Albertideation » ideation

Farm My Yard Design Contest in full swing!

albertkaufman — Mon, 07 May 2012 18:08:19 +0000

I’m having fun with a sign design contest. Check it out @ http://farmmyyard.org/yard-sign-design-contest/
Here’s Kate posing with my first sign this weekend. This is going to be good!

Filed under: albertideation, BackYard Farming, BermPortland, climate change, climate warming, Community Gardens, Farm My Roof, Farm My Yard, Gardening, grass seed, ideation, long-range planning, opening our minds, Peaceful Revolution, Revolution, SPIN Farming, Suburban Farming, Sunflowers, thriving in the future, Urban Farming, yardsharing

Pulling Together

albertkaufman — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 17:33:58 +0000

In my work as a networker, social networker, email marketing, Facebook teaching, activist, kibbutznik, I tend to think big picture much of the time. At one of my recent Facebook classes, one of the participants, Robert, pulled me aside and asked “why aren’t we Portlanders pulling together more of the time?” He had lived in San Diego and watched as the new age movement prospered there as many of the participants would support each other by buying one anothers’ books, attending each others’ seminars and basically boostering for one another – the helping all boats to rise theory in action. And, it worked.

I agree with Robert and have often thought that our community could use a directory of services, a bank/fund for helping members through tough times as well as something that might be available for scholarships for dance workshops or similar purposes. Since I think that ecstatic dancing is the cat’s meow, and one of the best methods for staying healthy and smart and is also a great community creation tool (like), I’ve also been interested in seeing it spread far and wide. To that end, I wrote this piece last year, and also turned it into a cute cartoon.

Since then a few folks from Portland have gone and started ecstatic dance in their new communities – Erik Blender in Orcas Island and Cheri Anderson in Surprise Valley near Phoenix are the two that I’m most familiar with, and if there are more – please let me know about them. If you know people who live near these areas, please send them Cheri/Erik’s way – as their success will both add to their financial well-being, but will also move more people in the direction of the goodness we have found. Spreading good ideas = healing the planet.

In this vein, Eleanor O’Brien’s show, Dominatrix for Dummies, is a big shout out for ecstatic dance. Eleanor’s show is playing in Seattle 4 more times – we all know people who live in Seattle – help her show sell out and help your friends find their way to the dance floor (The Seattle ecstatic dance scene is building with new dances starting up at OmCulture and beyond. They even have a clothing optional dance… Portlandia???) Eleanor and her show are also about to take the show further afield to Santa Cruz, CA, Orlando, Edmonton (Canada), St. Lawrence, NY and elsewhere. If you want to help spread the goodness of ecstatic dance and support one of our own, figure out how to track what Eleanor’s doing (her email list is a good start, get on it!) and send your friends and relatives to see her when she comes to their town. She’s probably also up for performing her show in towns that are on her road-trip route if you want to go the extra mile

Pulling Together for reals

What would our community look like if we were all pulling for each other a little bit more? I’ve got a list of local healthcare providers who are mostly dancers that I share with the world. What would happen if we routed our buying decisions through a dance filter? It’s certainly something to ponder. I welcome your comments and involvement.

Thanks for dancing
Thanks for continuing to show up
Thanks for continuing to DJ
Thanks for continuing to make alters
Thanks, Thanks, Thanks!

Albert, Caffe D’arte, April 18, 2012

Filed under: albertideation, ecstatic dance, ideation, long-range planning, opening our minds, Our Community University, Personal Wellness, social networking, thriving in the future

Facebook Fan/Business Page Class in Portlandia – March 30th

albertkaufman — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 19:07:03 +0000

Facebook fan/business pages are a great marketing tool for your business. On March 30th fan pages are all being transitioned to Timeline.

Let’s come together and learn

how to update our fan pages
fan page best practices
fan pages – backend (adjust settings)
creating events
the difference between fan pages and personal profiles
Social Fixer. What it is and why I recommend it!

and have your other Facebook/social media questions answered.

The class is part presentation and part lab and also a great place to network with other small business people.

Class fee $20 – trade also considered. Snacks and tea provided. Feel free to bring your lunch.

If you have any questions, feel free to post them in the comments below.

Please create a fan page before the class so you’ll have something to work with in class.

Here is information I sent to my clients recently about Facebook changes.

——

Hello,

There are about to be some big changes to Fan Pages/Business Pages (same thing) on Facebook. If you haven’t already noticed, fan pages are being switched (like personal pages) to Timeline. Here is a little video about the change.

http://youtu.be/TMBTD0vNYqs

Also, there are a few articles floating around that go into deeper detail about what these changes mean for you and your business.

http://nonprofitorgs.wordpress.com/2012/03/05/how-to-custom-design-your-nonprofits-facebook-timeline/

Here are some examples of how one might design a decent Fan Page given the new Timeline platform.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150724366310977.454038.24860070976&type=3

If you would like support on any of your email marketing or social networking needs, please get in touch. Referrals are also welcome!

I hope your life is thriving!

Sincerely,

Albert Kaufman
albertkaufman@gmail.com
http://albertideation.com/

Filed under: albertideation, Constant Contact, email marketing, Facebook, Google+, ideation, LinkedIn, marketing, Our Community University, Portlandia, social networking, Twitter, Vertical Response

Free class on Constant Contact – Friday, 3/23

albertkaufman — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 20:59:47 +0000

Free class on Constant Contact – Friday, 3/23 – The Happy Clam – 1823 NE 13th Ave.

Facebook invite…

I’ll teach what I know about Constant Contact in a free class at my house on Friday 3/23 from 11am-2pm

We’ll discuss

whether Constant Contact is right for you (cost vs. benefit)
how to upload emails into your account
segmenting your lists
how to pick a good template for yourself/business
how often to send updates
what content makes for a great newsletter
setting up your first newsletter

and all the ins and outs of using Constant Contact that I’ve learned over the past 4 years.

to RSVP for the class all you need to do is register for a free trial account via the link below and let me know you’ve done this @ albertkaufman@gmail.com

http://pdx.be/cc-ak

If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

Albert Kaufman
Albertideation

http://albertideation.com/

albertkaufman@gmail.com

Filed under: albertideation, Constant Contact, email marketing, ideation, social networking

Road Scholar (Elderhostel) Program in Portland, Oregon – Sustainability issues

albertkaufman — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 05:18:26 +0000

Your comments welcome below. Thanks for your input. What do you think?
Thanks to Annelise Kelly, The Palate Pioneer, for her editing brilliance!

March 16, 2012

Road Scholar
11 Avenue de Lafeyette
Boston, MA 02111

Attention: Domestic Program Development

Hello!

My parents have been enjoying Road Scholar programs for many years. When planning to visit me in Portland, Oregon recently they were interested in combining their visit with one of your programs. It occurred to me that Road Scholar could offer a program around what this city is really excelling at – sustainable development, urban planning, mass transit and other related topics. I imagine participants might be interested in exploring these topics and taking some of what Portland has learned back to their own communities.

Portland has attracted some of the brightest minds in the sustainability movement. Their exciting work is creating a stir worldwide. I find living here fascinating (watch an episode of the new IFC show, Portlandia, and you’ll quickly see what I mean). I imagine some of your participants would enjoy visiting the “real” Portlandia and learning what all of the buzz is about.

Portland’s excellent food and natural attractions such as the Columbia Gorge would help make such a program quite popular.

Here are a few of the courses/topics I propose for a Portland Road Scholar program:

Community Gardens/Orchards
City Repair – a local group that works to make the city more livable cityrepair.org
Mass Transit – light rail/street cars/buses = Livability – streetcars? – we make them here!
Depaving – removing pavement and adding in community gardens – depave.org
Neighborhood Councils – Portland has more than any other city and they are effective at creating change
Neighborhood Art Walks: Last Thursday on Alberta St., 1st Thursday in the Pearl , and more
Reviving main street – small businesses thrive in Portland – Buy Local Movement
Bike Culture – seeing Portland by bike
Tree planting (Friends of Trees) and other eco-conscious ways that the City’s infrastructure is being improved – storm water, bioswales…
Hi-tech: Portland is a center for technical innovation. Participants could take part in social networking classes, learning how to document their Portland experience and share it with friends. I’ve been teaching classes in this since 2009 and I would love to offer my services.
Portlandia behind the scenes – why is Portlandia funny? A Portlandia screening in an old movie theater and then visits to some of the places shown in the series
McMenamins– This thriving local empire restores local movie theaters, chapels, and lodges into thriving brewpubs, restaurants and hotels. Their success speaks to Portland’s appreciation of history and culture of creative re-use.
The Re-Building Center – the re-use of building materials
Portland’s quality-of-life values: getting rid of the freeway separating downtown from the river led to many other improvements and helps make Portland one of the most livable cities in the United States. See also: our amazing urban growth boundary
Farmers Markets, food carts, local restaurants
Ecstatic and Tango dance – both are experiencing steady growth in Portland (we are also the center for NIA and other body movement therapies)
Alternative medicine –Portland’s alternative healthcare scene is thriving (acupuncture, massage, watsu, etc.)

These are some sample topics. I can imagine many more which could contribute to an evolving program for those who visit Portland.

As a 10-year Portland resident and an avid networker I have contacts with many experts on the above topics who would serve as excellent teachers. I would be glad to coordinate any and all aspects of this project and am also excited to collaborate, another Portland skill! I have long had an interest in teaching retired people life skills and this course could include tracks in financial management, alternative healthcare choices and other later in life skills.

Portland is a special place. It’s repeatedly listed as one of the most desirable places to live in the United States. If this idea interests Road Scholar let’s discuss the idea further. I hope we can make a Road Scholar Portland Sustainable City program happen. And, I’m sure my parents; Rich and Hannah Kaufman will be the first to sign up!

Sincerely,

Albert Kaufman

Filed under: albertideation, BermPortland, Community Gardens, Friends of Trees, Gardening, ideation, mentoring, opening our minds, Our Community University, Personal Wellness, Portlandia, Road Scholar, social networking, thriving in the future, tree planting

Lone Fir Community Garden

albertkaufman — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 22:33:22 +0000

3.19.12 – I believe this is a good idea, and have put this effort on hold for the time being as I learn more on the issue. Feel free to ask how it’s going, to me, and Metro…

Yes, it’s time for a new face for the SW corner of the Lone Fir Cemetery, dontcha think? Here’s a petition to that end. Please sign and encourage your friends to, thanks!

http://www.change.org/petitions/turn-the-sw-corner-of-the-lone-fir-cemetery-into-a-community-garden-please

Filed under: climate change, Community Gardens, Eating Well, ideation, Lone Fir Cemetary, long-range planning, Personal Wellness, Sunflowers, thriving in the future

GoDaddy no More, I’m switching my domains to Dreamhost

albertkaufman — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 02:28:12 +0000

My good friend Bill recommended Dreamhost for domain hosting and I trust his recommendation. Plus, GoDaddy are sexist, for starters. Bye, jerks.

Filed under: ideation, long-range planning, marketing, social networking

LinkedIn, Facebook and Constant Contact

albertkaufman — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:13:44 +0000

Happy GroundHog Day!

My friend Betsy asked me how I find LinkedIn useful, and one of my answers to her has to do with any social network. When someone asks me to connect on LinkedIn or Facebook, I usually accept and then have a customized message (if I don’t know the person) which says hello and asks them if they’d like to receive my newsletter. Most accept the invitation and then possibly become future clients, friends, referrals, who knows? It’s a time-consuming process, but has led to positive results.

Here are the examples that I’ve worked up for Facebook and LinkedIn. Yours could be personalized for the work you’re doing

__o
_ `\ <, _
…… ( • ) / ( • )……

——————

Hello Darlene,

We’ve just become friends on Facebook, yeah! It’s always interesting to me as to why someone would like to be my friend. If you care to share, please write back. Also, I put out a monthly e-mail newsletter called The Eleven. If you’d like to receive it, please send me your email address or sign up here, http://tinyurl.com/TheEleven-signup. Lastly, I have a fan page here called Albertideation @ http://facebook.com/albertideation . It’s where on FB, I tend to share social networking tips and tricks.

Hope your new year is ringing in well,

Adios, Albert

——–

Hi Bhagvant,

We’ve just become connected on LinkedIn, yeah! It’s always interesting to me as to why someone would like to connect. If you care to share, please write back. Also, I put out a monthly e-mail newsletter called The Eleven. If you’d like to receive it, please let me know or sign up here,

http://tinyurl.com/TheEleven-signup.

Here’s the most recent issue: http://pdx.be/oneeleventwelve

Hope your new year is ringing in well,

Adios,

Albert Kaufman
Albertideation
http://albertideation.com

Filed under: albertideation, Constant Contact, email marketing, Facebook, Google+, ideation, LinkedIn, marketing, social networking

Vertical Response

albertkaufman — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 02:42:10 +0000

I recently worked with Vertical Response while doing some work for Friends of Trees. I enjoyed the program and thought I’d offer it to clients.

For a comparison between different email marketing programs, click here.

Filed under: albertideation, Constant Contact, email marketing, ideation, marketing, social networking, Vertical Response

Albert on TV – 2011

albertkaufman — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 05:13:08 +0000

Albert Kaufman, Jim Lockhart and Richard Carpenter on today’s issues – Portland Cable Access – Fall, 2011

I took part in a show with Jim Lockhart and Richard Carpenter recently to discuss population growth and other environmental issues. I got to be the star and so thought I’d put this out into cyberspace for my own record of my current thinking and hopefully to entertain and enlighten others. Let me know what you think.

http://youtu.be/bfA44l5R6Xw

Filed under: albertideation, climate change, ideation, Occupy Portland, Occupy Wall Street, opening our minds, Peaceful Revolution, phone book opt in system, population growth, Portlandia, Revolution, thriving in the future, transit game