Usually one of the main requirements for getting status as a fraternity or sorority is raising funds for charity or for the school each year. If you're running out of fund raising ideas or simply have no idea where to begin, these ideas might be just what you're looking for. Here are some of the top five fund raising ideas for fraternities and sororities. The great part is that they all leave lots of room for imagination and personalization to your cause and to your resources.
1. Anything food-based. There are tons of different ways that you can turn food into a fundraiser. Since everyone has to eat, most people don't mind spending a bit of money on food. A few ways to make a food fundraiser include hosting a barbecue, having a few eating contests, creating a simple bake sale, or putting on a fancy gala dinner. Tailor your fund raising idea to the type of community you're catering to, the type of charity you're raising money for, and the resources that your fraternity or sorority has available.
2. Events like golf tournaments. Events for which you can find advertising sponsors and people to pay to participate in them can make a whole lot of money. Think about events like tournaments and fun runs or walks where people can raise sponsorship to participate in the event and get something like a tee-shirt and a medal - which you can buy very cheaply - in return.
3. Auctions. You can auction off anything from dates with fraternity guys to home-made baskets of goodies. Silent and spoken auctions can both be used, and these fundraisers can be incorporated into other events, such as dinners and tournaments. Think about what your group has to offer, and then create an auction to suit those resources.
4. Raffles. Like auctions, you can raffle off anything, and you can also combine raffles with lots of other fund raising events. If you're looking for a way to cheaply and easily create a fundraiser, this might be a good choice. Unlike an auction, you don't actually have to get people together for this one. You just have to make sure you have their contact information when you draw their raffle tickets to see who will be the winner.
5. Trivia nights. These can be great fun for know-it-all college student - which is, let's face it, most of us. Center the trivia you choose on the charity you're raising money for, which will help raise the level of awareness about what that charity is all about. You can do individual trivia contests or contests with teams, and you can use this event for just a few people or for lots of people at once.
Keep in mind that all of these fundraiser ideas can be used in a variety of different settings, and that you can tailor them to your needs. Also, remember that you should always check with local businesses to see what they'll donate to help you raise funds, whether it's tickets to raffle or a place to host your event at half price.
Author Bio:
Crystal is the owner of GreekForMe - a licensed fraternity and sorority Greek merchandise store featuring Chi Omega merchandise.
In her free time, she volunteers at her kids' school and also actively supports Relay for Life for the American Cancer Society.
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Top-Five-Fundraisers-For-Fraternities-and-Sororities&id=3708441
Friday, December 31, 2010
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Coffee - Using Vinegar to Clean Your Coffee Pot, What You Should Know
When was the last time you cleaned your coffeemaker?
Like anything else, coffee makers require cleaning from time to time. Over time, lime deposits and "gunk" build inside your coffee equipment. Coffee oils can accumulate inside the coffee machine and become rancid. This will damage the taste of coffee. Mineral deposits can form inside the coffee maker as either lime scale or mineral scale. In general, scale reduces the efficiency of the coffee maker's heating unit as well as the water flow. The coffee aftertaste changes to somewhat bitter and dirty. If this is happening to you, it is time to make your coffeepot clean again!
Coffee equipment should be cleaned at least once a month. Clean your coffee machine more often than that to ensure the best tasting coffee if you are a heavy coffee drinker. Other factors, such as the type and quality of water you use in your coffee machine also influence the cleaning frequency to use.
Most coffee makers have cleaning instructions included in the owner manual that you can follow. However, most people misplace or do not keep the owner's manual for small and mid size appliances. You can spend money on a cleaning kit or you can use a very effective and inexpensive home made cleaning solution. The following cleaning method works very well.
Steps to cleaning your coffee pot,
• Put a filter into the filter basket unless your coffee equipment does not use paper filters.
• Pour an entire jar of white vinegar into the pour spot where you usually pour the water.
• Some people will add lemon juice to the vinegar which is fine. Others prefer to use a combination of half water and half white vinegar. Any of these combinations work. The decision is based on how dirty the coffee maker is and how often it has been cleaned.
• Turn your coffee maker "on" or use the "clean setting" if your equipment has one.
• Make sure all the vinegar drops down into the coffee pot recipient. When finished, discard it.
• The vinegar will deodorize your kitchen sink drain, which is a nice side benefit.
• Run two full pots of water through to make sure you flush out all traces of vinegar before brewing coffee again. Let the coffee equipment cool each time for about 10 minutes.
• Remember to wipe down the outside and all around the coffee maker very well to give it a shiny clean look and remove any traces of dirt.
• One area that is usually very dirty and sticky is where the coffee drips out of the machine into the pot. It's similar to cleaning the inside ceiling of your microwave.
• Cleaning every single crevice of the coffee machine is essential to preventing mold build up in the piping and the filter basket.
• Wash the coffee carafe (glass container) inside and out very well with soapy hot water. Lime deposits form inside the carafe and can affect the coffee taste.
• If you have stains or burned coffee spots on the carafe, pour some table salt on them and let them stand for at least a half hour or overnight.
• You can add some water with vinegar and soak overnight. Depending upon how stubborn and crusty the stains or burn marks are, this step may need repetition. It will remove any "coffee film" inside.
• Check the coffee equipment to see if the smell of vinegar persists in the equipment. If it does, run more water through the coffee maker.
• Vinegar cleans the coffee pot and flushes out any buildup in the tank and tubes.
Good coffee starts with good beans and with a clean coffee maker. A coffee maker is easy to clean. On a daily basis, after each coffee brewing, you should remove all the parts that can be removed and wash them in hot soapy water. Use a damp soft towel or sponge all surfaces of the coffee equipment.
A clean coffee machine will make better tasting coffee. Your reward will be a delicious, clean, aromatic and great cup. What can be better than that for a coffee lover?
Let's drink some Papua New Guinea AA Estate!
Author Bio:
Timothy ("Tim") S. Collins, the author, is called by those who know him "Gourmet Coffee Guy." He is an expert in article writing who has done extensive research online and offline in his area of expertise, coffee marketing, as well as in other areas of personal and professional interest.
Come visit the author's website: http://www.ourgourmetcoffee.com
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Coffee---Using-Vinegar-to-Clean-Your-Coffee-Pot,-What-You-Should-Know&id=4090136
Like anything else, coffee makers require cleaning from time to time. Over time, lime deposits and "gunk" build inside your coffee equipment. Coffee oils can accumulate inside the coffee machine and become rancid. This will damage the taste of coffee. Mineral deposits can form inside the coffee maker as either lime scale or mineral scale. In general, scale reduces the efficiency of the coffee maker's heating unit as well as the water flow. The coffee aftertaste changes to somewhat bitter and dirty. If this is happening to you, it is time to make your coffeepot clean again!
Coffee equipment should be cleaned at least once a month. Clean your coffee machine more often than that to ensure the best tasting coffee if you are a heavy coffee drinker. Other factors, such as the type and quality of water you use in your coffee machine also influence the cleaning frequency to use.
Most coffee makers have cleaning instructions included in the owner manual that you can follow. However, most people misplace or do not keep the owner's manual for small and mid size appliances. You can spend money on a cleaning kit or you can use a very effective and inexpensive home made cleaning solution. The following cleaning method works very well.
Steps to cleaning your coffee pot,
• Put a filter into the filter basket unless your coffee equipment does not use paper filters.
• Pour an entire jar of white vinegar into the pour spot where you usually pour the water.
• Some people will add lemon juice to the vinegar which is fine. Others prefer to use a combination of half water and half white vinegar. Any of these combinations work. The decision is based on how dirty the coffee maker is and how often it has been cleaned.
• Turn your coffee maker "on" or use the "clean setting" if your equipment has one.
• Make sure all the vinegar drops down into the coffee pot recipient. When finished, discard it.
• The vinegar will deodorize your kitchen sink drain, which is a nice side benefit.
• Run two full pots of water through to make sure you flush out all traces of vinegar before brewing coffee again. Let the coffee equipment cool each time for about 10 minutes.
• Remember to wipe down the outside and all around the coffee maker very well to give it a shiny clean look and remove any traces of dirt.
• One area that is usually very dirty and sticky is where the coffee drips out of the machine into the pot. It's similar to cleaning the inside ceiling of your microwave.
• Cleaning every single crevice of the coffee machine is essential to preventing mold build up in the piping and the filter basket.
• Wash the coffee carafe (glass container) inside and out very well with soapy hot water. Lime deposits form inside the carafe and can affect the coffee taste.
• If you have stains or burned coffee spots on the carafe, pour some table salt on them and let them stand for at least a half hour or overnight.
• You can add some water with vinegar and soak overnight. Depending upon how stubborn and crusty the stains or burn marks are, this step may need repetition. It will remove any "coffee film" inside.
• Check the coffee equipment to see if the smell of vinegar persists in the equipment. If it does, run more water through the coffee maker.
• Vinegar cleans the coffee pot and flushes out any buildup in the tank and tubes.
Good coffee starts with good beans and with a clean coffee maker. A coffee maker is easy to clean. On a daily basis, after each coffee brewing, you should remove all the parts that can be removed and wash them in hot soapy water. Use a damp soft towel or sponge all surfaces of the coffee equipment.
A clean coffee machine will make better tasting coffee. Your reward will be a delicious, clean, aromatic and great cup. What can be better than that for a coffee lover?
Let's drink some Papua New Guinea AA Estate!
Author Bio:
Timothy ("Tim") S. Collins, the author, is called by those who know him "Gourmet Coffee Guy." He is an expert in article writing who has done extensive research online and offline in his area of expertise, coffee marketing, as well as in other areas of personal and professional interest.
Come visit the author's website: http://www.ourgourmetcoffee.com
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Coffee---Using-Vinegar-to-Clean-Your-Coffee-Pot,-What-You-Should-Know&id=4090136
Monday, December 27, 2010
Sustainable Fundraising - Raise Donors, Not Dollars
Fundraisers are exceedingly proud of the money they raise. They are particularly proud when it is more money than what was raised the prior year. Already I have two problems. Even in a staff-centered development operation, fundraisers alone do not raise money. But, okay, let's ignore that for now. What I really have a problem with is counting dollars instead of donors.
Fundraising, I really believe, is about relationships. A good fundraiser helps to create and nurture the connections that donors feel about the organization, its mission, the programs it provides. Fundraisers who are focused only on dollars are missing the point.
More insidiously, they are often being untruthful about the value of the money they are counting.
A case in point: I recently lunched with a colleague who waxed eloquent about the fact that the development department brought in almost twice as much this year to the organization as it had in the prior fiscal year. But that wasn't actually the case.
The main reason for the huge bump in revenue was a bequest. Nothing wrong with a bequest, but I think it is wise to pull out these unique gifts when comparing income year to year. It's not like this donor is about to make another gift any time soon. Moreover in this particular case, there was some question as to whether the organization should be a major beneficiary so a lawyer was hired on contingency, and his take was 35%. Counting the entire amount of the bequest, therefore, is somewhat disingenuous.
Another large "gift" was actually a contract between a company and the organization that was written as a restricted gift. There is nothing wrong or illegal about this, but the development department had little or, more likely, nothing to do with this transaction.
I don't mean to pick on my colleague. He's a really good fundraiser. Far better than I ever was. But, and here's where we part company, I have always been more interested in creating a development program is sustainable and, therefore, responsive to the ongoing and ever-changing needs of an organization than in getting any single gift.
To me that means tying the goals and objectives of the organization to what the development department is doing. Making sure, in other words, that I am raising the gifts that are needed and not just the gifts I can get. The key to that, I believe, is having a solid core of donors who are committed to the organization, care about the mission and, therefore, are receptive helping out when there is a specific need.
When your focus is on raising dollars, too often your time ends up being spent on gifts that make your bottom line look good but do very little for your programs.
When I started in this business, there was a real move to change the term "fundraising" to "development." With good reason, I think. The former has a focus on the funds. The latter, on the building and growing of the relationship. And in the long run, in good time and bad, simply scrambling for the gift hurts everyone.
Building relationships, on the other hand, builds in sustainability and that ensures that your mission and your purpose remain strong.
Author Bio:
Janet Levine has over 25 years working at and with educational and nonprofit organizations, helping them to increase their fundraising capacity. She regularly teaches face to face and onlineclasses in fundraising and grantwriting. Information on her classes and her services can be found at http://janetlevineconsulting.com
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Sustainable-Fundraising---Raise-Donors,-Not-Dollars&id=4171148
Fundraising, I really believe, is about relationships. A good fundraiser helps to create and nurture the connections that donors feel about the organization, its mission, the programs it provides. Fundraisers who are focused only on dollars are missing the point.
More insidiously, they are often being untruthful about the value of the money they are counting.
A case in point: I recently lunched with a colleague who waxed eloquent about the fact that the development department brought in almost twice as much this year to the organization as it had in the prior fiscal year. But that wasn't actually the case.
The main reason for the huge bump in revenue was a bequest. Nothing wrong with a bequest, but I think it is wise to pull out these unique gifts when comparing income year to year. It's not like this donor is about to make another gift any time soon. Moreover in this particular case, there was some question as to whether the organization should be a major beneficiary so a lawyer was hired on contingency, and his take was 35%. Counting the entire amount of the bequest, therefore, is somewhat disingenuous.
Another large "gift" was actually a contract between a company and the organization that was written as a restricted gift. There is nothing wrong or illegal about this, but the development department had little or, more likely, nothing to do with this transaction.
I don't mean to pick on my colleague. He's a really good fundraiser. Far better than I ever was. But, and here's where we part company, I have always been more interested in creating a development program is sustainable and, therefore, responsive to the ongoing and ever-changing needs of an organization than in getting any single gift.
To me that means tying the goals and objectives of the organization to what the development department is doing. Making sure, in other words, that I am raising the gifts that are needed and not just the gifts I can get. The key to that, I believe, is having a solid core of donors who are committed to the organization, care about the mission and, therefore, are receptive helping out when there is a specific need.
When your focus is on raising dollars, too often your time ends up being spent on gifts that make your bottom line look good but do very little for your programs.
When I started in this business, there was a real move to change the term "fundraising" to "development." With good reason, I think. The former has a focus on the funds. The latter, on the building and growing of the relationship. And in the long run, in good time and bad, simply scrambling for the gift hurts everyone.
Building relationships, on the other hand, builds in sustainability and that ensures that your mission and your purpose remain strong.
Author Bio:
Janet Levine has over 25 years working at and with educational and nonprofit organizations, helping them to increase their fundraising capacity. She regularly teaches face to face and onlineclasses in fundraising and grantwriting. Information on her classes and her services can be found at http://janetlevineconsulting.com
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Sustainable-Fundraising---Raise-Donors,-Not-Dollars&id=4171148
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Enjoy Coffee Anywhere With Travel Coffee Makers
Do you enjoy great tasting coffee? If so, then it's likely that you have some sort of system that allows you to brew quality coffee at home or perhaps even at the office. While this system probably works out great for you, there is one small problem that exists - you can't take it with you wherever you go. What this means is that you are at the mercy of someone else's brew. Perhaps you're forced to choke down the stale coffee at your workplace or maybe you have to deal with the inconsistencies of a café or major coffee chain. You may have lost all hope for enjoying great coffee while you're away from home. I'm here to tell you, however, that it is possible to enjoy a quality cup by utilizing a travel coffee maker.
Travel coffee makers are just like any other coffee maker except that they are designed to be portable. Because many travel systems don't rely on electricity, you can use them at work, in a hotel or even while camping. Though many people assume that travel brewers simply cannot match the quality of an electric drip machine, the truth is that they can often exceed it. The reason for this is that most of them are rather basic in terms of operation. They rely on nothing more than heated water and quality coffee, meaning that there are no water reservoirs to fill, no grinding to do and very little clean-up. Though there are many different types of machines that could be considered travel coffee makers, there are two that really stand out from the rest in my opinion -
1. The French Press - the press pot is nothing more than a glass (or plastic) cylinder where ground coffee is deposited. Heated water is added to the coffee grounds and the mixture is stirred and allowed to steep. Once steeping has completed (about 2-3 minutes), the plunger is depressed and you're left with a rich cup of coffee. Not only are press pots easy to use, but they are also relatively inexpensive. You can purchase a small travel model for less than $30.00.
2. The Aeropress - this is another take on the French Press, but I like it because of its small size and ability to brew an outstanding cup of coffee. Unlike a cup of pressed coffee that always leaves a film of coffee grounds in the bottom of the cup, the Aeropress produces a much cleaner cup. You can purchase this device for about $30.00, and you can read more about it online.
If you're looking for a way to enjoy your favorite coffee even while on the road, a travel coffee maker may be the perfect solution. With so many different travel coffee makers to choose from, finding the right one is just a matter of taking the time to explore your options.
Author Bio:
Are you looking for information on purchasing travel coffee makers? If so, please click here: small coffee maker.
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Enjoy-Coffee-Anywhere-With-Travel-Coffee-Makers&id=4466915
Travel coffee makers are just like any other coffee maker except that they are designed to be portable. Because many travel systems don't rely on electricity, you can use them at work, in a hotel or even while camping. Though many people assume that travel brewers simply cannot match the quality of an electric drip machine, the truth is that they can often exceed it. The reason for this is that most of them are rather basic in terms of operation. They rely on nothing more than heated water and quality coffee, meaning that there are no water reservoirs to fill, no grinding to do and very little clean-up. Though there are many different types of machines that could be considered travel coffee makers, there are two that really stand out from the rest in my opinion -
1. The French Press - the press pot is nothing more than a glass (or plastic) cylinder where ground coffee is deposited. Heated water is added to the coffee grounds and the mixture is stirred and allowed to steep. Once steeping has completed (about 2-3 minutes), the plunger is depressed and you're left with a rich cup of coffee. Not only are press pots easy to use, but they are also relatively inexpensive. You can purchase a small travel model for less than $30.00.
2. The Aeropress - this is another take on the French Press, but I like it because of its small size and ability to brew an outstanding cup of coffee. Unlike a cup of pressed coffee that always leaves a film of coffee grounds in the bottom of the cup, the Aeropress produces a much cleaner cup. You can purchase this device for about $30.00, and you can read more about it online.
If you're looking for a way to enjoy your favorite coffee even while on the road, a travel coffee maker may be the perfect solution. With so many different travel coffee makers to choose from, finding the right one is just a matter of taking the time to explore your options.
Author Bio:
Are you looking for information on purchasing travel coffee makers? If so, please click here: small coffee maker.
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Enjoy-Coffee-Anywhere-With-Travel-Coffee-Makers&id=4466915
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Types of Fundraisers
There are countless fundraisers available today. It is important to understand the different types of fundraisers if you want to be successful in your fundraising efforts.
Elementary School Fundraisers
The first fundraiser we will talk about is elementary school fundraisers.
There are millions of dollars raised every year with elementary school fundraisers. Many groups, such as elementary schools, PTA's, PTO's and other school groups have come to depend on great elementary school fundraising ideas to cover the rising list of things that have been cut from school budgets.
Throughout the web you will find countless lists of elementary school fundraisers. It is important for you to decide what is most important to your school when making this decision. Look at some of my other articles on school fundraising ideas for more information and specific examples.
Booster Club Fundraising
Booster clubs, typically for high school sports teams, are comprised of parents who want to support their kids' sports program. One of the main duties of the booster club is to think of good fundraising ideas.
There are many different Booster Club fundraisers that work well. It is important to check with your school make sure you are following any fundraising guidelines set forth by the school.
Daycare Fundraising
Daycare fundraisers are a parent's initiation into the fundraising arena. In most cases they have never done a fundraiser before. Some parents can get frustrated with daycare fundraising because in many cases they are already paying a significant amount of tuition for the daycare. It is easy for parents to feel they are being "put out" because they feel the tuition should cover the costs of daycare programs. With daycare fundraisers, obviously the parents will handle the fundraising efforts because the children are too young to do it themselves. Daycare fundraisers should be a way to get parents involved in the lives of their children while still serving to raise money for the cause. Art based fundraisers are typically popular among daycares because the parents do not feel they are being asked to do too much work.
It is important not to turn parents off to fundraising with the daycare program. In many cases this will be their first introduction to fundraising and you do not want to leave a bad taste in their mouths for the process.
As you can see, there are countless different programs to help raise money for your cause. This article barely scratches the surface of the different fundraising ideas available today.
Author Bio:
Art based fundraisers are some of the most creative school fundraising ideas. Kids Art from the Heart has some of the most popular elementary school fundraisers available today. This program can be combined with elementary school pictures for even greater results.
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Types-of-Fundraisers&id=3866827
Elementary School Fundraisers
The first fundraiser we will talk about is elementary school fundraisers.
There are millions of dollars raised every year with elementary school fundraisers. Many groups, such as elementary schools, PTA's, PTO's and other school groups have come to depend on great elementary school fundraising ideas to cover the rising list of things that have been cut from school budgets.
Throughout the web you will find countless lists of elementary school fundraisers. It is important for you to decide what is most important to your school when making this decision. Look at some of my other articles on school fundraising ideas for more information and specific examples.
Booster Club Fundraising
Booster clubs, typically for high school sports teams, are comprised of parents who want to support their kids' sports program. One of the main duties of the booster club is to think of good fundraising ideas.
There are many different Booster Club fundraisers that work well. It is important to check with your school make sure you are following any fundraising guidelines set forth by the school.
Daycare Fundraising
Daycare fundraisers are a parent's initiation into the fundraising arena. In most cases they have never done a fundraiser before. Some parents can get frustrated with daycare fundraising because in many cases they are already paying a significant amount of tuition for the daycare. It is easy for parents to feel they are being "put out" because they feel the tuition should cover the costs of daycare programs. With daycare fundraisers, obviously the parents will handle the fundraising efforts because the children are too young to do it themselves. Daycare fundraisers should be a way to get parents involved in the lives of their children while still serving to raise money for the cause. Art based fundraisers are typically popular among daycares because the parents do not feel they are being asked to do too much work.
It is important not to turn parents off to fundraising with the daycare program. In many cases this will be their first introduction to fundraising and you do not want to leave a bad taste in their mouths for the process.
As you can see, there are countless different programs to help raise money for your cause. This article barely scratches the surface of the different fundraising ideas available today.
Author Bio:
Art based fundraisers are some of the most creative school fundraising ideas. Kids Art from the Heart has some of the most popular elementary school fundraisers available today. This program can be combined with elementary school pictures for even greater results.
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Types-of-Fundraisers&id=3866827
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Nescafe Coffee Machines
The Dolce Gusto Single Serve Nescafe Coffee Machine at 8-2/5" X 12-2/5" X 13" is great for small areas like counter tops, dorm rooms, or RVs. Just like a coffee shop, there is a choice of coffee flavors, so you have no need to make your way to the coffee shop to enjoy a variety of coffee tastes or blends. There is no standing in line waiting for the people in line ahead of you to make up their minds. You can have the morning coffee right in your own kitchen or office space.
The machine offers a single-serve brewing system for gourmet coffee drinks served to your own coffee cup or favorite mug instead of a mushy paper cup you will need to toss away later.
With a Dolce Gusto Single Serve Nescafe Coffee Machine there is never any grinding or having to fit filters with the risk of spilling messy grounds everywhere. Instead, the flavorful coffees come in easy to use capsules. The removable drip tray holds 51 ounces at a time eliminating the need for frequent refills, and it is easy to clean. The custom-control lever allows each cup to be made differently to suit the individual taste of everyone in the household.
The Nescafe Coffee Machine was the first to have single portion coffee capsules, and basically created the market for this style of brewing. The Nescafe Coffee Machine system allows a complete range of hot and cold beverages to be prepared and offers customers a larger selection and greater convenience than any other machines on the market.
The great taste provided by the Nescafe Coffee Machine comes from its brewing system. The water is heated and passes through the capsule at high pressure giving the coffee the same quality as roast or ground coffee. The water then flows fresh into the cup from the 15 bar system that adds pressure similar to coffee house machines. The capsule contains 100% Arabica pure coffee beans and none of the flavor is allowed to escape during this process. The high pressure and the method of packing the capsule can insure an even distribution of water and pressure over the coffee to maximize the smooth flavor. This entire process takes only one minute to deliver fresh hot coffee to your cup.
Author Bio:
If you would like more information on Electric Coffee Makers, please visit our website Electric Coffee Makers
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Nescafe-Coffee-Machines&id=3317484
The machine offers a single-serve brewing system for gourmet coffee drinks served to your own coffee cup or favorite mug instead of a mushy paper cup you will need to toss away later.
With a Dolce Gusto Single Serve Nescafe Coffee Machine there is never any grinding or having to fit filters with the risk of spilling messy grounds everywhere. Instead, the flavorful coffees come in easy to use capsules. The removable drip tray holds 51 ounces at a time eliminating the need for frequent refills, and it is easy to clean. The custom-control lever allows each cup to be made differently to suit the individual taste of everyone in the household.
The Nescafe Coffee Machine was the first to have single portion coffee capsules, and basically created the market for this style of brewing. The Nescafe Coffee Machine system allows a complete range of hot and cold beverages to be prepared and offers customers a larger selection and greater convenience than any other machines on the market.
The great taste provided by the Nescafe Coffee Machine comes from its brewing system. The water is heated and passes through the capsule at high pressure giving the coffee the same quality as roast or ground coffee. The water then flows fresh into the cup from the 15 bar system that adds pressure similar to coffee house machines. The capsule contains 100% Arabica pure coffee beans and none of the flavor is allowed to escape during this process. The high pressure and the method of packing the capsule can insure an even distribution of water and pressure over the coffee to maximize the smooth flavor. This entire process takes only one minute to deliver fresh hot coffee to your cup.
Author Bio:
If you would like more information on Electric Coffee Makers, please visit our website Electric Coffee Makers
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Nescafe-Coffee-Machines&id=3317484
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
The Pre-Sale Ticket Strategy for Car Wash Fundraisers
If you are considering a carwash fundraiser then it makes sense to sell presale tickets prior to the event. Since 80% of the people who buy presale carwash tickets never come to the event itself, it makes sense to sell as many tickets as possible.
It also makes sense to not worry so much about what the ticket price is such as five dollars, because if no one will come to the carwash who buys a ticket anyway then you want to price your carwash tickets at a price everyone will buy them. Perhaps three dollars or four dollars might be better.
When considering your pre-sale carwash ticket fundraiser strategy it is important to make booklets of tickets and either staple them together or bind them together and number them. This way you can tell which tickets have been sold and keep a running track of how many tickets are out there and how much money you have collected. Accounting for presale tickets is a major important part of a carwash fundraiser.
There are many places to sell pre-sale carwash tickets. If your carwash fundraiser is for a kids group then perhaps you can coax some of the parents into taking a booklet or two to work. Selling in front of grocery stores works to a limited degree and it makes sense to sell in neighborhoods door-to-door, but realize that you do not want the same kids going to the same neighborhoods and therefore you might have to assign areas. Perhaps you might consider all this in 2006.
Author Bio:
"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is an online writer in retirement.
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Pre-Sale-Ticket-Strategy-for-Car-Wash-Fundraisers&id=321367
It also makes sense to not worry so much about what the ticket price is such as five dollars, because if no one will come to the carwash who buys a ticket anyway then you want to price your carwash tickets at a price everyone will buy them. Perhaps three dollars or four dollars might be better.
When considering your pre-sale carwash ticket fundraiser strategy it is important to make booklets of tickets and either staple them together or bind them together and number them. This way you can tell which tickets have been sold and keep a running track of how many tickets are out there and how much money you have collected. Accounting for presale tickets is a major important part of a carwash fundraiser.
There are many places to sell pre-sale carwash tickets. If your carwash fundraiser is for a kids group then perhaps you can coax some of the parents into taking a booklet or two to work. Selling in front of grocery stores works to a limited degree and it makes sense to sell in neighborhoods door-to-door, but realize that you do not want the same kids going to the same neighborhoods and therefore you might have to assign areas. Perhaps you might consider all this in 2006.
Author Bio:
"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is an online writer in retirement.
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Pre-Sale-Ticket-Strategy-for-Car-Wash-Fundraisers&id=321367
Monday, December 20, 2010
Brazilian Coffee - Growing Beans to the Rhythm of Samba and Bird Songs!
Brazil occupies a major portion of the land mass of South America and has 5 eco-systems: the tropical rain forest, the pantanal, the cerrado, the mata Atlantica and the pampas. The largest areas of natural fertile soils called "terra roxa" (red earth) are the states of Parana and São Paulo.
Brazil's origins make it a musical country full of passion, sentiment and joy: Indians' reed flutes; Portuguese viola players, and African thrilling drum rhythms. Brazilian music includes the soft sounds of bossa nova, the driving beat of samba and other rhythms based on percussion instruments and hand clapping.
The exact origin of samba is unknown. Perhaps it was born in the streets of Rio de Janeiro from a combination of Portuguese courtly songs, African rhythms and native Indian fast footwork. The reality is samba remains a part of Rio de Janeiro's streets. Carnival is one of the largest parties on Earth when hundreds of samba schools and thousands of people put on an unforgettable display of colors, music, noise and, yes, a lot of Brazilian coffee!
Coffee is very much a part of Brazilian life where people encourage each other to enjoy a morning cup of coffee, to smell the flowers and to listen to the songbirds:
• There is a connection between coffee, songbirds and samba, Brazil's most popular rhythm.
• The natural sounds of songbirds influence many musical tunes and variations.
• The costumes of Carnival and daily clothing reflect colorful images and hues inspired by local wildlife.
• The national bird of Brazil is the Sabiá-laranjeira or Thrush.
• This bird has beautiful plumage, orange belly, conspicuous dark streaks on its white throat and a narrow yellow eye-ring. It has a lovely song and can live to be 25 to 30 years old!
• Across the country, there is a growing awareness of the wildlife habitat reduction as a result of urbanization, conventional modern farming and deforestation.
• As a result, shade grown coffee, the traditional method of coffee farming, is growing in acceptance among farmers who recognize it as a positive alternative for wildlife conservation.
Brazil is a multi-million bag coffee production country that provides income for over 10 million people involved in the coffee trade:
• Over the years, quantity has ruled over quality of coffee grown. This is changing as Specialty Coffee production increases.
• Slowly but surely, there are coffee farms that offer top quality specialty coffees.
• Brazil's superb weather year-round and great geographic conditions give coffee farmers unique advantages over farmers in other nations.
• The main benefit is uniform maturation of the coffee beans with plenty of sunshine in the harvesting season. The result is a cup with perfect balance between body and acidity. The South Minas and Mogiana mountains, for example, yield coffees with very good body and aroma. They also feature a natural sweetness that is unique to this region.
• As the trend towards Specialty Coffee production increases in Brazil, so does the practice of environmentally friendly and sustainable farming areas.
• Nature preservation is important to coffee farmers engaged in the Specialty Coffee trade in order to qualify for specific certifications that differentiate their beans from others.
• A benefit of sustainability efforts is the coffee workers' improvement of social and economic lifestyle. Solid and liquid wastes used as organic fertilizers reduce the use of chemicals, a positive move for the environment, wildlife and bio-diversity in air, land and water.
So, ready to enjoy samba and learn more about coffee region bird species? Go ahead. Prepare a delicious cup of Brazil's best specialty coffees, the Brazil Blend!
Author Bio:
Timothy ("Tim") S. Collins, the author, is called by those who know him "The Gourmet Coffee Guy." He is an expert in article writing who has done extensive research online and offline in his area of expertise, coffee marketing, as well as in other areas of personal and professional interest.
Come visit the author's website: http://www.ourgourmetcoffee.com
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Brazilian-Coffee---Growing-Beans-to-the-Rhythm-of-Samba-and-Bird-Songs!&id=4253417
Brazil's origins make it a musical country full of passion, sentiment and joy: Indians' reed flutes; Portuguese viola players, and African thrilling drum rhythms. Brazilian music includes the soft sounds of bossa nova, the driving beat of samba and other rhythms based on percussion instruments and hand clapping.
The exact origin of samba is unknown. Perhaps it was born in the streets of Rio de Janeiro from a combination of Portuguese courtly songs, African rhythms and native Indian fast footwork. The reality is samba remains a part of Rio de Janeiro's streets. Carnival is one of the largest parties on Earth when hundreds of samba schools and thousands of people put on an unforgettable display of colors, music, noise and, yes, a lot of Brazilian coffee!
Coffee is very much a part of Brazilian life where people encourage each other to enjoy a morning cup of coffee, to smell the flowers and to listen to the songbirds:
• There is a connection between coffee, songbirds and samba, Brazil's most popular rhythm.
• The natural sounds of songbirds influence many musical tunes and variations.
• The costumes of Carnival and daily clothing reflect colorful images and hues inspired by local wildlife.
• The national bird of Brazil is the Sabiá-laranjeira or Thrush.
• This bird has beautiful plumage, orange belly, conspicuous dark streaks on its white throat and a narrow yellow eye-ring. It has a lovely song and can live to be 25 to 30 years old!
• Across the country, there is a growing awareness of the wildlife habitat reduction as a result of urbanization, conventional modern farming and deforestation.
• As a result, shade grown coffee, the traditional method of coffee farming, is growing in acceptance among farmers who recognize it as a positive alternative for wildlife conservation.
Brazil is a multi-million bag coffee production country that provides income for over 10 million people involved in the coffee trade:
• Over the years, quantity has ruled over quality of coffee grown. This is changing as Specialty Coffee production increases.
• Slowly but surely, there are coffee farms that offer top quality specialty coffees.
• Brazil's superb weather year-round and great geographic conditions give coffee farmers unique advantages over farmers in other nations.
• The main benefit is uniform maturation of the coffee beans with plenty of sunshine in the harvesting season. The result is a cup with perfect balance between body and acidity. The South Minas and Mogiana mountains, for example, yield coffees with very good body and aroma. They also feature a natural sweetness that is unique to this region.
• As the trend towards Specialty Coffee production increases in Brazil, so does the practice of environmentally friendly and sustainable farming areas.
• Nature preservation is important to coffee farmers engaged in the Specialty Coffee trade in order to qualify for specific certifications that differentiate their beans from others.
• A benefit of sustainability efforts is the coffee workers' improvement of social and economic lifestyle. Solid and liquid wastes used as organic fertilizers reduce the use of chemicals, a positive move for the environment, wildlife and bio-diversity in air, land and water.
So, ready to enjoy samba and learn more about coffee region bird species? Go ahead. Prepare a delicious cup of Brazil's best specialty coffees, the Brazil Blend!
Author Bio:
Timothy ("Tim") S. Collins, the author, is called by those who know him "The Gourmet Coffee Guy." He is an expert in article writing who has done extensive research online and offline in his area of expertise, coffee marketing, as well as in other areas of personal and professional interest.
Come visit the author's website: http://www.ourgourmetcoffee.com
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Brazilian-Coffee---Growing-Beans-to-the-Rhythm-of-Samba-and-Bird-Songs!&id=4253417
Sunday, December 19, 2010
How Can I Design My Printed Coroplast Sign?
You have a good idea of how you want your coroplast sign to look - you have the colors and text all selected in your mind. Now you hold your breath to see if your vision can come true. Relax that breath - coroplast plastic signs come in a variety of background colors, and any image you desire can be printed onto adhesive vinyl, which is then applied to the corrugated plastic sign. Voila- a custom, colored, printed coroplast plastic sign to reflect your good taste and promote your charity event.
And if you need printed coroplast signs in a variety of sizes for different locations, then most sign professionals will be happy to cut your coroplast sign to your specification. The standard size is 18" x 24", but large corrugated plastic signs up to 4' x 8' can be printed, and even larger signs are possible if multiple sheets are installed together on a flat surface.
The design of coroplast signs is 'fluted', or hollow throughout the core, making them light weight and easy to handle. Standard wire frames are available for displaying your printed coroplast sign, and the vertical 'flutes' provide you with an easy way of mounting the sings onto the frames.
So think up a creative design or color scheme for your fundraising coroplast signs, and see them come to fruition in no time at all!
Make This Year's Fundraiser The Best Yet
With printed coroplast signs, you are not only investing in an affordable custom sign, you are saving money in future sign orders if you intend to use them again. But even if you want your coroplast signs for just a one-time use, their affordability still makes such a purchase more than reasonable. So choose the most professional looking, weather proof, inexpensive interior or exterior custom sign there is for your next fundraiser - choose a coroplast sign.
For more information, check out this coroplast sign page.
"SignsUS...Professional Signage for Small Businesses Across America"
Author Bio:
Kara M. Klein invites you to check out http://www.TheSignChef.com, where "Flawless Sign Recipes are Guaranteed." TheSignChef is constantly developing free-to-use sign design software, custom sign decision-making tools, and How-To videos to make your sign buying experience efficient and your new custom signs effective.
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Let-Printed-Coroplast-Signs-Help-You-Raise-Funds-While-Saving-You-Funds&id=4062071
And if you need printed coroplast signs in a variety of sizes for different locations, then most sign professionals will be happy to cut your coroplast sign to your specification. The standard size is 18" x 24", but large corrugated plastic signs up to 4' x 8' can be printed, and even larger signs are possible if multiple sheets are installed together on a flat surface.
The design of coroplast signs is 'fluted', or hollow throughout the core, making them light weight and easy to handle. Standard wire frames are available for displaying your printed coroplast sign, and the vertical 'flutes' provide you with an easy way of mounting the sings onto the frames.
So think up a creative design or color scheme for your fundraising coroplast signs, and see them come to fruition in no time at all!
Make This Year's Fundraiser The Best Yet
With printed coroplast signs, you are not only investing in an affordable custom sign, you are saving money in future sign orders if you intend to use them again. But even if you want your coroplast signs for just a one-time use, their affordability still makes such a purchase more than reasonable. So choose the most professional looking, weather proof, inexpensive interior or exterior custom sign there is for your next fundraiser - choose a coroplast sign.
For more information, check out this coroplast sign page.
"SignsUS...Professional Signage for Small Businesses Across America"
Author Bio:
Kara M. Klein invites you to check out http://www.TheSignChef.com, where "Flawless Sign Recipes are Guaranteed." TheSignChef is constantly developing free-to-use sign design software, custom sign decision-making tools, and How-To videos to make your sign buying experience efficient and your new custom signs effective.
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Let-Printed-Coroplast-Signs-Help-You-Raise-Funds-While-Saving-You-Funds&id=4062071
Friday, December 17, 2010
Percolator Coffee Smells Better Than Baking Bread
People will think you are a dinosaur for using a percolator, especially a stove top percolator, but that's OK because no drip coffee maker can match the taste and aroma of percolated coffee. If you're old enough to remember the smell of freshly brewed percolated coffee that filled the house when it was time for dad to head off to work and you to school then you know exactly what I mean.
You will have to get a Farberware coffee percolator because they seem to be making them the old school way. The Yosemite model (doesn't that create an image of brewing a pot over a campfire in the mountains?) is thick gauge stainless steel and it feels it too. That's exactly what you need on the stove top or on the side burner of your gas grill.
Maybe you do not make a habit of brewing coffee on your barbecue but it is something you will dearly appreciate if you get caught in bad weather that knocks the power out for a week or two and everything in the house is electric.
How long do you let the percolator go after it starts? There is no absolute, certain answer but for four or more cups about eight minutes of percolating time seems to be optimal. Be sure to turn down the heat after the first perk. You do not want to boil the coffee and it is not necessary to do so either. The lower you can get the heat and still keep the coffee bouncing up into the glass bubble on the top the better the coffee will taste. Too much heat will cause a nasty burnt taste.
You will also want to use coarse ground coffee in a percolator. That's no problem if you grind your own coffee but it can be if you buy grocery store coffee. Most brands only offer drip ground coffee and if you use this grind in a percolators more porous filter you may end up with some of it in your cup.
Author Bio:
Read our review of the Yosemite Stove Top Farberware Coffee Percolator.
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Percolator-Coffee-Smells-Better-Than-Baking-Bread&id=3266191
You will have to get a Farberware coffee percolator because they seem to be making them the old school way. The Yosemite model (doesn't that create an image of brewing a pot over a campfire in the mountains?) is thick gauge stainless steel and it feels it too. That's exactly what you need on the stove top or on the side burner of your gas grill.
Maybe you do not make a habit of brewing coffee on your barbecue but it is something you will dearly appreciate if you get caught in bad weather that knocks the power out for a week or two and everything in the house is electric.
How long do you let the percolator go after it starts? There is no absolute, certain answer but for four or more cups about eight minutes of percolating time seems to be optimal. Be sure to turn down the heat after the first perk. You do not want to boil the coffee and it is not necessary to do so either. The lower you can get the heat and still keep the coffee bouncing up into the glass bubble on the top the better the coffee will taste. Too much heat will cause a nasty burnt taste.
You will also want to use coarse ground coffee in a percolator. That's no problem if you grind your own coffee but it can be if you buy grocery store coffee. Most brands only offer drip ground coffee and if you use this grind in a percolators more porous filter you may end up with some of it in your cup.
Author Bio:
Read our review of the Yosemite Stove Top Farberware Coffee Percolator.
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Percolator-Coffee-Smells-Better-Than-Baking-Bread&id=3266191
Juan Valdez - Three Different Men and One Coffee Image
Since 1959, there have been only three men portraying Juan Valdez for the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia. Their stories are interesting and different.
The first Juan Valdez:
• His name was Jose ("Joe") F. Duval, a native of Havana who came to the US when he was about 20 years old and lived in New York City.
• Joe worked in opera, musical theater and film.
• In 1959, the advertising agency Doyle Dane Bernbach (DDB) was hired by the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia to brand and create demand for Colombian coffee.
• Joe went to work portraying Colombian coffee in print ads and television.
• He helped established the familiar image of the coffee grower next to his faithful mule Conchita carrying sacks of harvested coffee.
Juan Valdez commercials needed to be more authentically Colombian when the icon became more accepted by international audiences. This is when the advertising agency decided to make the first Juan Valdez commercial in Colombia in 1968.
Appropriately, this took place at the pilot farm selected by the Colombian Federation of Coffee Growers for large export scale. This ranch was called Santa Ines and it was located in Cachipay, Cundinamarca.
• Cachipay has an altitude of 5,249 feet above sea level and temperatures range around 71.6 degrees Fahrenheit.
• At the time, Cachipay was a top resort destination for the capital city vacationers traveling by train across mountains, valleys and beautiful geography.
• Today, the area remains very popular and it is easily accessible by road. Train service is no longer available as it once was.
• The 250 year old Santa Ines ranch is still operating today. It is now primarily a flower growing farm for exotic flowers such as anthuriums, heliconias, ferns and baby banana plants.
• Santa Ines grows some coffee as well and offers coffee tours with related attractions to visitors.
• There is a museum onsite with a guide who wears the traditional coffee farm garb associated with the image of Juan Valdez.
• One of the museum displays includes an autographed photo of Joe Duval from his first visit to Cachipay in 1968.
The second Juan Valdez:
As the character of Juan Valdez gained fame and acceptance, the need for a Colombian to assume the role became more important.
• In 1969, Carlos Sanchez replaced Joe Duval as Juan Valdez.
• Carlos Sanchez played the role of Juan Valdez for 37 years.
• Carlos Sanchez grew up in the Colombian town of Fredonia, in the coffee growing region of Antioquia.
• He owned a small coffee farm but was trained as a graphic designer. An art aficionado, he has enjoyed watercolor painting rural and urban landscapes.
• In the 1980's he appeared in commercials that used Rolls Royce cars and luxury homes.
• In the 1990's, the campaign "Grab Life By The Beans" showed Juan Valdez surfing, snowboarding and in several sports oriented activities.
• Carlos Sanchez has been the iconic image of Juan Valdez most familiar to most of us.
• He is a favorite of Colombians and coffee lovers worldwide.
• He retired in 2006 and is focused now on his craft as a trained silk-screen artisan.
The third and current Juan Valdez:
• In 2006, Carlos Castaneda, a grower from the town of Andes, Antioquia, became the new Juan Valdez.
• Castaneda is genuinely proud to be a coffee farmer and upholds values and ethics associated with traditional Colombian coffee producing families.
• He is 37 years old, father of 3 children and the owner of a 10-acre coffee farm.
• He is the oldest of 10 children born on a coffee farm and picked his first coffee bean when he was only 6 years old.
• Castaneda has lived a modest life with his family and certainly knows what it takes to grow coffee and manage a farm.
• Being Juan Valdez, however, means he needs to learn about the psychology of coffee and how to leverage the iconic image if he is to help stimulate coffee consumption.
• It is interesting to learn that he had his first airplane flight when he flew, as a finalist for the icon selection, to Bogota, the capital city.
• When Castaneda became Juan Valdez, he had to move away from the mountains of Antioquia province to live near Bogota's international airport.
• His family continues to run the farm, a family tradition that is very important to them.
• As Juan Valdez, he is a frequent flyer spending half the year attending events posing for photos and signing autographs.
This is certainly a very cool job when you think about it. It is also one with a huge responsibility since he represents the country's 3rd largest export and is the representative of all Colombian coffee farmers to the world.
So, what about a delicious cup of Spanish espresso?
Author Bio:
Timothy ("Tim") S. Collins, the author, is called by those who know him "Gourmet Coffee Guy."
He is an expert in article writing who has done extensive research online and offline in his area of expertise, coffee marketing, as well as in other areas of personal and professional interest.
Come visit the author's website: http://www.ourgourmetcoffee.com
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Juan-Valdez---Three-Different-Men-and-One-Coffee-Image&id=4072924
The first Juan Valdez:
• His name was Jose ("Joe") F. Duval, a native of Havana who came to the US when he was about 20 years old and lived in New York City.
• Joe worked in opera, musical theater and film.
• In 1959, the advertising agency Doyle Dane Bernbach (DDB) was hired by the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia to brand and create demand for Colombian coffee.
• Joe went to work portraying Colombian coffee in print ads and television.
• He helped established the familiar image of the coffee grower next to his faithful mule Conchita carrying sacks of harvested coffee.
Juan Valdez commercials needed to be more authentically Colombian when the icon became more accepted by international audiences. This is when the advertising agency decided to make the first Juan Valdez commercial in Colombia in 1968.
Appropriately, this took place at the pilot farm selected by the Colombian Federation of Coffee Growers for large export scale. This ranch was called Santa Ines and it was located in Cachipay, Cundinamarca.
• Cachipay has an altitude of 5,249 feet above sea level and temperatures range around 71.6 degrees Fahrenheit.
• At the time, Cachipay was a top resort destination for the capital city vacationers traveling by train across mountains, valleys and beautiful geography.
• Today, the area remains very popular and it is easily accessible by road. Train service is no longer available as it once was.
• The 250 year old Santa Ines ranch is still operating today. It is now primarily a flower growing farm for exotic flowers such as anthuriums, heliconias, ferns and baby banana plants.
• Santa Ines grows some coffee as well and offers coffee tours with related attractions to visitors.
• There is a museum onsite with a guide who wears the traditional coffee farm garb associated with the image of Juan Valdez.
• One of the museum displays includes an autographed photo of Joe Duval from his first visit to Cachipay in 1968.
The second Juan Valdez:
As the character of Juan Valdez gained fame and acceptance, the need for a Colombian to assume the role became more important.
• In 1969, Carlos Sanchez replaced Joe Duval as Juan Valdez.
• Carlos Sanchez played the role of Juan Valdez for 37 years.
• Carlos Sanchez grew up in the Colombian town of Fredonia, in the coffee growing region of Antioquia.
• He owned a small coffee farm but was trained as a graphic designer. An art aficionado, he has enjoyed watercolor painting rural and urban landscapes.
• In the 1980's he appeared in commercials that used Rolls Royce cars and luxury homes.
• In the 1990's, the campaign "Grab Life By The Beans" showed Juan Valdez surfing, snowboarding and in several sports oriented activities.
• Carlos Sanchez has been the iconic image of Juan Valdez most familiar to most of us.
• He is a favorite of Colombians and coffee lovers worldwide.
• He retired in 2006 and is focused now on his craft as a trained silk-screen artisan.
The third and current Juan Valdez:
• In 2006, Carlos Castaneda, a grower from the town of Andes, Antioquia, became the new Juan Valdez.
• Castaneda is genuinely proud to be a coffee farmer and upholds values and ethics associated with traditional Colombian coffee producing families.
• He is 37 years old, father of 3 children and the owner of a 10-acre coffee farm.
• He is the oldest of 10 children born on a coffee farm and picked his first coffee bean when he was only 6 years old.
• Castaneda has lived a modest life with his family and certainly knows what it takes to grow coffee and manage a farm.
• Being Juan Valdez, however, means he needs to learn about the psychology of coffee and how to leverage the iconic image if he is to help stimulate coffee consumption.
• It is interesting to learn that he had his first airplane flight when he flew, as a finalist for the icon selection, to Bogota, the capital city.
• When Castaneda became Juan Valdez, he had to move away from the mountains of Antioquia province to live near Bogota's international airport.
• His family continues to run the farm, a family tradition that is very important to them.
• As Juan Valdez, he is a frequent flyer spending half the year attending events posing for photos and signing autographs.
This is certainly a very cool job when you think about it. It is also one with a huge responsibility since he represents the country's 3rd largest export and is the representative of all Colombian coffee farmers to the world.
So, what about a delicious cup of Spanish espresso?
Author Bio:
Timothy ("Tim") S. Collins, the author, is called by those who know him "Gourmet Coffee Guy."
He is an expert in article writing who has done extensive research online and offline in his area of expertise, coffee marketing, as well as in other areas of personal and professional interest.
Come visit the author's website: http://www.ourgourmetcoffee.com
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Juan-Valdez---Three-Different-Men-and-One-Coffee-Image&id=4072924
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Let Printed Coroplast Signs Help You Raise Funds While Saving You Funds
Printed Coroplast Signs Will Guide Guests Through Your Next Fundraiser
Are you planning to host a charity golf tournament? Maybe a silent auction or pig roast to raise money for your local school or community outreach? If you're trying to raise money with these types of events, then it stands to reason that you want to keep your spending down. Therefore, many items associated with these type of fundraiser's are donated - auction items, catered food, beverages, etc. However, there are some things that require purchasing, so when you go to purchase these items you need to know you are getting your money's worth for the sake of the charity. One way of getting a good thing without compromising your budget is to order coroplast plastic signs.
You will need good signage at a charity event, particularly golf tournaments, where hole sponsorships require some sort of promotion. Even auctions and roasts need directional signs, including parking signs, signs indicating where to congregate for which event, and signs once again giving credit to generous sponsors. These custom signs need to look professional enough to impress participants while still remaining inexpensive enough not to break a fundraising budget. What is the best type of sign to get for such an occasion? A printed coroplast sign does the job both beautifully and affordably.
Why Choose A Coroplast Sign For My Fundraising Event?
You don't have to use a coroplast sign if you really want to save money. You could make your own signs out of markers and cardboard if you really wanted to demonstrate how much of a need for others' help there actually is! Of course I know that you don't actually want to make your own signs, but you would be surprised at the things people do to save money. Let's face it - rain loves to make an appearance at most golf tournaments. With cardboard signs or even foam signs, there go your sponsors, wilting away to mush while the ink runs down the ruined material. I don't think they'll be as willing to help out next year if their names are invisible to the participants!
You can avoid this problem with corrugated plastic signs, as their plastic faces are completely water proof and simply let the raindrops roll down its surface. No ruined sign material, no illegible print - just wet but still working for you and your sponsors!
Printed coroplast signs are also more durable than they look, despite the fact that they are so light weight. Coroplast corrugated plastic signs are not completely invulnerable to the elements, as they might not survive extreme winds, so keep in mind that coroplast signs are designed to be a temporary style of custom sign. However, they can save you money even after your event is over if you store them somewhere safely until the next event. Coroplast plastic signs are rated for up to two years, including both indoor and outdoor use.
For a minimal amount of advertising money, your coroplast corrugated plastic sign can last for two or three golf tournaments or charity events, withstanding the rain and other weather conditions.
Are you planning to host a charity golf tournament? Maybe a silent auction or pig roast to raise money for your local school or community outreach? If you're trying to raise money with these types of events, then it stands to reason that you want to keep your spending down. Therefore, many items associated with these type of fundraiser's are donated - auction items, catered food, beverages, etc. However, there are some things that require purchasing, so when you go to purchase these items you need to know you are getting your money's worth for the sake of the charity. One way of getting a good thing without compromising your budget is to order coroplast plastic signs.
You will need good signage at a charity event, particularly golf tournaments, where hole sponsorships require some sort of promotion. Even auctions and roasts need directional signs, including parking signs, signs indicating where to congregate for which event, and signs once again giving credit to generous sponsors. These custom signs need to look professional enough to impress participants while still remaining inexpensive enough not to break a fundraising budget. What is the best type of sign to get for such an occasion? A printed coroplast sign does the job both beautifully and affordably.
Why Choose A Coroplast Sign For My Fundraising Event?
You don't have to use a coroplast sign if you really want to save money. You could make your own signs out of markers and cardboard if you really wanted to demonstrate how much of a need for others' help there actually is! Of course I know that you don't actually want to make your own signs, but you would be surprised at the things people do to save money. Let's face it - rain loves to make an appearance at most golf tournaments. With cardboard signs or even foam signs, there go your sponsors, wilting away to mush while the ink runs down the ruined material. I don't think they'll be as willing to help out next year if their names are invisible to the participants!
You can avoid this problem with corrugated plastic signs, as their plastic faces are completely water proof and simply let the raindrops roll down its surface. No ruined sign material, no illegible print - just wet but still working for you and your sponsors!
Printed coroplast signs are also more durable than they look, despite the fact that they are so light weight. Coroplast corrugated plastic signs are not completely invulnerable to the elements, as they might not survive extreme winds, so keep in mind that coroplast signs are designed to be a temporary style of custom sign. However, they can save you money even after your event is over if you store them somewhere safely until the next event. Coroplast plastic signs are rated for up to two years, including both indoor and outdoor use.
For a minimal amount of advertising money, your coroplast corrugated plastic sign can last for two or three golf tournaments or charity events, withstanding the rain and other weather conditions.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Spellbinding Dark Keurig K-Cups Coffee - Best Bold Coffee on the Market
Why Bold Coffee is Better
While light coffees tend to coax you into a wakeful state, a bold drink give you the kick in the butt that is often needed in the mornings. And on lazy afternoons, bold drink give your brain something interesting to mull over. In short, light coffees might dance, but bold coffees are the movers and shakers of the coffee world.
How They Make Dark Magic Extra Bold K-Cups
As roasters prepare to roast the coffee bean, they know that every second counts. Each second the coffee bean sits in heat, the bolder the coffee gets and the richer the flavors become. When roasters aim to make a delicious batch of bold roasted coffee beans, they need to mentally prepare. Roasters, when creating bold coffees, need to bring the coffee beans to their very limit. The coffee bean needs to be pulled into their very depths, almost to the point of burning and charring. But the coffee roasters take intense care to pull the coffee bean as far as it can go without creating smoky, charred flavors. The coffee roasters roasts the bean up to the point where full aromas are created and spicy complexity is established. The coffee beans needs to stand on one side of the fine line. And that requires the skill of a great coffee roaster! Luckily Dark Magic Keurig K-Cups are created by Green Mountain coffee one of the strongest coffee roasters in America.
Flavors of Dark Magic K-Cups
Dark Magic Extra Bold K-Cups hits the top of the dark-roasting scale. As a result, the flavors are intense and complex. This Keurig K-Cup boasts a full-bodied mouthfeel, strong classic coffee aromas, and a beautiful finish that lingers on the tongue. The folks at Green Mountain Coffee love it so much they believe that this boldly roasted coffee is actually spellbinding for coffee lovers. Dark Magic casts a charm with its interlacing of rich espresso flavors that hijack your tastebuds, full aromas that make you believe you're in the same room as the roaster, and bold kicks that can jolt anyone into a fascination.
How To Drink Dark Magic Keurig K-Cups
If you love European coffee, be it French bold coffees or rich Italian espressos, you'll probably want to drink this coffee straight. The natural flavors are complex and sweet. So this Keurig K-cup makes a great stand alone coffee. You can even brew a small, intense brew to make your drink more intense, and more like a cup of European espresso. If you're like most, and you want to add a bit of milk and sugar, you'll find that this bold coffee does really well with any added extras! With additional sugary, creamy notes, this Keurig K-Cups is all the more rich and complex. It seems there's no way you could do wrong by this K-Cups treat.
Author Bio:
Marty lives for his morning cup of coffee, and now he writes about his daily caffeine fix. Lately Marty is impressed with Keurig brewers and he's loving the taste of Dark Magic Extra Bold K-Cups coffee.
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Spellbinding-Dark-Keurig-K-Cups-Coffee---Best-Bold-Coffee-on-the-Market&id=4433921
While light coffees tend to coax you into a wakeful state, a bold drink give you the kick in the butt that is often needed in the mornings. And on lazy afternoons, bold drink give your brain something interesting to mull over. In short, light coffees might dance, but bold coffees are the movers and shakers of the coffee world.
How They Make Dark Magic Extra Bold K-Cups
As roasters prepare to roast the coffee bean, they know that every second counts. Each second the coffee bean sits in heat, the bolder the coffee gets and the richer the flavors become. When roasters aim to make a delicious batch of bold roasted coffee beans, they need to mentally prepare. Roasters, when creating bold coffees, need to bring the coffee beans to their very limit. The coffee bean needs to be pulled into their very depths, almost to the point of burning and charring. But the coffee roasters take intense care to pull the coffee bean as far as it can go without creating smoky, charred flavors. The coffee roasters roasts the bean up to the point where full aromas are created and spicy complexity is established. The coffee beans needs to stand on one side of the fine line. And that requires the skill of a great coffee roaster! Luckily Dark Magic Keurig K-Cups are created by Green Mountain coffee one of the strongest coffee roasters in America.
Flavors of Dark Magic K-Cups
Dark Magic Extra Bold K-Cups hits the top of the dark-roasting scale. As a result, the flavors are intense and complex. This Keurig K-Cup boasts a full-bodied mouthfeel, strong classic coffee aromas, and a beautiful finish that lingers on the tongue. The folks at Green Mountain Coffee love it so much they believe that this boldly roasted coffee is actually spellbinding for coffee lovers. Dark Magic casts a charm with its interlacing of rich espresso flavors that hijack your tastebuds, full aromas that make you believe you're in the same room as the roaster, and bold kicks that can jolt anyone into a fascination.
How To Drink Dark Magic Keurig K-Cups
If you love European coffee, be it French bold coffees or rich Italian espressos, you'll probably want to drink this coffee straight. The natural flavors are complex and sweet. So this Keurig K-cup makes a great stand alone coffee. You can even brew a small, intense brew to make your drink more intense, and more like a cup of European espresso. If you're like most, and you want to add a bit of milk and sugar, you'll find that this bold coffee does really well with any added extras! With additional sugary, creamy notes, this Keurig K-Cups is all the more rich and complex. It seems there's no way you could do wrong by this K-Cups treat.
Author Bio:
Marty lives for his morning cup of coffee, and now he writes about his daily caffeine fix. Lately Marty is impressed with Keurig brewers and he's loving the taste of Dark Magic Extra Bold K-Cups coffee.
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Spellbinding-Dark-Keurig-K-Cups-Coffee---Best-Bold-Coffee-on-the-Market&id=4433921
Glass Coffee Cups
Not all holders of joe are made of porcelain or ceramic. Not all that aren't made of porcelain are paper coffee cups, either. People's fascination with caffeine has driven them to put java in all manner of things. Some folks even swear that joe from glass coffee cups tastes different than from a porcelain or ceramic cup, but that's obviously subjective. There are other reasons that one might choose glass cups over more traditional methods of serving java, though.
Aesthetics
Some folks like to see what they're drinking, and most cups don't allow for that. If you can't see it, how can you be sure your cafe mocha contains the correct portion of cream, and that cappuccino the right amount of milk foam? When it comes to their caffeine, not everyone "gets it", so shops might make use of glass cups to let their customers know that they're getting what they're paying for.
Durability
Glass is generally associated with being breakable but, in reality, that's not necessarily so. Like other materials, it really depends on the craftsmanship and thickness. It's also worth mentioning that it's not nearly as easy to crack or chip a glass coffee cup as it is to chip ceramic. With most modern floors having some sort of padding underneath them, the odds of dropping a glass cup and having it break are pretty slim, and certainly no worse than any other material, except plastic or metal.
Keeping Things Warm
Neither porcelain nor ceramic is particularly good at keeping things warm. They don't transfer heat particularly well, though, which is why they're typically used to serve coffee. The whole point isn't to keep the heat in so much as to give you a handle that's cool enough for human hands. Glass typically transfers heat a bit better, but glass cups are generally made to be at least as heat resistant as more traditional ones. Of course, nothing beats an aluminum or plastic insulated mug, and even disposable coffee cups with lids will keep the liquid warm longer.
They Only Look Expensive
Most people automatically assume that glass cups are expensive because they look very elegant, almost crystalline. Cups made of glass generally don't cost any more than any other decently made cup, however. There's even glass espresso coffee cups available, complete with matching glass saucers. Due to limited demand, you might not be able to find glass coffee cups locally, but you can always find them online.
Author Bio:
Want to learn more about coffee cups of all kinds? Check out Great Coffee Cups.
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Glass-Coffee-Cups&id=3774848
Aesthetics
Some folks like to see what they're drinking, and most cups don't allow for that. If you can't see it, how can you be sure your cafe mocha contains the correct portion of cream, and that cappuccino the right amount of milk foam? When it comes to their caffeine, not everyone "gets it", so shops might make use of glass cups to let their customers know that they're getting what they're paying for.
Durability
Glass is generally associated with being breakable but, in reality, that's not necessarily so. Like other materials, it really depends on the craftsmanship and thickness. It's also worth mentioning that it's not nearly as easy to crack or chip a glass coffee cup as it is to chip ceramic. With most modern floors having some sort of padding underneath them, the odds of dropping a glass cup and having it break are pretty slim, and certainly no worse than any other material, except plastic or metal.
Keeping Things Warm
Neither porcelain nor ceramic is particularly good at keeping things warm. They don't transfer heat particularly well, though, which is why they're typically used to serve coffee. The whole point isn't to keep the heat in so much as to give you a handle that's cool enough for human hands. Glass typically transfers heat a bit better, but glass cups are generally made to be at least as heat resistant as more traditional ones. Of course, nothing beats an aluminum or plastic insulated mug, and even disposable coffee cups with lids will keep the liquid warm longer.
They Only Look Expensive
Most people automatically assume that glass cups are expensive because they look very elegant, almost crystalline. Cups made of glass generally don't cost any more than any other decently made cup, however. There's even glass espresso coffee cups available, complete with matching glass saucers. Due to limited demand, you might not be able to find glass coffee cups locally, but you can always find them online.
Author Bio:
Want to learn more about coffee cups of all kinds? Check out Great Coffee Cups.
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Glass-Coffee-Cups&id=3774848
Monday, December 13, 2010
The Incredible Peter Wilson - Enduro Racer and Fundraiser Extraordinaire!
Over the last 3 years I've been following the progress of a guy I've grown to admire on many levels.
Peter Wilson is not only one of Australia's premier endurance athlete's, he's also one of those rare birds that transforms what can be a very solitary journey (endurance racing), into a journey of hope for lots of people - particularly very sick children and their parents.
When I last saw Peter a year ago he'd just handed over a $100,000 cheque to the Sydney Children's Hospital. When I chatted with him a few weeks ago he'd raised in excess of $320,000 from running in endurance events across various deserts around the globe, from the Gobi in China, the Atacama in Chile, to most recently the frozen tundra of Antarctica - it's a pretty phenomenal effort.
A bit of Peter's background: His first foray into endurance racing came after he ballooned in weight, and realised if he stayed on the same lack-of-exercise path he was headed for long-term health problems. He started training for a triathlon to lose weight, and ended up catching the endurance racing bug big time.
In terms of his fundraising efforts Peter first became involved with the Sydney Children's Hospital through his Dad, who was a long-term volunteer at the hospital. He would often pick up his Dad from the hospital, and got to know some of the kids very well - he also saw some of those kids lose their fights for life.
As he got better at racing, and knew he could put his hard work and ability to better use than just winning a race, a special relationship between Peter and the Sydney Children's Hospital was born.
Outside of running ridiculously long races, Peter is an Operations Manager. After work hours you'll often see Pete running along Sydney's Coogee Beach for hours on end, dragging a weighted sled or carrying a 20 kilogram backpack.
He once emailed me an outline of one of his training regimes and well - you be the judge!
o Monday is a rest day!
o Tuesday is continual repetitions of the Coogee Stairs (291 stairs), running them up to 15 times. Tuesday night is core strength and boxing.
o Wednesday morning is an easy 45 min run. Wednesday night is an 18km Fartlek session where hills are run as hard as possible.
o Thursday is medicine ball workout in the morning with an easy one-hour afternoon run, and a boxing workout at night.
o Friday is soft sand running in the Kurnell sand dunes for just over an hour!
o Saturday is a long run building up to five hours.
o Sunday is an hour and a half run! The last 45 minutes of this run is on soft sand.
He also runs boxing classes during the Tuesday and Thurs!!
One of the interesting things I've realised after speaking with quite a few endurance athletes is that each one of them need an outside motivator to keep going when the body is screaming "give up." The key to what Peter achieves is that the race itself is just a part of the motivation.
Following is a great diary insight into the thoughts of an endurance racer feeling the pressure.
"Day three was the worst day I've ever experienced in a desert. It was brutal. The heat poured onto us for hours and never relented. We dragged our weakened bodies through the salt/mud flats and then were welcomed by a 12 kilometre stage of sand dunes - sand dunes so steep that zigzagging your way to the top of them was the only option. We reached Day 3 Camp and collapsed with the thought that tomorrow was actually going to be one of the hardest days of our lives, harder than the one we'd just had."
Peter now runs as part of Team Trifecta with good friends Michael Hull and Frank Fumich. They've built an incredible combination that has seen them take out 2 of the 3 desert races in the Racing the Planet series.
The next adventure for Peter is to run across the Sahara Desert in Egypt. The race itself has 6 stages ranging from 20-80 kilometres per day, over 7 days. Again Peter will be running with his mates in Team Trifecta, and again he will be raising money for the Sydney Children's Hospital.
I once spoke with the lovely Kate at the Sydney Children's Hospital Foundation, and she told me how much Peter meant to everyone there. All the staff in the hospital knew who Peter was, and what he'd done to help so many sick children.
His endeavors have raised money for interns, equipment, and ultimately saved lives. His example to me is that he's not only self-motivated on an athletic level; he's also just as motivated on a humanistic level.
He once said to me, "at the end of the day my pain is very little compared to what our kids go through", and he really meant it.
Author Bio:
Adrian Buckley Men's Features Writer for http://www.fitforlifeonline.com.au
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Incredible-Peter-Wilson---Enduro-Racer-and-Fundraiser-Extraordinaire!&id=2770409
Peter Wilson is not only one of Australia's premier endurance athlete's, he's also one of those rare birds that transforms what can be a very solitary journey (endurance racing), into a journey of hope for lots of people - particularly very sick children and their parents.
When I last saw Peter a year ago he'd just handed over a $100,000 cheque to the Sydney Children's Hospital. When I chatted with him a few weeks ago he'd raised in excess of $320,000 from running in endurance events across various deserts around the globe, from the Gobi in China, the Atacama in Chile, to most recently the frozen tundra of Antarctica - it's a pretty phenomenal effort.
A bit of Peter's background: His first foray into endurance racing came after he ballooned in weight, and realised if he stayed on the same lack-of-exercise path he was headed for long-term health problems. He started training for a triathlon to lose weight, and ended up catching the endurance racing bug big time.
In terms of his fundraising efforts Peter first became involved with the Sydney Children's Hospital through his Dad, who was a long-term volunteer at the hospital. He would often pick up his Dad from the hospital, and got to know some of the kids very well - he also saw some of those kids lose their fights for life.
As he got better at racing, and knew he could put his hard work and ability to better use than just winning a race, a special relationship between Peter and the Sydney Children's Hospital was born.
Outside of running ridiculously long races, Peter is an Operations Manager. After work hours you'll often see Pete running along Sydney's Coogee Beach for hours on end, dragging a weighted sled or carrying a 20 kilogram backpack.
He once emailed me an outline of one of his training regimes and well - you be the judge!
o Monday is a rest day!
o Tuesday is continual repetitions of the Coogee Stairs (291 stairs), running them up to 15 times. Tuesday night is core strength and boxing.
o Wednesday morning is an easy 45 min run. Wednesday night is an 18km Fartlek session where hills are run as hard as possible.
o Thursday is medicine ball workout in the morning with an easy one-hour afternoon run, and a boxing workout at night.
o Friday is soft sand running in the Kurnell sand dunes for just over an hour!
o Saturday is a long run building up to five hours.
o Sunday is an hour and a half run! The last 45 minutes of this run is on soft sand.
He also runs boxing classes during the Tuesday and Thurs!!
One of the interesting things I've realised after speaking with quite a few endurance athletes is that each one of them need an outside motivator to keep going when the body is screaming "give up." The key to what Peter achieves is that the race itself is just a part of the motivation.
Following is a great diary insight into the thoughts of an endurance racer feeling the pressure.
"Day three was the worst day I've ever experienced in a desert. It was brutal. The heat poured onto us for hours and never relented. We dragged our weakened bodies through the salt/mud flats and then were welcomed by a 12 kilometre stage of sand dunes - sand dunes so steep that zigzagging your way to the top of them was the only option. We reached Day 3 Camp and collapsed with the thought that tomorrow was actually going to be one of the hardest days of our lives, harder than the one we'd just had."
Peter now runs as part of Team Trifecta with good friends Michael Hull and Frank Fumich. They've built an incredible combination that has seen them take out 2 of the 3 desert races in the Racing the Planet series.
The next adventure for Peter is to run across the Sahara Desert in Egypt. The race itself has 6 stages ranging from 20-80 kilometres per day, over 7 days. Again Peter will be running with his mates in Team Trifecta, and again he will be raising money for the Sydney Children's Hospital.
I once spoke with the lovely Kate at the Sydney Children's Hospital Foundation, and she told me how much Peter meant to everyone there. All the staff in the hospital knew who Peter was, and what he'd done to help so many sick children.
His endeavors have raised money for interns, equipment, and ultimately saved lives. His example to me is that he's not only self-motivated on an athletic level; he's also just as motivated on a humanistic level.
He once said to me, "at the end of the day my pain is very little compared to what our kids go through", and he really meant it.
Author Bio:
Adrian Buckley Men's Features Writer for http://www.fitforlifeonline.com.au
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Incredible-Peter-Wilson---Enduro-Racer-and-Fundraiser-Extraordinaire!&id=2770409
Saturday, December 11, 2010
How to Make Coffee When You Go Camping
Every year when the weather starts to get really nice and the sun starts hanging around later into the evening, I get the camping bug. But before I head out to the great outdoors, I have to make sure that I'd be able to get my daily fix of caffeine.
French Press
There's a lot of different ways to make coffee outdoors, but using a French Press will create the best tasting cup of coffee. All you need is hot water, ground coffee and the French Press. Of course, there are some drawbacks like you'll need to find space for the French Press, but they now make ones that are lighter and shatter resistant.
It's just like using a French Press at home, the exact details vary depending on the size of the maker, but the basics are that ground coffee is added to the bottom, then hot water is poured and stirred. The water is allowed to saturate with the grounds for a few minutes, then the plunger is pushed down to separate out the grounds before it's poured into the cup.
If you're going to be gone for more than a couple of days, you should consider bringing along a manual coffee grinder and whole beans so that you can get fresh coffee the entire time away from civilization.
Percolator
This is actually how my parents would make coffee when we went camping when we were driving across the country or vacationing in the Adirondacks. W did it on a propane stove, but you can do it over a fire.
With a percolator, you'll need your coarse grounds and use between 1 and 1 ½ tablespoons of coffee for each size ounces of water. You let it perk until it reaches a the dark brown color. You can let it go longer or shorter, depending on how you like your coffee.
There is a risk that the grounds will make it into your cup, so you should give it time to settle.
Traditional Camping Coffee Methods
There's many different more traditional methods, you just have to choose one that works with what you have and how you like your coffee. Here's two ways that I've tried and can say worked to at least some degree.
Boil two quarts of water. Take it off the fire and add two hand fulls of grounds. It's not really a science, so use more or less depending on how strong you like your coffee. Let it steep for four minutes, then add a small amount of cold water to help settle the grounds. Then carefully pour the coffee into your cup, trying to keep as much of the grounds out of it.
Add six teaspoons of grounds into a pot with three pints of cold water on top. Put the pot on the fire and heat it until it starts to boil. Then take it off the fire and let it steep for a few minutes. Add a small amount of cold water so that the grounds settle out. This can make six cups.
Author Bio:
Mike Crimmins is a coffee fanatic. He's not your traditional coffee expert or barista. He's just your average Joe, looking for that perfect cup of coffee. You can learn more about coffee at his blog http://dailyshotofcoffee.com/
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Make-Coffee-When-You-Go-Camping&id=2450867
French Press
There's a lot of different ways to make coffee outdoors, but using a French Press will create the best tasting cup of coffee. All you need is hot water, ground coffee and the French Press. Of course, there are some drawbacks like you'll need to find space for the French Press, but they now make ones that are lighter and shatter resistant.
It's just like using a French Press at home, the exact details vary depending on the size of the maker, but the basics are that ground coffee is added to the bottom, then hot water is poured and stirred. The water is allowed to saturate with the grounds for a few minutes, then the plunger is pushed down to separate out the grounds before it's poured into the cup.
If you're going to be gone for more than a couple of days, you should consider bringing along a manual coffee grinder and whole beans so that you can get fresh coffee the entire time away from civilization.
Percolator
This is actually how my parents would make coffee when we went camping when we were driving across the country or vacationing in the Adirondacks. W did it on a propane stove, but you can do it over a fire.
With a percolator, you'll need your coarse grounds and use between 1 and 1 ½ tablespoons of coffee for each size ounces of water. You let it perk until it reaches a the dark brown color. You can let it go longer or shorter, depending on how you like your coffee.
There is a risk that the grounds will make it into your cup, so you should give it time to settle.
Traditional Camping Coffee Methods
There's many different more traditional methods, you just have to choose one that works with what you have and how you like your coffee. Here's two ways that I've tried and can say worked to at least some degree.
Boil two quarts of water. Take it off the fire and add two hand fulls of grounds. It's not really a science, so use more or less depending on how strong you like your coffee. Let it steep for four minutes, then add a small amount of cold water to help settle the grounds. Then carefully pour the coffee into your cup, trying to keep as much of the grounds out of it.
Add six teaspoons of grounds into a pot with three pints of cold water on top. Put the pot on the fire and heat it until it starts to boil. Then take it off the fire and let it steep for a few minutes. Add a small amount of cold water so that the grounds settle out. This can make six cups.
Author Bio:
Mike Crimmins is a coffee fanatic. He's not your traditional coffee expert or barista. He's just your average Joe, looking for that perfect cup of coffee. You can learn more about coffee at his blog http://dailyshotofcoffee.com/
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Make-Coffee-When-You-Go-Camping&id=2450867
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Four Reasons Why a Golf Marathon is a Perfect Fundraiser in 2010
Step 1: The Core is in Place
Your organization's best assets are the people who already know who you are and what you do. Finding the means to motivate them to action is the challenge you must undertake. You need a format that is easy to understand with a proven track record for significant success. The golf marathon fundraiser will meet this challenge for you. The core people, the 20% who have been your most loyal supporters, most likely your Board of Directors and key volunteers, are the ones who can energize this campaign. They historically give their financial support. You need a small measure of their time and their talent to ask others for you. The campaign goal will be a significant amount and will provide a sense of pride in the achievement to all involved.
Step 2: The Life Blood
There is nothing you can strategically accomplish today that is more important to your mission, than expanding your donor base. The life blood of every organization is their base of support. Is your donor base growing? Do you have a plan in place to exponentially increase your givers? The golf marathon fundraiser is designed to develop 80% or more new donors for your base. And best of all, if you practice good stewardship, they will be sustainable into the future.
Step 3: Smaller is Larger in the Long Run
Not long ago, when the stock market was soaring, when personal discretionary income was abundant, and when major corporate giving was readily available, organizations felt secure in their financial support plans. The reality is our plans should be relevant in all economic environments. Today is a world apart from "not long ago". The generosity is still available if the ask is appropriate and personal. People give to people not to causes. The golf marathon fundraiser secures gifts in small attainable amounts. The typical donation is not sacrificial and ranges from $50 to $200. The size of the gift broadens the opportunity and is not exclusive in nature. The smaller increments create a much larger base that will be more dependable in the long run. These supporters are very likely to repeat annually if properly acknowledged and thanked.
Step 4: Voices to Your Mission
How important would it be to have your mission statement personally communicated to several thousand people without spending a single advertising dollar? That's correct, personally communicated. Priceless! Strange as it may seem to say, most Board members cannot accurately recite their organization's mission statement. Do others know what you are passionate to accomplish? The golf marathon fundraiser recruits 40 or more enthusiastic, informed, volunteers to share your story. They will communicate with 40 or more people with whom they already have a personal relationship. They will multiply your efforts and dramatically put voices to your mission and passion.
The Golf Marathon Fundraiser - Priceless!
Hal Clifford is President of Profund, an organization that has raised over $145 million for charities in the last 10 years. For more information go to: http://www.profundllc.com
Article Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?Four-Reasons-Why-a-Golf-Marathon-is-a-Perfect-Fundraiser-in-2010&id=3678655
Your organization's best assets are the people who already know who you are and what you do. Finding the means to motivate them to action is the challenge you must undertake. You need a format that is easy to understand with a proven track record for significant success. The golf marathon fundraiser will meet this challenge for you. The core people, the 20% who have been your most loyal supporters, most likely your Board of Directors and key volunteers, are the ones who can energize this campaign. They historically give their financial support. You need a small measure of their time and their talent to ask others for you. The campaign goal will be a significant amount and will provide a sense of pride in the achievement to all involved.
Step 2: The Life Blood
There is nothing you can strategically accomplish today that is more important to your mission, than expanding your donor base. The life blood of every organization is their base of support. Is your donor base growing? Do you have a plan in place to exponentially increase your givers? The golf marathon fundraiser is designed to develop 80% or more new donors for your base. And best of all, if you practice good stewardship, they will be sustainable into the future.
Step 3: Smaller is Larger in the Long Run
Not long ago, when the stock market was soaring, when personal discretionary income was abundant, and when major corporate giving was readily available, organizations felt secure in their financial support plans. The reality is our plans should be relevant in all economic environments. Today is a world apart from "not long ago". The generosity is still available if the ask is appropriate and personal. People give to people not to causes. The golf marathon fundraiser secures gifts in small attainable amounts. The typical donation is not sacrificial and ranges from $50 to $200. The size of the gift broadens the opportunity and is not exclusive in nature. The smaller increments create a much larger base that will be more dependable in the long run. These supporters are very likely to repeat annually if properly acknowledged and thanked.
Step 4: Voices to Your Mission
How important would it be to have your mission statement personally communicated to several thousand people without spending a single advertising dollar? That's correct, personally communicated. Priceless! Strange as it may seem to say, most Board members cannot accurately recite their organization's mission statement. Do others know what you are passionate to accomplish? The golf marathon fundraiser recruits 40 or more enthusiastic, informed, volunteers to share your story. They will communicate with 40 or more people with whom they already have a personal relationship. They will multiply your efforts and dramatically put voices to your mission and passion.
The Golf Marathon Fundraiser - Priceless!
Hal Clifford is President of Profund, an organization that has raised over $145 million for charities in the last 10 years. For more information go to: http://www.profundllc.com
Article Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?Four-Reasons-Why-a-Golf-Marathon-is-a-Perfect-Fundraiser-in-2010&id=3678655
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Juan Valdez and his mule Conchita have become one of the world's most recognized advertising symbols. Juan Valdez represents the small coffee farmer transporting merchandise such as coffee, maize, wheat, or fruit with the help of a pack of animals such as mules, donkeys and horses.
What is a mule anyway?
• The mule is a cross between a donkey stallion, also called a jack, and a horse mare.
• Hinnies are a cross between a stallion horse and donkey jennet or "jenny."
• Hinnies and mules are classified under the term Mule.
• They can be a male or a female. They are sterile and cannot reproduce.
• Mules have ears smaller than donkeys.
• Mules tend to be longer and shaped as their horse parents.
• The head, hip and legs usually take after the jack.
• Mules have thin forelock hair, coarse mane hair and a tail like the horse parent.
Why have mules been the traditional animal in the coffee mountains of Colombia?
• Mules are great working animals.
• They are very adaptable to the difficult terrain of Colombian coffee growing regions.
• Roads are not available in many of these remote areas.
• By nature, mules do not put themselves in danger.
• They have a way of telling humans when something is not right, a valuable instinct in mountainous areas.
• Mules are very intelligent and do their best for their owners.
• Although mules are working animals, they become members of the families who own them.
• Without the mules, coffee farmers in these remote areas cannot transport their merchandise and make a living.
• Coffee farmers spend much time alone with their mules working the farm. It is very common to see farmers caressing and caring for their mules.
• The mule becomes a coffee farmer's best friend. There is a strong bond between man and animal for mutual safety and independence.
• It is therefore very fitting for Colombian coffee's iconic image to have a coffee farmer with his mule.
Who is Conchita?
• Conchita is Juan Valdez's mule, probably the most pampered and famous mule in the world.
• The mule twitches ears and welcomes a sugar cube or two at events.
• Conchita lives a privileged life, walking on carpets at events. She is a crowd pleaser.
• Conchita is Colombia's coffee mascot. She adds emotional appeal to the iconic image of the smoothest, richest coffee in the world.
Sometimes Juan Valdez makes appearances without Conchita. When this happens, he travels with a professional folkloric dancing group wearing all the beautiful and colorful attire of specific Colombian regions.
Personally, I prefer to see Juan Valdez with Conchita. There is something very special about tradition, particularly when the coffee farmer and his mule travel the world on behalf of hundreds of thousands of coffee growers in the homeland.
If you want to meet Juan Valdez in person and have a picture taken with Conchita, check out his travel itinerary. Who knows? He may be touring a large city near you.
• You could just spot him on a street near a main intersection or public event with Conchita walking along his side.
• If this appeals to you, go to: http://www.whatsbehindthebest.com/tourmap.html
For now, what about enjoying a cup of Organic Colombian Supremo?
Author Bio:
Timothy ("Tim") S. Collins, the author, is called by those who know him "Gourmet Coffee Guy."
He is an expert in article writing who has done extensive research online and offline in his area of expertise, coffee marketing, as well as in other areas of personal and professional interest.
Come visit the author's website: http://www.ourgourmetcoffee.com
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Conchita-the-Mule---Juan-Valdezs-Iconic-Coffee-Animal&id=4072897
What is a mule anyway?
• The mule is a cross between a donkey stallion, also called a jack, and a horse mare.
• Hinnies are a cross between a stallion horse and donkey jennet or "jenny."
• Hinnies and mules are classified under the term Mule.
• They can be a male or a female. They are sterile and cannot reproduce.
• Mules have ears smaller than donkeys.
• Mules tend to be longer and shaped as their horse parents.
• The head, hip and legs usually take after the jack.
• Mules have thin forelock hair, coarse mane hair and a tail like the horse parent.
Why have mules been the traditional animal in the coffee mountains of Colombia?
• Mules are great working animals.
• They are very adaptable to the difficult terrain of Colombian coffee growing regions.
• Roads are not available in many of these remote areas.
• By nature, mules do not put themselves in danger.
• They have a way of telling humans when something is not right, a valuable instinct in mountainous areas.
• Mules are very intelligent and do their best for their owners.
• Although mules are working animals, they become members of the families who own them.
• Without the mules, coffee farmers in these remote areas cannot transport their merchandise and make a living.
• Coffee farmers spend much time alone with their mules working the farm. It is very common to see farmers caressing and caring for their mules.
• The mule becomes a coffee farmer's best friend. There is a strong bond between man and animal for mutual safety and independence.
• It is therefore very fitting for Colombian coffee's iconic image to have a coffee farmer with his mule.
Who is Conchita?
• Conchita is Juan Valdez's mule, probably the most pampered and famous mule in the world.
• The mule twitches ears and welcomes a sugar cube or two at events.
• Conchita lives a privileged life, walking on carpets at events. She is a crowd pleaser.
• Conchita is Colombia's coffee mascot. She adds emotional appeal to the iconic image of the smoothest, richest coffee in the world.
Sometimes Juan Valdez makes appearances without Conchita. When this happens, he travels with a professional folkloric dancing group wearing all the beautiful and colorful attire of specific Colombian regions.
Personally, I prefer to see Juan Valdez with Conchita. There is something very special about tradition, particularly when the coffee farmer and his mule travel the world on behalf of hundreds of thousands of coffee growers in the homeland.
If you want to meet Juan Valdez in person and have a picture taken with Conchita, check out his travel itinerary. Who knows? He may be touring a large city near you.
• You could just spot him on a street near a main intersection or public event with Conchita walking along his side.
• If this appeals to you, go to: http://www.whatsbehindthebest.com/tourmap.html
For now, what about enjoying a cup of Organic Colombian Supremo?
Author Bio:
Timothy ("Tim") S. Collins, the author, is called by those who know him "Gourmet Coffee Guy."
He is an expert in article writing who has done extensive research online and offline in his area of expertise, coffee marketing, as well as in other areas of personal and professional interest.
Come visit the author's website: http://www.ourgourmetcoffee.com
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Conchita-the-Mule---Juan-Valdezs-Iconic-Coffee-Animal&id=4072897
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Four Reasons Why a Golf Marathon is a Perfect Fundraiser in 2010
Step 1: The Core is in Place
Your organization's best assets are the people who already know who you are and what you do. Finding the means to motivate them to action is the challenge you must undertake. You need a format that is easy to understand with a proven track record for significant success. The golf marathon fundraiser will meet this challenge for you. The core people, the 20% who have been your most loyal supporters, most likely your Board of Directors and key volunteers, are the ones who can energize this campaign. They historically give their financial support. You need a small measure of their time and their talent to ask others for you. The campaign goal will be a significant amount and will provide a sense of pride in the achievement to all involved.
Step 2: The Life Blood
There is nothing you can strategically accomplish today that is more important to your mission, than expanding your donor base. The life blood of every organization is their base of support. Is your donor base growing? Do you have a plan in place to exponentially increase your givers? The golf marathon fundraiser is designed to develop 80% or more new donors for your base. And best of all, if you practice good stewardship, they will be sustainable into the future.
Step 3: Smaller is Larger in the Long Run
Not long ago, when the stock market was soaring, when personal discretionary income was abundant, and when major corporate giving was readily available, organizations felt secure in their financial support plans. The reality is our plans should be relevant in all economic environments. Today is a world apart from "not long ago". The generosity is still available if the ask is appropriate and personal. People give to people not to causes. The golf marathon fundraiser secures gifts in small attainable amounts. The typical donation is not sacrificial and ranges from $50 to $200. The size of the gift broadens the opportunity and is not exclusive in nature. The smaller increments create a much larger base that will be more dependable in the long run. These supporters are very likely to repeat annually if properly acknowledged and thanked.
Step 4: Voices to Your Mission
How important would it be to have your mission statement personally communicated to several thousand people without spending a single advertising dollar? That's correct, personally communicated. Priceless! Strange as it may seem to say, most Board members cannot accurately recite their organization's mission statement. Do others know what you are passionate to accomplish? The golf marathon fundraiser recruits 40 or more enthusiastic, informed, volunteers to share your story. They will communicate with 40 or more people with whom they already have a personal relationship. They will multiply your efforts and dramatically put voices to your mission and passion.
The Golf Marathon Fundraiser - Priceless!
Author Bio:
Hal Clifford is President of Profund, an organization that has raised over $145 million for charities in the last 10 years. For more information go to: http://www.profundllc.com
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Four-Reasons-Why-a-Golf-Marathon-is-a-Perfect-Fundraiser-in-2010&id=3678655&opt=print
Your organization's best assets are the people who already know who you are and what you do. Finding the means to motivate them to action is the challenge you must undertake. You need a format that is easy to understand with a proven track record for significant success. The golf marathon fundraiser will meet this challenge for you. The core people, the 20% who have been your most loyal supporters, most likely your Board of Directors and key volunteers, are the ones who can energize this campaign. They historically give their financial support. You need a small measure of their time and their talent to ask others for you. The campaign goal will be a significant amount and will provide a sense of pride in the achievement to all involved.
Step 2: The Life Blood
There is nothing you can strategically accomplish today that is more important to your mission, than expanding your donor base. The life blood of every organization is their base of support. Is your donor base growing? Do you have a plan in place to exponentially increase your givers? The golf marathon fundraiser is designed to develop 80% or more new donors for your base. And best of all, if you practice good stewardship, they will be sustainable into the future.
Step 3: Smaller is Larger in the Long Run
Not long ago, when the stock market was soaring, when personal discretionary income was abundant, and when major corporate giving was readily available, organizations felt secure in their financial support plans. The reality is our plans should be relevant in all economic environments. Today is a world apart from "not long ago". The generosity is still available if the ask is appropriate and personal. People give to people not to causes. The golf marathon fundraiser secures gifts in small attainable amounts. The typical donation is not sacrificial and ranges from $50 to $200. The size of the gift broadens the opportunity and is not exclusive in nature. The smaller increments create a much larger base that will be more dependable in the long run. These supporters are very likely to repeat annually if properly acknowledged and thanked.
Step 4: Voices to Your Mission
How important would it be to have your mission statement personally communicated to several thousand people without spending a single advertising dollar? That's correct, personally communicated. Priceless! Strange as it may seem to say, most Board members cannot accurately recite their organization's mission statement. Do others know what you are passionate to accomplish? The golf marathon fundraiser recruits 40 or more enthusiastic, informed, volunteers to share your story. They will communicate with 40 or more people with whom they already have a personal relationship. They will multiply your efforts and dramatically put voices to your mission and passion.
The Golf Marathon Fundraiser - Priceless!
Author Bio:
Hal Clifford is President of Profund, an organization that has raised over $145 million for charities in the last 10 years. For more information go to: http://www.profundllc.com
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Four-Reasons-Why-a-Golf-Marathon-is-a-Perfect-Fundraiser-in-2010&id=3678655&opt=print
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Can You Gain Weight From Drinking Coffee?
A one mug cup serving size of plain black brewed coffee has zero total fat, zero calories from fat and less than five total calories. Plain black coffee does not add weight.
However, when you begin to dress up your coffee with cream, milk, sugar or anything else, that is when the calorie count and fat increases and the weight challenge begins. The addition of other foods, pastries and sweets consumed with coffee will add more fat, sugar and calorie count. When it comes to weight control, all calories count, including both liquid and solid form.
As the old saying goes, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." There is no substitute to common sense and self-control when choosing how to dress up and what to eat with your coffee. Before ordering those "extras" without giving it a second thought, take the time to check out the nutrition information provided or ask questions.
Consider the following information for some basic accompaniments to brewed coffee. These are examples based on a 2000 calorie diet per day.
One cup of mashed banana: 225.0g. Calories: 200. Calories from fat: 7. Positive points? High in vitamin C & vitamin B6. Low in saturated fat. No cholesterol. High in potassium. Negative point? High in sugar (2.5g)
Café latte made with whole milk: one "tall" serving size (336.0g). Calories: 180. Calories from fat: 81. Total fat: 9.0g. Saturated fat: 5.0. Cholesterol: 30 mg. Sodium: 115mg. Total carbohydrates; 14.0g. Positive point? High in calcium. Negative points? High in saturated fat and sugar.
Cream, whipped, cream topping, pressurized: one quarter (1/4) cup serving (15.0g). Calories: 38.5. Calories from fat: 30. Total fat: 3.3 g. Cholesterol: 11.5 mg. Sodium: 19.5 mg. Positive point? Low in sodium. Negative point? Very high in saturated fat.
Cheesecake commercially prepared: one ounce (28.3g) serving size. Calories: 91. Calories from fat: 57. Total fat: 6.4 g. Cholesterol: 16mg. Sodium: 59 mg. Total carbohydrates: 7.2 g. Positive point? No sugar. Negative point? High in saturated fat.
Cookies, oatmeal, prepared from recipe with raisins: one ounce serving size (28.3g). Calories: 123. Calories from fat; 41. Total fat: 4.6 g. Cholesterol: 9 mg. Sodium: 152 mg. Total carbohydrates: 19.4 g. Positive point? Very low sugar if raisins are the only natural sweet source.
Original Shredded Wheat 'N Bran Cereal: one serving size (1 1/4 cup or 59.0g). Calories: 197. Calories from fat: 7. Cholesterol: 0 mg. Sodium: 3 mg. Total carbohydrates: 47.1 g. Positive points? Very low in saturated fat, sodium and sugar. No cholesterol. High in magnesium. Negative point? What type of milk will you use with this cereal? All calories count...
Muffins, Blueberry, commercially prepared: serving size, one mini muffin (17.0 g). Calories: 67. Calories from fat: 29. Total fat: 3.3 g. Cholesterol: 7 mg. Sodium: 54 mg. Total carbohydrates: 8.4 g. Sugars: 4.6 g. Negative points? High in sugar. Will one mini muffin satisfy you?
The real question is: whatever happened to enjoying food in moderation?
There is no need to give up the foods and beverages you love. Instead, balance calories in small ways that add up to big benefits in the long run.
• For example, try this coffee saver tip: instead of pouring that 1/3 of half-and-half (105 calories!) into your mug, replace it with the same amount of 2% milk and save 60 calories. Not hard to do and will taste great.
• Exercise regularly. Try simple activities throughout the day. For example, when you grab the phone, stand up and pace around. This will help prevent added pounds in unwanted body areas and burns about 50 or more calories.
• It really boils down to portion control. Eat smartly, including snacks. Portion out the day's snacks into pint-size zip bags. Choose lower calorie cookies or fewer of them to eat at any one time.
Enjoy your cup of brewed coffee. Coffee drinking is a sensory experience that involves the tongue, the nose and the mind. A good cup of coffee warrants taking time to appreciate all the coffee's attributes. This includes the coffee's body, acidity, aroma, and flavor to fully enjoy the lingering taste in the mouth after swallowing it.
Why rush this wonderful coffee sensation or overpower it with too many sweets and other foods? The research shows consistently that coffee drinking offers many health benefits.
• Remember some old fashioned family advice most of us have heard before.
• Eat slowly. Take your time sipping your beverages and chewing your food.
• You will feel "fuller" for a longer period of time and help you control food portions and eating frequency.
So, what about a cup of Peruvian Shade Grown organic coffee, a true gourmet coffee sold according to Fair Trade practices?
Author Bio:
Timothy ("Tim") S. Collins, the author, is called by those who know him "The Gourmet Coffee Guy."
He is an expert in article writing who has done extensive research online and offline in his area of expertise, coffee marketing, as well as in other areas of personal and professional interest.
Come visit the author's website: http://www.ourgourmetcoffee.com
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Can-You-Gain-Weight-From-Drinking-Coffee?&id=4239229
However, when you begin to dress up your coffee with cream, milk, sugar or anything else, that is when the calorie count and fat increases and the weight challenge begins. The addition of other foods, pastries and sweets consumed with coffee will add more fat, sugar and calorie count. When it comes to weight control, all calories count, including both liquid and solid form.
As the old saying goes, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." There is no substitute to common sense and self-control when choosing how to dress up and what to eat with your coffee. Before ordering those "extras" without giving it a second thought, take the time to check out the nutrition information provided or ask questions.
Consider the following information for some basic accompaniments to brewed coffee. These are examples based on a 2000 calorie diet per day.
One cup of mashed banana: 225.0g. Calories: 200. Calories from fat: 7. Positive points? High in vitamin C & vitamin B6. Low in saturated fat. No cholesterol. High in potassium. Negative point? High in sugar (2.5g)
Café latte made with whole milk: one "tall" serving size (336.0g). Calories: 180. Calories from fat: 81. Total fat: 9.0g. Saturated fat: 5.0. Cholesterol: 30 mg. Sodium: 115mg. Total carbohydrates; 14.0g. Positive point? High in calcium. Negative points? High in saturated fat and sugar.
Cream, whipped, cream topping, pressurized: one quarter (1/4) cup serving (15.0g). Calories: 38.5. Calories from fat: 30. Total fat: 3.3 g. Cholesterol: 11.5 mg. Sodium: 19.5 mg. Positive point? Low in sodium. Negative point? Very high in saturated fat.
Cheesecake commercially prepared: one ounce (28.3g) serving size. Calories: 91. Calories from fat: 57. Total fat: 6.4 g. Cholesterol: 16mg. Sodium: 59 mg. Total carbohydrates: 7.2 g. Positive point? No sugar. Negative point? High in saturated fat.
Cookies, oatmeal, prepared from recipe with raisins: one ounce serving size (28.3g). Calories: 123. Calories from fat; 41. Total fat: 4.6 g. Cholesterol: 9 mg. Sodium: 152 mg. Total carbohydrates: 19.4 g. Positive point? Very low sugar if raisins are the only natural sweet source.
Original Shredded Wheat 'N Bran Cereal: one serving size (1 1/4 cup or 59.0g). Calories: 197. Calories from fat: 7. Cholesterol: 0 mg. Sodium: 3 mg. Total carbohydrates: 47.1 g. Positive points? Very low in saturated fat, sodium and sugar. No cholesterol. High in magnesium. Negative point? What type of milk will you use with this cereal? All calories count...
Muffins, Blueberry, commercially prepared: serving size, one mini muffin (17.0 g). Calories: 67. Calories from fat: 29. Total fat: 3.3 g. Cholesterol: 7 mg. Sodium: 54 mg. Total carbohydrates: 8.4 g. Sugars: 4.6 g. Negative points? High in sugar. Will one mini muffin satisfy you?
The real question is: whatever happened to enjoying food in moderation?
There is no need to give up the foods and beverages you love. Instead, balance calories in small ways that add up to big benefits in the long run.
• For example, try this coffee saver tip: instead of pouring that 1/3 of half-and-half (105 calories!) into your mug, replace it with the same amount of 2% milk and save 60 calories. Not hard to do and will taste great.
• Exercise regularly. Try simple activities throughout the day. For example, when you grab the phone, stand up and pace around. This will help prevent added pounds in unwanted body areas and burns about 50 or more calories.
• It really boils down to portion control. Eat smartly, including snacks. Portion out the day's snacks into pint-size zip bags. Choose lower calorie cookies or fewer of them to eat at any one time.
Enjoy your cup of brewed coffee. Coffee drinking is a sensory experience that involves the tongue, the nose and the mind. A good cup of coffee warrants taking time to appreciate all the coffee's attributes. This includes the coffee's body, acidity, aroma, and flavor to fully enjoy the lingering taste in the mouth after swallowing it.
Why rush this wonderful coffee sensation or overpower it with too many sweets and other foods? The research shows consistently that coffee drinking offers many health benefits.
• Remember some old fashioned family advice most of us have heard before.
• Eat slowly. Take your time sipping your beverages and chewing your food.
• You will feel "fuller" for a longer period of time and help you control food portions and eating frequency.
So, what about a cup of Peruvian Shade Grown organic coffee, a true gourmet coffee sold according to Fair Trade practices?
Author Bio:
Timothy ("Tim") S. Collins, the author, is called by those who know him "The Gourmet Coffee Guy."
He is an expert in article writing who has done extensive research online and offline in his area of expertise, coffee marketing, as well as in other areas of personal and professional interest.
Come visit the author's website: http://www.ourgourmetcoffee.com
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Can-You-Gain-Weight-From-Drinking-Coffee?&id=4239229
Friday, December 3, 2010
Brick Fundraisers - An Innovative Way to Donate
There are a number of different kinds of fundraisers in the world today. But, each of them has their share of pros and cons and in most cases, the fundraisers are temporary and you might not be able to hold onto it forever. Consequently, there is a need to do something about getting a permanent fundraiser done for your cause. An effective solution in this regard would be to go in for brick fundraisers. Among all the different fundraiser methods, this would probably be one of the best methods to go in for, and listed below are the reasons why.
Permanent memory
With engraved bricks, your donation is going to be remembered forever. You will have the peace of mind in knowing that your donation will not be forgotten even after you are gone, since it will be etched on the bricks for good. Hence, if you are feeling generous and want to contribute for a cause that comes under brick fundraisers, then this is the option for you to go in for. Considering that your donations are pretty much going to be etched in history for good, it is a highly recommended option to go in for.
Profitable
If you are someone organizing the brick fundraisers, then you should know that these are extremely profitable ways to earn money for your cause. In fact, the cost of engraving on these bricks might be peanuts if you give in a bulk order. The profit of the large order will be passed onto you. This is something that you should consider if you are in split minds about whether or not the idea of engraved bricks is a good one or not. If money is of primary concern, then you should definitely go in for this option as it pays quite well.
Great looking
When you go for the right kind of engraved bricks, the end result is one of a kind. You will be extremely pleased with how it looks on the whole and might even consider going in for the option of more of these. If you want your walkway to look special or want something special to do with your wall, then you would want to learn more about brick fundraisers. These are great ways of raising money for your requirements and get the wall to look special and unique.
By now, you should be convinced about all the different advantages that brick fundraisers have as such. If you are looking for different ways to organize effective fundraisers, then you should definitely consider this option. Once you have decided on the other aspects of the fundraisers as well as the cost of the bricks and other such things, then you should be able to better organize the event and get more people to attend it as well. Give that these engraved bricks are widely popular these days, there is no such rules regarding to how much the things would cost you. Consult others that have organized such an event before you can come to your own conclusions in any way.
Author Bio:
For more information on either engraved bricks or even brick Fundraisers, go to either fundraisingbrick.com or http://www.fundraisingbrick.com/laser_engraved_bricks.php
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Brick-Fundraisers---An-Innovative-Way-to-Donate&id=4340643
Permanent memory
With engraved bricks, your donation is going to be remembered forever. You will have the peace of mind in knowing that your donation will not be forgotten even after you are gone, since it will be etched on the bricks for good. Hence, if you are feeling generous and want to contribute for a cause that comes under brick fundraisers, then this is the option for you to go in for. Considering that your donations are pretty much going to be etched in history for good, it is a highly recommended option to go in for.
Profitable
If you are someone organizing the brick fundraisers, then you should know that these are extremely profitable ways to earn money for your cause. In fact, the cost of engraving on these bricks might be peanuts if you give in a bulk order. The profit of the large order will be passed onto you. This is something that you should consider if you are in split minds about whether or not the idea of engraved bricks is a good one or not. If money is of primary concern, then you should definitely go in for this option as it pays quite well.
Great looking
When you go for the right kind of engraved bricks, the end result is one of a kind. You will be extremely pleased with how it looks on the whole and might even consider going in for the option of more of these. If you want your walkway to look special or want something special to do with your wall, then you would want to learn more about brick fundraisers. These are great ways of raising money for your requirements and get the wall to look special and unique.
By now, you should be convinced about all the different advantages that brick fundraisers have as such. If you are looking for different ways to organize effective fundraisers, then you should definitely consider this option. Once you have decided on the other aspects of the fundraisers as well as the cost of the bricks and other such things, then you should be able to better organize the event and get more people to attend it as well. Give that these engraved bricks are widely popular these days, there is no such rules regarding to how much the things would cost you. Consult others that have organized such an event before you can come to your own conclusions in any way.
Author Bio:
For more information on either engraved bricks or even brick Fundraisers, go to either fundraisingbrick.com or http://www.fundraisingbrick.com/laser_engraved_bricks.php
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Brick-Fundraisers---An-Innovative-Way-to-Donate&id=4340643
Thursday, December 2, 2010
How to Get Free Coffee From Vending Machines!
If you love coffee and can't live without it, then you might be wishing for a better coffee other than the "3 in 1" coffee in your pantry.
And this article is going to surprise you by showing you how one can get free coffee easily at their workplace! The truth is, no matter what industry you work for or what kind of company you're with, this free coffee solution would apply.
Nope, we would not be teaching you how to break vending machines' codes or anything like that, but we would be showing you a legitimate way in getting these free coffee.
Here, we would like to highlight the coffee vending machines for your pantry. You can get great coffee with a simple press of button, and the coffee taste fresh and consistent every time unlike those filter drip coffee that taste bitter after some time.
There are plenty of options when it comes to what vending machines to get and which companies to choose. Because this is a very competitive market, simply by throwing a quotation would entitles you to months of free coffee, so make sure that you shop around and figure out what prices are going to be best for you and what options will suit your company.
As mentioned earlier, you'll find that there are many companies out there that are willing to give you the coffee vending machines on loan along with few months of free coffee to go along with it.
All you need to do is to call for a quotation with the requirements that this quote has to come with at least a one month product trial and is valid for 3 months. With this clause in place, all you need to do is to "test" the suppliers every month, and you would get your free coffee for at least 6 months.
You get free coffee even without any endorsement from your bosses! This is easy right? But, this is not a long term solution. To have free coffee perpetually, you would need your company to purchase it for your pantry.
This can be a little difficult, because the coffee machine has nothing to do with your business and might even be dismissed as a luxury item. It is important to pitch this idea right, and you'll find that there are a few different options that you can take.
The easier option is to highlight how free coffee can bring up morale and productivity in your company.
First, remember that you can present it as a real moral booster. A coffee machine like this can show the employees that their bosses care about them, and this in turn can generate alot of employee satisfaction than if they they have to wait around for a very small coffee pot!
Similarly, make sure that you point out that the coffee provided is a stimulant. There is a lot to be said for having something on hand that can sharpen productivity as well as bring up moral, so make sure that you pitch this as well.
Be prepared to talk about this idea with all your colleagues. You'll find that there are many companies that will be happy to give you all the coffee that you need, as long as you can demonstrate that there is increase in productivity.
Think about using things such as employee survey or an suggestion box to get the point across. If your company has a web interface that anyone can access, put up a poll to see how strongly everyone feels about the idea of gourmet coffee and how they feel it will affect their performance.
Once it has been proven that good coffee in the cafeteria or break room can really promote a boost in morale and productivity, you should have no problem getting your management to agree!
Author Bio:
Ebenezer Heng, the owner of On Coffee makers does the research for on any machines related to coffee. As long as you are looking for a machines to better your coffee experience, chances are you can find it at http://www.oncoffeemakers.com/index.html
And for more free coffee information, go to http://www.oncoffeemakers.com/free-coffee.html, to learn how to get the free coffee ebook!
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Get-Free-Coffee-From-Vending-Machines!&id=1360245
And this article is going to surprise you by showing you how one can get free coffee easily at their workplace! The truth is, no matter what industry you work for or what kind of company you're with, this free coffee solution would apply.
Nope, we would not be teaching you how to break vending machines' codes or anything like that, but we would be showing you a legitimate way in getting these free coffee.
Here, we would like to highlight the coffee vending machines for your pantry. You can get great coffee with a simple press of button, and the coffee taste fresh and consistent every time unlike those filter drip coffee that taste bitter after some time.
There are plenty of options when it comes to what vending machines to get and which companies to choose. Because this is a very competitive market, simply by throwing a quotation would entitles you to months of free coffee, so make sure that you shop around and figure out what prices are going to be best for you and what options will suit your company.
As mentioned earlier, you'll find that there are many companies out there that are willing to give you the coffee vending machines on loan along with few months of free coffee to go along with it.
All you need to do is to call for a quotation with the requirements that this quote has to come with at least a one month product trial and is valid for 3 months. With this clause in place, all you need to do is to "test" the suppliers every month, and you would get your free coffee for at least 6 months.
You get free coffee even without any endorsement from your bosses! This is easy right? But, this is not a long term solution. To have free coffee perpetually, you would need your company to purchase it for your pantry.
This can be a little difficult, because the coffee machine has nothing to do with your business and might even be dismissed as a luxury item. It is important to pitch this idea right, and you'll find that there are a few different options that you can take.
The easier option is to highlight how free coffee can bring up morale and productivity in your company.
First, remember that you can present it as a real moral booster. A coffee machine like this can show the employees that their bosses care about them, and this in turn can generate alot of employee satisfaction than if they they have to wait around for a very small coffee pot!
Similarly, make sure that you point out that the coffee provided is a stimulant. There is a lot to be said for having something on hand that can sharpen productivity as well as bring up moral, so make sure that you pitch this as well.
Be prepared to talk about this idea with all your colleagues. You'll find that there are many companies that will be happy to give you all the coffee that you need, as long as you can demonstrate that there is increase in productivity.
Think about using things such as employee survey or an suggestion box to get the point across. If your company has a web interface that anyone can access, put up a poll to see how strongly everyone feels about the idea of gourmet coffee and how they feel it will affect their performance.
Once it has been proven that good coffee in the cafeteria or break room can really promote a boost in morale and productivity, you should have no problem getting your management to agree!
Author Bio:
Ebenezer Heng, the owner of On Coffee makers does the research for on any machines related to coffee. As long as you are looking for a machines to better your coffee experience, chances are you can find it at http://www.oncoffeemakers.com/index.html
And for more free coffee information, go to http://www.oncoffeemakers.com/free-coffee.html, to learn how to get the free coffee ebook!
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Get-Free-Coffee-From-Vending-Machines!&id=1360245
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Nonprofit Organizations Forced to Shut Down Due to Lack of Funding
Nonprofit organizations across the United States brought in a revenue total of $1.9 Trillion is 2008. In 2009 that number dropped by the billions, and in 2010 is expected to drop even more. This decrease in revenue has forced many nonprofit organizations to cancel programs, cut employees, and many are being forced to shut down.
Nonprofit organizations employ nearly 10% of the countries workforce, but is being forced to let go of many of them. This situation is making the economic crisis even worse. By 2013, close to a millions nonprofit jobs are expected to be lost.
This funding scare has caused many nonprofit organizations to look into fundraising programs other than the typical bake sales, charity auctions, and golf tournament fundraiser. A new fundraising idea that many nonprofit organizations are utilizing is online fundraising.
Fundraising online incorporates a simple system that allows consumers to support any nonprofit organization each time they shop online. For every purchase made from hundreds of online merchants like Apple, Bestbuy, Eastbay, Expedia, Macy's and many more, a percent of the total price is donated to a selected nonprofit organization.
Online fundraisers have helped raise millions of dollars in the past few years and are becoming more and more popular each day. A reason for the Internet's fundraising popularity is because of its free nature. Setting up an online fundraising campaign is completely free. All it takes is filling out a simple registration with an online fundraising website to get started. After that, people can support any organization that has been signed up each time they shop.
Consumers are also benefiting from free online fundraising. Shopping online allows buyers to save money on free shipping and other discount offers not seen in stores. These nonprofit fundraising events have helped skyrocket nonprofit fundraising campaigns over the past few years as organizations are urging their supporters to make every purchase count by using online fundraising.
Next time you plan to make a purchase online, be sure to go through an online fundraising website and start earning for your organization today!
Author Bio:
Get started with online fundraising here, or take a look at some more effective fundraising ideas.
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Nonprofit-Organizations-Forced-to-Shut-Down-Due-to-Lack-of-Funding&id=4369797
Nonprofit organizations employ nearly 10% of the countries workforce, but is being forced to let go of many of them. This situation is making the economic crisis even worse. By 2013, close to a millions nonprofit jobs are expected to be lost.
This funding scare has caused many nonprofit organizations to look into fundraising programs other than the typical bake sales, charity auctions, and golf tournament fundraiser. A new fundraising idea that many nonprofit organizations are utilizing is online fundraising.
Fundraising online incorporates a simple system that allows consumers to support any nonprofit organization each time they shop online. For every purchase made from hundreds of online merchants like Apple, Bestbuy, Eastbay, Expedia, Macy's and many more, a percent of the total price is donated to a selected nonprofit organization.
Online fundraisers have helped raise millions of dollars in the past few years and are becoming more and more popular each day. A reason for the Internet's fundraising popularity is because of its free nature. Setting up an online fundraising campaign is completely free. All it takes is filling out a simple registration with an online fundraising website to get started. After that, people can support any organization that has been signed up each time they shop.
Consumers are also benefiting from free online fundraising. Shopping online allows buyers to save money on free shipping and other discount offers not seen in stores. These nonprofit fundraising events have helped skyrocket nonprofit fundraising campaigns over the past few years as organizations are urging their supporters to make every purchase count by using online fundraising.
Next time you plan to make a purchase online, be sure to go through an online fundraising website and start earning for your organization today!
Author Bio:
Get started with online fundraising here, or take a look at some more effective fundraising ideas.
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Nonprofit-Organizations-Forced-to-Shut-Down-Due-to-Lack-of-Funding&id=4369797
Monday, November 29, 2010
I Have a Perfect Pod Coffee Maker!
If you are interested to know which brand is a perfect pod coffee maker, then you might first want to think about the definition of "perfect". In short, what is a perfect single serve coffee maker?
There are probably tons of definitions out there, but mine goes like this: As long as the pod coffee maker can brew many types of coffee blends, it would be perfect, don't you think so?
The single most daunting thing about single serve coffee maker is the closed system and their lack of coffee varieties. Pod coffee maker are already easy to use and are also very easy to clean, add in the element of variety, no coffee makers can match them in capability!
Just imagine owning a senseo, this machine is easy to use and maintain, which are great. Now, imagine having the ability to use any types of coffee that you fancy that is a very good thought right?
Unfortunately, till now, senseo is still a closed system like many other single serve coffee makers. Which means you would have to use douwe egberts if you are brewing coffee with a senseo.
There is however a machine that can mitigate this situation. It is known as the perfect pod maker. Its sole purpose is to make coffee pods that are applicable for coffee makers like senseo.
Rather than highlighting which brands would be able to use this great piece of machine, I would share which brands would not be able to use coffee pods from this perfect pod maker.
They are Nespresso, Keurig and Tassimo. This is mainly because these 3 companies are using their own special pods and not the standard coffee pods. So, other than these 3 brands of pod coffee maker, the rest of the brands theoretically have the ability to brew any coffee blends using the perfect pod maker.
And this pod maker similar to the single serves coffee maker concept, easy usage. All one need to do is to choose a coffee blend they like, and then filled it into the paper filter that is provided by the perfect pod maker.
The amount of coffee is really up to individual, but I would recommend a 8-10 grams for a strong and intense coffee. After filling the filter paper, simply press down this pod maker and wait for approximately 8 seconds and you would get a coffee pods that you can use.
There are not much things that you need to take note while using this perfect pod maker, although, it would be important to check that your coffee pods are properly sealed as any breakage (especially inside your coffee maker) could be disastrous.
For optimum taste, many users of the perfect pod maker feedback that it is better to wet the pods prior to inserting it into the single serve coffee maker, the feedback is that wetting the pods allows the hot water to seep better thus providing a better tasting coffee.
So, while this is not a pod coffee maker per se, this is a machine that can really better your coffee experience with a single serve coffee maker, right?
Author Bio:
Ebenezer Heng, the owner of On Coffee makers does the research for on any machines related to coffee. As long as you are looking for a machines to better your coffee experience, chances are you can find it at http://www.oncoffeemakers.com and you can also learn more about pod coffee maker.
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?I-Have-a-Perfect-Pod-Coffee-Maker!&id=1520491
There are probably tons of definitions out there, but mine goes like this: As long as the pod coffee maker can brew many types of coffee blends, it would be perfect, don't you think so?
The single most daunting thing about single serve coffee maker is the closed system and their lack of coffee varieties. Pod coffee maker are already easy to use and are also very easy to clean, add in the element of variety, no coffee makers can match them in capability!
Just imagine owning a senseo, this machine is easy to use and maintain, which are great. Now, imagine having the ability to use any types of coffee that you fancy that is a very good thought right?
Unfortunately, till now, senseo is still a closed system like many other single serve coffee makers. Which means you would have to use douwe egberts if you are brewing coffee with a senseo.
There is however a machine that can mitigate this situation. It is known as the perfect pod maker. Its sole purpose is to make coffee pods that are applicable for coffee makers like senseo.
Rather than highlighting which brands would be able to use this great piece of machine, I would share which brands would not be able to use coffee pods from this perfect pod maker.
They are Nespresso, Keurig and Tassimo. This is mainly because these 3 companies are using their own special pods and not the standard coffee pods. So, other than these 3 brands of pod coffee maker, the rest of the brands theoretically have the ability to brew any coffee blends using the perfect pod maker.
And this pod maker similar to the single serves coffee maker concept, easy usage. All one need to do is to choose a coffee blend they like, and then filled it into the paper filter that is provided by the perfect pod maker.
The amount of coffee is really up to individual, but I would recommend a 8-10 grams for a strong and intense coffee. After filling the filter paper, simply press down this pod maker and wait for approximately 8 seconds and you would get a coffee pods that you can use.
There are not much things that you need to take note while using this perfect pod maker, although, it would be important to check that your coffee pods are properly sealed as any breakage (especially inside your coffee maker) could be disastrous.
For optimum taste, many users of the perfect pod maker feedback that it is better to wet the pods prior to inserting it into the single serve coffee maker, the feedback is that wetting the pods allows the hot water to seep better thus providing a better tasting coffee.
So, while this is not a pod coffee maker per se, this is a machine that can really better your coffee experience with a single serve coffee maker, right?
Author Bio:
Ebenezer Heng, the owner of On Coffee makers does the research for on any machines related to coffee. As long as you are looking for a machines to better your coffee experience, chances are you can find it at http://www.oncoffeemakers.com and you can also learn more about pod coffee maker.
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?I-Have-a-Perfect-Pod-Coffee-Maker!&id=1520491
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Fight Leukemia with a Pre-Sale Ticket Car Wash Fundraiser
One of the most devastating cancers of all is Leukemia and the costs to fight it are immensely expensive. When a child has leukemia it is even more devastating threatening to cut a life short. Many times communities will rally together to have fundraisers to cover the costs. Generally the whole community and several fundraisers can come up with the funds with a couple of large donations. To attract large donors, it pays to have the public relations and show a consciousness effort to reach the goal for the treatment. Every year bone morrow transplants costs in crease. One of the fundraisers you might wish to consider is a car wash fundraiser. A pre-sale ticket car wash fundraiser can make significantly larger dollars than a normal car wash fundraiser. Let's discuss pre-sale ticket strategies for a moment.
PRE-SALE TICKETS
You should seriously consider selling presale tickets for your car wash. There are a lot of advantages in pre-selling your tickets such as:
You know about how many people will come to your car wash ahead of time
66% of the ticket buyers never show up but you've already got the money
If it rains you're washed up but not washed out
You will also have use of the money in advance even in the event of rain. Your rain date might be three weeks later yet you have most of the money in your coffers now. Important monies that can go towards your goal for the treatment.
Let's take one of our 1990 car washes. It was for the local high school band. There were one hundred plus students in the band. The average student sold twenty tickets at $5.00 each. The presale ended up about $10,000. That in it self would be great, but it gets better. The day of the event we raised $985.00 in drive-ups. Some of the girls on the drill team waved tall flags and others held poster board signs that brought the cars in all right. We washed 408 cars. Wow, were we tired! We had two solid lines of cars at least fifteen deep all day long. 201 cars were drive-ups with no presale tickets. With tips included that made up the $985.00. That left 207 cars worth of presale with tickets. But you say, "How can that be?" 207 times $5.00 = only $1,035.00. That's right. Since our lines were so long a lot of people didn't claim their tickets or never intended on coming in the first place or forgot or had some thing else to do that day. I believe it was a combination of all these reasons. Whatever the reason, the money went to a good cause. We've had many many fundraisers that have been equally successful over the years.
Now someone will have to typeset these tickets and have them printed. There is probably someone in your group who is a graphic artist or really good with a PC or MAC computer. They'll do fine. The tickets should be eight to ten on a page. You should print them on colored paper so they are not easily duplicated. You should pick a color that matches with your church, club or school's colors. Have the tickets cut. Put the individual tickets into piles of twenty. Put a piece of cardboard or poster board the exact size underneath each stack. Buy some rubber cement. Put about ten stacks of twenty tickets on top of each other and put them in a vice. Paint the rubber cement on the left side of the ticket book and let dry for one hour. Repeat until you have enough booklets for each member. You might want to print another dozen booklets just in case. If the tickets are selling fast, you don't want to run out. That will break your momentum.
You should have frequent ticket sales progress meetings with the people selling the car wash tickets. That way, if sales aren't meeting goals you can help motivate members or reorganize the group.
Tickets can be expensive to print. Ask a local print shop to advertise on the back and become a sponsor in exchange for half price or free printing of the tickets. Most print shops do binding so you may be able to trade for that and save you the time and aggravation of binding the ticket books yourself. Print shops will do a more professional job at binding than you can do on your first time trying. Professional tickets are more presentable and look more official when selling to customers. This will help your group in their selling efforts.
When a community unites in a common cause miracles can occur, all this positive energy and mind power may significantly help the child win their battle with leukemia. Work together and work smart to raise the funds needed and the awareness required to rid the world of this terrible problem and save your local VIP from leukemia. Think on this.
Author Bio:
"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is an online writer in retirement.
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Fight-Leukemia-with-a-Pre-Sale-Ticket-Car-Wash-Fundraiser&id=41510
PRE-SALE TICKETS
You should seriously consider selling presale tickets for your car wash. There are a lot of advantages in pre-selling your tickets such as:
You know about how many people will come to your car wash ahead of time
66% of the ticket buyers never show up but you've already got the money
If it rains you're washed up but not washed out
You will also have use of the money in advance even in the event of rain. Your rain date might be three weeks later yet you have most of the money in your coffers now. Important monies that can go towards your goal for the treatment.
Let's take one of our 1990 car washes. It was for the local high school band. There were one hundred plus students in the band. The average student sold twenty tickets at $5.00 each. The presale ended up about $10,000. That in it self would be great, but it gets better. The day of the event we raised $985.00 in drive-ups. Some of the girls on the drill team waved tall flags and others held poster board signs that brought the cars in all right. We washed 408 cars. Wow, were we tired! We had two solid lines of cars at least fifteen deep all day long. 201 cars were drive-ups with no presale tickets. With tips included that made up the $985.00. That left 207 cars worth of presale with tickets. But you say, "How can that be?" 207 times $5.00 = only $1,035.00. That's right. Since our lines were so long a lot of people didn't claim their tickets or never intended on coming in the first place or forgot or had some thing else to do that day. I believe it was a combination of all these reasons. Whatever the reason, the money went to a good cause. We've had many many fundraisers that have been equally successful over the years.
Now someone will have to typeset these tickets and have them printed. There is probably someone in your group who is a graphic artist or really good with a PC or MAC computer. They'll do fine. The tickets should be eight to ten on a page. You should print them on colored paper so they are not easily duplicated. You should pick a color that matches with your church, club or school's colors. Have the tickets cut. Put the individual tickets into piles of twenty. Put a piece of cardboard or poster board the exact size underneath each stack. Buy some rubber cement. Put about ten stacks of twenty tickets on top of each other and put them in a vice. Paint the rubber cement on the left side of the ticket book and let dry for one hour. Repeat until you have enough booklets for each member. You might want to print another dozen booklets just in case. If the tickets are selling fast, you don't want to run out. That will break your momentum.
You should have frequent ticket sales progress meetings with the people selling the car wash tickets. That way, if sales aren't meeting goals you can help motivate members or reorganize the group.
Tickets can be expensive to print. Ask a local print shop to advertise on the back and become a sponsor in exchange for half price or free printing of the tickets. Most print shops do binding so you may be able to trade for that and save you the time and aggravation of binding the ticket books yourself. Print shops will do a more professional job at binding than you can do on your first time trying. Professional tickets are more presentable and look more official when selling to customers. This will help your group in their selling efforts.
When a community unites in a common cause miracles can occur, all this positive energy and mind power may significantly help the child win their battle with leukemia. Work together and work smart to raise the funds needed and the awareness required to rid the world of this terrible problem and save your local VIP from leukemia. Think on this.
Author Bio:
"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is an online writer in retirement.
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Fight-Leukemia-with-a-Pre-Sale-Ticket-Car-Wash-Fundraiser&id=41510
Friday, November 26, 2010
Coffee Makers - Things You Should Consider
Coffee machines have advanced quite a bit in recent years. Therefore prior to heading to rushing down to your local mall, you need to do some research. Think about what kind of coffee you want, how often you drink coffee and just how much space you have for a coffee maker.
Espresso or Non Espresso?
Espresso coffee makers are usually quite expensive. They cost more than some other coffee machines and make a selection of coffee types such as cappuccino as well as lattes. Espresso models often make only one cup at a time and they also need cleaning following each cup. The actual coffee is stronger compared to that made by other means.
True coffee lovers would rather make use of an espresso maker, particularly the super computerized models which perform just about everything from grinding the coffee beans to actually pouring it into the cup.
Standard drinkers who prefer to have a pot of joe available all the time and are not interested in lattes or various other versions of coffee tend to prefer non-espresso coffee makers. Non-espresso coffeemakers work well for people who like to start the actual coffee brewing and go on about their typical activities while it brews. They purchase coffee already ground and don't bother with beans or grinding.
For coffee drinkers needing vast amounts of their favorite drink, non-espresso is what you want. Large percolator type urns can be used to make more than a hundred or so cups at once.
Non-espresso type coffee makers are much less expensive compared to espresso machines.
Author Bio:
Whatever you decide to buy Espresso or Non Espresso, you will always be able to buy it for less online. For a large selection of coffee makers at very affordable prices go to http://freshroastedcoffeebeans.org/category/coffee-makers
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Coffee-Makers---Things-You-Should-Consider&id=4641116
Espresso or Non Espresso?
Espresso coffee makers are usually quite expensive. They cost more than some other coffee machines and make a selection of coffee types such as cappuccino as well as lattes. Espresso models often make only one cup at a time and they also need cleaning following each cup. The actual coffee is stronger compared to that made by other means.
True coffee lovers would rather make use of an espresso maker, particularly the super computerized models which perform just about everything from grinding the coffee beans to actually pouring it into the cup.
Standard drinkers who prefer to have a pot of joe available all the time and are not interested in lattes or various other versions of coffee tend to prefer non-espresso coffee makers. Non-espresso coffeemakers work well for people who like to start the actual coffee brewing and go on about their typical activities while it brews. They purchase coffee already ground and don't bother with beans or grinding.
For coffee drinkers needing vast amounts of their favorite drink, non-espresso is what you want. Large percolator type urns can be used to make more than a hundred or so cups at once.
Non-espresso type coffee makers are much less expensive compared to espresso machines.
Author Bio:
Whatever you decide to buy Espresso or Non Espresso, you will always be able to buy it for less online. For a large selection of coffee makers at very affordable prices go to http://freshroastedcoffeebeans.org/category/coffee-makers
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Coffee-Makers---Things-You-Should-Consider&id=4641116
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Green Fundraising Ideas - Raise Money the Eco-Friendly Way
If you are starting a fundraiser for your local school, church or youth activity center, you should know that, by going green, you can make a lot of money.
Why continue to sell the same old disposable and ecologically dangerous items that schools have been selling for years?
People are so interested in going green these days that it can really boost your sales to offer something green in your fundraising efforts. There are so many eco-friendly fundraising options out there, you can be sure to find something appropriate for your group from the following ideas.
Sun Tea Fundraiser
Making tea with natural sunlight is not only eco-friendly, it's delicious too. Your group can get donations for large gallon glass jars and tea bags. Pre-take orders for a gallon of sun tea and then arrange a day to make all of the tea. Drop off the tea at a pre-determined day along with a thank you card attached to the glass jar.
Silent Auctions
Although this fundraising idea isn't exactly new, it's definitely green! By having items donated from community businesses and running a silent auction, your organization can make a lot of money.
Hold the auction yourself by placing a clipboard with room for the bid amount and the person's name. People can walk around, look at items and place their bids.
Alternatively, the bidding can be done in secret with each person donating a specified amount. Whoever pays the most gets to keep the item and the rest of the funds are collected as a donation for the organization.
You can give your silent auction a green theme by getting donations from gardening shops or by using recycled materials.
Green Cookbook Fundraiser
Help your community eat better and use locally grown produce, all while getting donations for your organization. First, collect recipes from your local community or look online for organic and eco-friendly recipes that use locally grown items. Spread the word about the recipe collection and you'll be sure to have a lot of submissions.
Once all the submissions have been collected, have the students or members of the group type up the cookbooks. You can get them printed very cheaply on recycled paper and spiral bound. Once the books are created, hold a bake sale with recipes from the book and sell your cookbook. You may also be able to put a few books for sale at local shops.
Planting Trees
Taking donations and planting trees is probably one of the most eco-friendly fundraisers there is. Although you could do the planting yourself, there is a much simpler way to fundraise. An organization called Help the Planet (just do a quick Google search for the URL) will plant one tree for every bookmark that is sold by your organization. The bookmarks are sold at $3 each and you can keep 30% of the money raised. In addition, a tree will be planted. Talk about win-win!
Author Bio:
Going green? Find the latest Gaiam coupons here and promotions for green wine.
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Green-Fundraising-Ideas---Raise-Money-the-Eco-Friendly-Way&id=3063988
Why continue to sell the same old disposable and ecologically dangerous items that schools have been selling for years?
People are so interested in going green these days that it can really boost your sales to offer something green in your fundraising efforts. There are so many eco-friendly fundraising options out there, you can be sure to find something appropriate for your group from the following ideas.
Sun Tea Fundraiser
Making tea with natural sunlight is not only eco-friendly, it's delicious too. Your group can get donations for large gallon glass jars and tea bags. Pre-take orders for a gallon of sun tea and then arrange a day to make all of the tea. Drop off the tea at a pre-determined day along with a thank you card attached to the glass jar.
Silent Auctions
Although this fundraising idea isn't exactly new, it's definitely green! By having items donated from community businesses and running a silent auction, your organization can make a lot of money.
Hold the auction yourself by placing a clipboard with room for the bid amount and the person's name. People can walk around, look at items and place their bids.
Alternatively, the bidding can be done in secret with each person donating a specified amount. Whoever pays the most gets to keep the item and the rest of the funds are collected as a donation for the organization.
You can give your silent auction a green theme by getting donations from gardening shops or by using recycled materials.
Green Cookbook Fundraiser
Help your community eat better and use locally grown produce, all while getting donations for your organization. First, collect recipes from your local community or look online for organic and eco-friendly recipes that use locally grown items. Spread the word about the recipe collection and you'll be sure to have a lot of submissions.
Once all the submissions have been collected, have the students or members of the group type up the cookbooks. You can get them printed very cheaply on recycled paper and spiral bound. Once the books are created, hold a bake sale with recipes from the book and sell your cookbook. You may also be able to put a few books for sale at local shops.
Planting Trees
Taking donations and planting trees is probably one of the most eco-friendly fundraisers there is. Although you could do the planting yourself, there is a much simpler way to fundraise. An organization called Help the Planet (just do a quick Google search for the URL) will plant one tree for every bookmark that is sold by your organization. The bookmarks are sold at $3 each and you can keep 30% of the money raised. In addition, a tree will be planted. Talk about win-win!
Author Bio:
Going green? Find the latest Gaiam coupons here and promotions for green wine.
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Green-Fundraising-Ideas---Raise-Money-the-Eco-Friendly-Way&id=3063988
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Coffee - The Health Benefits of Drinking Coffee
Drinking coffee daily is a normal routine for more than 108 million Americans consumers, including the majority of US adults and a growing number of children. Is this habit good for our health or is it harmful?
Coffee has been the subject of research for decades and the results consistently show that coffee is more healthful than harmful. Research takes place daily on coffee, caffeine and health around the world. Hundreds, if not more, of new studies are published every month by scientists and research institutes worldwide.
Coffee has two main ways of improving the health of your body: antioxidants and caffeine. Both of these substances have health and anti aging benefits. Antioxidants help your body repair damage to cells caused by free radicals. These free radicals are produced as a by-product of cells through normal daily activities.
The health benefits of coffee are many and the research supports them. For example,
ASTHMA RELIEF: caffeine can help manage asthma and even control attacks when medication is not available. Did you know that a single dose of pain reliever such as Anacin or Excedrin contains up to 120 milligrams of caffeine? This is the equivalent of a hefty cup of coffee.
CAVITY PROTECTION: caffeine can prevent cavities because of a compound called trigonelline which gives coffee its aroma and bitter taste. Trigonelline has both anti-bacterial and anti-adhesive properties that help prevent dental cavities from forming.
CHOLESTEROL: a paper filter is worth a "pound of cure" or so. There are two substances in coffee, kahweol and cafestol, that raise cholesterol levels. During the brewing process, paper filters capture these substances. Paper filters, in this case, help in the prevention of harmful cholesterol levels. Coffee drinkers who drink non-filtered coffees such as "lattes," which do not use paper filters, may want to reconsider their choice and frequency of beverage for their own health benefit.
COLON CANCER: drinking at least two cups of coffee daily can translate into a 25% reduced risk of colon cancer. Coffee drinkers, as compared to non coffee drinkers, appear to be 50% less likely to get liver cancer. They also have lower rates of colon, breast and rectal cancers. There is a powerful antioxidant found almost exclusively in coffee, methylpyridinium, that boosts blood enzymes widely believed to protect against colon cancer. Methylpyridinium is formed in the roasting process from a chemical found naturally in coffee beans. Dark roasted coffees contain two to three times more of this antioxidant than medium roasts.
CIRRHOSIS: coffee drinkers have up to 80% reduced risk to suffer from cirrhosis than non coffee drinkers. People who smoke and are heavy drinkers have less liver damage as compared to those who do not. The reduced risk of alcohol cirrhosis may be associated with the phenolics and related substances in coffee.
DEMENTIA: drinking coffee during middle age may reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease and the risk of dementia in the elderly. Coffee drinkers at midlife have a lower risk for dementia or Alzheimer's later in life than people who drank little or no coffee at midlife. Moderate coffee drinkers had up to a 65% decrease risk of contracting these conditions as compared with low coffee drinkers.
GALLSTONES: certain compounds in coffee may help prevent liquid stored in the gallbladder ("bile") from crystallizing or hardening. This is what causes gallstones and obstructs the bile duct, a narrow tube which leads from the gallbladder to the intestine. Gallstones are painful and patients can experience fever and jaundice. Coffee drinkers have almost a 50% reduced risk of suffering from gallstone disease as compared to non coffee drinkers.
HEART DISEASE: People who smoke and are heavy coffee drinkers have less heart disease as compared to those who do not. Drinking coffee as part of a healthy and balanced diet is not associated with the development of cardiovascular problems, including atherosclerotic disease, myocardial infarction, ventricular arrhythmias and hypertension.
MENTAL ALERTNESS: caffeine enhances concentration, reduces fatigue and heightens alertness. The reason lies in caffeine's effect on brain receptors, enabling a better energy uptake.
MALE FERTILITY: caffeine in coffee appears to increase sperm "motility." Motility is the speed at which sperm moves. Since sperm hyperactivity is critical to fertilization, heightened motility increases the odds of pregnancy.
PARKINSON'S DISEASE: antioxidants and caffeine have health and anti-aging benefits. Antioxidants repair the damage to cells caused by free radicals. People who drink coffee on a regular basis are up to 80% less likely to develop Parkinson's disease. Caffeine's adenosine-blocking power may be one mechanism through which the brain cells in Parkinson's disease are protected. Based on this and other evidence, Parkinson's drugs are being developed that contain a derivative of caffeine. However, it seems that coffee protects men better than women against Parkinson's disease. This is because estrogen and caffeine need the same enzymes to be metabolized and estrogen captures those enzymes.
TYPE 2 DIABETES: drinking one to three cups of coffee daily can reduce diabetes risk by single digits. Drinking six cups or more each day can reduce men's risk up to 60% and women's' up to 30% as compared to non coffee drinkers. Coffee has large amounts of antioxidants such as Chlorogenic acid and tocopherols. Coffee also has minerals such as magnesium. All these components improve insulin sensitivity, glucose metabolism and lower blood sugar.
The good news about coffee and health keeps getting better. Coffee and caffeine are recognized for their positive health benefits and potential functional food attributes. Obviously, check with your own physician regarding any medical conditions, treatments, diagnostics, pregnancy or special dietary plans for you.
Go ahead and drink coffee. In the process, you will derive some health benefits. Enjoy a cup of Panama Boquete specialty coffee!
Author Bio:
Timothy ("Tim") S. Collins, the author, is called by those who know him "Gourmet Coffee Guy."
He is an expert in article writing who has done extensive research online and offline in his area of expertise, coffee marketing, as well as in other areas of personal and professional interest.
Come visit the author's website: http://www.ourgourmetcoffee.com
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Coffee---The-Health-Benefits-of-Drinking-Coffee&id=4086466
Coffee has been the subject of research for decades and the results consistently show that coffee is more healthful than harmful. Research takes place daily on coffee, caffeine and health around the world. Hundreds, if not more, of new studies are published every month by scientists and research institutes worldwide.
Coffee has two main ways of improving the health of your body: antioxidants and caffeine. Both of these substances have health and anti aging benefits. Antioxidants help your body repair damage to cells caused by free radicals. These free radicals are produced as a by-product of cells through normal daily activities.
The health benefits of coffee are many and the research supports them. For example,
ASTHMA RELIEF: caffeine can help manage asthma and even control attacks when medication is not available. Did you know that a single dose of pain reliever such as Anacin or Excedrin contains up to 120 milligrams of caffeine? This is the equivalent of a hefty cup of coffee.
CAVITY PROTECTION: caffeine can prevent cavities because of a compound called trigonelline which gives coffee its aroma and bitter taste. Trigonelline has both anti-bacterial and anti-adhesive properties that help prevent dental cavities from forming.
CHOLESTEROL: a paper filter is worth a "pound of cure" or so. There are two substances in coffee, kahweol and cafestol, that raise cholesterol levels. During the brewing process, paper filters capture these substances. Paper filters, in this case, help in the prevention of harmful cholesterol levels. Coffee drinkers who drink non-filtered coffees such as "lattes," which do not use paper filters, may want to reconsider their choice and frequency of beverage for their own health benefit.
COLON CANCER: drinking at least two cups of coffee daily can translate into a 25% reduced risk of colon cancer. Coffee drinkers, as compared to non coffee drinkers, appear to be 50% less likely to get liver cancer. They also have lower rates of colon, breast and rectal cancers. There is a powerful antioxidant found almost exclusively in coffee, methylpyridinium, that boosts blood enzymes widely believed to protect against colon cancer. Methylpyridinium is formed in the roasting process from a chemical found naturally in coffee beans. Dark roasted coffees contain two to three times more of this antioxidant than medium roasts.
CIRRHOSIS: coffee drinkers have up to 80% reduced risk to suffer from cirrhosis than non coffee drinkers. People who smoke and are heavy drinkers have less liver damage as compared to those who do not. The reduced risk of alcohol cirrhosis may be associated with the phenolics and related substances in coffee.
DEMENTIA: drinking coffee during middle age may reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease and the risk of dementia in the elderly. Coffee drinkers at midlife have a lower risk for dementia or Alzheimer's later in life than people who drank little or no coffee at midlife. Moderate coffee drinkers had up to a 65% decrease risk of contracting these conditions as compared with low coffee drinkers.
GALLSTONES: certain compounds in coffee may help prevent liquid stored in the gallbladder ("bile") from crystallizing or hardening. This is what causes gallstones and obstructs the bile duct, a narrow tube which leads from the gallbladder to the intestine. Gallstones are painful and patients can experience fever and jaundice. Coffee drinkers have almost a 50% reduced risk of suffering from gallstone disease as compared to non coffee drinkers.
HEART DISEASE: People who smoke and are heavy coffee drinkers have less heart disease as compared to those who do not. Drinking coffee as part of a healthy and balanced diet is not associated with the development of cardiovascular problems, including atherosclerotic disease, myocardial infarction, ventricular arrhythmias and hypertension.
MENTAL ALERTNESS: caffeine enhances concentration, reduces fatigue and heightens alertness. The reason lies in caffeine's effect on brain receptors, enabling a better energy uptake.
MALE FERTILITY: caffeine in coffee appears to increase sperm "motility." Motility is the speed at which sperm moves. Since sperm hyperactivity is critical to fertilization, heightened motility increases the odds of pregnancy.
PARKINSON'S DISEASE: antioxidants and caffeine have health and anti-aging benefits. Antioxidants repair the damage to cells caused by free radicals. People who drink coffee on a regular basis are up to 80% less likely to develop Parkinson's disease. Caffeine's adenosine-blocking power may be one mechanism through which the brain cells in Parkinson's disease are protected. Based on this and other evidence, Parkinson's drugs are being developed that contain a derivative of caffeine. However, it seems that coffee protects men better than women against Parkinson's disease. This is because estrogen and caffeine need the same enzymes to be metabolized and estrogen captures those enzymes.
TYPE 2 DIABETES: drinking one to three cups of coffee daily can reduce diabetes risk by single digits. Drinking six cups or more each day can reduce men's risk up to 60% and women's' up to 30% as compared to non coffee drinkers. Coffee has large amounts of antioxidants such as Chlorogenic acid and tocopherols. Coffee also has minerals such as magnesium. All these components improve insulin sensitivity, glucose metabolism and lower blood sugar.
The good news about coffee and health keeps getting better. Coffee and caffeine are recognized for their positive health benefits and potential functional food attributes. Obviously, check with your own physician regarding any medical conditions, treatments, diagnostics, pregnancy or special dietary plans for you.
Go ahead and drink coffee. In the process, you will derive some health benefits. Enjoy a cup of Panama Boquete specialty coffee!
Author Bio:
Timothy ("Tim") S. Collins, the author, is called by those who know him "Gourmet Coffee Guy."
He is an expert in article writing who has done extensive research online and offline in his area of expertise, coffee marketing, as well as in other areas of personal and professional interest.
Come visit the author's website: http://www.ourgourmetcoffee.com
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Coffee---The-Health-Benefits-of-Drinking-Coffee&id=4086466
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Turn Simple Fundraisers Into Profitable Legacy Events
Are lackluster fundraisers sucking the life out of your fundraising enthusiasm? It doesn't take much to freshen up even the poorest performing event. If your ideas for fundraising are getting stale, then it's time to take some extreme measures before you have a mutiny within your ranks!
1) Do some serious planning ahead of time and take a good hard look at your event. Do some research and see what others are doing with that same event. Don't assume your way is the only way. You might even ask for help from other area groups if you know someone else who has done this event before.
2) Be honest about what you see. Don't pussyfoot around a problem area. Pick the event apart and be brutal in your analysis. It is like a doctor digging the infection out of a wound. He can't be sure it will heal 100% if there is any remaining infection hiding. Look for it all!
3) Now that you know the weakest part of your event, figure out what would make the problem go away. Sit on the other side of the planning table, so to speak. Be the antagonist and charge yourself with finding a way to fix the problem. Don't automatically assume there is no 'fix' available. Believe me, there is a 'fix' for every issue. You might not be willing to pay the price to repair it though, but with a little creativity who knows what miracles you might whip up.
4) Get creative - even extreme if needed - to solve the problem. Then go one step further. After you've come up with the solution to fix it, give yourself another challenge and see if you can 'go yourself 1-better', bumping it up another notch. A good cook isn't just happy with a good dish. Dedicated cooks, whether in a restaurant or at home, are always looking to tweak their recipes and rachet them up another level or two.
5) Find ways to show off the event's strength. What is the best part of your event? What do people like most about it? Once you isolate the 'Gold Star' area, then you can find ways to show it off even more. Play up the strong points so they stand out beyond any weak areas.
6) Finally, don't complain or talk poison. If you know there are problems with the event that you simply cannot repair, keep them to yourself. Discouraging comments and grumbling only serve to bring down the enthusiasm of your event workers. Instead, think about combining two mediocre events into one 'super day'. This will hide a myriad of weaknesses, and the more excitement going around, the better your whole event vibe will be.
So whatever your event trouble is, either fix it or minimize it. Focus on the fun, and it just might turn into one of your favorite events. Who knows, your group might even like it so much it becomes one of your legacy events, one of your winners that you repeat year after year.
Author Bio:
Sherie Smith has 12 years experience as a professional entertainer and event planner. She has a knack for custom-designing SUCCESSFUL FUNDRAISERS. For Sherie's FREE Ultimate Fundraising Success minicourse or more information, visit: http://3hourstofundraisingsuccess.com You can also follow Sherie at her fundraising blog: http://fundraisingsuccessjournal.blogspot.com.
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Turn-Simple-Fundraisers-Into-Profitable-Legacy-Events&id=4180870
1) Do some serious planning ahead of time and take a good hard look at your event. Do some research and see what others are doing with that same event. Don't assume your way is the only way. You might even ask for help from other area groups if you know someone else who has done this event before.
2) Be honest about what you see. Don't pussyfoot around a problem area. Pick the event apart and be brutal in your analysis. It is like a doctor digging the infection out of a wound. He can't be sure it will heal 100% if there is any remaining infection hiding. Look for it all!
3) Now that you know the weakest part of your event, figure out what would make the problem go away. Sit on the other side of the planning table, so to speak. Be the antagonist and charge yourself with finding a way to fix the problem. Don't automatically assume there is no 'fix' available. Believe me, there is a 'fix' for every issue. You might not be willing to pay the price to repair it though, but with a little creativity who knows what miracles you might whip up.
4) Get creative - even extreme if needed - to solve the problem. Then go one step further. After you've come up with the solution to fix it, give yourself another challenge and see if you can 'go yourself 1-better', bumping it up another notch. A good cook isn't just happy with a good dish. Dedicated cooks, whether in a restaurant or at home, are always looking to tweak their recipes and rachet them up another level or two.
5) Find ways to show off the event's strength. What is the best part of your event? What do people like most about it? Once you isolate the 'Gold Star' area, then you can find ways to show it off even more. Play up the strong points so they stand out beyond any weak areas.
6) Finally, don't complain or talk poison. If you know there are problems with the event that you simply cannot repair, keep them to yourself. Discouraging comments and grumbling only serve to bring down the enthusiasm of your event workers. Instead, think about combining two mediocre events into one 'super day'. This will hide a myriad of weaknesses, and the more excitement going around, the better your whole event vibe will be.
So whatever your event trouble is, either fix it or minimize it. Focus on the fun, and it just might turn into one of your favorite events. Who knows, your group might even like it so much it becomes one of your legacy events, one of your winners that you repeat year after year.
Author Bio:
Sherie Smith has 12 years experience as a professional entertainer and event planner. She has a knack for custom-designing SUCCESSFUL FUNDRAISERS. For Sherie's FREE Ultimate Fundraising Success minicourse or more information, visit: http://3hourstofundraisingsuccess.com You can also follow Sherie at her fundraising blog: http://fundraisingsuccessjournal.blogspot.com.
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Turn-Simple-Fundraisers-Into-Profitable-Legacy-Events&id=4180870
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