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A biz opportunity too good to hide under the rug…Drysdale’s All-Natural Carpet Care offers start-up business package.

PEABODY, MA…

Looking to own a green business? Perhaps you just want to run your own business and make some green? Drysdale’s All Natural Carpet Care kills two birds with one stone, offering budding entrepreneurs the opportunity to own and run your own green carpet cleaning business for as little as $2,000–without any franchise fees or royalties.

“When I started Drysdale’s back in 1990, I didn’t know a thing about running a carpet cleaning business—even though I had two college degrees. Through trial and error, we not only developed a chemical-free way to clean rugs and carpeting, but a marketing and operational system to help budding entrepreneurs own and operate a successful carpet cleaning business,” said Dullea.

Since its inception in 1990, Drysdale’s All-Natural Carpet Care has made its name by cleaning carpeting and rugs without chemicals and superior customer service. That combination earned Drysdale’s a “Best of Boston” award from Boston Magazine, an A rating on AngiesList, a listing in the National Green Pages (the only carpet cleaning business in New England) and most recently inclusion in the McGraw-Hill book Build a Green Small Business.

For just $1995, Drysdale will provide prospective owners the equipment, supplies, training materials and the free backup technical and business assistance needed to run a successful carpet cleaning business. That includes The Challenger, the machine Drysdale’s uses to clean rugs and carpets without chemicals. There are no franchise fees, no royalties and no territories. You can even name your own business. Best of all, the business owner keeps 100 percent of the earnings.

And what type of earnings can a carpet cleaner expect to make? Depending on whether it’s a commercial or residential job, the hourly rate can range from $80 to $125 per hour. With the growing demand for “green” products and services, that rate has the potential of growing and growing.

“The best part about this opportunity is you can come from any walk of life and do this business and make it fit your lifestyle. You can clean the carpets yourself or hire staff. You can be the guy recently out of work who can’t afford a prolonged job search and just wants an income. You can be just out of school or a single parent who can only work while the kids are at school. Or you can merely be the person who’s tired of working for other people and wants to run his or her own show. This is your chance to start a business with a proven niche and track record for success for minimal dollars,” said Dullea.

In addition to cleaning all types of carpeting and rugs via a unique odorless,
low-moisture, natural process, you will also have the capability and equipment to offer other services to increase your marketability, including:

●        Upholstery cleaning

●        Cleaning of tile & grout floors

●        Polishing/refinishing of natural stone floors (marble, limestone,
and travertine)

●        Sterilizing of mattresses through the use of high-pressure, 300 degree
live steam (enough heat to destroy dust mite allergen)

●        Dustless sanding & refinishing of wood floors.

For more information about the business opportunity presented by Drysdale’s All-Natural Carpet Care, please visit www.carpet-cleaning-business.com or contact Mark Dullea at 617-242-9657 or markd@cybercom.net.

About Drysdale’s All-Natural Carpet Care

Drysdale’s All-Natural Carpet Care has been cleaning carpeting and rugs the chemical-free way since way back when Kermit the Frog was just a tadpole. In addition to cleaning all types of carpeting and rugs via a unique odorless, low-moisture, natural process, Drysdale’s also offers a variety of other services ranging from upholstery cleaning to sterilizing mattresses; cleaning tile & grout floors to polishing/refinishing of natural stone floors.

Drysdale’s All-Natural Carpet Care has been recognized by several reputable publications and organizations. That includes being a “Best of Boston” selection in BOSTON Magazine, maintaining a straight “A” rating on AngiesList and being the only carpet cleaning company in New England to be listed in the NATIONAL GREEN PAGES (a nonprofit) published by CoopAmerica (http://www.coopamerica.org). Most recently, Drysdales was highlighted in the McGraw-Hill book BUILD A GREEN SMALL BUSINESS, by Scott Cooney, as a national leader in more healthy home services.

For more information on Drysdale’s All-Natural Carpet Care and Drysdale’s Total Floor Care, visit (http://www.drysdales123.com). For details on the business opportunity presented by Drysdale’s All-Natural Carpet Care, please visit www.carpet-cleaning-business.com or contact Mark Dullea at 617-242-9657 or markd@cybercom.net.  

A biz opportunity too good to hide under the rug…Drysdale’s All-Natural Carpet Care offers start-up business package.Read More

No place like home (and garden) show…DirectBuy of Buffalo to exhibit at the Buffalo Home and Garden Show.

CHEEKTOWAGA, NY…

DirectBuy of Buffalo, the leading home improvement and furnishings club with direct insider prices, recently announced it will be exhibiting at the 2009 Buffalo Home and Garden Show, to be held at the Buffalo Convention Center, February 28 to March 8.

The Home and Garden show is one of western New York’s largest consumer shows of its kind and will feature more than 500 experts and thousands of new products in the areas of home, gardening, remodeling, home décor and more. With a well-earned reputation for enabling its members to save hundreds and even thousands on home improvement projects in all those areas, DirectBuy of Buffalo will be exhibiting at Booths 301 and 416.

“The Buffalo Home and Garden Show is a great opportunity to introduce DirectBuy of Buffalo to a broader local audience,” said Mark Klinger, owner of DirectBuy of Buffalo. “I’m sure anybody stopping by our booth will get a sense that DirectBuy offers a whole lot more than just saving money on your home improvement projects.”

In addition to the exhibits, the Buffalo Home and Garden Show will feature a guest appearance by HGTV’s Shane Gallant from Designed to Sell. Also, the show’s promoter, Marketplace Events, is holding a raffle for entrants to win two tickets to the Denver Home Show and the opportunity to meet Ty Pennington of ABC-TV’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.” Pennington recently inked a three-year deal to be Marketplace Events’ spokesperson.

For more information on the 2009 Buffalo Home and Garden Show, you can visit www.buffalohomeshow.com.

Members of DirectBuy have access to thousands of items, including kitchen cabinets, flat-screen televisions and major appliances from hundreds of top manufacturers and their authorized suppliers. Since DirectBuy offers brand-name merchandise with no traditional retail markup, members are able to save hundreds, even thousands, of dollars on purchases for their homes.

To assist with home renovation, DirectBuy members also have access to licensed interior designers and product specialists who are specifically trained in one of five areas of merchandise: Home Furnishings, Home Improvement, Flooring, Accessories, and Entertainment/Outdoor.

Conveniently located at 4950 Genesee Street in Cheektowaga, New York, DirectBuy offers members a comfortable setting where they finally have the financial control of buying direct.

For more information on a DirectBuy membership, you can call 716-684-1400 or visit

www.directbuy-buffalo.com.

About DirectBuy

Since 1971, DirectBuy has helped hundreds of thousands of families enjoy a better quality of life, enabling them to buy directly from more than 700 manufacturers and their authorized suppliers. Buying direct makes members’ hard-earned money to go much further, while having the selection and choice not available at any retail store. DirectBuy has been serving the greater Buffalo area since 2005. Access to confidential prices, local suppliers, and unparalleled selection helps make members’ dream projects a reality.  It’s a comfortable, country-club setting, where you finally have the financial control of buying direct. DirectBuy of Buffalo is one of more than 160 DirectBuy locations throughout North America.

Consumers interested in becoming members may obtain a Visitor’s Pass to attend an Open House by contacting DirectBuy at 716-684-1400, or visiting www.DirectBuy-Buffalo.com. 

To learn more about the superior value and benefits of a DirectBuy membership, visit www.directbuycares.com.  

No place like home (and garden) show…DirectBuy of Buffalo to exhibit at the Buffalo Home and Garden Show.Read More

USMMA to Host a Child Safety Open House on March 14th

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United States Mixed Martial Arts (USMMA) in Bellingham, MA will host a Child Safety Open House on Saturday, March 14th from 12 to 4 p.m. at their studio located at 316 Hartford Avenue.

This event is free and all are welcome to attend.

USMMA’s Child Safety Open House is a child safety and protection event and a number of activities will be held throughout the afternoon:

· The Milford Police Department (the main sponsor of this event) will be on-site to provide parents with FBI quality fingerprints of their children.

· The Franklin Police Department’s DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) officers will be on-site to provide information and talk with parents and kids.

· Sudbury and Bellingham Police Departments’ K-9 Units will give demonstrations.

· USMMA will give Mixed Martial Arts self-defense demonstrations.

To round out the event, the Boys and Girls Scouts will have an information table and there will be face-painting, raffles, prizes and delectable refreshments courtesy of Whole Foods.

“Fingerprinting is the best way for parents to obtain identification information for their children which can be used to turn over to authorities anywhere in the world to aid in the event of a missing child investigation. When there’s an emergency, having that information at your fingertips is essential,” noted Tom Hafers, owner of USMMA.

He continued, “This event is designed to empower families with specific information regarding child safety and protection. We’re committed to helping families and very fortunate to have the Milford, Franklin, Sudbury and Bellingham Police Departments involved in this very special event.”

About USMMA

USMMA focuses on elevating the physical and spiritual well being of students through Mixed Martial Arts and Yoga. Classes offered include Strength & Conditioning; Brazilian Jiu Jitsu; Thai Boxing; Cardio Thai Boxing; Wrestling; Cardio and Open Mat; Kids Mixed Martial Arts; Pilates; Power Yoga and Deep Flow Yoga.

USMMA’s state of the art, 4,000 square foot training facility is complete with a 2,000 square foot padded MMA training floor equipped with heavy bags and conditioning equipment, a 1,500 square foot yoga studio, locker rooms, showers and a juice bar. USMMA is located at 316 Hartford Avenue in Bellingham. For more information, call 508-966-5006 or visit their website at www.usmma.org.

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Seven Deadly Business Clichés That Need to be Stopped

A green light to drawing traffic to your Web site

(Note: Larry Rice, Director of Business Development, for Rodman & Rodman, P.C. authored this topic. We thought PR Pointer readers would enjoy it.)

OK, it is January.  This is when we rid ourselves of old baggage and begin again. What is that phrase – “Out with the old and in with the new?”

Well I am going to focus on getting rid of the old this month.  Specifically, I would like to propose my list of seven business clichés that need to get kicked to the curb. If you see any that you use, don’t feel guilty. I use nearly all of these phrases myself. But it needs to be stopped, for a variety of reasons:

They sound pretentious; They don’t really mean anything; They no longer mean what they were originally intended to mean; and They’re annoying as hell.

I won’t bother putting these in some sort of order or ranking. Take them for what they are:  Overused clichés that need to take a two decade vacation, or longer.

#1 “Solution” – Everything everyone does these days is a solution, but is it really?  When someone provides you a solution, does it end up being the correct answer? That is what I think a solution is; it is an answer. Time for ‘solution’ to go.

#2 “Re-invented” – You cannot re-invent anything. See, I am already annoyed. Only one person or group gets to invent something. Everyone else is either changing that invention or improving it.

#3 “Just my 2 cents” – This one simply needs to be adjusted for inflation. We should at least be up to a buck and a quarter by now.

#4 “Organic growth” – Am I the only one who gets visions of unsightly molds when they hear this cliché used? I get so distracted by the visual I don’t hear a single thing said after that phrase is uttered. We cannot have that. Good bye.

#5 “At the end of the day” – This one has British roots I believe, but so does the English language so I am not blaming anyone from the United Kingdom for this one. All I know is that at the end of the day, you go home and that is what one should focus on – Heading home to your reason for working and building a business in the first place: Your family.

#6 “Thinking outside of the box” – I am sure someone knows the etymology of this phrase, and I admit I use this phrase a lot, but I am going to stop. Largely because I think there is a better word we should use more: Creativity. Just saying the word beckons more open thinking to me. Boxes? They should be recycled – end of story.

#7 “Throw him under the bus” – Last but not least is this classic.  You can thank me later – but some day you are going to be talking with someone important to your business that has actually had a loved one hit by a bus. You will be so thankful that “THUTB” was out of your cliché repertoire when you do.

So there they are. You have your own I am sure.  Think about the phrases you say a lot, maybe too much. Then find a new way of saying it.  If you catch me using these, confront me. I’ll appreciate it I assure you.

Footnote:
Larry Rice, Director of Business Development, for Rodman & Rodman. The company was founded in 1961, Rodman & Rodman, P.C. provides accounting, tax and business services to small and medium-sized companies throughout New England.  With a focus on strategic planning, Rodman & Rodman goes beyond traditional accounting services and takes a proactive approach when serving clients to increase, preserve and sustain clients’ financial net worth.  For more details, please see www.Rodmancpa.com.

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DirectBuy of Cool Springs awards member $50,000 home makeover

Brentwood, TN…

DirectBuy of Cool Springs, the home improvement and furnishings club with direct insider prices, is set to award $50,000 to one of its members at 1:00 pm on Saturday, February 14, 2009, as part of the company’s national Home Makeover Program. The celebration will be highlighted by the presentation of an oversized check to Rogelio Menchaca-Garcia by the club’s owners, Steve Blume and John Langley.

Rogelio Menchaca-Garcia joined DirectBuy of Cool Springs in November of 2008, and was in the midst of remodeling his home when he was informed he had won DirectBuy’s grand prize. “This is the first time I have won anything, and I was shocked,” he said excitedly. “I really can’t believe it. I am still speechless.”

When asked about his plans for his newfound fortune, Menchaca-Garcia said he will continue to make smart, budget-conscious improvements to his home with the help of DirectBuy to maximize his return on investment when he decides to sell. To go along with new flooring and fixtures for his bathroom, he has added a new roof and is planning a full kitchen remodel, complete with new windows and appliances.

Rogelio is currently active in the military and was formerly deployed in Bosnia. He now works as part of a special program called Wounded Warriors – a not-for-profit organization that provides tangible support for soldiers to help them on the road to healing.

“We work with soldiers who may have been wounded overseas while serving our country,” he explained. “Our objective is to help them rehabilitate with the goal of returning either to active duty and/or the community.”

Steve Blume and John Langley, who own and operate DirectBuy of Cool Springs, were excited to be able to help one of their members realize their dreams, and felt it was especially meaningful that it was a community member who had served our country overseas.

“We always have imagined how awesome it would if someone won the Home Makeover Program from our showroom, but for it to actually happen in our club is incredible,” co-owner Steve Blume explained. “I have come to know and respect Rogelio Menchaca-Garcia. He’s a wonderful person – exactly the caliber of person you want and hope will win. Everyone at our showroom is so excited and happy for him.”

Over the past few years, DirectBuy has distributed more than $450,000 in prize money to both members and non-members as part of their Home Makeover Program, designed to help consumers create the home of their dreams.

DirectBuy of Cool Springs recently relocated to a brand new, 25,000 sq. foot showroom, conveniently located at 1005 Flagpole Court in Brentwood in the new Mallory Park development. The franchise was among the top ten United States franchises in annual merchandise volume purchased by members in 2008. Additionally, the club boasts an A+ rating from their local Better Business Bureau, attracting members who drive as much as four hours to shop there.

To assist members with their home renovation projects, DirectBuy of Cool Springs employs interior designers and product specialists who are specially trained in one of five areas of merchandise: Home Furnishings, Home Improvement, Flooring, Entertainment/Outdoor, and Accessories. Additionally, members benefit from the use of a children’s play area, café and a member’s lounge to relax while shopping.

DirectBuy of Cool Springs members also have exclusive access to renowned designer Christopher Lowell.  Lowell has designed 12 room settings – created exclusively with products available through DirectBuy – using his Seven Layers of Design. An innovative approach to home décor, The Seven Layers of Design keeps homeowners on budget and from feeling overwhelmed by their project.

DirectBuy Membership

Consumers who are interested in joining DirectBuy of Cool Springs are encouraged to attend an exclusive Open House event, which is designed to educate families about DirectBuy’s unique business model.  The Open House also helps consumers better understand how DirectBuy members avoid traditional retail markup when purchasing brand-name merchandise. 

About DirectBuy

For more than 37 years, DirectBuy has been showing hundreds of thousands of consumers unparalleled ways to save as they shop for virtually everything for in and around their homes – from furnishings, home improvement and flooring, to entertainment and outdoor products, accessories and much, much more. With more than 160 locations in North America, DirectBuy offers its members access to approximately 700 brand-name manufacturers and their authorized suppliers in the US, and more than 500 brand-name manufacturers and authorized suppliers in Canada.

Consumers interested in seeing DirectBuy’s savings, service and selection up close may obtain a Visitor’s Pass to attend an Open House by visiting www.directbuycoolsprings.com or www.directbuycares.com.

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“Coffee for $1.00” at J.P. Licks

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From February 16th through the 28th, customers can get a small coffee all day, every day, for only $1.00 at any J.P. Licks location. J.P. Licks has been roasting their own fresh coffee in the Jamaica Plain store since 1999, and now offers a wide selection of Fair Trade and organic certified coffees.

Coffee sampling and $4.00 off promotion

In addition to offering a $1.00 coffee, J.P. Licks will also offer free coffee samples every evening from 6-9 p.m. in all locations and will be providing customers during this time a coupon for $4.00 off a one pound bag of their home roasted beans. The samplings will enable customers to try some of the different varieties of coffees that J.P. Licks has to offer, including their wonderful decafs, all of which are Swiss Water Processed, which uses no chemicals in the decaffeination process.

It’s all in the Blend

Since February is “Specialty Coffee Month”, you’ll be able to try a variety of coffees such as J.P. Licks’ Rainforest Alliance coffee known as “Don Telmo Reserva” from Colombia. It’s certified organic, shade grown and bird-friendly, and the Rainforest Alliance seal ensures that everyone in the chain (growers, harvesters, processors, and Mother Earth) gets fair treatment and compensation.

Don Telmo Reserva Colombian coffee is one of the smoothest Colombian flavors. It’s medium bodied and very well balanced with slight notes of chocolate. Those who like bold, full flavored coffee such as Sumatra or Ethiopia, would like J.P. Licks’ Winter Blend. The House Blend is perfect for folks who like smooth coffee with medium acidity. Each of these coffees, as well as a dark roast and a decaf will be available during the $1 coffee promotion.

J.P. Licks offers one of the widest varieties of coffees on a rotating basis. Their Fair Trade Organic coffees include: Ethiopia, Mild Blend, Mexico, Peru, Nicaragua, Sumatra, Decaf Cascadia Blend, Decaf Mexico and Decaf Sumatra. Other favorites offered are: Costa Rica, Espresso Blend, House Blend, Guatamala, Kenya, Kilimanjaro Blend and Decaf Espresso.

The award-winning homemade ice cream café with eight shops in and around Boston has coffee blends to please any palate. To learn more about J.P. Licks’ special coffee brews or other offerings, visit jplicks.com.

Best of Boston and Beyond

For more than 27 years, J.P. Licks has been serving homemade ice cream, frozen yogurt and other specialties in their eight Kosher-certified shops in and around Boston. They have won, literally, hundreds of awards over the years. Most recently, J.P. Licks has received six “Best of Boston’s” from Boston Magazine; 10 consecutive “Best” awards from the Boston Phoenix Reader’s Poll and three consecutive “Bests” from The Weekly Dig magazine. J.P. Licks was also chosen as Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce’s “Small Business of the Year” in 2007.

Additionally, J.P. Licks roasts their own fair trade and organic coffee beans in the Jamaica Plain store AND they cater ice cream parties, too. Visit the website at jplicks.com for even more information.

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AAFD partners with Health Analytics, Inc. (HAI) and First Service Administrators, Inc. (FSAI), to provide affordable, quality healthcare solutions

SAN DIEGO, CA… 

American Association of Franchisees and Dealers (AAFD) recently entered into a strategic partnership with First Service Administrators, Inc. (FSAI), a leading full‑service third-party benefits administrator for health plans, and its sales and marketing partner, Health Analytics, Inc. (HAI), to develop a selection of AAFD‑specific healthcare benefits plans, competitive in both price and design, to meet the diverse needs of its membership.

“Providing affordable quality health care solutions as a valued benefit of AAFD membership continues to be a high priority for the AAFD,” said Peter Hanson, president of AAFD. “AAFD Health Benefits has been enthusiastically received by our membership and our affiliated associations and we have every confidence that our new partnership with Health Analytics, Inc. (HAI) and First Service Administrators, Inc. (FSAI) will fulfill our vision and goal of a health care program that will continue to be a unique and compelling benefit for AAFD members.”    

FSAI provides comprehensive administrative services, including benefit plan design, network development, and cost management services. In addition, FSAI offers its clients the most innovative wellness and disease management programs in the industry. As an AAFD branded partner, FSAI recognizes the importance of providing its members with proven healthcare solutions, exceptional service, and cost-effective programs tailored to meet their individual needs.  

“First Service Administrators, Inc. and HAI are honored to have been chosen as the exclusive branded health program for the AAFD and its members,” said Chandler J. Rapson, CEO, FSAI. “Using FSAI allows AAFD the ability to control their health benefit plans to meet the needs of their growing membership base at an affordable price.”

For more information about AAFD and the benefits of being an AAFD member, please visit http://www.aafd.org.

About the AAFD
The AAFD is a national non-profit trade association representing the rights and interests of franchisees and independent dealers throughout the United States. Formed in 1992, the AAFD is focused on market driven reform to achieve its mission to define and promote collaborative franchise cultures that the AAFD describes as Total Quality Franchising. Since its formation the AAFD has grown to represent more than 50,000 franchised locations throughout the United States. The AAFD has members in all 50 states and represents more than 100 different franchise systems.
The AAFD’s Fair Franchising Standards, Fair Franchising Seal, Trademark

Chapters, and emphasis on Marketplace Solutions led to the Association’s recognition as a growing force in franchising. The AAFD’s Branded Partner programs add a new dimension to the value of AAFD membership. The AAFD provides a broad range of member services designed to help franchisees build market power, create legislative support of interest to franchisees, provide legal and financial support, and provide a wide range of general member benefits.
For more information about the conference or the AAFD, please call toll free – 800-733-9858 or visit www.AAFD.org.

 

AAFD partners with Health Analytics, Inc. (HAI) and First Service Administrators, Inc. (FSAI), to provide affordable, quality healthcare solutionsRead More

Eat your heart out…Capture your Valentine’s heart with a home-cooked meal

NORWELL, MA…

Flowers, candy and cards. While this may be the big three on Valentine’s Day, having a romantic meal at your sweetie’s favorite restaurant ranks right up there, too. The crunch of the current economy has many couples opting to eat in on Valentine’s Day. According to love expert Paul A. Falzone, CEO of The Right One and Together Dating–one of the world’s largest brick-and-mortar dating services with more than 60 offices nationwide—that doesn’t necessarily mean romance has to take a backseat.

“Cooking a romantic meal for your loved one can be every bit as romantic as going out. In fact, if you put some imagination into it, staying home for Valentine’s Day can put some extra spice into your relationship,” said said Falzone.

So, what can you do for a Valentine’s Day meal at home? Falzone offers some of the following suggestions:

●        Surprise your partner with breakfast in bed. Even a morning cup of coffee served with toast cut into heart shapes can be a gourmet meal when served in bed.

●        Dress up for your Valentine’s Day dinner. Just because you’re not going out, doesn’t mean you can’t have a formal dinner, complete with soft music in the background, candlelight, etc. Being at home also makes it easier to slip into something more comfortable later.

●        Adorn the table with rose petals leading a path to your Valentine’s Day card and/or gift.

●        Buy a bottle of his/her favorite wine and have it chilled (if white or blush) in a bucket at the table. Better yet, have champagne on the table.

●        Serve the aphrodisiac of your choice as an appetizer: chocolate, oysters, caviar, honey or strawberries.

●        Cook your partner’s favorite dish for dinner; if you don’t cook, most grocery stores have pre-cooked meals that simply need to be reheated.

●        Pick out a dessert for your partner, and vice versa, and feed it to them with their eyes closed.

●        Buy your significant other’s favorite massage oil and give him/her a foot and/or body rub to close out the “date”.

“There are many advantages to staying in on Valentine’s besides giving your bank account a break. Most obvious, without the distractions that going out on a Saturday night, the day/night can really be about you and your partner. And that’s truly what the holiday was meant to be about,” said Falzone.

Help is on the way
Catering to more than 300,000 members at more than 60 locations throughout North America, The Right One and Together Dating are the largest brick and mortar dating services in the industry, offering a more consistent product, a greater number of potentially compatible mates and added value of flexibility in transferring memberships to another geographic region. 
Romantic Locations

North American locations and affiliates of Together are located in:  Georgia (Savannah); Indiana (Ft. Wayne, Carmel, Mishawaka); Kentucky (Lexington, Louisville); Louisiana (Metairie); Maryland (Columbia, Frederick); Minnesota (Edina); Nevada (Reno); New Hampshire (Hooksett, Nashua, Portsmouth and Salem); Ohio (Cincinnati); South Carolina (Greenville); Texas (San Antonio) and Virginia (Falls Church).

The Right One’s offices and affiliates located throughout the United States include:  California (San Diego); Colorado (Glendale); Georgia (Atlanta); Illinois (Downers Grove, Rockford and Normal); Massachusetts (Norwell, Newton Center, Shrewsbury and Woburn); Michigan (Bingham Farms); Nebraska (Omaha and Lincoln); New Jersey (Cherry Hill); Nevada (Las Vegas); Pennsylvania (King of Prussia); Rhode Island (Warwick); Texas (Dallas and Austin); Utah (Salt Lake City); and Wisconsin (Madison, Appleton, Elm Grove).

Singles Station Dating Company, an affiliate of The Right One and Together Dating, is the largest independently owned personal introduction service in the Southwest. In the last 25 years, Singles Station has introduced more than 100,000 couples and is responsible for thousands of successful relationships and marriages. Singles Station Dating Co. has offices conveniently located in Oklahoma (Oklahoma City and Tulsa), Arkansas (Bentonville, Fort Smith and Little Rock), Tennessee (Memphis and Nashville), Missouri (Springfield and St. Louis) and will be opening soon in Kansas (Wichita and Kansas City). For more information about Singles Station, please visit www.singlesstation.com or call 866-807-LOVE(5683).

For more information about Together Dating and The Right One, please visit their websites at www.togetherdating.com and www.therightone.com, or call (800) 818-DATE (3283).

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Saving, Investing and Building a Business – Important Lessons Learned at Boys and Girls Club “Money Matters” Program

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The Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield, a non-profit organization that provides the area’s youth with enrichment and recreation programs in a safe environment, has recently concluded a “Money Matters” program for club members. The program was very successful and the club received such a positive response that they will be running Money Matters again in May.

Designed to promote financial responsibility and independence among pre-teen and teen club members, the Money Matters program helped the kids to build their money management skills.
Over the course of five weeks, eight Boys and Girls Club members learned how to manage a checking account, budget, save and invest. They also learn about starting a small business and paying for college.

“The Money Matters program goes beyond the basic elements of earning money and saving it. The kids learned about credit cards as well as about a variety of investment vehicles that would put their money to work and give them a good return. They also learned how to budget and better control their spending. When kids learn these lessons at a young age, they become financially successful adults,” noted Joanna Degnan who is a CPA at Price Waterhouse Coopers and led the program.

“I have learned so many things in this class.  I have even taught some to my family. The thing I enjoyed the most was learning about the credit cards,” said 12-year old Marshfield resident Ben Quimby of the Money Matters program.

According to 10-year old Sydney Eastman, also a Marshfield resident, “I enjoyed learning different ways to save money.  I just started earning an allowance and Miss Degnan gave us great ideas on how to save and spend our money the right way.”

The kids utilized special program tools which included a Teen Personal Finance Guide containing practical tips and activities to help kids learn the important skills of balancing a checkbook, creating a budget and saving and investing for college and retirement. They also utilized the Money Matters website, an engaging online tool for building money management knowledge and skills through interactive activities, games and tools like a savings and financial aid calculator to plan for college.

Greg Langer, 12, of Marshfield said, “I think the Money Matters Program will help me in the future to plan goals and spend my money more wisely.”

The Money Matters program will be held again in May for club members who are age 15 and older. To learn more about the Money Matters program, contact Kathleen Newcomb at the Boys and Girls Club (781) 834-2582.

About the Boys and Girls Club

The Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield’s purpose is to establish a safe haven for recreation, which includes a variety of supervised activities for greater than 4,000 youths (between the ages of 6 to 18 years old) within the town. The Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield has five Core Areas: Character and Leadership; Education and Career; Health, Sport Fitness Recreation and Life Skills; The Arts; and Technology. These Core Areas serve as the foundation for all programming.

As a privately-funded, non-profit organization, the Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield relies tremendously on the generous philanthropic support of individuals.  Financial gifts assist in providing the financial strength necessary to continue the club’s mission “to enable and inspire all young people to realize their full potential as productive and responsible citizens, as well as become tomorrow’s capable leaders.”

For more information about the Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield, please contact (781) 834-CLUB (2582) or visit the website at www.MarshfieldBoysAndGirlsClub.com or write to the club at P.O. Box 311, Marshfield, MA 02050.

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