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Just
for Parents
The FRED Factor
Have you heard of the Fred Factor? The folks at Harmony Kids sure have.
We aspire to be Fred because he is our role model for how we want to live
our lives whether at work or at play, whether being a mom, a friend, a sales
associate, or a volunteer. We heard about Fred from work being done by Shop
Fort Collins First, Fort Collins Convention and Visitor’s Bureau and the
Downtown Business Association along with many other businesses like Harmony
Kids.
Who is Fred? Fred is Fred Shea who inspired author and motivational speaker
Mark Sanborn to write his book, The Fred Factor. Fred is a real-life postal
carrier who took his ordinary job of delivering mail and looked at it as an
opportunity to make a difference in the lives of those he served.
A Fred is a role model for anyone who wants to make a difference in his or
her work environment and a gold-plated example of what personalized customer
service looks like. We at Harmony Kids are committed to being Freds. We
would wear name tags with Fred written on them if everyone didn’t think we
were a little looney.
The Fred Factor is based on the following 4 principles:
1. Everyone makes a difference.
2. Everything is built on relationships.
3. You must continually create value for others, and it doesn't have to cost
a penny.
4. You can reinvent yourself regularly.
We hope you will notice the Freds at Harmony Kids. We hope you will notice
the Freds all over Fort Collins who are participating in this program to
make your shopping experience several notches better than what you may be
accustomed to. We hope you will continue to shop at stores whose employees
are working to be Freds for their customers. We hope you will read The Fred
Factor and be inspired to live your life like Fred. He’s an inspiration to
us, inside or outside the workplace.
If you have a Fred experience at Harmony Kids, we hope you will go to this
website Click here: Nominating a friend or colleague: the fred factor: City
of Fort Collins.
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www.Harmony-Kids.com
info@harmony-kids.com
Photo
Paramedics:Organizing Your Photo Stash
By Marsha Knackstedt
We all take photos but unfortunately most of those precious photos end up
stashed in piles, boxes and drawers. More recently our photos are often
being left on memory cards and computers where they will eventually be lost
due to technology changes and computer crashes. To begin rescuing your
photos involves getting them organized! The steps to follow are much the
same for both your digital images and your prints.
The first step is to collect. Get
all of your photos from their various locations and put them all in one
location. If you are organizing both print and digital, I suggest organizing
them separately and combine them when you are ready to create an album
The second step is to decide how you
want to organize your photos. Consider what the central themes are in your
collection of photos. Some themes to consider are family, friends,
vacations, and celebrations. You may wish to create a timeline to aid in
sorting your photos chronologically.
The third step is sorting. For your
digital images use a photo organizing computer program such as Memory
Manager offered by Creative Memories. With it you can sort your photos into
different sort boxes and files with a click of the mouse. In addition, with
this program, you can edit your images, write the story with your photo,
label and date, backup and print your photos. For your prints you will want
to use a photo safe storage system such as the Power Sort System by Creative
Memories. It offers a safe, convenient, and complete storage system to use
until you are ready to put your photos into albums. It helps you categorize
photos based on the album projects you have decided on. When sorting
chronologically it is best to begin sorting your photos by year and once
that is completed go back and sort photos within each year. The removable
compartments and reusable dividers are instrumental in grouping your photos.
Another helpful organization tool is the photo labeling pencil, a waxy
pencil for labeling the back of photos, and the File Mate and Folders for
sorting large photos and your collection of memorabilia.
When you are ready to rescue those photos
contact Marsha Knackstedt, an Independent Creative Memories Consultant. She
will give you one on one help to get started on sorting those piles of
photos. Typically her workshops are held the 2nd Friday of the month in
Wellington, CO and the 3rd Friday and Saturday of the month in Loveland, CO.
Special upcoming events are Croptoberfest Oct 21 & 22 in Ft. Collins, CO and
Holiday Open House in Loveland, CO Nov. 18 & 19. Consider scheduling a Get
Together with your friends where Marsha demonstrates the basics of
scrapbooking. There you and your friends have fun sharing their stories and
trying our time saving tools to create a short story sampler using 2 of your
photos and you receive a free gift.
If you’re interested in sharing the
importance and ease of preserving your family photos and stories, Marsha
welcomes new consultants to her team. Contact her at:
marsha@kbarusa.com
 Girl Scouting - More than Cookies!
By Linda Brott
Girl Scouting began in this country in 1912
and continues to influence and guide girls with more than 300 chartered
councils in the US. Mountain Prairie Council was chartered in 1952 and
serves 8 ½ counties in northeastern Colorado. Currently the council serves
5,700 girls with the help and dedication of 1,500 volunteers.
Girl Scouts is the largest leadership development organization for girls in
the world. All girls ages 5-17, who accept the Girl Scout Promise and Law,
are welcome to join. Girl Scouts strives to meet the needs of this diverse
and changing population. The council is committed to staying on the leading
edge of programming by utilizing research compiled at the National Girl
Scout Research Institute and feedback from the girls and volunteers. Because
girls have a desire to explore and excel, age- appropriate activities
develop confidence and skills in girls as they progress from one age level
to the next. Volunteers take the lead with very young girls, but as girls
progress to older levels, they are given more opportunities to plan their
own activities.
Recognizing the unique needs of girls ages 11-17, Girl Scouts offers a
flexible program called STUDIO2B. As a part of STUDIO2B girls find a space
where they can discuss real-life issues and define their individuality.
Teen-savvy adults in their 20s offer guidance, but the girls decide when and
where to meet, and what to do or talk about. They can pursue Girl Scout
programs and badges, or just explore issues of importance to them. It is a
safe, girl-designed space.
Girl Scouts would not be what it is today if it were not for the continuing
support of our volunteers. The council welcomes women and men volunteers and
offers a variety of positions to match their interests and available time.
Training and support are provided to all volunteers. Examples of
opportunities include troop leader, trainer of adult volunteers and board or
committee member. In order to offer girls the best leadership, volunteers
must stay current with their training and are evaluated annually. Interested
adults are required to complete an application form, provide three personal
references, and pass a background check.
Along with the girls and volunteers, it is hard to mention Girl Scouts
without talking about the annual cookie sale. Through the cookie program,
girls develop important financial, people and business skills. While all
proceeds remain here to benefit local girls, the sale provides only about
70% of the council’s budget. The support of community members is essential
to provide the remaining funding to best serve the girls. If you would like
to make a donation, please contact the office at (970) 493-1844 or toll free
at 1-888-801-1269. You may also visit the web site at
www.gsmpc.org.
Please help spread the
message that Girl Scouting is still relevant today,
in fact more so than ever!
Linda Brott
Communications Director
Girl Scouts-Mountain Prairie Council
(970)493-1844
linda@gsmpc.org
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