02.28.08
Posted in Chat at 4:57 am by CMJ Office
Michael McDonald “Soul Speak” is the latest campaign for Miles of Marketing. CMJ Office is excited to be spreading the news and involved with this project. Don’t be surprised when you see cars driving around with magnetic signs. This is how Miles of Marketing works. Moms all over the U.S. drive around town marketing for companies. It is a fantastic new marketing business headed by Ms. Liza Lowenberg.
Michael McDonald’s newest album “Soul Speak” will be in stores on March 4th. As some of you may know, he was the lead singer for the band The Doobie Brothers. He has one of the most familiar voices in music. His newest album contains some of Michael’s favorite songs including “Walk On By” by Dionne Warwick and “Into The Mystic” by Van Morrison. It truly is a wonderful CD. His voice still sounds great. So many memories!
To learn more about Michael McDonald and his newest album, please visit http://www.michaelmcdonald.com and enjoy! You can even enter to win an “iPod” at http://www.synthesis.net/sweepstakes/sweepstakes.php?id=724.
Colleen M. Johnson, CMJ Office
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02.27.08
Posted in Virtual Ass't Info at 12:05 am by CMJ Office
I’m passing on a great article that was published in Newsday. If you are searching to work with a VA and are nervous about it, I believe this article will assist you and help ease some fears that you may have. I’m also tipping my hat to the incoming IVAA President who is featured within the article. Enjoy!
http://www.newsday.com/features/lifestyle/ny-2know5591792feb27,0,573832.story
Colleen M. Johnson, CMJ Office
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02.22.08
Posted in Genealogy at 7:22 pm by CMJ Office
Wow, can that be right? A health link in genealogy is not what you expect when searching your family history. This is exactly what I got.
I now know that some family health problems are not new within my family. They are genetic and I have proof. I have actual documents proving that these problems have definitely been passed down through generations. I know that science tells us this now. However, when you have no knowledge of a disease within your family and all of a sudden it shows up, it can be a bit baffling. That is when it pays to know your family history.
Back in my twenties, I encountered some weird symptoms. I finally got a doctor to listen to me. I was diagnosed with a B12 deficiency. The doctor let me know that usually only adults over 60 experience this problem and not to the extent that I was at with the disease. It must be hereditary. Well, no one in my family had ever heard of the disease. Unfortunately for me, all my grandparents were deceased at this point in my life. I am not sure if they would have known that it was hereditary and had skipped 2 generations on one side and 3 generations on the other side. Lucky me! I got to meet the disease at the crossroads.
While researching my maternal grandmother’s family in Co. Clare, Ireland, I happened upon the death record of my great grandfather, Thomas Clune. Guess what disease killed him? Pernicious Anemia. I almost fell off my chair. Pernicious Anemia is the clinical name for vitamin B12 deficiency. My connection was made. My mother was floored. She had never heard of this disease until my diagnosis. I went searching for connections to the homeland and found that they were streaming through my very blood right here in present day USA!
Jump ahead several years and I was researching my father’s elusive side of the family. My father had absolutely no clue where the family originated. While his father was alive (my grandfather), we all had begged for information. He would always say the family came down through Nova Scotia into Boston, MA. He really had no idea and no further information. Well, he was half right. His mother’s side of the family (Brown/Taylor) did indeed come over from England and Scotland through Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island in Canada. In 1890, they immigrated down into Boston, MA. Thank you to the Canadian Census records for this information.
The search went onto the Degnan side in Boston, MA. I knew that Lillian Brown had married Peter Degnan after 1910 and had my grandfather in 1915. Through the New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS) records I found Peter’s birth record in Boston which listed his parents’ names. They were from Ireland, Patrick and Margaret. Hurray! A breakthrough is always exciting. I then discovered the wedding record for Patrick Degnan and Margaret Galvin. The blessing that came along with this wedding record was that the names of their parents were listed with where they were born (Ireland). Why didn’t they list their hometowns??? Researching is so very frustrating sometimes.
I finally came across Patrick Degnan’s death certificate. This was my great-great grandfather. He is listed as dying from Pernicious Anemia. Good grief! I had a double whammy. This side of the family disease had skipped 3 generations. No one even knew about Patrick Degnan never mind the disease that killed him. It amazes me still. I did finally find out that the Degnan’s came over from Co. Longford, Ireland. This information came from Patrick Degnan’s naturalization papers. A wealth of information can be found if you check naturalization paperwork.
Another such incident came recently. I mailed away to England for the death certificate of my paternal great-great grandfather, George Bench. I was looking to confirm the names of his father and mother. Once again, I opened the letter and had to chuckle. I did not get the name confirmation that I was researching. However, I did find out how the man died – diabetes. This disease also claimed my grandmother and now has its grips on my father. I knew about this disease but didn’t realize how far back it went. George died in 1899 at the age of 52. Crazy! It’s just another genetic connection discovered through records.
I have discovered other family disease links through death certificates. In several instances, what appeared to be a new disease in the family was really an old disease popping up once again several generations down the road. A road that had been cut off from the past has been repaved through research and records. I have found my family’s health link through genealogy. Have you?
Colleen M. Johnson, CMJ Office
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02.17.08
Posted in Virtual Ass't Info at 9:22 pm by CMJ Office
Blogging is easy. Blogging does not generate traffic easily. You need effort for that. If you want people to view your blog, you will have to work to establish attention. I have put together some tips about generating traffic to your blog. So, let’s explore some tips on promoting your blog.
Link your blog to all your profiles on the web. Add your link to your website, your signature line, forums, and any correspondence you may have. You also want to add this link to your profile pages on SUN, Stumble, Ryze, MySpace, LinkedIn, Facebook, AIM, Squido and anywhere else you have a profile established. If you have profiles on Classmates or on an alumni directory, add a link to your profile on these sites. Blogging is all about linking. Don’t miss an opportunity to promote your blog.
Drop comments. Post comments to other blogs as early as you can. People always see the first 5 posts. Sometimes they do not stick around to view post 152. Post often to get your name out there and into view. If people keep reading informative responses, they will click on your link because you’ve gotten them curious. Leave comments on other blogs in your target market or interest areas. It’s always good for networking and for marketing your own blog and business. Other bloggers and viewers will then click onto your link to view your blog. This is what you want.
Check your blog stats and see who is visiting your blog. Google Alerts is just one program you can use to receive updates on when your business is mentioned online.
Respond to comments that other bloggers leave on your blog. Thank people who mention you and/or your blog.
Submit your blogs. Submit them to such venues as a Blog Carnival. This is a great resource that many people forget or just don’t know about. There are many and the subjects are varied. There are other sources for submitting blog articles. One source that CMJ Office utilizes is SubmitFreeArticles.com.
Get your blog onto a directory. Technorati springs to mind. It seems that everyone knows about their company directory right now. However, there are more companies out there. Here are a few to consider: BlogHub, DelightfulBlogs, BlogWise, and BlogCatalog.
Again, these are just a few tips that I’ve come across lately. There are many ways to promote your blog. You just need to remember that you need to work to gain the traffic. You cannot just write a blog without promoting it.
So, how do you promote your blog? Did I miss anything? Let CMJ Office know.
Colleen M. Johnson, CMJ Office
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02.06.08
Posted in Virtual Ass't Info at 10:13 pm by CMJ Office
I am going to pass on a little information I found recently on the web that my clients and blog readers might be able to utilize. Terrific news especially when it concerns food. Are you hungry yet?
Teambuilding is important for a healthy office environment. Think about having an “in house” lunch, lunch conference, or catered event at your office. You can always pull out those menus in the top drawer. However, that just doesn’t appeal to me as much as my suggestion does.
There is an online resource available now. Check out Vmeals. It’s an online catering service. Vmeals is offered in several regions within the USA. Tips, tax and delivery fees are included in the total price. They offer various menus provided by local restaurants and caterers. Their slogan is, “Point. Click. Eat.” That says it all.
You don’t have to register before trying Vmeals services. Minimum order amounts are shown at the top of each menu. If you are placing an order worth over $200, you will need to provide a minimum of 24 hours notice. Your company can set up a billing account too. Please check out their site for more specifics.
What a great idea. It sounds like a beneficial service for businesses needing food in the office without having to grab it themselves.
So, enjoy the food, have an informal meeting, brainstorm on a full stomach, and Bon Appetite from CMJ Office!
Colleen M. Johnson, CMJ Office
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