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Shipping from Wedding Tennies Today

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Shipping today from weddingtennies.com. Beautiful lace, clear seauins, and pearls adorn these sating flip flops!

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Get More Brides Seminar Was a Hit!

Last week's Get More Brides Seminar by Rick Brewer was well attended and fantastic. We all learned some new tricks to get more business this year. And who couldn't use that right now, right?  With about 60 people in attendance it was definitely a hit!

 

A big thanks to Crowne Plaza Anaheim Resort for their wonderful service and hospitality!  We all learned a lot, enjoyed great food and met some new friends in the industry!

Stir Up Some Business ... Host a Mixer

By Mindy at Networkingeventfinders.com

Business is down, people are cautious; everybody’s waiting so see
what the economy will do before they commit to that marketing campaign or that advertising spread, etc. But still… you feel like your company

should be doing something.


Sponsor a “Networking Mixer!” After the observations of my Orange County, CA, editor, Marcie Taylor, I thought I should expand on this informal segment of the networking arena. You don’t need to involve a chamber or any other structured organization. All you need are refreshments, food, a large venue and people! (oh, yeah….nametags!)


As business owners and firms offering professional services look for ways to create interest, meet new people, and possibly help their clients, we’ve seen casual events spring up that are being hosted by
professional firms. For example, a bank or a legal firm may host a Happy Hour Mixer or Client-Appreciation Open house. Put the word “Networking” in the title and people‘s self-interest will be sparked. The sponsoring firm invites their clients and encourages them to bring others. All their associates are on hand as greeters to introduce clients to each other.


This is a social business event and there is no presentation other than the host at some point announcing to the crowd something like: “Welcome…I’m Mr. Prez of Jones & Associates, A CPA firm. Thank you for coming! Please eat, drink and be merry. If you have any questions about us, please don’t hesitate to ask…Enjoy the evening!


If you want to give a presentation on your company or a particular area of your expertise, that’s your prerogative, but that fact should be well communicated in the original invitation so your guests will not be caught unaware. You don’t want to be deemed a networking “Bait & Switch”.


Another option is to host a morning coffee & bagel type Meet & Greet in your office building or office park. The idea is to meet your neighbors get to know them & their business…maybe you can help each other? Perhaps this can work into a future mixer to involve clients, networking and future collaborations. The opportunities are
endless.


Sound like too much work? Share the responsibilities with another firm and have two sponsors. You have plenty of online resources, E-vites for managing the guest list & social media & your local Networking Guide to spread the word! Please be cognizant as to whether or not a Happy Hour is appropriate for your industry…I still can’t believe that the Girl Scouts are hosting a Happy Hour for a Chamber of Commerce in Nevada (I’m surprised
it’s not a Casino Night)…I would think a non-alcoholic breakfast would be a better fit, but that’s just me…

Remembering 9/11 and The World Trade Center

We all can remember where we were that tragic morning. I found I couldn't turn the television off for weeks. This is a one hour documentary. Please watch and always remember the men and women who have given their lives for our freedom!

PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN - 9/11 WTC TRIBUTE

Let us remember this day forever. God Bless the men and women who fight for our freedom and God Bless the USA!

Blood Diamonds

Diamonds are said to be highly valuable and anonymous.  A mere handful of  smuggled stones can support an entire army or fund a terrorist organization.  This is a dirty little secret in the diamond industry.  They are easy to smuggle into this country as there is no orafice or piece of equipment that you can't hide a diamond in. They are easier to smuggle than drugs.  There is no smell and no trace so the dogs can't identify the smugglers.  It is a smugglers dream.  Alquida has been linked to diamond smuggling. Diamonds are sought after by many criminals and theives.  Antwerp is the main destination of smuggled diamonds.  Statistics show that 60% of the world's diamonds are smuggled.  Dealers from around the world come to Antwerp to buy uncut diamonds some not knowing of the corruption attached.  A diamond is a diamond no matter where it comes from.  Thankfully, most diamonds are legitimate, however they have fueled a series of brutal wars across Africa, a country with a history of corruption!  These diamonds can make or break a nation.  There is so much armed conflict over these precious stones that amputees have become the symbol of the modern Sierra Leone area of the West African Coast.  Many die in the process of mining.



Diamond sales produce 75 billion dollars every year. Men in the Sierra Leone area may dig for up to 7 days only to find 1 small rock that will pay him only $7.  They hope to buy a house or a motorcar for their family some day.  These men sell the diamonds to stores that in some cases trade them for goods.  Sometimes the dealers may carry a million dollars worth in their pocket.  It is a very dangerous job. 



How can a simple pebble mean so much?  Most are sold legally but all it takes are a corrupt few and the diamond pipeline can be used to buy weapons for another war.  These gems are mined in African war zones and sold to buy guns and  finance conflicts, and thereby profit warlords and diamond companies across the world.  Whoever controls the diamonds controls the war.  Rebels force men, women and children to dig for diamonds at gunpoint.  Then the diamonds are smuggled into world markets.  Consumers don't know that the diamonds they cherish originated from a blood war. Rest assured, not all diamonds are blood diamonds.  This corruption is killing the diamond industry though.



To most people diamonds are worth millions symbolizing love, affection, wealth, and glamour.  They are emblems of love and romance.  So pure you can see right through them.  When the love and romance  is absent the stone becomes a pebble.


Taken from  Blood Diamond is a 2006 war film co-produced and directed by Edward Zwick starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Connelly and Djimon Hounsou.  The film was nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Actor (DiCaprio) and Best Supporting Actor (Hounsou).

Upcoming Networking Mixer

We are looking forward to next week's networking mixer at the beautiful Heritage Museum.  Several new vendors are joining our team to create a wonderful event. 

Click here for tickets

DJ services by Matthew Beaumont
Flowers by Pastel's Florist
Photography by Fenton Photography
Candy Buffet by Two Sugar Mamma's
Catering by Country Garden Caterers
Linens by LA Chair Cover Rentals
Tables by Signature Party Rentals
Photobooth by Pics 4 my Party

We have some great raffle prizes for some lucky attendees to win too!