GHFL OCT '05 Newsletter

NewsLine

...important news items and updates

Volume 16. Issue 1 – October 2005

Previous Issues

LifeStyle Transitions for Cancer Survivors Workshops

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1. Furthering Our Mission: We’re growing and we need some new people to help us… are you interested?

We’re expanding our reach and looking for a few good volunteers to help us. Do you know anyone who would be interested in working with us? You can begin the interview process or REFER someone you know by contacting Louise Stanley by email at lstanley@ghfl.org.

1. Workshop Facilitators in Sacramento, CA & Dallas, TX

Position Type: Part-time volunteer

General Description:

Using Good Health for Life’s ‘finding a passion for living through work’ philosophy and workshop curriculum, conduct job readiness and job search workshops to motivate cancer survivors and help them develop the soft skills needed to secure and retain employment they desire. Develop and prepare training materials and lesson plans in accordance to curricula and foundation philosophy. Communicate with healthcare providers as to the progress of customers attending the workshops.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

· Related Bachelor's degree from an accredited university or college, or equivalent work experience

· Familiarity with cancer survivors

· Demonstrated customer service skills

· Familiarity with the communities being served, with knowledge and understanding of local needs and resources

· Good interpersonal skills and verbal communication

· Ability to develop and maintain professional working relationships with management, coworkers, workers from other programs as well as the public

· Availability to volunteer at least 10 hours a month

2. Project Manager

Position Type: Part-time volunteer; work from home

General Description:

As our project manager, your passion for entrepreneurs as well as our mission will enable you to successfully interact with our staff and our cancer survivors. Much of your role will require you to prioritize, manage multiple projects, have strong follow-through, and call upon your experience as multi-tasker. With good knowledge of computers, you will have what it takes to succeed at our company! Many of the projects come from our workshop graduates… contacting a college to learn what kind of grants are available for their nursing program, or helping to find a mentor, for example.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

· Related Bachelor's degree from an accredited university or college, or equivalent work experience

· Familiarity with cancer survivors

· Demonstrated customer service skills

· Good interpersonal skills and verbal communication

· Good computer skills (Excel, Word, Access, Publisher)

· Ability to work remotely from home

· Availability to volunteer at least 20 hours a month

3. PR firm willing to donate a little work to help us spread our message.

4. Fundraiser to help us raise corporate sponsorships for our spring Sacramento event - our second musical and fashion show featuring cancer survivors that will be sponsored by Curves for which we already have a new car being donated for our grand raffle prize! http://www.ghfl.org/News/index_Page4337.htm

2. On the Road to Breakthroughs:

A career in Real Estate may be just what the doctor ordered by Bette Humenick

One of the experiences I count as the best thing that ever happened to me was having a brain tumor. The timing wasn't exactly great. My children were 3 months and 21 months old when I was told the news. The Doctor called me up and said he wanted to meet with me right away. So, here I was in the Doctor's office with a crying baby and a toddler trying to turn on the water and trying out all the equipment, while the Doctor is telling me that what they originally told me was a mass, then a tumor, was now a brain tumor. For about 3 days I walked around in a daze. I kept thinking about my father who had died from bone cancer at 52 years of age.

After 3 days I suddenly came to the realization that I can't die, I've got two small boys to raise. I didn't really worry too much after that. I just knew things would work out, and luckily the tumor was benign. The Doctor didn't think it was a fast growing tumor so I decided to have my annual Easter egg hunt and hold my oldest son's 2nd birthday party before having the surgery. I was going to have all my long hair shaved off so I decided to try a few different hairstyles before the big day. The surgery went well and I still tell people that was the only way I could get a 10-day break from my kids. I was thankful we get two eyes (cause one of mine doesn't work so great) and I was also thankful that really short hair was in at that time.

Now several years later I still hold on to the lessons learned. Not too much bothers me and I am well aware that there is a whole lot more to life than making lots of money. My spiritual life took on a much higher importance then, and it still is. Although I admit I am a workaholic, I totally enjoy it.

When Louise asked me to write an article about a career in Real Estate being just what the Doctor ordered it wasn't hard to think of the many ways that it can be just that. When I had my surgery I was a Tupperware sales person which is also a great career to help you bring out the best in yourself and in others. For me selling Tupperware was a great way to be able to stay home in the day with my children and go out at night and talk to adults while my children slept at home with their father there. I enjoyed helping people save time and money. I would just as soon talk someone out of something I didn't think would serve their purposes, as I would talk them into something that I knew would make their life easier. The Tupperware parties were a win-win situation. The hostess would earn gifts, the guests would learn new ideas, and I would get to talk to adults and earn some extra money for my family and we all had fun doing it.

As my children became older and were away at school most of the day and I was gone almost every night it stopped serving my purposes. It was then I made the transition to Real Estate. I knew it was really time to release my Tupperware career when I "accidentally" flushed the keys to my free Tupperware Dodge Caravan down the toilet (don't ask!). Now I can be home most nights.

I love the joy of helping a buyer find their dream home and helping a seller find wonderful new buyers for their current home. I love guiding them through a potentially very stressful time in their life. Every thing always works out. I still will try to talk clients out of something that I don't think will serve their needs, even if it means that they don't sell their home at this time.

Yes, it can be a stressful job. But done right, with love and caring and not looking at how much money you're going to earn, it can be just what the doctor ordered. I intend to enjoy each client as they come in to my life. I have been so fortunate to have the most wonderful clients. I set my intention, as Wayne Dyer does, to attract only Peace and peaceful people in to my life. And wouldn't you know - that's just what I find!

My Tupperware career did help me with my sales skills, as well as learning the greater Sacramento area, and knowing a lot of people. Luckily, I love learning, as there is a lot to learn in Real Estate. I don't want my lack of knowledge to be a detriment to my clients. Some new agents start out as a buyer's agent. Established Realtors often get so busy that they will hire a buyer's agent to show homes to their clients when they are unable to do it themselves. That can be a good way to get your feet wet in the business. Before I started selling Real Estate I spent the day with one of my friends who had become a Realtor. I tried to picture myself doing what she did. It was an interesting day and it helped me to cement my decision. I have never regretted my choice; my only regret is that I didn't start sooner!

Bette Humenick

Lyon Real Estate

Cell 916-502-2778

Office 530-672-4513

3. In the Spotlight: Hot… Hot… Hot!

The ‘Times of Our Lives’ was a truly uplifting and inspirational show that recognizes the beauty in all of us and the special role cancer survivors play in our lives.

August 20, 2005, Sacramento, CA: On one of the hottest days of August, I stepped out of my car onto the corner of Arden Way and Pointe West in Sacramento. "Too hot," I grumbled to myself, remembering one of my least favorite aspects of Sacramento summer living as a bead of perspiration trickled down my forehead. I'd already had a heat related wardrobe disaster occur earlier in the day requiring a frantic shopping trip half an hour before the show, designer clothing ruined. Making a mental note to myself to avoid all summer appointments in The River City in the future, I began to look around for my destination.

There it was - easily marked by the long line of people eagerly lining up outside the entrance to the Grand Ballroom at the Doubletree Hotel. I heard a curious passerby ask what was going on, and a proud reply "A musical review and fashion show featuring cancer survivors," as I jostled my way to the front clutching my VIP pass to escape the heat. Almost fully wilted by the heat now, I wove through the crowd in the lobby toward the entrance and in I went. Ah, air conditioning at last.

After being seated at our reserved seats for the luncheon and show, I read through the program featuring profiles of the cast, including 24 cancer survivors who were also members of Curves clubs throughout the Sacramento region. I gratefully procured a bottle of water and settled in. As more people filed in, black-tie wait staff began to circulate and serve a fabulous lunch. The energy in the room was fabulous and my earlier irritation with the weather and the city began to slip away in anticipation of the show that was about to unfold.

Hot… Hot… Hot! Not the weather this time. Hot! The models and dancers. Hot! The fashion. Hot! The guests.

One of the things I most enjoyed and appreciated about the ‘The Times of Our Lives’ is that all the models, men and women, as well as the cancer survivors –were real people! Models with real curves sashaying down that runway and look absolutely gorgeous doing it. They prove that fashion cut properly looks best modeled on the bodies it is meant to adorn. None of this mainstream fashion world nonsense that considers a six foot tall, size 10 model "plus". If models with decent curves don't look good in the clothes there is something wrong with the cut and the design, not the body it is draping. And these shows, along with the show’s retail sponsors and designers, proved the point.

I was also inspired by the stories of the cancer survivors from Curves who were on stage for the first time in their lives and looked so poised, professional, proud and absolutely fabulous! I learned that those with cancer often dramatically change their lives; their diagnosis and treatment become a turning point. Some of these survivors are motivated to try something new, looking forward to making their lives more meaningful. Others perceive opportunities, are more motivated to pursue them and have a greater capacity to create something and find their passion for living through work. Good Health for Life, the creator of this event, is focused on improving their survival by helping survivors get back to work that they love. If these 24 fabulous cancer survivor models were any indication at all, I learned an important fact – that having cancer doesn’t diminish a person’s value – in many instances it increases it! The women all volunteered for the show and worked hard to perform in musical scenes while learning how to model beautiful clothes. How many people do you know that would have the courage, fortitude and determination to do it and so well?! Yet, there they were on stage in front of 500 cheering audience members, breaking the accepted and prevailing norms about cancer survivors and bringing tremendous energy, talent and the latest fashions to a Sacramento runway with heads held high and fabulous results. Many would not dare, even call it madness. I call it strength and vision.

“This is our first annual event and we couldn’t be prouder of the results!” said Louise Stanley, Good Health for Life’s executive director and founder. “Our mission is to show people that when a cancer survivor does work that they love, it has a profoundly positive impact on their own life as well as all those they touch. Employers should reach out to work with these talented people who can enhance their businesses in so many ways. Not only is it good for the survivor and the company, but it’s good for the community as a whole helping everyone affected to grow and thrive.”

I learned that Good Health for Life hooked up with Curves for a very special reason. Curves is a place where cancer survivors go to get fit, healthy and strong. Louise Stanley joined Curves herself after she completed 13 months of chemotherapy and needed to get back on her feet. Louise said, “Their program gives you a complete aerobic and strength training workout with easy-to-learn hydraulic resistance machines. I’ve found that since I started conditioning my body, I have been able to bounce back faster from surgeries for new cancers and have so much more energy than before that I can dedicate to my work. It’s such a natural partnership. How can you get up in the morning and be motivated if you don’t feel physically fit? Curves can help cancer survivors have a much better quality of life.”

4. Fundraising Update:

· Bag It Up Ladies

We are very proud to announce that in the next few weeks, Good Health for Life and Bag It Up will be working together to sell a line of products created especially for us to further our cause and help us raise funds. So plan to do your holiday shopping here for assorted logo items, handbags, purses and jewelry… stay tuned!

5. Balancing Acts & Healthful Tips:

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In This Issue

1. Furthering Our Mission:

We’re growing and we need some new people to help us… are you interested?

2. On the Road to Breakthroughs:

A Career in Real Estate May Be Just What The Doctor Ordered by Bette Humenick

3. In the Spotlight:

Hot… Hot… Hot! The ‘Times of Our Lives’ was a truly uplifting and inspirational show that recognizes the beauty in all of us and the special role cancer survivors play in our lives.

4. Fundraising Update:

· Bag It Up Ladies! Bookmark this spot for your holiday shopping!

5. Balancing Acts & Healthful Tips

On August 20th, more than 500 guests thoroughly enjoyed lunch and a high-energy musical review & fashion show, ‘The Times of Our Lives’. Our cast of 24 cancer survivors from Curves with 25 professional models & dancers received rave reviews for their inspired performances and fabulous fashions!

Winter 2006

Santa Clara, CA