See additional photos on our Facebook Page at:
Sunday, December 09, 2018
Friday, December 07, 2018
Sunday, December 02, 2018
I Am So Glad I Did Not Eat That Donut!
I Am So Glad I Did Not Eat That Donut!
Proof That One Should Do What They Say
By: Henry Ford at www.successisyou.org
On November 18th I attended a Book Signing, where I had the good fortune to meet Margaret Bernstein, Director of Advocacy & Community Initiatives at WKYC Channel 3 - Cleveland. Margaret is a former newspaper columnist for the Cleveland Plain Dealer, and is the author of several books, including Donuts with Dad. Her competence, high visibility and warm personality has resulted in many fans and followers.
As I was leaving the Book Signing, Margaret offered me a donut from her Display Table. After refusing several times, I finally decided to take one to go; and commented to Margaret that “I will take this to my wife.” Fast forward to December 2nd. Margaret Bernstein has a Book Signing at my church, Mt. Zion of Oakwood Village. This time good fortune (and early arrival) caused us to cross paths as she was taking books into the church. Once inside the church, I introduced Margaret and her daughter to my wife Dianne. After exchanging the customary “so nice to meet you” comments; Margaret asked Dianne, “Did you enjoy the donut I sent you?” Dianne’s response was; “I sure did, and Thank You!”
I was completely floored, but managed to ask Margaret; “Are you trying to get me busted?” Of course, there was laughter from all involved; but only because I had been sincere and truthful in my intentions. The obvious “what if” in this scenario is “what if I had eaten that donut?” Chances are that I may have felt the need to make up a lie (remember we’re in church), to cover up insincerity. My credibility would have been weakened with Margaret, her daughter; and OH YES, with my wife Dianne. Even the great taste of a Glazed Donut cannot remove the bad aftertaste of insincerity.
Two Facts From My Experience:
Margaret Bernstein has a great memory.
You should get your own donut and give it to someone you love (CLICK HERE!)
Saturday, November 24, 2018
Thursday, November 22, 2018
Happy Thanksgiving 2018
Reflections of November 22, 1963
On November 22, 1963, a female co-worker, after cheering the death (by assassination) of John F. Kennedy, a president, war hero, husband, and father; turned to me, laughed, and asked, "Well, what are you people going to do now?" Each day I answer that question in my compassion toward others.
- From Page 150 of Reflections and Perspectives by Henry Ford -
Giving Thanks Today that we can rise above circumstances, surroundings, poisonous minds and tongues, and other forms of ignorance and hate. YES WE CAN!
Happy Thanksgiving
Wednesday, November 21, 2018
Absolute Auto Service Center - R. Alan Bigelow - 5 Point Rating
A 5 Point Rating without even touching my Car!
How? Glad you asked.
- Just hours before the end of the last workday before Thanksgiving they squeezed me in to replace my "bad"battery.
- They didn't laugh at me when I discovered on the way to my appointment that an open trunk lid was likely the reason the battery kept going down overnight.
- They already had a 5 Point Rating, so my experience just confirms it.
Put this on your "Be Careful List."
- Seems that even in a darkened garage, the trunk light is not likely to be noticed.
- Also, the trunk release can be activated from several yards away (inside the house) through walls and doors. Of course I checked that when I returned home.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Tuesday, November 20, 2018
GwenJBags - For Your Holiday Shopping (and beyond)
One of the great businesses featured at a recent event I attended (and just in time for your Holiday Shopping) is www.gwenjbags.com.
Please check out Gwen's page, and you also get the bonus of doing business with a very focused and personable young lady.
Sunday, November 18, 2018
The Association of African American Cultural Gardens
Please Read, Share, and Respond
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To View Flyer above in PDF Format Click Here!
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To View Flyer below in PDF Format Click Here!
- Visit AAACG.ORG -
Saturday, October 06, 2018
Saturday, September 08, 2018
Monday, August 27, 2018
Welfare to Wealth by Patricia Allen
If you are interested in purchasing Welfare to Wealth,
you can help us by Clicking Here to order.
To visit Patrica Allen's Site, Click Here.
If you are interested in purchasing Welfare to Wealth,
you can help us by Clicking Here to order.
To visit Patrica Allen's Site, Click Here.
Sunday, June 24, 2018
Emmanuel Baptist Church
Women’s Day Weekend Luncheon (Including Special Presentation to Minnie Jackson
For Video Clips, Click Below:
Photo Gallery, Click Below::
A Blast from the Past - Men's Day at Emmanuel Baptist Church - "Teaching Men to Observe All Things" - To View, Click Below:
Monday, June 11, 2018
Friday, May 25, 2018
Saturday, April 28, 2018
Wednesday, April 25, 2018
Book - The Beautiful Journey: Finding Purpose Through Cancer; by Andrea Dyan Campbell
Congratulations and Best Wishes to Andrea Dyan Campbell
To Order, visit Andrea's Web Site or Click Below:
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Monday, April 23, 2018
Sunday, April 22, 2018
Saturday, April 14, 2018
Thursday, April 05, 2018
Inspirations - Thursday, April 5, 2018
If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do keep moving forward.
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Monday, April 02, 2018
Monday, March 26, 2018
Women's Leadership Conference - Cleveland State University Alumni Association - April 10, 2018
The fourth-annual Women's Leadership Symposium features 10 expert panel discussions, 5 insightful breakout sessions, and “3-in-30” presentations designed to give you 3 key takeaways in 30 minutes. Keynotes include Tricia Griffith, CEO of Progressive Insurance and Dr. Janet Kavandi, Director of the NASA Glenn Research Center.
Sunday, March 25, 2018
Congratulations Harvey Alston for Always Making a Difference!
Congratulations to my mentor and our friend Harvey Alston, and his lovely wife Toni
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Wednesday, March 21, 2018
Stephanie Young Captain - Sirva Home Benefits
Congratulations and Thank You to Stephanie Young Captain for her recent participation in the Mt. Zion Freedom Conference, helping to make it a great success. Assisted by her husband Anthony, Stephanie did an excellent job representing Sirva Home Benefits. For additional information about Sirva, please visit their website at https://www.sirvahomebenefits.com/.
Tuesday, March 20, 2018
Gregory Jones - A 2nd Home
Congratulations and Thank You to Gregory Jones, owner/operator of A 2nd Home. Gregory recently participated in the Mt. Zion Freedom Conference, helping to make it a great success.
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Monday, March 19, 2018
Tiffany - Living Lightly Lifestyle
Congratulations and Thank You to Tiffany who recently participated in the Mt. Zion Freedom Conference, helping to make it a great success.
(more information at https://livinglightlylifestyle.com/)
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Reynold Ruffin - Financial Planning Concepts
Congratulations and Thank You to Reynold Ruffin, who recently participated in the Mt. Zion Freedom Conference, helping to make it a great success.
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View other photos from this event by clicking here!
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Thursday, March 08, 2018
International Women's Day: Thank You!
On this International Women’s Day (3-8-2018), I say THANK YOU to those who give so much to so many. First, I recognize and thank my mother (in Heaven), to whom I owe not just life, but a life filled with determination, and with respect and love for others.
From a very early age, my mother instilled in me values that have served me well, and challenged me to look and reach higher. After my father passed at the very young age of 40, it was my mother who maintained a home and stable environment. Her strength of character and compassion set standards and examples that encouraged my younger sister Jean and I to grow in wisdom and maturity, and to have respect for others. I would describe my mother as a “no excuse” mother.
When I used my wagon to help people take their groceries home from Fisher Foods Store, some gave me as much as fifty cents, and some as little as a nickel. My mother taught me to be happy for the “big money”, grateful for the nickel, and she taught me to say “Thank you” for either. If I was unhappy with how someone treated me, I was taught not to resort to “I will teach that blankety-blank” a lesson, but instead consider the mistreatment as a learning experience, and try to think of a way to avoid similar situations in the future.
With the unexpected and untimely passing of my father when I was ten years old, my mother made certain I understood that I needed to do more to fulfill wants and needs, and in the process, also give consideration to others. A favorite recollection of my sister is the Christmas Shrimp Story. At Christmas time, I would take some of the tip money from my paper route and buy about a half-pound or pound of Fried Shrimp. That was my annual treat that I would share with my sister; a true special occasion. Strangely I can’t remember if my mother had any of the Shrimp. If she did, it was only a taste. She probably wisely saw it as a bonding experience between her children. As much as I loved fried shrimp, I can’t imagine not sharing it. I am certain that hoarding it would have destroyed the taste, and certainly would not have created fond memories.
As I grew and wanted to do more, I decided I was ready for heavier papers, bigger routes, an earlier starting time. I was ready for the Cleveland Plain Dealer. When I announced to my mother that I had a 2nd paper route, she reminded me that it was all mine. She made it crystal clear that whether I felt like delivering papers on a given day or not, she would not be delivering them. She announced that if I felt as though I might need backup, I had better pre-negotiate arrangements with my friends. She felt, and rightly so, that the challenges of raising two children while battling Multiple Sclerosis were more than enough, and she did not need additional challenges.
My mother’s insistence that I be independent and dependable served me well not just on newspaper routes during the snow storms of the 1950’s, but in many of life’s “storms” since. Those lessons taught me that responsibility was not always convenient or fun, but it was necessary in the development of character.
Having a “no excuse” mother, meant it didn’t matter what “all my friends” were doing, but what I did had better be on her approved list. Having a “no excuse” mother meant that it did not matter that I was outnumbered and outsized by many schoolmates at the old Cleveland Trade School who did not like the color of my skin. What mattered was that my “skin” and my behind had better show up at school. Having a “no excuse” mother meant that despite the yearly racial problems and the April 1970 attack on City Buses carrying black students from Collinwood High School, where police lines were challenged, windows busted out, etc.; my sister Jean was still required to show up and get an education.
This and so much more was required to prepare my sister and I for the challenges that we would encounter. In all our lives, there are people, many of them women, who sacrifice and sometimes suffer silently to create an environment that builds our character and resolve. Please reflect and take some time to say “Thank You” to those in your life who have helped you navigate the minefields around you. You won’t be able to thank them all, but at least you can begin!
To view our Women’s History tributes in the March-April issue of VISIONS Newsletter, please Click Here.
Saturday, February 10, 2018
Friday, January 26, 2018
Inspirations - Friday, January 26, 2018
Seems that we are always going through something. The key is to GROW through what we GO through. Try to stay connected to and surrounded by those with strength, positive attitude and compassion.
Henry Ford
Author, Speaker, Consultant, Publisher of VISIONS Newsletter
Thursday, January 25, 2018
Inspirations - Thursday, January 25, 2018
Let us not be content to wait and see what will happen, but give us the determination to make the right things happen.
Horace Mann - 1796-1859
Education Reformer and Politician
Wednesday, January 24, 2018
Inspirations - Wednesday, January 24, 2018
Take pride in how far you’ve come. Have faith in how far you can go. But don’t forget to enjoy the journey.
Michael Josephson
Speaker and Former Law Professor
Tuesday, January 23, 2018
Inspirations - Tuesday, January 23, 2018
If you just set out to be liked, you would be prepared to compromise on anything at anytime, and you would achieve nothing.
Margaret Thatcher - 1925-2013
Former British Prime Minister
Sunday, January 21, 2018
Inspirations - Monday, January 22, 2018
You may never know what results come from your action. But if you do nothing, there will be no result.
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi - 1869-1948
Led India to Independence
Friday, January 19, 2018
Inspirations - Friday, January 19, 2018
In this world everything changes except good deeds and bad deeds; these follow you as the shadow follows the body.
Ruth Benedict - 1887-1948
Anthropologist
Thursday, January 18, 2018
Inspirations - Thursday, January 18, 2018
All life is a chance. So take it! The person who goes furthest is the one who is willing to do and dare.
Dale Carnegie - 1888-1955
Author and Speaker
Wednesday, January 17, 2018
Inspirations - Wednesday, January 17, 2018
You alone are enough… you have nothing to prove to anybody.
Maya Angelou – 1928-2014
Author, Poet, Writer
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