The Easy Way to Make a Club Logo

Are you a member of a club or association? Have you ever thought how much better your letterheads would look with your own club logo? How about a sign for your club with your logo and club name on it?

Well, it is really very easy to make up your own logo. It will be unique to your club too.

By using your computer and some copyright free clipart you will have a huge range of material to choose from. Here's how to begin this exciting project.

You are going to select suitable objects from the clipart package and use these to design your logo.

Choose things that relate to your club's activities. For example, cameras, tripod, and film for a photography club. Or perhaps a checked background with a few chess pieces for a chess club.

The easiest way is to open an art/graphics program - most computers come with one. This does not need to be any particular program just whatever you have available.

Have a look through the clipart. This can be the ones that come with the art/graphics program or one of the many clipart CD that are for sale. Try to use copyright free clipart, most clipart is. You will be combining various clipart objects in your final logo so there shouldn't be any copyright problems anyway.

I like to copy and paste the various clipart objects onto one page in the art program. It saves going back and forth to the clipart. Collect together suitable objects that relate to your club.

Next decide on the shape you would like the logo to be. It could be square, round, arched, even heart shaped.

Open a new page then start with the logo shape and fill it in with a suitable colour. This will depend on the colours of your other objects. If the objects are dark then a light background will be better, and if the objects are mainly light try using a darker background.

Use copy and paste to move the objects onto the page with the logo background. Place your objects onto the background. Resize them to suit the background if necessary.

I like to have some of them overlapping; I think it looks more interesting. When you do this select the one you want to bring to the front, then click on Arrange, then Layer, and bring forward. Your program may be a bit different but it will let you do this - use the Help menu if you need to.

If you want to include the club name, leave room for it when you are placing the objects.

To add the club's name add a Text Box. Type in the club's name. You can use any font you like - there is almost too much choice. Move the text box into the correct position.

You could use a banner shape from the options in the program and place the club name on it if that would suit your layout.

Once you have an arrangement you like use the Edit menu to Select All, and then Save it.

You can make several logos with different objects and different layouts. Be sure to Save the ones you like!

Print them out, and take your new logos to the club so that the club members can decide on the best one to use.

It has never been so easy to create your own logo. How about one for yourself or your family?

Add the logo to all your club stationery. Use it on your letterhead, cards, and activity programs. You could even make your own sign.

A good logo will make your club standout from the crowd.

How to Get Great Audience Feedback, at Little Cost (Case Study)

The Context

Foundation News and Commentary (FN&C), the flagship publication of the Council on Foundations (a major membership association of foundations), has a subscriber base equally split between foundations and nonprofits. It is one of the premier publications of the nonprofit sector.

As we all know, reaching and meeting the needs of two somewhat diverse audiences can be difficult. It is challenging to be specific enough to address issues that are segment-specific while general enough to cover areas of common interest. Foundation News and Commentary does a great job.

The Challenge

In mid-2003, Managing Editor Heather Peeler found herself facing a real challenge. The FN&C staff was eager to make some significant changes to the magazine, on both the content and design sides. Peeler recalls, "We were planning on doing a number of new things with the magazine - including re-design, possible content additions and more. When considering these changes, I realized that it would be a great help to have a group of readers that I could turn to and check in with on new ideas as they come along."

The Strategy

Peeler decided she'd act on this idea and incorporated a call for help in the next online and print issues of FN&C. It read:

"LOOKING FOR A FEW GOOD READERS: Foundation News & Commentary is putting together a Readers Panel to help the magazine through a redesign, test out a new resource directory, and more. Panel members should be available to answer questions, preview new services and share their opinions. The time commitment is no more than a few hours per quarter. And as a "thank you" for their service, panelists will receive a 15% discount on all Council publications."

The Results

In a recent conversation, Peeler reported that response to her invitation has been strong. "We have more people than we can use who have expressed interest in participating and even have a waiting list should replacements be needed. We've established an ongoing dialogue with the group and plan to involve participants via survey, phone and online no more than one or two times a quarter so that it's not so burdensome for them to be involved."

Peeler continued, "We've worked hard to choose a panel that's representative of our readers -- online (an abridged edition available at no charge to nonsubscribers) and print subscribers, all types of foundations and nonprofits, from CEOs to program staff and assistants."

FN&C has already put the advisory panel to work. The first task was a web-based survey on the proposed editorial line-up for 2004. The panel conveyed their interest level on various topics, from 1 ("red hot", I can't read enough on this topic) to 5 (snore). Peeler and her colleagues found the panel's input to be an invaluable ingredient in finalizing content decisions.

What's Ahead for the FN&C Readers Panel

The FN&C advisory panel will next be tasked with testing the usability (efficiency and ease of use) of a planned online buyers' guide. Results will be collected via an online survey tool supplemented by one-to-one calling when needed.

Peeler is pleased to have the panel on board and comments that, "although it took some work to get this set up and rolling smoothly, the group is a hugely valuable addition to our team."

Launch Your Own Advisory Panel to Improve Programs and Marketing Results, and to Build Loyalty

FN&C's development of its Readers Panel is a great best practice for use in your organization. By launching your own advisory panel, your organization will gain an understanding of stakeholder perceptions of the organization and its programs and services.

You can put this input to use in evolving programs and services and as the essence of your marketing and communications materials. There's no better source for learning what's most important to your audiences and even the language that they use to describe these elements. With this knowledge, you will connect with your audiences and motivate them to act, leading to stronger marketing and communications results. But, as Peeler muses, the benefits extend to increased audience loyalty. Peeler recalls that "people really wanted the opportunity to weigh in and support our effort." Audiences do want to be involved with an enterprise that they care about, and are generally flattered to be asked for input. When you do so, you're not only getting great data, you're strengthening your relationships with key stakeholders.

I urge you to start thinking today about how your organization can put an advisory team to work. I use this technique for several of my clients and the results have been incredible.

Back Lane Wineries of Sonoma by Tilar Mazzeo

"Be careful going in search of adventure - it's ridiculously easy to find" - William Least Heat Moon

Tilar Mazzeo's new book - the charming Back Lane Wineries of Sonoma - has made your wine adventures that much easier. This book simply whets one's appetite for wine travels along the backroads of Sonoma County in search of hard to find, and, yes, adventurous wineries.

The layout of Mazzeo's Back Lane Wineries of Sonoma is straightforward and easy-to-use. It is divided into five sections (six if you count the Intro/How to Use section) highlighting Sonoma County's revered wine regions: Dry Creek Valley, Alexander Valley, Healdsburg, Russian River Valley, Sonoma Valley and Carneros. The wines that are written about in this smart little travelogue are the remarkable hand-crafted wines that herald from family-run operations and that, with few exceptions, see only local distribution. (Mazzeo doesn't spend any time writing about the big dogs of Sonoma). For each chapter, Mazzeo throws in favorite restaurants, cafes, and picnic spots.

It's not only lesser-known winemakers and wineries represented here. Some wines see a broader distribution than others. Iron Hill, Unti, Robert Young, and Dutton Goldfield, for instance. But keep in mind that these wineries are producing less than 35,000 cases a year. And though it seems a big number, consider that the output of commercial operations is closer to 5 million cases a year.

Most of the wineries presented in Back Lane Wineries of Sonoma produce less than 10,000 cases yearly. Some less than 1000. Most of these wines can only be found and purchased locally. Take Bacar Vineyards in Healdsburg. "One-man wonder" Trace Nunes produces only one wine, a Burgundy-style Pinot Noir that retails for $100. He fairly eschews advertising his wine, favoring working the fields instead. His is an appointment only operation, and Mazzeo makes it clear that it is worth one's time to make said appointment, as Nunes' wines are little known and worth the while.

And then there is Nalle Winery, where the Nalle family has been producing small-lot wines in the Dry Creek Valley since the 1980s. It is easy to become enchanted by this family of winemakers who believe that 'wine makes you smart' and whose approach to wine is described as "laidback and fun-loving".

With just over 65 wineries included, Mazzeo's guide is chockfull of similarly tempting anecdotes, so one must not forget to give certain props where props are due. For how else could one learn of some of these lesser-known wineries - and the producers so single-mindedly passionate about wine - without Ms. Mazzeo's having travelled these backroads, explored the wineries, and written this book.

Tilar Mazzeo is a cultural historian, biographer, and assistant professor of English at Colby College. This may well explain her depth as a curious human being: in Back Lane Wineries of Sonoma she not only seeks out world class wines, she also seek out the people behind the wines, the stories behind the people. And in her conversational manner, she conveys her considerable wine knowledge. It is like listening to one's best friend, home from a wine holiday, still giddy with excitement, still full of all those sights and tastes.

With over 7 million tourists - connoisseurs and beginning enthusiasts alike - visiting Sonoma Wine Country annually, it's not such a bad idea to take to the back roads and experience a wine tasting or two from these smaller wineries. Not to mention, meeting the producers themselves. Most certainly don't forget to pack Back Lane Wineries of Sonoma. This little gem of a guide, thanks to Tilar Mazzeo, just made your Sonoma adventure ridiculously easier. And remarkably tastier, at that.

Be sure to keep an eye out for Back Lane Wineries of Napa by Tilar Mazzeo, coming 2010.

Back Lane Wineries of Sonoma by Tilar Mazzeo published by The Little Bookroom 2009

What Type of Child Care is Right For Your Child?

Many kids spend their early years in day-care of some sort. Large centers, small centers, registered day care homes, a neighbor or a relative's home-quality child-care can be found at any of these locations, so how do you decide which is best for your child?

Large centers offer a lot in the way of convenience. They are typically open longer hours, which is helpful for parents who have to be at work early in the morning, such as nurses, or for those who work late.

Extra enrichment classes such as gymnastics or swimming are often available at the larger centers, which typically have small busses to transport the children. Sometimes both large and small centers bring in teachers for music, dance or language instruction. There are day-care homes which also offer these extras.

If your child is with a neighbor or relative who is willing to transport them, you can enroll him/her in various classes or sports. These can be good opportunities for the child to mingle with other kids and make friends and play-dates. One disadvantage to care provided by an individual is that there may not be opportunities for peer socialization.

For children in day-care, consistency of care is an issue. Unfortunately, there tends to be a lot of turn-over in day-care workers. Add to this the fact that most centers group children by age and arbitrarily move them to a new teacher each year, and you have the potential for anxiety in many children. Studies have shown that children who are cared for by the same person through their early years benefit from the stability. This is especially true for kids who tend by nature to be shy or clingy.

Day care homes have a big advantage here. Because it is a home and the children are a variety of ages, many of the benefits of staying at home apply. The child has the same primary care giver for several years. Older kids act like big brothers and sisters, helping the younger ones.

The biggest indicator of the value of the care in any of these is the person or persons who spend their days with your child. If your child is with a teacher who loves them, values them as individuals, and takes care of them in a competent and loving manner, then your child will thrive.

Improving Business Operations With Google Apps

First, Google changed the landscape of the Internet by making it easier to access and share information. Now the search engine giant is having a similar effect on the way companies do business with their online office software.

In just a few short years since its introduction, Google Apps for business use has grown to over three million companies and counting. The increasingly popular business application allows companies the online ability to perform many of the same functions as available in Microsoft Office, including creating spreadsheets and word processing documents. Employees can share and collaboratively edit documents created in the Google Apps browser or via Microsoft office. E-mails can also be sent and received via gmail with your domain address.

All of these services are provided by Google Apps free of charge. But for an annual fee of $50 per employee, Google offers a premiere edition with additional features such as the ability to sync Apps with Microsoft Outlook, Apple Mail and other e-mail systems. The premiere edition also allows users to migrate data from old e-mail systems into their G-mail account as well. Upgrading to the premiere edition is optional for all Apps users except for businesses with 50 or more employees.

Here's a more detailed breakdown of some Google Apps tools making the administrative side of doing business more efficient for companies.

Cloud Connect for Microsoft Office: Allows employees to share and collaborate on Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel documents. Users can sync files to Google Apps without having to leave Microsoft Office. Once uploaded to Apps, content can be accessed remotely via computer or mobile device. Content can be altered on Google Apps without having to change the Office interface. Compatible with Microsoft Office versions 2003, 2007 and 2010.

GMail/Instant Messaging: Employees can send out e-mails via G-mail using their company's domain name. Users of the premiere edition receive 25 GB of message storage; an amount 50 times above the industry standard. Spam filtering and organizing features such as message labeling and threading are designed to cut down on e-mail management time. Instant messaging allows employees to communicate with each other in real time inside the G-mail platform without having to open a new window. Users can also conduct voice conversations with clients or co-workers.

Calendar: Allows company meetings and events to be organized through a single platform that users can update remotely. Can schedule events and send out meeting invitations. Once an employee accepts an invitation, the appointment is automatically included in their calendar. A reminder shortly before the event is set to take place will be sent to confirmed guests via G-mail. Users can view multiple employee calendars simultaneously when trying to determine the best time to arrange a meeting.

With the ability to manage important administrative functions remotely, and share documents in a collaborative fashion with co-workers, it's no wonder why Google Apps has emerged as a popular business tool for companies worldwide.

Health in Crisis? 3 Things Your Need to Know to Get Well

Receiving a life-altering health diagnosis sets the previously healthy person into a tailspin. All the assumptions about life are shattered and you go from a placing of knowing to a place of utter chaos. There are lots of questions and many times the answers trickle in leaving us feeling adrift. There are some key areas that can anchor you so that your healthcare decisions are grounded and give you the hope you need to get well.

Health Is Not A Sprint It would be very convenient if following the diagnosis there was a speedy method of resolving the health issue and life could return to "normal". First let's be clear, this is now normal. It's not possible to go through treatment thinking if two pills work then taking four should get you better faster.

Wellness is a marathon and those who win are those who develop both physical and spiritual stamina. You are going to have to raise your level of endurance just like a marathon runner. You have to commit to the long term result, not simply the alleviation of a symptom. Illness is often deeply rooted and just like weeds in your garden, you have to pull them from the roots and that takes time and patience.

Mind-Body Connection There is a mind-body connection. You may never have experienced it but it is real, and it's a key factor in getting well. The messages that your mind sends to the body are interpreted on the cellular level. Overwhelmingly research shows that your attitude impacts the outcome of our treatment. Confidence in the treatment plan fortifies the treatment. It alleviates stress in the body preventing harmful hormones from being released and interfering with your treatment.

Our body believes what we tell it. Remember the studies done where children who were told they weren't very intelligent began to believe it? How does that happen? If we tell ourselves something over and over, then it becomes our reality, skewed but our reality. Our actions are based on our beliefs so if you don't believe you're going to get well you may not be as diligent about taking your medication. These thoughts followed by delinquent actions will sabotage your wellness.

Express Your Emotions Emotions are the safety valve or our bodies. Just like a pressure cooker, you need the valve that allows air to escape so you don't explore, figuratively of course. Don't believe that being stoic is good for your health. Keeping a stiff upper lip is not in your best interest. Giving yourself the freedom to express your frustration, anger and disappointment are ways to get the negative energy out of your body.

Finding a way to release negative emotions gives the body one less fight. The body is fighting the illness; don't divert its attention by having to combat the negative thoughts. We only have a limited number of resources and making sure that every ounce of energy goes into fighting the illness is paramount to getting well.

A safe place to express your emotions is in a support group. You're surrounded by those fighting the same fight. You will not only hear about other's struggles, but the way they resolved those challenges giving you more ammunition for your arsenal. Finding new strategies for coping will give you the edge you need to ensure that the body is fighting the good fight, leading you to a place of better health.