The PARO Link  
Vol. # 03 - Issue
# 02 - Friday, January 13th, 2006

In this Issue:

Bits & Pieces for Busy Businesses
Power Tools - The Accelerator
PARO Circle News
PARO Presents -
Biz & Bagels
Community Biz & Events
PARO Programs
Health Minute
PARO Events Calendar 

Ice Dance

Photo Credit: Elieen Pelletier 

We are looking for pictures for the PARO Link  Send to info@paro.ca

 

Biz and Bagel  

Join us for Biz and Bagel Wednesday January 18th, 2006 featuring 

~ Margaret Demillo of The Entrepreneurship Centre ~ 

Customer Relationship Management

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If you have a Biz and Bagel topic you would like to be presented, like to be a guest speaker or know of someone who may be interested, please contact Lori @ loriw@paro.ca or 625-0328
This program is funded by the Government of Canada

The Accelerator

 
RESILIENT!
 
Lexigrams are words hidden within words.  Even daughter words have a mystical connection with the parent word.  One of the key words for the Accelerator is RESILIENT.

Interesting words hidden within this word are LISTEN which in turn has SILENT, NEST and ENLIST; Rest and Tries, Rise, Lies, and if one is not very particular about the spelling and only looks at it phonetically, you have ESsENCE. WONDER which has ONE, WON, NOW, OWN, Drown.
Moving beyond resilience,  opposites are hidden in words, capturing the paradox of duality.

Trivial has Vital, Oblivious has Obvious, Talent has Latent, Space has Pace, Sacred has Scared, Creation has Reaction, Live has Evil and Veil, Trust has Rust.
 
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The Accelerator can help you to become a powerful "word" communicator, but even more importantly, we can dig deeper through coaching to find what is most meaningful for you!  The words of your business plan, your marketing, your newsletter connect you to your customers.  So if you'd like to be more resilient, less vulnerable, give us a call at 625 0328!

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PARO's Accelerator project has been supported with a grant from the Canadian Women's Foundation Economic Development Collaborative Fund, a partnership of the Canadian Women's Foundation, CIBC, The George Cedric Metcalf Charitable Foundation, The Ontario Trillium Foundation and an Anonymous donor.

This project is supported by Industry Canada / Fednor  

Business Development Programs

Are you a Woman with a Disability?

Dissatisfied With Your Work?

Want to Become Self-Employed?
Are you a woman contemplating going into business but do not know where to start? 
For more info, please call Lori 625.0328 or 1.800.584.0252 or 
Diana in Atikokan 597.6389 
Start Your Business Today!!!  Let us help you!
Join the Making A Difference: A Business Development Program
Funded by: 
The support of Government of Ontario through the Ontario Women's Directorate, the Ministry of
Citizenship and Immigration is acknowledged

PARO Self-Employment Benefit Program
PARO's GATEWAY: A Path to Self-Employment
On EI now or in the last 3 years, or had Maternity benefits in the last 5 years?
Register Today!! 
 Click here for more information
This program is funded by the Government of Canada
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Do you have a computer?  Can you surf the internet easily?  Why not try our new Pilot project...PARO On-line.
 

Bits and Pieces from the desk of the Executive Di rector

 

As promised last week, here are some strategies to keep your customers. They were adapted from suggestions from the Voice of Small Business website. These ideas will allow you to benefit from the flexibility of being a small business. Remember all change takes a willing and positive attitude for constant improvement. Positive change takes awareness, practice, patience, and adaptation to make it work for you. 

Keeping Your Customers Satisfied

Don't force customers to wade through voicemail.
Whenever possible, try to answer your telephone. If you do not have staff, consider hiring an answering service, or getting a cell phone. Customers appreciate talking to someone rather than leaving a message or navigating an endless stream of voicemail options.

Provide free snacks.
If customers come to your office have a pot of coffee set up. In the summer, offer lemonade or water. If your outlet sells food, free samples of products are always appreciated. Otherwise, setting out a plate of cookies or candy is a thoughtful touch that customers will notice, whether they take one or not.

Always return telephone calls promptly.
Few things make customers angrier than to have to wait to do business with you. Make it the rule at your company that phone calls will be returned by the end of the day.

Handle all complaints promptly.
If a customer has a complaint, solve the problem quickly. If you can't solve the issue immediately, make sure to keep calling the customer to relay the status of the situation. Customers appreciate being kept in the loop.

Admit your mistakes.
Don't blame your company's problems on a "computer glitch" or worse, act like you haven't made a mistake at all. Just apologize and assure the customer that the error will be promptly corrected. In some cases, you may want to give the customer a free product or service as a peace offering. Make sure that you plus any employees or contractors know that your customers are your No. 1 priority. Developing a comprehensive customer service policy can help ensure that your customers will feel satisfied doing business with you again and again.

If you have questions or requests for information on topics of interest, e-mail rlockyer@paro.ca

We are here for you,

Roz

Rosalind Lockyer ,

Executive Di rector,

PARO Centre for Women’s Enterprise .  

New  advertising for PARO Link


By popular demand, PARO is pleased to offer businesses an opportunity to advertise (within size limits) in the PARO Link.

Fees are set at $20 per ad for PARO Circle members, $25 per ad for PARO Networking Members, and $50 per ad for non-members.  Non-members are encouraged to purchase an annual $25 Networking Membership to realize savings. 

PARO reserves the right to limit content and size for all PARO Link submissions.

 

PARO Presents

 

Check Out Our Yard Sale!!

New Items Arriving Weekly 

Browse at PARO Presents anytime between 10am and 5pm Tuesday to Saturday

Other Services

Supreme Cleaners Dry Cleaning and Alterations Depot

 PARO Presents 111 N. May St. 623-2200  

Issues, and More Issues: Confused?

 
Interested in  reading  a quick comparison of what each party is offering you?  The Ontario Chamber of Commerce provides a chart!  Want a four lane Trans Canada Highway?  What about Security at Border Crossings? Check out the answers!  Get involved and informed.
 
Go to: www.occ.on.ca or
 
Please Vote, and take our youth with you!  Advance Polls are open this weekend.
 

Community Events

 

Alzheimer Society ~ Thunder Bay

presents a

"FREE PUBLIC FORUM"

 

Fading Memories:  Diagnosing & Treating Alzheimer Disease

 

Please join us for this exceptional presentation. Sandra E. Black, MD, FRCP(C) is a Professor in the Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto , and Head of the Division of Neurology at Sunnybrook & Women's College Health Sciences Centre.  She is a Senior Neuroscientist at Sunnybrook & Women’s Research Institute and the Rotman Research Institute at the Baycrest Centre. She will discuss recent research findings that show the more vascular risk-factors someone has, the greater the risk of developing Alzheimer Disease. 

 

When: January 26th  ~ 7PM

Where: Confederation College ~ Lecture Theatre

Everyone Welcome ~ Free parking is available

Information: 345-9556

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Health Minute

Expect the Best...

It's official -- giving is better than receiving.

Acts of kindness such as serving meals at a homeless shelter, running to the pharmacy for a sick friend, or lending emotional support to a significant other may help people live longer, a recent study concluded. Do something kind and compassionate for someone else each day and you'll reap health benefits as well.

RealAge Benefit: Taking care of your emotional health and well-being can make your RealAge up to 16 years younger.

Source:  www.realage.com 

PARO Events Calendar

The PARO events calendar will list all dates, times and places of events that will be held during the next few months.  Unless otherwise specified, events will be held @ PARO Place.  Please contact the office at 625-0328 for any information.  All Biz and Bagels will take place from 12:15pm until 1:15pm.   

January

18th - Biz and Bagel - Margaret Demillo - Customer Relationship Management

25th - Biz and Bagel - 12:15pm-1:15pm - Maggie Milne ~ Sustainable Livelihoods ~ The 5 Assets

February

1st - Biz and Bagel - Jackie Garwood - It's a Whole New Ball Game

8th - Biz and Bagel - Erika Maki - How Handwriting Analysis can help your Business. Know more about yourself and your clients 

15th - Biz and Bagel - Anne Turcotte - Title TBA

22nd - Biz and Bagel - Deb Mueller - ON Time and IN Sync

March

1st - Biz and Bagel - Marilyn Dorota - Title TBA

Weekly Inspiration

 

"To give real service you must add something which cannot be bought or measured with money, and that is sincerity and integrity."

Douglas Adams

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POSITIVE QUOTE :  "Life in this world goes according to somebody's will --someone performs special actions upon all life in this world, and touches all our lives. That which performs these actions is what we call God."

 DAILY MOTIVATION : A Dad's Poem

Her hair was up in a pony tail,  her favorite dress tied with a bow.  Today was Daddy's Day at school, and she could not wait to go.  But her mommy tried to tell her, that she probably should stay home.  Why the kids might not understand, if she went to school alone.  But her mommy tried to tell her, that she probably should stay home.

Why the kids might not understand,  if she went to school alone.  But she was not afraid; she knew just what to say.  What to tell her classmates of why he was not there today.  But still her mother worried, for her to face this day alone.  And that was why once again, she tried to keep her daughter home.  And that was why once again, for her to face this day alone. But the little girl went to school eager to tell them all.  About a dad she never sees a dad who never calls.  

There were daddies along the wall in back, for everyone to meet.  Children squirming impatiently, anxious in their seats.  One by one the teacher called a student from the class.  To introduce their daddy, as seconds slowly passed. Children squirming impatiently, anxious in their seats. One by one the teacher called a student from the class.  To introduce their daddy as seconds slowly passed.  At last the teacher called her name, every child turned to stare.

Each of them was searching, a man who was not there.   "Where is her daddy at?" she heard a boy call out.  "She probably does not have one," another student dared to shout.  And from somewhere near the back, she heard a daddy say, "Looks like another deadbeat dad, too busy to waste his day."

The words did not offend her, as she smiled up at her Mom.  And looked back at her teacher, who told her to go on. And with hands behind her back, slowly she began to speak.  And out from the mouth of a child came words incredibly unique.

"My Daddy could not be here, because he lives so far away.  But I know he wishes he could be, since this is such a special day.  And though you cannot meet him,  I wanted you to know.  All about my daddy, and how much he loves me so.  He loved to tell me stories he taught me to ride my bike.  He surprised me with pink roses, and taught me to fly a kite.  We used to share fudge sundaes, and ice cream in a cone.  And though you cannot see him. I am not standing here alone.

"Cause my daddy's always with me, even though we are apart I know because he told me,  he will forever be in my heart" With that, her little hand reached up, and lay across her chest.  Feeling her own heartbeat, beneath her favorite dress. 

And from somewhere here in the crowd of dads, her mother stood in tears.  Proudly watching her daughter,  who was wise beyond her years.  For she stood up for the love of a man not in her life.  Doing what was best for her, doing what was right.  And when she dropped her hand back down,  staring straight into the crowd.  She finished with a voice so soft, but its message clear and loud.

"I love my daddy very much, he is my shining star.  And if he could, he would be here, but heaven's just too far.  You see he was a policeman and died during that year.  When airplanes hit the towers and taught Americans to fear.  But sometimes when I close my eyes, it is like he never went away."

And then she closed her eyes, and saw him there that day.  And to her mothers amazement, she witnessed with surprise.  A room full of daddies and children, all starting to close their eyes.

Who knows what they saw before them, who knows what they felt inside.  Perhaps for merely a second, they saw him at her side.  

"I know you are with me Daddy," to the silence she called out.  And what happened next made believers, of those once filled with doubt.   Not one in that room could explain it, for each of their eyes had been closed.  But there on the desk beside her, was a fragrant long-stemmed pink rose.

And a child was blessed, if only for a moment,  by the love of her shining star.  And given the gift of believing,  that heaven is never too far. 

They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an entire life to forget them.

Send this to the people you will never forget and remember to send it also to the person that sent it to you. It is a short message to let them know that you will never forget them.  If you do not send it to anyone, it means you are in a hurry and that you have forgotten your friends.

Take the time...to live and to love.


Until eternity. God bless

source:  Irby Stewart

Have an awesome weekend and Happy Ukrainian New Year from me to you!!

 LORI    

PS....if you have pictures of you at your business or with you family, your pet or a special picture and want to feature it on the PARO Link....send it to info@paro.ca

PARO Centre For Women's Enterprise - 110-105 May Street North, Thunder Bay, ON P7C 3N9 
Tel: 807.625.0328  Fax: 807.625.0317 Website:  http://www.paro.ca  Email:  info@paro.ca

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By popular demand, PARO is pleased to offer businesses an opportunity to advertise (within size limits) in the PARO Link.

Fees are set at $20 per ad for PARO Circle members, $25 per ad for PARO Networking Members, and $50 per ad for non-members. Non-members are encouraged to purchase an annual $25 Networking Membership to realize savings. 

PARO reserves the right to limit content and size for all PARO Link submissions.

We ask you to keep your special events and/or community announcements to a maximum of 100 words.  We cannot guarantee any graphics.  Learning type column submissions must be limited to a maximum of 200 words.