Around this time, I learned about a new organization called Local Trade Partners that was accepting new members. The idea was that you could trade services for a dollar-for-dollar amount, but in trade dollars. There is a small “real money” fee for each transaction, which is not much more than most credit card or PayPal fees.

I joined the Local Trade Partners and in the last two years, have built up to having a decent flow of trade transactions. Being a local trade partner has opened doors for me in two ways: by offering an excellent referral service and by providing a means for trading that is fair and useful.

Referrals

Like a chamber of commerce or other networking organization, Local Trade Partners has a categorized membership list. If you need a product or service, there are more than 400 members from which to choose. The biggest categories seem to be in restaurants, construction and business services. There are also attorneys, accountants, household items, clothing, technology services… and much more.

When someone needs a specific service, all they have to do is call the Local Trade Partners office and ask for a referral. I’ve received several referrals this way, on top of people simply choosing Jamie’s Notebook from the list. Current members must approve potential members before they are allowed to join the list (approval is passive, members are asked to voice any concerns before a potential member is approved). The approval process demonstrates a certain vetting that tells you the businesses are likely to be reputable.

Fair and Easy Trading

What I like most about Local Trade Partners is the ability to barter in a way that offers choices and fairness.

When I first started promoting Jamie’s Notebook locally, I had many requests for trading services and at first, I thought it was a great idea. The idea was that it would give me exposure, local experience and access to the services being offered for trade. The problem, at least for me, was that usually the service that was being offered was one I didn’t need or want. To be blunt, I needed to earn a living. Bills needed to be paid. I found myself spending more time on “trade” accounts that I didn’t have time to earn money that could be used for covering expenses.

While it’s true that Local Trade Dollars don’t work with the utility company or to pay rent, they certainly work for other expenses! Using trade dollars, I’ve been able to purchase signs for my business, get my computer repaired, eat out at restaurants (a luxury we might not do if it was “real” money that was needed elsewhere), receive a therapeutic massage, and pay for auto repairs. I could also pay for some medical expenses with member medical providers, get my house renovated, buy clothes or jewelry, buy gifts or even go on vacation … all using trade dollars.

Trade dollars work just like standard currency. If you charge $100 for a service in cash, you charge $100 in local trade dollars. It’s a dollar-for-dollar trade. You can then take the money you earn as a trade partner and spend it with whichever partner you wish. The only cash that you must pay is the sales tax and tip.

Want to join?

I encourage Northwest Arkansas businesses to look into joining Local Trade Partners. It provides an excellent network for referrals and in an economy where cash is scarce, bartering offers the ability to provide and receive services without affecting cash reserves.

Contact Local Trade Partners today to find out more.

I now manage several sites or participate with various publications that use WordPress to operate the site. Now, forgive me if you already know this, but I thought I’d share the basic definition of WordPress from Wikipedia:

WordPress is an open source blog tool and publishing platform powered by PHP and MySQL. It’s often customized into a Content Management System (CMS).

Essentially, that’s computer speak for WordPress is a tool that lets you run your blog or website. It’s what I use for Jamie’s Notebook.com and my personal blog, as well as several other sites.

When I first heard of WordCamp Fayetteville and was asked to help on the inaugural volunteer committee, I figured it would be a good experience to help build the event coordination side of my business, plus I’d learn a few tips on managing WordPress sites.

After all, what else would someone like me be thinking of when they decided to attend a technical conference like WordCamp? (WordCamps are held all over and are conferences for people who use WordPress.)

As it turns out, I’m exactly the kind of person who should attend WordCamp and I’m excited to be attending the second WordCamp Fayetteville coming July 30.

So why should someone who is not a programmer attend a technology conference like WordCamp? Because WordCamp … and WordPress… isn’t just for techie folk. That’s why I like it and promote its use to many different categories of people.

WordPress is one of those programs that can be comprehended by someone with basic computer skills. If you can figure out how to sign up for Facebook, you can figure out the basics of WordPress. But what’s interesting is, it doesn’t stop there. There’s an ever-increasing number of what I call proficiency layers…the deeper you get into WordPress, the more there is to learn. The more you can manipulate. The more you can develop. WordPress can be used for blogging, it can be used for websites. It can be used for personal, it can be used for business.

But that’s just the user side. There’s of course those people who can actually write code, create themes or are in some other way in on the behind the scenes of making WordPress function better.

WordCamp Fayetteville has something for each of these types of people. We’re going to have three tracks: for bloggers, business users and developers. This year’s lineup of speakers is outstanding. While last year I struggled to know where I belonged at WordCamp, this year I have at least one workshop I want to attend every session.

The amount of information I expect to come away with is both mind-boggling and exciting. The information will help me further develop my work at Jamie’s Notebook, help me as a staff writer at The Belford Group and encourage the growth of my personal blog. That’s quite a few proverbial birds with one conference!

So is WordCamp Fayetteville for you? I’d venture a guess and say “yes.” If you have a blog, might want a blog, have a website for a new business or nonprofit, or if you are wanting to learn more about the development side of WordPress, WordCamp Fayetteville has something for you.

What’s a “Blog” Anyways? (three sessions for each class: 12:30-2:30 p.m. on July 11, 18, 25)

This course will talk about the art of blogging and how a retired person can use this tool to connect with family members and friends; or to promote a cause. We will look at various kinds of blogs and how to start one’s own blog.

Connecting on Social Media (three sessions for each class 3 p.m.-5 p.m. July 11, 18, 25)

This course would look at two primary social media sites: Facebook and LinkedIn, as well as briefly go over other social media sites that can be useful. The focus will be twofold in that students will learn not only the benefits of using these resources, but also how to use the sites. The discussion will be geared towards how retired persons can use these sites to connect to family, friends and business associates.

Cari Kaufman

Strings Attached Ministries

carispeaks@gmail.com

(479) 372-3886

Jamie Smith

Jamie’s Notebook

jamie@jamiesnotebook.com

(479) 531-1685

For Immediate Release

May 28, 2011

‘Practicing Hospitality’ coming June 11

Seminar is fourth in ‘Practicing Your Paths’ series

ROGERS—When most of us think of “hospitality,” we think of hosting frequent gatherings in our home…which of course is always spotless.

A seminar coming June 11 will dispel the idea that hospitality always has to involve large groups, tea and picture perfect homes. “Practicing Hospitality: Creating Welcoming Spaces for God, for Others and for Yourself” will be 9:30 a.m. Saturday, June 11, at the Global Outreach Center Immanuel Baptist Church in Rogers. The event is by Strings Attached Ministries.

“Hospitality is not dead.  It’s been stifled, shoved into corners, reserved for holidays and special occasions,” says Cari Kaufman of Strings Attached Ministries. “A victim of the Spirit of the Age: busyness. In this one-day women’s event, we’ll rediscover friendship forged in the front room over tea.  Let’s learn how to create room for everyday hospitality. Together, we will explore how to make hospitality a way of life.  We will learn to create welcoming spaces for God to enter in, for others to find sanctuary and for you to find peace.”

Each seminar participant will receive a workbook, the possibility of a door prize and a catered lunch as part of her experience. The event should be finished by about 3:30 p.m.

After the June 11 event, there will be one more seminar in the “Practicing Your Paths” series. On August 13, Strings Attached Ministries will be hosting “Practicing Prayer and Action: Living a Life of Intercession.”

For more information or to register, visit http://stringsattachedministries.wordpress.com/speaking/events/.

More about Strings Attached Ministries

Strings Attached Ministries focus on bringing women’s groups into closer fellowship with one another. The ministry believes that the health of a women’s ministry is the thermometer for the health of the entire congregation. Strings Attached provides resources to enable women’s ministry to come together in way that is fun, interactive and uplifting. From facilitated retreats to event planning resources, Strings Attached has everything necessary to make a church or organization’s next women’s retreat an amazing experience.

More about Cari Kaufman

Cari Kaufman is an intuitive and innovative leadership coach and professional speaker whose is best known for her ability to “conceptualize metaphors.” She takes real-life, everyday stories and turns them into life lessons. Her engaging and genuine presentation style gives her the ability to connect with individuals from all walks of life. Cari’s experiences run the gamut from military officer to stay-at-home mom and give her a unique perspective into everyday life. Her calm-under-fire approach to the transitions in life make her the perfect partner to help navigate the waters of change.

Victory Walk Inc.

(479) 365-2600

lynda@victorywalkinc.com

1200 N. 40^th St. (Springdale)

Victory Walk Inc. offers mild hyperbaric therapy

Hyperbaric chamber can help people with spinal cord injuries, other illnesses

SPRINGDALE— A local spinal-cord recovery center has added a new major tool that enhances its ability to help injured and ill people heal.

Victory Walk Inc. recently started offering its patients use of a mild hyperbaric chamber at its office in Springdale. Mild Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is a medical treatment that exposes a person inside a hyperbaric chamber to increased atmospheric pressure. There are a growing number of studies and anecdotal evidence that use of a mild hyperbaric chamber assists in various forms of healing for people living with spinal-cord injuries, brain injuries and other difficulties including autism and cerebral palsy.

“This unique service can make a difference in recovery from spinal cord injuries, stroke, dementia, autism—even cerebral palsy,” said Dolores Stamps, secretary of the Victory Walk Inc. board of directors. “VWI is excited to offer this unusual, effective therapy for (our) clients.”

History of Victory Walk Inc.

Established in April 2009, Victory Walk Inc. was created because a local couple knew northwest Arkansas needed better ways of helping people with spinal-cord injuries. Al and Lynda Lemke have first-hand knowledge of the need because their son, Greg Lemke, has been a quadriplegic since an all-terrain vehicle accident in January 2007.

“We knew he needed more therapy than just range of motion,” said Al Lemke.

Lynda Lemke agreed.

“We wanted to think outside the box,” she said. “When there are ways, you go find the ways.”

Through fundraising and family help, the couple created Victory Walk Inc. with the goal of supplying affordable, individualized therapy using a multi-phase process called the Dardzinski Method.

The Dardzinski Method, according to information provided on the Project Walk website (www.projectwalk.org), “is a physical fitness and performance program for the nervous system. It is not physical or occupational therapy. Using the same principals of elite athletic conditioning, (the) program is based on performance conditioning of the nervous system.”

In the last year, there’s been several new developments at VWI besides the addition of hyperbaric chamber therapy services. In January 2010, Greg Alderson, Victory Walk Inc.’s spinal-cord injury specialist/trainer earned his credentials as a Certified SCI Recovery Apprentice. (Spinal-cord injuries are usually referred to as SCI.).

The center has also added a new therapist when Corey Strunk was hired in January 2011.

For more information about Victory Walk Inc., or to schedule interviews, contact Lynda at (479) 365-2600. Victory Walk Inc. can be found online at www.victorywalkinc.com and the organization also has a new fan page on the social networking site Facebook.

-30-