Photo of the recent solar eclipse – photoshop by Larz

From one of my earliest Hebrew School teachers, Dan Aldouby, who wrote this for my birthday, May 11th:
“…It’s been quite a journey to this day, hasn’t it Albert? Who
would have thought, those many years ago, that one of my favorite
imps, would grow into a rational, sane, thinking, mensch. I’ve been
very happy following your trail, and am so happy that, at least, one
of my students turned out to be a minor earthshaker. What you have
accomplished, thus far, to help so many other human beings,
automatically allows you entrance to any of the heavens of your
choice. You may sit at God’s footstool, study Talmud with Moses, or
you can choose to find Jesus and ask him why he allowed all who
followed to twist his teachings, or—-if you are so inclined, you
can join allah and loll with all your virgins. However, you may also
wish to return to earth. This is poses a question –Assuming that
you are reincarnated as a different species, would you be content to
just plant your roots in one place and produce aromatic flowers?
“Tis a puzzlement. Hamlet put it very well, with his famous
soliloquy. Anyway, enough of this droning. May you live to be 120
with all dentition in place, no need for medications, and reasons to
smile and laugh every day.
Happy Birthday,
Dan

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

10am – 12pm – The Happy Clam – 1823 NE 13^th Ave., Portland, OR – bring your laptop and your login for your Facebook account – cost: $20 (other options available) – bring your business cards, too.  More info and RSVP @ albertkaufman@gmail.com  - tea/hot water provided and lite snacks

1. Timeline – where is everything, where did things go now that we’re all on Timeline?
2. Timeline Tour for personal profiles
   1. Things that haven’t changed: how to make a link
3. Facebook: it’s a program and other things:  a hobby and a business tool
   1. How to introduce friends to each other
   2. How to introduce other entities to each other – being helpful
   3. How to use events creatively
4. How to use Facebook search to find things – always go to “more results page” Why?
5. Facebook Netiquette
   1. What makes a great post?
   2. Being creative
   3. Photos, links, questions – best practices
   4. Coming out of your shell
   5. Being helpful – key to social networking success
   6. Using the friend finder do’s and don’ts – avoid Facebook detention
   7. Gifting – adding to the conversation, spreading good ideas
   8. Taking care when posting to another person’s/business’s wall
   9. Unsubscribing vs. defriending someone
   10. Unliking fan pages
   11. How to post on a fan page
6. Settings
   1. Privacy – always use HTTPS
   2. Notifications – they appear on your profile, you don’t need to receive them by email unless you want to
7. Creating lists of friends – super useful
   1. Purposes of other lists – creating them, posting to them
8. Difference between personal and business profiles
   1. Differences in platforms
   2. Differences in behavior
9. Tips: using Facebook successfully – reducing the frustration factor
   1. Notifications – opening relevant ones in new tabs to save time
10. Useful 3^rdParty tools that are useful
    1. Social Fixer (http://socialfixer.com)
    2. URL shorteners – pdx.be or tinyurl.com
    3. Aggregators – ping.fm or hootesuite
11. If you’re going to take the time to “like” something, comment instead.   Why?

12-1pm Lunch break

1-3pm – Intermediate-Advanced Facebook Class.  (folks from early class are welcome to stay)

1. Facebook is different for different people/uses
   1. There is no one “right” way – anyone who tells you there is is wrong.
   2. Facebook settings/experience changes often – how to surf the changes rather than get caught offguard
   3. This platform is new and we’re all figuring it out together
   4. Fan page vs. website (there are 750 million Facebook users and it’s growing, you/your business benefits by having a presence here
2. Personal profile vs. business fan page – review Q/A for anyone who has questions
   1. Traveling as yourself on Facebook                                              i.     Strategies: want more friends? Why is that useful Marketing strategy – More friends = more connections
      ii.     If Facebook personal profile = really personal, send new friend requests to Fan Page.  It’s OK to say no to friend requests.  Redirecting makes sense.Traveling as a fan/business page on Facebook
      i.     Posting on another fan/business page – what to expect
      ii.     Ladders and tagging sessions

1. Using Facebook search correctly. It’s not Google. Always review “more results” Why?
2. Using friend finder and other methods – do’s and don’ts – don’t get stuck in Facebook detention
   1. Uploading email lists to let people know about your fan page
   2. If you’re going for numbers – Facebook email addresses are available in bulk
   3. Linkedin email addresses are easily downloadable
   4. What to do with email addresses of friends/connections                                              i.     Auto-responder for Facebook friend requests
      ii.     Auto-responder for Linkedin requests

1. Listing your fan page in places
   1. Usernames – get the right one.
   2. on your website
   3. email newsletter
2. Overlap of various social networks – Twitter, LinkedIn
3. Useful 3^rdParty tools and social networking
   1. Aggregators – when to use them: ping.fm, Hootesuite, best practices
   2. Social Fixer (http://socialfixer.com)
4. What is Pinterest?
5. What is Google+

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/

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

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

We had a great tree planting in Irvington, Sabin, Grant Park, and Alameda neighborhoods last weekend (March 10, 2012). thanks are in order! Here are some of the folks we want to thank!

1. Friends of Trees Staff – esp. Jesse Batty and Erica Timm – for leading the charge and making the event go so smoothly.
2. Eric McClelland and Marai Boamod – who drove the rental truck to Molalla and back and picked up our trees!
3. To our fabulous local businesses who donated food and drink for the breakast and lunches: Whole Foods, Helen Bernhard Bakery, Costello’s Travel Caffe, Caffe D’arte, Peet’s Coffee on NE Broadway, Kettleman’s Bagels
4. To the Holladay Park Church of God which has housed the event 2 years in a row. thank you!
5. To our 150 volunteers who gather early on a Saturday morning and head out into the day and planted the trees – thanks for your labor and generous spirit!
6. To neighbors who made food and donated food – the soups and chilis and stews were delicious, thank you!
7. To Holli Talkington who photographed our day!
8. The members of the band: Ten Spiders – we loved your music! Ten Spiders is available for hire – a great addition to just about any occation.
9. To Alan Rahi and his partner Mira Eng-Goetz for designing and printing over 150 shirts for us! If you didn’t pick yours up it is probably waiting for you at the Friends of Trees office.
10. To my fellow neighborhood coordinators: Lisa, Malcha, and Neil, who do a lot of behind the scenes work to make the planting go well – esp. including picking up the food donations and calling in utility locations.

I’m sure there are more people to thank, please feel free to add them into the comment section.  And, I’ll add more pictures here as they come in!  Thanks everyone for your help in adding to Portland’s canopy.

This year’s planting featured the volunteer effort of many young people.  I’ve never seen that many young people volunteering together before – it was impressive. Some day I hope that these young people will come back and visit the trees they planted and smile.

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

I have an idea for an article for BlueOregon that I might write. It goes something like this. What if we (Portlanders/Oregonians) lived with a newspaper that had a more even keel to it, instead of reaching off into far right positions as the Oregonian often does. Instead, what if our paper had more of a positive, progressive take on things. Instead of seeing a forest and thinking board feet – once in a while the paper might give environmental/tourism/other species a chance. Instead of mirroring the views of business alliances and conservative religious views we might experience something less op-ed intensive, and more straight news. I wonder how our lives might be different. My guess is that there would be more readership, and perhaps more people would take leadership in the community as they’d have less fear of sticking their necks out and become part of an attack in the editorial pages of the local paper. I think it would probably also lead to more reasoned debate on the issues of the day. Thoughts?

…‎Jonathan: not sure I want to start a new paper. Just wondering “what if”. What if I lived in a town where the paper reflected the zeitgeist of the people who lived there. And it does happen. Eugene has a paper that is very “Eugene”. It’s actually incredible to read. Especially the letters section. Instead of keeping everyone in a constant state of suspense and printing and lot of bullshit, the paper seems to encourage creativity and action.

(Sarah mentioned the great small papers we have here ) I want the main paper to be that good, too. I could be. I was in Las Vegas recently. Their paper is even-keeled, and pleasant and interesting and topical and seems more useful than keeping everyone fighting all the time. There didn’t seem to be a vendetta like the O has with the Mayor, with environmentalists, with Occupy Portland, with some of the City Council members. the paper is a bully. The paper also supported Bush and Gordon Smith which were so unreflective of the people who live here that they just stood out as stupid, and awful. They continue to be that on a daily basis, thus making our City less friendly, less cooperative and more libertarian and crass.

I think we can have better and deserve better. It’s not going to just happen magically. It may be one more area we have to fight for in our lives.