Chris's Blog

A Message from the Rainbow Community Center (Concord, California)

Chris Fisher of StagersLISTWebsites.com (StagersLIST.com) — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 13:18:51 -0600

A Message from RCC's Board Chair:

We started 2009 with high hopes and optimistic expectations for our Country and for our Community. We also started the year concerned about the economy, jobs and the impact of this major economic downturn on our families, our communities and ourselves. Fortunately, in many ways we have "turned the corner." Still, as we begin the second decade in this new millennium, far too many are still experiencing the impact of this major economic downturn. Many remain unemployed. While there are encouraging signs of full equality for our community, the new administration has not acted as quickly and decisively as we had hoped. More states had taken steps to prohibit marriage among committed members of our community. The Rainbow Community Center remains challenged to serve the most vulnerable members of our community and to continue to be a voce for equality, inclusion and pride. Our community needs RCC even more than in "ordinary" times. And, we need you; we need your leadership and your social and financial support.

As we close out 2009 and set goals to be a voice for, as well as a source of personal support for, our community, I humbly ask for your generous financial support. Please help us continue to serve the most vulnerable in our community, our youth who are struggling with their coming out, our brothers and sisters with HIV/AIDS who look to our food bank for essential support, our seniors who look to us for companionship as well as a shared meal, the members of our support groups who look to us to provide a place for them to learn from and to support their peers.

We have set a goal of $20,000 for our 2009 year end campaign. We can and must reach that goal. As you reflect on all the blessings and gifts that you have received, I ask that you use these final days of 2009 to share some of these with the members of our community who need us the most. Please join me in strengthening RCC's ability to be a servant leader to our community in 2010. Thank you,

Patrick S. Hughes, Ed. D.
Chair, RCC Board of Directors

Please donate to the Rainbow Community Center if you can so they can continue to provide these valuable community services.

Thank you!

Sibling Support Groups Presented by GOALS for Autism, Inc. (Contra Costa & Alameda County)

Chris Fisher of StagersLISTWebsites.com (StagersLIST.com) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 14:16:46 -0600

Sibling Support Groups Presented by GOALS for Autism, Inc. (Contra Costa & Alameda County)

Locations: Pleasant Hill, Pleasanton and Brentwood

Dates: Groups begin January 11th and 13th

Time: Groups meet for 90 minutes for 8 consecutive weeks. Elementary groups are on Mondays from 4-5:30pm. Junior groups are on Wednesdays from 4pm-5:30pm.

Cost: $200 for the 8 week program

Therapists conducting the groups have a Masters degree and have been working with children with disabilities for many years.

Children in 4th through 6th grades are welcome to join the elementary group. Children in 7th and 8th grades are welcome to join the junior group.

This group is for brothers and sisters of persons with developmental disabilities. Siblings meet to talk about their mutual concerns and feelings. They gain information regarding the specific problems of their brother or sister and come to realize that their family and personal situations are unique and yet common to many families. The groups are fun, informative and provide a tremendous amount of support.

Contact Amy Bona, Director of Operations at 415.218.4157 or abona@goalsforautism.com.

Food Drive for the Mt. Diablo Unified School District Families (California, Contra Costa County)

Chris Fisher of StagersLISTWebsites.com (StagersLIST.com) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:28:49 -0600

FOOD DRIVE
FOR
Mt. Diablo Unified School District
Volunteer Food Pantry
Assisting Families in Need in Our District Community

Families in the Mt. Diablo Unified School District need your help. There is a food pantry at the District office which is a maintained by group of volunteers. Child Welfare and Attendance Liaisons (CWAs), School Psychologists and other District employees pick up boxes of food from the District office and deliver them to families in need. As food is donated, volunteers check expiration dates, box up the food (emergency 3-4 day supply) and store excess food in cabinets in their main lunchroom. All volunteers help during their lunch hour or after work.

The food pantry is not just for the holidays. This is a year round project. Please consider organizing a donation station at your school either by asking your school administrator directly or going through your PTA, PTO, or PFC organization. It's simple, fill up some cans or barrels, then email or call Lori Amenta at amental@mdusd.k12.ca.us or 682-8000 ext 4002 and make arrangements to drop off your donations. This is a great way for your school communities and your scouts to help families in our immediate area, as all donations are given out to families in our District. This is also a wonderful community service project for your girls to be involved with. If you have any questions about setting up your donations please call Gina Soleimanieh at 925-429-0433. Thank you.

Top 10 Items to Donate

Peanut Butter
Rice
Canned Fruit
Cereal
Canned Tuna
Canned Chicken
Whole Beans
Canned Chili
Pasta Sauce & Pasta
Canned Vegetables

Other Suggested Items to Donate

Soup (Cans or Instant)
Crackers
Macaroni and Cheese
Jam/Jelly
Protein Power Bars
Granola Bars
Individual snacks such as:
Cheese & Crackers
PB & Crackers
Velveeta Cheese
Instant Powder Drinks
Canned Evaporated Milk
Juices -- no refrigeration
Pickles
Mayo
Mustard
Catsup

All Nonperishable Items Accepted

Update from Equality California

Chris Fisher of StagersLISTWebsites.com (StagersLIST.com) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:11:27 -0600

Dear EQCA member,

Remember the uproar when former MISS CALIFORNIA USA Carrie Prejean said that she opposed marriage equality during the pageant? Rather than agree to EQCA's invitation to meet with us and an LGBT family, she used her 15 minutes of fame to become the spokesmodel for the right-wing National Organization for Marriage.

Now, the MISS CALIFORNIA USA pageant has offered EQCA and Ms. Prejean 30 seconds each during this Sunday's broadcast. We are showing an ad featuring Mary Kate, the teenage daughter of lesbian moms, who talks from the heart about her family and how discrimination in marriage hurts real people, including children.

Watch the ad on Sunday or click here to see it now, and make a donation so we can tell stories like this one to millions of Californans.

It's our stories that win hearts and change minds. Give today so Californians will hear our stories on the air and door to door.

We deeply appreciate the opportunity provided by MISS CALIFORNIA USA to show Californians how denying same-sex couples the right to marry affects real people.

All families deserve to be treated equally. Help us tell our stories.

In solidarity,

Geoff Kors
Executive Director
Equality California

Deleting blogs, read the guidelines

Chris Fisher of StagersLISTWebsites.com (StagersLIST.com) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:02:03 -0600

Blatant Politics is a group for anyone to share their blatantly, honest opinion about politics. As long as a post is not criminal in nature it will never be deleted at Blatant Politics.

I bolded the last sentence. I think it's pretty clear. You will not be deleted just because someone doesn't like you, or because a small group of maniacs are pretending you are someone else.

Not exactly Wordless this Wednesday

Chris Fisher of StagersLISTWebsites.com (StagersLIST.com) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:00:32 -0600

Update from Equality California

Chris Fisher of StagersLISTWebsites.com (StagersLIST.com) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:44:52 -0600

Dear EQCA member,

It has been a tumultuous week since last Tuesday's elections. Maine voters stripped their lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender friends and neighbors of the right to marry. Meanwhile, Kalamazoo residents voted to preserve anti-discrimination protections, and Washingtonians said "yes" to domestic partnerships. Now that the votes are in, it's time to reflect on what is next in the push for full equality.

So now what? What does the path forward look like?

Federal courts are considering a challenge to Prop. 8 on the grounds that it violates the United States Constitution. EQCA strongly supports this case and has filed a powerful brief urging the court to overturn Prop. 8. The Obama Administration needs to join the fight and stop the abhorrent abuse of the initiative process to eliminate the rights of any targeted minority. I strongly encourage you to sign our petition asking the Administration to file a brief in support of this case, and ask your friends and family to sign it, too.
We must continue to come out and tell our stories to the people that matter. We need to gain support for marriage and that means talking to people who are not yet supportive. EQCA is going door to door with our coalition partners in neighborhoods across the state. Join our next canvass or volunteer at one of our local field offices.
We must stop endorsing and giving money to candidates for office who do not support full and complete equality. Until the politicians who take our community for granted realize that they can no longer count on our votes unless we can count on theirs, they will not change. EQCA's Political Action Committee has always endorsed only those candidates who support our equality 100 percent. We must emphasize that there is no middle ground. Either you support equality or you don't.
We must also make clear that there is nothing wrong with children learning that there are LGBT people. Our children should grow up in a world where they know they are safe and can fall in love and get married regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. That is why we worked so hard to pass a bill in California establishing Harvey Milk Day, and we will continue to work for an inclusive curriculum. Those who oppose marriage equality are simply relying on blatant scare tactics. By working to ensure an inclusive curriculum we can take this argument away from them.

While I remain sad and angry about what happened in Maine, the results in Washington and Kalamazoo and the election of LGBT candidates throughout our nation demonstrate the progress we have made. Add these victories to the passage of federal hate crimes legislation, the signing of the Harvey Milk Day bill, marriage victories in Vermont and Iowa and the many other gains our community has made this year alone, and there is much reason for hope.

We are making tremendous progress, and while there will continue to be setbacks along the way, we will prevail.

With hope,

Geoff Kors
Executive Director
Equality California

I NEED YOUR HELP.....FOR KIDS....ST JOSEPH MO

Chris Fisher of StagersLISTWebsites.com (StagersLIST.com) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:56:32 -0600

Let's help this wonderful charity organization if we can. Thank you!

Via Dona Reynolds, ST JOSEPH MO (Prudential Summers Realtors):

ACTIVE RAIN MEMBERS I NEED YOUR HELP, PLEASE ..FOR KIDS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES!

Several years ago, I wrote our personal story of a tragedy about my son that was killed, and how it has changed thousands of kids lives across the United States.

This is a contest that I need your help to nominate and vote for

MARK J REYNOLDS MEMORIAL BIKE FUND

The contest is CLOROX CLEAN-UP CONTEST and they are giving away $10,000 grants for kids.

There is currently 8 kids that need a special adapted bike due to disabilities and these bikes are $500 apiece. Please take a minute and nominate and vote. It does not cost you anything only a little time.

Visit our website see how we make a difference in the lives of kids

Become a fan on Facebook

http://apps.facebook.com/brightfuture/causes/new

THANK YOU!

If your looking for a home in the St Joseph Mo area, you can visit my

St Joseph Real Estate website at www.donareynolds.com

Four Days Left! Check out our speakers!

Chris Fisher of StagersLISTWebsites.com (StagersLIST.com) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:18:09 -0600

All this content in one fun packed day!
Prizes, gift certificates and cash, contests, networking and guaranteed at least one tip that will earn you the cost of admission. You can't afford to miss this!
Visit www.StagersLISTExpo.com and click on Metro New York!

Keynote Speaker Christine Rae
Speaker at California Association of Realtors Convention October 2009, past recipient of RESA Innovator award, President of CSP International Training Academy, trainer and author of Wiley Publishing's Home Staging For Dummies (& a Resource for the Rest of us). This book is a terrific tool which guides the reader to discover that staging is a specialty that the average person needs professional help with.

Christine's talk, 5 Mistakes Businesses Make, 5 Steps to Turn Your Business Around, 5 Market Driven Trends to Build Revenue will inspire you to take action to turn your business around. She challenges you to answer, "What keeps you from the success you want?" You will leave motivated and ready to turn your business around. Businesses need to grow and change to increase their market share; learn the trends that can help you reach your financial goals. What heights do you want to achieve in 2010?

Melissa Marro
Founder of First Impressions Home Staging & Interior Redesign, IRIS, CSP, Dewey Trainer

Melissa will be presenting Marketing for Explosive and Consistent Sales. Learn how to effectively market your staging business with a minimal budget for consistent and explosive sales without cold calling or placing expensive media print ads. Melissa will cover e-newsletters, agent "lunch & learns", neighborhood and agent farming techniques and more. Master these topics and you will be able to break free of the ebb and flow of the sales world and launch into increased, sustained sales and bookings.

Melissa will also have a workshop titled Overcome Objections - Increase Sales. Having trouble closing the deal or even setting appointments? In this session Melissa will teach you how to overcome common industry objections masterfully and with confidence. Melissa's company has had incredible success in their marketplace, once managing 40 staged properties in one month! Learn simple, proven techniques and increase your presentation skills with this informative workshop.

Visit www.StagersLISTExpo.com and click on Metro New York!

Leigh Hagen
Photographer, professinal stager and cofounder of LH2 Staging, Leigh's work has been featured on the cover of Home Staging for Dummies, Midwest Living Luxury Tours, and International Staging Magazine Staging Standard.

Leigh is presenting our lunch workshop, Photos - the final ingredient. The Sale Begins in the MLS. Photographs sell your work, your talent and your staged properties IF they reflect what you've done. Learn how to take better photos, what you need in a camera and how to utilize your photos to sell more by marketing yourself and your work online and in your portfolio through brilliant photos.

Suzy Minken
Home stager and Feng Shui practitioner

Suzy's workshop is Feng Shui - The Home Staging Connection. Suzy blends home staging and Feng Shui with great success. Staging IS Feng Shui. Feng Shui does three things: 1. Harmonize space, 2. Neutralize space from negative emotions, 3. Direct energy to a specific goal. For home stagers that means creating space that buyers "feel" at home in. Learn how home staging and Feng Shui blend and compliment each other. Realtors know how a home feels makes a difference in what properties buyers will spend more time viewing. Stagers use these techniques all the time. Suzy will teach you why it works and help you understand how to use them with purpose and intention for even more success and SOLD properties.

Visit www.StagersLISTExpo.com and click on Metro New York!

Chris Fisher
Creator of StagersLISTWebsites.com, blogging expert and virtual assistant

Chris' workshop is Websites, Blogging, SEO - The Key To Building Your Business. Learn how you can get a web presence on YOUR budget. Do you have a website? Do you know it doesn't have to be expensive to be effective? If you have a website, is it active, engaging and bringing you business? You may only need slight changes to improve your existing site dramatically? Do you know that blogging is bringing Realtors and home stagers across the country business? If you answered no to any of these questions, this workshop is for you! Drive business to your door without spending a fortune doing it. Take this workshop and receive a FREE blog header for the blog platform of your choice.

How to Create and Solidify Realtor Relationships

We have three successful professional home stagers to talk about how they create partnerships with their Realtors and continue to get business. Sid Pinkerton has been featured on TLC as a home staging expert and has staged hundreds of apartments in Metro Nerw York in the last six years. Kate Hart is an award winning home staging expert, has helped hundreds of families prepare homes for sale, has mentored and trained thousands of Realtors and home stagers. Lynelle Hartman has been a trainer for the two largest staging training companies in the US, trains in the Dewey Color System and authored a continuing education course on vacant home staging.

Visit www.StagersLISTExpo.com and click on Metro New York!

Call to Action from Equality California

Chris Fisher of StagersLISTWebsites.com (StagersLIST.com) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:10:04 -0600

Dear EQCA member,

President Obama has said he is opposed to discriminatory ballot measures. It’s time for him to do something to stop them.

The President can do something today to prevent future ballot measures designed to take away LGBT rights by asking the federal court to rule that Proposition 8 and similar measures violate the 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution.

Join the more than 18,000 people who are already demanding that President Obama and Attorney General Holder act now. And if you have taken action, please forward this to everyone you know.

If we can just get the President to act, we can help to ensure that what happened in Maine and California never happens again.

And if politicians want our support, then they must speak out and act when the rights of any minority are threatened.

Urge President Obama to have a brief filed in the federal Prop. 8 court challenge, arguing that no minority should ever have their rights taken away at the ballot box.

The case is set to be heard in U.S. District Court in early January — so please act now.

In solidarity,

Geoff Kors
Executive Director
Equality California

P.S. With emotions still raw from Tuesday, we need to make sure we turn our anger into action. Pledge to volunteer. We need help calling to get our supporters involved, office help, and people to join us in going door to door to talk directly with those who are not yet on our side. Volunteer >

FREE HIV Testing at the Rainbow Community Center in Concord, California

Chris Fisher of StagersLISTWebsites.com (StagersLIST.com) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:43:14 -0600

FREE HIV Testing

Friday, Nov 6, 6-8pm
Monday, Nov 9, 6-8pm

When was the last time you got tested? Have you talked with anyone about ways to protect yourself against HIV?

Come to the RCC on Friday, Nov 6 & Monday, Nov 9 between 6-8pm and you will get:

FREE HIV oral rapid testing- You will know the result in 20 minutes with 99.7% accuracy;
FREE safer sex counseling;
FREE condoms & lube;
Peace of Mind that comes from knowing you are taking care of yourself!

Rainbow Community Center (RCC)
3024 Willow Pass Road, Suite 200
Concord, CA 94519-2588
Phone: 925.692.0090
Fax: 925.692.0091

The RCC also offers counseling, support groups, food services and so much more. If you'd like to donate to help this wonderful organization, please click here. If you'd like to learn more about their programs and services, visit their website.

Thank you!

What's up with the misogyny I have seen in AR comments lately?

Chris Fisher of StagersLISTWebsites.com (StagersLIST.com) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:50:45 -0600

Since when is it okay to resort to calling women "ugly" because you don't agree with them? Have we not come farther than this? Is a woman's worth still foremost determined by her attractiveness to men? Do we not have more to offer?

Are we going to make fun of Rosa Parks for not looking like Halle Berry when she had the nerve and the courage to remain sitting on that bus and fired up an entire movement? Are we going to discuss Harriet Tubman not looking like Cindy Crawford when she led countless numbers of slaves to freedom? Are we going to forget the burden placed on Gloria Steinem for being the "pretty feminist" when it was determined feminists (women expecting to be treated as equal human beings) were just ugly and bitter because they couldn't get a man?

This misogyny is disgusting to me and, in my opinion, disrespectful to all women who have fought for a woman's right to be treated as an equal to a man. Women and men participating in this, shame on you.

What's up with the misogyny I've seen in the AR comments lately?

Chris Fisher of StagersLISTWebsites.com (StagersLIST.com) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:50:00 -0600

I found the perfect costume for you this year…

Chris Fisher of StagersLISTWebsites.com (StagersLIST.com) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:11:29 -0500

I received this email from my friend Adryon and I think it's a cute way to remind us that she's raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society by participating in Team in Training. If you'd like to see more information about Adryon, visit www.AdryonRocks.com. Then donate if you can. This Winter my grandpa, who passed away from Multiple Myeloma, will be one of the team's honorees.

I think you should dress up as a PHILANTHROPIST! It's a super easy costume to make - you don't even need to leave your house or even your chair! Plus, everyone will be dressing up as The Cat in The Hat - why not step outside of that box!

To make the costume, follow ALL of these steps:

1) Donate to my fundraising page http://pages.teamintraining.org/aketcham

2) Print out the receipt

3) Tape the receipt to yourself (wherever you choose!)

4) There you go! You are now a PHILANTHROPIST! Just like the Rockefellers! J

If you like, you can even print out the name tag I've provided below and wear it - but only after you follow the steps above!

Go Team!

Adryon Ketcham

Run when you can, walk when you have to, crawl if you must, JUST NEVER GIVE UP!

This Sunday, Nov 1, 2-4:30pm at the RCC. No on 1 Phone Bank in Concord, California

Chris Fisher of StagersLISTWebsites.com (StagersLIST.com) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:44:28 -0500

Marriage Equality-No on 1!

This Sunday, Nov 1, 2-4:30pm at the RCC
No on 1 Phone Bank
Make the difference on the last weekend before Nov 3!

Join Courage Campaign in helping protect marriage equality in Maine!

After a bill to allow same-sex marriage in Maine was signed into law on May 6, 2009, Maine became the fifth U.S. state to recognize same-sex marriage and the second to do so through legislative process rather than through a judicial ruling. The law would have taken effect on September 11, 2009, but will now be subject to a potential "people's veto" in Maine's November elections.

The stakes are extremely high in Maine. Right now, the same people that launched Prop 8 are airing fear-mongering TV ads in Maine that are carbon copies of the ads they aired last year in California.

In an election that is so close, a robust and disciplined field campaign can make all the difference. The Maine "NO on 1" campaign needs help making voter ID and persuasion phone calls. And that's where you can help.

Come make calls the whole time, or just some of the time. We need you!

Rainbow Community Center (RCC)
3024 Willow Pass Road, Suite 200
Concord, CA 94519-2588
Phone: 925.692.0090
Fax: 925.692.0091

To make a donation to RCC, click on this link.

Rare white hummingbird visits a Clayton, California hummingbird feeder

Chris Fisher of StagersLISTWebsites.com (StagersLIST.com) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:40:19 -0500

According to the Clayton Pioneer a rare white hummingbird has been spotted in Clayton California. Read the entire article by clicking here.

According to the hummingbird website www.RubyThroat.org this is extremely rare.

Couple things I learned while visiting www.RubyThroat.org were that hummingbirds are rarely seen in Europe and those are birds that have escaped captivity. I had no idea they didn't have hummingbirds in Europe.

I also learned about hummingbird moths, which apparently act so exactly like a hummingbird that they are often mistaken for baby humming birds. Hummingbirds do not leave the nest until fully grown, so you won't see a baby one flying around anywhere.

I just thought that was interesting, and it did remind me to fill my hummingbird feeder. : )

Lynelle Hartman speaks at the New York Metro Expo, November 12, 2009

Chris Fisher of StagersLISTWebsites.com (StagersLIST.com) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:50:29 -0500

www.LH2Staging.com. Lynelle Hartman is one of the pioneers in the industry working as a trainer for the two largest staging training companies in the US. She also trains in the Dewey Color System and has authored a continuing education course for stagers on vacant home staging. Lynelle and her partner Leigh have perfected the art of staging vacant (as well as occupied) homes in and around Minneapolis, Minnesota. Photography of their work has been showcased locally and in magazines. The best home staging trainers understand the industry because they run successful staging businesses and stage every day alongside their peers. In addition Lynelle had a 10 year Real Estate career and understands Realtors and their clients.

Lynelle will be a part of our Professional Home Stager and Designer Panel at the Real Estate Home Staging Expo on November 12, 2009. You won't want to miss this! The panel will focus on How to Create and Solidify Realtor Relationships.

Don't forget to register before November 1, 2009 to receive the Churchill Furniture Rental special price!

Location:
Churchill Furniture Rental
56 Utter Avenue
Hawthorne, NJ 07506-2117

Join us and learn from Lynelle and our two other Panel Experts, Sid Pinkerton and Kate Hart. Learn how to solidify your Realtor relationships and keep your business thriving in ANY market.

This expert panel is just one feature of the full day's events. Check out the full Real Estate Home Staging Agenda and join us November 12, 2009 for a great day of learning and fun!

Kate Hart speaks at the New York Metro Expo, November 12, 2009

Chris Fisher of StagersLISTWebsites.com (StagersLIST.com) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 14:27:33 -0500

www.HartStaging.com Kate Hart, an award winning home staging expert, has helped hundreds of families prepare their homes for sale, personally mentored and trained thousands of Realtors and staging professionals on the benefits of staging as a property marketing tool. She has been featured as a staging, design expert on HGTV, CNN, Fine Living Network and 50+ publications including Better Homes and Gardens, Everyday with Rachel Ray, Family Circle, Luxury Homes Quarterly. Currently the spokesperson for Mirror Mate Frames she is working on a book "Are You Selling a Used Home or a Pre-Owned Domicile?" soon to be released. Find out how she builds relationships with Realtors in her local market.

Kate will be a part of our Professional Home Stager and Designer Panel at the Real Estate Home Staging Expo on November 12, 2009. You won't want to miss this! The panel will focus on How to Create and Solidify Realtor Relationships.

Don't forget to register before November 1, 2009 to receive the Churchill Furniture Rental special price!

Location:
Churchill Furniture Rental
56 Utter Avenue
Hawthorne, NJ 07506-2117

Join us and learn from Kate and our two other Panel Experts, Sid Pinkerton and Lynelle Hartman. Learn how to solidify your Realtor relationships and keep your business thriving in ANY market.

This expert panel is just one feature of the full day's events. Check out the full Real Estate Home Staging Agenda and join us November 12, 2009 for a great day of learning and fun!

Sid Pinkerton speaks at the New York Metro Expo, November 12, 2009

Chris Fisher of StagersLISTWebsites.com (StagersLIST.com) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 18:50:36 -0500

www.FromDrabtoFab.com Sid Pinkerton was featured on TLC as a home staging expert. Sid has staged hundreds of apartments in Metro New York in the past six years. "Even in this market, we continue to have more than 90% of our staged properties of those within 7 days," says Sid. Sid says his clients are the Realtors and he is acutely aware of that. Sid's business is referral and word of mouth only. Learn how Sid turned his love of Real Estate into a passion that earns him a six figure income with NO outside marketing. We will talk about Sid's philosophy and how he maximizes the Realtor relationships in a challenging and unique marketplace, New York City.

Sid will be a part of our Professional Home Stager and Designer Panel at the Real Estate Home Staging Expo on November 12, 2009. You won't want to miss this! The panel will focus on How to Create and Solidify Realtor Relationships.

Don't forget to register before November 1, 2009 to receive the Churchill Furniture Rental special price!

Location:
Churchill Furniture Rental
56 Utter Avenue
Hawthorne, NJ 07506-2117

Join us and learn from Sid and our two other Panel Experts, Kate Hart and Lynelle Hartman. Learn how to solidify your Realtor relationships and keep your business thriving in ANY market.

This expert panel is just one feature of the full day's events. Check out the full Real Estate Home Staging Agenda and join us November 12, 2009 for a great day of learning and fun!

Volunteers Needed in Concord, California

Chris Fisher of StagersLISTWebsites.com (StagersLIST.com) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 17:33:26 -0500

Volunteers Needed

Kind Hearts Program

Please donate your used and clean shopping bags to help our Program participants transport their groceries.

Friendly Visitors Program
This great program increases the social connections of RCC's community through volunteers making home visits and phonecalls to program participants. This will require five hours per month(four with clients and one in meetings/training) and regular documentation of services.

Kind Hearts Food Program
We need Home Delivery Volunteers on Thursday mornings and afternoons to help pick up and deliver food to our elderly and HIV-impacted clients. This program ensures that these underserved communities will continue receiving much needed basic goods. We are especially looking for volunteers with trucks to pickup and deliver large quantities of food. Contact Wade at (925)692-0090 or via email at wade@rainbowcc.org

The above volunteer positions are available at the Rainbow Community Center in Concord, California. They provide some wonderful programs for our community and it's very important that we all help out where we can. If you are able to help out with one of these programs, please do. If nothing else I'm sure we all have a pile of paper shopping bags we can donate. Thank you!

We can help with Maine's No on 1 campaign!

Chris Fisher of StagersLISTWebsites.com (StagersLIST.com) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:09:07 -0500

Many of you remember how vocal I was when California's Proposition 8 was on the ballot, and how devastated when it actually passed. I believe it passed partly due to confusion about how to defeat it, and partly because many of us did not show up to vote.

In 12 days (November 3) Maine is voting on Prop 1. We can help the NO on 1 campaign by calling people in Maine and reminding them to vote, and to vote NO on 1. Click the image to the right if you are able to sign up for a phone shift.

Thank you for your help!

Here are links to 3 wedding stories I posted during the Prop 8 campaign.
Wedding Story #1
Wedding Story #2
Wedding Story #3

I'd love to hear more wedding stories, please share if you would like.

Real Estate Home Staging Expo in New Jersey November 12, 2009

Chris Fisher of StagersLISTWebsites.com (StagersLIST.com) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:33:51 -0500

Don't Miss Our 2nd Annual Real Estate Home Staging Expo in the New York Metro Area!!
November 12, 2009
We welcome everyone to our expo, you do not have to have any designation or be a member of any organization to attend.

Churchill Furniture Rental offers their preferred customers the RESA price if they register before 11/1/09. Churchill Furnitire Rental is proud to sponsor the 2009 Expo. Last year was GREAT and this year will be even better. All new format and topics.

Don't just survive - thrive.

ALL NEW TOPICS - Speakers include Christine Rae, who appeared as Staging Training expert for HGTV's The Decorating Adventures of Ambrose Price (soon to be released in the US) talking about 5 Mistakes, 5 Solutions, 5 Market Driven Trends.

Workshops to build your business, income and proficiency. Home Passport Program - meet the sponsors that want to earn your business and meet your challenges.

Program Highlights:

5 Mistakes, 5 Solutions, 5 Market Driven Trends to Build Revenue
Websites, Blogging and Social Media, SEO Made Easy
Overcome Objections
Add Revenue Streams, Dynamic Floral Demonstration
Marketing and Networking for RESULTS
Professional Stagers Tell ALL... Panel Discussion
How to Take Brilliant Photos Sell, Lights, Camera, Action

Our 2008 Event SOLD OUT, so register today!
Coordinators:
Expo, Juliet Johnson
Expo & Sponsors, Ginger Pugliese, 732.718.8068 732.718.8068, ginger_pugliese@hotmail.com
Expo & Sponsors, Cindy Mussman, 732.763.3692 732.763.3692, ckminteriors@aol.com

Our Expo is brought to you by these fine sponsors:
Bekins
Certified Staging Professionals
Staging and ReDesign
The Interiority Complex
Real Estate Staging Association
Churchill Furniture Rental
Exclusively Staged Florals
LH2 Photography

Remember to vote....jrosoevelt@kw.com, Janice Roosevelt, Keller Williams - PA & DE

Chris Fisher of StagersLISTWebsites.com (StagersLIST.com) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:57:34 -0500

I thought this was a very important story to share, thank you Janice.

Via Janice Roosevelt,Ecobroker, ABR, e-PRO - Matt F (Matt Fetick Real Estate Team - Keller Williams Real Estate -):

This is the story of women who were ground-breakers. These brave women from the early 1900s made all the difference in the lives we live today. Remember, it was not until 1920 that women were granted the right to go to the polls and vote. The women were innocent and defenseless, but when, in North America, women picketed in front of the White House, carrying signs asking for the vote, they were jailed.

And by the end of the first night in jail, those women were barely alive.
Forty prison guards wielding clubs and their warden's blessing
went on a rampage against the 33 women wrongly convicted of
'obstructing sidewalk traffic.'

(Lucy Burns)
They beat Lucy Burns, chained her hands to the cell bars above her head and left her hanging for the night, bleeding and gasping for air.

They hurled Dora Lewis into a dark cell, smashed her
head against an iron bed and knocked her out cold. Her cellmate,
Alice Cosu, thought Lewis was dead and suffered a heart attack.
Additional affidavits describe the guards grabbing, dragging,
beating, choking, slamming, pinching, twisting and kicking the women.

Thus unfolded the 'Night of Terror' on Nov. 15, 1917,
when the warden at the Occoquan Workhouse in Virginia ordered his
guards to teach a lesson to the suffragists imprisoned there because
they dared to picket Woodrow Wilson's White House for the right
to vote.

For weeks, the women's only water came from an open pail. Their
food--all of it colorless slop--was infested with worms.

When one of the leaders, Alice Paul, embarked on a hunger strike, they tied her to a
chair, forced a tube down her throat and poured liquid into her until she vomited.
She was tortured like this for weeks until word was smuggled out to the press.

All women who have every voted, have ever owned property, have ever enjoyed equal rights need to remember that women's rights had to be fought for in Canada as well. Do our daughters and our sisters know the price that was paid to earn rights for women here, in North America?

2009 is the 80th Anniversary of the Persons Case in Canada,
which finally declared women in Canada to be Persons!

Please, if you are so inclined, pass this on to all the women you know, so that we remember to celebrate the rights we enjoy.

"Knowledge is Freedom: hide it, and it withers; share it, and it blooms" (P. Hill)

jroosevelt@kw.com

Indianapolis Home Staging Expo A Huge Success!

Chris Fisher of StagersLISTWebsites.com (StagersLIST.com) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:15:04 -0500

WOW! Great review of the Indianapolis Expo from Gary Barnett. Big thanks to Gary and Linda and their whole team for helping make this event the success that it was!

Via Gary Barnett Home Matters, Home Stagers, Indianapolis (Home Matters):

What happens when a room full of Home Stagers gets to listen to a superstar cast of speakers from our industry? Inspiration! Linda and I had heard this over and over about past EXPO's but you really have to see it and hear it first hand to truly understand just how inspirational it really is.

Home stagers, Real Estate Professionals, and other people interested in learning more about the Real Estate Staging Industry came from all over the Midwest to the Stagers List Expo held at the CORT Furniture Rental showroom on September 29^th & 30^thin Indianapolis. Attendees came from places like St Louis Missouri, Lexington and Louisville Kentucky, Elkhart, Greenwood, Greenville, Greenfield, Brownsburg, Noblesville, Roanoke, Crown Point, Ft Wayne, Elkhart, Jasper and the metro Indianapolis Indiana area, Detroit, Grand Haven, Royal Oak, Bloomfield Hills and Richland Michigan and last but not least, Algonquin, Hawthorn Woods and the Chicago Illinois metro area. Linda and I were able to meet and re-connect with so many great people in our industry.

Speakers and subjects included:

Terrylynn Fisher, Realtor Veteran and 2008 RESA Realtor of the year from Concord, California spoke about "Demystifying the Realtor. Service vs. Collaboration". A tremendous amount of insight into the life and thought process of today's real estate agent.

Christine Rae from Toronto Canada founder of Certified Staging Professionals and well known keynote speaker, author of the book; "Home Staging for Dummies" shared "The 5 mistakes that stagers make, the 5 steps to turn your business around and 5 market driven trends to build your revenue". This was a session filled with great insight by one of our true industry leaders. Christine also gave us two day 2 workshops, "Understanding client behavior & communication to overcome objections" which was a big hit with the group and "Green Business- Future or Fad? Which was very informative?

Shell Broadax from Stockton, California founder of the Real Estate Staging Association gave us "The importance of joining a trade run association that promotes ethics and high standards" An important look into the reasons why a member ran organization is important to the growth of our industry for all stagers regardless of their training affiliations. Shell also provided a day 2 workshop on "Advanced Marketing, Networking & Sales techniques for staging professionals". Everyone found this session to be full of very important information to help them market their businesses.

Melissa Marro, Founder of First Impressions Home Staging & Training, CSP North American Director, IRIS, Dewey Color Trainer of Charleston South Carolina discussed "Photos-The Final Ingredient". Very helpful information for a much overlooked part of all of our businesses, and she also gave us a day 2 workshop entitled "Your Portfolio-Creating Imagery". Excellent tips from a real Marketing pro.

We also had a very insightful session led by TerryLynn titled "Meet the Realtors" TerryLynn discussed what Realtors really want from Home Stagers, with two area Top producing agents, Chris Castetter, an agent for FC Tucker and Lydia Stauder an agent with the Tony English group. Very interesting discussion from realtors who believe in and use staging services on their listings.

Vendors who participated included CSP, RESA, Bekins Truck Line, Staging & Redesign, Interiority Complex, Chadwick Construction and a big Thanks to Babette Harpster, Catherine "Cat" Bates and the entire staff from CORT Furniture Rental for being such a tremendous host. CORT is really being a true partner to the Home Staging Industry here in Indiana and across the country.

Linda and I even held a lunch time question & answer session on building teams!

Thanks to all of the speakers and vendors for coming to the Midwest and providing such great insight to our area stagers. We are all certainly looking forward to many great years to come.

And last, I wanted to share the following, which is an excerpt from a blog written by Carolyn Stieger, an attendee of the Indianapolis Expo from the greater Detroit area which I believe sums up the thoughts of most of us that attended;

Carolyn Stieger, ASPM, IAHSP, CRTS, WCR, WWOCAR (We Stage Greater Detroit)

Stager List Expo Indianapolis - What a great experience today! The tips and tricks that were shared today were incredible. Staging is an industry that is so new and there needs to be more education to the public and Realtors to understand how to present our added value as team members to the Realtor listing proposals.

Listening to Realtors that utilize Home Stagers share their real life experiences. Top producers with a 98.5% selling price to listing price results, raving about Home Stagers as their team members! This will be my new LinkedIn request: I'm looking for Realtors in the greater Detroit (Southeast Michigan) area that want to grow their business and team up with a professional Home Stager.

The value for me to attend this Expo is priceless. (Being away from my business for 4 days in this busy time of year, was a huge time commitment, a 5 1/2 hour road trip in rain and high winds) This is the most cost effective, stager to stager networking and industry education event this year in my area! If you have the opportunity to attend a StagersList.com Expo in your area this year, be sure to attend. Great Value, Great Experience.

Wordless Wednesday - Time Flies

Chris Fisher of StagersLISTWebsites.com (StagersLIST.com) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:53:52 -0500