Small done Right.... Friday night Soup and Sweets Stroll in the Village...

There are so many wonderful events happening this time of year.  My favorite is the annual Detroit Thanksgiving Day Parade that travels down Woodward Avenue each year.  As a young boy my sisters and I participated in this annual event through our participation in a precision marching drill team.  I know that may seem like an unfamiliar extra curricular activity to most.   Our elementary school happened to have a teacher that was a patriotic guy who put this group together and brought it to life.  When I stop to consider what he and the group of parent volunteers accomplished in this group... well... it was a thing of beauty.

He taught and instilled in this group of elementary school age kids things that are sorely needed in today's kids.  Thinking of the term "precision" as the main element of this group... we were... well... precise.  Not only in the way we dressed in our uniforms, hats, metal heel cleated boots (polished for every event), long pants with stripe down the side for boys and perfectly pleated skirts for girls.  We were taught to stand at attention in military fashion.  We were taught to perform in perfect lock step harmony never looking anywhere but straight ahead.

Please... for your own fun today... click on this link... and you can play with a giant clown balloon with your mouse... careful this could suck you in for hours of fun?  

http://www.theparade.org/

The point of this brief description is all to say that we marched down Woodward Avenue every year for the annual turkey day event... and that was back in the day when Santa arrived at the J.L. Hudson building for his reception  key to the city, and flight to Santa's Wonderland up in the still then standing Hudson's department store.  

We loved to perform and my roll in this group was fairly simple.  Because I was the tallest guy in the group the instructor found me to be best suited to handle a job that at the time I did not appreciate or really understand the meaning.  While my buddies got the job I wanted of flinging fake riffles around while marching in lock step... I was placed in the more conservative position of the colored guard.  My job was to represent our group and I guess in a small way... our country in carrying the American flag.  And so it was... while the guys behind me got the glory of slinging their riffles and precision marching in various every changing flanking patterns... my guys in the colored guard lead the way... in a more conservative... much less action pace.  Years later I began to appreciate and understand the significance of this privilege and honor to carry the American flag.  More on this in a future blog...

Now... fast forward to 2012 and we are past all the turkey day events... including a new way for the Detroit Lions to lose a game on T day... and we are on the thresh hold of Christmas.  With Black Friday and Cyber Monday behind us... we now enter the first full week in December.  That means local small town events like the Soup and Sweet Stroll in the Village of Oxford and the special night time event in the Village of Lake Orion in the wonderful Lake Orion Light Parade.


http://www.facebook.com/downtownoxfordmi?fref=ts

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Oxford-Chamber-of-Commerce-Oxford-MI/98385592375?fref=ts

I am officially inviting you, your family and friends for a bonding experience with "Small Town America".   The activities begin on Friday night in the Village of Oxford, Michigan with the annual "Soup and Sweet's Stroll".   You can purchase a wrist band at "Christmas central" or Centennial Park that gives you a sampling of soups from local restaurants or sweets from local merchants as you stroll through the Village and visit their stores while window shopping.  At 8:01 the Christmas Tree lighting officially takes place... but not before performances and caroling from local high school groups.  Be sure to stop in at local merchants to visit their "Small done Right..." stores.   Your's truly will have the new entry in "The Little Green Store..." open into the evening... we are just south of the activity center on the east side of S Washington.... look for the green light and bright white LED Christmas lights on the front of our store.

Saturday afternoon will kick off the Village of Oxford's noon time Christmas parade which marches down the main street. The great news about small town parades are that for those in the parade... it's over before you know it... while back in the day we marched in the freezing cold with the cold wind shooting down the tunnels effect created by the huge buildings in the city and covering well over a couple of miles of street lined parade goers.  Small town America is different in that you get started...cover several blocks and pack up... go home.  Fun... but in a "Small Done Right..." kind of fun.

But wait... it's not over yet... head down the highway a couple of miles... stop in to a local pub or restaurant to warm up and refuel.  Then when the day grows dark and the newly installed LED street lights come up along with the wonderful assortment of holiday decorative lighting... for the "Lake Orion Light Parade".  It is truly small town America at its best.  Done Right!

http://www.facebook.com/LakeOrionDDA?fref=ts

http://www.facebook.com/orionareachamberofcommerce?fref=ts


Stop in to our new brick and mortar location known as "The Little Green Store" and try out our free samples of chocolate covered cherries, fair trade olive oil, AND our organic candy canes.  Yes Virginia... there is an organic candy cane!    ;)

http://www.facebook.com/donaldman.1?ref=hl

Enjoy it all before it comes and goes....

Best of the holiday season to all of you and your family!

Regards,

Don Sherman

       

       

Santa's Gone Green....

You may have noticed a subtle change that occurred this past week.  At first it was not so obvious and took a day or two in order to full sink in.  It started with a simple stop for lunch at one of my new favorite diners in  the Village of Oxford.  My daughter Amanda and I had been busy on this day putting the finishing touches on our new brick and mortar location for our green products company when we decided we needed a break for lunch.   Relaxing in the former Star Buck's location recently converted into Lilly's Diner.... we shared a few laughs and talked about the recent movie offerings on the marque at the Oxford Cinema just across the street.   Our waitress promptly greeted us and joined in on the conversation.

Then... it hit me.  Subtle at first and then almost consuming me was the sound of music infiltrating the atmosphere around me.  It was not just any music my friends... but it was the sound of Christmas music.  I looked at my phone to check the date... and confirmed that even though I had just removed the Halloween pumpkins and put them into the compost pile... someone had thrown the switch to Christmas.  It felt out of place and uncomfortable to have this music placed upon us a full three weeks before Thanks Giving.  Then from there I realized that the rest of the world (at least here in metro Detroit) had made the decision to jump the gun to Christmas holiday sales.

The big box stores have made the jump.... the big orange box store has the full display of all types of electric LED lights (going green) and all types of inflatable holiday decorations.   The car dealers are subtly changing their messages... as if Santa is going to deliver a new car to you under a giant red bow.... and the local nursery on the corner has plopped down the giant Santa on their roof and placed a huge lot of natural Christmas Trees on their corner lot.  It is official... the new bench mark is the first week in November.  Black Friday is now the new official national holiday.  Close the post office... close all government offices....  and let's go shopping!        

So it is with that in mind that we enter the fray with this message for you.... Santa has gone Green!

For those of you who may not have heard the news about the new brick and mortar green store... The Little Green Store... we are located at 94 S Washington in the Village of Oxford,  Michigan.   The LGS is a sister company of the Greenfundraiserstore.com and you can see that many of the concepts we have introduced to you over the past two years are now in a place you can come to see, feel, touch, smell, taste.... kick the tires before you buy.   We feel that this completes the circle now by connecting the web store with our first brick and mortar location.   So... keep your eye out for more to come on some VERY UNIQUE green gift idea's for this dash to Christmas.  

As I like to say to my classic rock and blue's friends.... "Santa's got a brand new bag...."  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOd-00xRC6g 


Come on up and see us as we get the store ready for Christmas 2012... and walk through the door at The Little Green Store!

See you soon!

Don

"Shift into Green" in Bay Nature Magazine

Here is our recent ad that appeared in Bay Nature Magazine for the October-December issue.
Please enjoy the beautiful pictures and interesting articles in this publication.  We felt compelled to
support this publication since we have had such a high level of interest and visitations to our web site
from communities located in the Bay area.

http://issuu.com/baynature/docs/baynature-v12n4-octdec2012-1up-lowres

Best Regards,

Don Sherman
Founder and President of Greenfundraiserstore.com and The Little Green Store

Green Halloween....

Now that the leaves are officially piling up it can only mean one thing... Fall has fallen!   In my last message we focused on our lawn and leave solutions that make the big box store look like the tiny tin box.  Our bundle of 50 lawn and leaf bags made from recycled paper content will get the job done with room to spare.  One thing I wanted to share on this topic for you out there looking for a fall or harvest themed activity... How about a bundle of bags to be decorated by your group with stampers made from pumpkins, gourds,  and corn.  Roll the corn into water based paint and carve out fall shapes from the pumpkins to create stamps that are function AND biodegradable/compostable when your done using them.  

http://greenfundraiserstore.com/index.php?option=com_aceshop&Itemid=143&route=product/product&product_id=151

Our bags come with no company imprint or advertising for a clean canvas for your fall art projects.  Then... package them with garden twine in small packs of 3 or 5 for a take home gift for the family or neighbor.  OR... perhaps sell them for $5 a bundle for an easy fall fund raiser for your group.  

NOW... We turn to preparing for Halloween and that always means more candy than we know what to do with.  Do something different and bold for Halloween 2012 with our "Green Halloween" alternatives.

http://greenfundraiserstore.com/index.php?searchword=green+hallo&ordering=&searchphrase=all&Itemid=53&option=com_search

Kids love tattoos and our non toxic soy based tats are just the answer.  OR try our eco friendly Halloween themed pencil erasers.

Top reason's why kids love Green Halloween??

1. Pumpkin & Ghost Tattoos for Green Halloween® (50 per pack)
(For Fun)

The kids will love these cute and spooky pumpkin temporary tattoos! Made with FDA compliant non-toxic inks. Sold in packs of fifty (50).

2. Green Halloween® Crayon Sharpeners (1 package of 20)
(For Fun)

Kids sharpen by turning the crayon in the small plastic cone. There are NO metal blade and it's too big to swallow (passes industry standard choke-tube test. Features the GreenHalloween® logo sticker ...

3. GREEN PUMPKIN® Green Halloween® Soy Bean Crayons (20 boxes per p
(For School)

Sold in packs of twenty (20) boxes.  Three crayons per box (red, yellow, and blue). Box displays the Happy Hallogreen® message. "Good for People, Good for the Planet, Good for the Community!"   ...

4. GREEN PUMPKIN® SPOOKY NIGHT Activity Pads (1 package of 10 )
(K- 6 Coloring & Activity)

Combine with our Green Halloween® soy bean crayons for the ultimate holiday kid pack!  ...

5. Green Halloween® Door Hangers (1 pack of 10)
(For the Home)

One for the house and one for the office! Let 'em know you're celebrating in a Healthy, Eco-Friendly way! The back side contains tips for "thinking green" on Halloween.  ...

6. Green Halloween® Hand Fan Masks--BLANK (1 of 20)
(For the Home)

Traditional costumes are old hat. Grab some of our soy bean crayons and let your kids go wild designing their own monster mash masks! Made from 100% recycled paperboard and printed on with soy ink.  ...

7. GREEN PUMPKIN® Green Halloween® Labels 1 roll of 250 per roll)
(For School)

Wear 'em on your sweater, put em on your correspondence, stick em on bags of homemade healthy goodies. Raise awareness of Green Halloween®. 2" circle.  ...

8. GREEN PUMPKIN® Halloween Goodie Bags (10 per pack)
(For the Home)

 Green Halloween is a community movement towards a healthier and more eco-friendly holiday.  ...

Good "Green" Fun!  

Order's placed this week through mid next week guaranteed delivery by Halloween Day!   

Green Fundraiser Store - Lawn and Leaf Paper Bag No print

They say time fly's when your having fun.  We must be having a real blast because summer has made a late appearance in 2013 and like Ernie Harwell used to say as the voice of the Detroit Tiger's.... "It's long.... Gone...".

This is a good time of year to get ready for the fall projects that you may have put off during summer and will come ready or not.  Check out our Amazon store http://www.amazon.com/gp/browse.html?ie=UTF8&marketplaceID=ATVPDKIKX0DER&me=A38FNHOO6IEX53 for some of our most popular tried and true home helpers.  

If your like me you pick up a bundle of lawn and leaf bags here and there when your around town.  Why not have us ship you the mother load with a bundle of 50 bags?  It will cover you for the big leaf fall and perhaps a few left over for spring clean up.  I know this looks like a giant lunch bag... but it is actually a standard 16 X 25X 35 50 pound unprinted biodegradable lawn/leaf bag.

 
Hey... look up... better yet... look down.... Wow you better get ready to grab a rake and get busy!  The big box store tries to impress you with their impulse crate of 3 or 5 bags... but let's face it... do you really want to promote "Stuff Mart" at your curb?  Do you overflow with pride when you drag their bag to your curb.  I didn't think so.  GO BIG or GO HOME with the greenfundraiserstore fall special bundle of 50... that's right... a few left over for spring cleaning next year... AND your buying from a company with a B corp plan of action.  That means that a stated percentage of our proceeds goes toward a stated social mission of  "Education, Awareness, and Advocacy for Green Shift's in the course of daily living.

Good news... we  just received notice that Greenfundraiserstore.com has been recognized as one of the 101 Best and Brightest Sustainable Companies for 2013.  We are happy to accept this honor for a second year in a row.  We are happy to receive the award and will continue with our mission of promoting "Green Shifts" in the course of daily living! 

They say that if you stand still for too long.... the grass will grow under your feet.  To that point... change is inevitable and I think a very exciting concept.   This month we are moving into the next steps of the development of the greenfundraiserstore.com movement.    It is a new green offshoot that has been under construction since the very beginning.   Introducing to you.... "The Little Green Store..."    

http://www.facebook.com/donaldman.1?fref=ts

From day one in the development of the GFS I struggled with the decision of whether to be a "green product store" that does some great things in the way of "green shift" product offerings...

OR

to be a green product fund raising company  focused on education, awareness, and advocacy for "green shifts" in the course of daily living and unique fund raising.   Those of you who have followed us know that we went with the model of  fund raising first model.

Today we now feel as though we can offer the best of both worlds in that those who simply want to purchase our products can do so by visiting the web page and shopping on line at and clicking SHOP NOW

http://www.greenfundraiserstore.com/  

OR

for those who enjoy the Amazon shopping experience you can shop with a more limited offering at

http://www.amazon.com/shops/greenfundraiserstore


AND NOW....

You can walk in the door of  The Little Green Store and see, touch, smell, taste many of the products you've seen on our web site from the beginning.

In fact... one of the new features that we rolled out in the spring of 2012 are the educational offerings we can do at your school, church, business, or any group who wants to engage in our "Shift into Green...." education sessions.  By clicking on the link below.... as they used to say on Hawaii Five-O.... "Book it Dan-no..." .

 http://www.greenfundraiserstore.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=149&Itemid=142

Rather get out of your space and come see us?  No problem as we aim to please.  Bring your class to our "Little Green Store"  and learn on site about how to "Shift into Green....".   Our programs are fee based and intended for groups in the store to under 30 participants.   At this time we are accepting reservations through the same link as above.... with remarks to indicate "Store visit" .

I can tell you that just a visit to the store will tell a unique story about "Going Green..." since there really was not much at all about this space that was green when we got a hold of it in 2006.  There is so much to talk about in the changes and development of this project... but I will save the details for later.

We have not yet officially "opened" since I have been working on the final touches throughout the summer. Each day we are getting closer and will soon make an announcement to provide hours of operation.   Make plans to "walk through the door... of The Little Green Store..." located at 94 S Washington, Oxford, Michigan.

We are 10 miles north of the Palace of Auburn Hills if your coming from Detroit or northern suburbs.   Take the Lapeer Road Exit on I-75 and head north on Lapeer road which is also known as M 24 or Washington Street once you enter into the Village of Oxford.  Use the map on the right to locate us.... ;)  We are kind of easy to spot... since we are the only place I know of that has a compost tumbler and rain barrel on the front porch placed with family of scare crows.  Got that?  ;)

Last thing... get engaged now with our Fall fund Raising campaign by down loading the latest version of the on line brochure.   Printed fund raising forms will be available at the end of the month.

In the mean time.... the leaves are falling and for what ever reason we feel the need to chase every last one down and put it in some type of bag....so... get yours now... we sell them by the bundle of 50.  Great time to buy in bulk... do a class project of decorating the bags in Halloween or fall themes and then hit the streets as a unique fall fund raiser item.  Bundle 3 decorated bags with natural twine... sell to family , friends, neighbors and.... just like that... your truly making the most... of your compost!  


  http://www.greenfundraiserstore.com/index.php?option=com_aceshop&route=product/product&product_id=151

Last... Last thing.... Green Halloween items... order now by October 15th for guarenteed delivery by Halloween.

http://www.greenfundraiserstore.com/index.php?option=com_aceshop&route=product/search&filter_name=green%20halloween

Happy Fall!

See you Soon!

Don Sherman
President and Founder of Greenfundraiserstore.com AND  "The Little Green Store..."

Fall Fund Raising with Greenfundraisrestore.com

Well they say that all good things must come to an end.... and that could never be a truer statement when it comes to summer!   I enjoy the seasonal change that comes with living in the mid west... but summer is THE best for me personally.   So.... without really calling it officially over.... as public service announcement.... I'm calling it the seventh inning stretch for sure.  For some of you it might already be the bottom of the ninth!  

Seasons change, the students in the classroom change, sometimes event the color of the paint on the classroom wall changes.... but one thing never changes.... the need for the ever elusive, hard to come by, and challenging to keep.... FUND RAISING dollars!  

This year I would like to invite you to take a close look at what were doing over here at Greenfundraiserstore.com.  Tired of the same old idea's that seem to rise to the surface every year? 

Had enough pizza kits and cookie dough?  I love these tried and true concepts... it's just that my waist line

cannot handle it all like it used to!  

http://greenfundraiserstore.com/

We will be releasing our Fall Fund Raising Campaign in the next week and cannot wait for you to see all the

unique and fresh idea's to help you reach your fund raising goals for the coming year.   One of the most exciting elements of this year's program are the customized imprint items we can create for your school, civic group, sports program, or church.   

Last year we heard a lot of positive comments and feedback about our Michigan Green Schools Eco Tee.

This iconic tee helped raise funds to offset some of the costs to implement these programs in the State of Michigan.  Oakland County has always been our biggest supporter so we were able to help offset some of 

their costs.   We were also able to help at the state level and truly appreciated the warm reception and support. 

Please visit our web page and take note of the new category to "Book Events" and our new Amazon Store link.  We have shipped green products all over the United States this year from our relationship with Amazon and now we look forward to continuing our partnership with schools, civic groups, and community organizations here in Michigan with our fall 2012 campaign. 

Greenfundraiserstore http://www.amazon.com/shops/greenfundraiserstore

Greenfundraiserstore http://www.amazon.com/shops/greenfundraiserstore

You may notice some new product additions such as the rain barrel and the compost tumbler.  These are exciting additions that can be added to any home or school and make an immediate highly visible impact.  They are made right here in Michigan from re purposed pickle and pepper shipping containers. 

With a renewed focus on urban farming and gardening these will make great additions to your current tools that will provide long term benefits now for next years garden.  We have these on display at a location at 94 S Washington in Oxford, Michigan.  We have had lots of questions about why we have kegs out on the front porch.... but those in the gardening and green world no better to ask!      

  

This compost tumbler comes with and easy to assemble wood stand and metal rod assembly for separating.  

Look for our brochure coming soon ,  check our "Book and Event" tab for your schools "Shift into Green" presentation, and see you back in the classroom!  

Best Regards,

Don Sherman    

President and CEO of Greenfundraiserstore.com 

866-752-6626    www.greenfundraiserstore.com  

101 Best and Brightest Sustainable Companies in Michigan.... 2012 Award Winner 

Best and Brightest Sustainable Companies 2012