Continue reading »]]> Our group speaker this week was Ian MacDonald with assistance from Amena Ali.

Ian and Amena did a very lively presentation about the virtues of having preplanned for our inevitable deaths.

Ian started with a straw poll to determine how many of the membership have actually arranged for their funerals. There weren’t many.

Ian stressed to us that it is very important to preplan so that we have things taken care of according to our wishes, as it can become very stressful those left behind. He stressed to us that the purpose of a funeral is to help our friends and loved ones to transition from life with us to live without us.

One of the great benefits of preplanning is that all the costs have been handled and you aren’t left with any surprises at the time that you most need them.

Ian and Amena presented a short film that although is a spoof about funeral arrangements does in fact highlight in a humorous way the need to be prepared.

The video clip can be seen here. http://thefamilyplot.wordpress.com/category/humorous-death-videos/

Ian and Amena handed out questionnaires that they asked us to complete with him. Very few of us did so. Ian told us that this is a common reaction among groups he presents to. We seem very reluctant to even discuss death for fear that we may somehow speed up the event by the act of preplanning or discussing.

Continue reading »]]> Our featured guest speaker this week was Linda Furlotte co – owner of Blossoms Fresh Fruit Arrangements Dartmouth.

Linda told us that she and her partner started their business 2 years ago at 590 Portland Street.

Linda worked in Home Care for 6 years and decided she needed a change. Linda told us that this is a great fit for her as it is very close to home.

The franchise originated in St John NB. Their main competitor is Edible Arrangements. Each company’s arrangements are trademarked.

Linda told us that this type of fruit arrangement is growing in popularity and that while as in any business there are busy days and less busy days there are some that are particularly busy such as Mother’s Day. Many people are choosing fruit arrangements as more and more hospitals do not allow flowers and this is a great alternative.

All arrangements are done in ceramic containers with a bed of lettuce to hold the bamboo skewers of fruit in place. They use only fresh fruit and delivery is available. They will also customize your arrangement to your taste.

To learn more about Blossoms visit their website at www.blossomshrm.com 

Continue reading »]]> Our scheduled group speaker this week was Graham McOuat Island Inkjet.

Graham is a franchisee/owner of Island Inkjet. www.islandinkjet.com

Graham began by giving us a brief explanation of the beginnings of Island Inkjet. The company started in a basement in Courtenay B.C. Initially they began by selling kits that customers would purchase to refill their own ink cartridges. As those of us that have tried this know this can be very messy. As time went on more and more customers came to them asking if they would refill their cartridges for them. This gave them the idea to restructure the business into a refilling business.

The business grew quickly into its current configuration. There were a few twists and turns in the development process that are best left to Graham to explain.

Graham then went through a short brainstorming session with us to see if we could come up with some effective ways to promote “refill not landfill”.

Although the primary function of the business is to refill, Graham also offers for sale OEM cartridges and toners.

Island Inkjet is able to refill most makes and models of cartridges. The R&D department is continually upgrading and developing methods to refill new cartridges and learning how to fill and reset the computer chips in the various printers on the market. There are a few that they can not refill. For a complete list of cartridges that are refillable visit the website.

Graham told us that although the business is for sale it is still business as usual and welcomes all customers.

Continue reading »]]> Our scheduled group speaker this week was Jill Borys of Jill’s Jewellery Plus.

She shared with us the history and success of her business and described her workshops as well as the products she sells.

Workshops provide a hands on opportunity for participants to create their own jewellery and can be a great format for a fund-raiser or a home party.

Jill sells items such as necklaces, rings, watches, scarves, sun glasses and purses and doesn’t collect HST on her items.

Continue reading »]]> Our scheduled group speaker this week was Katherine Larter.

Katherine is the owner operator of Nova Scotia Cranial Sacral Therapy. www.novascotiacraniosacraltherapy.net

Katherine is one of only three certified Cranial Sacral Therapy practitioners in Nova Scotia and has been in business and making a fulltime income since September 2003.

Katherine told us that she has suffered from environmental sensitivities all of her life. Her father who was a pharmacist tried everything to help but wasn’t able to find anything that gave her long term relief. The effects of this were so debilitating that it caused her to have to leave her previous fulltime employment in public relations and fund raising. Katherine is also a cancer survivor.

Katherine was made aware of her craft through the Nova Scotia Environmental Health Center.

Cranial Sacral Therapy is clothes on gentle touch massage that works on everyone from babies to the very old and works on any type of problem you maybe experiencing.

Katherine told us that the mind is connected to our health and that where the mind goes the body follows. To this end Katherine helps you to focus your thoughts on the wants, not the don’t wants because your beliefs will create your reality.

Katherine is a “Now Strategist” and follows and facilitates the teachings of Byron Katie. Katherine has seen profound changes in people’s lives and gave several examples of some of the issues she has helped people overcome.

As Katherine announced a few weeks ago she is now a member of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers and as such will be the keynote speaker for Great West Life May 28^th.

Over the next few months Katherine will be facilitating “The thoughts that can drive you crazy” workshops. For more information and to register visit her website.

Continue reading »]]> Our scheduled speaker this week was our own Deborah Loughnan.

Deborah is a Quick Books Pro Advisor and does Quick Books training.

Deborah has many years of experience in with bookkeeping having worked with accountants for several years.

Deborah does a lot of work for non-profit groups. She became very perturbed when she learned of how these groups are being ripped off by the larger companies and set about to do something about it. She offers her services to non – profits at less than a fifth of the cost of the bigger companies. Allowing them to put more money into the things that matter most.

Deborah told us that some of her biggest challenges are restaurants. There are so many ways that a restaurant can be bleeding money and not be aware unless they have a good system for keeping their books. Deborah then went on to give examples of some of the many ways she has helped save restaurants from going broke and becoming profitable businesses.

Deborah did caution that she is not a tax professional, and if questions come up on strategies to save money on taxes she will defer you to a reputable accountant.

Deborah specializes in small to mid size companies that have a hard time affording the right help with their books. She will go over the books with you and help you find out where the companies money is going and help prevent you from CRA trouble and potentially losing your business to bankruptcy.

Continue reading »]]> This week our member speaker was Ian MacDonald.

Ian gave a very enthusiastic and entertaining presentation on the ABC’s of Fraud.

Ian told us that the ABC’s of Fraud program originated in Toronto but has grown to cover all of Canada.

The ABC’s of Fraud is a free community service that is presented through the cooperation of the Rotary Club of Halifax. Presenters will come to your group or organization and present a lively interactive presentation that will educate you on the many different forms of fraud and teach you how to prevent becoming a victim.

Ian told us of some of the many ways that information that is made public about you can be used to make you a victim of fraud. Simple things like the information that is included in an obituary notice can be enough to get all thieves need to make you a victim. Mattatall’s as a matter of practice helps folks with obituaries so as to prevent including anything that can be used to help make you a victim.

As part of the presentation Ian gave each member a handout with valuable information on resources to use if you fall victim or if you suspect suspicious activity.

Ian told us that fraud is very much under reported and a lot of people do not report fraud because they are too embarrassed to admit they got taken. Fraud can claim anyone, even police officers have fallen victim to fraud.

If your organization would like to book a presentation call 902-460-8786 or visit www.stopfraudns.ca or email info@stopfraudns.ca

Continue reading »]]> This week our guest speaker was Shirley Trites, speaking on the Halifax School For the Blind.

Shirley was herself a student at this school and past teacher. Shirley is very passionate about keeping the history of the school alive and is working to have a monument built at the old site where the school was erected.

Shirley began her presentation by giving a brief biography of herself and how she came to attend the school and from there went into how the school came into being.

http://www.halifaxnewsnet.ca/News/2011-04-12/article-2420317/Halifax-School-for-the-Blind-should-not-be-forgotten%3A-former-students–/1

The facts she recited came so fast I was unable to keep up and rather than make an error in reporting them I direct you to the included  links where you can learn more. http://www.biographi.ca/009004-119.01-e.php?&id_nbr=7917&&PHPSESSID=ychzfqkvzape

Shirley ended her presentation by offering a book she has written on the history of the school to help raise funds for the monument and to ask for donations to the cause. Reading Hands was offered for $20.