NAPO Los Angeles
Mission Statement: NAPO-LA is an organization
dedicated to bringing Southern California area organizers together
through networking, education, professional growth, industry
updates, support and public awareness.
NAPO-Los
Angeles PMB 134, 10573 W. Pico Blvd. Los Angeles, CA
90064 Phone 213-486-4477
NAPO-Los Angeles Who's Who
President:John Trosko johntrosko@napola.org323-512-7039 Vice
President:Jodie Watson jodiewatson@napola.org818-590-7800 Treasurer:Josef
Csongei josefcsongei@napola.org213-422-0765 Secretary:Claire
Flannery cflannery@napola.org310-822-1820 Director
of Administration:Toni Scharff tonischarff@napola.org310-450-2633 Director
of Communications & Technology:Susan Culligan sculligan@napola.org661-713-3723 Director
of Finance:Dina Durrer dinadurrer@napola.org818-789-3555 Director
of Marketing:John Harris johnharris@napola.org626-795-0476 Director
of Membership:Chantale Bordonaro cbordonaro@napola.org310-600-2601 Director
of Professional Development:Dolores Kaytes dkaytes@napola.org310-798-8011 Immediate
Past President:Chris McKenry chrismckenry@napola.org323-525-0678
Coordinators & Committee Chairs
Associate Members:Barb
Schmit Database/Directory:
Jodi McDaniel EDT
Program:Jean Furuya Golden Circle:
Ann
Gambrell Greeter Coordinator:
Christie
Gelsomino Greeters:
Elizabeth Butler Charlotte
Mathews Tina Parish Barbara
Ricketts Historian:Christie
Gelsomino Librarian: Carlene Faerber Meeting
Assistant:
Toni Scharff NAPO in the
Schools:Deborah Kawashima New Member Orientation:
Jean Furuya Ann Gambrell Photographer: Sara
Getzkin Public Relations & Media:
John
Harris Registration Assistant: Silent
Auction:Dina Durrer Volunteer Coordinator:
Abbey Keusch Webmasters:Susan Culligan Laura
Johnson Rhoda Webster
The Los Angeles Organizer Newsletter Staff
Editor:Claire Flannery cflannery@napola.org310-822-1820
Publisher:Laura Johnson laurajohnson@napola.org818-707-1225 Proofreaders:
Sheila McCurdy Toni Scharff
Submission Guidelines: Published six times
per year (January, March, May, July, September and November). All
articles are copyrighted. All rights reserved. Submit text in
Microsoft Word attachment or type directly into email message.
Attach visuals as .jpg or .tif. Send to cflannery@napola.org. Deadline:
All articles must be received by the 25th of the month prior to
publication.
Advertisements: Ads appear as icons on an html page
and include a hyperlink to your website. Send camera-ready art in
.jpg format at 72 dpi to laurajohnson@napola.org.
All camera-ready art and payments must be received by the 25th of
the month prior to publication. Payments to be arranged with Josef
Csongei, Treasurer, at josefcsongei@napola.org.
Ad Size: 125x100 pixels Ad Price:
$25 Members, $35 Non-NAPO Members Coupon: This feature
allows advertiser to provide a text of 50-75 words for a more
detailed description than the sponsor link Coupon Price:
$35 Members, $45 Non-NAPO Members
National Membership
Annual Dues: $200 -
Individual $150 - Associate-Branch $250 -
Associate-Local $550 - Associate-Corporate $20 - New Member
One-Time Processing Fee
Chapter Membership
NAPO National membership required.
Membership includes electronic newsletter.
Annual Dues (Oct. to
Sept.):Members$100 - Level 1 - Basic
Member w/website listing $150 - Level 2 - Basic Member w/website
listing and paid meeting fees (Available only with annual renewal in
September.) $150 - Associate Member/Branch $250 - Associate
Member/Local $25 - New/Lapsed Member Processing Fee $10 -
Meeting Fee Non-Members$25 - Visitor
Meeting Fee
Membership ReportApril - No Chapter
Meeting
May Chapter Meeting 40
Members 13 Visitors (record-breaking number!) 53 Total
Attendance
June Chapter Meeting 39
Members 4 Visitors 43 Total Attendance
Total
Chapter Membership is 116
Mini Board MinutesMay 2007
Chapter purchased full set of 2007 National Conference CD's
Maria Parkinson resigned as Director of Finance
Task Force formed to decide direction of Organzing
Expo
June 2007
Policy and Procedures manuals will be put on the website.
Assistant's List
The
Assistant's List is available as a resource connecting those
available to serve as assistants to organizers who need them. To be
included on the Assistant's List, send an email to assistant@napola.org. Include
your name, phone number and email address. The list is only for
members of NAPO-LA and does not guarantee work. The Assistant's List
is found here in the newsletter and also under the "Members Only"
section of the chapter's website.
Marie
Sooter 310-893-4900 emariesooter@hotmail.com
Rhoda
Webster 818-281-0950 theorganizingco@aol.com
Laura
Johnson 818-707-1225 letmerearrangeyou@earthlink.net
Susan
Eleftherakis 323-662-3291 susan@spatialclarity.com
Justine
Miceli 310-980-7891 micelico@earthlink.net
Maria
Parkinson 213-926-4901 maria.parkinson@yahoo.com
Joanna
Sletten 310-975-9095 joanna.sletten@gmail.com
Robin
Valdez 818-886-9635 expert_organizers@msn.com
Wendy
Cross 818-259-7437 wendylmc@aol.com
Carol
Hogg 818-631-6362 clhoggie7@adelphia.net
Joan
Chodorow 310-396-6997 yasmine@usinter.net
Carlene
Faerber 805-816-2062 carlene@sheorganizesstuff.com
Nadine
Levy 818-585-4828 nadine@management180.com
Marion
Logan 661-803-2070 millennium-1@sbcglobal.net
Randy
Sandiforth 616-403-9052 rsandi4th@aol.com
Chantale
Bordanaro 310-600-2601 chantale@simplicitysource.com
John
Harris 626-795-0476 getitorganized@hotmail.com
Katherine
Macey 310-806-2580 katherine@organizetoexcel.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A
professional organizer enhances the lives of clients by
designing systems and processes using organizing principles and
through transferring organizing skills. A professional organizer
also educates the public on organizing solutions and the resulting
benefit. From the National Associaton of Professional
Organizers
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NAPO-LA is
not responsible for the products and/or services advertised.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ For more information on becoming a NAPO
member, click here.
Quick Links...
|
Reminder: The Los Angeles
Organizer is published bimonthly. Look for "Announcements
from the Board" in between issues. Deadline for submissions
for the September/October newsletter is August 25.
NAPO-LA CALENDAR
July 20 NAPO-LA Newsletter is
emailed 23 NAPO-LA Board Meeting - 2:30 pm 23 NAPO-LA
Chapter Meeting - 6:15 pm 26 L.A.'s Largest Mixer IX
August 25 Deadline for submissions for
September/October NAPO-LA newsletter 27 NAPO-LA Board
Meeting - 2:30 pm 27 NAPO-LA Chapter Meeting - 6:15
pm
September 20 NAPO-LA Newsletter is
emailed 24 NAPO-LA Board Meeting - 2:30 pm 24 NAPO-LA
Chapter Meeting - 6:15 pm
|
President's Message |
NAPO-LA Turns Up the Heat This
Summer
By John Trosko OrganizingLA and
NAPO-LA President
July and August bring images of lazy, hazy summer
days - vacations, family barbeques, and (of course) that
dreaded garage clean-out. Living in sunny Southern
California, we're fortunate to have pleasant organizing
weather year-round. And that means you - as a NAPO-LA
member - can be busy year-round, too. Not only with
garages, but with other areas of the home and office as
well.
Summer or not, NAPO-LA isn't slowing down. Our
programming and events continue to sizzle. Here's a
paparazzi's snap-shot of what's bubbling:
- Just this past month, the Educational Development
Committee celebrated another successful program hosted
by veteran organizer Esther Simon. Plans are already
underway for an October 13 educational program
featuring two topics: managing your own business and
making the best use of your time.
- Our professional development team has lined up hot
summer programs beginning July 23 when Dr. Cal Caswell
of the Small Business Development Center at Loyola
Marymount will give our chapter meeting attendees
insider tips on owning and operating a successful
small business.
- LA's Largest Mixer co-chairs Chris McKenry and
Lenora Thomas have put together a large volunteer team
to market our chapter and our directory of organizers
and to promote the value of organization to Los
Angeles businesses, city chambers and area business
people. The big event takes place on July 26.
- NAPO in the Schools continues to develop with a
major push to set up web pages on the local and
national level. Deborah Kawashima's teleconference
(see related article) will provide protocol,
step-by-step guidelines and a presentation how-to when
the program is brought into local schools this fall.
In fact, all departments of our volunteer
leadership team are in full swing.
Membership is gearing towards renewal planning.
Marketing is working on several exciting press releases.
Special Events is moving forward with a revamped Vendor
Expo for October, and the 2008 Organizing Awards, our
signature event, in January. The treasurer is executing
the preliminary plan for the 2007-08 budgets. Golden
Circle is meeting and planning for the fall. And
fundraising is working in all areas to beef up revenue.
Wow, I'm sure I forgot something!
So as the weather heats up outside, why not
continue to evolve your business this summer and
all year round.
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NAPO-LA Chapter Meeting Information
|
Upcoming Meetings
By Dolores Kaytes Highly-Organized and
NAPO-LA Director of Professional
Development
July 23 Managing Your Small Business
Dr. Cal Caswell of the Small Business
Development Center at Loyola Marymount University will
be our featured speaker and will inform us of the many
services offered FREE by the SBDC to those of us who run
small businesses. Dr. Caswell spent thirty years in
aerospace in the area of acquisition of new business, is
active in consulting, including work at SBDC and has
been honored four times as the "Outstanding Staff
Member" at El Camino College. He has also been honored
for his work with training in the federal corrections
program. He is the director of the El Camino College
Business and Entrepreneurial Success Training Program
(BEST).
August 27 The Chronically Disorganized
Client
How do you handle clients who hoard, shop
excessively and generally have difficulty letting go?
Our colleagues who specialize in working with the
chronically disorganized will offer advice to those of
us who encounter these difficulties, which may include
referring the client to an NSGCD specialist.
Kudos
It was wonderful to have NAPO in The Schools
co-creator, Deborah Kawashima, demonstrate the methods
volunteers use to help elementary school students get
organized. We now are so much better informed about the
wonderful initiative she and Laurie Clark started.
And, a great big thank you to Esther Simon for
sharing her expertise on dealing with children's
memorabilia and mementos. Her presentation was, as
always, entertaining and enlightening.
|
Silent Auction for July |
She is Truly an Organizing Wonder
Tanya Whitford
Tanya Whitford, CPO® started her company,
Organizing Wonders, in 1999, and specializes in
residential organizing. She enjoys getting to know
families and individuals and helping them achieve their
goals. Her clients are predominantly creative types from
actors to writers, but also include everything from
rocket scientists to hoarders. In May, Tanya passed the
certification exam for professional organizers and is
happy to now hold the designation of an inaugural CPO®.
Tanya has been an active volunteer since joining
NAPO-LA. She has served on the Board of Directors as
Secretary, Communications Director, President, and
Past-President. She has volunteered as the newsletter
editor and publisher, webmaster, and countless small
jobs in between. She was honored with the President's
Award at the 2005 NAPO National Conference along with
the Chapter Relations Committee for their contributions
to NAPO chapters and standardization. These volunteer
experiences have been invaluable to her growth as an
organizer and business owner.
Also a member of the National Study Group on Chronic
Disorganization where she is a Chronic Disorganization
Specialist and an ADD Specialist, Tanya holds all eight
Certificates of Study that are offered including "Basic
Hoarding Issues with the CD Client" and "Understanding
the Needs of the Student CD Client."
Tanya was a speaker at the last three NAPO-LA
Conferences giving workshops on both starting your
organizing business and products every organizer should
know about.
She loves working on paper, personal finances,
budgeting, computers, products, digital gadgets, and
taking a day off from work to go to the movies. If you
want to know about any - or all - of these areas, place
your bid!
NOTE: The Silent Auction is a regular
fundraiser for our NAPO-LA chapter and is held at most
chapter meetings. Bidding takes place by simply entering
your bid on the sign-up sheet as the clipboard
circulates the room. The "Winner" is annnounced at the
end of the meeting and is entitled to a one-hour session
with the Silent Auction volunteer either in person or on
the phone.
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Silent Auction for August |
Bid on This Most Amazing
"Dinosaur"
Beverly Clower
One of the founders of NAPO, Beverly Clower never
misses an opportunity to speak on NAPO's behalf.
She brought a long career of office administration to
her business, Office Overhaul, which she founded
in 1982. Beverly's specialty is office organization with
an emphasis on paper management. Filing systems are her
forte, and that aspect of organizing has only grown with
the advent of computers.
The abundance of home offices was a surprise in the
beginning but became a pleasant adjunct to working with
small businesses and large corporations. Organizing home
offices led to accepting other home organization
projects for her clients and that brought a welcome
variety to her experience in the field of professional
organizing.
When talking with NAPO members, Beverly is candid and
free with her answers, suggestions and advice. She calls
herself a "dinosaur" in the field, being dazzled at the
accomplishments of the upstarts who have taken NAPO to
unimagined heights. She continues to give her time to
new and aspiring professional organizers and her
continuing experience and respect for the profession
makes her a veritable wealth of information.
Beverly moved to the South Bay in the fall of 2006
but still travels to the Westside of Los Angeles for new
and continuing clientele.
If you want answers to all the questions you don't
even know how to ask, bid high for an hour of Beverly's
time. You'll be glad you did.
NOTE: The Silent Auction is a regular
fundraiser for our NAPO-LA chapter and is held at most
chapter meetings. Bidding takes place by simply entering
your bid on the sign-up sheet as the clipboard
circulates the room. The "Winner" is annnounced at the
end of the meeting and is entitled to a one-hour session
with the Silent Auction volunteer either in person or on
the phone.
|
A Major Networking Event |
For the third year in a row, NAPO-LA will join 30
Los Angeles County chambers and business organizations,
plus hundreds of exhibitors, for the ultimate business
networking event! Mix and mingle with business people
representing hundreds of industries and companies in and
around Los Angeles County. LA's Largest Mixer IX is a
great opportunity to reach small to large companies,
meet new clients, and learn how the different chambers
of commerce and business organizations can make your
business grow.
Date:Thursday, July 26,
2007
Time: 5 - 9 PM
Location: Shrine Auditorium Expo
Center 700 W 32nd Street Los Angeles, CA 90007
Mixer admission: $20 at the door (no
registration necessary)
Parking:
$5
While you are networking, stop by the NAPO-LA
booth and thank the following volunteers for promoting
your chapter:
Chantale Bordonaro David
Cohen Josef Csongei Robin Davi Dina
Durrer Sara Getzkin Leslie Harber John
Harris Brenda Sue Jacobs Carol Keller Katherine
Macey Chris McKenry Donna McMillan Barb
Schmit Marie Sooter Lenora Thomas Jodie
Watson
Click here largestmixer.com
for more information.
|
Golden Circle Update |
Summer Circle
by Ann Gambrell Creative Time-Plus
and Golden Circle Liaison
"Sit Back, Relax and Enjoy" was the theme of the
July 14 Golden Circle gathering at the home of Ann
Gambrell. Jean Furuya co-hosted the event.
Ann brought updated information on Golden Circle
activities as well as an update about members with
physical/medical needs to the 17 members in attendance.
Jean shared educational training information from the
Educational Development Committee. Beverly Clower and
Carol Keller volunteered to write articles for the
Golden Circle column in upcoming chapter newsletters.
Eight members volunteered to host Golden Circle meetings
in 2008.
The Tips project is still going strong. Wendy Cross
offered to work on a possible chapter Tips booklet;
Carolyn Strauss offered to help.
The upcoming Golden Circle panel at the September
NAPO-LA chapter meeting was discussed and several topics
were offered for consideration.
The meeting came to a close with a new twist.
Everyone had been asked to bring a joke or cartoon to
share with the group. This was a huge hit and some even
received prizes!
The next Golden Circle meeting will be on Sunday,
October 21, with co-hosts Carolyn Strauss and Diana
Ryan.
For more information on Golden Circle, contact
Ann Gambrell Email: gambrellann@aol.com
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Certified Professional Organizers
|
A Prestigious Study Group!
By Tanya Whitford, CPO® Organizing
Wonders
We passed!
It has been a busy and exciting year for some NAPO-
LA members! Many of us were in a study group preparing
ourselves for the BCPO Professional Organizer
certification exam. It turned out to be a wonderful
experience for those involved as we bonded, shared
insights, and learned a lot from each other. Deborah
Kawashima, CPO®, of creativeOrganizer said, "Just
the studying alone was well worth the effort of taking
the exam. I gained so much new insight from all the
books I read, especially on the subject of transferring
of skills." No matter how long you have been organizing,
there is always something new to learn and this exam is
the perfect excuse to challenge yourself a little.
I like taking tests. I know that may sound crazy, but
I like the challenge! Cramming in our hotel room the
night before the exam reminded me of college and walking
into the big room to take the test reminded me of the
SAT's. It was exhilarating! When I left the exam room, I
felt satisfied. It wasn't too hard - but it certainly
wasn't too easy. It was just right! I was confident that
I had passed but knew that I may have felt differently
if I hadn't been in a study group and actually studied.
The results came in a month later and emails were
flying as we shared our good news with each other. Then
certification packets arrived with the benefits we now
receive as CPO®s and ways to help us market our new
standing. Mishele Vieira, CPO®, of Away with Chaos
said, "I'm really thankful that NAPO and the BCPO
were able to make the dream of certification a reality.
Our industry just keeps getting better and better."
Congratulations to the following NAPO-LA members who
passed the certification exam to become inaugural CPO®s
and/or CPO-CD®s. They now hold a special place in NAPO
history.
Chantale Bordonaro, CPO® Robin
Davi, CPO® Lynne Gilberg, CPO®, CPO-CD® Cindy
Kamm, CPO® Deborah Kawashima, CPO® Sheila McCurdy,
CPO® Marcy Melton, CPO® Barbara Ricketts,
CPO® Mishele Vieira, CPO® Tanya Whitford,
CPO®
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Golden Circle Column |
Home Sweet Home Is Possible!
By Ann Gambrell Creative-Time
Plus and Golden Circle Liaison
Here are some tips to turn your home into an
inviting haven at the end of a busy day:
1. Tackle the clutter by doing a little each day. Use
a timer. Set up a maintenance plan with family members
to keep it tidy. Delegate -- everyone benefits.
2. Create easy cleaning techniques. Keep cleaning
supplies in each room that has a a sink. Eliminate
knick-knacks that require extra cleaning attention. Dust
or vacuum one room a day, one cleaning task in the
bathroom daily, wash one load of laundry daily, etc. Bit
by bit makes it easier.
3. Bring TV clutter (popcorn bowls, etc.) to the
kitchen at bedtime to avoid facing it in the morning.
4. Have all family members return personal items -
clothing, shoes, toys, homework, etc. - to their rooms
at bedtime. Place back packs at the door before bedtime
as well.
5. Plan slow-cooker meals to be ready when you get
home. Make a double recipe and freeze one.
6. Cook breakfast for dinner as a quick meal. Cook on
the weekend, freeze in family size quantities for when
time & energy are lacking.
7. Have a routine homework time daily and before
leisure time. All will benefit!
8. Assign chores: set or clear the table, feed the
pets, take out the newspapers/trash, etc. Weekly chores
free up the weekends for family activities.
9. Set aside one family evening routinely for movies,
games, cooking together or ordering take out -- just
having fun. No chores.
10. Above all -- be flexible when your day doesn't go
as planned. Reduce stress by switching to "Plan B" --
which is whatever it takes to get through it.
Once you have some of these techniques in place,
entering your home after a busy day will be a pleasure
not a problem.
© 2007 Ann Gambrell
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May 2007 Volunteer of the Month
|
Q&A with Charlotte Mathews
Business Name? ExtraWife
When did you start your business? 2002
Where do you do business? Pasadena, San
Gabriel Valley and sometimes further afield.
How did you get into organizing as a profession?
Friends and I helped each other get organized and
found that, lo and behold, we could do it for others -
and get paid for it!
How did you come to join NAPO-LA? We looked
on the internet (great things, computers!), came to a
meeting, were impressed, liked the people, and joined.
What has been your experience volunteering in
NAPO-LA, the benefits of volunteering? Meet
people, learn more.
What are your main organizing interests and areas
of organizing? Residential organizing, including
home offices. Also helping older people downsize (e.g.,
when moving to retirement facility) and helping "pack
rats" look at their things differently (a lot of
education there). We also work with the L. A. Department
of Mental Health Taskforce on Hoarding and Cluttering
under G.E.N.E.S.I.S., which works with older people in
the Los Angeles area.
Anything you would like to say about yourself?
I've had four children, was divorced, then got
an MBA from USC at the ripe old age of 47. Worked for
First Interstate Bank for 17 years. Retired and then
started this business at age 71 - it's fun! Lived for a
year in England and a year in India. Fascinating!
NOTE: Have you volunteered yet to help out
NAPO-LA in some way? Then you, too, could be voted
"Volunteer of the Month" or even "Volunteer of the
Year." And when you are, it will be your turn to answer
these questions so that all of us in NAPO-LA will get to
know you just a little bit better!
To find out about volunteer opportunities,
contact Abbey Keusch Email: abbeyclaire@sbcglobal.net Phone:
323-461-9555
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One Organizer's Recommendation
|
A Low-Tech Approach to Dust &
Allergens
By Susan Culligan Got to Get
Organized and NAPO-LA Director of Communications
& Technology
Some things just don't need high-tech solutions!
As an organizer, I often work in dusty environments, and
I hate to use a mask for many reasons, but I worried
that I was exposing myself to dust and allergens. Well,
I was watching Oprah one day when Dr. Oz was on
(he's terrific - he wrote the book You-An Owner's
Manual), and he was demonstrating something called a
"neti pot." This is an age-old method of sinus cleansing
used by yogis for centuries!
It's a little pot that looks like a small
teapot (see photo). You fill it with very warm water and
either non-iodized table salt or one of the special neti
pot salt mixtures, then you actually pour it into one
nostril with your head tilted, and it runs out the other
nostril. You do this on both sides (I actually bought
two pots, so I can mix them at one time).
It takes a little getting used to, but now I just
love it and look forward to doing it every day. You'll
feel a sense of lightness in your sinuses afterwards,
and it washes out all the "yuck" you pick up during the
day.
I bought mine at Whole Foods, but you can get them in
health food stores or online. One company I found that
looks good is The Peaceful Company (nice name!). This
link will take you to their neti pot page. peacefulcompany.com
For anyone who has allergies or sinus headaches, it's
pretty amazing. Try it out!
|
Tips Program |
A Website Is a Must
One of the best ways to gain more business is to
have a website. Without it, prospective clients will go
to another organizer who does. In this technology world
you will never convince someone that you're really in
business without a website.
Submitted by Sheila McCurdy
clutterSTOP
Keep that Silver Gleaming
Wrap newly cleaned and polished silver in plastic
wrap. Make sure there are no air openings and the silver
will be ready for use when you need it, even after a few
years.
Submitted by Beverly Clower
Office Overhaul
About the TIPS Program: NAPO-LA's TIPS
Program is managed by the chapter's Golden Circle
members. Ann Gambrell is the chair and invites all
chapter members to submit their organizing tips via
email or on index cards that will be available at the
monthly chapter meetings for deposit into the
"Organizing Tips" box.
TIPS are requested in two categories:
"Tips from Pros" are organzing tips for clients/the
public.
"Tips of the Trade" are tips for organizers to use
in their businesses.
When submitting TIPS, you are invited (optional)
to include your name, business name and contact
information. This will serve to promote you when the
client/public TIPS are posted on the NAPO-LA website's
home page.
Email your TIPS to: gambrellann@aol.com
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NAPO in the Schools |
NAPO in the Schools to Launch
Nationally
By Deborah
Kawashima creativeOrganizer
With the elementary school program all set to go,
NAPO in the Schools will launch nationally in the Fall.
The taskforce is busy putting together the final
details. Web pages are being developed for the NAPO.net
website to introduce NAPO in the Schools to the public
as well as to NAPO members. The website will have a
"members only" section to answer Frequently Asked
Questions (FAQs) and to sign up for teleconference
training calls.
The NAPO in the Schools middle school and high school
programs are still in development. Donna Goldberg,
author of The Organized Student, has honored us
with her expertise on our taskforce calls to help us
create the best possible programs. NAPO-LA and
NAPO-Chicago will be part of the pilot program this
coming school year. After completing a successful pilot
program, the middle school and high school programs will
be launched.
NAPO in the Schools brings professional organizers
into the schools to teach basic organizing principals
and the benefits of being organized to students. The
interactive presentation is a community program that can
be done on either a chapter level or individually by a
NAPO member. It can also be used as a marketing tool for
members to get a foot in the door at a particular school
and is an excellent way for you to volunteer and get
involved with your chapter.
We are currently looking for NAPO-LA members
interested in either working with us or recommending
elementary schools that might be interested in this
program for the coming school year. In August, at a
date, time and place to be announced, there will be a
training session for NAPO-LA members interested in
volunteering for NAPO in the Schools.
For more information, or to volunteer for NAPO in
the Schools, Email: deborah@creativeorganizer.com Phone:
323-656-9665
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New NAPO-LA Members |
A Warm Welcome to
NAPO-LA's Newest Members!
Sheila Byers Sun Valley
Brenda Sue Jacobs At Your
Service, Etc. Los Angeles
Carol Keller Organizing
Experts Venice
Marie Sooter Santa
Monica
Lenora Thomas Nories Nice 'N
Neat Los Angeles
And A Warm Welcome Back
to...
Christine Cohen Christine Cohen
Professional Organizing, Etc.Beverly Hills
NOTE: "Warm
Welcome" is a new feature of The Los Angeles
Organizer. If you just joined NAPO-LA, be sure to
get your photo taken at the next chapter meeting! Or
email your photo to the Editor along with your name,
your business name, where you live, and the date you
joined.Send to cflannery@napola.org
|
CD Clients -Support Group |
Hoarders and Families
By Jean Furuya The
Office Jeanie
If you are a member of NAPO-LA working
consistently and on an ongoing basis with chronically
disorganized clients, you are invited to participate in
an informal support group. Our topic of discussion will
be "Hoarders and Families." Time will also be spent
sharing individual issues.
This meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 14, from
6 - 8:30 pm. Limited to 10 attendees.
A simple potluck is planned.
To RSVP or for more information, contact Jean
Furuya Email: jean@theofficejeanie.com Phone:
310-316-1753
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Special Offer to NAPO-LA |
Garage Envy Offers 10% Referral
Fee
By Cary Brazeman Associate
Member Garage Envy, Inc.
Garage Envy, named "Best Garage Design
Company" at the 2007 Los Angeles Organizing Awards, is
now offering a 10% referral fee to NAPO members.
If your client wants to organize a garage, Garage
Envy's services could be the perfect complement. Our
focus is on those dirty, messy add-on spaces to houses
which are supposed to hold automobiles but often don't.
What they do hold, however, is the potential for
incredible storage and tremendous organization.
Garage Envy works effectively with
professional organizers by encouraging NAPO members to
not just hand off business but to be involved in the
design of a customer's garage storage project. If you
know the client well and have worked together in other
areas of their homes or lives, then you might just want
to be involved in the garage venture as well. Or, if you
prefer, refer customers directly to us and we will take
good care of them. Either way, we'll reward you with a
referral fee of 10% on all revenue generated, including
labor and materials.
Garage Envy designs and installs
total garage makeovers. We use custom systems that may
include heavy-duty premium cabinets (which are thicker
and stronger than closet cabinets), slatwall, shelves
and accessories. The company also is renowned for its
garage floors, which come in a variety of finishes and
surfaces. Click here www.garageenvy.com
for more details.
For more information about Garage Envy's
referral program, contact Cary Brazeman
Phone: 310-205-3592
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Product Spotlight |
Sheet Protectors in a Dispenser
Box?
By Barb Schmit Associate Member,
Esselte
Trying to carry a box of sheet protectors can be
frustrating. The top of the box has a tendency to come
off, scattering the sheets in all directions. And when
you want to pick up just one, the static makes them
stick together.
Esselte has developed an efficient way to take
care of those problems. Called the At Hand Sheet
Protector Dispenser, it is designed to work much like a
sandwich bag dispenser, allowing only one to pop up at a
time. The box itself is quite small and can easily be
carried along from client to client.
The sheet protectors come 50 to a box and are
available in two weights:
(1) the standard weight with a crystal-clear
finish
(2) a lighter weight with a non-glare finish.
What are you waiting for?
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Members in the News |
Laura Johnson, Let Me Rearrange
You, was featured in a the May 2 edition of Home
Improvement Magazine - South Bay. In her redesign
projects, Laura uses what the homeowners already have in
their homes, so this fit in perfectly with the theme of
"decorating on a dime".
Gus Gougas of OrganizIT! let us
know that in June, consumer advocate Allan Mendelson of
KCAL Channel 9 recognized OrganizIT! as one of
his "Best Deals" and ran a segment highlighting
OrganizIT!'s garage organization products and
services.
John Trosko, OrganzingLA, was
featured in the June 19 edition of Frontiers
Magazine, Southern California's largest gay and
lesbian magazine. Trosko gave away his secrets on
clearing clutter in the home and office.
Cary Brazeman of Garage Envy shared
the fun fact about Garage Envy's sponsorship of
the "Messiest Garage Makeover Contest" in May. The
KTLA Morning Show ran the contest and aired the
spectacular finished results.
Evelyn Gray, a long-time NAPO-LA member,
recently received her CPO-CD (Certified Professional
Organizer in Chronic Disorganization) designation and
ADD Specialist and Chronic Disorganization Specialist
Certificates from the National Study Group on Chronic
Disorganization (NSGCD).
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NAPO-LA EDC Program |
Mentors and Coaches
Directory
The Educational Development Committee (formerly
the Mentoring, Education and Training Committee) has
provided a listing of organizing consultants in NAPO-LA
who are available to provide guidance, advice and
support to potential, new, and existing professional
organizers.
If you are interested, contact the consultants
directly for information and fees. NAPO-LA provides the
listings only and has no involvement with the consultant
and/or the organizer or client. Click below for
details:
Mentors
and Coaches Directory
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Mark Your Calendars |
EDC Plans Two October Training
Sessions
(1) Running a Successful
Organizing Business
We are pleased to have Lynn and
Kevin Hall present a topic that has been requested
by so many members in our recent survey. They will give
thorough guidelines for organizers who want to improve
their skills on the business side of the organizing
business.
(2) It's About Time... Time
Management Strategies for You and Your
Clients
In the afternoon, our own Chris Reiter
will teach us all about a subject with which she has
had great experience. This class on time management will
cover both personal and business issues, as well as how
you can help your clients improve their own time
management skills.
The sessions will be offered on Saturday, October
13.
For further details, contact Jean
Furuya Email: jean@theofficejeanie.com Phone:
310-316-1753
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