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.

Acne - The Most Common Skin Disorder

1) Acne:

Acne is one of the most common skin disorders in the world. It generally occurs when dead skin cells and oil block the pores of the skin. In its common form, "acne vulgaris" (or pimples), this clogging results in the appearance of red and swollen blemishes in the skin. These inflammations occur mainly on the face, chest, back, shoulders and upper arms. There are other forms of acne that aren't that mild. These can appear as - blackheads, whiteheads, pustules, papules or cysts.

Blackheads- These are caused by the hardening of oils in the skin pores due to the excess oil produced by sebaceous glands (the skin's oil producing glands). The tip of the clogged pores, that is exposed to the air, turns black (due to oxidation) resulting in the formation of blackheads.

Whiteheads- Whiteheads are white raised spots that show up around the cheekbone, nose, or where the skin is fine. The formation of whiteheads is very similar to that of blackheads except that these occur where skin is delicate and the clogged grease does not get exposed to air. Therefore, there is no darkening of the tips (due to oxidation).

Pustules, Papules- Pustules are small pus-filled inflammations on the skin surface. These commonly occur on face, shoulder and the back. Papules are deeper inflammatory lesions that are raised and solid. In comparison to pustules, they take longer to heal and are known to result in scarring.

Cysts- Cysts are thicker, yellow pus-like inflammations. Quite often, papular or nodular acne results in the formation of a cyst. These inflammations may occur one at a time, or they maybe more than one over the common acne areas - face, neck, back, chest and shoulders.

There are treatments available for each form of acne. But, since the severity of the condition varies by individual, you are advised to consult a dermatologist to determine the best course of action.

The remaining 4 skin disorders Eczema, Psoriasis, Rosacea, and Skin Cancer will be discussed in a separate article.

Bingo - It's Birth and Beginning

The true origin of bingo dates back as far as the mid 16th century and is connected, strangely enough to the unification of Italy in 1530. This unification saw the introduction of a National lottery system, known as "Lo Giuoco del Lotto d'Italia" held each week. Interestingly, this lottery is today a major source of income to the government, contributing over 75 million dollars each year to the budget.

It was the French who developed a passion for "Le Lotto", as it became known and they adapted their own version of the game that strikes a strong resemblance with today's version of bingo. Three horizontal and nine vertical rows formed the basis of the card and players would cover their numbers as they were drawn until an entire horizontal row was covered - hence the winner.

Lotto continued to flourish throughout Europe. It was used as an educational tool in Germany to teach children their multiplication tables and even formed the basis of many other games and toys still noticeable in toy stores today. But where and when did Lotto somehow morph into Bingo? Well, the answer lies in what could be described as a compromise - Beano!

Picture the scene. It's 1929 and a weary and stressed toy salesman by the name of Edwin S. Lowe is driving to Jacksonville, Georgia to prepare for some appointments. Soon after starting his own toy company a year earlier, the market crashed and Mr Lowe's prospects were looking very bleak indeed.

Before arriving in Jacksonville, Lowe decided to cheer himself up by stopping off at a country carnival, being a night early for his appointments. Only one carnival booth was open and very crowded. The excitement seemed to be generated by a game that was a variation of Lotto, known as Beano. A horseshoe table was covered with numbered cards and beans. Every time a pitchman pulled a wooden disk from an old cigar box and called the number on it, the players reached for a bean and covered the corresponding number on their card, if they had it. When they had totally covered a line, either diagonally, vertically or horizontally, they had to shout Beano! They then received a doll.

Lowe wanted to play, but the game was too popular and no seats were available. What he did notice though was that all the players seemed to be addicted to the game. The pitchman was not able to close and had to eventually chase the players away at 3:00am. The pitchman had apparently picked the game of Lotto in Germany and decided to adapt and bring it to the United States and to rename it Beano. The success of the game on the carnival circuit proved to be highly lucrative.

Back in New York, Lowe invited some friends to his apartment and introduced them to the game. The tension seemed palpable. One time, a player became close to winning and was getting more and more excited. When her final number was called she jumped up in a fit of ecstasy and in all her excitement got herself tongue-tied. Instead of shouting Beano she spat out "Bingo!" Lowe would later describe the "sense of elation" he experienced when he heard her cry. He knew from that moment he was going to introduce this game to the public and name it "Bingo".

What a success it proved to be for Lowe and his company! As the game came out of the public domain it was hard for it to be trademarked. Entreponeurs emerged from all sides and began their own versions. Lowe graciously asked them to pay just one dollar a year and call their games "Bingo" as well. To avoid litigation, this seemed a small price to pay and hence the massive spread and popular interest in bingo.

Lowe became aware of the fundraising possibilities of bingo after he was approached by a parishioner who wanted to use the game to raise funds. However, there seemed to be a problem when he discovered that each game tended to produce at least a half a dozen winners. Lowe knew that in order for bingo to succeed and a larger scale he needed to develop a greater number of combinations for his cards. So he approached a mathematics professor at Columbia University by the name of Carl Leffler. Lowe wanted 6,000 new cards with different combinations. The professor agreed. What he may not have conceptualised was how much harder each card became to develop than the card before. The fee per card rose to $100 and the task was finally completed, much to Lowe's delight and at a cost to the professor of his sanity! (Or so many people have speculated).

After that, bingo really began to take off. People started to approach Lowe in droves, asking him to help them develop bingo games. Newsletters and even a book were published. The stakes and prizes got higher and pretty soon bingo took its place in popular American culture along with sports and other forms of gambling and general entertainment.

What is Foreclosure?

Why do people get into Foreclosure and risk losing their homes? Often it comes down to one simple thing - Financial Hardship. Financial hardship can come because of a number of reasons - job loss, injury, illness, death, divorce or the many other things life can throw at us. When people entered into a mortgage agreement they do so in good faith with the view paying off the loan over time. However this contract is a very long term commitment - 20, 25 or 30 years or more. To believe you can go through 30 years without some financial problem arising is naive.

Often people overcome these financial problems if they are only temporary. If they become mid to long term however Foreclosure can loom. Foreclosure is when a bank or lending organization due to unpaid repayments undertakes its legal power to regain its money through the sale of the underlying asset - in the case of a foreclosure a house, land or other form of real estate property. Even in a good economic environment foreclosures occur because families face financial hardships - injuries and illness can happen at the best of times. The only advantage at these times is the property can often be sold before foreclosure allowing the owner to regain their equity or realize capital gains. This of course still means they lose home ownership but it is better than losing everything. In a soft market the situation is much worse. It may prove impossible for the house to be sold, or it may be sold for much less the owner brought it for.

During economic downturns foreclosures go up. They are worsen in the fact that the owner faces losing all their equity and may never be in a position to buy a home again. In any foreclosure the bank is not your friend. The bank only has ONE interest - getting THEIR money back - or at least at much of its as possible - as FAST as possible. This means they will sell your house in a FIRE sale - getting whatever they can for it. It this means they lose money so be it, they can make more by quickly getting that money re-loaned and earning interest.

Once a bank starts foreclosure action they will have already incurred legal expenses. Because of this they are unlikely to want to speak to the owner. A bank normally wait a long time before beginning foreclosure action - 3, 6 even 9 months, but once they do it can be almost an unstoppable force unless outside help is sought.

If you face losing your home make sure you seek help. Putting your head in the sand will not help - seeking assistance may.