Aloha WFH participants!
I feel the need to share an interesting experience here:
Our local Chamber of Commerce has a special breakfast talk 1x per month. I don't normally make them, as I usually schedule clients early a.m. However, when I saw the topic for this month I immediately knew "I have to be there" !
The talk was on Disaster Preparedness in several aspects. There was a Red Cross rep; an Insurance professional, Civil defense Rep.from the County, MEO (our transportation contractor), & a Rep. from a V.O.A.D.(Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster)
My interest in this talk was to accumulate even *more* knowledge to share with my clients &/or seminar attenders, as I have a very detailed section in this area for all my workshops & seminars.
As a Professional Organizer...(living in the middle of the Pacific especially), I feel that it is also an important service to provide my clients. Afterall, once they are organized they are able to locate this material expeditiously - so it's an added benie ;)
What I walked away with this a.m. was beyond my wildest dreams! You see the Red Cross, in their earnestness to educate & inform the locals, ordered an incredible amnount of what is called: Emergency Management Guide for Business & Industry.
This 76 page document is a wealth of information covering 22 major sections of preparedness - & you don't need to live in the middle of the ocean to see its value!
I decided I would attempt to acquire a large quantity of these books to be able to provide even more information for my clientele, as an additional service.
Talk about being at the right place at the right time!
I then found out that there were only 2 full time employees of this non-profit group, & they can't seem to find a way or the time to distribute them to the people in mass.
With all my upcoming events for GO WEEK - I knew I was going to be in the position to reach hundreds - so I am now holding 4 cases (360) of these priceless gems & the the RED CROSS is ecstatic! Talk about a win/win!
After scanning this booklet & hearing the repetitive adamancy of the Insurance Professional that "the burden of proof is on YOU" I can't think of a better marriage to this handbook, than the AssetCommander - to finally *automate* the maintainance of my inventory records accurately.
Boy - talk about coincidence, there must have been a reason I was recently given that information to upload into this Library !
Definitely food for thought!
Aloha,
Julie Signore - NAPO member
>> My interest in this talk was to accumulate even *more* knowledge to share
with my clients &/or seminar attenders, as I have a very detailed section in this area for all my workshops & seminars. <<
Your interesting post reminds me of something that occurred on-site yesterday, that I think is worth sharing.
For one of my clients, I periodically teach computer classes on-site. They are a very large manufacturing facility.
Yesterday they held a disaster drill, during which time all areas of the facility were evacuated. During this time, it was realized that there was NO plan for the computer classroom, nor any other classroom areas in the multiple buildings.
Since each department evacuates to a specified location, it became obvious that those attending classes may well be unaccounted for. As a result, a plan will be developed to not only account for the employees attending classes, but for the contract instructors as well.
If you spend time on-site, you may want to check into the plans in place by your client.....
Guess that's why they have drills, eh?
Sandy
Aloha Sandy!
Thanx for sharing your experience Sandy!
I commend the employer for having a drill & learning from the obvious over-sight.
I hate to think of how many small businesses or those working from home.. may find themselves unprepared due to lack of *drills*. Learning from these drills in advance can not only save peoples lives, but reduce the stress levels involved somewhat - if there ever was an emergency.
Aloha,
Julie Signore
>> Learning from these drills in advance can not only save peoples lives,
but reduce the stress levels involved somewhat - if there ever was an emergency. <<
Exactly.
This is a very large facility, involving numerous buildings. I did have the presence of mind to grab the attendance sheet in this case.
You can be sure that I will ASK every client when I am on-site what their procedures are.
Julie,
>>Emergency Management Guide for Business & Industry<<
I'm working on my home and home-based business inventory list. How can I obtain a copy of this? Would it be possible to get one from you? Would appreciate any info. Thanks.
Doris Anderson
Aloha Doris!
Glad to help you out Doris ;) You may contact your local Red Cross. It is a standard handbook for the organization. ;) Of course if you lived in Hawai'i - I would be more than happy to meet w/you & give you the book in person ;)
Aloha,
Julie Signore
Julie,
Thank you. I'll try to contact the Red Cross today and request the handbook. And thanks for sharing the information.
Doris
Hi, Julie ...
<<<Emergency Management Guide for Business & Industry...This 76 page document is a wealth of information covering 22 major sections of preparedness>>>
This is an excellent tool for everyone to use ... and wonderful to add to the services for your clients!!! I'd like to recommend that participants here read my article in the WFH Library - HO Organizing section - Orgnzg.Rec "Don't Become a Victim." Each of us is responsible to take care of ourselves and "be prepared."
Thanks so much for showing us another way we can do this ...
Donna D. McMillan, NAPO-LA President
I am just finishing the editing on my new book "Taming the Office Tiger" -- would the Red Cross book you mentioned be a good resource to mention -- if so, how do I get a copy so I can write about it?
Also interested in knowing more about Asset Commander -- is there info in library about it somewhere?
Thanks!
Barbara Hemphill
Aloha Barb!
Yes...contact your local RED Cross office, they all have the handbook ;)
As far as AssetCommander: There is a file in the Library ( why of course!) "ORGNZG.REC" Organizing your records - be prepared
This file was contributed/authored by Donna McMillan
Good luck!
Aloha,
Julie Signore
Barbara ...
Many have told me that after reading my article in the Library ("ORGNZG.REC" Organizing your records - be prepared) they suddenly became conscious of how horrible it would be to lose all their possessions by theft, fire, earthquake, tornado, flood, etc.
In reality, unfortunately, this can happen to anyone, anywhere and anytime. In my "past life" as a licensed personal lines insurance agent and, before then, working with an office full of insurance adjusters, I witnessed unbelieveable situations where people lost part or all of their precious belongings in unforseeable disasters. It gives you chills ... look around your home and office. Yes, most "things" can be replaced ... but what if you don't have enough insurance, or have depreciated - value instead of replacement - value insurance, and what if you also lost the proofs-of-purchase and all records of items you owned? Anyone who has ever made this type of claim with their insurance company knows that this process is highly stressful too!!!
Thank you for your interest in AssetCommander. It is a user-friendly computer program utilized to inventory all the important people and possessions in our lives (photos can also be scanned into one screen), and its purpose is the same as the Personal Assets Inventory workbook, which I authored. Along with a video and/or photos of your home and office, these items can be stored in a safe deposit box or fire-safe box. We don't have to be a victim.
Happy Organizing ...
Donna D. McMillan
Question:
I live in Southern California (earthquake country). I've gone through the house and photographed each room, and documented model numbers and serial numbers of various items. I understand that Quicken V.4 has an inventory capability to record this info for insurance purposes. (I have Quicken V.3) I did buy two inexpensive software programs for this purpose in the past, but was disappointed with what they offered. I thought I could write and record a better system of my own. Do you have any suggestions on the subject or recommendations for a good software? Thanks in advance for your help.
Doris
Doris,
Yes, "Assets Commander" is available now through me. I'm sending you a private E-Mail with further information regarding a demo disk.
Every business owner and home should keep an _Itemized Inventory_ of important people and possessions along with photos and/or video ... in case of theft, fire, flood, earthquake, tornado, hurricane or loss of life. For those who wish to have a spiral book version, the Personal Assets Inventory Workbook, which I've published, is most valuable.
Thank you for asking ...
Donna D. McMillan
Donna,
>>Every business owner and home should keep an _Itemized Inventory_ of important people and possessions along with photos and/or video<<
Thank you. I agree. Trying to recreate an inventory of home and personal belongings after the fact would be mind boggling. I understand that many are still trying to settle with their insurance companies after the Northridge quake.
Doris Anderson
Hi, Doris ...
<<<Trying to recreate an inventory of home and personal belongings after the fact would be mind boggling. I understand that many are still trying to settle with their insurance companies after the Northridge quake.>>>
Oh, yes!!! That quake hit LA 1-1/2 years ago and I'm still finding clients who are struggling with "quake-mess" ... it was very tramatic, long-lasting, as well as paralizing. Rated way up there with loss of life, divorce and relocations. Many of the Professional Organizers in our NAPO chapter have said the same thing.
Thanks for all your participation and support!!!
Donna D. McMillan
Hi, Sandy!!! Thanks for asking ...
<<<What's LeadCommander? I try to stay current on business software but I've never heard of this one.>>>
This is a great product ... Contact Management Program ... and anyone who's running a business can definitely benefit by using it. I'm doing presentations with the program to show how it can help business owners be more "organized" and successful with current and prospective clients.
I don't have FileMaker Pro yet (not required to run LeadCommander, which is also supported by Claris), however this program is based upon "Relationship Building" and providing the best "Personalized" service ... "remembering" every detail about every person in our business (and personal) lives is important. I use it on a daily basis ... and love it!!! Also, Lead Commander info is easily downloaded into my Sharpe YO - 310.
I'm so sold on it that I've become a private distributor, so if you're interested in more info, please send me a private E-Mail. It's available for MAC and Windows.
Looking forward to hearing more from you,
Donna D. McMillan