Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Amy Lichtenstein’s Tips for Volunteering in an Animal Shelter



Every year, thousands of animals are put to sleep because there are not enough homes for them. Amy Lichtenstein is an animal lover and regularly volunteers at two local animal shelters. Amy Lichtenstein’s love of animals is evident in the time and effort she puts toward helping dogs and cats find permanent and loving homes. She supports the animal shelters both financially and physically. Knowing that money can only do so much, Amy Lichtenstein also donates her time to local animal shelters and encourages others to do the same.

Animal shelters in the United States are so overcrowded that many times an animal doesn’t even have the chance to find a home. The main reason that Amy Lichtenstein volunteers at animal shelters is because she has always loved animals. Amy Lichtenstein has never lost the love that she had for animals as a child and knows that they give so much and ask so little from us. This is Amy Lichtenstein’s way of giving something back for all the years of love and devotion she has received from her pets. She encourages others to step up and volunteer. Amy Lichtenstein believes that if everyone just gave back to the community for a few hours a week, the world would be a much better place.
               
One of the main duties of the animal shelter is to reunite lost pets with their owners. Having been a pet owner for a very long time, Amy Lichtenstein knows the feeling of panic that sets in when your pet is lost and the relief when you are reunited with your loved one. Amy Lichtenstein loves being able to tell a pet owner that their lost family member is safe and waiting for them at the shelter.
                   
In addition to the thousands of local animal shelters, national organizations like the ASPCA and the Humane Society are always eager for volunteers. Many people come in and spend a few hours a week playing with and brushing dogs and cats so they will be socialized and ready for adoption. Spending just a few hours a week can change the life of an animal. 

Not many people are as dedicated and compassionate as Amy Lichtenstein. In addition to running the leading market research recruiting firm in the country, Amy Lichtenstein volunteers in her community to help animals. In spite of her demanding schedule running a nationally recognized business, Amy Lichtenstein finds time to give back to her community.     
 
Sources:




Darrell Landrum Oregon




Monday, July 22, 2013

Richard Burford of New Haven on How to be An Effective Leader



Richard Burford of New Haven is a top-ranked leader in the health care industry; more importantly, however, he is successful leader of people. Throughout his many years in the professional health care world, he has led countless people towards great success. With this in mind, he wants to share a few tips that he believes will benefit current and future leaders.

·      Communication is Key: Richard Burford of New Haven believes that, unless you have good communication skills as a leader, you will not be able to accomplish your goals and objectives. When explaining a particular goal or project, make sure that you are expressing your ideas as clearly and succinctly as possible. If you are constantly met with blank stares when attempting to explain something, perhaps it is time to improve your communication skills.
·      Be Flexible: Unfortunately, things do not always go our way. That is why Richard Burford of New Haven suggests that you are always able to correct course whenever necessary. Just because you have not met your objectives yet, doesn’t mean you have to scrap the whole project. Simply trust in your leadership skills, and your team, to find a new way to achieve your goals.
·      Stay Positive: It is vital that the team you manage continues to stay motivated towards whatever the current goal is. This keeps their energy up and their creativity flowing. Richard Burford of New Haven suggests that in order to do this, an effective leader must always stay positive. Surprise your team with snacks or perhaps some expensive coffee, give out relationship advice if asked for it, or even share an occasional beer with your team! A positive team always means a positive outcome.
·      Be Responsible: When your team does well, you will get a lot of praise from your superiors. That is why Richard Burford of New Haven believes that when something goes wrong, it is important to accept responsibility for the mistakes. Ultimately, regardless of who is at fault, you are the leader, and the responsibility falls to you to correct the mistakes and move on.

There are many more tips that Richard Burford of New Haven can provide. However, he believes he has provided some of the most important ones to follow in order to become an effective leader. He has found that these tips have come in handy for his career, and he hopes they do the same for you.

http://www.fastcompany.com/3004914/5-characteristics-great-leaders
http://www.forbes.com/sites/tanyaprive/2012/12/19/top-10-qualities-that-make-a-great-leader/



Monday, July 15, 2013

Michael Wayne Twedt on Volunteering



Michael Wayne Twedt believes that volunteering is one of the most important and rewarding things you can do. As a former volunteer for United Way, Miracles for Mitch and We Can Ride, Michael Wayne Twedt knows all about volunteering and its benefits. Working with others in your community, in order to achieve goals and help those who are less fortunate, is an experience that is close to Michael Wayne Twedt’s heart.

Although some may not see the value in doing volunteer work, Michael Wayne Twedt believes that they are missing out. Although you don’t get paid for your work, Michael Wayne Twedt believes the rewards are far greater than money. Michael Wayne Twedt firmly believes that giving back through volunteer work can be a very pleasurable experience that makes you feel good about yourself. It can also give you a real sense of purpose in your life.

You may be surprised to find that there is a huge array of volunteer opportunities in your community, no matter where you live or what you are interested in doing. Michael Wayne Twedt has some tips for anyone looking for the right volunteer opportunity. He believes that in order to find the right opportunity, you just need to ask yourself a few questions:

·      What are you passionate about? Discovering your passion in life can be a challenge, but if you dig deep and really think about what it is you find joy in, Michael Wayne Twedt knows it can help you find the right volunteer opportunity. Think about what triggers you to take action.
·      What are your skills? Michael Wayne Twedt understands that organizations recruit volunteers for very specific skills because they don’t have the resources to train people. If you have specialized skills like computer or construction skills, Michael Wayne Twedt recommends finding an organization that can benefit most from those skills.
·      Do you like people? Some organizations need volunteers who can interact with others, for tasks like fundraising, while others need people to help with tasks like paperwork or data entry. Michael Wayne Twedt suggests that if you like people, you should seek out opportunities that require working directly with the general public. If you are more of an introvert, Michael Wayne Twedt says you should tap into your other skill sets to find the right fit.
·      Why do you want to volunteer? Michael Wayne Twedt recommends carefully considering why you want to volunteer and what you hope to get out of it. Knowing your needs and expectations can give you the direction to find the right opportunity, according to Michael Wayne Twedt.

Michael Wayne Twedt knows that there are many reasons to volunteer and it’s just a matter of finding the right fit for you.

Sources:
http://comingofage.org/explore/how-find-volunteer-opportunity-thats-right-you
http://www.voaspokane.org/Volunteer-Opportunities/Finding-the-Right-Volunteer-Opportunity

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Mackenzie Parrish




Mackenzie Parrish on Applying to College



Applying to college can be a scary time for a high school senior. Mackenzie Parrish, student at the University of Tampa, knows that college applications are full of stress and confusion. However, applying to college does not need to be as frightening as one might imagine. If you create a plan early, applying to college should go very smoothly. With these tips from Mackenzie Parrish, you can create a college application plan to execute without obstacle.

·          Talk to Your Guidance Counselor: Guidance counselors are intended to do just that: guide students. Your guidance counselor should be able to help you determine what colleges are feasible for you, what safety schools you should apply to, and which schools have programs that fit your interests. Mackenzie Parrish states that going to your guidance counselor early, perhaps during the spring of your junior year, will be a huge benefit to you in the next steps of your college applications. Your guidance counselor can then guide you through the entire process, step by step.
·          Make a List: The most important first step in tackling applications is making a list of which schools to apply to. First, make a list of your top choices. These include your dream school and other high-ranking institutions that are selective yet attainable. A good suggestion from Mackenzie Parrish is to apply to three top choices that are a high reach. Next, choose three schools that border between safety and high reach. Finally, choose three more schools as safeties, meaning that you can count on admission based on test scores and GPA. After you have chosen all of the schools you want to apply to, consider whether or not you want to submit early decision applications to any schools.
·          Get Recommendations: Asking your teachers for recommendations early is very important in the college application process. Remember, nearly every student in your high school senior class is asked for recommendations, and teachers are likely unable to accommodate all students. Mackenzie Parrish suggests asking for recommendations as early as September of your senior year, allowing plenty of time for teachers to write you a recommendation.
·          Draft Your Essay: Finally, the most important component of your college application is the long essay. You should begin drafting this early in order to seek feedback from teachers and make revisions. Mackenzie Parrish asserts that your college essay should be unique and set you apart from other applicants. The essay should also demonstrate your writing skills for the admissions committee.