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The roadmap for a cure…Resort Maps donates to American Cancer Society on behalf of franchisees.

WAITSFIELD, VERMONT… 

In the famous Seinfeld episode on the holiday of Festivus, George Constanza generously made donations on behalf of his co-workers, in lieu of gifts, to the made-up Human Fund. While that kind of generosity didn’t have much of an impact on his co-workers, Resort Maps Franchise Inc.’s donation to the American Cancer Society on behalf of its franchisees made a significant impression on Resort Maps owners.

“Cancer pretty much touches or has touched everybody’s life in some form or another and the response from our franchise owners to the donation has been overwhelmingly supportive,” said Peter Hans, president of Resort Maps, Inc. “What’s made it rewarding on our end is people not only say thank you but add their own story of how a relative or loved one had cancer and how much a donation like this means to them.”

According to the American Cancer Society, more than an estimated 562,000 deaths were caused by cancer in 2009. That’s a marked improvement over the estimated 570,000 cancer-related deaths in 2005, an improvement that can be directly attributed to cancer research funded by donations from individuals and companies like Resort Maps Franchise, Inc.

“As a company that produces more than 90 customized travel maps across the United States, England, Costa Rica and Puerto Rico, we believe that life is about the journey as much as the end destination,” said Hans. “Cancer has sidetracked far too many people’s journeys, which is why we feel strongly about writing this check.”

To donate or for more information on the American Cancer Society, you can visit www.cancer.org.

About Resort Maps

Headquartered in the Green Mountains of Vermont, Resort Maps has been creating and publishing advertising maps in the northeastern U.S. since 1986. In 1993, Resort Maps expanded its reach by creating a franchise model for distribution of its colorful, hand-drawn maps of resort towns and cities. Today, that network of franchises has grown to over 90 Resort Maps in publication in the US and the UK, with several more in the process of being published. More than 20 million Resort Maps will be printed and distributed in 2009.

For more information on Resort Maps and/or the franchise opportunity, visit www.resortmaps.com or call 802-496-6277.

Resort Maps franchises serve cities and towns in California (Carmel, Monterey), Colorado (Boulder, Breckenridge, Cherry Creek, Colorado Springs, Denver, Eagle River, Estes Park, Fort Collins, Summit County), Delaware (Bethany Beach, Rehoboth Beach), Florida (Clearwater Beach and Gulf Beaches, Cocoa Beach, Daytona Beach, Melbourne, New Smyrna Beach, St. Augustine, Tarpon Springs), Georgia (Savannah/Tybee Island), Maine (Bar Harbor/Acadia, Boothbay region, Camden-Rockland, Kennebunkport, Kittery, Portland, York-Ogunquit), , Maryland (Annapolis, Eastern Shore, Ocean City,  Solomons Island, St. Mary’s County), Massachusetts (Berkshires, Chatham-Orleans, Falmouth, Hyannis-Yarmouth, Martha’s Vineyard, Newburyport, Plymouth, Sturbridge, Worcester), Michigan (Traverse City), New Hampshire (Franconia/Notch Region, Hampton Beach, Hanover/Lebanon , Keene, Lakes Region, Mount Washington Valley, Portsmouth), New Jersey (Barnegat Bay, Cape May, Hoboken/Jersey City, Hunterdon, Lambertville , Long Beach Island, Ocean Grove, Point Pleasant, Princeton, Sandy Hook), New York ( The Hamptons, Lake George , Lake Placid, Saratoga Springs), North Carolina (Asheville, Brunswick County, Hendersonville , Outer Banks, Salisbury and Rowan County, Sandhills, Wilmington,), Pennsylvania (Bucks County, Chestnut Hill, Delaware River Valley, Gettysburg, The Main Line), Rhode Island (Newport, Providence), South Carolina (Charleston, Hilton Head, Myrtle Beach), Tennessee (Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge), and Vermont (Addison County/Brandon, Barre/Montpelier, Burlington, Killington/Rutland, Mad River Valley, Manchester, Mount Snow, Okemo, Smugglers’ Notch, Stowe, Waterbury/Richmond, Woodstock/Quechee) —as well as towns and cities in England (Chicester, Lewes, Windsor), Costa Rica (Escazu and Santa Ana) and Puerto Rico (Vieques, Culebra, San Juan).

Boot Camp for New Dads Share Tips for Knowing When Your Baby is Sick

With the threat of H1N1 flu, colds and other illnesses, it’s important to know how to tell when your baby is sick and when to call the doctor.

 

Greg Bishop, author of two books on fatherhood and the founder of Boot Camp for New Dads (http://www.bcnd.org), a non-profit orientation program for fathers-to-be, operating in more than 260 hospitals, clinics, schools, fire stations and churches around North America and internationally, shares tips from his second book, Crash Course for New Dads below.


  • Babies give signals when they are not feeling well. Watch for them. The most obvious are fever, runny nose, cough or rash. Less obvious signals are lethargy, crankiness, lack of interest in anything or anyone around him/her, little or no appetite, spitting up more often or very hard or runny stools.


  • Fever is how a baby responds to infection. If her/his temperature is over 101 degrees, he has a fever. If s/he’s younger than two months old and her/his temperature higher than 100 degrees, or if a low grade fever has lasted several days, or if there is a rash along with the fever, call your pediatrician.


  • Sniffles and respiratory congestion can make your baby miserable. Make sure her/his airway is clear and that s/he is not having difficulty breathing. Call the doctor if your baby’s cough comes from deep in her/his chest or if breathing is labored or s/he is wheezing.


  • Don’t administer medicine without first checking with your baby’s pediatrician. Some may think a small dose of pain reliever or decongestant may seem reasonable, but a baby’s nervous and immune systems are very different from yours and present special issues that you are unlikely to be aware of.


According to Bishop, “Whether it’s coughing, diarrhea, crossed eyes, not eating, or anything else, if you think your baby is ill for any reason then check with a nurse hot line or your pediatrician. When it comes to your baby’s health, err on the side of calling the doctor too often, as you may not be able to tell the big problems from the little ones.”


Dads should also get to know their baby’s doctor by going to well-baby checks. Either go with mom or take turns with her.


To help keep your baby healthy, dress your baby appropriately. If the temperature outside is 75 degrees, a diaper and t-shirt underneath a pair of footed pajamas is usually good enough. If it’s breezy, add a light jacket and a hat to keep the sun off your baby’s face and her/his head warm. Add layers as the temperature gets lower.


Boot Camp for New Dads

Now celebrating their 19th year, Boot Camp for New Dads is nationally acclaimed as the “Best Practice” for preparing men to be fathers and has been named a U.S. Navy Model Program. Boot Camp for New Dads has prepared more than 200,000 men for fatherhood over the years.

Today, Greg Bishop and 400 other Boot Camp Coaches conduct workshops in 44 states and the U.S. Navy, Army and Air Force.

 

With more than 4.1 million births (National Center for Health Statistics), and approximately 1.5 million men becoming new dads every year, it’s more important than ever for fathers to realize that being a “good provider” is only part of the very central role they have in their children’s lives.


For more information about Boot Camp for New Dads, visit www.bcnd.org. To arrange an interview with Greg Bishop, please contact sdubin@prworkzone.com, (781) 582-1061.

 

National and International Locations

Boot Camp For New Dads locations include ALASKA (Anchorage); ARIZONA (Chandler, Flagstaff, Gilbert, Mesa, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Sun City); ARKANSAS (Jonesboro, Paragould, Springdale); CALIFORNIA (Apple Valley, Bakersfield, , Fresno, Garden Grove, Irvine, Laguna Hills, Madera, Merced, Mission Hills, , Oakland, Orange, Pomona, Port Hueneme, San Diego, Santa Ana, Santa Barbara, , S. Lake Tahoe, Travis, Valley Springs); COLORADO (Aurora, Boulder, Colorado Springs, Denver, Durango, Fort Collins, Fort Carson, Greeley, Longmont, Thornton, Wheat Ridge); CONNECTICUT (Bristol, Danbury, New London); FLORIDA (Brandon, Clearwater, Hollywood, Jacksonville, North Palm Beach, Orlando, St. Petersburg, West Palm Beach, Sarasota, Tampa); GEORGIA (Atlanta, Elberton, Gainesville, Marietta, Savannah); HAWAII (Pearl Harbor, Schofield); ILLINOIS (Aurora, Carbondale, Champaign, Chicago, East St. Louis, Evanston, Freeport, Geneva, Great Lakes, Highland Park, Libertyville, Moline, Oak Park, Rockford, Springfield, Urbana, Winfield); INDIANA (Anderson, Bluffton, Hammond, Indianapolis, Jeffersonville, Kokomo); IOWA (Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, Jefferson, Sioux City); KANSAS (Junction City, Topeka); KENTUCKY (Paducah); LOUISIANA (Covington); MAINE (Auburn, Augusta, Bangor, Brunswick, Ellsworth, Waterville); MARYLAND (Annapolis) MASSACHUSETTS (Beverly, Ipswich, Lowell, Nantucket, Plymouth, Weymouth, Springfield); MICHIGAN (, Ann Arbor, Bay City, Centreville, Iron Mountain, Ithaca, Kalamazoo, Niles, St Joseph, Ypsilanti); MINNESOTA (Brainerd, Duluth, Robbinsdale); MISSISSIPPI (Tupelo); MISSOURI (Jefferson City) MONTANA (Billings, Helena, Miles City); NEBRASKA (Kearney, Lincoln, Omaha); NEVADA (Las Vegas) NEW HAMPSHIRE (Manchester, Portsmouth); NEW JERSEY (Princeton) NEW YORK (Glens Falls, Little Falls, Mineola, Rome, Utica); NORTH CAROLINA (Burlington, Chapel Hill, Charlotte, Concord, Ft. Bragg, Greensboro, Monroe, Raleigh, Shelby); NORTH DAKOTA (Grand Forks); OHIO (Akron, Cleveland, Columbus, East Cleveland, East Liverpool, Garfield Heights, Lima, Lorain, Mayfield Heights, Middleburg Heights, Orange Village, Portsmouth, Toledo, Warren, Westlake, Youngstown); OKLAHOMA (Claremore, Oklahoma City, Tulsa); OREGON (Corvalis, McMinnville, Salem, Silverton); SOUTH CAROLINA (Columbia, Pickens, Walhalla); TENNESSEE (Chattanooga, Knoxville, Memphis); TEXAS (Amarillo, Dallas, Fort Hood, Longview, Lubbock, Plano, San Antonio, Texarkana, Waco, Webster); VERMONT (Barre, Brattleboro, Middlebury); VIRGINIA (Charlottesville, Chesapeake, Hampton, Richmond) WASHINGTON (Everett, Fairchild AFB, Longview, Olympia, Puyallup, Yakima); WEST VIRGINIA (Wheeling); WISCONSIN (Florence, Green Bay, Madison, Oshkosh, Watertown, Wausau); JAPAN (Atsugi, Yokosuka), ITALY (Sicily); UNITED KINGDOM [a.k.a. Hit the Ground Crawling] (Birmingham, Liverpool)


Another Chicagoland DirectBuy aces customer service… DirectBuy of DuPage County earns an A+ grade from Better Business Bureau.

CHICAGO, GURNEE, HOFFMAN ESTATES, NAPERVILLE, TINLEY PARK, IL …

When it comes to taking care of your customers, some businesses talk the talk while others walk the walk. Following in the footsteps of DirectBuy of Hoffman Estates, which also received an A+ grade from the Better Business Bureau, DirectBuy of DuPage County received an A+ from the BBB.

Accredited by the Better Business Bureau since 2003, DirectBuy of DuPage County, located in Naperville, earned their A+ grade based on 19 criteria, ranging from years in business to complaints received and resolved, to other service-oriented factors. Each criterion has a certain amount of points associated with it, with a perfect score being 90 out of a possible 90 points. DirectBuy of DuPage County’s A+ grade represents 88 out of a possible 90 points.

“In addition to saving our members money, we get extreme satisfaction from making the DirectBuy experience a positive one for our visitors and members,” said Jeremy Vest, owner of DirectBuy of DuPage County. “The A+ grade from the BBB is gratifying because it means even when things don’t go exactly to plan we’re providing customer service at a very high level.”

For more than 38 years, DirectBuy clubs have offered members the opportunity to enjoy enormous savings on home furnishings, home improvement items, entertainment and outdoor products, flooring and accessories by purchasing from more than 700 brand name manufacturers or their authorized suppliers. In addition to DirectBuy of DuPage County, located at 1864 High Grove Lane, Suite 124 in Naperville, Illinois, DirectBuy has several convenient locations in greater Chicago (Chicago, Gurnee, Hoffman Estates, and Tinley Park). At DirectBuy, consumers can enjoy a comfortable setting where they finally have the financial control of buying direct.

For more information on a DirectBuy membership, you can visit http://www.directbuycares.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 or their authorized suppliers. Buying direct makes members’ hard-earned money go much further, while having the selection and choice not available at any retail store. Access to confidential prices, local suppliers, and unparalleled selection helps make members’ dream projects a reality. The DirectBuy clubs serving the greater Chicago area are part of more than 160 locations throughout North America.

Consumers interested in becoming members may obtain a Visitor’s Pass to attend an Open House by visiting http://www.directbuycares.com. 

Locations of the DirectBuy clubs serving greater Chicago area: DirectBuy of Hoffman Estates, 2200 Stonington Ave Ste. 150, Hoffman Estates, IL; DirectBuy of Chicago North, 6325 North Avondale Ste. 110, Chicago, IL; DirectBuy of DuPage County, 1864 High Grove Lane Ste. 124, Naperville, IL; DirectBuy of Lake County, 3900 Washington Street, Gurnee, IL; and DirectBuy of Tinley Park, 18400 S. 76th Avenue Ste. B, Tinley Park, IL.

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

 

Money Management Program at Old Colony Elder Services Needs Volunteers and Donor Support

 

Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), a non-profit Aging Services Access Point (ASAP) is in need of volunteers as well as donor support to keep the Massachusetts Money Management Program (MMMP) running.

The MMMP helps vulnerable, low-income elders who are at risk of losing their independence due to their inability to pay rent, food and utility bills. Money Management volunteers help these elders by establishing a budget for them, organizing their mail, helping them write checks to pay their bills and balancing their checkbook.

Money Management volunteers must be capable of basic financial tasks and have a willingness to commit their time once or twice a month. Volunteers are not reimbursed for mileage, so they are generally matched with elders who live in the same town.

Due to underfunding, the MMMP relies on the generosity of donors. Donations in support of the local MMMP may be sent to Old Colony Elder Services, 144 Main Street, Brockton, MA 02301. Be sure to state that your donation is specifically for the MMMP.

“The MMMP is a free service for qualified elder clients. We are always seeking funds to keep the program up and running, train volunteers and work with clients. The need is significant in all 23 towns we cover, but especially so in Brockton,” explained Brenda Carrens of OCES.

 

To request an application to volunteer for the Money Management program or for more information about making a donation, contact Brenda Carrens, OCES’ program coordinator, at (508) 584-1561 extension 252.

About OCES
Incorporated in 1974, Old Colony Elder Services (OCES) is one of 27 private, non-profit Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.   OCES offers a number of programs to serve seniors, families and caregivers such as Family Caregiver; Adult Family Care; Supportive Housing; Nutrition; Money Management; Protective Services; Home Care and more.  OCES serves elders, their families and caregivers in the towns of Abington, Avon, Bridgewater, Brockton, Carver, Duxbury, East Bridgewater, Easton, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Kingston, Lakeville, Marshfield, Middleboro, Pembroke, Plymouth, Plympton, Rockland, Stoughton, Wareham, West Bridgewater and Whitman. 

The organization’s mission is to provide services that support the dignity and independence of elders by helping them maximize their quality of life; live safely and in good health; and, prevent unnecessary or premature institutionalization.  In 2009, OCES was honored with the Metro-South Chamber of Commerce’s “Economic Impact Award”. The agency has 140 employees and operates more than 12 programs serving elders, their families and caregivers.  For more information call (508) 584-1561 or visit the website at www.oldcolonyelderservices.org.


Business Coach Franchise Owner writes the book on surviving the ‘Sales, Marketing and Business World’

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY…

When it comes to sales, it truly is survival of the fittest. In his four decades as a salesman, entrepreneur, business strategist and business coach, Dr. Keith Winfree, founder of Winfree Business Growth Advisors, has not only survived, but been a guide for other entrepreneurs and sales professionals. His recently released e-book, Winfree Rules of Surviving the Sales, Marketing and Business World, shares some of the common sense practices that have served him well in business and in life.

“So much of being successful in the business world has to do with your state of body and mind and how well you listen and observe,” said Winfree. “This book is not a step-by-step guide on how to sell but a means to refine the tools you need to be a successful sales person and person in general.”

In addition to common sense tips, Winfree Rules of Surviving the Sales, Marketing and Business World, also serves as a self-assessment tool. With the book’s 20 sections Winfree asks readers to grade themselves on a scale of one to 100 for each; 100 being no improvement needed and 0 the bottom score. The final “grade” is the total score based on an average for all tips.

Some of the things readers are asked to make a self-assessment on include:

·         Don’t believe everyone and remember people will lie.

·         You must continue to acquire knowledge about your profession.

·         You must care about the product or service and your client

·         Be frugal and live below your means.

“In working with sales professionals and entrepreneurs, I’ve found the more successful ones tend to score higher in these areas of self-assessment,” added Winfree. “Does that mean you can’t be successful if you score low? No. It’s just that the people who scored high usually are. However, we found that those who score below 85% are at risk of failure. Our Black Belt Coaching will move you to the 95% level and above.”

Winfree Rules of Surviving the Sales, Marketing and Business World sells for $29.95 and is available on Winfree Business Growth Advisors Web site at www.winfree.org. Organizations interested in booking Dr. Winfree for speaking engagement can call 800-616-9260.

About Winfree Business Growth Advisors

Located across the United States, Winfree Business Growth Advisors coaching franchises help sales professionals and small business owners maximize growth potential and take their respective businesses to a higher level through cutting-edge sales coaching, business coaching, sales training, and seminars featuring Winfree’s signature Black Belt System™–a Five Phases and 12 elements covering everything from initial marketing efforts to customer retention.

Winfree Business Growth Advisors currently runs coaching franchises in California (San Francisco and Los Angeles), Illinois, Kentucky (Louisville), Massachusetts (Boston), New York (Manhattan), Texas (Dallas-Fort Worth) and Virginia (Hampton Roads) as well as in Canada (Winnipeg, Manitoba).

For more information on Winfree’s programs or franchise opportunities and available an Area Development territories, please go to www.winfree.org or contact Dr. Keith Winfree at (800) 616-9260.