Women’s Independent Press

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Women Business Leaders Breakfast Series
Friday, June 14, 2013
7:30 - 9:00am
Venue: James Laughlin Music Hall, Chatham University
Cost: $25.00 per breakfast
Online register: http://www.chatham.edu/cwe/events/wblbseries/index.cfm

Topic: “Mompreneurs: Changing the Way Business is Done Using Social Media”
Speakers: - Rachel Blaufeld - Freelance Lifestyle Writer, Blogger, Social Media
- Deborah Gilboa- MD, International Parenting Speaker and Writer, Founder of AskDoctorG.com
- Kiya Tomlin - Founder and owner, KIYA Tomlin, Pittsburgh LLC

May 1 - Wexford, Atria’s, 12980 Perry Highway, Wexford
RSVP: email Michelle Zmijanac at
Michellezmijanac@bestpracticesdelivered.com

May 8- Mount Lebanon, Atria’s, 110 Beverly Road, Mt. Lebanon
RSVP: email Tina Noblers at TinaNobers@CMNNutritionGroup

May 15- Murrysville, Bella Luna Trattoria, 5060 William Penn Hwy,
Monroeville, Pa 15146
RSVP Carol@CarolBrineyWorkFromHome.com
May 22- Fox Chapel, Comfort Inn (Old Holiday Inn) in RIDC Park,
Ohara Twp
RSVP: 412-781-8773 or PlanBConsultant@comcast.net

Time: 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Cost: $18 (Bring cash; No-shows will be billed for the lunch)
RSVP: By Monday prior to the event
For more info, go to: http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=4gu7_&m=I.A8W8wHuuZhGz&b=tHOKk..1xQKrQQUvz5qflg.

May 3rd – Rotary Sunrise Golf Classic benefitting VOICE – The
local domestic violence agency in Butler County. Contact
vconrad@pinnaclestrategies.org

May 4

FREE Workshop
Saturday, May 4th
9:00 AM Registration and Continental Breakfast
Sheraton Station Square
Featured Speaker:
Lynne Hayes-Freeland
Reservations can be made by calling 1-800-345-3655
or online at MortgagesForMothers.com.

Brown Bag Lunch
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
12:00 – 1:00pm

Speaker: Katherine Heart, M.Ed., Heart Resources LLC
Topic: Is There a Grant for That?

There is often confusion and misunderstandings about what funds may be available for entrepreneurs with or without disabilities to start-up and fund their business. We will define and discuss the differences between a grant, contract and loan, as well as what personal and local resources may be available for bootstrapping your self-employment plan.

Volunteers of America of Pennsylvania
1650 Main Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15215
FREE
RSVP: 412.782.5344 x 209 or volunteersofamerica@voapa.org

Join us for the 15th Annual Entrepreneur’s Growth Conference
When: May 10, 2013
Where: Duquesne University, Union Building, Pittsburgh PA
Duquesne University Small Business Development Center
108 Rockwell Hall
600 Forbes Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15282-0103
Phone: (412) 396-6233
Fax: (412) 396-5884
Email: duqsbdc@duq.edu
Monday through Friday 8:30AM to 5:00 PM

Please join us for a special cocktail hour event featuring food and beverages, networking, a survivor story, awards presentation, silent auction and an opportunity to shop virtually for
the women and children of WC&S.
Wednesday, May 8, 2013 Rivers Club
301 Grant Street, One Oxford Centre Suite 411
5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
WQED’s Tonia Caruso will emcee a brief awards presentation at 6:00 p.m.
•Ted Craig Humanitarian Award Winner Michelle Mejia, Director of Community Relations, Pittsburgh Pirates
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.wcspittsburgh.org/springclothesout or call
412-687-8017 ext. 350

Date: May 9, 2013
Entrepreneurial Thursday Networking Event

Featured Theme:
Commercializing New Technologies - Successes and Failures

A casual weekly networking event for those interested in what’s
innovative and positive in Pittsburgh. A jazz, soul & blues happy
hour show plus open-mike interviews with local executives.

Date: May 9, 2013
Time: 5:30 - 8 p.m.
Place: Little E’s, 949 Liberty Ave, Pittsburgh
Host: Jessica Lee
Cost: $5 (hors d’ouevres included)
For further info, email smarshall@pghgateways.org.
The Entrepreneurial Thursday networking event is held each Thursday evening. For information on upcoming events and featured themes, visit http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=4gu7_&m=I.A8W8wHuuZhGz&b=Yksk0w6kcxKKCpXn4YBcUQ.

May 10, 2013
Entrepreneur’s Growth Conference
Keynote Speaker:
Will Knecht, Wendell August Forge

Discover ideas that can transform your business. Choose from 15
expert-led workshops on the hottest topics in business today.
Workshops on strategic planning, management, finance, marketing,
starting a business, and more. A business building trade show
featuring more than 50 support organizations. Unparalleled
networking opportunities with entrepreneurial veterans, top
service providers and the region’s most promising entrepreneurs.

Date: May 10, 2013
Time: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Place: Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh
Host: Duquesne University Small Business Development Center
Cost: Full Day-$119
Afternoon Only (including lunch)-$79;
Lunch & Keynote Only-$50
Full day fee includes continental breakfast, discount parking,
luncheon, workshops & business-building trade show.
RSVP: Required to receive advance price.

Questions: Call 412-396-1633.
Register online at:
http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=4gu7_&m=I.A8W8wHuuZhGz&b=_jwMSWWIqr0Ad5MGxKlinw

Friday, May 10,
BRENTWOOD BALDWIN WHITEHALL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
WOMEN’S NETWORKING LUNCHEON

Change of Venue
The monthly luncheon meeting of the Women’s Networking of the Brentwood Baldwin Whitehall Chamber of Commerce will meet on
Steel Center Area Vocational Technical School,
565 Lewis Run Road, Jefferson Hills, PA 15025
Buffet Lunch to be served at 11:30 AM

We have had many requests to once again visit Steel Center Area Vo Tech. In addition to lunch, we have the option of having a spa service performed by the cosmetology department.
To enter the school, drive to the very top of the hill and enter at the back of the building.

Parking is available in front of the main entrance (rear of the building). There is a new security entrance so everyone will have to use the call button on the far right of the entrance. Students from both Baldwin and Brentwood attend classes at the school. The food service class will be preparing lunch. Lunch will be served at 11:30.

Ladies can schedule appointments between 8:00-9:30 and 12:15 and 1:30. (See the attached price list.) Please schedule with the instructor, Sandy Knight, at 412-469-3200, x2522. Most services take 1 hour of time to complete. The cosmetology department can handle 3 pedicures, 6 manicures, and 6 facials during the afternoon session. Also the baked goods and meat departments will be open.

Lunch for day is $15
For Lunch Reservations, please email
Mary Dilla at secretary@bbwchamber.com.
Please make your reservations by May 6.

May 11th – Animal Intuitive Renee Takacs teaches you how to
communicate with your beloved pets! www.intuitguide.com

May 15, 2013
Business for Breakfast Networking Event

Featured Presentation:

Lead Your Relationships: Generate More Referrals from Your Clients
Presented by Michelle R. Donovan,
Owner of the Referral Institute of Western Pennsylvania

Are you getting enough referrals from your clients? If you would
like to get more and better quality referrals from your clients,
you don’t want to miss this session. Take away the answer AND
solution to why your clients don’t refer you. This one session
will change the way you view your clients and will help you make
more money by teaching you how to lead your client relationships
to generate referrals on a consistent basis.

Date: May 15, 2013
Time: 8:00 - 9:30 a.m.
Place: Cefalo’s Banquet & Event Center
428 Washington Avenue Carnegie PA 15106
Host: Pittsburgh Business Times
Cost: $25 (includes continental breakfast)
RSVP: Suggested by May 10th
Register online at:
http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=4gu7_&m=I.A8W8wHuuZhGz&b=olQV_uL8fkATrwYVd1w8hQ
For more info, contact Kelli Komondor at 412-208-3845 or
komondor@bizjournals.com.

Disability Resource Breakfast
Thursday, May 16, 2013

8:30 – 9:30 AM

Speaker: TIffany Huff, CareerLink, Center & Operations Manager
Topic: CareerLink offers resources for small business development

Join us to learn how CareerLink’s website resources for job seekers and their resources for business growth overlap and work together to create and support employment options.

Volunteers of America of Pennsylvania
1650 Main Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15215
FREE
RSVP: 412.782.5344 x 209 or volunteersofamerica@voapa.org

May 17, 2013
Women’s Power Lunch

Come be a part of the longest running networking luncheon in the
Pittsburgh area. Bring 50 business cards or brochures to hand
out and be prepared to give a short presentation on your business
to introduce yourself to other business women and professionals.

Date: May 17, 2013
Time: 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Place: Penn Brewery, 800 Vinial Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15212
Cost: $22.00 (Prepayment required)
RSVP: By May 15th
Questions: Contact Suzanne at Suzanne@womenspowerlunch.com
or 412-389-3420.
Register online at: http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=4gu7_&m=I.A8W8wHuuZhGz&b=bWsZILa35ov2ZpOawxfe3w

May 17th – Cocktails and Cuisine for www.CrisisCenterNorth.org

May 23, 2013
SWING into The Power of Golf

Speaker: Missie Berteotti
Would you like to learn more about how the power of golf can drive
your business? Would you like to improve your golf swing?
Join us at the May Clever Connections Lunch & Workshop with Pro
Golfer Missie Berteotti. Originally from Pittsburgh, Missie
attended the University of Miami where she led her college team
to the NCAA Championships. After graduation Missie toured with
the LPGA for 14 seasons. Currently she is a golf coach and
instructor and teaches Mental Mastery Programs to young athletes.

Missie will be teaching us the basics of golf-so that you can have
a credible conversation with your clients, or even attend a golf
event without feeling lost. For those of you who already play,
Missie will share some tips on how to improve your golf swing.

Date: May 23, 2013
Time: 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Place: The Club at Nevillewood
Sponsor: Pittsburgh Professional Women
Cost: Members- $39; Non-members- $49 (Add $6 after May 15)
Includes lunch.
RSVP: Suggested by May 17
To register, visit http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=4gu7_&m=I.A8W8wHuuZhGz&b=.Z7CkJa3Y4rhW20quw_IhQ.

WSBA Network Lunch - Butler, Wednesday, May 1, 2013, 1:00 PM
Serventi’s Restaurant and Lounge 438 S Chestnut St, Butler, PA

WSBA Network Lunch - Allegheny Valley, Thursday, May 2, 2013, 11:30 AM
Evolution Grille, 123 Mulone Drive, Sarver, PA

WSBA Network Lunch - Shaler/Gibsonia, Wednesday, May 8, 2013, 11:30
Max & Erma’s Restaurant 5150 William Flynn Highway, Gibsonia, PA

WSBA Network Lunch - Robinson/Airport, Friday, May 10, 2013, 1:00 PM
Jacksons Restaurant @ Doubletree Hotel, 8402 University Blvd., Coraopolis, PA

WSBA Network Lunch - Beaver County, Monday, May 13, 2013, 1:00 PM
Rainaldi’s, 201 Fairview Drive, Monaca, PA

WSBA Network Lunch - South Hills, Wednesday, May 15, 2013, 1:00 PM
Getaway Cafe, 3049 Sussex Ave, Pittsburgh, PA

WSBA Network Lunch - East End, Thursday, May 16, 2013, 1:00 PM
Smiling Banana Leaf, 5901 Bryant Street, Pittsburgh, PA

WSBA Network Lunch - Monroeville Friday, May 17, 2013, 1:00 PM
Wooden Nickel, 4006 Berger Ln, Monroeville, PA

WSBA After Work Network, Wednesday, May 22, 2013, 5:15 PM
Allegheny Wine Mixer Inc, 5326 Butler Street, Pittsburgh, PA

WSBA Network Lunch - Westmoreland, Friday, May 24, 2013, 12:00
Ground Round Grill & Bar, 960 E Pittsburgh St., Greensburg, PA 15601

WSBA Network Lunch - North Hills, Tuesday, May 28, 2013, 1:00 PM
Bella Frutteto, 2602 Brandt School Rd, Wexford, PA

WSBA Network Lunch - Washington, Thursday, May 30, 2013, 1:00 PM
Angelo’s restaurant, 2109 Fanklin Drive, Washington, PA

www.water.org
Selvi is 37 years old and lives in Karattai Village in Vannur block, in Tamil Nadu. She and her husband work as agricultural laborers and have two daughters in school.
In her village, she is also a member of the Saraswathi Self-Help group where she has a savings account, which provides a small loan back to her for household expenses. Selvi says, “I never miss my group meeting. I attended many training programs conducted by Hand in Hand.” She further adds, “I came to know that there is a WatSan loan product for the construction of individual water connections. I enrolled myself for the loan.”
Selvi is happy that she could learn about health and hygiene and understand the importance of safe drinking water, water borne diseases, the importance of toilet construction and the need to have water and toilet connection in her own house.
Water.org’s partner, Hand in Hand, gave a water loan to Selvi to help her install a water connection for her household. Selvi recalls the days when she had to get up early in the morning and go to the street for water collection. She says, “Sometimes due to a heavy rush, I was not able to get water on time and my daughters were not able to get to school.” Now, after getting the individual water connection, Selvi is able to save time. She says, “This is a great help for poor villagers like us.”
Join us for World water Day www.water.org
and celebrate the progress being made for families like Selvi’s.

By: Mary Grace Musuneggi
www.MFGplanners.com

Once upon a time Jeff divorced Susan. Jeff married Karen. While reviewing their estate planning and beneficiaries, their social security options and pension options, Susan’s name was showing up everywhere.

When we brought this to Jeff’s attention, he was amazed that this would make any difference. “After all,” said Jeff, “Karen is my wife, wouldn’t she get everything anyway?”

The answer is NO.

If you are in a “new” marriage or if you have an extended family, please call us to review your estate planning.

Once upon a time, Eileen, single mother of Karena, had to choose a beneficiary for her 401k, group insurance, and personal assets. She chose Karena, but Karena is only 14.
Peggy, a grandmother of three left her IRA to Elizabeth, her granddaughter who is 8.

Are these beneficiary designations a good idea?

The answer is NO.

Although we recognize that these parents and grandparents have trusted their assets to their children and grandchildren out of love, the state of Pennsylvania does not allow these underage beneficiaries as potential owners of assets. These assets could be held up by the estate, be transferred to an ex-spouse (and their new spouse - UGH!) or directed to a trustee not of your choosing.
Beneficiaries who are under 18 or even 21 will present a serious issue for your estate.

If you are a single parent, a divorced spouse, or a child of any of these, please contact us so that we can be sure that inheritances go to the right person, in the right way, at the right time.
Once upon a time, Joan did all of her estate planning, updated her beneficiaries and titled her assets correctly. Does Joan sleep well at night?

The answer is YES.

www.womenforahealthyenvironment.org

Finally the weather and the date both say Spring! And that means one thing…time for Spring Cleaning! There are three simple things you can do right now to better protect you and your family.

1) Take one of your regular cleaners and switch it out for a homemade alternative. Made with good, old-fashioned ingredients like vinegar, baking soda and lemon, they’re not only safer, but more economical — and they smell great, too!

2) Download WHE’s Top 12 Ingredients to Avoid in Cleaning Products. Review this list to make certain your favorite products don’t contain the ingredients on the attached list! Choose cleaning products that are plant-based, rather than petroleum-based…healthier for you and the environment.

3) Contribute $10, $25, or $50 to WHE’s Spring Cleaning Appeal. You know the importance of a healthy environment - now, please help us spread our message across western PA! Thanks to you, we have provided workshops, programs, and speaking engagements to over 2,500 individuals over the last three years; educated students about safer personal care and consumer products; supported policy efforts that better protect our health; and worked on campaigns to convince major corporations like Johnson and Johnson to remove dangerous chemicals from personal care items. Your contribution will help us launch the 3rd Annual Food City Fellows Program, our Teens on the Eco Scene Program, and much more. www.womenforahealthyenvironment.org

You may also send your donation to us at Women for a Healthy Environment, 1405 Shady Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15217.
Thank you for all that you do to create a safer, healthier environment.
Sincerely,
Michelle Naccarati-Chapkis
Women for a Healthy Environment

Creamy Soft Scrub
2 c baking soda
1/2 c liquid castile soap
4 tsp vegetable glycerin
5 drops of essential oil (such as tea tree, lavender or rosemary)
Mix and store in sealed jar, such as a mason jar. This recipe has a two-year shelf life!

Laundry Detergent:
1 bar (or 4.5 ounces) of shaved bar soap
1 cup of washing soda
1 cup of borax
essential oil (optional)
Thoroughly stir together for 5 minutes. Use 1 Tbsp per load (or 2 Tbsp for heavily soiled loads). Suitable for HE and Non-HE machines.
Source: Alternative Household Cleaning Solutions, National Environmental Services Center

By Patricia Thibault
Social Security Manager in Pittsburgh, PA

Cinco de Mayo is May 5 — a time to celebrate Mexican heritage and pride.

Why not join the celebration by visiting Social Security’s Spanish website, where you’ll find a number of useful services and a wealth of information in Spanish. Just visit www.segurosocial.gov

Perhaps the most impressive thing you can accomplish on our website — in Spanish — is to apply for Social Security retirement benefits! You can apply quickly and easily on your personal computer. The online application takes as little as 15 minutes. Once you complete the online application and “sign” it with the click of a mouse, your application is complete. In most cases, there are no documents to submit or additional paperwork to fill out. Online is the easiest way to apply, and you can do it in English or Spanish.

In addition to applying for Social Security retirement benefits, you also can apply for Medicare in Spanish — in as little as 10 minutes, from start to finish.

If you are not ready to apply for benefits now, there are still a number of reasons to visit the Social Security website. You can find a lot of information and a number of online services that allow you to complete your Social Security business online, in English or Spanish. One of the most popular is our Retirement Estimator, which provides an instant, personalized estimate of your future Social Security benefits. Using the actual wages posted in your Social Security record, the Estimator will give you a good picture of what benefits you may receive. It protects your personal information by providing only retirement benefit estimates — it does not show the earnings information used to calculate the benefit estimate, nor does it reveal other identifying information. You can plug in different retirement scenarios and future wage amounts to get estimates for different situations. Try it out at www.socialsecurity.gov/espanol/calculador

If you already are entitled to Medicare and are having trouble with the cost of prescription drugs, you might qualify for Extra Help from Social Security. The Extra Help can save you as much as $4,000 each year on your prescription drug costs. You can learn all about it and apply online at www.socialsecurity.gov/prescriptionhelp/index_sp.htm

On the right side of the website, under the Frequently Asked Questions, you’ll find a red envelope. Select it to receive email updates on the latest Social Security news and information. You can get your updates in English at www.socialsecurity.gov or in Spanish at www.segurosocial.gov
Whether you prefer to do business online in Spanish or English, our website is the place for you. Visit www.segurosocial.gov or www.socialsecurity.gov during Cinco de Mayo, or anytime.

Dottie Coll
dottiecoll@msn.com
412-881-1111

Spring is the season of new beginnings. But it can be hard to appreciate if you’re stuck in the house trying to sift through the accumulation of winter clutter.

Fortunately there are some easy techniques to help get a jumpstart on spring cleaning. The following steps will help get the house organized and allow you to enjoy the new season, clutter-free.

“Before you start, make sure you have proper supplies handy,” suggests Dottie Coll, President of the Pittsburgh TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® location. “Get sturdy cardboard boxes or plastic bins before sorting your belongings and avoid using produce boxes from the grocery store — they may contain bugs. For extra convenience, shop online to get packing supplies delivered to your door or stop by one of our locations.

The moving experts at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® recommend the following tips to get organized this spring:
• Start by sorting and organizing closets. If there is limited closet space, consider storing winter clothing in the attic, basement or garage. Wardrobe boxes offer excellent space for hanging coats, sweaters and snow pants.
• Sort out items no longer used or worn. If it hasn’t been worn in more than a year, then it probably won’t be again. Set aside a couple empty boxes for donations or items to sell.
• Use sturdy boxes with dividers for packing breakables. Make sure cardboard boxes are structurally sound. Dish-pack boxes with adjustable inserts that form individual cells are a great option for fragile items.
• Once closets are organized, do the same in other storage areas like the attic or garage.
• Think green. Survey local recycling options to find the most convenient solution for recyclables. Many cities offer curbside pick-up or “sort and drop” depots. Visit Earth911.com for a list of local venues where all types of recyclable materials can be disposed of. Organize recyclables by category: plastic, glass, aluminum, paper, cardboard, etc.
• Care for hazardous materials. Be conscientious about the materials being disposed. Toxic items such as paint, batteries, house cleaning products, automobile oils, pesticides, and fertilizers are dangerous to transport and should not be thrown away with nontoxic garbage. These items should be taken to specialized depots.
• Concentrate on disinfecting spaces. Change air filters, rotate mattresses and vacuum under furniture.

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the largest franchised moving company in North America. It includes more than 200 locations and more than 1,400 trucks on the road. Each location is independently owned and operated, and sells boxes and packing supplies. Locations complete both home and business moves, as well as packing and unpacking services.

For more information, call) TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® at 412.881.1111 or 412.259.8777 or visit www.twomenandatruck.com.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
Women Rallying for Change
Across the Region
Annual Equal Pay Day events and activities will be held
in three southwest PA counties in partnership with
the Women and Girls Foundation this April

In recognition of national Equal Pay Day, the Women & Girls Foundation will host our
7th Annual Equal Pay Day Rally to raise public awareness about equal pay and the need
for economic justice for women and girls in our region.

DATE: Tuesday, April 9th
TIME: 12:00-1:00pm
LOCATION: Market Square, Downtown Pittsburgh

Help spread the word:

Please forward this message to your networks to encourage turnout, and
visit pittsburghequalpayday.wordpress.org
to learn more about how the wage gap impacts women in Pennsylvania

If you are on Facebook, please join the event.
If you Tweet, please use #EqualPayday and tag @wgfpa

Our Partners will also be holding Equal Pay Day activities:

GREENSBURG

Seton Hill University Feminist Collective
Faculty Panel of experts on gender issues, mainly the gender wage gap.
Monday, April 8th, evening
Coffee and snacks will be provided.
For more information, click here

Rally/March beginning at Seton Hill’s Maura Solarium
Tuesday, April 9th, 11:30am

Ice Cream Social for Rally Participants
Tuesday, April 9th, afternoon

UNIONTOWN

MyOWN Campaign in partnership with BPW (Business Professional Women)
at Penn State Fayette (local hosted at PSU Fayette) will host a series of events
during the week of April 8 through April 12, including:

Equal Pay Day Rally on the Fayette County Courthouse Steps
Tuesday, April 9th, at 12:00pm

BPWOW (Women Of the World) Networking event and Salary Negotiation Workshop
Thursday, April 11th, at 5:00pm

For more information about any of these events,
visit www.wgfpa.org or call 412.434.4883

By Jon Fosse; in a new translation by Sarah Cameron Sunde
Directed by Sarah Cameron Sunde
April 4–April 28, 2013
LOCATION: The Former Park Schenley Restaurant at The Royal York, in Oakland

Showclix is open Monday to Friday 9 a.m.–6 p.m.

Order your tickets online with
ShowClix or call 1.888.71.TICKETS

Please call Quantum outside of regular box office hours: 412-362-1713.

$18 student tickets are made possible through the UPMC Student Ticket Program.

What if death comes to you like a lover? The lover against whom all others were measured, who tempts you to let go of all responsibilities. You might be surprised to learn you’d fight this seduction, perfectly designed for you. Dream of Autumn is a look at what we cling to when it’s time to go. Written with fierce poetic simplicity, Fosse allows the audience to explore human interaction, finding the truths that lie within their own lives.
April 10: Ladies Night
A ladies-only reception and viewing. Join us for a pre-show reception on the roof of the Royal York at 6:30pm, followed by the performance at 8pm

Brown Bag Lunch
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
12:00 – 1:00pm
Speaker: Jessica Strong, founder and director of Strong Trainings
Topic: Conquer Public Speaking

Speaking in public can cause anxiety and fear. Join us to learn three easy ways to overcome your fear and to project a more confident attitude so you can take advantage of your next opportunity to speak confidently in public.
Volunteers of America of Pennsylvania
1650 Main Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15215
FREE
RSVP: 412.782.5344 x 209 or volunteersofamerica@voapa.org

Disability Resource Breakfast
Thursday, April 18, 2013
8:30 – 9:30 AM

Speaker: Pam Dixon, M.S., Director of Programs, Education & Outreach for the Western Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society

Topic: An introduction to Multiple Sclerosis & Employment
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society is challenging the factors that cause early retirement and a high rate of un-employment for people affected by MS. Join us to review the real progress that is being made on the employment front.

Volunteers of America of Pennsylvania
1650 Main Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15215
FREE
RSVP: 412.782.5344 x 209 or volunteersofamerica@voapa.org

By Yvonne Phillips FSII
Feng Shui for Basic Everyday Living!
www.fengshuipublications.com
www.twitter.com/yvonnejean
www.facebook.com/yvonnephillips

Most people who are just starting to practice Feng Shui know that their bedroom and their living room are very important and they focus on balancing those two rooms. Most Real Estate Agents can tell you why—people spend more time in the bedroom and the living room than all the other rooms in the house. So it’s natural that the practice of Feng Shui makes it clear that those rooms play a vital part in determining how well peace, prosperity and harmony flows into our lives.
But although those rooms are important, there is another part of the house that is just as important, but almost always overlooked: the entry way. Ch’i enters the house through doors and windows and the major part of Ch’i enters through the front door (or the main entrance). The entryway, how it’s constructed and how it’s arranged and/or decorated determine the quality of Feng Shui that is experienced by the entire household.
The entrance to your house plays a huge role in creating an environment of peace, prosperity and harmony. It’s the first thing you experience when you enter the house and the last thing you touch when you leave the house. Many of the oldest religions recognize this. Judaism uses a Mezuzah on the doorframe to demonstrate that their home is a sanctuary in miniature of holiness. Catholics use Holy Water at the entrance of their churches so people can anoint themselves before they enter the sanctuary. While the exact reasons may vary, it’s clear that the entryway is thought of as a portal of peace and harmony by many different cultures and religions. Most probably, Feng Shui, was taking advantage of this idea thousands of years before Judaism and Christianity.
The idea of Feng Shui is to create the flow of positive energy (Ch’i). Unless you pay attention to where that flow begins, it will be impossible to control that flow. Even worse, since the entry way is the largest portal for Ch’i, it literally determines how much positive energy comes into your home.
Given the importance of this topic, the next few articles I write will explain how to create an entry way that is conducive to bringing peace, harmony and prosperity into your home.
The first consideration you’ll want to make is where the entrance is. Most homes have two main doors: one that was built by the architect (the front door) and the side entrance, which is usually an entrance from the side of the house or the garage. Most often, the occupants prefer one of the other for reasons of convenience. So the first rule is to pick one. Decide on which entryway to use and make sure all occupants use that one exclusively. Of course, using the other door occasionally is fine if you’re emptying the trash or if the door leads to the garden. Once you’ve determined where the portal is, then it’s time to consider how to use it in order to maximize its potential to attract and channel the positive energy that is vital to helping you create a life and an environment that’s charged with peace and prosperity.
In the next article we’ll talk about the primary element of the entrance: the door and how to make sure it’s harmonious with everything good that you want in your life.