Recycling the Recycle Bin

Now that Cape Coral has a new garbage collection process, I have been waiting to get my hands on those old recycling bins. I recently presented some suggestions on recycling your recycle bin on the FOX4 Morning Blend. These bins are sturdy and have so many uses either in your garage or even outdoors. They aren't the prettiest containers, so to make them more attractive you can use spray paint for plastic, which you can find at your local home improvement store for around $5.

Organizing Your Kids

I recently had the honor of presenting ideas for organizing your kids on the FOX 4 Morning Blend. It was an exciting experience being in front of the camera instead of behind the scenes. As members of the Professional Organizers Association of Southwest Florida, we have been invited to take turns presenting once a month on the show, so look for our segments the last Thursday of every month. I look forward to the next segment and invite any suggestions on organizing topics that may be of interest.

Downsizing Done Right

Congratulations to the Professional Organizers Association of Southwest Florida for another successful seminar at Miromar Design Center. The event on April 24th drew a crowd of nearly 60 people who were interested in learning more about downsizing. POASWFL is already planning another event, a hurricane preparedness seminar, coming up on June 12th at Miromar Design Center at 2:00pm.

Congratulations POASWFL for a Successful Ask The Organizer Panel

Nearly 50 guests turned out on Saturday, February 13th at Miromar Design Center in Estero, FL for the Professional Organizers Association of Southwest Florida's first ever Ask The Organizer panel discussion. Panelists included Roxy Hambleton, CPO® (Positively Organized), Jane Samargedlis (Designed 2 Organize), Tracy Colleran (Straighten Up), Connie Kippycash (Easy Does It Professional Organizing), Karen Bucy (The Paper Tamer), and Shannan O’Brien (Ultimately Organized). The group fielded dozens of questions from how to organize a closet to the best way to preserve precious photos. The next POASWFL event is scheduled for Saturday, April 24th at the MDC. Details to follow soon!

Ask The Organizer Panel to be held at Miromar Design Center

Are you overwhelmed by the idea of getting organized? Get answers to the organizing problems that drive you crazy during the "Ask The Organizer" panel discussion on Saturday, February 13, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. at the Miromar Design Center in Estero.

Professional Organizers Association of Southwest Florida (POASWFL) founding board members will share tips and techniques for organizing your life. Each panelist is an expert in various areas of professional organizing. From garage and residential specialists to electronic/computer and moving/relocation experts, they can help with the most challenging organizing issues.

Scheduled to participate in the panel are Roxy Hambleton, CPO® (Positively Organized), Jane Samargedlis (Designed 2 Organize), Tracy Colleran (Straighten Up), Connie Kippycash (Easy Does It Professional Organizing), Karen Bucy (The Paper Tamer), and Shannan O’Brien (Ultimately Organized).

The panel discussion is free and open to the public. Take this opportunity to bring some peace and calm into your life!

Launched in January 2010, the mission of POASWFL is to educate, support, and empower professional organizers in Southwest Florida to better serve the needs of their clients and to raise awareness of the organizing profession. For more information visit www.swflorganizers.com.

Professional Organizers Provide a Nonprofit Makeover

In celebration of National Get Organized (GO) Month, the Professional Organizers Association of Southwest Florida (POASWFL) sponsored a community service project at the PACE Center for Girls of Lee County to help the nonprofit facility become more efficient.

On January 4, 2010, a team of professional organizers spent the day working with
Melissa Simontis, Director of Development, and her staff to purge, declutter, and organize PACE’s main office areas, files, storage areas, donations and conference room.

"Our PACE Lee Center has been open for nearly three years. In that time, we've grown and accumulated so much, but haven't had the resources to keep up in an organized manner," Simontis explains.

POASWFL members donated their time, expertise and organizing products to get the job done in just one day. The result was a well-organized facility that will benefit PACE staff, guests and students.

"After the organizing session, our staff felt as if they had a clean slate," says Simontis. "We were amazed by the energy, enthusiasm and talent of the professional organizers. They flew in like superwomen and rescued us from disorganization."

The project was a huge success and POASWFL members hope to help other nonprofit organizations in the future. "We plan to follow up with PACE to help them maintain the systems that were created," explains POASWFL President Jane Samargedlis, Designed 2 Organize. "The best part of what we do is that it’s very hands on and I feel we can really making a difference with our volunteer efforts."

Visit www.swflorganizers.com for organization tips and strategies so your business can save time and money in the New Year.

I am so excited to announce that after two years the Professional Organizers Association of Southwest Florida has been created. I am very fortunate to be the Vice President (Public Relations) of the Association and one of the founding board members.

Our website went live today www.swflorganizers.com. Please take a moment to visit.

We are looking for Affiliate members-our first being W.C. Huff Moving and Storage and other Organizers that may not be part of NAPO.

Please follow the website link to join or contact us if you are interested in joining or finding out more about us. In the meantime, here is a little information about our Association-who we are and the founding board.

OUR MISSION: To educate, support, and empower professional organizers in Southwest Florida to better serve the needs of their clients and to raise awareness of the organizing profession.

OUR GOALS:
Raise the awareness of the organizing profession in Southwest Florida
Attract non-NAPO professional organizers to join NAPO and abide by their standards
Participate in community service projects such as Get Organized (GO) Month and others
Provide support and friendship through mutual encouragement and assistance
Promote ethics to all members
Provide mutual referrals, assistance, and specialty identification
Partner with local and national business associates
Long term, grow association to qualify as an official NAPO chapter

WHAT WE DO:
Our primary functions within our neighborhood and national community are:
EDUCATE members and clients on best organizing practices to enhance their personal and professional lives
SUPPORT members and clients (public) by providing education and resources (practical experience)
EMPOWER individuals and entrepreneurs by education and accomplishing organizing needs
PROMOTE the benefits of organizing and raise awareness of the organizing industry

FOUNDING BOARD MEMEBERS:
President Jane Samargedlis Designed 2 Organize
Secretary Connie Kippycash Easy Does It Professional Organizing
Vice President-Membership Tracy Colleran Straighten Up, Inc.
Treasurer Karen Bucy The Paper Tamer, LLC
Vice President-Public Relations Shannan O'Brien Ultimately Organized
Honorary board member NAPO Ambassador Roxy Hambleton, CPO® Positively Organized