How Many Types of Coffee Bean Are There?

If you have shopped in a supermarket then you would be exposed to the coffee bean types that are showcased on its shelving. Based on that, there are easily 20-30 varieties of it.
So, you must be thinking if I would have the space to squeeze all those information into this article. Well, the fact is I would probably need only a few paragraphs to share with you on the types of beans available.
This is because there are only 2 varieties of the beans, the rest are more of the grading and brands of it. And if you are a coffee drinker, chances are you would have heard of these two names before.
The first name that I am highlighting make up 70% of the world consumption and its scientific name is Coffea Arabica and between the two types of coffee beans, this is the one that is highly favored.
It is also much more costly than the other one due to its unique growing conditions. For these plants to thrive, you would need at altitude of at least a thousand meter and the temperature cannot go beyond 20 degree Celsius.
In comparison, the second type of coffee that makes up the 30% of the coffee consumption can be grown in temperature as high as 27 degree Celsius and on almost any grounds. It is very hardy but coffee drinkers do not like the bitterness that is associated with this type of beans.
Its scientific name is Coffea Canephora and most of us know it by the name Robusta. This is considered to be inferior to Arabica and is seldom sold by itself. The only genre of products that has these beans by itself is processed or canned coffee that does not has a strong focus on the flavor of the beans.
The other uses for these beans are fillers for Arabica beans, which because of its higher pricing would usually be packed with a generous dose of Robusta to make it affordable to consumers.
If you read the labels in the supermarket, you would always see a brand name followed by the blend and the roasting method. Very rarely, you would see either type of beans by itself.
Then what about the Blue Mountains, Kenya AA or the Kona coffee? The fact is, all these are Arabica beans, but they are prized for the locality which they are being grown in. It is more of a brand rather than a type.
Take for example, the Jamaican Blue Mountains that is known for its mild flavor that has no bitter taste. This is possible because of the cool and misty climate that is exclusive to the blue mountain area.
So, folks looking for this particular taste would look for this range of beans. Similarly, Kenya coffee would have a different taste and so would the beans that are grown in other parts of the world.
Now you know that if you are talking about types of coffee beans, there are only two. But, if you are looking for brands of beans that come with its unique taste profile, there are many and it would take more than an article to categorize them.
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 read more about coffee bean types
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?How-Many-Types-of-Coffee-Bean-Are-There?&id=1793160

Fundraising Ideas - Learn Profitable Fundraisng Programs to Support Your Nonprofit Idea

Supporting a cause that is close to your heart is one of life's greatest pleasures. Most of us stumble into supporting a fundraising program either through a close relationship with a family member or someone in your town gave you a ring. Once you get involved you then need to make sure your nonprofit idea is properly supported to make your beneficiaries happy. What we list here are a few low cost ways to raise funds to support your nonprofit.
Learn how to run an online auction. eBay, the well known autioneer has something called eBay Giving Works - it works because people like to help and the fun of an auction helps them get into the giving mode. So if you have a cause - go find something worthwhile and start your fundrasing auction.
You can run your own "A-Thon" by going to choose-a-thon? If you and your team like to do participatory activities this website can help you perform the organizing and collections work. This way you can focus your energy on the fun part. Does not matter if it's a march-a-thon, a bowl-a-thon, a bike-a-thon, a read-a-thon, a walk-a-thon or life-a-thon. This website group has no up-front fees and they'll collect your donations for you too. This makes fundraising a lot easier for sure.
Do you like to shop? Why not try my shopping mall website? Websites like this provide a cash-back reward for using the site to shop at over hundreds of stores including some national chain stores and the more local mom and pop stores. You can build your own mall and then you get your folks to support your mall. They teach you how to promote it and provide extensive instructions and support.
Then there is a site dedicated purely to fundraising and its a beginner site so it goes by the name of fundraising101. here you can search for goods and services on fund raising, seek fund raising ideas, seek out church fund raising and develop your fund raising program from scratch and more. Actions on this site are easy to learn as there are categories to select from like Photography and Video Services, Aerial Photography, Tailor and Alteration Services, Immigration Services, Financial Counseling Services, Architecture Services, Railings, or Business Services for example. Needless to say this site has a lot to offer.
Lastly seek out websites willing to give discounts to nonprofits for promoting their products. The discounts can be substantial. That's right, TechOSS allows you to sell internet service as a fundraiser. Your group should have an internet connection to really realize the benefits of it and the price really can't be beat since it is truly reduced. You only have to promote your website.
There are many ways to raise funds and these are just a few.
Need help with your nonprofit situation? Go to a TechOSS Nonprofit Support and get solutions and coaching on your situation now.
Gregory L Burrus - scours the web and build your internet business using reliable, repeatable and proven money making systems. Click to learn how to Get Your Business Profitable On The Web
Article Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?Fundraising-Ideas---Learn-Profitable-Fundraisng-Programs-to-Support-Your-Nonprofit-Idea&id=1570363

Gourmet Coffee Blends

Coffee blends are made by combining different types of coffee beans. They are usually made with Arabica coffee beans which produce the good coffee flavor and aroma coffee lovers love. A coffee blend can become a special coffee brand used by cafes, roasters, and growers to attract repeat customers. These coffee brands can have a unique coffee flavor that can't be found anywhere else.
Signature Blends: Signature blends are used by stores, cafes, and coffee sellers to encourage customers to continue to buy their brand or visit their cafe. The goal of signature blending is to produce a unique flavor that consumers can only find at one place. Most signature blend "recipes" are highly guarded secrets.
Consistency Blends: Consistency blends usually contain a large number of bean varieties in order to maintain a consistent flavor should one or more of those varieties become unavailable. Using more beans makes it easier to preserve the coffee's characteristics if one of the beans is unavailable. This type of blend is typically used by the producers of mass-produced and commercial coffees.
Single-Origin Blends: Single-origin blends are made by using coffee beans from the same geographic growing location which may be as specific as an individual estate or a co-op of farmers in small neighborhoods. This virtually guarantees an unmistakable regional identity in the final cup.
The goal of blending coffees is to create a resulting coffee flavor that is greater than the sum of its component coffees. A good example of this Mocha Java. This blend is a mix of Yemen Mocha beans and Java Arabica beans. Both coffees can stand alone, but each lack different qualities. Yemen Mocha has great acidity and medium body; Java has great body, but low acidity. Blending these coffees in the proper ratio produces a more well-rounded coffee.
Author Bio:
Diena Zavetsky has been a coffee gourmet for over 15 years. She is the owner of Hot Gourmet Coffee, a subsidiary of dmskye. She believes that whole bean coffee should be ground just before brewing to get a fresh coffee flavor.
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Gourmet-Coffee-Blends&id=1711650

Church Fundraising Ideas Can Be a Blessing

Although quite a daunting task, organizing church fundraisers is still a fulfilling experience especially since it is a good avenue to show support to your religion and community.
More than showing support to the community, church fundraisers are a good opportunity to bring people closer through teamwork and socialization, and probably even a good way to tap into each member's skills and talents that are beneficial to the fundraising event.
There are a lot of church fundraising ideas to choose from. Picking the right one will all depend on what the organizers and the community is willing and able to do.
Below are some of the most common yet effective church fundraisers:
Fundraiser Letters
One of the most reliable ways to seek help in raising funds for the church is by writing fundraiser letters. This has been proven an effective way to communicate to the congregation when informing about needing help in covering expenses for church-related repairs or coming up with payment for a building.
There are different techniques in writing fundraiser letters for the church. What is important is that the message is communicated clearly. It doesn't have to be too commercial as the congregation expects that such letters of request be honest and direct to the point.
Aside from being concise, fundraiser requests to the congregation should also have the following elements: 1) The method or means on how people or the other members of the congregation can send their donations (bank account details, physical address etc.), 2)Self-addressed envelope, 3) Other details discussing the current status of the request (example: remaining balance of the loan, etc.), 4) A line that will call the reader to action - something like "Your help is needed."
Gift Trees
A gift tree is also one of the greatest church fundraising ideas. They usually come as a tree sculpture adorned with metal leaves that are hanging from a wood structure which is mounted on the wall.
Gift trees involve donation from church members. The whole concept of the gift tree is to have each metal leaf engraved with the name of the donor. As a result, the gift tree becomes a work of art and each leaf is a remembrance of the donors who showed support to the church.
Portrait Day
Taking a picture of someone who is willing to pay for a small fee is a good fundraising idea for the church. Organizers of the church can set different fees depending on the picture that needs to be taken - Say, $10 for a solo portrait and $15 for a family portrait.
If you want to be creative you can also have some costumes rented for a fee and offer customers to have their family portrait taken on a different setting.
Since cameras nowadays are mostly digital, the setup cost is low, allowing a higher profit for the fundraising event.
Auction for Charity
Charity auctions are also a good church fundraising idea. It pretty much needs low to no capital at all. More often than not, you will just need to seek the help of supportive members in the community and ask them for item donations which they are willing to include in the auction. Items can be as simple as old furniture, or lawn services, or gift certificates.
Author Bio:
For more great church fundraising ideas, please be sure to visit http://www.greatfundraiserideas.com
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Church-Fundraising-Ideas-Can-Be-a-Blessing&id=4539978&opt=print

Bali - Coffee on Island of the Gods

Bali is known by many names to those who have visited the island. Many Indonesians refer to this slice of paradise as "Pulau Dewa" or "Island of the gods". Since October 2002 the island has seen a marked downturn in the number of foreign tourists arriving to enjoy the scenic, cultural and religious diversity found here. Hopefully with a peaceful election campaign behind us, Bali will again see tourists returning in numbers.
Our visit to Bali in March was not a holiday, but rather a visit to look at the cooperative growing system for Arabica found in the highland areas of central Bali. Traditionally Balinese coffee was of the robusta variety. This is the coffee that many tourists visiting the island experience and love. The origins of Robusta here can be traced back to the beginning of the 20th century or earlier. Commercial Colonial plantations never made an impact in Bali because the Dutch did not get any degree of control over the island until the 1900's. By this time the big plantations in Java, Sumatra and Sulawesi were already well established. The Robusta in Bali most likely came via traders from Ampenan in Lombok. The growing conditions in Bali are ideal for coffee trees, and small-scale production quickly spread in the cooler, higher altitude areas of the Island.
In recent times, with Robusta prices falling, Arabica has been planted in several areas of the Island. Some of these plantings are in commercial plantations, however the bulk are beans grown by small-holders in a number of villages saddling the volcanic peaks. Our visit was to examine the drying and processing facilities for this mountain grown Bali Arabica.
As in the rest of the coffee world, the small-holders make up the bulk of the growers, but receive little real financial reward for their efforts. Our concern is always to look for a way in which to help these small growers to improve their picking, drying and sorting processes in order for them to be able to market their coffee to the specialty coffee market outside of Indonesia. In most cases the growers are more than happy to listen to ideas on how to improve the finished quality of their product. In Bali the yields from the trees in raw cherries is very good. Most coop growers are uncertified organic- the costs of pesticides against the price for the finished bean do not make sense. The small holders almost universally follow the dry method of processing the beans. This involves laying the fruit out under the sun in large, flat concrete drying pens. The coffee is raked regularly to ensure the drying proceeds at a constant pace. Prior to drying the cooperative removes poor quality cherries- usually berries that are not ripe, have evidence of surface fungal diseases or berries that have been damaged by birds or other pests. After drying and removal of the remaining mucilage, the beans are again sorted. This time beans are sorted based on whether there is evidence of damage by borer, discoloration, black beans or split and broken beans. This is the extent of sorting- there is no screen sizing done by the cooperatives at origin, as normally the beans are on-sold to big producers who then sort further.
We like the early season greens that we saw in the highlands of Bali. The colours and firmness of the bean are good, as was the general quality. Test roasting resulted in us deciding that the dry-processed bean had some characteristics reminiscent of the lower altitude Java Arabica beans. A very mellow, slightly honey-dew taste.....We are looking forward to later in the year when we will be in Bali for the harvest of the bulk of the 2004 crop.
Author Bio:
Alun Evans is a New Zealander living and working in sepcialty coffee in Indonesia. He has lived here since 1998 and is working towards a goal of promoting and devloping sustainable coffee in Indonesia.
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Bali---Coffee-on-Island-of-the-Gods&id=80040

Supplies Needed for a Successful Car Wash Fundraiser

As a parent you will obviously be asked to help out with your offspring's fundraising activities and one of those activities will be a car wash fundraiser. As a good parent having read this article you will know exactly what is needed and with a little help from other parents will be able to prevent a disastrous event. There are certain supplies that are needed for a car wash fundraiser; for instance:
SUPPLIES
Soap
Sponges (2)
Towels
Buckets (3)
Garden Hoses
Window Cleaner
Clothesline
Coffee Can Collection Box
Clip Boards (2)
Whistle with Strings (2)
Stop Watch
Squeegees (3)
Chamois (2)
Your soap buckets should be five gallon buckets. You don't have to buy them. Go to the local McDonald's and ask the manager for a pickle bucket. They are green but who cares. They are free. McDonald's will also give you a giant water dispenser full of fruit punch to borrow for the day of the event if you want. Tell the management in advance that you will need these items. Also ask them for coupons to hand out at your fundraiser. It will help their business and you should return the favor.
Your sponges shouldn't be real sponges but lamb's wool squares. They look like car wash mitts except they are square and about a foot on each side. You can buy them at Pep Boys, Trac Auto or any large auto parts store. You will need four or five of them.
You will need about 150 feet of garden hose. Put the longest section on last. Hopefully it will be 75 feet in length. People drive over the hose ends and ruin them because they smash the brass fittings. The ends will leak and lower your hose pressure. If you plan on having lots of cars at your event, you may want to buy a 'y' garden hose fitting at the hardware store (under $3.00) and then get 300 feet of hose and run two hoses each 150 feet long. Don't use a plastic hose reel. It gets in the way and gets damaged easily. You don't want to have to give back a damaged hose reel to the lender especially since it's someone in your group and it probably came from their front yard.
Have each washer bring three towels. Make sure they are towels that they do not need back. They should be garage sale quality. Don't use nice bath towels from bathrooms. Custom/expensive towels will get ripped or ruined. Plus, most people use fabric softener when washing these types of towels. Fabric softener streaks windows and slows down the drying process. Use the worst towels to dry rims all day. Nicer towels for chrome, windows and body. When the towels get too wet hang them on your clothesline between two trees.
Don't buy window cleaner. Buy one pint of rubbing alcohol. Use your squirt bottles. Add fifteen to twenty percent alcohol and fill the rest of the bottle with distilled or reverse osmosis water and put on squirt heads. Buy three squirt bottles. You will only use two at a time but squirt heads are unreliable and you might run over the bottles. You should have two people in charge of windows and chrome. Assign them squirt bottles with window cleaner and one squeegee each. No car leaves without perfect windows and mirrors. Tell them they are in charge and remember mirrors are considered windows. This will increase your 'tipage' by ten to twenty percent. Even if the cars are not perfect, if the windows are, it's a good car wash.
You should time the average wash and average dry. If you are washing faster than drying, take away a wash mitt from the bucket and you will find that extra person moving to another assignment. If cars are drying faster than washing, hand a soap mitt to the average dryer (not the fastest or the slowest). Ask them "We're getting behind in the washing. Can you go help speed them up?"
Give a chamois to a supervisor in the dry area for dark colored and very expensive cars. He should have a spare chamois for your best worker to use to help with special cars that come through. This extra special treatment should cost more so have the donation can person stand by while you work. Without asking for an extra tip you will increase your chance of getting a large tip by fifty percent, money your group needs and deserves. Before the event copy this list above and then check off each item as you get it and have it all ready to go the morning of the event, you will be glad you did, because you are a great parent and you care. 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/?Supplies-Needed-for-a-Successful-Car-Wash-Fundraiser&id=41540

fundraising,funds,money

Coffee Drinking in Italy

If ever given the chance to travel to Italy, there will be much more for you to enjoy about it than the overwhelming amounts of culture and art. You will also experience the dedication to perfect coffee and espresso. Italy has contributed much to espresso and espresso fans over the years. In fact, the espresso machine inventor, La Pavoni, was an Italian!
While you're in Rome, if you want a coffee, you should order it as a "caffe". Likewise, if you'd like a shot of espresso. This is a small and strong shot of espresso, which is normally the term that you would use to order a coffee. Italians don't order a shot of espresso by saying "un espresso", but they will instead say "un caffe". If you would like two shots of espresso within one cup, that is called a "caffe doppio", which is the term for a double espresso.
If you're not a fan of strong, bold espresso, order the "un caffe lungo" - the term used for adding two times the amount of water to the espresso. This will give you a similar consistency to an American cup of coffee or Americanos style of espresso. You may already be quite familiar with a cappuccino, which is made with a shot of espresso and foamed milk. The barista will froth the milk for the cappuccino by infusing air bubbles into the milk, which will give it texture and a velvety foam. A cappuccino is made of one third parts espresso, steamed milk, and foam. Using the proper ratio of foam is important when the barista is steaming the milk to create the perfect consistency of cappuccino every time. What many people don't realize is that a cappuccino is actually one of the hardest espresso beverages to capture and make properly, although you may be pleasantly surprised to find artistic shapes atop your cappuccino in the form of cappuccino art.
The word cappuccino was actually derived from the Cappucin friars in Italy, and it may refer to the dark color of their robes in contrast to their white heads, which was often surrounded by a ring of their brown hair. In Italy, it is customary to drink cappuccino before 11 am only, since it's considered to be mainly just a morning beverage. As a tourist, however, you can do whatever you want!
For another authentic treat, you may want to try the macchiato, which is named after the Italian word for "stained". In actuality, this drink is made from a shot of espresso that is stained with a few drops of steamed milk.
Overall, it is best to enjoy your cappuccino with a pastry treat for breakfast, and it is important to understand that you may pay significantly more for your espresso beverage if you are in a tourist location. Many times, you can find a wonderful hidden gem in Italy of a café; off of the beaten path that will serve you fresh and authentic espresso at an affordable price! When in Rome...
Author Bio:
Mark Ramos is a coffee geek. For a great selection in all things coffee, espresso machines and BUNN coffee makers, check out The Coffee Bump.
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Coffee-Drinking-in-Italy&id=4337814

Carwash Products for Your Car Wash Fundraiser Event

How do I know if the products I'm using are safe for the environment? That's a good question. The answer is they aren't and no product is allowed in the storm drain. So your next question is, "If I use the waste wash water to water the grass in front of the school or a flower bed near a gas station, how do I know if it will kill the grass or plants?" How do I know the products will be safe for our children?
This question we can answer. Every product has a Material Safety And Data Sheet (MSDS). Read through the sheet and see if the diamond at the top of the sheet has a number higher than one in the box on the left. If it does, it will affect organic life. Look for products that have only ones or zeroes in the boxes in the diamond code at the top.
Material Safety and Data Sheets (MSDS sheets) contain nine sections. These sections are:
I. General Information
II. Ingredients
III. Physical Data
IV. Fire and Explosion Hazard Data
V. Health Hazard Information
VI. Reactivity Data
VII. Spill, Leak and Disposal Procedures
VIII. Special Handling Information
IX. User's Responsibility
At the top of each sheet is a square on end. It looks like a diamond shape. It is broken into four squares inside this diamond shape. The squares mean:
Top Square (Fire)
Left Square (Toxic)
Right Square (Reaction)
Bottom Square (Special)
In each square there is a number from zero to four. The numbers equal:
Four = Extreme
Three = High
Two = Moderate
One = Slight
Zero = Insignificant
This indicates how safe or volatile the product is. It also gives you an indication of whether the fumes are dangerous, if it is flammable, if it will react adversely with other chemical or if it is radioactive or biologically unsafe.
Section I, the general information section, contains information such as:
Who prepared the MSDS Sheet
The product's trade name and type of chemical
Which chemical family the product belongs to
Basic formula
Name and address of manufacturer
DOT shipping classification
DOT Hazard classification
Section II contains ingredients. Generally only hazardous ingredients will be listed. It will normally be in chart form:
Name of component
CAS number
Percentage of hazardous chemicals
Concentration in parts per million
Section III contains physical data, things that you probably learned in chemistry class:
Boiling point
Vapor pressure
Vapor density
Solubility in water
Odor
Appearance and color
Gravity in terms of water
Percentage which is or could be volatile
Reactivity, if any, in water
Ph Level
Section IV contains fire and explosion data such as:
Flash point
What will extinguish it if it catches fire
Flammable limits
Any special fire fighting procedures
Any unusual hazards regarding fire and explosion
Section V contains health hazard information and what happens when:
Product vapor is inhaled
Product comes in contact with skin, eyes, etc.
Product is swallowed
It tells you what symptoms to expect and what should be done including any first aid or emergency procedures.
Section VI contains information regarding the product's reactivity with other elements and common compounds. It discusses conditions to avoid, the product's stability or instability and it's decomposition.
Section VII contains information regarding spill response procedures including any special state, federal or local laws to be met.
Section VIII contains information regarding special handling. It is basically a catch-all section for anything not covered by other sections. Items such as:
Respiratory Protection
Eye Protection
Gloves
Ventilation
Engineering Controls
are not uncommon in this section. Sometimes you will find equipment discussed here. Special equipment that the manufacturer recommends for CYA purposes in case something goes wrong.
Section IX contains information regarding the user's responsibility. It is a disclaimer section that manufacturers generally use to avoid lawsuits. Usually they pass the buck by saying people using this product should maintain a safe work place at all times and have in written form a safety manual for employees, workers and independent contractors.
Following all these sections is a blown out of proportion disclaimer usually written in plain English by an attorney releasing the product manufacturer from any responsibility what so ever and further more disavows the manufacturers from any mistakes in the MSDS sheet therein.
If all this sounds too complicated, go find some coconut soap, citrus cleaner or Liquid Organic Cleaner (L.O.C.) from Amway and use those. You can actually drink them if you had to and still wake up the next morning. You might get the runs but they definitely won't kill you. As a matter of fact, I've seen nice bright green spots in the grass where we've discharged our waste wash water. But you will need to be careful of the products you use and realize none of the soapy dirty water is allowed into the storm drains. Think about it.
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/?Carwash-Products-for-Your-Car-Wash-Fundraiser-Event&id=41526

The Coffee Beverage - Chicago Style

Coffee used to be just coffee. You used to have a choice of either black or white, with or without caffeine. Today when you decide which coffee beverage to indulge in choosing a coffee beverage can be very confusing. Some of your choices may be: an Espresso, a Latte, Mocha, an Iced coffee, or a Cappuccino. In Chicago they have a very strong special coffee which is very popular amongst the locals which is called Intelligencia coffee. It is a very potent coffee which is full of flavour and can be purchased almost anywhere even at gas stations and convenience stores. The best coffee house in my opinion is in Illinois and can be found at 3123 North Broadway Street.
The History Of The Cup Of Coffee
The coffee beverage was first consumed back in 1000A.D. but the first coffee shop didn't open until the year 1475. In 1601 coffee finally made it to North America. In the year 1668 the coffee beverage became New York's favorite breakfast beverage in place of beer and is now know around the world as a breakfast drink that can be enjoyed at any time of the day.
You can buy coffee beans and grind them yourself or you can but them packaged already ground for you. The coffee beverage is also available in single packs much like tea bags, for those who don't want to wait for the coffee beverage to brew, there are instant granules. There are also powdered versions of cappuccinos as well.
There can be a few factors to consider when choosing the best coffee. Depending on your mood, the time of day and where you are will help you get your coffee fix. If your in a hurry and don't have time to stop in a gourmet coffee shop then you might want to go to a drive thru which can be found in coffee house in Chicago. There you will get the tried and true coffee beverage. Here are a couple of Chicago coffee houses you could try.
Author Bio:
6 Corners Coffee Shop
4022 N Milwaukee
Chicago
Bridgeport Coffee House
3100 S Morgan
Chicago
Metropolis
1039 West Granville Avenue
Chicago
coffee products can be found at [http://www.mycoffeearoma.com] including coffee machines and recipes.
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Coffee-Beverage---Chicago-Style&id=487550

Host a Successful Fundraising Event with Inflatable Rentals

If your organization or school is looking for a new and exciting way to raise funds, try hosting a carnival with inflatable rentals. With inflatable obstacle courses, inflatable sumo wrestling, inflatable bungee basketball and many other fun inflatable games, setting up and taking down a carnival doesn't need to be a big production. It's well within your organization's reach to net several thousand dollars over a night or a weekend with inflatable rentals and a carnival theme. For an amazing event, start planning early and keep these few tips and ideas in mind:
Delegate tasks:
Instead of spending valuable time discussing every decision as a group, assign people tasks to research and manage, then enforce a 5-10 minute time limit to share plans in a group meeting before executing ideas.
Choose and book your inflatable rentals
You can either choose an admission price at the door or sell tickets to spend on various inflatable games and activities. Look for an inflatable rentals vendor with a large selection of equipment and choose a variety of games and activities that appeal to different kinds of guests. Some people prefer low impact, solitary activities like the inflatable human sphere while others prefer to duke it out with games like inflatable gladiator jousting. Below is a list of a few inflatable game choices categorized by activity preference:
Friendly physical competition
• Inflatable Obstacle Courses: Participants can climb walls, squeeze through tunnels and tubes, and rush down slides along side of a friend in an obstacle course race. Try setting up some an amp and playing fun, upbeat music to add another dimension to the race.
• Velcro Wall: Carnival goers wear an entire suit made of Velcro then climb up one side and down the other of a huge inflatable Velcro wall.
Head to head games
• Boxing: Using wildly oversized inflatable gloves, participants attempt to knock over their competitor in a super squishy inflatable boxing ring. Find a volunteer with a great sense of humor narrate the details of the match into a microphone to attract attention.
• Inflatable sumo wrestling: Wearing a huge inflatable sumo suit, 2 competitors try to topple each other over. Have a referee on hand and someone to help players in and out of their suits.
Low impact
• Barrel Racers: Riders zip around a surfaced course on a motorized barrel. Have a volunteer on hand to start and stop the clock and show users how to operate the cruising barrels.
• Inflatable Slot Machine: Players step inside an enormous slot machine, press the lever and cash and, depending on luck, prizes come raining down. Try stoking tickets to a special raffle as part of the prize loot.
Feeding guests while earning profits
Next to inflatable rentals, food is always a large source of revenue at any carnival fund raising event. Choose foods that are easy and fast to make like hot dogs and hamburgers. Ask local restaurants and catering trucks to serve at the event for a fee. The Ben and Jerry's team is always happy to bring their colorful ice cream truck and scoop at events. You can also rent equipment for volunteers to run like a cotton candy machine or a snow cone machine.
Silent auctions: A great fundraising event
While some family members are engaged in an inflatable jousting match or playing a game of inflatable human bowling, other family members can enjoy the very popular silent auction. Secure donations from local businesses for the silent auction such as a luxurious massage, a stay in a hotel, or a dinner at a restaurant. Lay out the gifts on long banquet tables along with a piece of paper for placing bids throughout the night. Make announcements as the clock winds down on the event time so that everyone has a chance to up their bid before someone else takes the item they've got their eye on.
Family friendly carnival games
Carnival games are another fun way to earn large profits for your organization. Make sure to get lots of little prizes for those who don't win or come close to winning and some really attractive prizes for those who hit the jackpot. Most carnival games are easy to set up without lots of specialized equipment. For real fun, rent a dunk tank and find some willing volunteers.
Carnivals are always popular events that draw members from all around the community. With enormous, bright inflatable rental activities at the center of the fun, your fund raising event will bring traffic to passers by, as well as those who you've reached through marketing and pre-ticket sales. The key to a great fundraiser is to draw a large crowd and offer them a way to really have fun. With a lot planning and a great concept, your organization is sure to earn fantastic revenues from an inflatable fun carnival event.
Author Bio:
Author is skilled in the field of web design with a degree in Media Graphics.
For additional information for inflatable rentals within the state of California, please visit http://www.allforfunrentals.com
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Host-a-Successful-Fundraising-Event-with-Inflatable-Rentals&id=190223

Can I Find a Keurig Coffee Machine in Asia?

It is not so much about the keurig coffee machine but rather the coffee from this company that you would want to find in Asia. If you are based in Asia, you can get a b30 which you can bring easily into Asia, but the question is where to look for the k-cups.
Some of you might be thinking about online purchase, almost everywhere that you go to, it should have an internet connection right? While, it is true that Asia is very wired and you would have no issue in surfing the net, there is still the country regulation to take note of.
Every country has their own version of what is allowed and what would be prevented into their country. And usually, when they are in doubt or the item are not listed, they would simply not allowed the products into their country.
And single serve coffee is not a very popular item in this region yet, so the chances are quite high that the k-cups that you purchased would not pass through custom.
These are gloomy news, but you do not have to worry about it. This is because, keurig has formed a partnership with UCC to roast and market their coffee in this part of the world.
UCC or Ueshima Coffee Company is a very well known coffee company in Asia. Other than being the largest regular coffee company in Asia, it is also very well established with close to 70 years of coffee roasting and marketing history.
And when they formed this joint venture, you would practically find this coffee in most parts of Asia where coffee enjoy huge following. And as a foreigner based in Asia, these are also the places that you would most likely be based.
The country where it is being marketed includes Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Korea, Taiwan and China. These are countries that have a huge market of local coffee drinkers and are also places where many expatriates are based.
So, these are the places where you find your machine and the coffee that you enjoyed. In fact, if you are not in these places, I believe most of the places are close enough that you can make a weekend trip to pick it up.
Author Bio:
Join our free coffee course for better coffee, or download ebook about getting free coffee at http://www.oncoffeemakers.com or simply learn more about keurig coffee machine at Ebenezer coffee maker site
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Can-I-Find-a-Keurig-Coffee-Machine-in-Asia?&id=2001903

Making Coffee With Illy Espresso Pods

Many people prefer to purchase illy coffee beans in tins of either whole or ground beans for preparation in traditional coffee makers. However, for those who have a single-serve espresso machine that can create one cup of espresso at a time in the comfort of their own homes, a different denomination of coffee may be more suitable. Luckily, illy coffee is available in two versions specifically for use in at-home espresso machines.
ESE, or "easy serving espresso" is how illy espresso pods are commonly referred to. These pods can be used in any espresso machine that is capable of using pods. Each pod is filled with 7 grams of ground coffee so that you know each cup of espresso will have been made with the perfect amount of coffee as determined by the experts at illy. It only takes 30 seconds to create a cup of espresso when using an ESE pod. Illy's "perfect blend" is utilized for the espresso pods, which are available in three roasts: dark, medium, and decaffeinated. Those who are familiar with illy's product line know that the blends are differentiated with three "theme" colors. Medium roast always features red packaging, dark roast has black packaging, and decaffeinated is identified by a green lid.
Illy also offers iperEspresso coffee capsules that can be used in single-serving espresso machines. Instead of percolating the coffee, an extremely unique two-step extraction process is used to create a velvety, flavorful cup of espresso. Iper-infusion is the first step of the process; the coffee's flavor and aroma is extracted and hot water is pressurized. In the second step, emulsification, the coffee is pushed through a valve that is located at the bottom of the iperEspresso capsule. The result is a cup of espresso like no other. Since the coffee is enclosed in the capsule, no coffee ever touches the espresso machine, which allows for easy cleanup and lack of oil buildup inside of the machine. Illy's iperEspresso capsules are available in dark, medium, and decaffeinated roasts.
Author Bio:
Steve writes about Illy espresso pods and Illy coffee beans
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Making-Coffee-With-Illy-Espresso-Pods&id=1479994

School Fundraising Guidelines

The dwindling economy over the past few years has forced the educational system to make millions of dollars in budget cuts each year. The decrease in funds has caused a loss of teaching jobs, larger class sizes, overcrowding in schools, and a worsening overall learning experience for students. The effects of the nationwide budget cuts have caused a greater need for school fundraising events.
While there are thousands of fundraising ideas out there, successful school fundraisers seem to follow two key guidelines. They are easy to implement and effective in earning funds.
So what quantifies an "easy school fundraiser"? Cost is the main part. Schools fundraising ideas should come with little or no cost attached to get things up and running. This has become a rarity in the fundraising world, as the majority of easy fundraising ideas involve an investment through fundraising companies.
What many school fails to see before they begin their efforts, is that there are plenty of free fundraising businesses that can help schools raise as much or more money than businesses that charge a fee. An example of a free fundraising company is GivingJOE, which uses a unique system to reward schools for spending online. There are countless others offering easy fundraising ideas at little or no cost specifically for school fundraisers.
In order for a school fundraising idea to be effective, it must offer a high return with little or no cost to get started. Selling products door to door is a great fundraising idea for schools as long as the school is not required to buy the products before they are sold. There is always a risk that all of the products will not be sold forcing the school to take a loss on their own fundraiser.
Before you begin your next school fundraiser be sure to analyze whether or not your fundraising event is an ideal model. Make sure your school isn't spending loads of money trying to sign up for paid fundraising programs that guarantee thousands of dollars when there are the same opportunities elsewhere for free. Every dollar raised counts towards schools for our nations youth and it is our duty to make sure we maximize those funds.
Author Bio:
Check out some more effective fundraising ideas for your school, or consider the free and effective answer to school fundraising with online fundraising.
Article Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?School-Fundraising-Guidelines&id=4290506

Go Anywhere With a Battery Coffee Grinder Go Anywhere With a Battery Coffee Grinder

Tea is the number one drink in the world, but that is most likely due to its ease of travel. Because it is in bags it can go anywhere without sacrificing taste. Coffee is also a large staple in the drink world and is heavily ingrained in many cultures. In America, coffee is drunk all day, but it is best known as a morning ritual. It is the drink that starts to the day.
Schools of thought on how to brew the perfect cup of coffee vary widely. Coffee seems to be an individual's drink that can be completely tailored to the individuals taste. There are, however, some static schools of thought when it comes to home brewing. The purest water available should be used and it should not be boiling, equipment should be as clean as possible, the freshest beans should be used and this segways into the need to freshly grind beans just before they are to be brewed.
These are some umbrella rules, but they can all be broken down into even smaller pieces until it seems like minutia. Coffee is similar in this respect to the subject of wine and wine tastings. Beans give their own complex and subtle flavors that can be affected by the courseness of the ground or the temperature of the water.
One area where there is no more debate when it comes to the pure coffee lover is with grinding your own coffee. Store bought already ground coffee is essentially stale and is stripped of its essential oils.
These oils go rancid and effect flavor, but with fresh grounds there is a more robust and full flavor to excite the palate. Grinders come in three main types, hand, electric, and battery operated.
Battery coffee grinders have an advantage in that they can go anywhere with you. So much of society is focused on the green movement and being more sustainable, not having to give ourselves over the the corporate system. How better to do that than by having your own battery coffee grinder that can travel with you? Taking something like this camping can bring the tastes and feel of home without the cost on your pocketbook.
Also, these grinders are easy to clean, which makes them even more suited to stick to the "always keep your equipment clean" rule. They are as powerful as any other grinder and can make the ground that you desire: from 5 seconds to course, to 30 seconds to extra fine espresso grade grinds.
Whatever your preference and tastes, and wherever you are, a battery coffee grinder can go with you to help make your coffee to the standards you've become accustomed to.
Author Bio:
Get help choosing your battery coffee grinder and make sure you get the best coffee grinder.
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Go-Anywhere-With-a-Battery-Coffee-Grinder&id=3888829

Fundraising - What Are Your Options?

Many schools have to engage in fundraising efforts to raise money. It isn't always as effective as it could be however, and some fundraising campaigns aren't all that successful. Three of the best fundraising ideas available are listed here:
Cookie Dough Fundraising - these are very popular. And for good reason, most people like cookies! In recent years, cookie dough fundraisers have done quite well.
When you approach potential customers with this fundraising idea, the response tends to be positive. Most people will buy cookie dough for a fundraiser. Because of this, cookie dough sales are popular with booster clubs and PTAs.
Scratch Card Fundraising - Schools that sell scratch cards as fundraisers do very well. These sales can really boost school revenues. The coupon savings inside the cards also helps the cards to sell quickly.
There is a downside, however. Scratch card fundraising, just like cookie dough sales, has a startup cost associated with it. The profit margin ends up being about 70%, which is still pretty good, but there is cost up front. Sometimes you can minimize up front expenses though via preselling and careful planning.
Online Fundraising - Schools, booster clubs, and PTAs now take advantage of the opportunities available via the Internet to raise money for schools. This is now the most popular way for raising money.
One reason why online fundraising is so popular is profit margin. There is no startup cost to this kind of fundraising, and it is completely free. All money raised is profit. Here is how it works. When people shop online, there is an option where they can donate a percent of their purchase to their favorite school organization. This does not add cost. Because of this, it is a unique fundraising opportunity.
Of all of the many thousands of ways that schools host fundraisers, these three listed have been the most successful. Cookie dough and scratch card fundraisers are still very popular and do quite well, but increasingly schools are using online fundraising to meet financial goals.
Author Bio:
Look no further for an attractive bedside lamp! Makes a great gift and blends with any decor, just like these quality runner rugs.
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Fundraising---What-Are-Your-Options?&id=4496158

Earn Money Working From Home As a Fundraising Coordinator

You are here because you are considering ways to earn money working from home. With unemployment at an all-time high, it is definitely a good time to take your income into your own hands. People are losing jobs daily and need that income to support their families and themselves. Some just want a second income to save up for that "just in case" moment. Whatever the reason, now is a great time to take control of your financial future and start your own business where you determine how often you work, where you work, and most importantly, how much you make. This article will discuss one method to earn money working from home - in the fundraising industry. Before analyzing the industry, ask yourself a few simple questions:
Am I able to wake up and motivate myself if nobody is looking over my shoulder?
Am I willing to make phone calls, network, send emails, do what it takes to make my business succeed?
Do I believe I can have a successful business and bring in the income I need?
Do I have the tools necessary to start a business - First, do you have the logistical tools - computer, internet connection, email, and phone. Second, ask yourself if you have the personal skills you think it will take to make your business a success? The explosion of technology has brought great benefits in bringing down your potential operating costs. With cell phones and flat rate phone plans, you now can actually enjoy the results when you earn money working from home. If you answered yes to the above questions - working from home could be a great move for you.
One fantastic option is starting your own fundraising business. In this economy, everyone is feeling the pinch and looking for new ways to make money. You could be the resource that delivers schools, churches, sports teams and other organizations their fundraising ideas. Chances are, you know a few people already that could use a fundraiser or fundraising ideas for their school fundraiser, or their church youth group fundraiser. If you have some of these contacts, you are halfway there.
All you need is some information and research of your own to find reputable fundraising companies or fundraising ideas that you can offer to these groups that are already in your rolodex. You could offer product-based fundraisers by working with a fundraising company who will pay you as a distributor of their products so the group doesn't have to pay you any money. This requires very little work for you - it puts you in the position of matchmaker which is a great position to be in to earn money working from home. Or, you could consider offering your services in other types of fundraisers such as auction fundraisers, or event fundraisers. With these fundraisers, you would take care of the execution of the fundraising efforts and in turn, the church, team or school would pay you a percentage of their profits or a flat fee. The beautiful thing is that YOU get to decide.
If you are seriously looking to earn money working from home, why not start right now by making a list of people you know who could potentially be your clients. Friends, acquaintances, neighbors - anyone who you know who is part of an organization of any size may be looking for a fundraiser. Send out emails, tell people, call friends, spread the word that you are the resource - the go-to guy or gal for their fundraising needs. Once you have a group ready to work with you - the real fun begins.
Many schools, teams and churches will already have fundraising ideas and are just looking for someone to help them find the best companies or most profit possible. Look into all of the fundraisers out there: candle fundraising, scratch card fundraising, Spinners fundraising, wrapping paper fundraisers, Auntie Anne's pretzel fundraisers and more so that you have a familiarity with the popular fundraisers groups are considering. The options are endless with fundraising as there are so many fundraising products and fundraiser ideas. There is also a seemingly unending amount of people who need to raise money. So, get started - do some research and see if starting your own fundraising business is the right move for you.
Author Bio:
Jenny Ann enjoys the freedom of working from home and researches, and writes about fundraisers and fundraising ideas for ABC Fundraising. If you want to learn more about fundraisers and the fundraising industry please visit Abc Fundraising
If if you liked these ideas and want more information about the fundraising industry or about an opportunity to earn money working from home please visit Abc Fundraising for Work from Home Business Opportunities.
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Earn-Money-Working-From-Home-As-a-Fundraising-Coordinator&id=4140977

The Beauty Secrets of Coffee

Coffee is a delicious and invigorating beverage, and it can also make you beautiful! Who knew?
Coffee is more than a delectable way to start your day, and it provides a number of skin care benefits. One of the main reasons that coffee is so good to drink and use topically on your skin is because it is full of antioxidants. It is recommended to drink a moderate amount of coffee on daily basis, which is from 2 to 3 cups, to reduce stroke, colon cancer, cardiovascular disease, cirrhosis of the liver, gallstones, and Alzheimer's disease. From this point, it is amazing to see what type of benefits coffee can provide when it is used topically on your skin, which is exactly why more and more skin care companies are utilizing this innovative ingredient.
One interesting beauty benefit that coffee can provide to your hair is through the power of the coffee berry. Some spa locations use protein treatments for the hair that have coffee as an ingredient. Since coffee is full of antioxidants, it can neutralize the chemicals that break and damage hair. However, users do need to keep in mind that coffee should not be directly applied to processed or colored hair because it could cause adverse affects. If you want to use some of these beauty benefits at home, you can brew espresso, and use it to rinse your hair. You can also let it sit for 20 minutes for a soft and shiny look to your tresses.
Coffee is also a wonderful ingredient to use to tame under eye circles when you combine it with vitamin K. Vitamin K is a proven ingredient to neutralize the purple bruising color underneath your eyes due to stress or lack of sleep. Coffee also works well to reduce puffiness underneath the eye area because it is a vasodilator. This means that it will shrink the blood vessels underneath the eyes to eliminate puffiness and reduce water under the skin. It is important to apply eye creams that use this Java ingredient as opposed to direct coffee grounds on your under eye circles.
Coffee also has wonderful benefits for the skin because it is full of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory benefits. You can purchase a coffee body wash or scrub, or you can even make your own at home. Coffee does contain caffeine, which will tighten the skin. This also works to immediately reduce cellulite by firming sagging skin. Coffee can also work for a full facial treatment to brighten the overall skin tone by reducing pigmentation. This is one main reason that Java is often used as a beauty treatment because it can brighten the surface of the skin for a refreshing glow to the complexion.
It's astonishing to understand all that there is to know about your beloved cup of Joe! Coffee is a wonderful beverage to enjoy on a daily basis to benefit your health, and it also has a number of beauty benefits for fresh and vibrant skin on a daily basis.
Author Bio:
Another popular accessory for coffee is the commercial coffee maker! For a great selection, check out Mark Ramos' website, The Coffee Bump.
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Beauty-Secrets-of-Coffee&id=3322262

Fundraising With a Chinese Auction

Chinese auctions are very similar to silent auctions except they have a raffle component added to the mix. The bidding on items is done by ticket instead of by a written bid.
In a Chinese auction, customers buy a number of tickets for a set price, then use the tickets to bid on the items on display by dropping them in a fishbowl next to the item. In a silent auction, they would just enter a bid amount on a form next to the donated item.
Buyers are free to put as many tickets as they want in the fishbowl. At the close of the auction period, the winning ticket for each auction item is then drawn from the corresponding fishbowl.
Obviously, the more tickets a person deposits in the bowl, the higher the percentage chance that they'll win the item. That means that highly desirable items will draw a lot of tickets, just as they would draw a lot of bids in regular auction.
That's part of the big draw for a Chinese auction. Ticket costs are low compared to the ultimate value of the auction items, so lucky winners will get a great deal.
And having lots of ticket buyers means your group will do very well!
Three types of Chinese auctions
The standard format is as we previously discussed. The items are displayed on tables with a ticket box or bowl next to each item. Buyers circulate and check out which items they want to win, then drop in their tickets. At the end of your event, the winning ticket is drawn for each one.
A second variant when the auction is the only event is to run it from a central stage. Bidders are seated and each item is put up for auction one at a time. Your auctioneer pitches the item while ticket collectors gather bid tickets from those raising their hands or waving tickets about.
This makes for somewhat of a bidding frenzy, with really popular items getting hundreds of tickets submitted. Some people quickly exhaust their ticket supply, so you'll need to have ticket sellers working the room as well.
The third type of Chinese auction involves everyone depositing all their tickets into a big drum. Tickets are then drawn and called out bingo-style for each item up for auction.
People like this because they have a chance at winning every time an item is drawn. As a result , many people will drop in a huge amount of tickets, which of course is what you want to happen.
You can hold back some really high-end or desirable items for separate bidding at the end. Buyers can then buy extra tickets for these last chance drawings.
Auction profit tips
Ticket sales
Price your tickets in bundles of 25, 50, or 100 tickets. Have ticket bundles pre-packaged. Price in even amounts for quick sales.
Popular items
Gift certificates, gardening supplies, personal spa packages, vacation travel deals, and consumer electronics items are always popular. So are anything celebrity related or offering exclusive access.
Bundle items
Bundling items together will oftentimes raise more than the individual items would. Group them in related categories or complementary packages.
Themed auctions
You can also do an entire Chinese auction on a theme such as Spring, Christmas, fantasy packages, vacations, golf, sports or other popular categories.
Summary
A Chinese auction is a great way to get extra profits out of donated goods and services. Obviously, the more items you have up for grabs, the more tickets you'll sell and the more funds you'll raise. Try one at your next fundraising event and you'll be pleasantly surprised!
Author Bio:
Kimberly Reynolds writes for national publications about youth sports fundraisers, having a fundraiser using a Chinese Auction and other fundraising events. Find more school fundraiser ideas on her website, FundraiserHelp.com
Article Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?Fundraising-With-a-Chinese-Auction&id=704154

Church Cookbook Fundraising Ideas

Personalized church cookbook fund raising and custom fundraising cookbooks in general are a great way for your group to make the money it needs. It is not uncommon for churches, schools, civic organizations and other large non-profits to report profits of a thousand to ten thousand dollars every time they hold a cookbook fund raiser.
So, why do cookbook fundraisers work so well? Because people love to cook and they like to eat and they like to see recipes from people of common interest. So consider offering school fund raising cookbooks for your next fundraiser!
Here are some tips on putting together and selling your own cook book:
o Advertise the fact that you will be putting together your cook book fundraiser. Give people an idea of your schedule and let them know that you want their favorite recipes. Most people are proud to see their old family recipes published and will be happy to help.
o Form a committee to sort through the recipes you receive. Make sure someone reviews all recipes to make sure they appear correct. You don't want any major mistakes in your cook book if possible. You also want to make sure you have recipes in each of the different major categories in your cookbook. A good way to insure that is to ask each submitter to give you three to five recipes and include an appetizer, salad, entrée and dessert.
o If you see that you are not getting enough recipes in a particular category let people know about it soon. People will come to your rescue if they know your needs.
o Don't stop collecting recipes until you have at least 100 pages worth of recipes and enough to complete all the sections you planned.
o If possible, include graphics in your cookbook. You can do that with any clip art program or even get people to give you photographs or drawings. A text only book is not nearly as attractive as one with graphics.
o Make sure some one responsible is put in charge of proof reading your final draft. Try to catch typos. Spell check software is useful but not always complete. So read carefully.
o When determining a selling price try to research what other local groups have sold their cookbooks for. Under no circumstances should you charge less than twice whatever the actual printing and binding charges are for the cookbook.
Finally, if you can not get enough recipes on your own, consider using fundraising cookbook software such as the services offered by companies like Fundcraft. Although we are not associated in any respect with this company, we have reviewed their website and found it to be a good resource.
Author Bio:
Howard Gottlieb
http://www.easy-fundraising-ideas.com
Easy Fundraising Ideas offers church fundraising products for every kind of church group: http://www.easy-fundraising-ideas.com/programs/church-fundraising-ideas
Article Source:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Church-Cookbook-Fundraising-Ideas&id=1468764

Time For A New Coffee Pot?

The time has come to toss out your old percolator and to go out and invest in a new one. There are many different types to choose from. You are part of the new trend that has been sweeping the nation-you have become accustomed to specialty coffee shops and their literally dozens of different flavors of hot and cold drinks made from coffee.
Now, what type of coffee pot should you purchase? The bottom line is that basically any model can make a good cup of coffee as long as you use decent coffee and follow the manufacturer's instructions on how to make it.
So, what is available? There are manual-drip systems, presses, percolators, and pod coffeemakers that brew individual cups using ready-to-use packets of coffee, tea and hot chocolate. The most popular of these models is the automatic drip coffeemakers.
Coffee pots come in sizes from single servings to 12 cups, to 60 or more cups. There are many different types and styles ranging in price from $10 to over than $300. The more expensive the coffee pot, the more options included such as programmable start and stop functions, a water filter, frothing capability, automatic shut off and a carafe.
There are a few features you should consider before purchasing a new coffee pot. These include:
* A removable filter basket--this makes it easy to remove paper filters and to clean.
* A water reservoir that can be easily removed and carried to the sink for filling and cleaning.
* Brewing and temperature controls that can be changed, as needed, when using different types of coffee.
* A programmable timer so that you can set up your coffee the night before--this allows you to wake up to the smell of freshly brewed coffee.
* An automatic shut off feature--just in case you go to work and forget to turn the coffee pot off.
How do you decide which brand to purchase? Start by reading Consumer Reports, they rank all coffee pots and give you an honest opinion on each. Also, when at the coffee shop, see what company makes theirs, or check out the machine in the office or ask your friends. Another reliable source is your parents-they have probably been drinking coffee for decades and have their own preferences.
So, if you only drink one cup of coffee in the morning, you might want to get a single-serve drip or press coffeemaker. If you entertain regularly, you may need to have one that makes 10 or more cups at a time. The decision on which coffee pot to purchase is up to you and it is really not that hard to make an informed decision.
Make your own coffee and wake up to the smell of your freshly brewed coffee in your new coffee pot. Experiment with the different flavored coffees and find out which is your favorite morning, evening and dessert coffee. Add special flavored creamers and you will have a delightful tasting beverage for a fraction of the cost of what you were spending at the local coffee shop. You will be glad you made the decision to get purchase one and to brew your own coffee.
Author Bio:
Still looking for the perfect coffee? Try visiting http://www.AllCoffeeSite.com, a website that specializes in providing coffee advice, tips and resources to including information on the coffee pot.
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Time-For-A-New-Coffee-Pot?&id=559300

Fundraising Ideas - 5 Dependable Ways to Raise Money

Have you been agonizing over how to raise money for your charitable organization? Here are five dependable fundraising ideas:
1) Have a car wash. This is one of the cheapest fundraisers to setup because all you need is a busy corner and an ample water supply. Generally, gas stations like taking part in these fundraisers as they benefit in the added customer traffic coming in to purchase gas and other sundries. Then you just need some volunteers to hold up signs and wave cars into your car wash. These fundraisers work best on Saturdays or Sundays to take advantage of the busy weekend traffic.
2) Have a garage sale. Your organization first collects used items by either soliciting friends for them or by donating used items themselves. Then just place some ads in your local newspaper announcing your garage sale. Make sure you give a general list of the items that you have and make mention of your charity. After that just put up a few cardboard signs on garage sale day and wait for the droves of people to show up.
3) Hold a silent auction. This works well in conjunction with larger events such as craft bazaars. This is where you have items displayed and people place their bids on a sheet attached to each item. The items on display are donated by local merchants who benefit from the free advertising this brings them. Silent auctions can bring in a great deal of money, especially with big-ticket items.
4) Hold a bake sale. This sale generally works well in conjunction with car washes, silent auctions or garage sales but will work equally well on its own depending on your charity. Schools, sports teams, churches and other small groups can really benefit with bake sales. Have your members each contribute baked goods and then sell them off. This type of sale can be done regularly as people tend to really enjoy buying home-baked goods because they're too busy to bake for themselves.
5) Sell cookbooks. In traditional form, this is where members' recipes are collected and put into book form. The cookbooks are then sold by members. Nowadays cookbooks are available online in e-book form to eliminate the cost and hassle of collecting recipes and publishing the book.
This is just a small sampling of the fundraising ideas that are available to you. Now go make some money for your organization.
Author Bio:
Looking for more great fundraising ideas? Click here [http://www.savvybookkeeperclub.com]
Article Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?Fundraising-Ideas---5-Dependable-Ways-to-Raise-Money&id=425251

How to Start a Successful Online Fundraising Campaign

In the past few years, online fundraising has become the most effective way for nonprofit organizations to raise money. By using the Internet as a fundraising tool, many nonprofit organizations have been able to raise more money than ever before. While any online fundraiser has the potential to bring in thousands of dollars with absolutely no startup costs, there is a huge distinguishing factor between a good online fundraising campaign and a great online fundraising campaign.
Many good online fundraising campaigns have been able to bring in over a thousand dollars a month for nonprofit organizations. These earnings have helped many stewardship campaigns and are funding projects all over the country. While raising over a thousand dollars a month with zero startup costs is a great achievement, many of these campaign are doing so with minimal support.
The difference in a good campaign and a great online fundraising campaign is how involved an organization's supporters are. The great part about online fundraising is that when people get involved, they don't have to spend an extra cent. Raising money online works in a very simple manner. Each time people make a purchase online, they can donate a percent of the purchase to their favorite nonprofit organization. It's that simple. Make a purchase online, and proceeds go directly to a selected organization. The great part is, there is no extra cost to doing this. Organizations are free to sign up and shoppers don't have to spend any more than they normally would on a product.
The more supports involved in making purchases online, the better a fundraising campaign will go. People everywhere are getting involved because it's so easy and effective to raise money online. Shoppers are also saving money when they shop online with free shipping and discount offers not seen in stores. People are more than happy to help out their favorite nonprofit. The key is spreading the word about your online efforts.
As you can see, the more involved people are in an internet fundraising campaign, the better the fundraiser will do. Support in this case doesn't call for donor pledges or anything else making it very appealing to supporters. Be sure to get your favorite nonprofit organization involved in raising money online. It's free, easy, and is great for any fundraising campaign.
Get started with online fundraising today, or consider some more effective fundraising ideas.
Article Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Start-a-Successful-Online-Fundraising-Campaign&id=4373818

Time For A New Coffee Pot?

The time has come to toss out your old percolator and to go out and invest in a new one. There are many different types to choose from. You are part of the new trend that has been sweeping the nation-you have become accustomed to specialty coffee shops and their literally dozens of different flavors of hot and cold drinks made from coffee.
Now, what type of coffee pot should you purchase? The bottom line is that basically any model can make a good cup of coffee as long as you use decent coffee and follow the manufacturer's instructions on how to make it.
So, what is available? There are manual-drip systems, presses, percolators, and pod coffeemakers that brew individual cups using ready-to-use packets of coffee, tea and hot chocolate. The most popular of these models is the automatic drip coffeemakers.
Coffee pots come in sizes from single servings to 12 cups, to 60 or more cups. There are many different types and styles ranging in price from $10 to over than $300. The more expensive the coffee pot, the more options included such as programmable start and stop functions, a water filter, frothing capability, automatic shut off and a carafe.
There are a few features you should consider before purchasing a new coffee pot. These include:
* A removable filter basket--this makes it easy to remove paper filters and to clean.
* A water reservoir that can be easily removed and carried to the sink for filling and cleaning.
* Brewing and temperature controls that can be changed, as needed, when using different types of coffee.
* A programmable timer so that you can set up your coffee the night before--this allows you to wake up to the smell of freshly brewed coffee.
* An automatic shut off feature--just in case you go to work and forget to turn the coffee pot off.
How do you decide which brand to purchase? Start by reading Consumer Reports, they rank all coffee pots and give you an honest opinion on each. Also, when at the coffee shop, see what company makes theirs, or check out the machine in the office or ask your friends. Another reliable source is your parents-they have probably been drinking coffee for decades and have their own preferences.
So, if you only drink one cup of coffee in the morning, you might want to get a single-serve drip or press coffeemaker. If you entertain regularly, you may need to have one that makes 10 or more cups at a time. The decision on which coffee pot to purchase is up to you and it is really not that hard to make an informed decision.
Make your own coffee and wake up to the smell of your freshly brewed coffee in your new coffee pot. Experiment with the different flavored coffees and find out which is your favorite morning, evening and dessert coffee. Add special flavored creamers and you will have a delightful tasting beverage for a fraction of the cost of what you were spending at the local coffee shop. You will be glad you made the decision to get purchase one and to brew your own coffee.
Author Bio:
Still looking for the perfect coffee? Try visiting http://www.AllCoffeeSite.com, a website that specializes in providing coffee advice, tips and resources to including information on the coffee pot.
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Time-For-A-New-Coffee-Pot?&id=559300

Car Wash Fundraiser Layout, Traffic Flow and Signage

Many times car wash fundraisers appear to be organized but since the volunteers running them have little if any experience they are chaotic at best. Organizational nightmares from the get go. It does not have to be this way if you properly plan your layout, signage and traffic flows to prevent unorganized disasters resulting in lost business and unhappy customers. Follow along with me as I discuss how to properly set up and run a car wash fundraising event and explain the preferred Car Wash Fundraiser Layout, Traffic Flow and Signage to insure the greatest success at your event.
SET UP
You should call all important people in your group the night before your event. Make sure that you will have all necessary supplies, parent supervision and signage. Have everyone meet twenty minutes before the start time. Have your washer show up five minutes prior to washing. If you think you are going to have a lot of cars then try to find an area large enough for two rows of cars to go through at one time. That should be your wash area. Make sure your hoses reach. Try to get your hose to go all the way around both sets of cars. When things get busy you will be glad you set it up this way. You should have a drying area set up no less than three car lengths from your washing area. This way if someone gets picky with the drying and slows you down, they won't hold up your washing area. If the washing area slows down, your line will get longer and people will just drive by and not stop in. It's very important to pick a game plan, layout and traffic flow before you start. If cars start pulling in the wrong way or you try to change what you're doing mid-stream, you have total chaos and you lose ten to fifteen minutes sorting things out.
LAYOUT
Your layout is ultra important and inevitably determines how many cars you can wash. If you've done your marketing correctly, have a good location and sold tickets/pledges, you will have unlimited cars to wash. Now you must wash them efficiently. Remember, the more cars you wash, the more money you will make for your group. Your layout will change from location to location.
TRAFFIC FLOWS
The single most important item in the operations side of your fundraiser is to keep the cars moving. Don't let the line go out onto the street. It will cause an accident or the local police will tell you to move the cars or stop your fundraiser. It's much better if the police officer stops for a donut at your bake sale or a hot dog at the booth. The easiest way not to get backed up is to move cars through at a steady pace. Fast enough to do a quality job but not too fast to lose tip money. Don't let your supervisors start long in depth conversations with customers when there are cars in line. If cars start backing rapidly in the entrance area or start of your car wash, then form two lines. If your dryers start backing up, move them further from the wash area and allocate additional dryers, one at a time, until the problem stops. If people in the cars are hanging around after their wash, tell them to park off to the side or out of the way of the car wash proceedings.
SIGNAGE
Your signs should be poster board size, bright colors and hand written in bold black ink. The letters should be wide. Use very few words. The words should be able to be read from twenty to thirty yards away while driving in a car moving at twenty-five to thirty-five miles an hour. You should have CAR WASH in big letters and a positive word such as: Great, Big, Low Price, Wow, Cool and Best. You will need between eight and ten signs strategically placed around the intersection and a couple down the streets with the highest traffic that lead directly to your car wash fundraiser site, perhaps one-half mile or so away. Make three to four signs half size and use those as hand sign held up by kids on the street corners.
Follow these simple suggestions and prevent chaos from ruining your perfectly planned car wash fundraiser this season. Think on this for me.
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/?Car-Wash-Fundraiser-Layout,-Traffic-Flow-and-Signage&id=41535

Start Your Own Fundraising Business!

We all know the economy is suffering and jobs are being cut, hours are being cut and opportunities are less available. It is definitely a good time to make your own opportunity. Why not supplement your current income with a side business in the fundraising industry?
Use some of the skills from your current job and past jobs and put them to work for YOU so that you can make money at the rate you want to on your own time.
Even in a slow economy, athletic teams, church groups, clubs, schools and hundreds of other groups need to raise money for their expenses. If you can be a fundraising resource for your local groups, schools and churches or even a resource to groups all over the country, you may be able to put some extra money in your pocket as well as these groups.
Is a fundraising business right for you?
Do you care about people? Do you like the freedom of working from home? Are you motivated to succeed? Do you have time to call team leaders and coaches and to follow up with people who are excited about what you are offering? Do you know a lot of people who trust your opinion?
If the answer to most of these is yes, it might be good to look into the fundraising business. Is one of your kids on a team or in the band that needs to raise money for uniforms this year? Right there, you could have your first sale. It's so easy - you are offering these groups opportunities to raise money and you will help them through it.
How to get started:
A great way to get started quickly is to find a fundraising company online that offers opportunities to be an affiliate - by doing this, you will have the resources, training and support of a larger company and won't have to take the risk involved in funding your own fundraising products or materials. The company will also see that you get paid your commission from the fundraiser. The next step is to find groups who need fundraising. Many were listed above and many fundraising companies that you sign on with will be able to offer you leads that you can contact so you can go outside of your community to find groups that need fundraisers. Then, it's up to you to be persistent and make your fundraising business as profitable as you want it to be!

Author Bio:
Jenny Ann is an expert fundraiser and writes exclusively for ABC Fundraising
To learn more about working from home as a distributor for ABC Fundraising go to: http://www.abcfundraising.com/BusinessOpportunities.htm
Article Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?Start-Your-Own-Fundraising-Business!&id=1712683

Herbal Coffee, a Caffeine Free Beverage

In todays times, coffee has become has become one of the most popular beverage worldwide. The presence of caffeine, a chemical compound found in coffee, can have stimulating effects on the human body. Due to this, the topic of whether the consumption of coffee is good or bad has become widely disputed. Luckily, the introduction of herbal coffee, a caffeine free beverage, has provided means to end this dispute.
Everyone simply loves the rich taste and alluring aroma that coffee offers. But unfortunately, a lot of harmful side effects associated with its heavy consumption have prompted people to negate its use and look for alternatives. Hence herbal coffee, substitutes of coffee having no caffeine content, was created. Developed in Europe as early as 1895, it became very popular among the entire family due to a scarcity of coffee created by the war. Offering rich coffee-like taste to adults and herbal benefits to young, it has been used for medical, religious and other purposes over the years.
Herbal coffee, according to available research, is made by roasting or decocting grain with ingredients such as almond, acorn, asparagus, beechnut, malted barley, chicory root, beetroot, carrot, corn, dandelion root, fig, boiled-down molasses, okra seed, peas, potato peel, rye, sassafras pits, sweet potato and wheat bran. One such type of herbal coffee that has attained much commercial popularity is ground roasted chicory root. It has been around since 1970 and has also become a mainstream product mainly in America.
Postum, an instant type of herbal coffee, was also very popular till a few years back. It was made from wheat bran, wheat, molasses and maltodextrin from corn and remained highly popular during World War 2 in the United States, before being discontinued. Since then, a lot of Postum replica recipes have circulated over the internet but herbal coffee lovers still long for the original.
There are certain other brands and types of herbal coffees available in the market. Two European brands, Calix and Pero, made from malted barley, barley, chicory, rye and beetroots offer coffee substitutes in the form of cereals and are also available in American health-food stores.
Ultimately, finding a healthy substitute to regular coffee is not impossible in today's world. Although the rich taste and alluring aroma of coffee cannot be replaced, but the fact cannot be denied that naturally caffeine free herbal coffees offer a healthy and delicious alternative. With several coffee substitutes available in the market, one can easily avoid the side effects associated with real coffee beans.
Author Bio:
Marek Salzman enjoys writting articles and reviews on all kinds of topics. To view more visit http://logocoffeemugs.org including the latest on Logo Coffee Mugs
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Herbal-Coffee,-a-Caffeine-Free-Beverage&id=4494197