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First, I must apologize for not writing a newsletter for so long. After The Parents Toolshop went national in 2000, I hired an assistant and managed to publish a few newsletters through 2001. In 2002 I was still working my regular job and expanding PTC, so I let the newsletters slide. In the beginning of 2003, my job ended and at the end of 2003 my administrative assistant resigned. I'm back to doing all the order fulfillment, accounting and correspondence, but so much has happened, I wanted to reconnect with all the parents, professionals and referral sources who have been so supportive to PTC and me through the years. If you’d like to read a one-page recap of PTC’s highlights of 2002 and 2003, go to the Parents Toolshop website’s "Newsletter" section (http://www.parentstoolshop.com/HTML/newsletter.htm). It seems that 2004 may be a break-through year for Parents Toolshop Consulting. So much has happened in these first three months, I can't imagine what the rest of the year will bring! I've been asked by KFC (yes, I mean Kentucky Fried Chicken...or is it now Kitchen Fresh Chicken?) to serve as a parenting expert for their new Laptop Mom's Council campaign. I'll be writing several articles for a free e-newsletter moms will receive when they sign up for the Laptop Sweepstakes.(The "laptop" is a new kids meal.) I am also waiting to hear from a producer about appearing as a guest expert on a national television show (I can't reveal which one yet). I have 10 speaking and/or exhibiting trips scheduled this year (8 of them in the next 9 weeks)! I’m especially looking forward to a trip to Florida in May. The first day I’ll have a barbeque with the 12 Florida Toolshop instructors and give a keynote and break-out session the second day. They have arranged a waterfront condo for my stay! I can't wait! I’ll really need a day to relax towards the end of my travel marathon. I just returned from my first speaking/exhibiting trip this year. It was the NW Parent Educator conference in Vancouver WA...all parent educators! I got a standing ovation for one of my presentations and people flocked to the exhibit booth, where I sold out the materials I brought! Four+ dynamite ladies signed up at the conference be instructors so I'll be going back in 6-9 months to do their GF certification training. It was a great way to kick off my traveling tour. I have three new books I want to write, including a basic parents handbook, written at an easy reading level. Many busy parents and parent educators who serve low-literate parents have been requesting this. I also want to publish a Spanish-language version of this book and a college textbook, which I'm co-writing with a professor (see the 2002/2003 highlights for details). Single-handedly self-publishing, speaking at local and national training programs for parents, professionals and parent educators while supervising a nationwide network of Toolshop instructors takes a lot of resources! I've decided I need to either win the lottery or have an investor offer me funding to continue self-publishing — or I need to get out of the self-publishing business and find a publisher and/or agent. I’m opting for the second, more realistic approach, but the process is costly and time-consuming. So this will be a top-priority project for 2004. In late 2003, I did a major overhaul of our on-line store. I added: I regularly update the Parents Toolshop website, so periodically check out the "What’s New" page (first link off the home page at www.ParentsToolshop.com) for the latest news and additions. Parents Toolshop schedules are on-line for Group Facilitators who have submitted their schedules to PTC. There is also a full listing of all the 2004 conferences, professional CEU workshops and parenting workshops I am offering. See http://www.parentstoolshop.com/HTML/Schedules2.htm Parents in South Dayton can register for my parenting classes on-line now. See http://www.parentstoolshop.com/HTML/ClassRegister.htm Remember that I upload a new parenting advice article each month to the Star Press page of the "Articles and Advice" section. Check regularly at http://www.parentstoolshop.com/HTML/StarPressHome.htm Participate in a 20-part Parents Toolshop E-mail Tips Workshop. It will give you a crash course in The Parents Toolshop’s basic teachings. Go to http://www.womenmovingforward.com/. Click on the "Parenting" category and select the "Universal Blueprint for Parenting" series. The cost is $10. If you would like to use some of the resources that previously only certified Parents Toolshop instructors were allowed to use — without Parents Toolshop instructor certification, check out the "Parent Educator Package" in the Parent Educator’s catalog of our website or go to: http://www.parentstoolshop.com/HTML/parentedCATALOG.HTML#PEP Kit) The kit includes all of the following: The Parents Toolshop book, Skill Assessment tool, Puzzler masters and Interactive Activity Manual and Prop Kit in a handy tote bag. These resources cost over $130 when purchased separately. You save over $15! PEPtalk is a publication for parent educators published by Parenting Press. They will soon be changing the format from a print newsletter to an e-newsletter. For years, I’ve purchased a group subscription for all the PTLeader Standards & Practices committee members to thank them for their service. It is a valuable resource all parent educators want to check out. See http://www.parentingpress.com/peptalk.html I’m restarting a Dayton-area Parents Toolshop Parenting Class Graduate Support Group. Graduates from any Parents Toolshop class are welcome to attend. Dayton-area graduates will be receiving an opinion survey with their Spring class flyer to help me decide the best times, formats, dates, costs, etc. FOR CERTIFIED "Group Facilitator" INSTRUCTORS Remember to submit your schedules to PTC for inclusion in the website. You might be surprised how many people check the website to find Parents Toolshop classes in your area! It’s free, so even one "hit" for your class will be worth the time it takes to simply mail/fax your schedule to PTC. Also remember that the PTLeader Standards & Practices Manual is now completely on-line. (See http://www.parentstoolshop.com/HTML/DownloadGFSP.htm) Whenever there is a change, we update it within 7 days. Be sure to read it prior to certification and recertification. That section also has forms you may need, in the Appendix. Welcome to three new Pre-certification Liaisons: Dawn Armey, Sharon Pierce and Melissa Sanders. The "old" (um, I mean "experienced") liaisons, Cambra Mockabee, Deb Ruscitelli and Deanna Campbell Todd, are very grateful for their assistance as it seems our ranks will be expanding by leaps and bounds this year! Deb Ruscitelli is the recipient of the Outstanding GF of 2003 Award! Deb received unanimous nominations/votes due to her exceptional attention to detail and frequent use of a red pen while the S&P committee decided and wrote the new certification guidelines for college students, professors and Trainer-Of-Trainers. Congratulations Deb! Well, I hope this brings me up-to-date with the newsletters — and that I can stay on-track! Thank you for your ongoing support of
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