EMPOWERED MINDS

Dear BBPN Members,

So what is the appropriate gift? For the office mate, the boss, the client, the administrative assistant? Do I get my staff individual unique gifts or everyone the same? Should it be something personal or an inanimate object? Decisions. Decisions.

How do you go about deciding whether to offer gifts in the business environment, to whom and what? This is often a quandary that business owners and professionals face each holiday season. There are lots of opinions out there to chose from and for what it's worth I thought I'd through my hat in the ring on this one.

Here's DeWanda's top five (in no sequential order) suggestions to business and office gift giving.

1. The decision to give should be unilateral, if giving to one person (publicly) in the office everyone should get something. If only giving to a few, gifts should be sent or given away from the office. Snail-mail is the preferred vehicle and make sure the object given will not offend family and significant others.
2. Be consistent- start at a level that you can replicate year after year. Big screen TV's this year and Post-it Note holders next year might not go over. While bonuses are great stocking stuffers, make sure to implement a bonus program that is fair to both employees and the company calculate feast and famine into the equation.
3. Take diversity into consideration: develop cultural competence around holiday traditions for different people and their beliefs be considerate and open. If you don't know then ask- before buying and offering the gift.
4. Office gift exchanges are a great way to get people together and interacting. Keep requirements at a minimum and be specific. If you decide to go the humorous route take caution!
5. If not giving gifts- show your appreciate in some small and heartfelt way. A simple phone call, politically correct e-mail, card or note to those you wish to give to can often go a long way towards showing others you care.
   

Remember what Mama always said - "It's the thought that counts."

DeWanda Smith- Soeder
Founder/President, Black Business Professional Network

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Thursday, December 6, 2007 6PM - 8PM Sarasota Branch of the NAACP Year-End Meeting

The Sarasota County Branch, NAACP, announces its Annual Meeting all citizens are welcome. The meeting will be held from at the North Sarasota county Library, 2801 Newtown Blvd., Sarasota, FL. 34234. For more information you may contact Trevor D. Harvey, President, or Cynthia Howard, Office Manager at 941.355.2097. Light refreshments served.      

Friday, December 7 - Sun December 16th Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe's"BLACK NATIVITY"

Time to get your tickets for the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe's holiday classic "Black Nativity". The performances will be held at the historic AsoloTheatre Visitors Center of the Ringling Museum, 5401 Bay Shore Road Sarasota, FL 34243. BOX OFFICE: (941) 360-7399

The production will be directed by WBTT's Artistic Director NATE JACOBS with Choreography by Leymis J. Bolaños Wilmott. Featured in the cast will be TSADOK PORTER as The Angel.

Black Nativity Schedule
FRI & SAT 12/7, 12/8 at 8:00 PM.
SAT 12/8 at 2:00 PM
TH, FRI & SAT 12/13, 12/14, 12/15 at 8:00 PM.
SAT & SUN 12/15, 12/16 at 2:00 PM.

TICKETS are $24.00. Student & Group Rates available. For more information call 941.358.228

Decembe 7 thru January 26, 2007 7PM Florida Studio Theatre Examines Relationships Between Slaves and Masters in Mid-1800

Starting at the Civil War this play delves into the intricate layers of America's experience with slavery from both sides of the issue. Master and slave, Civil War issues, race relations, etc. A performance both challenging to mind and emotions. (More)

Tuesday, December 11, 2007 6PM - 8PM Conexion Latina December Networking and Christmas Party

Join the Gulf Coast Latin Chamber of Commerce at their last networking event of the year. You are invited to come and share in networking, fun and a fabulous Christmas Party. To be held at Century 21 Alliance, 6207 Cortez Rd, West, Bradenton, Fl. 34210. Non-Members- $10. For more information contact: Tony and Ruth Tiberini, 941.795.7400.

Saturday, December 15, 2007 9AM - 1PM NAACP Voter Registration Drive

A voter registration drive is planned for December 15, 2007. Please forward this information to family, friends and acquaintances - we need your support. The drive will be held at the Goodwill Newtown Office, 1781 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Way, Sarasota, Fl. 34234.

Tuesday, December 18, 2007 5:30PM - 6:30PM Newtown Community Health Action Team (CHAT)

Community Health Improvement Partnership (CHIP) has partnered with the Newtown Front Porch to develop a Community Health Action Team (CHAT) in the Newtown area of Sarasota. This CHAT gives residents the chance to share their voice and improve health and health care in Newtown.  All are invited and welcome to take part in the CHAT. Chat meets every fourth Tuesday of the month. Meetings are held at Goodwill Newtown Office, 1781 MLK Way, Sarasota, 34234. If you are interested in getting involved or simply learning more, Contact: Diane Ramseyer 941.650.4856. http://www.chip4health.org

Jackie Woods, Realtor, GRI, AHWD,
Office Phone: 941.954.5454
Direct Phone: 941.356-4093
E-mail address: jccc2270@hotmail.com
Website:www.4salebywoods@ReMax.com

Tuesday, December 18, 2007 4:30PM - 6:30PM Art Center Sarasota invites community member to the Slice of Art Student Exhibition

The purpose of the Exhibition is for members of the community to come view student artwork and lean more about his exciting outreach program for youth in Sarasota public schools, after-school programs (i.e., Girls Inc.) and the YMCA youth programs including the YMCA Youth Shelter and Transitional Living program. The Slice of Art provides fun, education art experiences for Sarasota County youth of all ages.  The educational tours are designed to capture each students' imagination and provide a focus for lively conversation about art and issues relevant to students' day-to-day lives.

Come see one of the many valuable programs the Art Center Sarasota offers to our youth. For more information and to RSVP contact: contact Phyllis C. Brown, Art Center Sarasota, Community Outreach Coordinator at 365.2032 (PDF)

Now through - January 7, 2008 The Quilts of Gee's Bend at Museum of Art- Ft. Lauderdale, FL 

Isolated for decades by geography, outside indifference and extreme poverty but in lives rich with family, faith and community, four generations of African American women from Gee's Bend, Alabama quietly created one of the most astonishingly beautiful and original bodies of work in the American quilting tradition.

With bold geometric shapes, gorgeous combinations of color, and a sophisticated sense of composition, the quilts of Gee's Bend have been hailed by The New York Times as "some of the most miraculous works of modern art America has produced."

This exhibition celebrates a remarkable artistic legacy born of necessity and make-do conditions and artistically equivalent to the most innovative works of 20th Century modern art. This is a must see! (More)

Visit Florida and Local Tourism Organizations Court Minorities

Visit Florida, The State's Official Source for Travel Planning is planning a major new advertising campaign as well as a revamped Web site with improved content, blogs, image and video sharing, and consumer reviews and ratings of various things the state has to offer.

The national advertising campaign, which will begin early next year, is the agency's first foray into network television commercials. It is tailored to the African-American and Latino communities, and each commercial speaks specifically to the target audience.

Check out the "Beta" for the new website and give your feedback as an African American Floridian at: http://beta.visitflorida.com

Phone: 239.652.0283 Fax: 239.652.0287 Cell: 239.634.1175

E-mail: amuex@qxeumenterprisesinc.com
www.qxeumenterprisesinc.com

Spread the Word - Holiday Happenings

Christmas* Kawanza * Partys * Celebrations * New Year's

Holiday Happenings

The Black Business Professional Network would like to get the word out on all the holiday events happening in the area. Send us your holiday events and we'll list them here! info@blackbusinesspro.com

Employment Corner

Administrative Assistant - New College, Sarasota, Fl

Position Number: 999869

Deadline Date: Open until filled; application review begins November 26, 2007

Salary Range: $32,000 - $35,000

To Apply: Resumes and applications can be emailed to jobs@ncf.edu or faxed to 941-487-5021 or mailed to New College of Florida, 5800 Bay Shore Rd. PMC112, Sarasota, 34243-2197. Applications can be found at www.ncf.edu, Employment Opportunities.

Minimum Qualifications: High school diploma or GED and seven years of demonstrated, successful experience in a relevant business area. Appropriate college coursework or vocational/technical training may substitute at an equivalent rate for the required experience.

Preferred Qualifications: Bachelor's degree and five years of relevant experience; experience with the State University System (SUS); knowledge of SCT Banner software; and proficiency with Microsoft Excel and Word.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Knowledge of professional office procedures and practices including methods of data collection and analysis; basic knowledge of bookkeeping practices and to perform back reconciliations; the ability to maintain confidentiality; display communication skills both orally and in writing; the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships; and the ability to establish priorities and develop strategies to meet deadlines, organize and maintain records, problem solve with team members and exercise good judgment.

Security background check required

Preference will be given to internal candidates

If your business or place of employment has positions available please send us the job descriptions and we will place them in the newsletter-Free. We are also in the process if creating a resume database for our future BBPN Job Bank, coming soon. If you would like you resume included in this database (that employers can search for potential hires) please forward your resume as an attachment to info@blackbusinesspro.com

Privacy Policy - Resumes: BBPN will not send your private information to anyone outside BBPN for profit. We will not publish your email address, your physical address or any additional data without your consent. By sending your resume into the resume database you are however allowing that information to be forwarded to prospective employers. Information you do not want disclosed via resume should not be included in information sent to the database. Employers posting job openings; it is your responsibility to notify BBPN of posting dates or when a position has been filled.

empowered quote: I've had enough success for two lifetimes, my success is talent put together with hard work and luck." Kareem Abdul Jabbar

BLACK BUSINESS PROFESSIONAL NETWORK
15 Paradise Plaza, Box 335    Sarasota, Florida 34239
941.366.8403  info@blackbusinesspro.com
www.blackbusinesspro.com

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