Thoughtful Thursday: Volunteer Match

I found a great website: Volunteermatch.org. Volunteer Match is just what it sounds like - they match up organizations in need of volunteers with people looking for ways to help. According to their site, they currently have 68,837 participating organizations, 59,077 volunteer opportunities, and they've made 4,266,106 referrals since 1998.

Through this site I found an opportunity to volunteer with the American Cancer Society. I went to training yesterday and soon I'll be driving cancer patients to and/or from their doctors' appointments. Before I read about this on the site, I had no idea that there was a need for this. It makes sense, though, since so many people live alone or with people who can't drive them to their appointments. I'll let you know how it goes after I've gotten started. I'm really looking forward to it.

Let me know if you find a volunteer opportunity that works for you.

Writer's Wednesday: Successful Blogging

I just found a great site for those of us trying to get the most out of blogging. It's called copyblogger.com. I've only looked at a few posts but I know it's going to be very helpful. Here's what it says on their "about" page:

What are the missing ingredients that prevents most people from succeeding online?

Copywriting and content marketing skills.

Content drives the Internet, and using the right words in the right way will determine not only how well your site converts visitors into sales, but also how well you rank in search engines and how many links you get.

Now that blogging has become the smartest strategy for growing an authoritative web site, it’s your copywriting and content marketing skills that will set you apart and help you succeed. Copyblogger is all about helping you:

• get traffic
• gain subscribers
• attract links
• sell something!

All you need to do is write in a strategic, persuasive, compelling manner.

Youtube Tuesday: Perpetuum Jazzile

This is an amazing youtube video of Perpetuum Jazzile, Slovenia's only jazz choir. In this video, Perpetuum Jazzile performs the song Africa, written by David Paich & Jeff Porcaro and originally performed by their band, Toto. Here's what David Paich said about this performance on Perpetuum Jazzile's website:

My name is David Paich. When I wrote Africa I never dreamed of hearing such an innovative rendition. All I can say is awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am truly honored that you not only would arrange a choir version of the song but the time and effort into creating REAL MAGIC! I have NEVER received so many emails from artists friends and colleagues

Me Monday: The Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center

My Mother, sons, sister, niece and I went to the The Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center yesterday. We were there for 2 1/2 hours and only saw the exhibit on the main level (there are three), which is set up with hallways from one small room to another. The rooms are arranged in chronological order, from German-Jewish life before the start of Nazism, to the rise of the Nazi Party, to the concentration camps, to liberation from the camps, and finally to the survivors' assimilation back into society. Each room has a video, running on a continuous loop, that uses a combination of authentic photographs and film clips to support the stories being told by survivors. There are also artifacts and informative placards along the way.

Though I've heard stories, seen movies and read books about the Holocaust before, I am always saddened, frustrated, and angered by the insane cruelty of it all! Don't get me started!

It was a truly moving experience - I highly recommend it to those of you in the Chicago area!

Daily Themes

After seeing daily themes on a few other blogs, I decided to give it a try myself. I'm a deadline & tight parameters type of person so I think it will help me to blog more regularly. Also, if I make a commitment, I'm more apt to follow through - thanks to Jewish guilt! So, here's my plan - for now:

Me Mondays
Youtube Tuesdays
Writer's Wednesdays
Thoughtful Thursdays
Favorite Fridays
Anything Goes Saturdays & Sundays

So, look for my first themed post on Monday - and it's my favorite topic - ME!