10 Reminders When it Comes to Volunteerism

I've been a volunteer in many capacities most of my adult life--either through working for fundraisers of my own (or my employers') choosing, or through donating services related to special projects in community organizations or other clubs with which I've been involved. I've also been on the receiving end of volunteer service as a resource development director in the last non-profit for which I worked. I've learned many things in the course of volunteering and/or managing volunteers, and have found volunteerism can be among the most joyful and fulfilling work a person will ever do. In case helpful, I've put together a list of things to keep in mind to help ensure this is the case. Here are 10 reminders when it comes to volunteerism:

1) Volunteerism in a gift--show appreciation. Volunteers are there for many reasons, but most importantly, of their own free will. Even if someone volunteers to fulfill a community service, it's crucial to remember they could always choose to donate their time, talents and treasures to another organization. In my opinion, vounteers should be treated like royalty. I try to take every opportunity to thank people for all their efforts in helping the organization be the best it can be.

2) Volunteers are not employees. Higher levels of volunteers (i.e. Board members or other organizational leaders) may be asked to commit to professional services, fundraising and counted on for important follow-throughs, but for the most part, tasks of top level importance should not be delegated to volunteers who could choose to walk away at any time--especially if the climate is dictatorial and heavy. 

3) Volunteer tasks should be clarified in as full an extent as possible. I helped plan and manage 12 large-scale and several medium-scale non-profit events over my 11+ years in a marketing, public relations and resource development role, as well as oversaw office volunteers--many of which were through the local county diversion programs. I've seen all kinds of ways instructions can be misinterpreted, and have learned to create step-by-step written specifics--with visuals whenever possible--as well as walking through tasks in a verbal training capacity to ensure as clear an understanding as possible. 

4) If gifting is possible, consider it. Even the smallest gestures go a 7long way to help a volunteer know his or her service is greatly appreciated, and ensures they continue to be strong prospects for future volunteer projects. If gifting or awards programs are not in the budget, a simple letter, printed certificate of service or the like would also show an appropriate level of appreciation.

5) Do whatever possible to ensure the volunteer's experience is fun and rewarding. If the task is mundane (i.e. letter stuffing, sealing, sorting, etc.), an offer of a radio (set to their favorite station), snacks, drinks, etc.--plus stopping in to praise their progress and thank them every so offen--will ensure a positive experience for them.

6) Encourage volunteers to invite their friends to volunteer as well. The best resource for prospective volunteers is a current favorite volunteer whose work is the level for which you're looking. If someone invites their friend to volunteer, they might also appreciate being scheduled to share the same task in the same timeframe, so they can work together smoothly and visit with each other in any downtimes there may be.

7) Have a clear idea of skills, talents and interests before scheduling a volunteer for a particular task. Some jobs are higher detail than others, may involve mathmatical strengths, may require a creative eye, etc., so an effort to match skills to tasks needs to be made for a successful and fulfilling volunteer experience.

8) If a professional is willing to donate their skills pro bono/gratis, they are in effect, a volunteer. However, this is a case where the utmost care must be taken in ensuring this person's skills, talents and willing spirit is treated with great appreciation and respect. This is a rare occurance and must be as rewarding for the giver as possible if any future such service is ever to be gained.

9) Serve meals when asking volunteers to work long hours. It is the most basic courtesy to feed volunteers if their service hours are to be long and arduous. If the organization is unable to foot the bill, employees might be willing to do their part for a potluck or a sponsor or donor might be willing to help underwrite this piece, and the venue might be able to provide a deeply discounted catering service.

10) If a redirect is needed, be creative to make every effort to show appreciation and respect, as well as avoid hurt feelings. At some point, you may think you've successfully matched a volunteer's skills to a particular task, only to find he or she is not a good fit at all, for whatever reason. It's easiest to just make a note of this and plan differently next time. However, if it's crucial to the event this person be removed, see if you can make it seem like such-and-so also wanted this role and you're hoping to give them the task at this point in the event, so both have had a chance to do it. It's important to show appreciation to the one you're moving, or--if it feels appropriate--they might even appreciate being released from service early.

There are no doubt other things to keep in mind regarding ensuring a successful volunteer experience, but the most important thing to remember is these folks don't have to be there, they're offering their service at no charge to the organization and they could walk away at any time. This is a fact for which they should be treated with much appreciation and respect. If this happens, they will feel appreciated, useful and fulfilled by lending their services...a win for all!

Today's Quote:
Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.  

-- William Arthur Ward

We Don't Need Deaths, Destruction & Drama to Appreciate Life's Blessings

It's the Sunday following Thanksgiving as I write this, and I am counting my blessings now more than ever before. My husband Bret and I enjoyed a lovely weekend with family down in Kansas City, but heard of two souls' ascentions before we returned to Omaha. The father of a Christian Covenant Group brother of ours and a Sister Sweet Adeline of mine passed away over the four-day holiday weekend--both were age 90, both had a love for The Lord and both will be greatly missed. 

Naturally, it's times like these which most vividly highlight our own mortality and the fact we need to make the most of today as tomorrow is never guaranteed. However, having been between jobs over a year following a subsidiary merger--and living a more uncertain life than usual--I seem to be more sensitive to such moments...

Speaking of being between jobs--today, long-time Nebraska Football Coach Bo Pelini has apparently joined those ranks after he was let go this morning. I'm sure this will cause some drama at the water cooler this week...

Another volitile situation going on right now is rioting in the Saint Louis area--as well as a few other large cities across the nation--after no charges were made involving the shooting of an unarmed Ferguson youth. The unfortunate result is more devastation and trashed property, putting many people out of work for the holidays.

Why does it take deaths, destruction and other forms of drama to make us appreciate what we have in this life? I would not wish such pain on anyone, but it does hit home when you see others in these most painful moments of the human experience. Could the takeaway really be as simple as just learning to love each other better? Bret and I caught a television sermon from Lakewood Pastor Joel Osteen of Houston, Texas this morning, where he talked about taking every opportunity to honor each other. I do believe you get more of what you look for in life--whether positive or negative--and I think most people see the logic in that notion, but if so, why aren't we better at looking for the good...accentuating the positive?

My hope is that experiences like these push us to see the good in each other every day--not just at Thanksgiving--and I wish you and yours a joyous holiday season, with more blessings than you can count...but let's keep counting them anyway!

Today's Quote:
"Better to lose count while naming your blessings than to lose your blessings to counting your troubles."
-- Maltbie D. Babcock

In Social Media Platforms--as in Other Things We Love--Variety is the Spice of Life!

I’ve been having a great time building content for a new Facebook page I started about a month ago—one actually under my name: Ingra Winkler Anderson! I’ve actually been managing a Facebook account for my a cappella quartet Firelight for quite some time—avoiding a personal account because of unwanted attention in my past I refer to as My Five Stalkings. I’m not a Luddite—I love the internet, researching all kinds of interests, seeing the latest trends and music videos, exploring apps, playing with gadgets, cataloging past work, e-marketing, etc. I was just in a job where I could plan, write content and design promos, then delegate the uploading and tracking pieces to others. However, my position as a marketing, public relations and resource development director was eliminated following a subsidiary merger last year, so I’ve more actively embraced a more personal hands-on approach to social media ever since. I'm choosing to find it freeing to have no choice!

If you Google Ingra Winkler Anderson or iWiNK Randoms, you’ll find many pages of content I’ve built—some over the past 8-10 years, but most in just the past couple. This, along with searching for a public relations media spokesperson role for an education, entertainment or chamber type entity have occupied most of my waking hours this past year. I currently manage the following accounts:

- Twitter.com/iWiNKRandoms
- Twitter.com/AcappellaOmaha
- Ingra Winkler Anderson on LinkedIn
- Ingra Winkler Anderson on Google Sites
- iWiNK Productions on YouTube
- iWiNK Randoms on Vine
- iWiNK Randoms on Magisto
- iWiNK Randoms on Tumblr
- Creative Solutions by iWiNK on Pinterest
- ReelPeopleOnline.com/IngraAnderson
- Facebook.com/Ingra.Winkler.Anderson
- Facebook.com/ Firelight.Quartet

My mission has been able to find out what makes the top social media sites unique and to find ways to maximize their use, gaining in-depth experience as well as creating online content I can use as examples of my work! What I’ve found is variety is truly the spice of life in this area. With each new platform I explore, I find new ways to communicate, connect and engage, and continue to learn how best to use each one to build best practices. For example, those who have DIY-er, scrapbooking, crafting or collecting tendencies, Pinterest is a great outlet for such. I use it for both personal and business cataloging, and continue to find it also a great way to more acurately pinpoint what I like and in what subjects I'm most interested. I wrote a blog solely on these side perks of the Pinterest platform earlier this year (see January 31st post: Want to Know Yourself Better? Try Pinterest!). 

I’m always happy to share what I’ve learned in case of help to someone else--and love learning new things as well--so please feel free to ask questions or offer any new/improved social media best practices in the space below, and maybe we can help each other grow!

Today's Quote:

“When was the last time you did something for the first time?” 

― John C. Maxwell

Micro-Movies a Great Way to Spice Up Your Social Media Posts

My husband Bret and I attended a lovely wedding celebration this past weekend for our step nephew Justin Shaw and his bride Natalie Suhr. They chose The Fountains West for their event, and I had fun capturing Vines throughout the evening. I ended up with 32 all together! If you're not familiar with it, the Vine app (available free for both Apple and Android devices) records six-second looping videos by touching the screen to begin recording and releasing it to end recording. It's great fun and the looping feature helps spark creative micro-movie-making ideas.

When I first started playing with Vine, I was trying to think of fun ways to maximize the looping feature. Here are a couple of my first Vines: Another Knock Knock Joke and Happy Birthday (shown). While admittedly obnoxious, they show how the looping feature can play creatively into your video.

I've also had a lot of fun doing mini how-to videos on Vine, such as Need a Quick Hat?, Dress Too Small? (shown) and Puppy Gone Loopy? (find these and more at Creative Solutions by iWiNK on Pinterest).

More recently, I've been exploring the Magisto Magical Video Editor app (also available free for both Apple and Android devices). Since I have a broadcasting degree and have made several promotional videos over the years (some of which are on my YouTube channel at iWiNK Productions) I wasn't sure how I'd like an automatic video-editing format. However, my inner control freak is learning to work with it, and take the randomness which sometimes creeps into the finished product with a sense of humor! 

Magisto will do things like show only parts of the picture and if that part doesn't happen to be the part you wanted featured, you're out of luck, but most of the time, it's pretty fun. An example of some of the interesting choices can be found in one of my first videos: Flat Stantley's Adventures at BRIN Cottage.

The video's clipped in places and there are parts where Flat Stanley is almost cut out of the shot, but it almost gives the feeling he's hiding, so it kind of works!

Here's an example using some of those wedding Vines I mentioned and a few photos: Justin & Natalie 9.27.2014. You can see where parts are edited a bit different from what a person might choose, but I'm not sure any actual people are involved in this process!

All in all, both Vine and Magisto are great tools for spicing up your digital publishing, and if you haven't tried them or any similar tools, why not choose one and try it today? They're really pretty easy to learn (if you need help, there's a How-to on YouTube for just about everything), plus everyone who views it will appreciate the effort! Good luck and happy posting!

Today's Quote:

“Social media is your platform to build a unique fan base while you express yourself exactly how you see yourself. Build wisely.” 

― Germany Kent

How to Create an Interior Repurposed Barn Door Look on a Tight Budget

For several years now, my husband Bret and I have wished we had some sort of separation between our master bedroom and our master bathroom. There's a water closet with a door, and a clothes closet with a door just off the main bathroom area, but otherwise, the bathtub, sinks, counter and vanity are just off the bedroom area, adding a utility feel to an otherwise cozy nesting place.

Most times, we like a big open feel. For example, we had walls removed in the architectural plans for this house to have our living room, dining room and kitchen area all open to each other, and have never regretted this decision. It's especially pleasant when we have company, as there's just more room for comfortable visits in small groupings or in one big happy circle.

However--back to the bedroom/bathroom conundrum--we are really excited about how our solution for this turned out--and had quite a journey of trial and error to get there--so I thought it might be helpful to share it here on the iWiNK Randoms Blogspot. The steps below are where we actually landed through finding out what worked best, but admittedly not necessarily where we began.

Step I: Visit the Hardware Store! 
I'm not gonna lie, our DIY projects sometimes have some try this--return this--until we land on the best solution, and this project was no exception, but here's what we ended up using in the final project:
(1) 1" x 4" x 8' oak board used to mount the pipe from which the doors hang, and is cut to aesthetically frame the width of the doors when fully opened
(3) 1" x 3" eye bolts with matching washers and nuts which are countersunk onto the oak board to then allow it to be mounted flush against the wall, and the plumbing pipe is threaded through the eyelets as well as the door rolling mechanisms
(1) 1" x 8' plumbing pipe we had custom cut and threaded
(2) plumbing pipe caps to screw on each end of the pole once it's up and in place
(8) 1.5" wood screws used to mount the oak board in place
(2) ready-to-paint fiberglass hollow core doors with no pre-cuts
(8) metal utility straps to attach the doors to the rollers
(4) garage door pulleys used for the rolling mechanisms
(8) 2" bolts with maching washers and acorn nuts to attach straps to the doors
(4) 2.25" bolts with matching nuts to attach the straps to the pulley wheels
(48) washers to thread onto the pulley wheel bolts and fill on either side of the wheels to the width of the door
(2) large & (2) medium size drawer pulls with matching bolts to use as handles mounted on the front and back sides of the doors
     
Step II: Measure door widths and wall opening, add together and you have the full width of the outer parameters of the doors as they would be when completely open. Add 4" to each side for framing the pipe from which the doors will hang. Cut the 1" x 4" x 8' oak board to fit this measurement. 

Step III: Decide placement of the straps on the doors, then counter sink eye bolts, one in the center and two near the ends of where the pipe will go, and where the outer strap/wheel mechanisms will need to stop for the doors to be fully opened. This is also the time you decide the vertical placement of the doors, which will then dictate: a) where to mount the oak header and b) how big a drop to allow from the pulley wheel to the top of the door.


Step IV: Mount wheels onto the straps using an equal number of washers on either side of each wheel, to space the straps the width of the door for mounting. 

Step V: Paint the doors. If you're wanting a distressed look, here's how we did ours:a) Paint a base coat. We used the existing wall color as a base, so it  was an easy start.

b) Add Color One. We used taupe from an old guest bathroom project.

c) Add Color Two. We used plumb from the master bedroom head-wall and chair rail project.


d) Add Color Three. We used moss green from the master bathroom project.


e) Whitewash with base color. Use as little or as much as you like--it's all to taste! I ended up adding a little more color after we had hung the doors as they seemed to need it. Sometimes you don't know if paint finishes are really working until you're able to see the piece in the room where it will actually be installed.


Step VI: Place straps according to your own vertical hanging decision mentioned earlier. The determining factor for ours was we wanted to have the door as close to the floor as possible without leaving a gap at the top of the wall opening. We also wanted to have the oak board lined up with the top of the opening. Once we had the placements decided, we drilled and bolted two holes in each strap. Horizontally, we centered our straps on the outer borders of the doors, but your door may mean a different decision based on its design. Creative solutions like these are the fun of Do-It-Yourself (DIY) projects!

Step VII: Put doors in place, thread pole through and add end-caps. In the eye bolt stage, we decided the pole would be mounted up a third from the bottom of the oak board, allowing the tops of the wheels to still be within the framework of this piece. Since there were two of us, one of us just lifted the door while the other threaded the pipe through. If you don't have help, you can use bricks or books to lift the doors to the height they need to be.
Step VIII: Install handles on both sides. We used drawer pulls for this--large on the bedroom side and medium on the bathroom side. Again, these are individual choices, but we really like our simple straight handles which line up with the straps.


We're really enjoying this new project for several reasons--not the least of which is it's a nice separation to muffle the sound of the jets when one of us is in the jacuzzi tub and the other of us is trying to get to sleep!

Have you got any new DIY projects you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you in the comments below, and happy creating!

Today's Quote:
I was so naive as a kid I used to sneak behind the barn and do nothing.
--Johnny Carson

Anatomy of a Great Performance

I've been a part of the close to 30,000-member Sweet Adelines International organization for more than 17 years. Our focus is advancing the musical art form of four-part harmony through education, competition and performance. The local chapter to which I belong is Acappella Omaha. Our rehearsals are on Monday nights (see AcappellaOmaha.com for details) and this past Monday, we were discussing an upcoming performance we were scheduled to give at the Sarpy County Fair.

Structured Planning
During that discussion, we were going over the songs and what order our emcee Sandy Cornelison had chosen for them to be sung. In an attempt to shed light on why the order is important, our director Nancy Goldberg gave a brief explanation of the ebb and flow of a performance, talking about having a balance between uptunes and ballads so the audience doesn't get worn out or--worse yet--lose interest. It is for this reason I decided it would be interesting to do my next blog on what makes a great performance.

Acappella Omaha Chorus (Photo Credit: Sweet Adelines International) In Acappella Omaha, we hold locally written and produced musical-style shows each fall, and fashion style shows each spring as our main fundraisers, but we are also available for hire to sing at events. Earnings from these as well as membership dues allow us to purchase music, costumes, coaching sessions, educational opportunities, rehearsal-related fees, and basically cover the costs it takes to run such a 501(c)3 largely volunteer-based non-profit organization. The Aim of Entertainment

As a way to gather information for this blog, I've asked a few questions of a handful of emcee/entertainer type members of our chorus, as well as a cappella heavyweight Deke Sharon, and also explored some other references online which might be of interest. For example, I found one blog from Singing Expert Katrina Schmidt which says so much just in the title--The Secret to a Great Performance is Fun--and I recommend reading further as she has some pertinent insights!

Kathy Wozniak, a long-time Acappella Omaha member who is often a star actress in the fall shows and is also signed with two talent agencies (so does a lot of commercial work) has this to say regarding scripting: "...if the material appears boring or to lengthy to you, then it is. If the material moves you, then it will move the audience."

Pictured here is Kathy as Marilyn Monroe in Acappella Omaha's 2013 Fall Show "Wish Upon a Star", where all the members were dressed as movie stars in a role they played. Kathy gave a truly star performance!

Jackie Narduzzo played a terrific Auntie Mame in AOC's 2013 show and is pictured here (left) filling in for Baritone Maggie Reid with Our Choice Quartet members Deb Van Erdewyk, Dottie Heffernan and Carol Gates.

Jackie--who is a long-time member and current chorus manager, has held many positions in the group, emceed and acted in dozens of shows, attended numerous regional and international competitions, placed first in both quartet and chorus contests and even sang in a quartet with me for eight+ years--has much to say about planning shows, and I appreciate all her input!

You Got to Move it, Move it!
Jackie says: "[Use] a peppy opener that makes everyone in the audience wake up and listen...it is okay to slow down and let them hear you sing a lovely slower song in the 2nd spot...it is nice to have a theme, especially if you are doing a longer show!  Do not ramble on...the audience doesn't stay with the story if too long. I found it nice to tell the history of a song, say what movie it was from. It is nicer to use a variety of women [for emcees]...the audience likes variety, and it makes it more fun for them. Try to use notes sparingly...know your story, might have to glance at it, but try to tell it like it's very personal, not written for you to stare at. This is why it is easier to use more people, they can learn their part and talk as though they are familiar with the people in the experience you are telling about.  With two or three other emcees, the load is off one person having to carry it all.  If someone is ill or has other commitments and can't be at a performance, the main emcee has back up.  Also two people going to a mic to tell a story adds interest, as they can argue, or laugh and goof off and make people laugh, and the audience relaxes and wants to hear what they are talking about."

A Simple AND Complex Undertaking
I've also done my share of event planning, script writing, etc. and in my opinion, the formula is pretty simple--it's just the execution that can be challenging! In a nutshell:

- Have a plan.
- Rehearse the plan. Perform when you rehearse or you'll be rehearsing when you perform!
- Keep it moving.
- Avoid weak material. Stories, jokes and anecdotes need to be short and strong.
- Show some love by dropping VIP names from the audience if that fits.
- Roll with surprises fluidly and lightly.
- Keep it light, smile and emote the happy!
- Read your audience. Wrap it up early if that's what audience facial expressions are telling you.

What Does the "Father of Contemporary A Cappella" say?

I was a fan of Deke Sharon's work even before I knew who he was. He produces The Sing-Off worldwide (USA, Netherlands, China), which had the highest ratings of any new, unscripted television show in the US in 2009, and was the third highest rated show on NBC in 2010. He also served as arranger, on-site music director and vocal producer for Universal's Pitch Perfect starring Anna Kendrick (2012), and now the much-anticipated Pitch Perfect II is coming out in May of 2015. These are two of my most favorite franchises!

Deke Sharon is heralded as the "Father of Contemporary A Cappella", having developed the dense vocal-instrumental (full band) sound in college as founder of the House Jacks, and has been spreading this terrific artform around the world ever since--making contemporary a cappella more popular than ever. He has also done some instruction/advising work within the Sweet Adelines International network, is a prolific arranger (over 2,000 songs), and Acappella Omaha is currently singing his version of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah. For these reasons, I've had brief visits with him on social media platforms and have enjoyed his illuminating sense of humor on a few of his videos, so was moved to ask if he might take a few moments to share what makes a great performance. I was delighted to hear back so promptly and truly appreciate his wisdom on the subject. Here is Deke's reply:

"Say Something.

YouTube is bringing us closer to Andy Warhol's "Fifteen minutes of fame" for everyone which has allowed for the democratization of fame to some extent, but it has also diluted what it means to perform.

Performing should not be an empty call for attention. "Look at me" isn't enough. Yes, attractive people and talented people will be able to draw viewers with their beauty and skill, but it is not enough to sustain attention nor is it enough to touch someone's life or make a lasting difference. To do this, you need to say something. Something real.

What does this mean? How do you do this? First, you need to make sure that behind each thing you create, each performance, is truth. Do the lyrics have meaning for you? Are you speaking from experience? To make a song or a role your own, you need to dig deep and find how you relate to your art, and how you can deliver it with honesty and veracity and meaning. A joyful song needs to be joyful, not just seem joyful. People will usually be able to tell if what you do isn't real.

This isn't easy to do and it isn't easy to sustain but being a performer isn't easy. Anyone can have a good night, a good performance; A true professional performer finds a way to bring the truth every day, every night, so that every performance grabs, holds, and speaks directly to the audience in a way that is real, powerful, and memorable."

Check out this fun National Public Radio interview with Deke Sharon.

What's Your Opinion?
I would also love to know what you think is entertaining in any of the shows or anything you've seen. We can all learn from other's views and--even in an office setting or business presentation--don't we all want to be as engaging and interesting as we can be when we're communicating to others? Please use the Comments section below to let us know what you think makes a great performance!

Today's Quote:

"I really don't think of myself as a singer. I think of myself as an entertainer, and the best place I do it is onstage."

-- Cher

Vignettes a Great Way to Add Interest in a Garden

l love flower gardens--especially when they have beautiful drifts* of color and foliage, plus just the right amount of whimsy to give a feeling of warmth or even a chuckle to visitors who spot whatever scene or vignette the gardener has created. One of my favorite things about gardening personally is finding fun ways to sprinkle in something which might be inspiring to others, such as the nearly hidden words in the Ghost Weigela bush below (you can click to stop it when you spot the message):

I

Less is More

Now this may seem a simple task--toss a bauble here or there--but to me, the art of adding stories, artistic structures and/or hardscaping to the garden is a fine one indeed. Too much of anything can be just...too much, and I can certainly point to things which really work and things I'm needing to re-work in our own garden--even after nearly 25 years--so I feel this challenge must just be a constant part of the gardening hobby, and I've learned to simply enjoy the journey.

No Pink Flamingos in Nebraska
I remember a past coworker of mine--who knew I was into gardening--saying something about imagining pink flamingos all over the place. I laughed and thought "that would not be my taste at all--what about me says 'pink flamingo'?" 

Okay, there is that one thing...but this comment had been made to me several years before I played FiFi Flamingo in an Acappella Omaha show...hmmm...maybe it's the actual reason I picked a flamingo out of all the options we were given in the exZOOberance script (I can't back that up--it really just occurred to me as I was writing this--but maybe that flamingo was buried in my psyche and stepped out for an appearance)!

If you're a fan of the pink plastic flamingo, I get the goofy humor (especially in Nebraska, where there are no pink flamingos actually living here) and I appreciate the history, but a gardener has to make choices in lawn decor--as in any decor--and, especially at that time, I was very anti-colorful-characters-for-the-garden. I wanted all the color to be coming from the flowers. That said, I've since found plenty of whimsy to sprinkle throughout our pathways, but my eye is usually drawn more to unique artistic works over kitschy characters or junk sculptures...but I'm not gonna lie--we do have a few fairies in a moss green patina and a couple gnomes/cottage fronts in a rustic brown patina. Somehow the muted tones make these characters less...loud! The fun part about these tiny sculptures is they help set the scenes where stories of the garden's playful inhabitants can be imagined by passersby (insert pixie dust here). 

A Passing Whim

When plants are young or just leafing out in the spring, it's easy to overdo the whimsy. My recommendation is not to put everything out at once. As plants mature, there are more opportunities to have a fanciful fairy peeking out from under some perennial or--like we just did--back a gnome and his home into a bush and act like he's the caretaker of the northeast garden, where his cottage can be found--this year. That's the other thing about whimsy or any type of moveable garden decor. It can be used as a filler for areas which didn't bounce back as fast as others from our cold Nebraska winters, so these little characters might move around from year to year...maybe even from spring to fall. 

Many times, I'll also use potted annuals to brighten up places which look dead, need height variety or are not coming back as fast as other surrounding plants. I've had some years where I've put out almost every container I could get my hands on, and others where several planters don't even get used for one reason or another. 

Know When to Fold 'Em
While we gardeners often get attached to certain pieces, it's always good to remember less is more.  A person doesn't need to put out--or even keep--everything they've ever gotten for their yard.

Occasionally, my husband Bret and I will go through our storage shed and donate several things we haven't been using, so others might have a chance to enjoy them. This is another way to avoid having too much stuff in the garden.

When you really need it, however, it's great to have a healthy selection of possible decor solutions, so donating old pieces is also a chance to pick out something new to refresh a floral walkway.

What Will Your Stories Be?

I've added an example here to help spark ideas, but it really boils down to personal choices anyway, so as you're looking through garden stores, art fairs or garage sales this summer, think of what eye-pleasing or storytelling vignette you might be able to create with some treasure(s) you've found. Imagine how it might delight a friend or family member who stumbles upon it as they're walking down your garden path, and please feel free to share your pictures of such below. After all, gardening is the most fun when it brings joy to others as well as the gardener! 

Today's Quote:

(excerpt from God's Garden)

"The kiss of the sun for pardon,

  The song of the birds for mirth--

  One is nearer God's heart in a garden 

  than anywhere else on earth."

  -- Dorothy Frances Gurney

*Beginning gardeners often plant one of everything or have a circus of different varieties (cultivars) of a particular species--like five different sizes/types of coral bells, daylilies, hosta or fill-in-the-blank which don't particularly complement each other. My recommendation is to plant no less than three identical perennials in a drift and--depending on how big they get--five, seven or nine would probably be better. Once things start growing and flourishing in their new environment, it's truly worth the initial investment.

What Excellence Looks Like...and What it Doesn't

As I write what was supposed to be May's blog, many life lessons are coming to mind. First, I'll share I missed my deadline! For many reasons, this past month has flown by and these past few days, I kept saying to my husband Bret, "Don't let me forget to write my blog." 

Always Look for the Lessons

Life Lesson #1: asking others to help us remember things is not the best idea. They are rarely invested in whatever we're needing to remember and rather than saying "No, you need to come up with a better solution than to count on me for this", they often politely agree and hope you'll remember it despite their forgetting to remind you...or they'll remind you once--like the minute after you've asked them--and feel the favor you've asked of them has been fulfilled! 

Life Lesson #2: stick with what works. While I was lamenting forgetting to at least start a blog yesterday--to ensure it showed up under the month of May--I reminded my husband that when he asked me earlier in the week to help him remember something, I promptly called home and left a reminder message on our answering machine. When we got home, there was the reminder and he did it right away. Why didn't either one of us think to leave a message-to-self in this particular case? Aaack--the frustrations of being human!

Life Lesson #3: learn to let it go--especially if it's only important to you. I do realize, in the scheme of things, this is VERY minor. I don't get paid for this blog. I have no idea who reads it. I hope it's amusing, informative, or somehow helpful to whoever takes the time to look it over. It's really an exercise in keeping my writing and editing brain intact while I'm between jobs looking for where I'm meant to be next. However, I do include my blog link among other online project links in a lot of my correspondence regarding employment, so this inconsistency in my blogging is sure to be discovered--bummer! Waa-waa--poor me...okay, now I'm done!

Life Lesson #4: beat the deadline if possible. When I was a kid, I remember my mother saying she was always afraid to put anything off because she might get sick and not get it done. This is how she taught me procrastination can be harmful. I've read that procrastination comes from the fear of not doing something perfectly. I've had that disease, but have learned over the years it works better to do the best I can in the time allotted and then the deadline ends the project. When it's something like this blog, I must admit, I don't allow a lot of time between starting it and when it needs to be finished...usually a day--especially at this time, when I'm needing to be diligent about the way I'm spending my time. However--noting how missing this deadline has affected me--perhaps I need to rethink my current mode of operation!

The Irony is Not Lost

The funniest part is, I had planned to write my blog on what excellence looks like...it doesn't look like this, but sometimes I like to think I hit it--so when I don't, I try to learn whatever lessons God's trying to teach me through my failure.

In the Presence of Excellence
What prompted this particular subject is my husband Bret and I just attended a congratulations party for one of his staff members--Jay Beyer--a top-notch third grade teacher who recently was named one of the 2014 Alice Buffett Outstanding Teacher Award winners. This is a prestigious honor which includes a $10,000 check among other things, so no small feat--congratulations Jay (Pictured L to R: Omaha Public School Superintendent Mark Evans, Jay Beyer, Investor Warren Buffett).

Bret and I are very tickled to have such recognition come to a teacher at Wilson Focus School, where Bret is principal, and Jay has many qualities of excellence he shares with students every day. When I asked Bret what excellence looks like in relation to Jay Beyer's teaching techniques, he shared a few strong habits:

1) He holds all students accountable no matter what their background might be. 

2) He has strong procedures and routines.

3) He works hard at always being a positive role model and encourages active participation using songs, quotes, affirmations, etc. 

4) He plans affective lessons to achieve curriculum goals and uses collaborative techniques for student engagement. 

5) He uses data to help ensure they all succeed.

Excellence Often Begets Excellence

Bret added that many of the teachers at Wilson Focus School share such qualities of excellence, and he is very proud of what this first focus school in the state of Nebraska has accomplished in its six years of existence...which brings me to another question: what does excellence look like in relation to Wilson Focus School? Here are just a few accomplishments to note:

1) It has longer school days and a year-round calendar to avoid the loss of instruction which can occur with the more typical extended summer breaks.

2) It has a strong after school Enrichment Program which offers students supplemental education with various academic, career-related and/or high interest courses from which to choose.

3) It has a S.T.E.A.M. emphasis, enlisting Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math curriculum to enhance the Leadership, Technology and Communication focus of the school.

4) It is the only elementary school in the Omaha Public School (OPS) system with full AdvancEd accreditation, a level of excellence for school improvement in which Wilson received the top "exemplary" status in all seven areas of measurement.

5) It offers a 1:1 ratio of students to technology, and they are able to use digital tools to find solutions to challenges in a real world way.

6) It has been nationally recognized as an Apple Outstanding Program school.

7) It uses numerous positive behavior supports throughout the school decor, curriculum and relationship-building strategies to create a successful learning environment.

8) One Nation, Indivisible--a research group from Harvard University--has recognized Wilson Focus School as a national model for promoting socio-economic diversity in a positive way.

Lessons Learned

What does excellence look like? In these cases, it seems that studying best practices, using them consistently, and working to serve others in a way to benefit all parties involved helps create excellence. 

What doesn't excellence look like? I'd say it doesn't look like missed deadlines, displaced responsibility and procrastination, so I have obviously not "hit it" this month! That said, I hope missing a self-imposed deadline for a personal project is the worst thing I can blame myself for this year! If you're still reading at this point, I'd love to hear a story of yours where you either hit or missed excellence. We can all learn from both!

Today's Quote:

"Excellence is the gradual result of always striving to do better."

Pat Riley

Octagonal Pegs Unite: Embrace Your Differences and Those of Others!

On May 4th, I'll officially be middle-aged, but I still like to kick, stretch and--kick! Times like these are good causes for reflecting on the past, taking stock of the present and exploring dreams for the future... 

It's Only a Number!

As I write this today however, my middle brother Lance is celebrating his birthday. He's a superintendent for Hawkins Construction and has worked on many impressive projects in his career. He's out of bed by 4 AM, so when something awakened me a little after that this morning, I got up and sent him my obnoxious Happy Birthday Vine. 

Our oldest sibling Loren--a talented musician, photographer, computer, creative type--had his birthday last week, so got that same Vine then--lucky him! Apparently my folks either had a once-a-year rule, or an especially fertile time of year as their three children have birthdays within two weeks of each other.

Paths of Independence

Loren, Lance and I have all been independent sorts from the get go. Our mother was an only child and our father was nine years old when his brother and only sibling was born, so both our folks were also independent children who learned to explore their own interests and entertain themselves at an early age. This is my mother's theory as to why we're all the way we are. The entire Winkler clan gets together two or three times a year and it is CRAZY FUN, but for the most part, we send warm wishes from afar and don't get into each other's lives too much. We also have very diverse passtimes, hobbies, interests, etc., which brings me to the subject of this blog--celebrating each others' differences.

Not Like the Other Girls

From my earliest memories, I knew I was unusual. Similar to a line from Michael Jackson's Thriller video, I have certainly been known to say, "I'm not like the other girls" (although let me say right now, I'm not a werewolf). When I was a kid, I could go from extreme tomboy behavior--like catching snakes, exploring sewers, molding mud into sculptures and collecting cigarette butts to smoke with buddies--to extreme girly-girl behavior--like playing dress-up, sewing dresses, knitting slippers and shopping for sparkling pretty things! 

Nowadays, I release my inner tomboy when I go digging without gloves in the garden, as I'm allergic to smoke and no longer am as interested in snakes and sewers...although I still might spin a pot or two someday. I also work on projects with my husband and love to visit hardware stores. I never quite outgrew my love for playing dress-up or creating things, but can often scratch those itches with costumes I make for Sweet Adelines shows and events. For example, Acappella Omaha just held its annual spring style show and I reworked an old 50's era dress of my mother's and made a fun hat to match as we had an old-fashioned garden party theme. I shared that last hat Vine link with the chorus in case helpful as they were getting their outfits together, and got a kick out of the fact I've apparently made up a word for this object nobody else seems to know (perhaps my Swedish is showing)...here's my logic: loofah + uffdah = loofdah, an object used like a loofah, but it's beauty is so overwhelming, it makes you say "uffdah!"...yeah, that works! 

People who know me from only one specific circle might be surprised or even shocked at other parts of my life, but they're all me. My interests have always been all over the place--I'm am octagonal peg which doesn't really fit in a square or round hole--and I've grown to be okay with that, even though I'm often made aware I'm not "normal". I've been blessed with strengths, skills and talents I strive to make use of wherever possible, whether it be to improve a company image, lead a group project, assist others in learning new skills or accomplish personal goals. I like to strive for excellence and have the most fun in those moments when I know I've actually achieved it. In the times I haven't, I do my best to learn from the experience and do better the next time. Sure, I get knocked down, but I get up again!

Letting People Be Who They Are
My most favorite people are the ones who let others be who they are, and I try my best to be that person to those around me as well. Isn't life more interesting when people really let us get to know them rather than some facade they feel they have to present? I'm not saying there isn't a time and place to learn to reign it in...in fact, my lifelong challenge has been to measure how much of my Mary Sunshine people can take. I've discovered not everybody wants to have much happy-happy-joy-joy shared with them, so I work on balancing that every day. It tickles me when I meet someone whose Mary Sunshine is mine x 10 and I think of folks I know who they could literally drive insane! 

Remembering What Makes Us Tick
While I find our differences fascinating, I've learned to put people in categories to remember best practices for them because--epecially with octagonal pegs--there is no one-size-fits-all. What works for the majority may not be successful with them, so categories are really helpful. For example, I had a CEO I thought highly of and wanted her to know all the details of whatever specific decision I had made. When I later learned she really only wanted me to give her "the baby, not the labor pains", I edited down to in-a-nutshell descriptions and everyone was happy. She was in the "trusts my decisions--just needs a quick update" category! I also really liked that she was able to disagree agreeably in those rare moments when we weren't on the same page. She really tried to listen and not be a my-way-or-the-highway type, and sometimes I could even sell her on my differing idea! That to me is a decent leader.

Loving Doesn't Mean Endorsing
Letting people be who they are doesn't mean necessarily endorsing their choices. You may have drug/alcohol/tobacco/gambling/cursing/fill-in-the-blank-addicted friends you wish would quit, and if you care about them, you can watch for those times God gives you a moment here and there to plant seeds, but generally, they have to make those decisions on their own. My mother's favorite counseling joke comes to mind: "How many counselors does it take to change a light bulb? Only one, but the light bulb has to really want to change."

Looking for the Good
That's why letting people be who they are and complimenting them on what you really like about them--essentially reinforcing the possitive--helps them show more of that version of themselves to you. Again, everybody wins--YAY!

Octagonal pegs can be polite, respectful, hard-working, fun, confident, helpful and--best of all--creative problem solvers, artists and conversationalists! 

Whether you're octagonal, square, round--or heart-shaped--let's embrace our differences. The world is so much richer because we're ALL in it!

Today's Quote:
"Enjoy your own life without comparing it with that of another."
-- Marquis de Condorcet

10 Ways to Add Fun to a Musical Coaching Retreat

Acappella Omaha Chorus recently held a coaching retreat with a cappella heavyweight, Sweet Adelines Master 700 Director and long-time Vocal Performance Coach, Jim Arns of Chicago. The chorus holds such a retreat every year around this time, to get some final pointers before competing in Sweet Adelines International - Region 5 Convention, which this year falls two weeks following the coaching weekend.

To ensure an event-you-won't-want-to-miss reputation is maintained, Acappella Omaha always asks members for volunteers to host the retreat. Last year, when nobody had stepped up by the usual November-December timeframe, I halfheartedly told the president I had an idea and could take it on if nobody else seemed interested. I had just seen Pitch Perfect, learned the now famous Cups Song (When I'm Gone), and recorded it as a special musical project for my iWiNK Productions YouTube channel, so thought a rhythm related retreat theme would be fun. Thank goodness, someone else stepped up and I didn't have to follow through in what ended up being the busiest time in my job at that time.

However, this past fall--I had more flexible time as my position had been eliminated following a subsidiary merger--so I could more readily take on this additional volunteer project. I talked my quartet Firelight into helping me pick back up on this idea, and the rest of the flames graciously agreed to help assemble goodie bags and brainstorm on activities for the party portion of the weekend.

I thought it might be fun to put together a blog with ideas used in this particular retreat, in case anything is helpful to others looking to do something similar. Here are 10 Ways to Add Fun to a Musical Coaching Retreat:

1) Choose a fun musical theme. Our retreat theme was inspired by and named for the Gloria Estefan song The Rhythm is Gonna Getcha.

2) Create a fun-filled flyer to introduce the theme to members and begin creating the excitement in the months counting down to the retreat. We sent the flyer below to members about two months before the retreat. We also had a video possibility we were unable to record before our quartet's snowbird member left for the winter, but here's a link to the script in case of interest.

3) Ask members to contribute a piece of themselves to include in the decor. We asked members to provide three-to-five copies of a fun rhythm selfie--basically a picture of them with some kind of rhythm instrument like the one pictured.

4) Choose a fun related project attendees can work on learning in the countdown as they're looking forward to the event. Our fun related project for this rhythm weekend was learning the Cups Cadence. I made a How-to video and sent it to Acappella Omaha members about a month before the retreat.

5) Create a theme-relevant decor plan with a generous amount of eyecandy and interest that welcomes members the minute they enter the room, and continues to inject excitement for them--even when they're standing on the risers. At the entrance, we hung fabric strips with the rhythm selfies attached from the rafters which happened to be part of the architecture in the Mahoney Lodge Nebraska room, where the retreat was held.

6) Create goodie bags with as many things attendees might need for the weekend as possible. We gave everyone a cup for the Cups Cadence, plus various things a singer might need (tissues, water, throat lozenges, mints, gum, crackers, granola bars, etc.) and finally, a little rhythm shaker we made by putting Skittles in Easter eggs!

7) Send links to fun relevant videos in the countdown and--if possible--a customized teaser to the crazy fun weekend, helping ensure everyone's enthusiasm is at an all-time high when they arrive. We sent video links to different versions of The Cups Song and The Rhythm is Gonna Get You, and finally an iMovie video made with photoshopped slides including the rhythm selfies. It's set to royalty-free latin music and called Less Than 24 Hours to Our Rhythm Retreat. It served as a fun way to kick off the weekend.

8) Ask attendees to BYO snacks to share and plan fun theme-related skits, activities or presentations to help provide entertainment for the afterparty. We had two sets of roommates do skits (Baby Mamas sang a parody of Rhythm of the Rain called Rhythm Method Fails Again and Rocky, Bullwinkle, Boris and Natasha (in disguise) give a stellar rhythm skit performance), one set did a Happy-and-You-Know-It team activity song, and we threw in a few additional activities to complete the fun (Cups Cadence, teaching Bim-Bum-Bittie clap-snap-pattycake song, and a shameless video-dancing finale). We hope everyone found something they liked about the evening!

9) Be generous with whatever decor items members can take back to their rooms or home with them as often the parties continue even after the coaching retreat party ends! This year, we had balloons, miscellaneous rhythm pictures and leftover snacks for members to take.

10) Create a final wrap-up message to ensure members know every effort they made to help in the weekend's success was much appreciated. We sent a faster-paced video using the aforementioned slides, with more of a fun ending-with-a-bang flavor. It includes a final "Catch the Fun" slide with Acappella Omaha's website and Twitter page URLs, in case members' friends see it on Facebook and want to take a closer look at the group.

There it is--10 Ways to Add Fun to a Musical Coaching Retreat. Hopefully, one or more of these suggestions will help in a project of yours one day. If you have any creative ideas for such a retreat to share, we'd love to hear from you. Happy planning!

Today's Quote:
"Vision is the true creative rhythm."
-- Robert Delaunay