April 30, 2012

During this hard economic times, we’re looking to save money any chance we get. Free samples are great, but there not always available so to save money on food and home supplies why not pick up couponing. Lately this is a big deal among moms and others; they even have a show about it! Here are a few tips to becoming the couponing queen:

Know what is on sale at what store. Let’s say you have a coupon for $1 off a can of Campbell’s Soup and at Wal-Mart this week Campbell’s soups are on sale for $.99. This means you are getting paid to buy the soup!

Shop at stores that double coupons. This will help you double your savings and get more of an item.

Learn to spot when generic is better. Let’s use this scenario, you have a coupon for $.50 off General Mills Lucky Charms and the regular price is $3, but the store brands lucky charms are $2.25, this would be a case where you do not want to use your coupon, instead, just go with the least expensive choice.

Save and trade. Since couponing is becoming a new hobby to many families, you should keep all coupons, even if it’s ones that you won’t use, and trade them with friends and family and vice versa.

VERY IMPORTANT! Stay organized! Come up with a binder, wallet, or box that has different sections such as dairy, cereal, etc. so that the coupons are easily accessible, and throw out the expired coupons.

Couponing can be a bit grueling at first, but once you get in the swing of things you will start getting $50 and more groceries for FREE! After all, someone has to be the couponing queens and kings. While you’re clipping through those coupons remember:

Send in any pet related coupons to PetCouponCentral www.petcouponscentral.com and these coupons will go to people that need them.

Send any expired coupons to Military Coupons 1445 Falcon Valley Hts #208; Colorado Springs, CO 8092, and all these will go to deployed service families for them to use up to 6 months after the expiration date.

April 23, 2012

Does your Non-profit organization have risks? Of course it does, no Non-profit organization is without them. Being properly protected against those risks is something that you can and should choose to do. Here are five tips to get you on the road to implementing risk management program in your Non-profit Organization:

Identify all of the risks. Some of these can be broad that other organizations face as well but there could also be some risks specific to your organization.

Determine how vulnerable the Nonprofit Organization is to certain risks.

Create an emergency plan. The employees and volunteers safety is dependent on this step.

4. Purchase sufficient insurance.

Revise as necessary, especially if you get new equipment or if something new comes up.

When planning your risk management plan, be sure to think of every possible risk; you can never be too safe. Things happen, everyone knows that, but being prepared is key to how fast and efficiently you will get over the bump in the road if an incidnet does occur at your Non-profit Organization.

April 13, 2012

Throughout the day we may be exhausted and ready for bed, but by the time bed time hits we’re wide awake and then we think of how exhausted we’re going to be the next day if we don’t get sleep and then that anxiety keeps us up. Wow, that is tiring! Here are some tips to get a better night’s sleep and feel rested the next day:

Make a sleep schedule and stick to it. If you go to bed at 9 o’clock one day and midnight the next, your body is going to be confused so pick a time and stick to it, even on weekends and holidays. If you are still awake for 15 minutes after you go to bed, get up and do something relaxing and go back to bed when you’re tired.

Keep an eye on what you eat and drink. Do not go to bed hungry or stuffed, also limit your beverage intake before bed so there are less sleep interruptions to the toilet. Nicotine, caffeine, and alcohol can disturb your sleep as well so use caution when using these.

Try to manage your stress. You can do this by getting organized and prioritizing. Right before bed write what is on your mind and set it aside for tomorrow so you have a clear mind.

Include physical activity in your daily routine, but don’t exercise right before bed. This will help you fall asleep and get a deeper sleep.

Create a bedtime ritual. This will help your body wind down from the stress of the day. Activities you might think about doing are reading a book, taking a warm bath, listening to soothing music, etc.

Life can be very stressful for many folks right now, but it is important to get good night’s sleep for your health as well as your mood. Best of all it will make you look stunning; after all, everyone needs their beauty sleep.

April 11, 2012

It can be frightening to be the individual in control of caring for a volunteer who has suffered an injury in your animal rescue, but here are a few easy steps to assist you in knowing what to do if you’re in that position. First and foremost, make sure the person is breathing. Next, DO NOT shift the hurt person except for if there are additional risks such as a fire. Finally, if a seizure takes place, rotate the individual on their side and eliminate all objects around them that could be grounds for injury. BY NO MEANS PUT ANYTHING IN THE MOUTH OF A INDIVIDUAL HAVNG A SEIZURE. Keep in mind, if there is a obvious injury or the person is unconscious, call 9-1-1 immediately.

April 10, 2012

So the IRS is getting strict to ensure that good governance guidelines are being pursued. What do they desire from us anyway? They want us to be at par with the top practice principles. We have to to start off by having the Animal Welfare Organization board occupied and informed because they are more likely to offer financial support and knowledge. This means the board wishes to know about financial transactions. The size of the Animal Welfare board of directors and team is important to keep in mind because a great number can lead to confused decisions. Policies for all finances and expenditure with documentation ought to be reviewed to help keep away from fraud. Remember to pursue your policies and procedures and stick to your assignment!

April 9, 2012

Finding a lawyer is something that most individuals hope that they never need, sometimes unexpected incidents happen and you want to make sure that you can find the best lawyer for your case. You can look online and find an abundant amount of lawyers but which one should you pick? Here are some tips for picking the best one out of the bunch:

Personal referrals

Look for their experience

Set up an interview with your prospective lawyer

Search online for reviews on lawyers

Call your state bar association

You can choose a lawyer fast or you can take a little bit of time and do your homework to be sure that your lawyer is qualified and suited for your case.

April 4, 2012

Prior to an event, all potential emergencies should be considered and an action plan should be formed for all. An Emergency Response Team (ERT) and crisis management plans should be created. There should be a director of the ERT and all other associates need to know who this is in the occurrence of an emergency because that individual makes the knowledgeable choice concerning how to act. A petite event will merely require two individuals who are first aid and CPR certified, but a bigger and elevated risk event will need more experienced medical workers. All staff and volunteers must know how to get in touch with the ERT in case of emergency. If there is a cooking location, a first aid kit, fire extinguisher, and flashlight must be accessible close by. If there is a great crowd, a prior to the event call to a fire department may be a wise decision in case of a fire.

April 3, 2012

Things are not always how they seem; at least it seems that way after reading an article on earthquake safety by Doug Copp. He has worked with every major disaster in the world since 1985 and knows some great safety tips that may seem opposite to us, but more effective.

Do not duck and cover under objects, most people that do this get crushed.

It is natural for a being to curl up into a fetal position when threat is upon them, so listen to your natural instinct and do so next to a bulky object (such as a sofa) that will compress but leave a slight gap next to you.

Since wood is flexible and leaves many voids if the earthquake knock down the house, they are the safest buildings to be in. Brick does break into individual blocks during an earthquake and can cause injury but it is better than being crushed by concrete.

If you are in bed when an earthquake strikes, simply roll off your bed, right next to it and it will leave a void.

If it is impossible to escape from a window or door during an earthquake then curl up in the fetal position next to a bulky object.

It is very important not to be anywhere near a doorway during an earthquake, it almost always leads to death.

You should avoid stairs at all costs, even after the earthquake before they get checked for safety.

If you are ever in a car during an earthquake, get out of the car and lay next to the vehicle, you are less likely to get crushed outside of the vehicle than inside of it.

Copp discovered that paper leaves many voids as well, so perhaps taking cover next to a large stack of paper will save your life.

Copp has named the void between these objects as the ‘triangle of life’. If you look at pictures after an earthquake, you can see the triangle in between the bulky objects, which is how he came up with this. Copp’s ‘triangle of life’ theory has been tested with the theory that we are taught (duck and cover) and his had a 100% survival rate while the other had a 0% survival rate. Next time you’re in an earthquake remember bulky objects are for lying next to, not under.

April 1, 2012

Brian Barrick, the founder of PCALIC, Non Profit Insurance Services, and AWOIP brings over 25 years of experience in insurance along with a creative, energetic leadership role to the team. On his down time he enjoys visiting his second home in Telluride, Colorado, snowboarding, rock climbing, walking his dog, and spending time with family. His friends and family would describe him as an adventurous, positive, and an up beat person.