Crafty Mountain Mama - Crafts, DIY, Projects, Tips and Tricks: Coyote Crafts or just Off Topic...

Coyote Crafts or just Off Topic...: So I'm going a little bit (or realllly far) off topic for a moment. I live in the mountains...not exactly the wilderness; however we have o...

Tickets on sale for Zoo Atlanta's annual Jazzoo | accessAtlanta

Tickets on sale for Zoo Atlanta's annual Jazzoo | accessAtlanta

Inspirational Video - The Don't Quit Poem

Great Event in West Palm Beach

Great Way to Warm the Soul

"Stand by Me" performed by musicians around the world from SKAT on Vimeo.

Georgia Floods 2009

It's amazing how detached we can be from the rest of the world, much less, the rest of the country! It is only through Facebook that I realized that my home state was underwater! In such a connected world, how could I have missed this occurrence? I have been; however, amazed to watch the outpouring of warm wishes, prayers, and offers of assistance among friends and acquaintances. I have found a few photos of what is happening right now in Georgia. I hope that all of my friends are safe and secure and as dry as can be expected.

L'shanah tovah tikatev v'taihatem!

Wishing a safe and prosperous new year to all of my Jewish friends!

For the rest of us...what is Rosh Hashana?

Rosh Hashanah is one of the holiest days of the Jewish year. This holiday is difficult to understand because it is not a celebration of some historical event; rather, it celebrates a human being's ability to grow and change. From the first day of Rosh Hashanah to the beginning of Yom Kipperare called the High Holy Days or Days of Awe and are a time for deep thought,self-examination, and prayer. Rosh Hashanah is the time that Jewish people believe that God will judge all of the their deeds for the preceding year. During this time you must take certain steps to correct the mistakes you have made throughout the past year. These steps include: repentance, prayer, and charity. Because of the sacredness of this holiday, no work is permitted during Rosh Hashanah.

Rosh Hashanah or Jewish New Year occurs on the first and second days of Tishri which coincides with September or early October. Unlike most New Year celebrations, Rosh Hashanah begins on the first day of the seventhmonth (Tishri) on the Jewish calendar. In Hebrew, Rosh Hashanah means, literally, "head of the year" or "first of the year." The Bible refers to the holiday as "Yom Ha-Zikkaron" (the day of remembrance) or "Yom Teruah" (the day of the sounding of the shofar). Rosh Hashanah is instituted in Leviticus 23:24-25.

Hearing the sounding of the shofar is the first commandment on Rosh Hashanah. The shofar is a ram's horn, a three-thousand-year-old musical instrument that is blown into like a trumpet. One hundred notes are blown on the shofar in the synagogue on each day of Rosh Hashanah. The high-pitched blasts of the shofar make an urgent sound that remind all that hear it to reflect on the past year and the year to come. Jews believe that the blasts of the shofar revitalize the soul and intelligence of all Jews that listen to it's blasts during Rosh Hashanah.

Throughout Rosh Hashanah no bitter or sour food is eaten. People eat foods including a sweet bread called challah, pomegranates, and apples dipped in honey. Sweet food is eaten throughout this holiday, symbolizing the desire to have a new year filled with sweetness.

Tashlikh or "casting off" is a popular practice during Rosh Hashanah. The people walk to flowing water, such as a creek or river, on the afternoon of the first day of Rosh Hashanah and empty their pockets or throw bread crumbs into the river, symbolically casting off their sins. This tradition has no reference in the Bible, but plays an important role in the celebration of Rosh Hashanah for many Jews.

During Rosh Hashanah the people are encouraged to think only good thoughts and to be kind to all those around them. The common greeting during Rosh Hashanah is "L'shanah tovah" meaning "for a good year." This is a shortening of "L'shanah tovah tikatev v'taihatem" which means "May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year."

South Florida Fun and Networking Events!

TripAdvisor Warnings about Hotel Self Promotion?

Recently it has come to light that hotels are posting rave reviews about themselves on TripAdvisor - a very well known site where folks go to get the latest information on hotels or other information they are seeking when planning a trip.

You can read the USA Today article here.

This allows me to once again talk about the amazing benefits of using HelmsBriscoe for site selection. We have over 1000 associates around the world. We have an internal message board type system, if we need information, we can ask a question and that question immediately goes to all of our associates around the world. Not only does this allow us to work with our colleagues globally in order to plan meetings for corporations and associations wherever they would like to go; but it also gives us the most honest and up to date information on hotels, destinations, contract issues, contacts, etc.

Here is an example of our page, and all of the resources we have access to:



Just another way we work to help our clients have the best meetings possible!

Peanut Island! South Florida's Secret Escape!

 

 

 

 

HelmsBriscoe Velocity Training Rocked!

Lovely Luncheon at The Blue, Doral, Miami

Today brought with it a luncheon hosted by Preferred Hotel Group. We had a chance to meet with many hoteliers in Florida. The spotlight property who hosted our gathering was The Blue, A Resort Hotel Condominium. This location would be PERFECT for a corporate golf outing. It is an all-suite property, located right on "The Blue Monster", one of Doral's premier golf courses! The Executive Chef, Josh Wahler, is a veteran of Gordon Ramsay's Hell's Kitchen reality show, and his amazing culinary skills shine through! With meeting space to accomodate up to 150, and lovely board-room style facilities, The Blue would be an amazing venue for a corporate team building/golf retreat. The property also comes to mind in consideration of a destination wedding. The spa is beautiful, allowing events for the ladies as well as golf for the groomsmen! I would be glad to work with anyone wanting to plan an event at this beautiful property!

Watch What You Tweet!

We are currently being hosted beautifully by the Arizona Biltmore, there are several groups of young people here as well, and I was able to hear a great example of how what you put out there can get ya into a heap of trouble!

One of the "young people", upset about her lack of a continental breakfast (which was NOT ordered as part of their program), decided to make some rude comments on Twitter! The Biltmore is very in tune with technology and keeps up to date about what people are saying...her comment got out, got to the group leader, and got her on the next bus home!

HelmsBriscoe for Atlanta Hawks

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WisBusiness.com

WisBusiness.com

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Hard Work and Determination

And today I celebrate. My new journey officially begins on a professional level. Yes, I have a client now! I am so excited to be given the opportunity to serve my clients to the very best of my ability and put together an unforgettable event that will flow along like the river to the sea. Of course this had nothing to do with the internet, online marketing or social media. It all boils down to people. People are the element in which I operate, the internet is a great resource for research and communication but in these times, it all begins and ends with the human element. Hooray for me!

Made a Google Tool, getting the skills down!

Check out my new skill, it's my very own google search!

Custom Search

It's All Coming Together Now!

It amazes me that we can connect all of these sites, I was supposed to attend a “webinar” today on best practices of social media and internet marketing…I think it was cancelled because of Michael Jackson’s funeral.

I have spent hours getting it all together now, it’s like a complex game…the leg bones connected to the knee bone, etc.

The internet is an amazing yet scary place. You can get pulled in and forget the beauty in the world. The beauty in our world is the people here, not the world wide web! All of my “social media” is as organized as it’s gonna get for the moment and now I venture out into the world to seek out clients, share my enthusiasm about my company, and soak up new personalities!

Meetings and Events Are Essential Business Functions, Spur Economic Growth

In adopting a zero-tolerance policy toward suspected corporate excess, policymakers have been demonizing companies for legitimate travel to meetings and events and for rewarding high-performing employees with travel. Handicapping businesses to score political points is shortsighted and erects barriers to recovery.

This type of travel helps companies build relationships, retain and develop employee talent, generate ideas and facilitate knowledge sharing that drives business growth. In a weak economy, doesn’t every company in America need more opportunities to promote recovery and plan for better days?

Trips have also been mischaracterized as CEO junkets. But attendees of incentive program travel, for example, are typically middle-class Americans who have earned travel to reward exceptional work.

Members of Congress who attack corporate meetings and events, yet attend their own yearly retreats should remember that good public policy addresses reality, not rhetoric.

Meetings Mean BUSINESS!

Meeting participants speak positively about their

experiences:

This information is courtesy of Meetings Mean Business, a website that details the value of meetings, not only to companies, but also to the economy.

When my company hosts a meeting, seminar, or training info session, my job performance benefits tremendously. Meetings are a way to tap into new ideas, generate revenue, and enhance my career.
Christianna S., Virginia

The value of human connections (meetings) is immeasurable. Recently, I chaired a task force of bright, passionate industry experts. We were given a charter and a clear plan of action. The team was dedicated and met weekly for several months, making steady progress against our goal. At the end of our time together, we met for a full day to review the work that had been done. Much to our surprise, the outcomes and recommendations previously agreed to by the team changed significantly once we had a chance to meet in person. Incorporating the knowledge gained through personal interaction we will deliver a much more relevant, meaningful recommendation. This is just a small example of the value of meetings...and of human connections. I think we all know that meetings will continue but the question is at what real cost if they are converted to virtual formats to reduce cost. In addition to the obvious economic value meetings deliver, we need to change our focus from eliminating meetings to measuring the value meetings bring - the effectiveness of meetings. Meetings were conceived to drive growth - now, more than ever before; we should ensure they do just that.
Cindy D., Pennsylvania

There is no substitute for face-to-face meetings. It is absolutely the best facilitation of planning, strategizing and communications. WebEx’s and teleconference are great for interim touch points, but cannot replace the face to face meeting. In projects I have been involved in where we tried to drive entirely through teleconference/WebEx the cost of miscommunication and delays was staggering.
David M., Connecticut

Nothing will ever replace face to face communication. It's a better and more accurate way to collaborate with your clients, as well as your partners and employees. Face to face meetings are vital to sales and marketing efforts. Meetings are just plain good business. Technology is great, but I can't shake hands with it. It can't give someone a reassuring pat on the back, or a smile for a job well done. With all due respect to social networking tools, if all your business is done with e mail, e learning and e networking, you’re going to end up working e lone.
Hugh Q., New York

I am in the meeting and hospitality industry and I see the value of meetings every day; things that cannot be replaced by email or conference calls or video conference. We do not waste our time trying to duplicate things that have no value. Much time and effort is spent on trying to recreate the meeting experience because of the value and effectiveness they have. But nothing can replace shaking of hands and looking into someone’s eyes when you trust them to become part of your team or your business or welcoming them into your family. To dismiss meetings as unimportant is to lose an opportunity to gain real trust between partners of all kinds.
Matt V., Texas

Leadership Roundtable Held in Las Vegas to Discuss Obama's Remarks

Recently, Successful Meetings and MeetingNews hosted a Leadership Roundtable in Las Vegas at which members of the Las Vegas hospitality community gathered to discuss, among other things, President Obama's comments on holding meetings in Las Vegas. Here's what they had to say

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTa80JAgU0k]

Florida offers Hurricane Insurance at NO COST for meetings

Information Courtesy of Visit Florida, our state's official source for travel planning.

Cover Your Event, Compliments of VISIT FLORIDA,

• CYE Applications for August, September and October 2010 are now being accepted.

The summer and early fall months have always been a season of great group values in Florida. This summer, seasonal meeting savings are unprecedented, and VISIT FLORIDA wants to make sure you can take advantage of these "Florida Deals & Steals " with confidence. Therefore, VISIT FLORIDA offers complimentary Cover Your Event (CYE) insurance, which covers any costs directly related to re-booking a meeting should it be displaced due to a named hurricane. CYE is offered for meetings booked in August, September and October 2009 and VISIT FLORIDA has just announced that this popular program will now include August, September and October 2010.

Just another helpful resource in helping you plan your meeting. There are LOADS of great deals on meeting in Florida right now. HelmsBriscoe is committed to making your event happen without any unforeseen problems, and this is just one of the ways we do it.