Resources: Vital Information When You Need It Most

Our resource page was recently updated. It is divided into four sections. We believe anyone should be able to access a free quality education whether it is to learn business skills, safeguard their business, for job advancement or for enrichment purposes.

We are passionate about helping employees and their families, especially in times of crisis.
Most of us have worked with someone who was struck with a tragic accident or illness. If you have ever felt helpless or wondered what you could do to help a co-worker or their family, learn more about YouCaring in our resources section. This is a site where a colleague, family member or friend can set up a fundraising page. What sets YouCaring apart from its counterparts is they have never charged a fee. One hundred percent of the money raised helps persons in need. The only fee that is charged is from PayPal. Donations are deposited as soon as they come in.

Please review our resource page.

Ask For Help Unabashedly And Keep On Asking

Is there really any value in watching a colleague falter when all that is needed is a few moments of guidance or advice? Industry experts have an inside track and may be a great resource to help new people in the field avoid costly mistakes, but they aren't mind readers. One of the most daunting tasks is to unabashedly ask for help. If you don't get help the first time, or need more assistance, just keep on asking until you can piece things together. It is preferable to suffering in silence or drifting in a sea of confusion. Balance persistence and openness with appreciation and a willingness to consider good advice. Here is a word of caution: Do maintain the chain of command where applicable. Some industry experts are motivated to share information and offer help because someone helped them years ago. Good places to find industry experts include professional groups or associations. The cost of membership ranges widely depending on the profession. Fees may seem excessive, however membership should also offer benefits. Think of the fee as an entry point to ask questions and locate information. 

Soil and Water Conservation Small Project Support

The East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District (EMSWCD) is a resource for businesses and nonprofits including churches east of the Willamette River. EMSWCD provides technical assistance and small grants for projects that fit their guidelines. Examples of past projects have included watershed improvements, tree planting, community gardens, soil conservation, composting. Projects partners have included schools, neighborhoods, businesses, nonprofits, and churches. EMSWCD also provides free workshops. Read more about it on their website. http://emswcd.org/ 

Managing Surge Through Resource Agreements

Surge can include anything from a spike in production or attendance, to crisis management. When production exceeds capacity businesses need plans in place to ramp up rapidly. Non-profits such as food banks experienced a surge when needs exceeded available resources. In January 2012 we attended an event with five thousand participants and watched as many were turned away. Yet there was a like-minded business a mile down the road which could have co-hosted the event allowing for another three thousand attendees. In fact, there was a third entity that could have handled at least three thousand more. A business continuity plan can help a business or nonprofit manage a surge related to the economy, but it can also be used to manage unforeseen conditions. For instance many nonprofits have a large base of trained volunteers. Volunteers can be called up during times of crisis. Businesses can establish trigger points to rein in finances or provide cross training to manage labor needs until additional resources arrive. Resource management agreements allow businesses, churches and nonprofits to provide mutual aid which is only limited by imagination and codes. This may range from agreements for extra parking or improved logistics to top notch event planners. Few entities have the resources to plan for every contingency, but by appointing a liaison to participate in a work group and giving them the authority to commit resources within predetermined guidelines allows for greater flexibility and reciprocity leads to better cooperation.

Employed or Not: Many VETS Are Entitled To VA Health Care

We've been astounded to learn that many Veterans are not aware that they are eligible for VA health care. This becomes more important in the wake of the Affordable Care Act. Enrolling in VA health care satisfies this requirement. Insurance companies are not likely to advise Veterans since they stand to gain financially. Human Resource Departments are not required to advise new employees or send an annual reminders to existing employees prior to re-enrollment in a health care plan. Employees should not be discouraged from enrolling in other plans, but they should be informed and have the choice of VA health care with or without an additional private insurance plan.
 
How does VA health care work? Check at the Enrollment to learn more.

Based on our findings: VA does have specific eligibility criteria. For instance, Veterans who served in a combat zone should be eligible even if they did not see combat.

To obtain VA health care, the medical condition is NOT required to be service connected.
To establish military connection VETS or their Power of Attorney must initiate a claim with VA Comp and Pen. Once it is received, VA Comp and Pen requests evidence to support the claim. The process can be daunting. Many legitimate claims are persistently denied. Be prepared to maintain all appeals. If you need assistance you may obtain help through the VFW, DAV or hire an attorney. Download DBQ forms from the official VA website. Ask your treating physicians to fill one out DBQ for each corresponding medical condition. Sign a release to have the DBQ sent directly to VA Comp and Pen. If it is mailed to you instead, send a copy to VA Comp and Pen. Put your claim number on every page.

The VA uses a rating system to determine benefits and co-pays if applicable. New information may be submitted and a Veteran's rating may be upgraded if the request qualifies.Once enrollment approves a Veteran's application for heath care, a Veteran can self refer for audiology, optometry or mental health services. Like most health cares systems, there is usually a wait to get established with a primary care physician. Use that time to organize all your information to streamline care at your first visit.

A Bonus for Serving Our Country
Providing this link is our way of saying thank you for reading our blog and serving our country. Many businesses provide free or discounted products and services. This link provides a list of participating businesses for your convenience. Happy Veteran's Day.
http://militarybenefits.info/miscellaneous-discounts-veterans-day-deals-veterans/

The Art of Information and Referral

In the early nineties, this writer was taught what it meant to provide useful information and referral. Have you ever gone to an emergency room or doctors office and received a generic discharge summary? Businesses like individuals have unique strengths and weaknesses.

In the field of mediation the definition of information and referral was one that was individually tailored to meet needs. So let's examine two examples from the field of mediation. The first involves division of assets. The second involves a highly contentious conflict that is inflammatory and destructive. Lesson number one is that generic plans are insufficient and in some cases might be harmful.

The first is a simple case of deciding who wants what. The math is pretty straight forward. If there is $558, 410. in assets, each gets half. If there is $130,000. in debt each assumes half. This can be worked out in a variety of configurations.

The second is as not simple. Since it is contentions there might have to be individual sessions to determine if mediation will work. Mediation may not be suitable if there is a serious power imbalance. A mediator cannot standby and allow one party to take severe advantage of another that cannot defend or represent him or herself adequately. In such instances, ground rules are needed. One party may need to be released before the other to avoid an unpleasant scene in the hall. A mediator may recommend anger management or therapy in conjunction with mediation.

Now let's return to the original topic of information and referral. In a subsequent setting this writer considered it a great privilege to apply this art skillfully. If a business owner is bleeding out financially, connecting him or her with a temp. services to hire new employees would make no sense. It would however if he had a market order and needed to get out 3000 products in two weeks in order to maintain a prized contract.
We seek to become a premium resource for online, individually tailored, business information and referral.

Successfully Launching a New Business

Have your dreams to launch a new business or project fallen flat? Have you lost the original idea you started with? What obstacles have you encountered? Time management? Access to capital? Industry connections?
Here are a few simple strategies: Create a simple "Things To Do" list. Be willing to start small. Smaller successes lead to larger successes. Spend five to ten minutes prioritizing what is most important. Add a check box in front of each item. When each item is completed, change the check box to a check mark. If you get stuck or bogged down on a certain task, move to the next one. Checking items off can be a real motivator. Doing this day after day like a running checklist allows you to see progress. You can also refer back to something if you have a question.

Capital can be raised in many ways. Most ways we prefer to use capital does not involve banks. Get creative. Lastly, if you can partner with a private investor for small recurring loans you're making progress. The best solution is not to use debt financing. One goal of financial sustainability is solvency. Another is to become the banker. Instead of begging hat in hand, become a resource to others and earn a tidy profit in the process.

Industry connections are key. Here are some ways to get connected. 1. Attend business forums and workshops. 2. Find a free business adviser. 3. Be willing to consider the advisers advice. 4. Set up a simple pre-project timeline. A pre-project timeline includes but is not limited to conducting research, defining membership, and coming up with a company image. 5. Surround yourself with people who are experts in their field. An example is running ideas past a CPA to make sure you understand the tax implications.
6. Share what you have learned with others. Evaluate and improve each step. Integrate new learning.

Gain Visibility With EventBrite

EventBrite www.eventbrite.com allows users the to opportunity to customize information for an upcoming event. If an event is free there is no cost to advertise. It may be used to promote fundraising events or sell tickets online for a small percentage of proceeds. A fundraiser may be as simple as a 5k race, or it may be an event with multiple layers and a more complex price structure. This allows participants to choose an option they can comfortably afford. A request for donations may also be set up. One frequent use of the donation function is for people who would like to support a cause, but are unable to attend the event. The site is often used to register participants for classes, seminars or workshops. After registering for an event, the site provides very simple instructions to print off a ticket with the event name, recipient's name, date of the event, and the associated cost. For event organizers it allows them to know how much seating is required, how much food to order and how many volunteers are needed to host the event. Event organizers can limit the number of available tickets so the event remains manageable.

Be Smart: Get Free Help from a Business Adviser

The Small Business Development Center offers free advisers. We found ours through CLIMB
http://www.pcc.edu/climb/small-business/. Whether you've been in business a long time and need capital for expansion, have a start up or are still at the planning stage for a new business idea, be smart and find a qualified business adviser. An adviser can help your business lay a solid foundation, avoid costly mistakes or re-think your business direction.

What if Henry Ford Threw in The Towel?

Currently we are working to flesh out an in service workshop to offer to teachers. After reviewing the history of character based education, the question is not whether CBE failed, but whether the methodology came up short. Any program requires a baseline and outcome measures. Program evaluation is also an essential element, but that alone is insufficient. No program works without fine tuning it. Consider the manufacture of automobiles. What if Henry Ford threw in the towel the first time his efforts failed? There is a progression when properly applied leads to a successful outcome.

Next week a member of our team will meet with a new business adviser. Together we will assess and strengthen our several aspects of our business and marketing plans.