The luncheon had it’s non-profit patter down pat; it nourished, shared, inspired and encouraged 300 plus folks to donate all in an hour!  Very Impressive! If everyone actually donated the minimum requested donation that would be a mighty quick chunk of change.  Pretty powerful when you think about it.

It struck me that what made this event work was the power of the story. Love, family, home and hearth. Listening to a couple tell the story of their habitat for humanity home, I experienced how proud they were.  I also felt how their pride was devastated when they could not provide for their family or had to ask for help. This was actually humbling for them. The home built for them by Habitat was of course life altering. Their story was tremendously moving.

I grew up in a family home, blessed by what appearances might see yet not so blessed by the family dynamic.   I felt home was always within me verses my surroundings or the people in which I shared space with.  In my own life I have lived in countless places, none of them to own, just a place to call home while living my life.  Home, to me,  is what you make it – home is the hearth that comes from within.  I raised two kids with a similar attitude – you can make a home where ever you are simply by creating it.

Thanks to the stimulus, an FHA loan and a first time buy program, at age 49,  I was finally able to buy my own home. At first I didn’t think of it as home, but more of a secure and fiscally responsible way to move forward in my path. I didn’t get my home without the help of my friends or programs that helped me.

My home has a breath and vibe that is very “me”.  Currently it is the most secure feeling I know.  It reassures me each and every day. I didn’t realize home ownership could do that.

One of the speakers shared the phrase “the home that made me”, a lovely sentiment especially when you knew she was raised in a home with an environment that fostered her success and her individuality. Her story was rich with love and joy. She is employed by Habitat as an executive director, and I think she has found a perfect job for herself!!

Not everyone knows this reality of home. As a matter of fact home for too many is fragmented or surviving.

Our local Habitat For Humanity built 5 houses this year.  I thought to myself that seems like a small number of homes.   I listened of course to what it takes to build a home. These things all have a cost attached to them.  All said, these homes are built with donations,many hands, loads of hard work and love.

pretty darn cool.

This luncheon had me pause.  It reminded me not to take my home for granted.  It re-instilled my gratitude for a place to live.  A place to call my home.

The company I call “home”  and the wellness products I proudly sell has a rich history of involvement with Habitat For Humanity beginning in 1993.

One special 2005 project was post Hurricane Katrina, called “Hands On New Orleans”, an affiliate of the Points Of Lights Program.  They were in partnership with our Shaklee Cares.  

Watch this video of our Shaklee field as they helped rebuild a school courtyard and lunch area.   Very cool!

The power of a story – Habitat for Humanity.

Her weekly program “MInding Your Business” is brought to its listeners by the Black Business Alliance and provides aspiring entrepreneurs and established entreprenuers the tips, tools and resources to grow their businesses.

My interview with Felicia was about blogging and the two of us had the most delightful chat!!

I left listeners with three tips:

1. have a plan

2. be consistant with postings

3. champion others/ share link -love!

The 10 minute interview aired Wednesday September 22, 2011

You can tune into Minding My Business with Felicia each and every Wednesday at 6 PM.

From Felicia …Hi Karen, We got a request regarding your show on blogging. We will re-Air it on Wed, Feb 1, 2012  at 6 pm on my show, Minding My Business on WXRJ 94.9 FM.

Felicia Shaw - Minding My Business WXRJ

The event was a tremendous success. I was struck with how hungry participants were to learn.  I was also struck at the varied applications folks use social media for.  There really is a fit for everyone! I attended one speaker that was in the “that’s so 2010″ or  the advanced trek. It was way over my head.  I did this to challenge myself and still walked away with something of value. Lastly, I sure met some remarkable people!

One of the themes for the conference was walking the talk of social media. Our closing speaker ended our day doing her presentation barefoot.  I thought that was perfect!

My Top Ten Take Aways:

1. People are watching.  Best social media practices are a process.

2. What are you known for? What groove are you wearing? What’s your voltage?

3. Social Media is a fast train going somewhere. Statistics everywhere are proving it

4. Why cultivate your fans?  Because they love what you do and could easily be involved in sharing your brand.  Take the concept of trust, reliability and delight and engage that one step further using “the experience”. Keep a fan in the loop with exquisite follow up

4. Wisely and legally it was shared how broad laws are regarding social media. Legal matters are ever changing. Law is slow to adopting.  Safety, privacy and confidentiality are some of the top concerns.

5. Ask your customers what they want!

6. The “like” button on FB is passive, where the “share” button has more rank and shows that you are involved/vested in the community and spirit of.

7. When you have a twitter account and an opinion one must share it.

8. Quotable one liners that said it all: you as an individual are a brand ( engagement and trust = brand), all that i am google made me,  you are who you follow, watch who you hang with, listen, educate and help, there is such a thing as having an unspoken thought.

9. be aware of the ying and yang of a brand

10. It’s no longer about marketing to the potential “buyer” it’s about pulling the consumer in as a “participant” of the brand. What are you an uber fan of?

Above commentary from AtMidwest Speakers: Barbara Rozgonyi, Jill Salzman, Nathan Hinch, Eric Osterman, Joe Strupek, Mana Ionescu

Thank you !!

( images below by karen hanrahan)

image by karen hanrahan

The exquisite farm to fork meal was prepared by Ken of Epiphany Farms.

The menu included a vegetable rich beef broth soup with poached egg,  hard crusted garlic bread and salad. YUM.

I so got lost trying to find the farm.

Took some wonderful pictures.

I so enjoyed the farm tour.

I would not have been a very good guest for all the images I wanted to try and capture.

I did sneak in a few!

Thank you Dave, Katie and Hans and Graham for their good company,  hospitality and for the remarkable meal also!

By the way Katie’s Farm blog is a delight!