Try these ideas for something fresh and different…or maybe even start a new tradition!

But before we go on, there is one important thing that should be kept in mind;

If you are planning to throw parties for several different groups of people, plan those parties (two…or even three) on one weekend. Invite your office co-workers over after work on Friday evening, close and neighborhood friends on Saturday evening and church friends on Sunday afternoon.

By having this kind of planning, you will be able to do everything only once, such as cleaning the house, polishing your silverware, do your grocery shopping and preparing the food. You can use the same menu, same dishes, and same decorations and even wear the same clothes for all the parties.

It may seem like a lot of work, which actually IS, but once everything is in order, you will have more time to enjoy the parties yourself!

Here are some out-of-the-ordinary Christmas party idea that shall be talked days after by friends and guests, which they will be looking forward to your entertaining again next year!

Neighborhood Decorating Party

Plan for all houses in your neighborhood to be decorated with an attractive theme. For example, one block could have angels, one Santas and the other maybe candy canes. On the Saturday after Thanksgiving, plan a simple neighborhood party around the decorating, and ask everyone to contribute something to the feast. Spend the day “neighbor helping neighbor” getting the decorations put up.

Holiday Lights

While many love to look at beautiful Christmas lights, not all really like the job of putting them up. To make this idea works, gather friends in a simple party to help each other with the task. Serve a hearty pot of chili or soup with crusty rolls and warm cider. Then go from home to home to put up the decoration lights.

In and Out

Plan a group evening time to go to a holiday movie or new release. Have someone purchase the tickets for everybody that is going to be coming ahead of time. Ask each guest to bring one part of the dinner like casserole, salad or dessert and invite them to come 2-3 hours before the movie starts. Enjoy what everyone has brought and then be off to the show. The only thing you need to do is just a little bit of housekeeping because you know that guests would not be staying all evening.

Make it Simple

Plan a party around pizza, homemade, chili, hearty salad or “self-made” sandwiches. Focusing on food theme will avoid yourself from being tempted to add just one more thing.

Drop-In Fun

Tell your friends from work that you will be home all evening and invite them to drop in. Simple steaming soup, cheese and crackers, meatballs, cheese fondue or small sandwiches are some of cool menus you can offer for this Christmas party idea. After a long day of work, no one will want to stay long, but it will be a nice opportunity to visit and relax.

Give to Others

Plan a “charity-kind-of party”, which to benefit the needy. You can organize yourself and your guests to collect things as admission to your party like canned food items or toys, or make things like blankets or socks to give to the needy or a food bank. You can also organize for a craft project and share it with residents of a retirement home. Put together food baskets and distribute to a shelter for the homeless.

Shop ‘Til You Drop Party

Plan a “Girls’ Day out” for Christmas shopping. Find some interesting places to shop for crafts, antiques or specialty items. You can stop for a light meal at a favorite lunch room in the afternoon. When you are done with the shopping, take out all the wrapping papers, gift bags, ribbon and tags, and compare your purchases before wrapping them up. Shopping, lunch, wrapping and fun…all at the same time!

Christmas Tree Decorating

This Christmas party idea has worked great for years. Ask your guests to bring two ornaments to share. You, as the host or hostess should have an ornament to share with each guest. Make a reminder mark of the occasion on the back of the ornaments. Everyone puts one of their offerings on the tree and exchange the other with another guest. Everyone will go home with two new ornaments, one from you and one exchanged. It is a great way to add “memorable occasion” to your ornament collection.

To have a great and memorable party, be it a Christmas party or whatever kind of party, is all about avoiding the “usual” stuff that makes it so predictable and letting the guests feel the “party energy” right from the beginning. This will entice eagerness in your guests to attend your party and participate in the celebration, making your party an event that will be talked about many days after.

You can get a lot more great Christmas party idea here, or visit http://perfectpartyplanningguide.info where you can download a FREE copy of Perfect Party Planning Guide Mini-Course Compilation that can help you plan your perfect party…any kind of party with confidence.

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Ice was still delivered to homes until well after WWII ended. People used to put little signs in their front windows to indicate how much they needed. In the summer the boys on the block used to wait for the ice truck to pull up; and when the man was delivering his frosty product, we would hop in the back, grab a few slivers then high-tail it to the corner before the man returned from making the delivery, and then sit on the curb in front of the corner grocer’s to enjoy this free treat. When he chased us away, we moved to the other corner were the drug store was located. We used the same curbs to eat watermelon, if we were lucky enough to get a slice, and see how far we could spit the seeds. Around Halloween, even though the cement was cold, we plopped ourselves down to eat pomegranates because our mom’s didn’t want us getting the red stuff all over the house,

We watched the produce hucksters make their rounds and the fish peddlers too; even the fresh horseradish man came around periodically. The Italian water ice cart and the ice cream truck rolled by every warm afternoon. And the hand-powered merry-go-round stopped at the corner, and a little old organ grinder with his monkey came by every couple of weeks. Once in a while a man showed up with a pony. He stopped showing up after realizing no one wanted to pay a nickel to sit on the moth-eaten animal or shell out a quarter to have a picture taken with the steed.

This wasn’t the end of the procession. The big department stores were downtown. They delivered, since the mothers couldn’t carry much home on public transportation. Each store had its own trucks and delivered on different days of the week. Plus, there were the debit insurance representatives that collected weekly along with the morning and evening newspaper boys and the people selling everything from brushes to vacuum cleaners to encyclopedias all making their way from house to house. It was a captive market, since most moms stayed home; but I don’t know how well they responded to the sales pitches.

Money was tight until late in the 1940s when the economy opened up, new cars became available, television came on the scene, suburban branches of the downtown stores began to appear in newly constructed shopping centers. That’s when American’s started to spend. And we haven’t stopped; there were a few slow-downs along the way but we always came back and bought more. For years we jumped into our cars, fought the traffic in search of the places that carried the things we want to buy, loaded up the trunk or the cargo area, and took our treasures home. Now, we go online, order whatever we need, and have it delivered. It’s convenient and efficient; but for this pre-boomer, it’s a long way from the ongoing activities and interactions that once took place on one little street in Northeast Philadelphia when I was a kid.

Don Potter, a Philadelphia native, was born in 1936 and is a 50 year veteran of the advertising agency business. Now living in Los Angeles, he has written two novels in retirement, frequently writes on marketing issues, and has a blog dedicated to pre-boomers (those born between 1930 and 1945).

Read more articles for and about pre-boomers with thoughts, comments and opinions designed to spark thinking, foster discussion, and stimulate debate by logging on to http://www.pre-boomermusings.com

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The following year the fires were back bigger than ever before. This time half the city of 100,000 people were in danger with half of Malibu CA over the hill cut off. Many lost their homes and few lost their lives unable to get out of the canyons in time. The fire moved so fast there was little time to escape. This year the fire was believed to be arson related, although no one was ever caught. That year there were other fires all burning simultaneously around Northern and Southern CA and parts of Northern Nevada.

That is when The Car Wash Guys, our company decided that they would get involved. Although many of us live in very green areas, where fires have a tough time getting started, once they do get going they generate their own wind and heat and little stands in their way. The most important strategy is to catch them early. Of the nearly 20,000 brush fires annually in the Western States in the Forest Regions, few ever get out of control, but the ones that do we all remember. By uniting the entire community and working together we can decrease the number of fires intentionally started and a better response to those that are started by negligence or by Mother Nature such as lightening. We must work hard to preserve our area and make our community one of the best places in the World, a person could ever hope to live. We have a great community and we intend to guard against the loss from fire. We want our community to be the greatest in our state and our citizens, friends and families to know that we are all looking out for them and they are looking out for us. No longer will the temptation exist for an unethical situation to occur from an arsonist. Arsonists will know that our town is a no fly zone and that it is not only a police car, fire department vehicle or the USDA Forest Service truck that they need to be concerned with. They will be caught if they attempt anything by the first person who sees them. The Schwann’s delivery truck, the school bus driver, an electrician, a plumber, a real estate agent, anyone and everybody will be observing while driving around in their normal course of business. With this same group of people we too wish to interact with Mother Nature to keep the natural forest fires to a minimum. We intend to protect our families, homes and beautiful serene area from devastation that can be prevented or quickly contained.

You may wish to consider setting up a neighborhood arson watch in your area as part of community effort. If you are interested in learning more, we have written a free online 21-page E-book, which is available at:

http://www.lancewinslow.org/arsonwatch.pdf

Perhaps you might look through it and see if this is a potential solution for your community during this next fire season?

“Lance Winslow” – Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is an online writer in retirement.

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MEETING AGENDA

First Meeting Agenda (sample)

The 5 Mobile Watch Commandments:

1. Participants have no police powers.

2. Participants will carry no weapons while on patrol.

3. Participants will always obey laws.

4. Participants will OBSERVE and REPORT.

This is a non-confrontational program.

Hand out Pocket Procedure Manuals that outlines:

1. Do’s and Don’ts

2. When to call 911 vs. when to call non-emergency dispatch

3. What constitutes suspicious circumstances

4. Phone numbers

Explain to participants:

1. How to quickly notice vehicle descriptions, license plates,
and suspect descriptions.

2. Show a video from dispatch that discusses the procedure for calling dispatch.

3. Show videos on gangs, and meth labs.

4. Discuss how to protect a crime scene.

To download my free E-Book and complete Neighborhood Mobile Watch Plan use the web address below:

http://www.lancewinslow.org/nmwp_agenda.shtml

“Lance Winslow” – Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is an online writer in retirement.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow

We believe that it is important that all members of our communities feel safe and secure. The Neighborhood Mobile Watch Patrol program, created by Lance Winslow, is a low-cost program that anyone can initiate in their own communities. By involving the local Police Department, Chamber of Commerce, and volunteers who are in occupations which require them to travel around many neighborhoods, a neighborhood watch program can be created which will deter criminal activities.

Now more than ever it is important for all Americans to be observant and watch out for each other. You may event want to add special information on arson watch to your neighborhood watch program, as this is going to be a high risk fire season.

The details of this program are outlined in the book “How To Start a Successful Neighborhood Mobile Watch Patrol”, written by Lance Winslow. This book is available online, by clicking on the links below. You can even download the complete 5-part eBook on PDF format.

http://www.lancewinslow.org/nmwp.shtml

“Lance Winslow” – Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is an online writer in retirement.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow

Isolation Results in Unpalatable Choices

Maturing is a daunting prospect for anyone, irrespective what their financial or social circumstance. Many retirees find themselves almost forced to enter into moving from beloved homes that they have spent decades in, particularly when they’re single or don’t have family living close by. The reason most seniors give for moving out is that they’ll be unable to perform the daily errands required to maintain their household.

Growing old implies a loss of independence, and this engenders a resistance to asking for help. No one wants to burden younger relatives and friends with responsibility for their daily existence. An attractive alternative might be to hire someone to perform all these necessary errands for you. Somebody that can take you to the physician or hospital, who buys your groceries, performs simple household repairs, and assists you in bank transactions.

Unfortunately not everyone can pay for to lease a personal assistant. But think about one other option, one that several communities across the United States have adopted. What if you could create an infrastructure that pools the resources of a group of retirees and hire an assistant to provide for all their needs?

Facing the Challenges Together

Communities like Beacon Hill Village in Boston have indicated the way. By pooling the powers of a group of resourceful individuals, they have created a model for transforming a neighborhood into a good place to grow old in. The creation of such a surrounding is not a haphazard affair, and ought to be sustainable to make certain continuing support for member as long as they require it.

The initial step is to create a core group or plank of directors. Someone has to be responsible for running the establishment and overseeing daily pursuits. Creating this foundation is not really as challenging as it seems, but it is essential to get the correct info about the way to start. The first steps ought to be getting facts on how this was done in the other rooms, and asking about local governmental regulations which will or hinder your efforts.

The financial aspect of the establishment has to be solid if it is to last. The most basic funding will naturally come from membership fees. If you are starting from a tiny group, then you’ll have to identify service providers in the region that you can life-partner with. Marketing will be essential in order to attract more members and boost more commercial partners. Locating additional funding, from both private and government entities might be an alternative.

Keeping the Family Together

Of key importance to this procedure is the network of human relationships that it establishes on. A weight for one can be lighter if shared among many. Volunteer aid from younger family or neighbors ought to be encouraged, but foundation should never be entirely contingent upon them. Retirement communities home grown from neighborhoods are no longer an impossible dream, with the specific planning and management, you can stay in the area you love without sacrificing your dignity or security.

Collin has been writing articles online for nearly 5 years now. Not only does this author specialize in weight loss, fitness and diet, you can also check out his latest website on Outdoor Cat Enclosure and Bark Collars for Dogs.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Collin_Nixon

PARTICIPANTS

A wide variety of participants is needed to launch a successful Neighborhood Watch program. In this section necessary participants are listed, along with a description of the kind of support needed from each. As many of you know, implementing a community-based project requires the interest, cooperation, and support from many people. But the end result is definitely worthwhile!

Increasing the safety of a neighborhood benefits everyone from children and parents, to local businesses. Not only does reducing crime in an area increase everyone’s quality of life, but it can also help increase property values.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE:

The local Chamber of Commerce is the ideal organization to coordinate the program. They should be asked to help build interest in the program by announcing the program to its members at meetings, and running press releases in newsletters or membership mailings. (Be sure to check the press release section for samples). The Chamber of Commerce should also be requested to act as liaison between their members and the local Police Department. They will need to schedule with the Community Relations Officer of the Police Department a time to come and talk to their members, (more than one meeting may be necessary). Once the program is started, Chambers collect and keep track of participants and schedule training sessions, and issues certificates of completion to participants (a nice touch!). In addition to training, signage and print material are needed. The Chamber can contract one of their members to make the magnetic signs and order the cling stickers with the imprinted logos, and print flyers. Other tasks that Chambers can perform to increase the success of the program is to create a list of target participants, send flyers to these targeted businesses and individuals, and alert media sources.

POLICE DEPARTMENT:

The Police department will provide a Community Relations person to explain to participants the need to report crimes and what is actually a crime. They will explain that if someone cuts you off on the Highway it is an unfortunate situation but not a crime and to limit phone calls to important things. Most importantly, they will explain that the participants are the eyes and ears of the Police, not vigilantes. The Police will also ask participants to have the police departments phone number programmed into their cellular phones and to only use the 911 feature only for accidents involving injuries and very serious situations. The Police department will also give certificates to participants once they have completed the seminar, which will be signed by police chief or local Community Relations Officer.

CITY HALL:

City Council members will very likely endorse the project at a city council meeting and give a proclamation to the President of the Chamber of Commerce for the Chambers and local businesses service to community. Most cities can allot at least $2,500.00 towards the project for the signage. Donations for the remainder can often be obtained from large companies in the area. By announcing it at a city council meeting the program will receive the publicity it needs to get quality participants.

MEDIA SUPPORT:

Local Radio stations are very supportive of the community. Request that they play public service announcements. Also, you will find that local newspapers will place flyers in the papers to announce the project, local cable stations will film participants driving down the street and interview seminar participants.

ORGANIZING CHAIRPERSON:

This will be the person who keeps all the different groups happy and coordinates the program. It is best to have a prominent volunteer type individual for this, someone who is already known for their community involvement; maybe even sits on a few non-profit boards and municipal committees. Someone everyone likes. The Chairperson will be in charge of making great quotes in the media, organizing participants and volunteers and scheduling meetings. Follow ups, thank you letters and personal invitations. Also keeping track of all the events and making agendas and cooperating with neighboring cities who follow this plan later. Other responsibilities include interfacing with non-profit groups to make sure they can participate, and contacting Board of Realtors, Rotary, Kiwanis, Optimist, Lions, Elks, clubs etc. In short, an ombudsman to council people, Mayor and city manager.

To download my complete Free E-Book on ‘How to Start a Successful Neighborhood Mobile Watch;’ use the web address below and continued success on securing your community.

http://www.lancewinslow.org/nmwp.shtml

“Lance Winslow” – Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is an online writer in retirement.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow

To help our local police department by becoming the eyes and ears of the community. To establish a power of presence and thus increasing the visibility of our enforcement services. To establish a zone for criminals where the risk of being caught is too high for them to practice their profession. To unite the business community and Chamber of Commerce with the citizens and the local government. To be proactive in law enforcement. To empower people to remain in control of their communities. To lower crime rates and to keep property value high.

People who have jobs which require extensive travel through local communities (like delivery services, real estate agents, and utility companies) are often in positions which they may see crimes in action or suspicious behavior. Sometimes, just by being in a particular area at just the right time, they may even unknowingly act as a deterrent for criminal activity. The Neighborhood Mobile Watch program seeks to enhance a community’s crime prevention strategy by providing concerned citizens, whose professions require extensive driving, with proper training and signage materials to even further deter criminal activity.

Learning how to recognize suspicious behavior and knowing which local authorities to contact is one of the key components of the training. Just knowing the correct phone number, rather than dialing 911, can greatly reduce the amount of time it takes for the proper authorities to respond, and keeps 911 lines open for other emergencies. Another key component of the program is providing magnetic signs on business and service vehicles, and using static cling stickers on other vehicles which read: “We report suspicious behavior to our local police department.” This lets potential criminals know right away that they should not risk any illegal activity; a trained and aware crime watcher is in the area.

Each participant in the program attends a 30-minute seminar at the local Chamber of Commerce with a Community Relations Officer from the Police Department. They will receive a certificate and then be issued two magnetic signs or a set of static cling stickers for their car(s). We will ask participation from Chamber Members to start and as things prove to be effective we will increase participation and education of the process. We will alert the media to this program and give credit to the participants for helping our city or town. The participants will need some sort of two-way communication, such as a cellular phone, two-way radio with a dispatcher or wireless Internet access.

To download or view online our Free E-Book “How to Set Up a Successful Neighborhood Mobile Watch Program go to this web address below:

http://www.lancewinslow.org/nmwp.shtml

“Lance Winslow” – Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is an online writer in retirement.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow

During the last several years retirement neighborhoods have noticed a real change in the direction of amusement and grand design. Previously, retirement neighborhoods might have been just a location to live in, but now the most up-to-date retirement neighborhoods are adding in all sorts of services and facilities to catch the attention of possible residents. Retirement neighborhood options have flourished rapidly, with homes available for almost anyone’s pocketbook. From simple condos to multi-million dollar homes, possible residents have a wide range of choices for homes. Lifestyle choices are widely varied, too, in the different retirement neighborhoods.

An assisted living community offers seniors with medical problems the ability to live with some aid, and still be able to make it on their own. Medical aid is there when needed, but the seniors are not made to feel like they are in jail-or a hospital. All the luxuries of home are there, with large, airy rooms. Typically there is also a living area of some sort, and a kitchen/cooking area with an eating area combined, too. For those seniors who do have serious medical issues, but want to stay self-sufficient, an assisted living community is the perfect option. Staff is onsite twenty-four hours, seven days a week-for assistance to whomever may need it. For residents who are not in need of staff, the staff will leave them alone, unless called upon.

Residents will sometimes reside in groups of two or more, together in shared apartment settings in some retirement neighborhoods. Not only do the residents manage to get the intermittent aid that they may need, but living in a share setting such as this is also a great way to socialize, too. Residents are cross-examined meticulously and paired up before being put into a residence. Seniors will find that this deal is perfect for those who wish to stay self-sufficient, but would still like to have some occasional aid or visitors.

Retirement neighborhoods also offer single family units, although their cost is more costly. Some retirement neighborhoods advertise themselves as resorts, so seniors can splurge as much as their pocketbook will allow-with some properties valued in the millions. Average high end retirement neighborhoods will have tennis courts, swimming pools, full physical fitness workout areas, championship golfing and much more.

Choosing the right retirement neighborhood is a matter of financial practicality and taste, as well as where it is located within the United States. Due to not having an income tax, and its climate, Florida is a very popular choice. In terms of affordability of taxes, Kentucky and Delaware are tops. Florida only ranks somewhere in the middles of the pack when looking at the taxes seniors are charged on an annual basis.

About the Author

Nick M Grant