This month...

I’m covering two topics - the first Online International Virtual Assistants Convention and the second, Donating to Charity.

OIVAC

You may have seen our recent press release about the upcoming online international convention taking place this month, but if not, you can see it here.  Briefly the Virtual Assistant Industry is coming of age, 10 years that is, and we are celebrating with our very first Trade Expo with an impressive line up of speakers from a few countries, and many trade booths on display as well.  If you've never heard of this concept, or have wondered how it works, we have an Open House this Friday 5th May at 9am Aust EST.  The URL is http://67.19.231.218/ivocalize/login.asp?r=70d928a9&p=0

Here are the instructions for entering the room:

1. Download the virus and spyware free plug in.
2. Enter your first and last name in the login box (i.e. Kathie Thomas)
3. Press enter and the launch window will open.
4. Press enter and visitor will be able to access the room.

No password is required.

You'll need a headset/mic if you want to speak during the open house, otherwise you'll be able to text chat. This is fantastic technology and what makes it special (to me, anyway) is that the company providing it is based here in Victoria, Australia. There have been two other Virtual Assistants in Australia involved in this planning besides myself, and we have three Australian speakers presenting.  Other speakers come from the US, Canada and France.  There will be seminars, a silent auction, items to purchase, other people to meet during the networking sessions and lots more.  Full details can be seen by clicking on the link below.

What Do You Do With Discarded Items From A Home Office?

I’ve been in business for 12 years and struggle to find a service that will get rid of my old printers, computers or toner cartridges for me. There must surely be a program or service out there that does this kind of thing?

I did find one for toner cartridges but you have to be going through a volume much larger than I do – they were mainly targeting schools and offices that have several staff and several printers. I am a one-person office and go through approximately 1 laser toner cartridge and 3 or 4 inkjet cartridges every 4-6 weeks – so they do mount up, but not sufficiently for the service I found. So, I thought I’d raise the question here – what do YOU do with your toner cartridges? And what about the computers or printers you’ve upgraded and/or have died?

Monash University has a program that will collect working computers which they give to students in need – this is a good idea and I have already donated a couple of computers to them. Think I should give them another ring as I have a couple of working CRT monitors that have now been replaced by the flat LCD type. But again, I welcome your suggestions on what you do. Perhaps you know of a worthwhile service, or charity type program that could use these items? I will share this information with my readers as I know I’m not alone in this problem and I’d like to see that it not only benefits the environment, but benefits worthwhile organisations that may be putting these things to recyclable use.

Just last week I discovered that HP has a program where you can trade in an old printer when getting a new one – I didn’t know this service existed. However, since my new HP LaserJet is only a couple of months old and I have the receipt, I can still return my old one as a trade-in – they’ll even come pick it up, if suitably packaged. There is a time limit involved so I've just recently gone through this process. I think this is really great and it might be worth exploring to see if the other companies that make printers offer a similar service.

In this day of homes accumulating the items that only corporate and other offices used to collate, it is important to find a way to recycle or return these items so that our bin collection isn’t laden with items that weren’t meant to be collected by that process. With that thought in mind, I thought the following article, which was forwarded to me recently, worth sharing here.

Would you Donate to Charity?

There are a great number of organizations asking you to donate to charity today. There are a vast amount of causes where you could donate to charity. Should you donate to charity? And when I do donate to charity how do I choose?

Perhaps, a good starting point is why should I donate to charity? There are so many great reasons to donate to charity. Let's deal with a few of them here. If you donate to charity you will see tangible benefits in the form of tax breaks. By deciding to donate to charity you will be taking some of your money out of the government's hands. For some people that is reason enough to donate to charity.

Another great reason to donate to charity is to reduce clutter. A decision to donate to charity does not necessarily mean a cash donation. You can donate to charity by giving items as well. Are there things taking up space in your home that you could donate to charity? A decision to donate to charity can reduce the clutter in your home and leave you with that good feeling that accompanies every decision to donate to charity. Of course, one of the greatest reasons to donate to charity is to help the less fortunate.

If you have been blessed, making a decision to donate to charity can help you give a little back.

And speaking of different levels of success, have you always been as successful as you are now? Or was there a time when an organization was there for you? That sounds like a great way of living out your decision to donate to charity. Many of us have had times when things were not going well. If a charitable organization was there for you, donate to charity by giving back to them. Then, when you donate to charity you return the favor once paid to you. There are also people who go the memorial route when they donate to charity. Sometimes the best way to ease the pain of the loss of a loved one is to carry on their legacy with causes that mattered to them.

If you donate to charity in their name you create a living tribute to their ideals. Suddenly your decision to donate to charity takes on a whole new meaning.

Finally, determine the cause that means the most to you when making your decision to donate to charity. If you are going to donate to charity it only makes sense to choose one that matters to you. No long-term relationship was ever built with a decision to donate to charity without there being a personal connection.

Choosing a charity you care about is an important aspect of that decision. There are so many benefits to deciding to donate to charity. A decision to donate to charity will help everyone concerned, even you. Decide to donate to charity and everyone moves ahead.

Jason Smith is the webmaster and owner of Donate to Charity an excellent place to find charity links, resources and articles. For more information on this article, please visit: http://www.donatetocharity.com

Note from Kathie:  The nearest I’ve found to the above listed site for Australian charities is http://www.donations.com.au. However, I have a favourite charity that I donate foodstuffs and clothing to, called ER (Emergency Resources), which provides support to singles and families who have fallen on hard times in the areas of Heatherton, Clayton, Clarinda, Springvale and other close by areas.  If you are interested in their contact details, please email me.

About Our Organisation…

What is a Virtual Assistant?
It's a term for home-based secretaries, administrative and secretarial support, and others who supply remote or virtual support.

We are as close to you as your computer and can do almost anything traditional support staff do - except virtually. You don't need to provide office space, equipment, software or furniture - we have our own!

Location no issue as the work is carried out 'virtually' no matter where you are!  See our newest members listed at VA Directory