The event was held on April 19 at Grace Community Church in Riverside.  Elected officials, dignitaries, community supporters, and the honorees’ families attended.  Stan Morrison, recently retired basketball coach and athletic director at UC Riverside, was keynote speaker.

Wider’s work on behalf of MSRPAC is extensive and impressive.  She continually goes the extra mile for the animals.  For 13 years she was chairwoman of Walk With The Animals, the center’s popular annual fundraising event held at Fairmount Park, and now serves as consultant for the event.

In 2010 Wider established the center’s Lifeline Spay/Neuter program which provided financial assistance for spay/neuter surgeries to low-income pet owners in the city of Riverside.  Currently, she is actively involved in the planning of a low-cost spay/neuter clinic on the grounds of MSRPAC.

“During the 16 years I’ve known Katie, she’s been generously giving of her time for the betterment of homeless animals in the Riverside community and working to reduce euthanasia through more responsible pet ownership,” said Jackie Lamirande, volunteer services manager at MSRPAC.  “Gandhi was quoted as saying ‘The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated.’  Katie seems to be single-handedly striving to fulfill the promise of that value statement by working tirelessly towards a no- kill alternative for Riverside County.”

Not only has Wider given countless hours of her time to MSRPAC and the thousands of homeless animals that have passed through the shelter, but she has been instrumental in the lives of pets and people in Riverside County and beyond through her work as a founding member of POPCO (Pet Overpopulation Coalition).

The Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center is a non-profit, public benefit charitable organization serving communities in Riverside County and beyond.  As the largest no-kill pet adoption organization in Riverside County, the Center accepts owner turn-ins of cats and dogs and transfers from local animal-control agencies.  Prior to adoption, each animal is spayed or neutered, vaccinated, evaluated for behavior issues, and microchipped.  Each animal also is monitored for physical, emotional and mental health, and receives ongoing socialization.  For more information on MSRPAC, visit www.petsadoption.com.

For more information, contact:
Jean Clement, Limelight
951-679-6388
jean@limelightpr.com

“Betsy is an integral part of our team of volunteers,” Lamirande said.  “She is always willing to lend a hand whether it’s assisting in the cattery or helping to mentor the new volunteers.  She is what volunteering is all about.  We are fortunate and proud to have her as one of our valued volunteers. “

Retired from Riverside County Public Administrator/Coroner’s Office, Sharp spends three days a week at MSRPAC where she has been a volunteer since 2008.  Working mainly with the center’s feline residents, she is a cat socializer and whisperer and a mentor of volunteers entering the cat socialization program.  Additionally, she prepares pet food in MSRPAC’s Chuck Waggin’ Pet Meals program which is delivered to homebound cat and dog owners through Meals on Wheels.

Sharp’s volunteerism at the center also has included conducting humane education tours for school groups and participating in the center’s new-member drive.

Asked why she chose to volunteer at MSRPAC, Sharp replied, “I love being around animals and always wanted to work with them.  When I retired and was looking for such an opportunity, I learned of the volunteer program at the Pet Adoption Center and knew that was the place for me.”

“I worked with both dogs and cats when I first started, but gravitated to the cats,” she added.  “Cats are different than dogs.  They don’t show emotion as obviously as dogs, but  they really are social animals and love human attention.  I enjoy watching them blossom over time and show their personalities.”

Sharp’s love of animals continues at home, as well, which she shares with seven cats and one dog.

Anyone interested in learning more about volunteer opportunities at the Pet Adoption Center can visit www.petsadoption.com where a downloadable application form is available, or call the Volunteer Services office at 951-688-4340 ext. 306.

The Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center is a non-profit, public benefit charitable organization serving communities in Riverside County and beyond.  As the largest no-kill pet adoption organization in Riverside County, the Center accepts owner turn-ins of cats and dogs and transfers from local animal-control agencies.  Prior to adoption, each animal is spayed or neutered, vaccinated, evaluated for behavior issues, and microchipped.  Each animal also is monitored for physical, emotional and mental health, and receives ongoing socialization.

For more information, contact:
Jean Clement, Limelight
951-679-6388
jean@limelightpr.com

I wonder what their students think of them.  That is, if they’ve looked up from their smart phones and text messaging long enough to notice.

Obviously, as a teacher in our techno world and a columnist, the writer uses technology for work purposes.  The other teacher retired as police officer and detective not that long ago.  So he, too, would have had to embrace technology on the job.  (Do you think he investigated cyber crimes?)  Now as a teacher, he surely has to use technology.

Frankly, I found reading this column to be refreshing.  Here we are in today’s hurry-up world where the majority of people seem to need to be in touch constantly, and need to share with complete strangers, through rather impersonal technology, every personal detail of their lives.  Yet, these two men choose to be unplugged and in control of their private lives, instead of letting technology control them.

He wasn’t saying they hide from the world and don’t talk to people.  Quite the opposite. They advocate personal contact, talking face-to-face as a way of communicating.  You know, being social.  Really social, not cyber social.

I find it interesting that these men are teachers.  There’s likely to come the day when there will be no books in school, only computer screens of varying sizes, likely small, hand-held.  Some schools already are trying to eliminate teaching handwriting.  It’s so ‘yesterday’!  Eventually, there may be no classrooms at all, only distance learning.

But what has the advancement of technology done for us as communicators?  Yes, it has opened up the world to us, as well as the world of possibilities.  However, there are high school and college graduates who can’t spell, don’t know English grammar, and can’t construct a complete sentence, let alone write paragraphs, or columns, for business or pleasure reading.  The language of texting and social media is so pervasive that it has become an accepted way to spell and speak.  The English language is being butchered as a result.

I remember in the olden days…the early ‘8os…when people who didn’t work in high tech, as I did, complained about all the acronyms that were pervasive in our language.  Ha!  That was nothing compared to the Internet lingo of today!

Maybe we all should try being really wireless for a few days.  Turn off and put away our cell phones and such devices (no cheating), look up at the sky, smell the roses, talk to people…face-to-face.  It if means less stress, I’m all for that!

First of all, I was surprised that Earth Day is 42 years old.  Middle-aged and no chance of early retirement!  On April 22, 1970, Gaylord Nelson, a senator from Wisconsin, now deceased, had organized an environmental teach-in which became known as Earth Day, observed annually ever since.

Surfing more, I came upon statistics related to Earth Day.  I found some incredible numbers!  Mind-boggling numbers!  Read on.  There’s much to contemplate.

Throw-Away Society

• The U.S. is the #1 trash-producing country in the world at 1,609 pounds per person per year.  This means 5% of the world’s people generates 40% of the world’s waste.  (We can’t be proud Americans about that!)

• Every month Americans throw out enough recyclable glass bottles and jars to fill a skyscraper (Empire State Building was mentioned).  A modern glass bottle takes 4,000 years or more to decompose — even longer in a landfill.

• The average American uses 650 pounds of paper each year.  (So much for the idea of a paperless society.)

• The average household throws away 13,000 separate pieces of paper each year.  Most is packaging and junk mail.  (I can relate!)

• Americans use 2,500,000 plastic bottles every hour, and throw 2,000,000 plastic bottles in the trash every 10 minutes.  (It takes 6 recycled plastic bottles to make one t-shirt.)

• Americans throw away 25,000,000,000 (that’s billion…with a B) Styrofoam coffee cups every year.  What’s more, in 500 years, they’ll still be foam cups in landfills.

• Americans throw away enough aluminum to rebuild our entire commercial fleet of airplanes every three months.  Aluminum cans, also, will be cans in landfills in 500 years.

• U.S. residents each year discard 16,000,000,000 (that’s with a T) diapers, 1,600,000,000 pens, 2,000,000,000 razor blades, and 220,000,000 car tires.  (I did say the numbers are incredible.)

• Americans waste or cause to be wasted nearly 1,000,000 pounds of materials per person every year.  (Now, THAT makes me feel guilty!)  This figure includes 3,500,000,000 pounds of carpet, 19,000,000,000 pounds of polystyrene peanuts, 28,000,000,000 pounds of food, 360,000,000,000 pounds of organic and inorganic chemicals used for manufacturing, 710,000,000,000 pounds of hazardous waste, and 3,700,000,000,000 pounds of construction debris.

Recycling Saves, Big Time

• 10% of all U.S. oil, 2,000,000 barrels, is used to make plastics.  If we recycled all of our plastic containers, we annually could save 1,000,000,000 gallons of oil (at today’s prices, that’s a lot of dollars) and 44,000,000 cubic yards of landfill space.

• Recycling one ton of paper saves 17 trees, two barrels of oil (enough to run the average car for 1,260 miles), 4,100 kilowatts of energy (enough power for the average home for six months), 3.2 cubic yards of landfill space, and 60 pounds of pollution.

• If all of our newspapers were recycled, we could save about 250,000,000 trees each year.  (Obviously, I have a small forest sitting here in my office.)

• Out of every $10 spent on products, $1 is for the packaging that’s thrown away. Packaging represents about 65% of household trash.

• Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to run a TV for three hours.  (Think about THAT you beer drinking sports fans!)  Reusing aluminum cans takes 95% less energy than making aluminum from raw materials.

• An estimated 80,000,000 Hershey’s Kisses (just imagine all that chocolate!) are wrapped each day, using enough recyclable aluminum foil to cover more than 50 acres of land — almost 40 football fields.

WHAT are we DOING to our planet, people?  One day the United States is going to be known as the Great Wasteland.  Let’s all pledge to step up our reuse and recycling of products.  And not buy so much ‘stuff’ in the first place.

Although a young company, National Commercial Builders has several projects throughout the country either completed or under construction for both one-location retailers and well-known national chains.

National Commercial Builders specializes in retail construction management and general contracting services for freestanding stores and mall build outs.  The company handles any or all phases of the construction process, taking a project from plan submission to move-in ready, both interiors and exteriors.

Limelight will help National Commercial Builders increase brand awareness within the corporate retail and office development markets, as well as promote the knowledge and expertise of the company’s team, from owners Steven Francis and William “Jack” Robison to the on-site project supervisors overseeing skilled subcontractors.

Currently, Limelight is working with Wolfe Interactive to create a new web site for National Commercial Builders.  Other marketing products and media and public outreach will follow.

No longer do you have to thumb through a stack of catalogs or search web site after web site looking for giveaway items, resale items, and gifts on which to imprint your company logo or personal message.  If you need additional information on a product, click on it and then click on ‘request information.’  We’ll get back to you ASAP.

Please keep in mind that customized, imprinted products are not for businesses only.  Think weddings, reunions, sports teams, schools, booster clubs, social clubs, birthday parties, bar/bat mitzvahs, open houses, fundraisers and many other activities and special events in your lives.

Check out Limelight Logo Mall now and see for yourself what a useful tool this is:  http://limelight.logomall.com.  When you’re ready to buy, you can place your orders through the secure Logo Mall.

While you’re at the Logo Mall, be sure to enter the drawing for $1000 in promotional products.  And click on ‘Promotion Connection’ to read the many great promotional ideas to stimulate your thinking in how to promote your business or event.

Please keep in mind that not all the suppliers we represent and all the products available in the vast world of ad specialties are displayed in Limelight Logo Mall.  If you don’t find what you want, by all means contact us and we’ll go to work looking for that special item you need.

Be sure to bookmark the Logo Mall and visit regularly.  Featured products change often.

Happy shopping, and our best wishes for a prosperous 2012!

RIVERSIDE, CA, January 26, 2012 – Dress yourself and your dog in your best green outfits and start celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, or St. Paw-trick’s Day, early on Saturday, March 17, by joining hundreds of humans, dogs, and other critters for the 20^th Annual Walk With The Animals presented by Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center (MSRPAC).  This year’s event features Bob Harper of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” and Irish Wolfhounds from Wolfhoundrescue.org as Grand Marshals of the pledge walk around beautiful Lake Evans in Fairmount Park, Riverside.

Pledge walk registration and a hearty pancake breakfast ($5 per person) begin at 8:00 a.m. (band shell area) with the event’s various family-friendly activities going on from 8:00 until noon.  Walk With The Animals is free, open to the public, and held rain or shine.

A bagpiper kicks off the 1.3-mile pledge walk at 9:00 a.m.  The St. Paw-trick’s Day event also features a performance by children from Butler Fearon O’Connor School of Irish Dance, a Kiss The Blarney Dog booth, pet costume contest, Muttley Crew K-9 Entertainment, Urban Search and Rescue demonstration, bake sale for people and pets, exhibitors, breed rescue groups, low-cost vaccinations and microchips, and fabulous raffle prizes.  Free water and first aid is available for pets and people.

Walk participants are encouraged to collect pledges to sponsor their effort. There are categories for individuals and groups of three or more adults and youth (16 and under). Participation in the pledge walk is not required to attend the event.  To register as a pledge walker, go to www.firstgiving.com/petsadoption or call 951-688-4340 ext. 307.

The person collecting the most pledge money will enjoy a Saturday night stay for two in a suite at the Historic Mission Inn with Sunday brunch.  Second place pledge collector receives Sunday brunch for two at the Historic Mission Inn.  The top two youths collecting the most pledge money receive an MSRPAC engraved medal and Walk t-shirt.

The top team, adult and youth categories, collecting the most pledge money will be recognized with a commemorative brick in MSRPAC’s Celebration Walkway.

All dogs must be on a six-foot or shorter leash, under control of a handler, friendly to animals and people, and healthy, have a current license and ID tag, and be more than four-months old.  Cats and other pets must be on leashes, in carriers, or otherwise contained and controlled.

Grand Marshals

Harper, a fitness expert and personal trainer to the stars, has been a trainer on “The Biggest Loser” reality television show since 2004.  He has been featured on television and in magazines and workout videos and is a writer and motivational speaker. As an advocate for animals, he adopted a Havanese mix rescue, has spoken out against puppy mills and is a past national spokesperson for Farm Sanctuary.

The Irish Wolfhounds are rescues from Wolfhoundrescue.org of Sherman Oaks, CA, a not-for-profit, volunteer-run organization dedicated to the rescue, care, rehabilitation and placement of Irish Wolfhound companions everywhere, and in Southern California in particular.

Exhibitors and Sponsors

Exhibit space is free for nonprofit animal-welfare organizations and $50 for all other businesses and organizations.  Booth space comprises one eight-foot table and two chairs.  Exhibitors are welcome to bring booth graphics and displays.  Canopies are advised for weather protection.  No electricity is available.  Deadline for exhibitor applications is March 9.

Gold Paw Sponsors to date are City of Riverside Park, Recreation & Community Services Dept., Frontline Plus/Heartguard Plus, Inland Lighting Supplies, Inc., Jan Peterson Child Development Center, Law Office of Ellen Weinfurtner, Lexus of Riverside, Mary S. Roberts Foundation, McDonalds on University Avenue, Perricone Farms, Raincross Veterinary Services, Riverwalk Pet Resort, and Starbucks.

Silver Paw Sponsors are Arlington Animal Hospital, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc., Burrtec Waste Industries, Inc., Donna Knox, Ed Adkison, Intervet, Lamb Energy, Inc., and Security Bank of California.

For information on being an exhibitor or sponsor, call Michele Mills at MSRPAC, 951-688-4340, ext. 307.  For more information on Walk With The Animals, visit www.petsadoption.org.

The Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center is a non-profit, public benefit charitable organization serving communities in Riverside County and beyond.  As the largest no-kill pet adoption organization in Riverside County, the Center accepts owner turn-ins of cats and dogs and transfers from local animal-control agencies.  Prior to adoption, each animal is spayed or neutered, vaccinated, evaluated for behavior issues, and microchipped.  Each animal also is monitored for physical, emotional and mental health, and receives ongoing socialization.

For more information, contact:
Jean Clement, Limelight
951-679-6388
jean@limelightpr.com

RIVERSIDE, CA, November 10, 2011 – What to my wondering eyes should appear, not one, but two Santas!  That’s right!  Don’t tell the kids, but there will be two Santas at this year’s popular Pet Pictures with Santa event at the Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center (MSRPAC).  Bring your pets to meet Santa Claus and have their pictures taken with either of the jolly big elves while also helping to support homeless animals.  The event will be Saturday, December 3, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Adoption Center, 6165 Industrial Ave., Riverside.

Admission to Pet Pictures with Santa is free and sittings for Pet Picture photos are not required in order to enjoy the fun.  Activities include a bake sale, vendors offering holiday and pet-related products, raffle, vaccination clinic, and cats and dogs available for adoption.  There will be hot dogs, smoothies, gourmet candy apples and gourmet dog treats available for purchase, and complimentary popcorn, hot apple cider and coffee.

All animals attending the event must be on a six-foot or shorter leash or in a pet carrier. Puppies four months and younger must be in carriers or held and not allowed to walk on the ground for their health’s sake.

No appointments are needed for photo sittings.  Photos will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis.  And with two Santas, wait times will be shorter for those impatient pets!

Photo keepsakes being offered are button, key tag or ornament, $5 each; travel mug, $7; tote bag, $8; 5×7 photo in jacket, $10; t-shirt, $10; and CD with 5 poses, $15.  CDs and 5×7 photos will be mailed or available for pick up on December 12.  All other items will be ready to take home from the event.

Olden Days Boutique will hold a raffle for both a handmade cat-themed and a dog-themed warm, fuzzy blanket.  Each person who purchases a pet photo item will receive one free raffle ticket.  Tickets also can be purchased at the company’s booth.  The drawing will be held at 4 p.m. and the winner does not need to be present.  The money from ticket sales will be donated to MSRPAC.

Dog behaviorist Rick Belmonte of Belmonte’s Dog Training will be on hand offering free behavior consultations.  Volunteers from MSRPAC’s agility program will help dog owners test their pets’ skills on the covered agility course.

MSRPAC’s low-cost vaccination and microchip clinic for cats and dogs will take place from 9:30 a.m. to noon.  And, of course, there will be many wonderful homeless cats and dogs waiting to go to loving homes for the holidays.  The Center is open for adoptions 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.  The Critter Corner store inside the main building is stocked with a large variety of toys, supplies and accessories for cats and dogs, as well as books and pet-themed gifts for humans.

For more information on Pet Pictures with Santa, call 951-688-4340 x307 or visit www.petsadoption.org.  See the web site for vaccination and microchip fees and pets currently available for adoption.

The Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center is a non-profit, public benefit charitable organization serving communities in Riverside County and beyond.  As the largest no-kill pet adoption organization in Riverside County, the Center accepts owner turn-ins of cats and dogs and transfers from local animal-control agencies.  Prior to adoption, each animal is spayed or neutered, vaccinated, evaluated for behavior issues, and microchipped.  Each animal also is monitored for physical, emotional and mental health, and receives ongoing socialization.

For more information, contact:
Jean Clement, Limelight
951-679-6388
jean@limelightpr.com

As the economic squeeze continues, the marketing game is changing.  Many business owners and managers are foregoing the shotgun approach of expensive, broad-based advertising.  Instead, they’re taking a more focused course of action: defining smaller target markets and core customers, and promoting directly to these audiences.  They’re doing so through personal sales calls, direct mail, social media, ad specialty/promotional product giveaways, participation in end-user expos, and sponsorship of community events attended by their customer types.

Another good avenue to take is donating to non-profit organizations.  By so doing, businesses benefit as much as the non-profits.  And I’m not talking about writing checks.  Remember, budgets are tight.

Instead, donate goods, services and/or manpower.  While money is important to non-profits, they’ll gladly except in-kind donations for products and services that are greatly needed but their limited budgets often can’t buy.

In-kind donations don’t have to be huge, or a one-time thing.  They can be office supplies, equipment repair, cleaning services, uniforms, construction materials or services, printing, web design services, transportation.  The possibilities are as endless and the organizations needing the help.

Not only will you be able to blow your own public relations horn, should you choose, but the non-profits will sing your company’s praises as a hearty thank you.  Additionally, if you donate to a qualified non-profit organization, you’ll be able to take a deduction on your income tax.

People who know me, know I’m a huge advocate of animal welfare and the vital need to stop pet overpopulation and give homeless animals a chance for a happy life through adoption.  Among my efforts on behalf of animals, I’m a volunteer for and supporter of the Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center (www.petsadoption.org), the largest no-kill shelter in Riverside County, here in southern California.

Recently, I donated through Limelight to the adoption center’s silent auction.  My in-kind donation was the highest bidder’s choice of one of five promotional product packages.  The couple that won my donation operates TongkaDOG Foundation (tongkaDOG.org) which raises money for canine cancer research and awareness, as well as provides pet oxygen masks to fire departments.  They selected an order of custom-imprinted jar openers which they gave out at a fundraising event.

This was definitely a win-win-win situation.  The Roberts Pet Adoption Center received money to help care for homeless dogs and cats.  TongkaDOG received, for less-than-retail cost, 300 long-lasting, useful promotional items bearing its logo and message to help promote its cause.  And I marketed my business to the more than 300 attendees at the silent auction while making a donation to a worthy non-profit organization.

I encourage all businesses, big and small, to consider in-kind donations to charities of their choice as part of their marketing mix.  It’s good for your company; it’s good for your community.