutter and there was no way I could get my entire house organized in one month, so I kept the emails in my inbox and just tackled them one at a time.  By the end of the year, my home was organized.  It works!”

The second part of the program is the Simplify Series Workshops that teach participants how to change the way they think about their stuff and how to get organized once and for all.  These workshops will be held at The Old Spaghetti Factory in Redlands.  The cost is $25 which includes lunch, materials, a $50 Practical Solutions Gift Certificate, and a chance to win great organizing products.  The first workshop in the series will be Simplify Your Home on January 17, 2013 at 12:00.  Additional workshops will be Simplify Your Paper (February 21), Simplify Your Time (March 21), and Simplify Your Busy Family’s Life (April 18).   You can register at www.psorganizing.com/workshops.html.

Thirdly, Practical Solutions is offering a discount on their hands-on organizing services to help those who don’t want to tackle their clutter alone.  Patti Eickhoff, an organizer at Practical Solutions stated “It’s a lot more fun to get organized when you have a non-judgmental partner to walk beside you and help you over the hurdles you face.”  Organizers not only provide the support but also develop organizing systems to help maintain the order you have worked so hard to create, making day to day life a little simpler.

Practical Solutions hopes to remove all of the obstacles so that 2013 is the year you get organized once and for all.  To get involved go to www.psorganizing.com and sign up for their free e-newsletter or register for workshops.  You can also “like” them on Facebook at www.facebook/practicalsolutions to get daily assignments via Facebook to interact with other participants in the program, ask questions, and get advice.  Get involved and have fun getting organized!  For more information contact Practical Solutions at info@psorganizing.com or (909)810-3719.

 

 

To assist in directing the organization to accomplish the mission and serve its members to act as an advocate of businesses throughout the greater Redlands area, the President Elect enlists the help of a cabinet of officers. This year those officers willing to give of their time and talent include; Wayne Stair, First California Bank, serving as President Elect, Alan Ricard, Alta Vista Credit Union, stepping up to serve as Treasurer, Matt Leeds, Whitfrog Designs, will act as Vice President and Paul Barich, Barich & Associates will continue on as Past President.

The Executive Committee will meet quarterly and will also serve as the Chambers Finance Committee.

ABILITY COUNTS, INC.

Yolanda Coker

1967 Essex Courty

Redlands, CA  92374

Phone:  793-1035

 

ACCOUNTING 4 COMPUTERS/PRO-TAX SOLUTIONS

Kendra Salot

325 W. Hospitality Lane, Suite 202

San Bernardino, CA  92408

Phone:  915-1040

 

ASSOCIATES OF THE REDLANDS BOWL

Susan Sequeira

P. O. Box 492

Redlands, CA  92373

Phone:  1-866-999-BOWL

 

AYRES HOTEL REDLANDS

Sandra Kavanaugh

1015 W. Colton Avenue

Redlands, CA  92373

Phone:  798-6330

 

BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF REDLANDS

P. T. McEwen

1251 Clay Street

Redlands, CA  92374

Phone:  798-4599

 

CBDM REDLANDS, LLC

Attention:  Manager

1331 W. Colton Avenue

Redlands, CA  92373

Phone:  798-6330

 

COUNTRY VILLA REDLANDS

Diane Machain

700 E. Highland Avenue

Redlands, CA  92374

Phone:  793-2678

 

EMPIRE BOWLING CENTER, LLC

Will Mossonette

940 W. Colton Avenue

Redlands, CA  92374

Phone:  793-2525

 

FAMILY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Darryl Evey

940 Stillman

Redlands, CA  92374

Phone:  760-843-0701

 

GUIDE DOGS OF THE DESERT INT’L

Kim Laidlaw

P. O. Box 1692

Palm Springs, CA  92263

Phone:  951-798-3753

 

INLAND MASTER CHORALE

Pliny M. Barnes Jr.

P. O. Box 7727

Redlands, CA  92375

Phone:  793-2267

 

ISU BARICH INSURANCE

George Barich

408 E. State Street, Suite A

Redlands, CA  92373

Phone:  793-9683

 

LA-Z-BOY WEST

Jovie Dabu

301 Tennessee Street

Redlands, CA  92373

Phone:  793-3204

 

MAIDS 2000

Chanel Eren

80 Alabama Street

Redlands, CA  92373

Phone:  793-1493

 

MEDICAL CLINIC OF REDLANDS

Marie Jones

255 Terracina Blvd, Suite 101A

Redlands, CA  92373

Phone:  748-6569

 

PCH ARCHITECTS, LLP

Greg Chapman

30 So. Center Street

Redlands, CA  92373

Phone:  792-7397

 

PRIME LENDING

Nancy Kenny

1980 Orange Tree Lane, Suite 210

Redlands, CA  92374

Phone:  801-3510

 

REDLANDS SPINE & SPORT

Michael Donia, DC

219 E. Olive Avenue

Redlands, CA  92373

Phone:  793-2225

 

REDLANDS UNLEASHED FIDOS & FRIENDS

Elizabeth Kulbin

P. O. Box 1440

Redlands, CA  92373

Phone:  380-1337

 

SELAH SOUNDTHEOLOGY CHRISTIAN STORE

Les Spoelstra

415 Tennessee Street

Redlands, CA  92373

Phone:  792-2175

 

STAR AUTO PARTS
Ed Rivera

535 W. Redlands Blvd

Redlands, CA  92373

Phone:  793-2168

 

TELEDYNE BATTERY PRODUCTS

Armando Chacon

840 W. Brockton Avenue

Redlands, CA  92374

Phone:  793-3131

 

THE OLD SPAGHETTI FACTORY

Avianna Homan

1635 Industrial Park Avenue

Redlands, CA  92374

Phone:  798-7774

 

THE UNFORGETTABLES FOUNDATION

Tim Evans

345 W. Pearl Avenue, Suite 230

Redlands, CA  92374

Phone:  951-680-9996

 

THE VERNON COMPANY

Dave Moore

Redlands, CA  92373

Phone:  793-0771