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Getting to know… Barbara

Getting to know you…

Barbara has been in Quota for nine years! Her favorite snack is quite simply an apple. Her favorite movie is West Side Story.

Barbara was asked if she has ever seen the back side of a waterfall? She has! In upstate New York about ten years ago. She saw the blurry view of the landscape through the water. It felt like she couldn’t be seen but could see the world.

The worst job she can imagine having would be working underground in a coal mine.

She was asked which would be better? The glorious view from a mountaintop or the glorious view of a three-scoop sundae with all the toppings. She chose the mountaintop.

What if Barbara could pass one thing on to the next generation? She would pass on compassion and empathy for others.

Finally, her favorite time of year is the fall.

Thank you Barbara for sharing a few fun things about yourself!

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Book Recommendation

I am reading a very interesting book entitled “Hands of My Father” by Myron Uhlberg. It’s a memoir about a young hearing boy growing up with deaf parents in 1940s Brooklyn. Uhlberg recalls the time his uncle told him he saw his nephew as cleaved into two parts, half hearing, half deaf, forever joined together. I am really enjoying this book about the personal challenges he faced of bringing the hearing and deaf world together – especially as a young child who has to quickly grow up to become the translator for his parents and caregiver for his siblings. Thought you might be interested in reading this, too…. -Robin

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Quota Quick Update from International

QUOTA QUICK UPDATE – 23 February 2009

Welcome to a new issue of the Quota Quick Update. To receive this free e-newsletter, send your e-mail address to Membership Manager Ingrid M. at ingrid@quota.org.

IN THIS ISSUE:

1. DISTRICT 41 CLUBS JOIN WEST AREA

2. SUCCESSFUL Q-MART 2009 ENDS

3. YOU OUGHT TO BE IN PICTURES

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1. DISTRICT 41 CLUBS JOIN WEST AREA

President Toddy Silkman announced that at its February 2009 meeting, the Board of Directors approved the move of District 41 clubs in the Philippines into West Area. This decision is effective immediately. West Area is the third Quota area to enjoy membership of Quotarians from multiple countries. The other two areas which offer this special international benefit include the South Pacific Area ( Australia , Fiji , and New Zealand ) and South Area (Aruba, Curaçao, the Netherlands , Sint Maarten, Sint Eustatius , Suriname , and the United States ).

Other decisions made at the 2009 Mid-term Board Meeting will be discussed by President Toddy Silkman in her March 2009 Web message and highlighted in the March 2009 Leadership e-Alert, which goes to all club presidents and district leaders worldwide.

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2. SUCCESSFUL Q-MART 2009 ENDS

Congratulations go to the high bidders on 83 auction items in our Q-MART 2009 shopping extravaganza, which ended February 13. The auction was fun for all who participated and had outstanding results! U.S.$9,500 was raised for Quota International ‘s Wanda Frey Joiner Development Fund. Thanks go to all of our generous donors, who made our fourth on-line silent auction the success that it was. We are truly grateful to each of you for choosing to support Quota International , and our Wanda Frey Joiner Development Fund, in this special way. To view the list of winning bidders, log onto www.quota.org and click the Q-Mart 2009 On-line Silent Auction results button. http://www.quota.org/auction/auction2009.results.htm

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3. YOU OUGHT TO BE IN PICTURES

Please share this message with your fellow club members! Learning to take great photos could not only be an award-winning experience for you or your club, it could help your club obtain great publicity in your community!

The We Share Foundation sponsors an annual International Photography Contest to highlight your Quota International service work. While the deadline to enter your photos isn’t until October, now’s the time to be taking photos, while your service projects are in full gear! Share your local service with the world by taking snapshots of Quotarians in action, making a difference in the lives of those in need, or pictures of people you or your club serve through Quota. The White House Photo Office has judged the contest for eight years, and winners are awarded meaningful prizes! Be sure your image is taken in high resolution so it is able to be published—set your digital camera at its highest resolution setting.  When the time comes, digital files (at least 300 dpi) may be submitted by e-mail or on disk. Color prints on photographic paper are also accepted.  Follow these tried and true tips for taking award-winning pictures:

1. Keep Your Camera Ready! You never know when you’ll need it.

2. Get Close. As a general rule, the closer the picture, the better it will be. But keep in as much of the background as necessary to make a picture interesting.

3. Keep people busy. Nothing is so bland as a bunch of people standing in a row holding a certificate. Quotarians are hard workers, so let’s see you in action!

4. Use a simple background. Quotarians should be busy, but the background shouldn’t. Move to an uncluttered place if necessary.

5. Place the subject off center. Centered shots can be great, but off-center can be eye-catching.

6. Include foreground in scenic shots. Elements in the foreground offer depth and dimension.

7. Look for good lighting.You may be surprised to learn that overcast days are great for taking pictures of people because the lighting is flattering to faces. Bright sunshine can make harsh shadows, so beware!

8. Hold the camera steady!

9. Use your flash!

A few more words about photographing Quota service projects:

· Practice using the camera before the event, then critique your photos. Make any needed changes in your style. Too close? Too far away? Not enough light? Blurry?

· Bring extra camera batteries to events (and extra film, if you are using film).  And consider one-time-use cameras for members to share during the event for some other perspectives.

· Look for a great “title shot” of the event – maybe gathering members around a banner.

· Try to find flattering angles for people, then move in as close as possible. For groups, have people squeeze together; forget the legs and shoot from the waist up!

· Don’t make your friends look into the sun, which causes shadows on faces. Indoors, open the shades to enhance lighting and reduce pupil size, which reduces “red eye.”

· Compose table photos carefully to get faces, not glassware with people in the background.

· Avoid reflective backgrounds or take the shot at an angle to reduce glare.

· Watch for good candid moments.

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Occasional QUOTA QUICK UPDATES are sent to members with e-mail addresses in the Quota International membership database. At no time is e-mail information sold or loaned to other organizations. To delete, change, or add an e-mail address in this database, please contact ingrid@quota.org.

This QUOTA QUICK UPDATE was written by Nancy F. and Christy H. / nancy@quota.org and christy@quota.org / 202.331.9694

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Protected: Quotations – March 2009

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Quota Cares about the Cool Cats

Cathy, Jan and Emily visited the Cool Cats on Wednesday. This group of students is part of the Grand Rapids Oral Deaf program. Quota supports this group through skiing lessons (look for more on that in the future), they have supported Quota by helping our Courtyard Gardening project. They are an inspiring group of middle school-aged boys and girls. They are not only getting their “schooling” but they are also learning everyday skills that the hearing world takes for granted. These eleven students have big hearts and are eager to share.

Jan and Cathy listen to Cindy (teacher of the Cool Cats) tell stories of what the Cool Cats have done.

These Cool Cats, whose motto is, “I have a dream”, work on various projects throughout the year. This year they are working making quilts and learning woodworking skills by making corn hole games. They sell these items and use half of the proceeds to give to a charity of their choice. The other half of the proceeds goes towards something for themselves. Like paying the way for one of their friends to join them on their skiing lessons.

The girls work on the quilts. They are currently working on a quilt for a baby boy.

They tie the floss in knots to hold the batting in place and to give the quilt a “finished” detail.

They also learn how to sew perfect squares on the sewing machine.

Here they are showcasing all of the quilts they have completed.

The boys are working on the boards for a bean bag toss game.

They use a jig to get the corners square.

One of the boys sands down the edges of the board.

The Cool Cats are an inspiration. Jan, Cathy and Emily left amazed at the focus, camaraderie and what big hearts the Cool Cats possess. Make sure you come back and visit to see more of the Cool Cats!

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Quota Cares…

all through the month of March. Watch for exciting events as we share with the community.

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Quota Quick Update from International

QUOTA QUICK UPDATE – 6 February 2009

Happy Anniversary Quota…and Start Your Bidding!

Today is the anniversary of Quota’s founding by Wanda Frey Joiner 90 years ago, and to celebrate, Q-MART 2009, Quota International’s Internet shopping extravaganza, is now accepting bids on www.quota.org. Click the Q-Mart 2009 link on the home page! http://www.quota.org/auction

Log on to place your bid on one of the fabulous donated items from around the Quota world. Choose from exquisite jewelry, crystal, quilts, inspiring art, savory food items, handbags and scarves galore, retreats in Canada , Australia , and the U.S. , and much much more. We’ve made shopping easy! We will continue to add items to the auction throughout the week, so remember to log on often. Bidding will end on February 13 at 5:00 p.m. (EST in the United States ).

Thank you, thank you, thank you to the many Quotarians who have made Q-Mart possible. A complete list of donors is included on the auction site. And yes, we still welcome your on-line auction donation should you wish to contribute. A form to submit your donation item is available on the Q-Mart Silent Auction site, http://www.quota.org/auction.

Auction proceeds will support Quota International’s Wanda Frey Joiner Development Fund, which funds membership recruitment and retention, new club and new branch organization, club development, and more.

Q-Mart questions? Contact Christy at christy@quota.org or (202) 331-9694.

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