A Tribute to the Liberation Theologians- Prophetic Witnesses for Justice

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I am a believer in Liberation Theology. Really, there should not be a need for liberation theology if we believe the Bible. But since people ignore the message of liberation and justice, God must raise prophetic voices, including the proponents of liberation theology. It is only from a context of wealth, power, and privilege that one can ignore the liberation announced in the Bible by Jesus and the Hebrew Prophets. - Lance
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Oscar Romero (+), Archbishop of El Salvador, Martyr "Voice of the Voiceless."

"A church that suffers no persecution but enjoys the privileges and support of the things of the earth - beware! - is not the true church of Jesus Christ. A preaching that does not point out sin is not the preaching of the gospel. A preaching that makes sinners feel good, so that they are secured in their sinful state, betrays the gospel's call." (1/22/78) -- Salt of the Earth's remembrance of Archbishop Oscar Romero

Tissa Balasuriya, O.M.I. (+)

"Christians need a profound cultural revolution to transform them into a force that will subvert injustice and tyranny. The weekly meetings of Christians provide an excellent opportunity for both inner personal growth and social commitment - if these meetings are courageously and wisely utilised." - Tissa Balasuriya, O.M.I. (+)

Elsa Tamez, Methodist, author of the Scandalous Message of James. 

“God remains silent so that men and women may speak, protest, and struggle. God remains silent so that people may really become people. When God is silent and men and women cry, God cries in solidarity with them but doesn't intervene. God waits for the shouts of protest.” ― Elsa Tamez

Geervarghese Mar Osthathios (+) Metropolitan Archbishop of Indian Orthodox Church, author of The Sin of Being Rich in a Poor World, and, Theology of a Classless Society

“ [Socialism] is nearer biblical teaching than capitalism or a mixed economy” - Geervarghese Mar Osthathios from Theology of a Classless Theology

James Cone

“To sing about freedom and to pray for its coming is not enough. Freedom must be actualized in history by oppressed peoples who accept the intellectual challenge to analyze the world for the purpose of changing it.” - James Cone, credited as being the founder of Black Liberation Theology, author of A Black Theology of Liberation, and, God of the Oppressed.

Father Rutillio Grande, Martyr (+)

"I am fully aware that very soon the Bible and the Gospels will not be allowed to cross the border. All that will reach us will be the covers, since all the pages are subversive—against sin, it is said. So that if Jesus crosses the border at Chalatenango, they will not allow him to enter. They would accuse him, the man-God ... of being an agitator, of being a Jewish foreigner, who confuses the people with exotic and foreign ideas, anti-democratic ideas, and i.e., against the minorities. Ideas against God, because this is a clan of Cain’s. Brothers, they would undoubtedly crucify him again. And they have said so." - Father Rutilio Grande, Martyr (+)

Dr. Cornel West, author of Race Matters. 

“In a time in which Communist regimes have been rightfully discredited and yet alternatives to neoliberal capitalist societies are unwisely dismissed, I defend the fundamental claim of Marxist theory: there must be countervailing forces that defend people's needs against the brutality of profit driven capitalism.” ― Dr. Cornel West, The Cornel West Reader

Gustavo Gutierrez, author of A Theology of Liberation

“Jesus attacks the roots of an unjust order; for Jesus, the liberation of the Jewish people was only one aspect of a universal, permanent revolution” -  Gustavo Gutierrez, author of A Theology of Liberation
“What is it to be a companion of -Jesus today? It is to engage, under the standard of the cross, in the crucial struggle of our time: the struggle for faith and that struggle for justice which it includes.” - Ignacio Ellacuria, S.J. (+)

Leonardo Boff, former Franciscan, author of Jesus Christ, Liberator

"The core of liberation theology is profoundly theologal – that is, rooted in the very nature of God. You see, there’s an immediate relationship between God, oppression, liberation: God is in the poor who cry out. And God is the one who listens to the cry and liberates, so that the poor no longer need to cry out." - Leonardo Boff, p. 166 – Mev Puleo (The Struggle Is One: Voices and Visions of Liberation)

Jon Sobrino, S.J., author of No Salvation Outside the Poor: Prophetic-Utopian Essays (Orbis Books)

"What sort of power is it that really and truly renders the deity present? Human beings automatically think of God as someone who possesses and wields power. Jesus forces people to consider whether that deeply rooted conviction is true or not. In historical terms it is readily apparent that power, left to its own inertial tendencies, tends to be oppressive in fact. So it cannot be the ultimate meditation of God, though human beings might tend to think so" - Jon Sobrino in Christology at the Crossroads, pages 213-14.

The Jesuit Martyrs of El Salvador (+ 1989)

GOOD DEBT vs BAD DEBT

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Not all debt is created equal – and not all debt is bad. In fact, you need some debt to establish a good credit rating. Being a responsible borrower means knowing which types of debt can help you reach your financial goals and which types leave you further behind. Good debt includes any investment or purchase that helps improve your overall financial position. Mortgage loans are considered good debt because they offer low rates on property that appreciates in value over the long term. You also build equity as you pay down your mortgage. Borrowing to invest is also considered good debt. Often, the interest expense on money borrowed for investments is tax deductible. And when borrowing to maximize your RRSP, you're investing in your future and benefiting from tax sheltered investment growth. Bad debt involves purchases where the value becomes lower than the original cost, and which can carry a high rate of interest, making them harder to pay off. Types of bad debt include high-interest credit card debt, car loans, deferred purchases, and cash advances. If you're unsure about your debt situation, set up a meeting with your mortgage broker. He or she can take you through your finances and advise how you can use your home equity to trade bad debt for smart debt, and give you some financial breathing room. The right refinancing package can help put an end to the monthly squeeze of too much credit card debt or too many loans, and help you get back into your financial comfort zone.

GOVERNMENT INTRODUCES NEW RULES FOR MORTGAGE LENDERS

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Code of Conduct for Federally Regulated Financial InstitutionsMortgage Prepayment InformationPurposeThe purpose of the Code is to ensure that federally regulated financial institutions ("lenders") provide enhanced information in respect of credit agreements secured by mortgages where a prepayment charge could apply ("mortgages") to assist borrowers in making decisions about prepayment of their mortgage.Lenders currently provide substantial amounts of information relevant to mortgage prepayments to consumers in accordance with the requirements in the applicable federal regulations, including but not limited to federal cost of borrowing disclosure regulations and credit business practices regulations. The information that will be provided under this Code is in addition to existing information provided by lenders to borrowers.Application and ImplementationLenders will implement the policy elements of the Code with respect to new mortgages no later than six (6) months from date of adoption of the Code for Element 3 and Element 4; and no later than twelve (12) months from adoption of the Code for Element 1, Element 2 and Element 5. Lenders will apply the Code to existing mortgages where it is feasible to do so. The Code does not apply to mortgages that are entered into for business purposes or to mortgages entered into by borrowers who are not natural persons.Compliance with the CodeThe Financial Consumer Agency of Canada will monitor and report on compliance with the Code.Manner of Presenting InformationLenders will provide the information in language, and present it in a manner, that is clear, simple and not misleading.Policy Elements1. Information Provided AnnuallyLenders will provide the following mortgage prepayment information to borrowers annually: Prepayment privileges that the borrower can use to pay off their mortgage faster without having to pay a prepayment charge. Examples include making lump-sum prepayments, increasing the regular payment amount, and increasing the frequency of the payment to weekly or bi-weekly. The dollar amount of the prepayment that the borrower can make on a yearly basis under the terms of their mortgage without having to pay a prepayment charge. Explanation of how the lender calculates the prepayment charge for the borrower's mortgage (for example, a certain number of months' interest or the Interest Rate Differential (IRD). Description of the factors that could cause prepayment charges to change over time. Customized information about the mortgage, valid as of the date the information is produced, for the purposes of the borrower estimating the prepayment charge. The customized information will include, depending on the type of mortgage product held by the borrower: The amount of the loan that the borrower has not yet repaid The interest rate of the mortgage and other factors (for example, rate discount or posted interest rate) that the lender uses to calculate the prepayment charge The remaining term or maturity date of the borrower's mortgage For mortgages where the prepayment charge may be based on the IRD: How the lender determines the comparison rate to use to calculate the IRD Where the borrower can find the comparison rate (for example, on the lender's website) Where the borrower can find the lender's financial calculators that the borrower can use, along with the information above, to estimate the prepayment charge. Any other amounts the borrower must pay to the lender if the borrower prepays their mortgage and how the amounts are calculated. How the borrower can speak with a staff member of their lender who is knowledgeable about mortgage prepayments. For example, borrowers may contact a staff member through a toll-free number as described in section 5.2. Information Provided When the Borrower Is Paying a Prepayment ChargeIf a prepayment charge applies and the borrower confirms to the lender that the borrower is prepaying the full or a specified partial amount owing on their mortgage, the lender will provide the following information in a written statement to the borrower: The applicable prepayment charge. Description of how the lender calculated the prepayment charge (for example, whether the lender used a certain number of months' interest or the IRD). If the lender used the IRD to calculate the prepayment charge, the lender will inform the borrower of : the outstanding amount on the mortgage the annual interest rate on the mortgage the comparison rate that was used for the calculation the term remaining on the mortgage that was used for the calculation The period of time, if any, for which the prepayment charge is valid. Description of the factors that could cause the prepayment charge to change over time. Any other amounts the borrower must pay to the lender when they prepay their mortgage and how the amounts are calculated.3. Enhancing Borrower AwarenessTo assist borrowers in better understanding the consequences of prepaying a mortgage, lenders will make available to consumers information on the following topics: Differences between: Fixed-rate mortgages and variable-rate mortgages Open mortgages and closed mortgages Long-term mortgages and short-term mortgages Ways in which a borrower can pay off a mortgage faster without having to pay a prepayment charge. Examples include making lump-sum prepayments, increasing the regular payment amount, and increasing the frequency of the payment to weekly or bi-weekly. Ways to avoid prepayment charges (for example, by porting a mortgage). How prepayment charges are calculated, with examples of the prepayment charges that would apply in specific circumstances. Actions by a borrower that may result in the borrower having to pay a prepayment charge, such as the following actions: partially prepaying amounts higher than allowed by the borrower's mortgage refinancing their mortgage transferring their mortgage to another lenderLenders may make this information available on their publicly accessible Canadian website where products or services are offered and upon request by consumers at the lender's places of business in Canada, including when consumers are pre-approved for a mortgage. Â In addition, each lender will provide on its publicly accessible Canadian website links to information on mortgages provided on the website of the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada. 4. Financial CalculatorsEach lender will post calculators on its publicly accessible website for borrowers, and provide guidance to borrowers on how to use the calculators to obtain the mortgage prepayment information they want. Borrowers will be able to enter information about their mortgage into the calculator to get an estimate of the current prepayment charge. Borrowers will also be able to change the information they enter, such as the amount of the mortgage that has not yet been repaid or the remaining term, so that they can see how the payment choices they make affect the prepayment charge.5. Borrower Access to Actual Prepayment ChargeEach lender will make available a toll-free telephone line through which borrowers can access staff members who are knowledgeable about mortgage prepayments. These staff members will be able to orally provide a borrower with the actual prepayment charge that would apply to the borrower's mortgage at that point in time. These staff members will also be able to provide to a borrower, on request, a written statement of their prepayment charge, accurate as at the time the statement is produced. A lender will not proceed to take steps to pay out a mortgage until the borrower has confirmed that the borrower's intention is to pay out the mortgage.

VIEWS ON BANK of MONTREAL'S 5 YEAR RATE

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A good explainatory article by Robert McLister of Canadian Mortgage Trends explaining the pros and cons of Bank of Montreal's just announced 5 year 2.99% rate:BMO Cranks Up the Heat AgainBMO is dead-set on winning mind share among consumers.It's coming back to the market with two new deep-discount rate promos: A 5-year fixed at 2.99% (which starts Thursday, March 8, 2012) A 10-year fixed at 3.99% (which starts Sunday, March 11, 2012) Both of these specials are low-frills, meaning: A Lower Maximum Amortization: 25 years versus 30-40 years elsewhere Less Lump-sum Pre-payment Ability: 10% maximum per year (i.e., 1/2 of the 20% that BMO normally allows) A Smaller Payment Increase Option: Up to 10%, once per year (again, 1/2 of the 20% that BMO normally allows) A Locked Term: The Low-rate Mortgage is fully closed unless you sell the property, refinance (with BMO only), or early renew into another BMO mortgage. In other words, unless you sell, you're not leaving BMO for 5 years, like it or not. Both the 5-year and 10-year promos run for 3 weeks, until March 28, 2012.We've heard talk that TD and RBC will not match BMO's pricing on the 5-year term. We'll see. The last time BMO ran this special, its competitors quickly responded with 4-year rates of 2.99%. Despite the one less year, those competing offers came with all the normal bells and whistles.Unfortunately for competitors, a 2.99% five-year rate makes more headlines than a four-year promo at the same price, and BMO knows it. This deal has garnered almost a dozen major media stories already, and the press release only came out four hours ago.As for BMO's 10-year deal, it is 146 basis points below the nearest Big 6 bank competitors' advertised rates. It is BMO's lowest 10-year rate ever, and it matches ING's current 3.99% offer. (ING was the first bank in Canada to advertise 10-year rates below 4.00%.)With these rates, BMO is starting to make other big banks look increasingly silly. CIBC, National Bank, RBC, and TD are currently promoting 5-year "special offer" rates of 4.04%. That's 105 basis points above BMO (albeit with more flexibility). Those rates border on ridiculous, and they insult the intelligence of increasingly savvy consumers who know that well-qualified borrowers rarely pay anything close to those rates.Yes, we say that knowing that BMO's Low-rate mortgage is highly restrictive and not suitable for most.It is, however, suitable for some. The target market includes many: First-time buyers Rental property owners Owners of 2nd homes The customer should have no foreseeable need to break, increase or aggressively prepay his/her mortgage for five years.In posting more transparent rates than its peers, BMO is taking a page from brokers and smaller rivals. In doing so, it's building credibility with consumers at its competitors' expense.Frank Techar, BMO's Canadian banking head, tells Bloomberg: "The reaction to our January offer was fantastic." With a mortgage market that BMO CEO William Downe admits is "slowing," 2.99% is a big fat worm on a hook. It is bait that gets BMO's phones ringing.It also gives BMO's sales force a chance to upsell people into higher margin mortgages without all the restrictions of BMO's Low-rate product. (There's a lot of that going on, according to the BMO mortgage specialists we've talked to.)With this rate sale, BMO is certain to take flak for fuelling consumer borrowing at a time when high debt levels are worrying policymakers.To that end, Techar maintains that BMO is not fuelling the fire. He tells the Financial Post that these rates "are consistent with the debate around the need to reduce consumer debt levels."In an interview with Reuters, he said: "People are not going to stretch to get the largest mortgage they can with a 25-year amortization product. Because the monthly payments are higher, they...will go to a 30-year amortization product." (He's right.)Downe recently said this to analysts about BMO's Low-rate Mortgage:"We think that's a product that is good for Canadians; it's good for Canada; it's good for our customers, and we intend to continue to promote it in this environment.It's a product that we believe addresses all of the risks that are currently being debated, whether or not the consumer debt levels that are too high in Canada and a possible fallout from economic slowdown and rising interest rates. It helps our customers pay less interest. It mitigates their interest rate risk for five years. It helps them retire debt free by paying off their balance faster, and it works against market price appreciation. In fact, it helps with...house price appreciation, because the shorter amortization reduces the maximum purchase price people can afford."Being a 5-year fixed, this product does mitigate some risk. A 200 basis point rate increase by 2017 would only lift payments $133/month on the average Canadian mortgage of $151,000.As for rumours that policymakers are ticked off by BMO's pricing, the last time anyone looked, it's still a free market. BMO can price as it sees fit within regulations. As long as underwriting standards remain high, God bless it for bringing down rates industry-wide.Even if rates like 2.99% do spur more interest in mortgages, it doesn't mean lenders will approve high-risk borrowers. BMO's average loan-to-value (LTV) is just 60%. More notably, BMO's residential mortgage portfolio has a long-run loss rate of less than 2 basis points (i.e., exceptionally low).Barring a run-up in bond yields, we could now start seeing competitors (like mortgage brokers) respond with full-frills 5-year offers that are just a pittance above BMO's rate. Some might even match or beat it.We'd strongly encourage most folks to consider paying a bit more to avoid the low-rate mortgage restrictions—especially if the premium is small (0.05%-0.10%) and especially if you can benefit from the service and extras that come with a standard mortgage.Side Note: Here are a few more details about BMO's Low-rate Mortgage: Rate Hold: Up to 90 days Pre-Approvals?: Yes BMO Mortgage Cash Account: Not available with the Low-Rate mortgage BMO Skip-a-Payment: Not available with the Low-Rate mortgage BMO ReadiLine: Not available with the Low-Rate mortgage Rentals Allowed? Yes 2nd Homes Allowed? Yes

FEDERAL BUDGET 2012 HIGHLIGHTS

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Budget: Highlights of the 2012 federal budgetThe budget will:- Gradually raise the age of eligibility for Old Age Security from 65 to 67 beginning in 2023.- Contain no new taxes or tax increases.- Tell consumers to complain directly to food companies about product labelling.- Eliminate the penny.- Eliminate 19,200 government jobs over three years, including 600 senior executives and 7,200 through attrition.- Reform regulation in the resource industry, including amending the Canadian Environmental Protection Act.- Allow Canadians to claim more goods duty-free at the border. The limit after 24 hours goes from $50 to $200.- Cap EI premium rate increases to 5 cents a year until the fund is balanced again.- Cut $2.1 billion from the Department of National Defence over the next three years.- Cut funding to the CBC by 10 per cent over three years totaling $115 million.- Cut funding to Elections Canada by $7.5 million a year starting in 2012-13.- Give $5.2 billion over 11 years to the Canadian Coast Guard.- Give $67 million to the National Research Council to refocus on "business-led, industry-relevant research."- Streamline overall regulatory reviews of major economic projects.- Provide $275 million to build and renovate schools on reserves.- Pass legislation to create standards for First Nations education.- Refund $130 million in application and processing fees to skilled foreign workers stuck in immigration limbo.- Raise the retirement age of public servants from 60 to 65, for new employees beginning in 2013.- Increase employee-contribution levels to pension plans for those working in Canadian Forces, RCMP, Public Service Commission and parliamentarians.- Make the Governor General pay income tax beginning in 2013.- Shut down the Public Appointments Commission, Assisted Human Reproduction Canada, and the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy.- Sell official residences abroad, generating $80 million in revenue.- Standardize all government emails to one system.- $205 million over one year for Hiring Credit for Small Business.- Give $50 million over two years to Youth Employment Strategy.- Give $150 million over two years on Community Infrastructure Improvement fund- Give $105 million next year to Via Rail for operational and capital projects.- Give $101 million over next five years for Esquimalt Graving Dock.- Give $50 million over two years to protect wildlife at risk.- Provide $450 million for sports facilities in the Greater Toronto Area for the 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games.- Give $8 million to clean up low-level radioactive waste in Port Hope and Clarington, Ont.- Provide $44 million over two years to the Canadian Grain Commission to reform their funding model.- Provide $13.5 million over two years to improve pipeline safety.- Give $35.7 million over two years to improve tanker safety and inspections, emergency preparedness related to oil spills and updated charts for shipping routes.- Announce a new global commerce strategy in 2013 that sets trade priorities.- Provide $9.6 million over three years to the RCMP to fight counterfeiting.- Give $ 99.2 million over three years to help the provinces create permanent flood mitigation measures.- The Government has found $5.2 billion in ongoing savings from departmental spending or less than two per cent of federal program spending.Read more: http://www.canada.com/business/Budget+Highlights+2012+federal+budget/6380795/story.html#ixzz1qbN57uvG

We Start With Ourselves

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The Publican and Pharisee

Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.- Luke 18:10-14, KJV

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Several years ago, I attended a dialog meeting led by Catholic and Orthodox priests here in Minneapolis. I do not remember the topic. During the Q&A time, someone in the audience complained about the moral decadence in our society. Asserting claims originally made by Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson, this person insisted that God had allowed 911 terrorist attack to take place because of "homosexuals and abortion" in the U.S. But one of the Orthodox priests, gently, but with firm authority, rebuked him, and said "we in the Catholic and Orthodox traditions start with ourselves. We do not look at other people's sins, but our own... we begin with our own sin, and our own repentance (approximate wording)." I will never forget this event, and the priest's wise words.

During the season of Great Lent, Eastern Orthodox Christians pray every day the prayer of St. Ephrem the Syrian:

O Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of sloth, despondency, lust of power, and idle talk;

But grant rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience, and love to thy servant.

Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see my own transgressions, and not to judge my brother; for blessed art Thou unto the ages of ages.

Every Sunday morning, at the Divine Liturgy, before receiving the Holy Mysteries of Our Lord's Body and Blood, Eastern Orthodox Christians pray aloud with St. Paul: "I believe O Lord, and I confess that thou art truly the Christ, the Son of the living God, who didst come into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief." (Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, taken from 1 Timothy 1:14-15).

The Christian who prays the prayer of St. Ephrem or the words of the Apostle should begin with his or her own sins, not those of others. Consider the words of our Lord Jesus Christ in St. Matthew's Gospel:

And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. - Matthew 5.3-5

In our attempts to cultivate humility, we should also bear in mind the words of St. Paul: "in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself." - Philippians 2.3b
The great thing about Christianity, the Gospel, and the love of God is: we can always start over; we can always start anew, and begin again.

Trailing Spouse Support from Spouses Without Borders

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Although male and female spouses have been following their respective partners across borders for Millennia, it wasn’t until the July 15, 1981 issue of The Wall Street Journal when Mary Bralove quoted the term “Trailing Spouse.” It is one of the most difficult elements of an International Career, to find meaning and work for the partners of dual-career couples that did not initiate the move.

They say that renovating a house is the largest challenge to any marriage. If that is true, then the trailing spouse phenomena must run a very close second. Challenges may include, but are not limited to, dual-career challenges where the partner is forced to relinquish their career to join their partner on assignment. Obviously, with all of the new changes and culture shock, the stress on families can be immense. Uprooting children and especially teenagers can have lasting positive and negative effects, depending on how they approach the move. Sponsoring employers may not offer much support for the relocation of the Trailing Spouse and many countries do not have the resources to be of much help . They may have difficulty finding new or meaningful employment. They may suffer from a loss of identity, as every facet of their lives is reshaped and structured. If they are women or girls, they may face restrictions that are tantamount to house arrest, their wardrobe might be inadequate and their credentials may be become moot. Even something as simple as having blonde hair or blue eyes can become a challenge.

In most cases the Trailing Spouse phenomena is experienced in military, diplomatic and government groups. With the world changing as quickly as it does, it has also become a factor in the private sector. But, because it is recognized as a phenomenon, it means that it has happened to enough people that common recurring issues have surfaced, and solutions have been tried and tested. The key thing is to understand, is that you are not alone, and Spouses Without Borders is there to offer help, resources and support.    

Spouses Without Borders offers education and support to families with International Careers, Trailing Spouse, Trailing Spouse Issues, Trailing Wife and are experiencing Expatriate Problems abroad.

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Thinking Outside the Box? The Answer = There is No Spoon

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When it comes to thinking outside the box, there is no spoon. Like Neo in The Matrix, when he is visiting the Oracle and meets another Potential who appears to be bending a spoon with his mind... "to bend the spoon is impossible, but you must first realize the truth. There is no spoon." When it comes to Online Marketing in the 21st Century, there is no Box.

Past marketing modalities were limited to spending thousands of dollars for PRINT, tens of thousands for RADIO and hundreds of thousands for TELEVISION.

 

Broadcasts were a one-way communication where consumers were forced to endure commercials in order to read an article, hear their favourite song or see how a show ended. But in this Century consumers CHOOSE WHAT they want, HOW they want it and WHEN they want it. If they are not engaged properly, they can be GONE in less time than it takes to finish reading this sentence.

 

The Shotgun Show™ is a highly effective and cleverly disguised Online Marketing platform that is the 21^st Century answer to Social Media Marketing.

D.

 

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Grow Your Business with IProfit at Invest Ottawa

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Invest Ottawa’s iProfit Small Business Mentoring program connects small business owners with professionals and seasoned mentors who can offer helpful advice, expertise and direction customized to your needs. Learn how to grow your existing business to the next level, while avoiding some of the most common pitfalls that businesses make.

How can mentoring help you and your business?

Avoid the mistakes most commonly made by businesses in their early years.
Learn from others’ mistakes and successes. A mentor’s role is to share with you lessons from their experience so that you can benefit without having to learn from painful trial and error.

Stay focused on what is most important for your growing business. Mentors assist you in identifying what steps will have the greatest positive impact on your business, and help prioritize an action plan. Mentors provide a sounding board. When you’re the sole owner of a business, often there’s no one to turn to for advice or direction. You’re on your own. Everybody needs a good reliable sounding board, a second opinion, and someone who offers positive support.

Expand your knowledge network. Your mentor, being an experienced businessperson, is likely to have an extensive network, and can offer you access to other senior decision-makers. The iProfit Mentoring program is designed for growth stage companies that want to take their business to the next level. As part of this program, business owners are matched with a seasoned mentor who can offer helpful advice, expertise, and direction customized to their needs. The mentorship typically involves 6 sessions over 3 months.

As a small business owner, you may not always have the time to see what is right in front of you – both the good and the bad. As part of the SWOT program, two Invest Ottawa Business Advisors will review your business and identify the strengths in your current business and what opportunities may be out there that you should focus on for growth. They will also identify the weaknesses in your current operation that may be turning customers away, as well as threats that may impact you in the future. This program may also include the use of mystery shoppers for an additional cost. The results of this analysis will be provided to you in a written report.

Sometimes, a business owner just needs to sit down and spend some time with a group of advisors who can offer guidance on a variety of issues. In this program, Invest Ottawa will convene 3 professionals to discuss the issues of the small business owner in one 90 minute meeting. The panel will offer advice and develop a list of ‘action items’ for the business owner, and will include follow-up by the EC Business Advisor in the following weeks.

One of the cornerstones of a successful business is an up-to-date business plan. Business Planning Services are offered as part of the iProfit Small Business Growth Program. Under this program, an Invest Ottawa business advisor will work with the business owner to help guide them in updating their business plan.

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Ottawa Social Media Marketing Consultants

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business in Ottawa

Ever since Google included social media like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn in the algorithm for their search engines, the need to be on it has grown exponentially. And like all things that grow exponentially, being late to the party is like a double-edged sword. It’s not so good to be late, because you have missed all of the hard work and processes that have led to this moment. The good side is that you have missed all of the hard work and processes that have led to this moment, but you do not need to repeat them to glean the knowledge within.

At this point, what most have learned about social media marketing, is that you need to be where the people are, and they are on social media like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. You need to have information in place to allow individuals who may be interested in your products or services to interact with you. You need to lead them through a clear process, much like a puzzle, whereby one piece connects to the next piece until the picture is revealed. The most important thing that most businesses have learned, is that the time for Do-It-Yourself, is now a thing of the past.

Expectations have increased as fast as everything else on the web. Where it was once stylish to have hundreds of pages of text, now less is more. Where once the addition of a picture to your website was considered to be vogue, a video is the standard. Where once a simple website was enough to get the attention of search engines, now social media marketing is the standard. Social Media Marketing in Ottawa is a boat that has left the dock. As it drifts away and you continue to watch it go, it won’t be long before you will need to get wet in order to be onboard. We have solutions for beginners right through to advanced online marketing.

Brought to you by The Shotgun Show TM, a highly effective and cleverly disguised Online Marketing “How To” platform and 21^st Century Internet Marketing Strategy for Social Media Marketing. Get with an Internet Marketing Company that knows how to leverage the new “word of mouth.”

http://shotgunshow.com

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Ottawa Youth MBA

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The YouthMBA for Youth in Ottawa is a unique life-skills program for teens. MBA stands for Youth Minding their Own Business, as in Business. "This program is definitely made for teens!" It is a nine-month, after-school program for middle-school teens offering personal fitness coaching, customized challenges and networking opportunities. "I like the life stories that the guest speakers are telling us. They make me think about my future."

The YOUTH MBA program will help to cultivate and nurture future Canadian business leaders, in partnership with the business community. "We learn so many cool facts that we don't learn in regular school." The concept is to work together to identify, nurture and mentor local teens to reach their full potential and to provide them a real life-skills learning environment within hosted business environments. "The positive attitude I take away from the program is helping me to face the challenges ahead."

The future is coming! Actually, it has already arrived, we just got a little distracted by the details. If you have children, then you know that they continue to explore and dig and understand the world that is developing around them. "The professionals involved show us how to take care of ourselves and show us a better path to follow to avoid life's tripwires." If you have teens then you know that your ability to influence them has diminished. In fact it seems that anyone in the world, as long as it isn’t you, can be an authority on any subject. "The activities are hands-on and is a better teaching method than in school." But you also will understand that this is the bird leaving the nest, spreading their wings and attempting to establish their own measuring stick of life. Then, as sure as there will be another top 40 musician beyond Lady Gaga, another all-star hockey player, another Prime Minister there will also be another generation of Business Leaders and they are currently living amongst us. "I'm learning so many good life skills. I remember them because the activities are fun."

In the future, they will be the people to orchestrate and finance the creation of vaccines, products and services to make our lives easier and one of them will come up with a groundbreaking concept that changes the world. And that is what the YouthMBA Program is all about. Nurturing youthful ideas. "This is an amazing program that helps me plan for a better future."

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Real Estate in Ottawa with Jasmine Brown

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613 898 4063 for Real Estate in Ottawa and Ottawa Homes for Sale. . Royal LePage Gale Real Estate are the Best Real Estate Agents in Ottawa and MLS Ottawa. Get onboard for Ottawa RealEstate.

Real Estate in Ottawa with Jasmine Brown is about buying and selling. Buying the house of your dreams or selling the property that you have outgrown. Either way, a change is in order and managing change is what Jasmine does best.

She would be happy to meet with you to discuss selling your home, provide a free market analysis, and go through her straightforward 10-point plan for a successful sale! This will help you get your home ready to sell, maximize its value, and get it SOLD- PRONTO!

Serving you as a Seller includes A free Seller's consultation & market analysis of your home, Maximizing your home's potential, Professional staging & photography

Listing your home, at the right price, Tailoring a wraparound marketing strategy to your home, Negotiating the sale with your best interests at heart and Facilitating the closing process.

Exciting as it is, home buying can also be a stressful time. Jasmine loves to house shop as much as you do and with her 10-point home buying plan, she can help you find what you need, in your price range, without wasting any of your precious time.

On the other end of the spectrum, when she serves you as a Buyer you get A free Buyer's consultation & needs assessment, Assessing your readiness to buy, Fresh MLS listings delivered to you daily, Involving the specialists you need, Home shopping tailored to your wants, needs & budget, Negotiating the purchase with your best interests at heart, Facilitating the closing process and her commitment to ongoing communication & availability. 

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How Do I Get Out of Debt?

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Do you know someone who hates their job, who thinks that they are worth more, that feel dissatisfied, who wonder why is life so hard, who were never taught anything constructive about money?

They say that we fear public speaking more than we fear death, but we fear most of all is talking about money. We are taught that money is the root of all evil, but in reality it is the hoarding of money that brings out the worst in mankind. Everyone needs money for food, shelter and clothing. Money can enrich our lives by giving us the time and resources to help others. The proper management of money is an integral element of a long and healthy life.

Every day we witness the negative effects of mismanaged money. People buying what they can’t afford, throwing away what they need and creating financial anarchy in their lives. In return, families are destroyed, illness abounds and the human race has become desperate. Desperation is not becoming, and it seems that few of us are untouched by the world financial circles.

We know that we like to spend it, we don’t want to talk about it, we don’t want to admit to ourselves that there is a problem and we like to believe that having more money is the answer to our problems.

All that stands between you and the life that you want is a system, a process, a strategy. Isabelle Denis has gone from $300,000 in debt, to having a net worth of more than a million dollars. Her process is proven and if you apply it, you will achieve a life without the repeat of stress every 30 days. Or you can rely on Plan B: ‘’If I win the lottery, then I would be able to make my dreams come true!’’

Is your life full of stress over money? Do you ask yourself-How Do I Get Out of Debt? Learn how to be Debt Free and methods for Getting Out of Debt using money. Get answers and Debt Advice and Help Me Get Out of Debt.

 

 

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PODS Moving and Storage in Ottawa

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PODS Moving and Storage in Ottawa provides storage units that are made of a steel frame with specially designed, aluminum skin panels. The top is a translucent, durable polymer material that allows ambient light to pass through which illuminates the inside of the container. Plus, there is a light-weight steel roll up door.

At PODS Ottawa, we bring the container to you, place it in a convenient spot and leave you to load and unload at your own convenience. Unlike standard roll-off containers that tilt and drag, PODZILLA's innovative design keeps the contents level as the container is gently loaded and unloaded onto the delivery truck. And unlike a rental truck, there are no ramps to ascend with heavy loads, no strenuous lifting and no moments of panic when unloading. The advanced hydraulics simply and securely raise the PODS container with your belongings onto the PODS' truck, lower it onto the bed, secure it and away it goes. For self-storage in Ottawa, we store the container in one of our secure Storage Centers.

PODS Ottawa storage units are designed to accommodate a typical household. Larger households will require multiple storage units. In general, each 8x7x7 container may accommodate 1 room, each 8x8x12 container may accommodate 2-3 rooms, and each 8x8x16 container may accommodate 3-4 rooms. As every household is different, the customer is responsible for assessing the container capacity for their belongings. Container sizes are approximate with the 8x8x16 container reserved for long distance moves. Our scheduling technology permits flexible delivery and pick-up days for convenient loading and unloading. PODS containers can be delivered and picked-up based upon the day of your moving requirement, schedule permitting.

PODS Ottawa provides moving and storage in Ottawa and services to most major markets. Moving longer distances may require the movement from one secure facility to another. PODS Ottawa is the ideal solution to pack and unpack your belongings only one time and store them in our secure warehouses when needed. When moving in Ottawa you will find that most movers pack and unpack your possessions several times when moving and storing them. We recognize the need to offer loading and unloading flexibility and we do not limit the time the PODS container can stay on your property. In some areas local ordinances may be applicable, so you may want to check with your local authorities.

877-770-PODS (7637) PODS moving and storage in Ottawa with storage units for moving in Ottawa. Our storage units are bright with an easy roll up door. Easy self storage and moving with PODS Ottawa.

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Ottawa Executive Business Coaching with Robert Hargrove 1

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Hello, I am Eric Deschamps of Breakthrough Coach. Let me ask you a few key questions… Are you a successful entrepreneur who longs to be an industry game-changer and trendsetter? Are you ready to get past your organization's sticking points and turbo charge your revenues and profits? Would you like to experience a significant break-through in your business in the next 100 days or less? Then Ottawa Executive Business Coaching with Robert Hargrove can get you the results you need.

Robert Hargrove has guided almost 30,000 people through a program called “The Leadership Transformation Experience,” he has served as a Director of the Harvard Leadership Research Project, and has coached an amazing assortment of leaders at all levels. Many of the people he has worked with went on to become CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, top government officials, valued middle managers, sought after Directors of non-profits, principals of schools and heads of hospitals.

Then listen carefully, because the Business Accelerator I am about to describe could very well be the opportunity you’ve been looking for! I am looking for a few good entrepreneurs to participate in a groundbreaking experiment in the National Capital Region! This opportunity is called the Ultimate Entrepreneur!

The Ultimate Entrepreneur is the rare chance for owners of small and medium size businesses to have direct access to some of the best executive and business coaching resources available at a significantly reduced cost. Let me get right to the point. I have spent countless hours meeting with business owners and entrepreneurs from the greater Ottawa area. And after listening to them and hearing about their dreams and their challenges, I began searching for the best way to help them get the results they are looking for.

During my search to provide world-class coaching to business owners like yourself, I crossed paths with Robert Hargrove of Masterful Coaching, one of the greatest business coaches in the world! Robert has years of executive coaching behind him, and has helped Fortune 500 and Fortune 1000 companies grow and increase their profitability significantly. He is an accomplished author and speaker.

As Robert and I got to know each other, we discovered that we share the same passion… To empower business owners to grow their companies and achieve game-changing results! We are passionate about helping you get the results you’ve always wanted! So we’ve devised a rather bold and daring experiment, to see how much of a "game-changing" difference we really CAN produce for a small business owner like you. Robert & I are recruiting a very dynamic, but intimate, group of entrepreneurs who may not have big bucks to spend on world-class coaching, but have big dreams for their business and understand the value of having a coach in their corner to help them turn those dreams into reality.  For more information, keep watching.

Join Robert Hargrove, Fortune 500 Executive Business Coach with Eric Deschamps of Breakthrough Coach in Ottawa for Ultimate Entrepreneur, an exclusive Management Coaching, Business Mentor program.

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Custom Athletic Screen Printing Montreal

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Finding Custom Athletic Screen Printing in Montreal is cheaper and easier than ever.

When it comes to team sports, your identity is what defines you and your athletic jerseys are the most prominent definition of that identity. Around the world the greatest sports franchises are built on their colours, their names, their numbers and their logos. And although you may not be playing for millions, your identity as a part of a team is worth millions.

Lets face it, no matter what you pay for Athletic Screen Printing, it has to look good, because it instills confidence in the wearer and win or lose, it helps to look good in the post game celebration.  Techniques for screen printing have come a long way since team sports were invented. There is a broad range of specialty products for customizing any type or style of athletic jersey, t shirt or garment. Using a variety of specialty inks and printing techniques it’s possible to create special effects that will make your image stand out!

There is a 4 color process print for photo realistic images, high gloss ink for a wet-look print, glow-in-the-dark for eye catching designs, and vintage style discharge prints which produce an incredibly soft-hand feel. There are also a number of other processes and combinations that make your idea possible, no matter what you are imagining. There are also water-based inks that will give your garments a very soft-hand feel, which gets softer the more you wash it!

But teams are only limited to sports. What about Paramedics, Firemen and Police Departments? These are also teams that need to be readily identified. One of our specialties is the decorating of safety garments for use in the technical fields of Law Enforcement, Fire Prevention, Emergency Medical Services and Security fields. We use specialty inks like Retroreflective, Fire Retardant & Fluorescents. We also carry 3M ® Reflective vinyl for custom cad-cut graphics that can be heat applied to many articles that are impossible to screenprint on.

Get your team the right identification. And if you are wondering what 5 Color spot print is, are looking for metallic and fire retardant ink, inkless dye, custom appliquéd felt letters for custom team shirts, athletic jerseys or Custom Athletic Screen Printing in Montreal, then look no further.

Custom Athletic Screen Printing Montreal for fire retardant ink, inkless dye, custom appliquéd felt letters, custom team shirts, athletic jerseys or Custom Team Shirts,

Custom Apparel and Team Jerseys.

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Christmas is around the corner

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Here at Henderson Campeau we are getting excited for Christmas and all the fun  that it brings. It's great to see the city glowing with Christmas lights, the atmosphere in the neighborhood joyous, and the snow starting to fall.
Skiing season is here and we are excited about that. I'm sure many Calgarians are excited as well.
With it being the holiday season it is a great time to come down to Kensington and support the local businesses. 
Henderson Campeau is a big promoter of supporting local businesses and events.  We are proud to be apart of the Kensington Business Revitalisation zone. 
We encourage everyone to support the local small businesses in your community and getting involved these holidays to help grow Calgary neighborhoods.
Here is a recent article on Kensington in the herald.  http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/Kensington+ramp+excitement+factor/5781654/story.html
Have a great week and enjoy the snow.

The 12 days of Christmas, a time for giving

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To continue on with my theme of giving during these holidays, this post is about donations and their tax treatment.

With the 12 days of Christmas here, it is time to be giving presents.  Those presents could be a donation to a charitable organization. 

For personal tax purposes a charitable donation gives rise to a tax credit.  The credit obtained,
is 15% federally and 10% provincially (Alberta) on the first $200 of donations.
The credit then increases to 29% federally and 21% provincially on any amounts above $200.

Another benefit of donations is that you can claim both your own and you spouse's donations on one return, therefore benefiting from the higher credit on the amount above $200.

As a household if you contributed a total of $500.  The tax dollars you would receive back would be:
($200x 25%) = $50  plus ($300 x 50%) = $150.  Total = $200.     So on a donation of $500 you would be giving to a great cause; then at tax time reducing your tax bill by $200.  You only have to pay a net $300 and the charity gets $500.  Everyone wins,  awesome.

If you own and operate a corporation.  Charitable donations are a fully dedcutible expense for tax purposes.

So if you are thinking of giving these season,  from a tax perspective it is a smart thing to do.  Any donations made before December 31, 2011 would be credits on your 2011 tax return.

Have a great giving season

Qualified accountant

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Winter is here. What a wakeup call. -30 this morning in Calgary.
As a result we are staying close to the office and getting lots of work done. The holidays were great for both partners. We have been getting out and skiing, relaxing and of course eating. We hope everyone enjoyed the season and have has a wonderful start to 2012.
Over December on of our Partners, Paul was featured in the University of Lethbridge paper.  He is an Alumni with the university and was interviewed regarding his career and path to starting Henderson Campeau.  Check out the article. http://www.thisismyu.ca/stories/alumni-focus/2011/12/achieving-success-his-own-terms

Enjoy the winter and the start of a great 2012.

Children's art amount

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Happy spring.  At the office we are busy meeting personal clients, completing corporate year ends and excited for yet another personal tax season. It's nice to see everyone this time of year and do a little catching up.

With the 2011 personal tax season here, there are some additional credits available in 2011.  Probably the most common credit will be the children's art amount. 

All the details can be found by following this link: http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/ndvdls/tpcs/ncm-tx/rtrn/cmpltng/ddctns/lns360-390/370/menu-eng.html

For clarification or just to arrange a personal tax meeting please get in touch with us.

Have a great week

Ottawa Executive Business Coaching with Robert Hargrove 2

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Hello, my name is Robert Hargrove of Masterful Coaching. Over the past decade I have helped to deliver over $7 billion in new revenue to clients with equally exciting profit windfalls. I regularly get requests from owners of small and medium-sized businesses to help them grow their revenue, but my rather lavish rate structure makes my coaching virtually unavailable to them. I normally charge Fortune 500 CE0’s, and Venture Funded Silicon Valley Start Ups astronomical rates. $100K to $300K a year, plus in some cases a percentage of their increased revenue. While I love working with entrepreneurs and small business owners, my expensive consulting rates have made this impossible… until now!

Several months ago, I met Eric Deschamps of Breakthrough Coach, and he challenged me to change my thinking about this so that I can do what I really love... Help small business owners like you! He said, “Robert, there is a way YOU CAN help the more deserving, ambitious and success-destined small business owners in Ottawa… IF you’re open to a bold and utterly “experimental” approach.”

So together we came up with a plan to recruit a small, “elite” group of entrepreneurs, say, a dozen seriously focused, ambitious and dedicated business owners. I thought "What if?” What if we developed a group-mentoring version of my "one-on-one" private consulting model, and mentored 12 ambitious, well-deserving entrepreneurs in a unique, live “group setting” for one day a month over a 15-month period?

Here is the answer to that “What if?” We are creating a powerful and unique small business growth accelerator that will tackle a wide range of opportunities and issues. And we are launching that group right here in Ottawa through Breakthrough Coach! The objective is to engage in breakthrough thinking to take you and your business to a different place. Our goal is to help you experience a significant BREAKTHROUGH in your business in 100 days or less, and to repeat that cycle every 100 days! Just imagine what your business could look like 12-15 months from now!

We want work with a special group of CEO’s, founders, and business owners… We are looking for individuals who refuse to be average and are determined to be industry game-changers and trendsetters! Our goal is to attract owners of small to medium businesses that have a track record of past success and who are convinced that they are destined for far greater achievements.

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