About Calgary Region, AB

DID YOU KNOW in a recent survey...
92% Of people surveyed said "Green" features are important when buying property
74% of consumers surveyed buy environmentally friendly products
60% are willing to pay more for such items
55% say they make a special effort to patronize retailers with a green reputation
50% is the forecasted rise in energy cost by 2010
40% of new homes are being built with green features

On Tuesday, January 20^th I will be teaching the first CSP/Live Green-Live Smart Green Building Science Training Course in Calgary, AB, Canada. I am very excited.

This course is for all Real Estate Staging Professionals, Home Inspectors, Design Professionals, Professional Organizers, and Business Owners... But for Certified Staging Professionals it is also the first step in achieving the coveted and long awaited EcoStaging designation!

This course is designed to educate anyone on the topics of sustainability, energy savings & green build science.

This one day certification will give you the understanding to initiate energy savings which will surpass the investment of this program

You will learn:

•· About building certification programs such as LEED

•· Green terminology and green building science best practices

•· About the state of the planet

•· How to access thousands of $$$ in special green tax credits, incentives and rebates

•· Marketing techniques to market your business green

•· To identify green features in your clients property and how to help them further their green efforts

You will receive:

•· A comprehensive green training program that you can use to differentiate yourself in the market

•· Designation as a Live Green, Live Smart Certified Professional

•· Membership in a network of Green Professionals throughout North America

•· Access to free green content for your website, newsletters and email program

•· Green evaluation materials for use with your clients

•· Logos, marketing material and updates

The small investment for this certification is $395.00 which includes course materials, text books and the LGLS Certified Professional designation to further your business. Joanne is the Director of Training for the CSP organization and will be in Calgary to teach the CSP course on January 17-19, this class immediately follows. If you haven't yet taken the CSP course, here is an opportunity to combine both. If you are already a CSP, this is the next step in your professional development, and the first step towards the EcoStaging designation that only CSPs can achieve. If you are a Real Estate Professional, this class will give you what you need to market yourself as a Green Realtor.

Contact 1-888-782-4464 to register.

Top 20 Hot Communities
as of December 1, 2008

Chestermere Lake has a community food bank and it's own charity fund to help residents having a hard time.

Christmas with Dignity is a local charity helping out Chestermere and area families who need help. Some may think that there are no families with needs in this upscale neighbourhood. In good times and in bad no community is immune from hard times. A family came into the Chestermere FCSS office just before Christmas. In this family the father was disabled and unable to work and the mom was working for a company that went bankrupt leaving her without a paycheck for the past two weeks she had put in. Thanks to the generosity of Chestermere residents Christmas with dignity was able to help. Many other families like this received help, and will continue to do so throughout the year.

If you would like to contribute it is not too late. Although the charity is called Christmas with dignity, it provides support all year around and needs funds throughout the year. Contact the town of Chestermere at 403-207-7050 and ask for Penny Deeter.

Food bank donations can be dropped off at the Chestermere Public Library, Town Hall, the community centre and Safeway.

Thank you to all of those who were able to help.

FOOD DRIVE

I went to a Networking meeting the other morning, but because the line up at MacDonalds was soooo Long (to get my coffee) and because I am a Knight and had to rescue a damsel in distress, as I was rushing along the Highway to the meeting, there was a girl waving at cars speeding by and her car was in the Ditch it was , I picked her up and drove her to work. Anyway, I got to the meeting late and was glad I did, everyone at the meeting was so negative about 2009, it almost made me ill. These are supposed to be motivational Breakfast meetings with a networking component. I stood up after 1/2 hour and said just before I leave , I want you know that I'm glad you are all taking part in the recession , I'm Not, I will have a really good 2009, and Left the meeting. Later that day I had several people phone me and announce they had decided not to take part in the recession either. Now , there are some that might feel we don't have a choice, but I feel if everybody decided NOT to take part and continued to Work hard , Advertise hard, and Play Hard. The recession would likely vanish. Now I know we have all lost money due to the world economic condition and if we listen to the gloom and doom in the media, we might even buy into this recession idea. But can you imagine how are economies would rally if the millions of us were to continue to contribute to the economy and not withdraw back into our beds cover-up and hope it all goes away. So can anyone tell me why we should participate in a recession when all we have to do is continue on and focus on doing a great job?

Bill