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Getting Your Share of Individual Grants

admin — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 14:45:02 +0000

Several no-cost personal grants can be obtained if you happen to belong to a certain group.

Vietnam Era Veterans’ Educational Assistance is one example of free grants allocated by the government to an individual.

Vietnam Era Veterans’ Education Assistance is money extended to individuals or families through an agency of the U.S. government. The objective for this one is to provide educational assistance to persons who entered the Armed Forces after December 31, 1976 and before July 1, 1985. Another objective for this personal grant is to allow these veterans to obtain education, and thereby promote a voluntary military program in the U.S. by attracting qualified persons to the service.

To be eligible for this Vietnam program, the applicant must have served honorably on active duty for more than 180 continuous days beginning on or after January 1, 1977. If you were discharged after such date because of a disability acquired in line of duty then you are qualified. Applicants who served more than 180 days and completed first period of obligated service or 6 years of active duty whichever comes first are also eligible for free personal grants under this program. Satisfactory contribution of a monthly deduction of $25 to $100 from military pay from participants is also required to qualify for free personal grants. Lump sum contributions made before March 31, 1987 are allowed.

The American Cancer Society has a program that offers free personal grants to persons afflicted with cancer. Free funds are extended to treatment-related travel expenses including transportation, medicine and medical supplies.

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is another organization that provides personal funds to patients in need. This program is supported entirely by public contributions.

Free grants are also available for students who intend to pursue their college studies. Pell Grants is one of the programs students can tap into to fund their advance studies. There are also a number of campus-based aid programs.

Pres. George Bush’s New Freedom Initiatives also give free personal grants to disabled persons. With the implementation and changes of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 54 million Americans are now given the chance to receive free funds to improve their educational, employment and social opportunities.

The above-mentioned programs are just a few of the many personal grant programs available today, backed by private or public funds. Usually established for a cause like scholarship or cancer-treatment, free personal grants are there to ease your personal needs.

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If you Have a Printer, You’ll Love Free Printables!

admin — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 21:53:49 +0000

Maybe you haven’t heard about free printables. They are a great resource for free stuff that you can print from your own computer. There are free printables available for everything from birthday party invitations and greeting cards to cute crafts and other fun stuff that will help you keep the kids busy!

Free printables also make Mom’s life easier. Need a last minute birthday card? No problem. Would you like to make up your own party favors or shower games? Start printing. You can even find cute scrapbooking ideas, party sets, and holiday items.

There’s no limit to what you can do and how much fun you and your kids can have, and the best part is that it’s all free. You are not going to find a better deal than free printables, so go ahead, start printing right away!

Here are some great ways to use free printables:

*Create an entire birthday part from invitations to treat bags.

*Throw a shower and print your own invitations, games, and thank you notes.

*Find festive free printables to make every holiday gathering more special.

*Dress up an anniversary party with personalized party favors.

*Add interest to your scrapbook pages or keepsake albums that hold school certificates, class pictures, report cards, and award ribbons.

What could be better than having fun and saving money all at the same time?

Some great free printable sites are Moms Break http://www.momsbreak.com, The Craft Cafe http://thecraftcafe.com and Best Baby Shower Cards http://bestbabyshowercards.com.Find printables on search engines by using keywords “free printables” or free printable combine with the keywords describing the type of free printables you are looking for.

Pen Pals Online at Free Pen Pals Sites

admin — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 19:43:02 +0000

Nowadays, pen pals sites create many online friends locally and around the world. Friends can find each other on the Internet without paying any fee. You can seek pen pals of the world at totally free pen pals sites. These services offer friends to find free pen pal addresses. Pen pals online at free pen pals sites have been so popular these days. The fact that you have all the control to decide whom you want to meet and whom you are planning to make contact with are another great advantages you get from using online pen pals services. Online pen pals is also considerably safe, and you can minimize your risks as low as you want to. If you do not want people to know your personal details too much, you can always set privacy profile of your account accordingly.

You also meet with new people without having to meet them physically. This can reduce the amount of time spent to search dates, and could also be safer since you are not meeting with strangers in person. Online pen pals service has been having more and more users joining each month. There are several things that makes online pen pals appears to be interesting to its users, especially when compared to conventional pen pals agencies. Online pen pals gives you total control on your date seeking process. You get to set a profile of yourself, including your pictures and certain likes and dislikes. Then, you can use the automated search feature on online pen pals sites to find people of the opposite sex that matches your criteria and most likely have similarities to you. Those automated search mechanism usually look for similar interest or other feats that will make the two of you fit for each other.

This is a huge advantage for you. You are obviously making contacts and new friends with people that have the same mission as you are: finding dates. It is easy to get started with online pen pals services. There are several online pen pals services available throughout the internet, and you can even get reviews on various sites available to know which one is the best for you. Once you have decided which site to join, all you have to do is sign up to that site and start making profiles immediately. There are some sites that offer premium services, which means you have to pay a certain amount of money to use their pen pals services or to gain access to features only available to premium users. If you are serious about seeking a date using online pen pals services, these premium features might be worth the cost. The possibilities of online pen pals are endless. You can meet people from all around the world just by sitting in front of your computer, in the comfort of your own house.

Once you found someone you are interested in, you could send him or her messages showing your interest. In most cases, you will most certainly get replies and the conversation between the two of you will set off in no time. You see how easy it can get? Another great point of online pen pals agencies is that you do not have to deal with all those first date shyness until you really know the person. So, some pen pals online service create not only friendships but relationships as well. Joining a totally free penpal service is the best step to find pen pals online now.

Photography Marketing Ideas for Photographers:10 Low Cost Ideas

admin — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 05:14:07 +0000

Marketing your photography studio does not have to be expensive. I’ve used hundreds of low cost marketing strategies over the last twenty five years and managed to build my photography studio to the point where I am one the busiest and most successful studios in my city. Here’s a few tips for you:

1. Create a photo display. A photography display can be as simple as displaying a few small portraits at a store and offering some free information about your studio or more elaborate set ups with framed wall samples. You can even create large temporary displays in malls or at events such as trade shows.

The important thing is how it looks. You will attract a lot of attention with some great images, especially from woman, who happen to be your target market. Displays will help you create a lot of business if you play your cards right. Have a great selection of images, be presentable yet never pushy, have a system for collecting names and address’s from those wanting more information by simply asking or offering a draw prize, and keep in touch with all those prospects. It’s the beginning of a potential long term and lucrative relationship.

2. Have a free giveaway. Offer a time limited in studio session and small reprint. Tell them there is no obligation for further purchase, and mean it. You will make some sales anyways and you will acquire many long term clients if you do a good job for them.

Some will only grab the freebie, but the odds are very good that you will upsell without being sneaky or pushy. Especially if you are professional and create some great images. Do this at mall displays, banks, schools or offer it to a list of clients from a non-competitive business in your town or city. Freebies are the best way to get your studio busy, start making sales and most of all for getting tons of exposure.

3. Reward referrals. Make a policy to reward anyone who brings you referrals. When a client brings in a propective client, give them a gift of appreciation, such as a coupon worth reprints dollars at your studio, frames, or to a local spa or restaurant. As an added incentive, give a small gift to the new client as well.

4. Create a tie-in with another business. Contact a local business and offer to exchange coupons. For example, your client receives coupons from a local restaurant, hair salon, spa, or wherever your typical prospect would shop. A great place to start is with clients of yours who already own their own businesses.

5. Make your reception or waiting room “prospect and sales friendly”. Whenever you create a family portrait or are shooting a wedding there are often people waiting in your reception area. Offer them snacks or something to drink. Make sure your place looks great and smells nice. Make it comfortable. Use this time to increase your upcoming sales presentation by explaining some of the items such as wall portraits and other packages and services. Answer objections that you know will be coming up later during the sale presentation with a consultive approach and people will not only trust you more but will likely make the sale easier for you and even buy more. This is also a great time to collect names. These people are somehow associated with you and at this point make excellent prospects.

6. Make copies of news articles about yourself and your studio. Hang them on the walls or pass them out. Past publicity is better than any advertising or promotional literature you can create. Give copies of positive articles to everyone who comes in for information.

7. Raise money for charity. Not only do you help a good cause, you get plenty of free, positive publicity and exposure. Hold a contest, offer some photography classes, give out free booklets- that you can easily write yourself and print for pennies by having them photocopied- think up your own exciting charity event.

8. Submit press releases to the local newspapers about a noteworthy event at your studio or a human interest story. Did you win a photography contest? Is there and article on photography that relates to local sites in your area or has to do with the seasons? Make your release interesting to the readers, never self-serving and you will get press coverage.

9. Give a free photography seminar or presentation at your studio. Invite members of the public and clients family members to be a part. A seminar gives them the chance to see your studio and your work. Offer something timely to do with how to create great photographs with digital cameras or offer a slide show from some of your more exotic travels. You could create an exhibition highlighting your work. Don’t forget to invite the local newspaper.

10. Leave your business cards everywhere. Whenever you are at a restaurant, leave a nice tip and your card. Drop a stack off at the local jewellry store. Make sure card is loaded with your best samples and print on both sides to maximize the space for your sales message.