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Month: November 2017

Vanessa Puleo of Led2Serve taking steps to rebuild Houston

Vanessa Puleo of Led2Serve taking steps to rebuild Houston

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In the days and weeks following Hurricane Harvey, St. John the Divine mobilized over 600 parishioners to serve the community and assist residents in cleanup and relief efforts. SJD has developed ongoing partnerships with other local organizations as we continue the work of disaster recovery, including World Vision, Faith Memorial Baptist Church in Houston’s Fifth Ward, and long-time partner Agape Development in the Third Ward.

St. John’s also recognizes the call felt by mission teams to serve in Houston. We are dedicating a portion of our facilities for dormitory use to house incoming teams from around the country who will be coming here to aid residents in their efforts to clean up and rebuild. SJD is partnering in this effort with Led2Serve, a non-profit organization which specializes in equipping, inspiring, and mobilizing mission teams. Led2Serve will offer customized Service Journeys to student and adult teams who will undertake meaningful community projects in Houston, using St. John the Divine as their ‘home base’. read more

Communication is Key with the Client for a Contractor

Communication is Key with the Client for a Contractor

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To be a contractor, you need good communication skills. You don’t necessarily have to be a “people person,” per se, but you do have to know how to effectively communicate with clients, or else projects can end up being disasters. Communication is key as a contractor. Not only do you need to talk with the clients, but you must communicate with your fellow contractors, vendors, managers, supervisors, etc., to be able to get a job done.

It’s essential to develop a relationship with your client. In order to have a positive relationship with the client, a contractor must be clear, honest and in consistent communication with that client. By developing quality, positive relationships with these clients, they may call you back for additional work, or refer you to other clients for more business; they can even review you positively on the internet or an advertisement, which would increase your visibility and trustworthiness leading to more jobs.

So, how does one create this “ideal” relationship with a client? Like stated before, communication Is key, and it has to be hey from start to finish of the project. Get to truly know your clients wants, needs, and expectations. Continue to contact or meet with the client during the process to update them on the work to keep them in the know while letting them have a say in the decision-making process. When talking to the client, keep it clear and simple. Don’t use contractor lingo that is unknown and confusing to the client. You want them to feel comfortable not confused. read more

Can The Sun Hurt My Trees?

Can The Sun Hurt My Trees?

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Too much of anything can be a bad thing. Just like humans, too much sun can be bad for trees, as well. Sounds silly, right? We all know trees need sunlight to grow and thrive, but too much sunlight can actually harm a tree.

A tree can get a “sunburn” just like you; there’s potential for the sun to cause permanent damage or even death in a tree. When a tree receives too much sunlight, it can develop sunscald. Sunscald damages the outer layer of the tree. A tree can develop spots and lesions, which can allow for other diseases to enter the tree. The bark, leaves, and fruit can be affected by too much sun. If a tree is really damaged by sunscald, the bark is affected to the point that the inner tissues of the tree are exposed. At this stage, it may not be possible for the tree to heal and survive.

Young trees and trees with thinner bark are more prone to getting sunscald. Sunscald makes it easier for fungi, bacteria, and insects to infest a tree. If a tree can no longer protect itself from such outside forces, the tree will decline, get sick, and even possibly die. There is no way to reverse sunscald, so your best bet is to prevent it from happening. read more

Free spaghetti and meatballs at Carrabba's through Thursday

Free spaghetti and meatballs at Carrabba's through Thursday

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Get a free spaghetti and meatballs to take home at Carrabba’s Italian Grill through Nov. 9.  

The chain is offering the freebie when you order a Chicken Bryan, Chicken Marsala or Pollo Rosa Maria entree.

No coupon is necessary. Just mention the offer to your server.

The chain offer specials each…

The benefits of joining a trade organization

The benefits of joining a trade organization

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You’ve invested a lot in your career. So why not keep that investment growing?

 

Joining a trade organization has many benefits, and could help you expand your circle of professional contacts, gain recognition for your work, and generate new business opportunities. While many charge annual dues, it’s money well spent.

 

Trade groups provide access to news in the building and construction industries – whether it’s through monthly magazines or newsletters, emails, or online blogs and forums. Staying informed could give you a leg up on the competition, especially when it comes to up-and-coming trends.

 

Trade organizations often provide opportunities for education, training and professional development, and organize regular networking events such as conferences and seminars. Some provide access to legal experts, while others offer discounts and special rates to members.

 

Here are five trade organizations related to the building and contracting trades (some may have regional or local chapters in Florida and Georgia): read more