Craigs List Challenge!

Craig’s List is the ultimate in FREE advertising.    Craig’s List has online boards all over the US, in Canada, and world wide!

The challenge?

Post your studio, a link to your website, and an invitation to try a class.   Agree to post on Tuesday, 2/17 and again on Tuesday, 3/8.   Hold yourself accountable to the challenge by posting here that you will and then again when you have posted.   Imagine, if we all agree to post, on the same days, how much influence we will spread online with just that one small action!

Below find sample text and directions for how to use Craig’s List.

Sample Text:

Your studio name and website.   Now accepting enrollment for Spring 2009. Kindermusik is the world’s leader in developmentally appropriate music and movement classes.  We are so much more than music!   Classes available for newborns through age 7.   Call your name at xxx-xxx-xxxx or email to set up a time for a free preview of a class.

Keep it short and sweet so that you get potential leads but are not really “advertising”.   The point is to get our name out in front of people on the boards.

How to use Craig’s List

• Google Craig’s List. This will take you to your local board.   There are several in Georgia.  Mine is http://www.atlanta.craigslist.org.  Once you’re there, you can then sort by areas. It gets pretty specific.

• Select post to classifieds

• Select create posting

• Events (says will expire in 30 days but classes are allowed a two week window)

• Choose category – Classes. There are many options but this is the most basic. No subscription required.

• Choose area nearest you

• Fill in posting title – “Kindermusik Classes!”  Or  “Kindermusik!”

• Description.   Use the sample text above or use your own.

• Type in email twice

• Check off how to reply to event.   I chose middle selection so that email stays anonymous on Craigslist to ward off spammers.   Interested parties can email you easily.

• Your posting sample will appear.

• Hit continue.

• Accept terms.

• Finalize post by typing words that appear in security box and click continue.

• You will receive notice that you will receive an email to publish.

• Open email and click on link to activate and publish your free listing. Save the email to publish, edit, or delete your free post.

There is no need to set up an account, although there is that option for small biz ads. There are some guidelines and rules and regulations for this that I didn’t want to get into at this time. These instructions are for the basic, free, classified listing.

So, are you up for the challenge?

I am.   My name is down there at the bottom on the list!

PKE Meeting Update

Due to many conflicts and cyberspace mailing failures, the Atlanta Area PKE meeting scheduled for Friday, September 5th has been cancelled. 

Be sure to watch your inbox for a survey from the Georgia PKE, requesting your  input about a day and time in the week following Christmas that would work for you for educators to get together and preview the following semester. 

Please add kindermerri at yahoo dot com to your email address book to avoid PKE mailings being sent to your spam file in the future.

Kindermusik in China

As a Kindermusik educator, I am blessed with the ability to come in contact with educators from literally around the world.  At my very first Kindermusik convention in July, 2005, in Nashville, Tennessee, I made a very good friend from Malaysia.  We have corresponded frequently since then and I hope to see her in person again one day at another convention.

I have also met, via our online group at Yahoogroups, Sarah Peel Li, a Kindermusik educator in Beijing, China.  We have participated together in continuing education webinars hosted and sponsored by Kindermusik International.  I greatly enjoy her expertise as an educator as well as her humor.

This morning, as I skimmed through the group’s posts, I read a new one from Sarah that put the China earthquake into a much more personal perspective.  I am reproducing it here.  If you feel led to participate, please do so.  The need is incredible.  And I can not imagine the anguish of many of the parents there as they face the loss of their one child that the government allows them to have.

From Sarah Peel Li, Beijing, China:

As most of you are probably already aware there was a massive earthquake in the Sichuan region of China on Monday. It is a tragedy and many thousands of people have lost their lives. Those that survived in the hardest hit areas often have nothing, and the conditions are extremely difficult.

Kara Waddell, a Kindermusik parent here in Beijing, leads the NGO Operation Blessing here in China. She is now in Chengdu to coordinate relief efforts, and I hope our community of families and schools will be able to support the work she and her team are doing to assist children in the quake affected areas. Operation Blessing is partners with the China Charity Federation and China Foundation for collecting funds legally in China and for coordinating disaster relief activities. Collection of needed goods is also normal for this type of disaster, and Operation Blessing will be making arrangements for this type of aid to be sent in the coming days from partners here in Beijing.

As Kara put it in an e-mail I received, relief experts are right – give to whoever you trust, but cash in response scenarios really, really helps. If you would like to give, I know that supporting Operation Blessing’s work will make sure your funds reach those who need it most. They are extremely professional and have experience
working with community partners in the hardest hit areas of Sichuan.  They are coordinating their work with the Red Cross and the China Social Work Association.

They are focused on relief for children and families, including an effort to reach and assist orphanages in the area. Their work is currently focused on: Mianyang City – where 3000 are being reported dead, 18,000 buried in rubble which could greatly increase the death toll; and  Dujiangyan City – they have a 2-year old friendship with the Red Cross from a district in this city. We are making local purchases of relief supplies and will help distribute with the Red Cross.

ONLINE DONATIONS:
https://www. cbn.com/giving/ obChina/option. asp

Domestic and international credit cards can be used. 100% of funds dedicated for use in China although funds collected in the U.S. All funds received this week online we’ll dedicate to this earthquake relief, recovery and development efforts.

Thank you for reading this message, and your generous support of an organization that is making a real difference in the face of incredible suffering.

Sarah Peel Li
Beijing, China

 

Atlanta Area PKE Meeting Cancellation

The next meeting of the Greater Atlanta Area PKE, scheduled for this Friday, April 25th, at 11AM has been postponed until July.  Due to several circumstances, notably construction and renovation in the music suite at Dunwoody Baptist Church where we meet, as well as many educators having *packed* schedules right now, we felt it better to postpone until this summer, giving more folks time to plan ahead. 

There are some plans now in the works for a local PDS here in July as well as our own local PKE meeting and planning for the Kindermusik convention in November in Raleigh, North Carolina.  We will have further information here as soon as details are nailed down.

Don’t forget! —- Forget what, you say?!

Calling all Georgia Kindermusik educators -

This Friday, February 15th, we celebrate the kick-off meeting of the greater Atlanta Partnership of Kindermusik Educators.  Bring yourselves and an idea you’d like to share relating to one of this semester’s units – something that your families *really* enjoyed, whether it be an activity, an extension, or a book.  Also, if you’ve got something that you’ve had difficulty with making it work in class, plan on sharing that as well. We are here to come alongside one another and support each other!

We will also have exciting news about a possible state-wide advertising campaign through the Georgia Public Broadcasting System that would be *extremely* affordable for Kindermusik educators throughout the state.  More on that later this week!

Come join us this Friday and enjoy the sizzling energy that fills a room when you get Kindermusik educators together. I can tell you from personal experience from attending a local meeting, PDS, and KM convention – there’s absolutely *NOTHING* like it!

For maps and directions, please visit the blog here. See you there!

New PKE Chapter Forming!

Calling all interested Georgia Kindermusik educators! 

 

The first official meeting of the metro Atlanta PKE chapter will be Friday, February 15th, 2008 from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM.  We will meet at Dunwoody Baptist Church, location of Jane Hendrix’s program,  near Perimeter Mall, and plan on eating lunch together there in the area. 

Dunwoody Baptist Church

1445 Mount Vernon Road
Atlanta GA 30338
Phone: 770-280-1200

From I-285 East or West:
Exit # 29 Ashford Dunwoody Road Go North on Ashford Dunwoody Road approx. 1.75 miles Past Perimeter Mall DBC will be on your left

From GA 400 South:
Exit #5 Dunwoody/Sandy Springs Make a left onto Abernathy Road go approx. ¼ mile Make a left onto Mount Vernon Road, continue approx. 1.1 miles DBC will be on your right

From GA 400 North:
Exit #5A Dunwoody/Sandy Springs Merge onto Abernathy Road (you can only go in one direction) make your way to the far left hand lane At the 2nd traffic light make a left onto Mount Vernon Road, continue approx. 1.1 miles DBC will be on your right.

Amy VanderLugt has graciously volunteered to be the Metro Atlanta PKE representative.  (Thank you, Amy!)  She would like to compile a roster of greater Atlanta Kindermusik educators with names, all phone numbers, email, website, address, location of Kindermusik classes, names of other teachers you have teaching with you, etc. before the meeting in order to hand them out that day. 

Even if you can’t be there on the 15th, please send your information on to Amy as she is willing to send it to all educators in this area, even those unable to attend.  RSVP and personal information should be sent by February 1st.  Amy may be reached at vanderamy at yahoo.com.  (Please insert the @ sign in the appropriate place.  I have written it this way to avoid automated spammer programs that surf blogsites for email addresses.)

For map and directions to this location, please visit Google Maps here:  View Larger Map

Airport Shuttle Transportation Info – Convention 2007

It has been the subject of much discussion on the loop and *off* the loop on how to get from the airports of Chicago to the hotel, since the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel doesn’t operate a shuttle itself.   When I called the hotel previously and spoke with someone at the desk, she suggested I take a “local” taxi from the airport, not one of the national ones, because they were cheaper.  When I called back a second time, I spoke with someone different who suggested checking out the airport website for transportation information, which I did do.  Here’s what I found.

Continental Airport Express

Airport Express coaches and vans depart from each terminal for downtown Chicago.  Information/booking counters are located in each terminal’s Arrivals area near baggage claim.  Departures are every 5-10 minutes with first departure around 6am, last about 11.30pm.
• Fare: $32 per one person, $5 for each additional person.   Information may be  found at 800 654-7871 or at the Airport Express web site. (Just click on the name or the image; either one will take you there.)

They also offer “Meet and Greet” as well as Charter services.  And, most importantly, they do list the Renaissance Schaumburg on their list of hotels.  

They also have two free-standing “Do It Yourself” kiosks at O’Hare Airport; ensuring passengers always have immediate access to ground transportation.

The stand-alone and countertop walkup kiosks are located in terminals two and five, and allow passengers to purchase one-way or round-trip ground transportation 24 hours a day. They also reduce dependency on manned stations and shorten waiting time during busy periods.

Wheelchair-equipped vehicles can be pre-booked on 800 654-7871

For a $2.00 discount coupon, please visit this page.

Thanks also to Nanci Schneidinger for her help clarifying fare prices.

 *****

 There are taxi ranks outside each terminal’s Arrivals area. Taxi dispatchers curbside ensure a reasonably smooth operation.

Journey time to downtown Chicago is 30-45 minutes depending on traffic.  I’ve been told that the hotel is approximately 25-30 minutes from the airport, again depending on traffic. 

Fare: around $35-40.

To read more about ground transportation at O’Hare,

visit the Airport Guide for Chicago O’Hare Airport.

*****

By the way, any educators interested in participating in the  GA PKE get-together next Saturday, August 18th, at Dunwoody Baptist Church need to contact me and let me know they’re coming!  Please?! 

Heads up! Check your calendar!

There will be an organizational meeting for a metro Atlanta/North Georgia PKE chapter on Saturday, August 18th, at Dunwoody Baptist Church, 1445 Mt. Vernon Road, Atlanta, Georgia, from 10AM to 12 PM.  This is an organizational-type meeting to put together a local PKE chapter in the metro Atlanta/North Georgia area, but we will also have additional topics of discussion.  Any Kindermusik educator is welcome and invited to attend.

      Topics will include organizing the metro Atlanta/North Georgia chapter, the Demo Days campaign the following week, convention travel information, *and* Jane’s recent trip to South Africa for the Kindermusik/PKE convention held there.  We will also be planning on eating lunch together somewhere near the church.  If you’d like to attend, please email me  (click on the link) and let me know, so we can accurately plan for seating and room space.  If you have any suggestions for additional topics, we need those as well!  Hope to see *TONS* of you there! 

 Dunwoody Baptist Church, 1445 Mt. Vernon Road
Atlanta, Georgia  30338

From I-285 East or West:
Exit # 29 Ashford Dunwoody Road  – Go North on Ashford Dunwoody Road approx. 1.75 miles past Perimeter Mall.  DBC will be on your left.

From GA 400 South:
Exit #5 Dunwoody/Sandy Springs – Make a left onto Abernathy Road, go approx. ¼ mile. Make a left onto Mount Vernon Road,  and continue approx. 1.1 miles.  DBC will be on your right.

From GA 400 North:
Exit #5A Dunwoody/Sandy Springs – Merge onto Abernathy Road (you can only go in one direction).  Make your way to the far left hand lane. At the 2nd traffic light, make a left onto Mount Vernon Road,  and continue approx. 1.1 miles.  DBC will be on your right.

Click here to get directions to Dunwoody Baptist from your home.

*Important* Announcement from the PKE

Dear Educators,

       I received an email from Julee Kowallis today, with a request that we get the word out to as many KM educators as possible about the Babies R Us event, June 9th.  There are *still* stores available in 21 states that do not have an educator assigned to them.  *65* stores still without an educator!  Areas that are really lacking are in NY/NJ, CA, IL, and Houston.  (“Houston, can you read me?”)

Now, I have my own little list of folks to call about this, but I thought I’d put the word out here on the GA blog.  If you know of an educator in any of the areas listed below, *please* send her an email or give her a call and tell her how important this is to nail these locations down by May 9th.  Otherwise, Babies R Us may pull the event, or, more seriously, put a *COMPETITOR* into the store instead!  (None of us need that, or want that!)

And did you know that more moms use the Baby Registry at Babies R Us than any other single registry.  Get this – median household income of parents using the registry is $72K. (Did you catch that?  $72,000)   

Not only will there be three demos that day, but there will also be national advertising in BabyTalk magazine, a direct mailing by Babies R Us, website promotion by BabyTalk, BRU, *and* KM.  KI will be sending an email to all parents who have requested a free preview class coupon  but not yet enrolled in class to motivate them to attend.  *Plus* a free  7-page booklet featuring KM activities will be distributed on the day of the event as well. 

Each participating educator will receive a demonstration lesson plan and CD created by Carol Penney specifically for the event.  I can tell you personally that it’s a *lot* like ABC.

The list is reproduced below.  If you’re interested in participating, please email Lisa Rowell (lrowell@kindermusik.com) as soon as possible to let her know.  It’s important that we get these locations taken care of as quickly as possible. 

Blessings,

Merri Williams

GA PKE representative 

****************************************************************************************************

Babies R Us Stores Without Educators 

AL – Huntsville – 6275 University Drive, 35806

AZ – East Tucson – 5355 East Broadway Boulevard, 85711

         Tucson – 4619 N. Oracle Road , 85705

CA – Emeryville – 3938 Horton Street, 94608        
         Fairfield – 1400 Gateway Boulevard, 94533        
         Ontario – 4430 Ontario Mills Parkway, 91764         
         San Jose – 865 Blossom Hill Road, 95123 

        Colma – 775 Serramonte Boulevard, 94014

        Simi Valley – 1189 Simi Town Center Way,  93063                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

          Torrance – 20120 Hawthorne Boulevard , 90503 

          Vista – 1990 University Drive, 92083

          Westminster – 530 Westminster Mall, 92683

          West Covina – 2753 Eastland Center Drive, 91791 

          Folsom – 2785 East Bidwell Street, 95630         

         Stockton – 10640 Trinity Parkway, 95630

         Union City – 31250 Court House Drive, 94587 

CT – Milford – 1522-24 Boston Post Road (P.O. Box 5144), 06460         

        West Hartford – 1559 New Britian Avenue, 06110 

FL –  Tampa – 3908 West Hillsborough Avenue, 33614

          Boca Raton – 21697 State Road # 7, 33428

          Jacksonville – 9400 Atlantic Boulevard , 32225

          Lauderhill – 7350 W Commercial Boulevard, 33319

          Sarasota – 3860 Central Sarasota Parkway, 34238

          Fort Myers – 10002 Gulf Center Drive, 33913 

IL – Burbank – 7750 South Cicero Avenue, 60459

       Fairview Heights – 114 Commerce Lane, 62208

       Napierville – 1955 Glacier Park Avenue, 60540

IN – Granger – 435 East University Drive, 46530

KS – Wichita – 4646 West Kellogg, 67209

         Fort Wayne – 4140 Coldwater Road, 46805 

LA – Metairie – 6851 Veterans Boulevard, 70003

MA – Everett – 12 Mystic View Road, 02149

         Millbury – 70 Worcester Providence Turnpike, 01527

         Holyoke – 50 Holyoke Street, 01040

MD – Waldorf – 2969 Festival Way, 20601 

MI – Sterling Heights – 12050 Hall Road, 48313

NC – Asheville – 801 Fairview Road, 28803

NJ – Cherry Hill – 2135 Route 38, 08002

         Mays Landing – 120 Consumers Square, 08330

        Paramus – 545 Route 17 South, 07652

       West Totowa – 465 US Highway46, 07512

       Union – 2700 Route 22 East, 07083

      West Windsor – 500 Nassau Park Boulevard, 08550

NM – Albuquerque – 45 Hotel Circle, 87123

NV – Henderson – 510 North Stephanie Street, 89014

          Las Vegas – 2150 North Rainbow Boulevard, 89108

NY – Brooklyn – 8973-95 Bay Parkway, 11214

         Binghamton – 416 Harry L. Drive, 13790 

         College Point – 139-19 20th Avenue, 11356        

         Commack – 108 Veterans Memorial Highway, 11725

         Massapequa Park – 5214 Sunrise Highway, 11762

         Middleton – 88 Dunning Road, 10940

         Bohemia – 5181 Sunrise Highway, 11716

        New York – 24-30 Union Square East, 10003

       Staten Island – 2655 Richmond Avenue, 10314

OH – North Olmstead – 26520 Lorain Road, 44070

PA – Fairless Hills – 330 Commerce Boulevard, 19030

        Harrisburg – 5125 Jonestown Road, 17112

        Springfield – 770 Baltimore Pike, 19064

TX – Sugarland – 15555 Southwest Freeway, 77478

         Baytown – 4815 I10 East, 77521

         Houston – 6145 Westheimer Road, 77057

         Houston – 380 FM 1960 West, 77090

        Houston – 14287 Westheimer Road, 77077

        Houston – 5770 Hollister Road, 77040

VA – Midlothian – 13315 Rittenhouse Road, 23112