Christine Wade

Virtual Assistant Association Challenges Virtual Assistants Worldwide to Donate to Local Food Banks

Virtual Assistant industry rises to the occasion to help community food banks meet record number of families and others needing assistance this holiday season.

Community food banks around the country are in dire need. With rising food prices and companies continuing to lay employees off in the declining economy, many local agencies are reporting a nearly 50% increase in demand from families needing assistance. Many of these agencies have bare pantry shelves or are otherwise not prepared to assist what many expect to be record numbers this year.

Enter the Virtual Assistant community. In view of the rising need and coming holidays, the Virtual Assistance Chamber of Commerce has challenged Virtual Assistants worldwide to mobilize as an industry to do what they do best—helping others—by donating a minimum of $10 or more to their local food banks and charitable organizations this holiday season. This global industry of self-employed administrative support specialists is rising to the occasion.

"$10 is so easy to afford," says founder Danielle Keister. "No matter how small you may think a contribution is, every little bit makes a real difference."

Keister's household sponsors a family each year and donates food and grocery store gift certificates to their preferred community agency. "I like to donate gift certificates so that people can get the foods they like," says Keister.

Cassandra Cooper of The Time Miner reminds folks that that community service agencies are also always in need of toiletries such as bar soap, toilet paper and travel shampoos. "Those things can't be purchased with food stamps," explains Cooper.

Christine Wade of eRealtyAssistance.com in Vista, California, recommends that Virtual Assistants and others wishing to help visit the Feeding America (formerly Second Harvest) website at www.feedingamerica.org. "There is a food bank locator in the bottom right-hand corner where you can enter your zip code and find out where to deliver food," points out Wade.

Wade donates food and toiletry items through her children's Christian school every year, as well as bags of food at an annual ornament party she attends, which are then delivered to a local charity.

Victoria Miles is a Virtual Assistant in Argentina and owner of TheBilingualVA.com. "I love the idea of 'think global, act local' that the VACOC promotes. I will be definitely embracing the initiative locally, and hopefully engaging many others to do so as well."

Dinah Cline, owner of Dinah's Virtual Assistance in Naples, Florida, suggests Angel Food Ministries at www.angelfoodministries.com, a non-profit, non-denominational organization dedicated to providing grocery relief and financial support to communities throughout the United States.

"Angel Food Ministries donates $1 to every host site's benevolence fund for every Angel Food Box distributed. We are all here to help one another, whether it's professionally or personally; being a part of the VACOC community provides this opportunity in both aspects. I feel not only blessed but honored to be a part of them both," says Cline.

To see what the VACOC community of Virtual Assistants is doing and get more links and ideas about how you can help, visit their Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=22876770984

ABOUT THE VACOC: The Virtual Assistance Chamber of Commerce is a professional association committed to empowering business-minded Virtual Assistants to grow smarter, more successful practices, and providing business owners with free tools and resources to connect with qualified, reputable Virtual Assistant professionals. Anyone interested in learning more about Virtual Assistance and its professional providers is encouraged to visit the VACOC at http://www.virtualassistantnetworking.com

• Tipsy #10 – K&C Iced Tea
  We spent the weekend down in San Diego, in and around Seaport Village, recently and ate a couple of time at The Fish Market. They make a drink called O.B. Tea, which is taken from a Long Island Iced Tea and modified. We asked them what was in it, and they told us the ingredients, but of course they won't give out the exact recipe. (I don't blame them, they're wonderful! Everything that we had at this place was so delicious!!!) Anyway, with the list of ingredients in hand, my best friend and I tried to recreate it...we think this is extremely close!!! (and since we had to do all the research, we named it after ourselves! LOL)
  • 1 Part Vodka
  • 1 Part 151 Rum
  • 1 Part Triple Sec
  • 1 Part Gin
  • 1 Part Rum
  • 1 1/2 Parts Sweet & Sour Mix
  • 1 Splash Cranberry Juice
  • Orange Slices for Garnish

Take a shaker filled with ice and add everything except the 151 Rum and orange slice. Shake and pour into a tall glass filled with ice. Now float the 151 on top and garnish with the orange. Enjoy!!! (It goes without saying to not even think about leaving the party after you've had one of these - turn in your keys and get a ride with a friend or call a cab!!!)

Vista residents, Nick (38 yrs. old) and Austin Wade (8 yrs. old) both placed in this past weekend's 40th Annual Lake Elsinore Grand Prix.

Nick, who was in the Vets 30+ Expert class, took 3rd in his class and 3rd overall in his race.

(Nick Wade in the red gear above on the Honda)

Austin Wade, who was in the Mini 65CC Novice class, took 1st place in his class and 4th overall in his race.

(Austin Wade, #21, in the red gear on the Kawasaki)

I was there to witness it first hand, as I am their wife and mother, respectively. I was / am very proud of "my boys", and it was great to see that we had so many friends and family turn out to help us keep track of it all and to just be supportive of the boys...and me...because I am always a nervous wreck!

Everyone made it out of the race safe and sound, well...actually, our friend Tommy LaHood rolled his #686 Rhino and banged up his leg a little bit, but he'll be fine thank goodness! So, since we made it out of such a potentially dangerous situation unscathed this weekend, imagine my surprise when I get a call from my son's school that he has gotten a head injury while swinging today and that I should come get him!!! I took him to the Dr. and they checked him out. He appears to be fine, we just have to watch him for a few days and keep him from athletic activity so his brain isn't jostled about anymore (yeah right - did I mention that he's an 8 yr. old boy?!?)! LOL Here's his new headshot:

(by the way, that oozy stuff isn't ointment - it's that watery discharge stuff that you get after a cut - yuck!!!)

Boys will be boys - and these Vista boys did great last weekend and can't wait to get out there and do it again! This was the first time that father and son have raced in the same event and it was a great way to spend the day as a family!!!

Note to Moms: Tell your kids not to lean back when pumping their legs to make themselves go higher on the swings...that's what my guy was doing...sit up straight when you swing...no leaning back...I repeat...no leaning back!

Most of you who read my blog know that I am a Real Estate Virtual Assistant and that I market / brand myself as "The 10 Hour VA" and that I believe in showing "The Value" that I can provide to you in just 10 hours per month. I do not want my clients counting hours or pennies when working with me, I want them to focus on what I can accomplish for them in 10 hours every month. I want to build that ongoing relationship, I want to show you the value and have a vested interest in your success as a real estate professional. To describe my goal better, here's a paragraph from the home page on my website:

My concept is that clients who partner with me for 10 hours per month, on retainer, have a clear outlined value that they can expect to receive. I'm not going to punch a time clock, I am not going to be micro-managed and report to my clients every minute of my time - because all that does is waste time, what I am going to do is work. Work to achieve value for my clients. Money comes hard, especially these days with the turn in the market...I have faith that it will turn around...but I want to work with you now, and show you how working with eRealty Network, LLC can improve your overall marketing efforts, administrative effectiveness, and basically take over the parts of running your business that you put off or don't excel at and help your business grow financially. Then maybe that money will come a little easier...

So, who is my ideal client? Well, my ideal client is a real estate professional who:

1. Communicates well via email.
   Constant phone calls are disruptive to my work schedule and usually just starts a game of phone tag - email allows you the freedom to get back to each other at your convenience and is usually a much more thorough method of communication. It also gives me a reference to refer back to so that I can make sure that my client's needs are being met.
   
   
2. Can afford me...
   I offer the highest value in return for my monthly retainer fee, but you should certainly not be looking at whether you should pay me this month, or your utility bills! You must have figured on my services and budgeted for the expense.
   
   
3. Is willing to listen to my ideas / strategies...
   I have been doing this for about 8 years now, I am a licensed agent myself, and I have worked with agents all over the country. I don't know everything - no where close - but I have a great general knowledge of how to handle things and improve upon things and how best to allocate my time for my client's biggest value return. I learn tons from my clients everyday, and who knows, maybe someday I will get back out there as an active agent, but right now I am just happy keeping up to date and knowing that I am helping others out there do what needs to be done to improve their business.
   
   
4. Has a goal.
   I love working with clients who tell me that by the end of XXX I want to accomplish XYZ. It's a challenge and I love working with clients to achieve their goals.
   
   
5. Has a sense of humor.
   Enough said.
   
   
6. Is Respectful.
   I am very appreciative of the time that my clients take to send me over their information, tasks, etc...as well as of all of their other time committments. All I ask is that my clients show me the same courtesy. Keeping me on retainer does not mean that I am your slave, chained to my computer. It means that I allocate so many hours per month to do my best for you, to provide the best and most value that I can for you. I do not punch a time clock and I am not an employee...WHAT I Am... is an eager partner in your success!
   

I was very fortunate to have one of my ideal clients find me here on Active Rain, well...actually I have had two, but I am only talking about one today. Erika Rogers contacted me on September 23rd and signed her retainer agreement the same day! Here's a nice testimonial that Erika has given me permission to use:

Several weeks ago I happened to read one of the blogs I saw posted about Virtual Assistants on Active Rain. It was Christine Wade's blog discussing her Value of 10 package. I decided to contact her and have since been using her services. I am extremely satisfied with Christine and glad that I found her. She is very easy to communicate with and always returns my emails promptly.

Erika Rogers
Visit My Blog
Visit My Website

Working with clients like Erika is why I started this business. I like to make a difference in my clients' business visibility and bottom line. The best thing about my value packages is that they are tailored to my clients...we can make them whatever YOU need. For some examples, you can visit the "A lot can be accomplished in 10 hours" page on my website.

Are you my ideal client? Do items 1-6 above sound like you? Do you need help with blogging, website maintenance, listing maintenance, proposals, CMAs, marketing, newsletters, advertising listings, etc...??? If this sounds like you, than you could be my ideal client and I want to meet you! Please visit my website today and click on the "Get Started with The 10 Hour VA" link on the right. You can read about some of my other clients, about my memberships and affiliations and contact me directly.

Thanks for taking the time to read this post about my ideal client...now, it's obvious that I know who my ideal client is - the question is, do you know who your ideal client is? LOL (I always like to turn the tables!)

Since I completely missed my posting date for Tipsy Tuesday #7, and yesterday should have been Tipsy Tuesday #8, I am completely overcompensating and giving you both at once…that way next Tuesday we can be on task and on schedule. I could have posted them in two separate posts, but I was late on a commitment and don’t think I deserve the added AR points! LOL I hope you enjoy the Tipsy Tuesday blog posts! Please subscribe to my blog so you won't miss any!

• Tip #7 – It Doesn’t Matter What Contact Management System You Use
  I am sure that many people disagree with my title statement, but I will hold my ground. It doesn’t matter what Real Estate Contact Management System you use, all that really matters is that you USE one!
  
  And in order to ensure that you actually use one, you need to initially choose one that feels comfortable to you and your tech savvy level. If it’s overly complicated, you will feel intimidated and shy away from it. If it feels too basic and doesn’t give you enough customization options, then you are going to feel frustrated and not use it. So, I repeat…it doesn’t matter which one you use…as long as you use it!
  
  That said, there is one feature that I think is more important than any other when setting up a contact management system, and that is the ability to include the contact in specific groups or categories…for instance: buying in 30 days, buying in 60 days, sphere of influence, selling within 30 days, selling within 60 days, past clients (principals), FSBO, etc… This allows you to quickly add whole groups to certain marketing campaigns and is a huge organizational technique as well as time saver. Set it up right to begin with or have your Real Estate Virtual Assistant spend a bit of time going back through your list of contacts and assigning them to the proper groups / categories now so that you can be ready for the holiday season ahead as well as your 2009 Marketing Plan (if you don’t already have a Real Estate VA, contact me via the form at the right, or visit the VACOC and fill out an RFP for a Real Estate VA to contact you with information about their services).
  
  Here is a list of possible Contact Management systems…very small list…there are tons out there!
  • Top Producer (whichever version you like)
  • Outlook
  • ACT
    
  • Sharper Agent
  • Excel Spreadsheet (old but still works)
  • Access Database (again…older but functional)
  • Anything offered under your broker website, or canned website solution
  • WebAsyst (http://www.webasyst.net – an extremely simple web based solution)
  
  

• Tipsy #7 – Pat’s Perfect Party Punch (great for Thanksgiving Dinner)
  This recipe is definitely derived from a non-alcoholic punch that my great grandmother used to make for all family occasions…and I never met a person who didn’t like or love it! My family has modernized it a bit to suit the adult crowd at a get together…you could have two batches…leave out the vodka in one and mark it “Kids”.
  
  
  • 1 - 64oz. bottle of 100% purple grape juice
  • 1 c. Just Cranberry 100% pure unsweetened cranberry juice
  • 1 – 2 liter bottle of Canada Dry Ginger Ale
  • 2 c. Vodka (I use Grey Goose or Kettle One – others give me a headache!)
  • Orange & lime slices floating in the punch bowl for effect and flavor.

The night before I serve this punch, I freeze a bowl full of water with some lemon and lime wedges in it, and the next day I take this giant ice cube out and put in in the bottom of the punch bowl before I begin mixing my punch. If you know your punch might be sitting around for awhile, you could mix the punch up the night before, or just a portion of it, and freeze that in a bowl so that your punch won’t get watered down as the ice melts.

• Tip #8 – The Tip and Gift of Time and Convenience!
  Now that you've gotten your contacts in order...get that holiday campaign under way! I am here to help and save you time! Even though I am completely under the belief that you should have your own Real Estate Virtual Assistant who can take care of this stuff for you, holiday time is starting to crunch now, and some of you just can't handle the burden of going out and finding just the right Real Estate VA at the moment.
  
  Therefore, if you send me your contact list in Excel Format, I will upload it into my contact manager through eRealtySendOutCards.com and send out real, high quality, glossy cards to your entire list...printed and mailed with a first class postage stamp. You need to allow 7-10 business days for the cards to arrive, plus 24 hours turn around time for my portion of the services. You can choose from thousands of cards (I will send you a guest username and password to give you temporary access to the card catalog once you email me that you are interested), or send me an image to put on the front for you. I can also create a completely customized card for you for a small additional charge. You won't need to lift a finger once you send me your list...no folding, stuffing, sealing or stamping...it will all be done for you...just in time for Thanksgiving or Christmas!
  
  The fees for the cards will be as follows: (There is a 25 card minimum)
  • 25-50 cards @ $2.50 each
  • 51-100 cards @ $2.25 each
    
  • 101-200 cards @ $2.00 each
    
  • 200+ cards (1000 limit) @ $1.75 each

If you're interested, send me an email and I will send you a very simple one page form to fill out, and also send you the guest user name and password so that you can browse through the product catalog. Sample cards available upon request.

• Tipsy #8 – I'm Not Big on Beer...but this one deserves honorable mention for the season!
  Jack's Pumpkin Spice Ale! Believe it or not, it is by Anheuser-Busch and I really like it. For those who enjoy a hefeweizen every now and then, this has similar properties. It's not very flavored either...just a hint. It's only out there for a limited time, so I really suggest you try it. I found mine at Albertson's, but I have looked at other stores and they haven't had it in stock, so you will have to look around...try to pick the biggest markets.