July/August 2012 Bugle newsletter


A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT OF BLS

This has been a very exciting year in BLS.  Big changes have been happening to bring us into the technology age.   While change can be hard at times, I believe the steps we are taking as an organization will only help us to grow stronger in providing for our community.   

 

As you are aware the Bugle has become an online newsletter.  We are no longer publishing hard copies.  This will help not only our environment, but will help keep growing costs to a minimum for BLS.   I hope you will continue to enjoy it as you always have.   

 

Next the BLS website has been completely overhauled.  We have a new look as well as some added features.  You will now be able to renew your membership online as well as have access to other members' contact information.  This will make it easier to be supportive of other members. 

 

I would like to take a few moments and just say thank you to the many members responsible for helping BLS make these changes.  This has been an exciting year and I am looking forward to see where BLS will go from here.

Sincerely,

stacy Geier
BLS President

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MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

August 10, 2012 - 8:30am

Menorah Manor  - 255 59th Street North,St. Petersburg   

Visit the Menorah Manor website, click here

Consortium Sponsor:  Senior Voice America  

Senior Voice America unites seniors age 55+ with resources and activities in their communities. We bring you professionals like doctors, attorneys, financial planners and many other experts from around the Bay and around the Country that will enlighten you to a host of topics.  Since 1980, Senior Voice America, a monthly publication, has been distributed throughout Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties.  In February, 2011, the company expanded into radio and now, in addition to printing a monthly newspaper, Senior Voice America is connecting with seniors on a five day a week basis on 1250 AM WHNZ.    

 

Visit the Senior Voice America website 

Guest Speaker:  Juli Steinocher, Mind Body Lab 

We are pleased to have Juli Steinocher, of MindBodyLab as our guest speaker. Juli is a licensed mental health counselor, massage therapist, personal trainer and trained in multiple unique therapies.  

 

Juli will share the Top Five Lessons she offers in her coaching practices at the Mind Body Lab.

 

Visit the Mind Body Lab website, click here

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Dignity Memorial:
Nothing is more important than planning for your family's future.

Prearranging your funeral, cremation and cemetery needs releases  your family from stress and discomfort.  We, at Moss Feaster can provide you with superior pre-need or time-of-need service and care.  We offer a range of burial and memorial options and prices to meet your every need.

Call the location of your choice and request a complimentary  Personal Planning Guide, we can help you make sure the needs of you and your family are put first.

Largo   (727) 562-2080       Dunedin   (727) 562-2040   Clearwater   (727) 562-2070     Palm Harbor   (727) 562-2090

Throughout our existence as caregivers, Moss-Feaster funeral homes have been admired and acknowledged for participation in civic affairs and the manner in which we have given back to our communities. 

In 1999, Moss-Feaster became part of the Dignity Memorial North American network of funeral, cremation and cemetery service providers, thereby joining other leading deathcare businesses committed to exceeding expectation and delivering a standard of service that is 100% guaranteed. 

Moss-Feaster's Dignity Memorial connection has also enabled us to bring to our communities a number of outreach programs that have helped children, seniors, veterans, widowed persons in many ways.

Today Moss-Feaster Funeral Homes consists of four locations (see above) and a funeral home/cemetery combination at Serenity Gardens in Largo.

Visit the Moss Feaster website, click here

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Member Spotlight

Carol Ehrenkranz, Rent a Hand Inc.

 Written By Dale Smrekar

 

Dreams really do come true and our BLS member spotlight winner Carol Ehrenkranz can attest to that. Carol is owner of Rent A Hand Inc. a company, she started 25 years ago based on a very vivid dream she had one night that provided her the name and companion care service concepts she needed to provide help to so many . Rent A Hand: In a fast paced society, when two hands are not enough has provided thousands in the Tampa Bay area peace of mind along with the extra hands one needs for cleaning, cooking, minor repairs, errands, child and elderly care .. and now... computer training in the home. Carol has been a mainstay in BLS for the past 10 years, always there and always willing to listen and provide other business owners advice to help them in their business. All anyone has to do is just call her at 727 347 3424.

 

Why did Carol join BLS? In the early days, 25 years ago, she was about the only licensed, bonded and insured business in town that provided non- medical services. Then the concept that she championed became successful and others began to emulate her business. As Carol said, I needed to meet more people in order to compete and create more business. I had never networked in my life, but BLS provided me the opportunity to meet more people and become part of the local professional community.

 

But she also thinks there is more to do. Carol is a huge advocate of the effect personal relationships can have to enrich one's life. As Carol said, sometimes a great thought doesn't go away. One of her thoughts was the Senior Chat Room . Why couldn't seniors who were lonely or had trouble making friends meet somewhere and get to know people like themselves and talk about their lives and experiences? So began the Senior Chat Room that meets at the Gulfport Multipurpose Senior Center every Friday at 2pm. It has kept seniors sharp and active and has even provided romance for some attendees. She hopes BLS will follow and expand their BS (Bonding and Strengthening) with BLS programs from a once a month program to a weekly program where participants meet to develop friendships and discuss non business issues to create more bonding within the membership.

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Social Media 2012
Strategies to Grow Your Business
Held June, 14, Suncoast Hospice
Written By Ginny Moore

A fabulous social media learning event was presented by the Professional Development Committee on June 14 at Suncoast Hospice.  The energy, interest and enthusiasm with over 100 participants focused on marketing your business in today's competitive media environment.

We are in the midst of processinga video download which will be available on the blsprodev.com website. A link on both the BLSand AAA website will be provided when available. Fee $10.00. All monies go to the Area Agency for Aging.

Stay tuned to the Bugle for announcements on video availability. Powerpoint slides by the presenters for attendees can be acquired by emailing

Chris Krimitsos/Facebook presentation, chris@tbbo.org 
Joe Malinowski/Linkedinpresentation joe@mdavidkatz.com
Chad Mairn/What's Ahead in Social Mediachadmarin@gmail.com  

Thank you BLSfor your support in making this event such a success!


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May Consortium Re-Cap

Members Recognized for Outstanding Service,

Social Media Strategies Top May Consortium

By: Dale W. Hutchings

 

Another great BLS consortium took place in early May in Dunedin thanks to the fine work of the Professional Development Committee and Mease Manor, which served as the host site.  

 

The five-star performance kicked-off with the announcement of those members who were being honored as the "Outstanding Member of the Year" in three categories, based on voting by the BLS membership. They were, if you unfortunately missed the consortium and have not heard already:

 

* Ginny Moore, co-chair of the Professional Development Committee and chair of the sub-group under that committee, Professionals in Transition, recipient of the Outstanding Leadership award.

 

* Janis Hagerdon, vice chair of the Public Speaking & Networking Committee, who spearheaded this past year the Provider Idol CD music project, which has resulted in raising more than $3,300 for Area Agency on Aging and BLS. Janis was given the honor of receiving the Outstanding Stewardship award.

 

* Mark Grande, vice chair of the Membership Committee, recipient of the Outstanding Fellowship Award, in which he was recognized (and deservedly so) for being an enthusiastic "very friendly guy."

 

As always, chairs and/or vice chairs of BLS's various committees provided brief, but informative insight into what their respective committees are all about and what they are doing at the present time within their committee functions. In addition, Helen King with the Area Agency on Aging revealed that due to growth, the agency is looking for new office space, but a move will not be made anytime in the near future.

 

Highlighting the Professional Development Committee/Professionals in Transition report was a special presentation by Harmony Home Health, in which the Marcie Willet Foundation awarded its first scholarship to a deserving person seeking an education to pursue a career in the healthcare field. The scholarship is in honor of Harmony's Marci Willett, who died last year of cancer. The recipient was Kim Wallingford of Largo, a dedicated caregiver, mother and nursing student.

 

The heart of the consortium was a presentation given by Katie Krienitz and Chris Krimitsos with Tampa Bay Business Owners. They gave an insightful look into the world of social media, with tips and mini-strategies to help those attending grow their businesses. This presentation was designed as a preview to what TBBO.org will be offering in its seminar, June 14, from noon to 5 p.m. at the Suncoast Hospice office location in St. Petersburg, 3050 First Avenue South, St. Pete.

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Written by  Cate McCarty, PhD. 

 

Those of us in dementia care repeat educational guidance in tip form. These have been generated through experience and offer excellent help in dealing with a loved one with dementia. Sometimes we find the family very resistant to these because they seem like a foreign language offered at a high stress mark in life. However . . . these tips are more universal than one might think. They are tips for life. The following are some examples:

 

Never Argue, Instead Agree. Is this not a winning solution for life in general? A prominent local motivator has his recruits practice saying "Yes, and . . . " instead of "no" or even "yes, but." Affirming someone's position can never hurt the communication or the relationship.

 

Never Lecture, Instead Reassure. Just as in argument, lectures produce negative energy. The minute a lecturing voice begins, the listener's eyes glaze over. Once again, affirming that one thing that matters is a reassurance. Rather than "Of course I will be there for you, aren't I always there for you? I will be there watching for you, is calming, and doesn't trigger negativity.

 

Enter their world. Step into my shoes. Empathize. See the world from my perspective. I am frustrated, I can no longer function the way I once did, are sentiments that are not expressed clearly in the dementia world. Yet by putting aside your world for a minute, you can see through their lenses. Improvise--useful in any relationship.

 

Process not product. Sometimes we are so focused on the outcome, the product, that we lose sight of how we are achieving it. Success at any cost can be too costly. Is it worth losing a relationship over? Will my commitment to the outcome supercede my sensitivity to my team members, my partners? The journey is often more important than the destination. A good journey and a good destination are ideal.

             

Live in the moment, that's all there is. This is a metaphysical truth as well as one from dementia caregiving. An individual with dementia processes each moment as it comes with what cognitive ability is available at that moment. The behavioral response to the same incident at another moment will be different. We who are cognitively alert are at a disadvantage because we hang onto the past and project it into the future. This is often crippling. If we apply another dementia truth, counting to ten while we practice a centering breath can give us the" live in the moment" edge.

 

Focus on what remains, rather than on what is gone. Today may not be as stellar as yesterday but there is still much to value. Create moments of joy with what today offers.

 

Put the oxygen mask on yourself first. In Alzheimer's caregiving, the mortality rate for the caregiver is higher than for the individual with Alzheimer's. The stress and vigilance takes a toll on the caregiver's mental and physical health. As humans, we cannot help others if we are not breathing ourselves. Self-care is not selfish, it is mandatory to helping others.