Personal Productivity at Work: Are You Task-sloppy or Time-savvy?
4imprint® Presents Latest Blue Paper® and Podcast

(OSHKOSH, Wis.) – Your email inbox is overflowing. A colleague requests your contribution to a brainstorming session on a project you’re not assigned to. And your cubicle neighbor wants to talk about their weekend plans. Is it any wonder that you can’t get any work done? This month’s Blue Paper and podcast from promotional products retailer 4imprint, Personal productivity at work: Are you task-sloppy or time-savvy?, offers doable solutions to the distractions and bad habits endemic in the modern workplace.

With nearly every employer running a lean operation these days, personal productivity is more vital than ever. The Blue Paper, 4imprint’s version of a white paper, compiles the strategies of professional productivity gurus to manage the constant challenges that hinder efficient workflow.

“The tips and tricks in this Blue Paper can be applied by almost any employee in an office setting, from support staff to the CEO,” says Greg Ebel, vice president of sales and marketing for 4imprint. “If you are looking for some time-saving habits that could help you become more efficient in the workplace, the ideas in this Blue Paper could be just what you are looking for.”

The Blue Paper and podcast offers strategies for seven common personal productivity challenges and concludes with a suggestion for conducting a personal time audit. Topics include:
• Email inbox management
• Social media distractions
• Useful (and not-so-useful) to-do lists
• Silencing the office chatterbox
• And more!

To read this Blue Paper, or download the podcast, visit www.4imprint.com/bluepapers.

About 4imprint Blue Papers
4imprint Blue Papers are in-depth, how-to articles, distributed to 4imprint customers to help their organizations succeed. Accessible at www.4imprint.com/bluepapers, Blue Papers have covered popular, cutting-edge topics such as podcasting, online social media, search engine optimization (SEO) and experiential marketing.

About 4imprint
4imprint is part of 4imprint Group, Plc, a publicly traded company on the London Stock Exchange, serving more than 100,000 businesses with promotional items throughout the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Ireland. 4imprint offers corporate gifts, personalized gifts, custom t-shirts, promotional pens, travel mugs, tote bags, water bottles, Post-it® Notes, custom calendars, custom shirts and much more. For additional information, visit www.4imprint.com.

2012 Promotional Products Person of the Year: Honor Reflects 4imprint Team

(Oshkosh, Wis.) – 4imprint’s leader has been named 2012 Person of the Year in the promotional products industry. The Counselor magazine, a promotional products trade publication, honored 4imprint President Kevin Lyons-Tarr at an event Wednesday night.

“Personally, I love it when this award ends up going to someone with the foresight to seize a game-changing trend – and the skills to parlay it into a whole new way of doing business,” said Tim Andrews, ASI’s president and CEO, in announcing Lyons-Tarr as the Person of the Year. “I’m talking about Kevin Lyons-Tarr – a direct marketing visionary with a personal touch. It’s clear nobody does the Internet better than 4imprint.”

The magazine cites 4imprint’s 36% growth over the last two years and its online strategy among the reasons for the selection. 4imprint is currently the nation’s 5th largest promotional products distributor, according to ASI.

“This honor reflects the spirit and efforts of our entire team,” Lyons-Tarr said. “Every time we interact with someone – a customer, another team member, a vendor partner – we try to make that interaction a success. When you work with an entire team that shares that approach, good things happen.”

In the eight years Lyons-Tarr has led 4imprint, building and maintaining that ‘do the right thing’ culture has been a top priority. For the last four years, the company has been honored as a Great Place to Work®.

“Our entire team works hard to make this a place where people succeed,” Lyons-Tarr said. “It’s a tribute to our team’s work when those efforts are noticed.”

About 4imprint
4imprint is part of 4imprint Group, Plc, a publicly traded company on the London Stock Exchange, serving more than 100,000 businesses with promotional items throughout the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Ireland. 4imprint offers corporate gifts, personalized gifts, custom T-shirts, promotional pens, travel mugs, tote bags, water bottles, Post-it® Notes, custom calendars, custom shirts and much more. For additional information, visit www.4imprint.com.

POSITION:  Customer Service Support (Government, Education and Outbound)

REPORTS TO: Director of Outbound Sales

FLSA STATUS: Non-Exempt

DATE: 4-24-12         

PURPOSE:

To assist customers in their purchasing decisions by providing detailed information along with product samples and pricing. In addition, will provide any and all on-going follow-up necessary to close the sale. Will be responsible for receiving orders and completing the electronicartworkforms.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Coverage of all desks where the reps are out of the office should consist of
  • Answer incoming calls from customers who require more information prior to purchasing.  This information includes, but is not limited to samples, pricing information (quotations)
  • Place follow-up calls with customers when clarification of orders and/or samples is needed.
  • Process quotations to orders by completing orders andartworkforms.
  • Effectively articulate product information, features, and benefits.
  • Ensure all orders are processed within customer’s specific time lines.
  • Accurately enter customer purchasing information on a PC based order processing system.
  • Effectively communicate with vendors and internal customers regarding samples, order status, and resolution of problems.
  • Ensure customer art is forwarded to art department within required timeframe.
  • Submit art approvals when required to third party licensing agencies and ensure customer is educated on the necessary approval processes
  • Process quotes and orders for all levels of the government according to their PO specifications and invoicing procedures.
  • Answer incoming calls in a timely manner and according to department standards
  • Responsible for meeting and maintaining performance objectives and goals.
  • Participate in training classes and actively seek professional development.
  • Assist in other areas when time allows.

KEY COMPETENCIES:

• Detail oriented
• Computer literate
• Dedication to superior customer service  
• Self-confidence
• Exceptional organizational skills
• Initiative/follow-up skills
• Interpersonal understanding
• Exceptional oral & written communication skills
• Strive for continuous improvement
• Analytical thinking
• Critical decision making skills
• Ability to handle difficult situations professionally

 EDUCATION/SKILLS/EXPERIENCE:

• High school diploma.
• Minimum 2 years sales/customer service experience.
• Minimum typing speed of 35 wpm.

4imprint’s Newest Blue Paper and Podcast Looks at Latest Trends in Business Blogging

(OSHKOSH, Wis.) – This year, blogging will celebrate its 15th anniversary. With hundreds of millions of blogs in existence, readers have different expectations and blogging platforms have more capabilities and nearly 200 million blogs in existence, businesses continue to ask how they can get their blog to perform optimally and stand out from the rest.

The newest Blue Paper® and podcast from promotional products retailer 4imprint®, entitled Benefits of Blogging for Business, takes an updated look at business blogs and the importance of having a strategy in place to fully utilize the content you are creating.

4imprint’s latest Blue Paper on blogging complements Blogging for Beginners (2008) and Intermediate Blogging (2010) and provides updated information on the kinds of content people are looking for in blogs and what platform capabilities are currently available that may have seemed out of reach in the past.

“Blogging is an important marketing and communications channel for many businesses,” explains Greg Ebel, vice president of marketing for 4imprint. “As blogging continues to evolve, this Blue Paper and podcast provides current insight on blogging for business in today’s world.”

4imprint has compiled research on building and maintaining a blog for your business, including:

• What platforms are available for building a blog
• Effective editorial calendar development
• Tactics for keeping your blog relevant

To download the Blue Paper, visit www.4imprint.com/bluepapers.

About 4imprint Blue Papers
4imprint Blue Papers are in-depth, how-to articles, distributed to 4imprint customers to help their organizations succeed. Accessible at www.4imprint.com/bluepapers, Blue Papers have covered popular, cutting-edge topics such as podcasting, online social media, search engine optimization (SEO) and experiential marketing.

About 4imprint
4imprint is part of 4imprint Group, Plc, a publicly traded company on the London Stock Exchange, serving more than 100,000 businesses with promotional items throughout the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Ireland. 4imprint offers corporate gifts, personalized gifts, custom t-shirts, promotional pens, travel mugs, tote bags, water bottles, Post-it® Notes, custom calendars, custom shirts and much more. For additional information, visit www.4imprint.com.

POSITION:Customer Service Support – (Inbound Sales)

REPORTS TO: Inbound Sales Team Manager

FLSA STATUS: Non-Exempt

DATE: 4/24/12

PURPOSE:

To assist customers in their purchasing decisions by providing detailed information along with product samples and pricing. In addition, will provide any and all on-going follow-up necessary to close the sale. Will be responsible for receiving orders and completing the electronicartworkforms.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Coverage of all desks where the reps are out of the office. This would consist of:
  • Answer incoming calls from customers who require more information prior to purchasing.  This information includes, but is not limited to samples, pricing information (quotations), and product research requests in addition to up-selling and cross-selling to increase order size.  (If there are incoming calls at that desk.)
  • Place follow-up calls with customers when clarification of orders and/or samples is needed.
  • Process quotations to orders and submit electronic art sheets.
  • Effectively articulate product information, features, and benefits.
  • Ensure all orders are processed within customer’s specific time lines.
  • Accurately enter customer purchasing information on a PC based order processing system.
  • Effectively communicate with vendors and internal customers regarding samples, order status, and resolution of problems.
  • Ensure customer art is forwarded to art department within required timeframe.
  • Answer incoming calls in a timely manner and according to department standards
  • Responsible for meeting and maintaining performance objectives and goals.
  • Participate in training classes and actively seek professional development.
  • Help out in other areas, when time allows (samples, research, Sales Support, etc.).

KEY COMPETENCIES:

• Detail oriented
• Computer literate
• Dedication to superior customer service  
• Self-confidence
• Exceptional organizational skills
• Initiative/follow-up skills
• Interpersonal understanding
• Exceptional oral & written communication skills
• Strive for continuous improvement
• Analytical thinking
• Critical decision making skills
• Ability to handle difficult situations professionally

 EDUCATION/SKILLS/EXPERIENCE:

• High school diploma
• Minimum 2 years sales/customer service experience
• Minimum typing speed of 35 wpm

POSITION: Customer Service Representative

REPORTS TO: Sales Team Manager

FLSA STATUS: Non-Exempt

DATE: 5/3/2012

PURPOSE:  To assist customers in their purchasing decisions by providing detailed information along with product samples and pricing. Provide any and all on-going follow-up necessary to close the sale. Will also be responsible for receiving orders and putting artwork into EAS.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned. 

• Answer incoming calls from customers who require more information prior to purchasing.  This information includes, but is not limited to: samples, pricing information (quotations), and product research requests in addition to up-selling and cross-selling to increase order size.
• Place follow-up calls with customers when clarification of orders and/or samples is needed.
• Process quotations to orders by entering artwork into EAS.
• Return e-mails and voicemails in a timely manner.
• Effectively articulate product information, features, and benefits.
• Ensure all orders are processed within customer’s specific time lines.
• Accurately enter customer purchasing information on a PC based order processing system.
• Effectively communicate with vendors and internal customers regarding samples, order status, and resolution of problems.
• Ensure customer art is forwarded to art department within required timeframe.
• Answer incoming calls in a timely manner and according to department standards.
• Responsible for meeting and maintaining performance objectives and goals.
• Participate in training classes and actively seek professional development.

KEY COMPETENCIES:

• Detail oriented
• Proficient on computers and Microsoft Outlook®
• Dedication to superior customer service  
• Self-confidence
• Exceptional organizational skills
• Initiative/follow-up skills
• Interpersonal understanding
• Exceptional oral & written communication skills
• Strive for continuous improvement
• Analytical thinking
• Critical decision making skills
• Ability to handle difficult situations professionally
• Ability to multi-task in a fast paced environment

 EDUCATION/SKILLS/EXPERIENCE:

• High school diploma
• Minimum 1-2 years sales/customer service experience
• Minimum typing speed of 30-35 wpm

Yet there’s one more thing you can—and should—do to reach your current and potential customers on a deeper level. If you’re already so busy, and the thought of adding one more ongoing task to your to-do list has you thinking in terms of four-letter words …we hope you’re thinking “blog.”

4imprint® Announces More Than $30,000 in In-Kind Grants and Donations to Nonprofits

(OSHKOSH, Wis.) – Through its one by one® philanthropic giving program, promotional products retailer 4imprint donated more than $30,000 in promotional items to more than 50 nonprofit organizations and charities throughout the United States and Canada in the first quarter of 2012.

In the spirit of 4imprint’s commitment to customers and community, the one by one program aims to help charities boost awareness for their organizations, reach customers, promote events, thank key audiences and much more through $500 in-kind donations of promotional products. The program also offered many donations of product samples to community organizations to use to further their cause.

“The organizations that received these one by one grants are doing important work in their communities,” explained Kevin Lyons-Tarr, 4imprint president. “It is inspiring to see the impact they are making and we are honored to play a small part.”

4imprint is accepting applications for its 2012 one by one program online at http://onebyone.4imprint.com. Any 501(c) 3 organization, registered Canadian charity, school or religious organization is encouraged to apply. Interested organizations are asked to submit applications a minimum of two (2) months before items will be used, to allow time for application processing and product delivery.

2012 one by one™ recipients to date include:

ANE Pediatric Stroke Foundation, Fort Worth, Texas
Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Asheville, N.C.
United Methodist Care Team, Bismarck, Ark.
The Arc/Morris, Morris Plains, N.J.
ARCS: AIDS-Related Community Services, Hawthorne, N.Y.
Arthritis Foundation – Hawaii Branch, Honolulu, Hawaii
Bosma Visionary Opportunities Foundation, Indianapolis, Ind.
Boys & Girls Clubs of North Mississippi, Tupelo, Miss.
Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama, Birmingham, Ala.
Camp Blue Skies Foundation, Charlotte, N.C.
Camp Encourage, Kansas City, Mo.
Chautauqua Striders, Inc., Jamestown, N.Y.
The Children’s Ability Fund, Edmonton, Alberta
Christie Ossington Neighbourhood Centre – West Toronto, Ontario
CAAFA: Community Alliance Against Family Abuse, Apache Junction, Ariz.
Concordia University, Irvine, Calif.
Cure 4 The Kids Foundation, Las Vegas, Nev.
Dorchester Children’s Center – Children in Crisis – Summerville, S.C.
Exceptional Care for Children, Newark, Del.
Families for HoPE Inc. – Crandon, Wis.
FHNB: Fishing has No Boundaries, Madison, Wis.
Food for Thought Project, Inc., Cumming, Ga.
Frederick County Foster Adoptive Parent Assoc., Monrovia, Md.
The Gbomai Bestman Foundation, Silver Spring, Minn.
Great Plains LIFE Foundation, Normal, Ill.
Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County, MD, Gaithersburg, Md.
Honor Flight Buffalo, Buffalo, N.Y.
International Pemphigus Pemphigoid Foundation, Sacramento, Calif.
Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation, Charlotte, N.C.
The Laurel Center, Winchester, Va.
Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals, New York, N.Y.
Middletown Special Olympics/ Middletown City School, Middletown, Ohio
Montgomery Hospital Foundation, Norristown, Penn.
Muscular Dystrophy Association of Southern Arizona, Tucson, Ariz.
New England Coastal Wildlife Alliance, Middleboro, Mass.
Newport County Community Mental Health Center, Middletown, R.I.
Ogden-Weber Tech College Foundation, Ogden, Utah
Operation Fuel, Inc., Bloomfield, Conn.
Pawsitive Works, Bonners Ferry, Idaho
Pentucket Regional High School, Merrimac, Mass.
Project Lazarus, Moravian Falls, N.C.
Red Paw Emergency Relief Team, Philadelphia, Penn.
Reel Expectation Foundation, Dover, Del.
S.A. Independent Living Services, San Antonio, Texas
Safe Kids Gwinnett, Lawrenceville, Ga.
Skyline Drive Preservation, Inc., Rapid City, S.D.
Special Olympics Brookings, Brookings, S.D.
St. Agnes Parish, Green Bay, Wis.
Students for Safe Water, San Juan Capistrano, Calif.
Volunteers of America of Kentucky Inc., Louisville, Ky.
Wrapped in Love Foundation, Inc., Bridgeville, Penn.
YMCA Lancaster, Lancaster, Penn.
YouthCARE, Minneapolis, Minn.
Zero, The Project to End Prostate Cancer, Washington, DC

About 4imprint’s one by one program
one by one is the charitable giving program of 4imprint. Now in its sixth year, 4imprint’s one by one program supports nonprofits with IRS-approved 501(c)3 status or Canadian-registered charities, religious organizations and accredited schools. Since the program began, the promotional products retailer has awarded nearly $827,000 in promotional products grants to nonprofit organizations.

About 4imprint
4imprint is part of 4imprint Group, Plc, a publicly traded company on the London Stock Exchange, and serves more than 100,000 businesses with its innovative promotional items throughout the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Ireland. Its product offerings include corporate gifts, personalized gifts, custom shirts, promotional pens, travel mugs, tote bags, water bottles, Post-it Notes®, custom calendars and much more. For additional information, log on to www.4imprint.com.

 REPORTS TO: Controller

 FLSA STATUS: Exempt

 DATE:  4/18/2012    

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Evaluate customer’s accounts for open lines of credit based upon:

-        Dun & Bradstreet information

-        Credit references

-        Past history with 4imprint

-        Corporate Account Guidelines

• Process all credit card transactions

-        Authorizing the credit card for an order to be released

-        Charging the credit card

-        Notify customer if credit card was declined, rejected or otherwise not acceptable

-        Refunding customers credit cards due to overcharges resulting from claims, change of credit cards or cancellation

-        Investigate credit card discrepancies.

-        Printing and sending all receipt of charge or credits requested by customer

• Process all check transactions

-        Run reports and process all CADE & CCDE daily entries before 2:30

-        Pick up checks from designated areas around the building 3 times daily

-        Process the checks you received to pass any necessary orders then give to A/R

• Verify purchase order requirements from 4imprint customers
• Obtain, review and recommend credit worthiness on all Business Information Reports requested for Import Services, FieldSalesand senior management
• Reconcile all US and CanadianCreditCard Transactions for Month End
• Report and document all US and Canadian Bank Statements for Month End
• Monitor all Tabs in theCreditControl Launch Pad

-        Follow up on allCreditFail or Committed orders

-        Request cancellation of any item in credit fail or committed over 30 days old to sales team

• Receive and handle all incoming internal and external phone calls and emails regarding all phases of credit
• Monitor and update as necessary all reference guides for Corporate Order Processing
• Monitor and handle the customer ID No Match Reports
• Handle any overflow from collections and Refunds
• Responsible for working the credit email bin and credit letter email bin.

 KEY COMPETENCIES:

• Detail Orientation
• Excellent Organizational Skills
• Initiative/Follow-Up Skills
• Oral & Written Communication Skills
• Ability to Work Independently and in a team environment
• Ability to Work in a volume oriented, repetitive environment.
• Ability to Multi-Task

 EDUCATION/SKILLS/EXPERIENCE:

• High school diploma with some college courses would be helpful
• Prior credit analyst experience preferred
• Knowledge of Excel, Microsoft Word and Windows

REPORTS TO: Controller

FLSA STATUS: Non-Exempt

DATE:  4/18/12

PURPOSE: To assist with day-to-day collection functions.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following.  Other duties may be assigned.

• Assist with Collection duties.
  • Make all types of collection calls for US and CANADIAN customers.
  • Follow-up and research payment issues.
  • Send accounts to and follow-up with outside collection agencies.
  • Interact with several internal and external customers including but not limited to: Credit, Art, Sales, Vendors and Credit Card Companies.

• Process and analyze chargebacks from our Credit Card Company
• Verify Purchase Orders from customers.
• Responsible for the Collection Email Bin

KEY COMPETENCIES:

• Excellent communication skills.
• Ability to perform several tasks efficiently and accurately.
• Ability to work in a team environment.
• Excellent organizational and follow-up skills with attention to detail.
• Adaptable to change.

EDUCATION/SKILLS/EXPERIENCE:

• Prior Collections experience a must, this includes Bankruptcy/ Chargebacks.
• Basic knowledge of Accounting terminology.
• Excel, Microsoft Word, and Windows proficiency.
• Good communication skills both oral and written.

Looking for a change to the routines at your residential facility or clinic? Pet therapy has entered the mainstream as a care service and may have great benefits for your patients and clientele.

Pet therapy began its life in clinical work in 1961, although some claim it dates as far back as Sigmund Freud, notes Janet Eggiman, RN, MS, LMFT of Medscape® Today.

Today, it’s become more and more available and accepted as a treatment. Research cited by the CBC shows that psychological trauma survivors and the emotionally withdrawn are prone to opening up more in the presence of companion animals. Patients with injuries or limited range-of-motion syndromes show marked improvement in their motion therapy when working with animals. In addition, symptoms of loneliness are notably improved after spending time with companion animals. As more and more insurance providers and networks begin to value and compensate for therapies that recognize the mind-body connection, there may be a greater place for pet therapy in your clinic or residential facility.

How does a health care organization begin an Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) program? For starters, you may consult an online listing like The Natural Connection to see what trained, certified AAT organizations are available in your area. These organizations exist to help you begin and facilitate a program, and their leaders are eager to work with health care providers. For reasons from safety to liability, it is of the utmost importance to use a certified, experienced AAT organization’s resources.

Early steps to starting the program include developing documents toward clearly written policies and procedures; staff education about the proposed program; a plan for recruitment of volunteers and training; a plan for testing and training of potential therapy animals and a plan for implementing the program.

Generally, AAT organizations charge nothing to come to your facility and work with your residents. You may have your in-house practitioners establish goals for each participant, or you may run a more free-form scenario, often referred to as Pet Visitation.

Structuring decisions need to be made at the local level, but some recommendations include:

1. Weekly pet visitation day, where residents/patients spend time talking with and touching companion animals, which may be commemorated with bone-shaped pen.
2. More intensive, planned therapy with both a physical therapist and an AAT handler may be scheduled as a four-to-twelve week regimen, culminating with the takeaway memento of mug with your logo and paw prints on it, or a photo of the participant with a therapy animal in a dog lover pet frame.
3. A monthly AAT workshop for outpatient clients may be scheduled and reminded with the use of bone magnets. 
4. Other one-day special AAT events or visitations can be held during open houses or other community events and promoted with totes, or animal paw bag clips.

Pet therapy has shown proven results and may be just the next offering your facility or organization can easily add to assist in patient care. Besides who doesn’t want unconditional love and attention?!

medscape.com

cbc.ca

Petfinder.com

Daffodil Month National Oral Health Month	Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Awareness Month Parkinson’s Awareness Month	Poetry Month Records Management Month

2nd Week: National Wildlife Week 2nd Week: National Dental Hygiene Week 2nd Week: Ontario Coaches Week 2nd Week: World Homeopathy Awareness Week	3rd Week: National Medical Laboratory Week 3rd Week: National Soil Conservation Week 3rd Week: National Volunteer Week	3rd Week: Screen-Free Week 4th Week: Arts and Culture Week 4th Week: National Organ Donor Awareness Week 4th Week: National Victims of Crime Awareness Week

2: World Autism Day 7: World Health Day 17: National Law Day	17: International Hemophilia Day 22: Earth Day 23: World Book and Copyright Day	24: World Meningitis Day 20-22: Global Youth Service Days 29: International Dance Day

Looking for a change to the routines at your residential facility or clinic? Pet therapy has entered the mainstream as a care service and may have great benefits for your patients and clientele.

Pet therapy began its life in clinical work in 1961, although some claim it dates as far back as Sigmund Freud, notes Janet Eggiman, RN, MS, LMFT of Medscape® Today.

Today, it’s become more and more available and accepted as a treatment. Research cited by The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) shows that psychological trauma survivors and the emotionally withdrawn are prone to opening up more in the presence of companion animals.  Patients with injuries or limited range-of-motion syndromes show marked improvement in their motion therapy when working with animals. In addition, symptoms of loneliness are notably improved after spending time with companion animals. As more and more insurance providers and networks begin to value and compensate for therapies that recognize the mind-body connection, there may be a greater place for pet therapy in your clinic or residential facility.

How does a health care organization begin an Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) program?

For starters, you may consult an online listing like http://www.deltasociety.org/ to see what trained, certified AAT organizations are available in your area. These organizations exist to help you begin and facilitate a program, and their leaders are eager to work with health care providers. For reasons from safety to liability, it is of the utmost importance to use a certified, experienced AAT organization’s resources.

Early steps to starting the program include developing documents toward clearly written policies and procedures; staff education about the proposed program; a plan for recruitment of volunteers and training; a plan for testing and training of potential therapy animals and a plan for implementing the program.

Generally, AAT organizations charge nothing to come to your facility and work with your residents. You may have your in-house practitioners establish goals for each participant, or you may run a more free-form scenario, often referred to as Pet Visitation.

Structuring decisions need to be made at the local level, but some recommendations include:

1. Weekly pet visitation day, where residents/patients spend time talking with and touching companion animals, which may be commemorated with bone-shaped jar openers.
2. More intensive, planned therapy with both a physical therapist and an AAT handler may be scheduled as a four-to-twelve week regimen, culminating with the takeaway memento of a Beanie Animal, or a photo of the participant with a therapy animal in a Dog Lover Pet Frame.
3. A monthly AAT workshop for outpatient clients may be scheduled and reminded with the use of bone note holder magnets. 
4. Other one-day special AAT events or visitations can be held during open houses or other community events and promoted with totes, or dog bone bag clips.

Pet therapy has shown proven results and may be just the next offering your facility or organization can easily add to assist in patient care. Besides who doesn’t want unconditional love and attention?!

Medscape

CBC.ca

Petfinder.com

Atlanta Food and Wine Month ASPCA Month Alcohol Awareness Month Amateur Radio Month Autism Awareness Month Brussels Sprouts and Cabbage Month Cancer Control Month Car Care Month Celebrate Diversity Month Child Abuse Prevention Month Cesarean Awareness Month Confederate History Month Couple Appreciation Month Cranberries and Gooseberries Month Defeat Diabetes Month Emotional Overeating Awareness Month Fair Housing Month Financial Literacy Month Fresh Florida Tomatoes Month Frog Month Global Child Nutrition Month Grange Month Grilled Cheese Month Holy Humor Month Home Improvement Time (April – Sept) Honor Society Awareness Month	Informed Women Month International Customer Loyalty Month International Guitar Month International Twit Award Month Jazz Appreciation Month Keep America Beautiful Month Learn Thai Month Month of the Young Child Month of the Military Child National African American Women’s Fitness Month National Autism Awareness Month National Child Abuse Prevention Month National Card and Letter Writing Month National Decorating Month National DNA & Genomics & Stem Cell Education & Awareness Month National Donate Life Month National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Month National Garden Month National Humor Month National Kite Month National Knuckles Down Month National Landscape Architecture Month National Multiple Birth Awareness Month National Occupational Therapy Month	National Parkinson’s Awareness Month National Pecan Month National Pet Month National Poetry Month National Sarcoidosis Awareness Month National Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) Month National Sexual Assault Awareness Month National Youth Sports Safety Month Pharmacists war on Diabetes Month Pet First Aid Awareness Month Physical Wellness Month Prevent Lyme in Dogs Month Prevention of Animal Cruelty Month Rosacea Awareness Month School Library Media Month Soy Foods Month Straw Hat Month Stress Awareness Month Testicular Cancer Awareness Month Tomatillo and Asian Pear Month Women’s Eye Health & Safety Month Workplace Conflict Awareness Month World Habitat Awareness Month
The APAWAs  Pooper-Scooper Week: 1-7 Golden Rule Week: 1-7 Holy Week: 1-7 Laugh at Work Week: 1-7 National Blue Ribbon Week: 1-7 National Public Health Week: 1-7 National Week of the Ocean: 1-7 National Window Safety Week: 1-7 Medication Safety Week: 1-7 Testicular Cancer Awareness Week: 2-7 Explore Your Career Options: 2-7 Masters Tournament: 2-8 Hate Week: 4-10 Passover: 7-14 Bat Appreciation Week: 8-14 National Library Week: 8-14 National Networking Week: 8-14 Orthodox Holy Week: 8-14 Pan American Week: 8-14 Consider Christianity Week: 8-14 International Whistlers Week: 7-10 Health Information Privacy And Security Week: 10-16	National Animal Control Appreciation Week: 10-16 Just Pray No! Worldwide Weekend of Prayer and Fasting: 14-15 National Park Week: 14-22 Coin Week: 15-21 Fibroid Awareness Week: 15-21 National Environmental Week: 15-21 National Karaoke Week: 15-21 National Volunteer Week: 15-21 National Pet ID Week: 15-21 National Paperboard Packaging Week: 16-20 Pesach: 17-24 Cleaning for a Reason Week: 18-23 Consumer Awareness Week: 18-23 International Whistlers Week: 18-22 Police Officers Who Gave Their Lives in the Line of Duty Week: 18-23 Kentucky Derby Week: 19-5/4 National Dance Week: 20-29	National & Global Youth Service Days: 20-22 Money Smart Week: 21-28 Administrative Professionals Week: 22-28 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week: 22-28 National Playground Safety Week: 22-28 Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week: 22-28 Preservation Week: 22-29 Sky Awareness Week: 22-28 Week of the Young Child: 22-28 (Spring) Astronomy Week: 23-29 Safe Kids Week: 23-28 National Scoop the Poop Week: 24-30 Fiddler’s Frolic: 26-29 Gathering of the Nations PowWow: 26-28 National Dream Hotline: 27-29 National Pie Championships: 27-29
1: April Fools or All Fools Day 1: Atheist Day 1: Boomer Bonus Days 1: International Tatting Day 1: International Tongue Twister Day 1: Library Snap Shot Day 1: National Fun Day 1: Palm Sunday 1: Poetry & The Creative Mind Day 1: Reading is Funny Day 1: Sorry Charlie Day 1: St. Stupid Day 1: US Air Force Academy Day 2: International Children’s Book Day 2: National Love Our Children Day 2: Reconciliation Day 2: Tater Day 2: World Autism Day 2: Tangible Karma Day 3: Pony Express Day 3: Tweed Day 3: World Party Day 4: International Day for Mine Awareness & Assistance in Mine Action 4: National Day of Hope 4: Paraprofessional Appreciation Day 4: Victims of Violence Holy Day 4: Vitamin C Day 4: World Rat Day 5: National D.A.R.E. Day 5: National Deep Dish Pizza Day 5: National Fun at Work Day 5: One Day Without Shoes Day 6: Army Day 6: Church of Latter Day Saints Day 6: Hospital Admitting Clerks Day 6: Good Friday 6: New Beers Eve 6: Drowsy Driver Awareness Day 6: Passover 6: Tartan Day 6: Teflon Day 7: International Beaver Day 7: International Pillow Fight Day 7: International Snailpapers Day 7: Metric System Day 7: National Beer Day 7: No Housework Day 7: Tangible Karma Day 7: World Health Organization Day 8: Buddha Day 8: Easter 9: National Cherish an Antique Day 9: National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day 9: Appomattox Day 9: Easter Monday 9: White House Easter Egg Roll 9: Jenkins Ear Day 9: Winston Churchill Day 10: ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Day)	10: Baby Massage Day 10: Equal Pay Day 10: National Be Kind to Lawyers Day 10: National Farm Animals Day 10: National Library Day 10: National Library Workers Day 10: National Sibling Day 10: Salvation Army Founder’s Day 10: Safety Pin Day 11: Barbershop Quartet Day 11: International “Louie Louie" Day 11: National Pet Day 11: World Parkinson’s Disease Day 12: D.E.A.R. Day (Drop Everything and Read) 12: International Day of Human Space Flight 12: Licorice Day 12: Tax Freedom Day 12: Support Teen Literature Day 12: Walk on Your Wild Side Day 12: Day of Silence 13: Thomas Jefferson Day 14: Children with Alopecia Day 14: Dictionary Day 14: International Moment of Laughter Day 14: National D.A.R.E. Day 14: Pan American Day 14: Poem in Your Pocket Day 15: DNA Day 15: Income Tax Pay Day 15: McDonald’s Day 15: Take a Wild Guess Day 15: That Sucks Day 17: Bat Appreciation Day 17: Blah! Blah! Blah! Day 17: Ellis Island Family History Day 17: National Haiku Poetry Day 17: National Stress Awareness Day 17: Ford Mustang Day 17: Nothing Like A Dame Day 18: Adult Autism Day 18: Pet Owners Independence Day 18: International Amateur Radio Day 18: National Wear Your Pajamas To Work Day 19: National Hanging Out Day 19: Oklahoma City Bombing Commemoration Day 19: Get To Know Your Customers Day 19: High Five Day 19: Yom HaShoah 20: Husband Appreciation Day 20: Record Store Day 21: Auctioneers Day 21: Bulldogs are Beautiful Day 21: Kindergarten Day 21: National Chocolate-covered Cashews Day 21: National Teach Your Children to Save Day	22: Chemists Celebrate the Earth Day 22: Earth Day 22: Girl Scout Leader Day 22: In God We Trust Day 22: Mother Earth Day 22: National Jelly Bean Day 23: Movie Theatre Day 23: International Marconi Day 23: Talk Like Shakespeare Day 23: World Book & Copyright Day 25: Administrative Professionals Day or Secretary’s Day 25: DNA Day 25: Dyngus Day 25: Hairstylists Appreciation Day 25: 20-Something Service Day 25: Malaria Awareness Day 25: Hug a Plumber Day or Plumbers Day 25: Red Hat Society Day 25: Yom HaZikaron 26: Hug an Australian Day 26: Audubon Day 26: National Kids and Pets Day 26: Poem In Your Pocket Day 26: Richter Scale Day 26: Take Our Daughters & Sons to Work Day 26-28: Bob Wills Day 26: Yom HaArzmaut 27: Arbor Day 27: Babe Ruth Day 27: National Hairball Awareness Day 27: Mantanzas Mule Day 27: Morse Code Day 28: Biological Clock Day 28: Eeyore’s Birthday Day 28: National Go Birding Day 28: National Rebuilding Day 28: Penguin Day 28: Save the Frogs Day 28: Sense of Smell Day 28: Spring Astronomy Day 28: World Tai Chi and Qigong Day 28: Workers Memorial Day 28: World Veterinary Day 29: National Pet Parent’s Day 29: Mother, Father Deaf Day 29: National Dance Day 29: “Peace” Rose Day 29: Pinhole Photography Day 29: Zipper Day 30: Beltane 30: Bugs Bunny Day 30: Dia De Los Libros Day 30: National Honesty Day 30: National Take Back (Prescription Drugs) Day 30: Spank Out Day 30: Walpurgis Night 30: World Healing Day
ALS Awareness Month American Wetlands Month APS (Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome) Arthritis Awareness Month Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Awareness of Medical Orphans Month Better Hearing & Speech Month Borderline Personality Disorder Month Brain Tumor Awareness Month Carrots and Cauliflower Month Celiac Awareness Month Clean Air Month Community Living Month Creative Beginnings Month Eco Driving Month Family Wellness Month Fibromyalgia Education and Awareness Month Freedom Shrine Month Get Caught Reading Month Gifts from the Garden Month Go Fetch! Food Drive for Homeless Animals Month Grapefruit and Kiwi Month Haitian Heritage Month Heal the Children Month Healthy Vision Month Huntington’s Disease Awareness Month	International Audit Month International Business Image Improvement Month International Civility Awareness Month International Victorious Woman Month Jewish-American Heritage Month Latino Books Month Lupus Awareness Month Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection & Prevention Month Motorcycle Safety Month National Allergy/Asthma Awareness Month National Barbeque Month National Better Hearing Month National Bike Month National Egg Month National Foster Care Month National Good Car Keeping Month National Hamburger Month National Hepatitis Awareness Month National Inventors Month National Meditation Month National Mental Health Month National Military Appreciation Month National Moving Month National Neurofibromatosis Awareness Month	National Osteoporosis Prevention Month National Photo Month National Physical Fitness & Sports Month National Physiotherapy Month National Preservation Month National Salad Month National Salsa Month National Smile Month National Stroke Awareness Month National Vinegar Month National Youth Traffic Safety Month Older Americans Month Personal History Month Potatoes and Limes Month Prepare Tomorrow’s Parent Month React Month Revise Your Work Schedule Month Skin Cancer Awareness Month Strike Out Strokes Month Sweet Vidalia Onions Month Teen CEO Month Tennis Month Tay-Sachs and Canavan Disease Month Tourette Syndrome Awareness Month Ultra-violet Awareness Month Women’s Health Care Month Young Achiever’s Month National Family Month: May 13-June 17
Bread Pudding Recipe Exchange Week: 1-7 Update your References Week: 1-7 International Wildlife Film Week: 5-12 Be Kind to Animals Week: 6-12 Children’s Mental Health Week: 6-12 Choose Privacy Week: 6-12 Drinking Water Week: 6-12 Flexible Work Arrangement Week: 6-12 Goodwill Industries Week: 6-12 Kids Win Week: 6-12 NAOSH Week: 6-12 National Anxiety & Depression Awareness Week: 6-12 National Family Week: 6-12 National Hug Holiday Week: 6-12 National Nurses Day and Week: 6-12 National Occupational Safety & Health Week: 6-12 National Pet Week: 6-12 National Wildflower Week: 6-12 North American Occupational Safety &	Health Week: 6-12 PTA Teacher Appreciation Week: 2-8 Children’s Book Week: 7-13 Dating and Life Coach Recognition Week: 7-13 National Correctional Officer’s Week: 7-12 National Stuttering Awareness Week: 7-12 Teacher Appreciation Week: 7-11 Work at Home Moms Week: 7-13 Universal Family Week: 10-16 National Tourism Week: 12-19 National Nursing Home Week: 13-19 Reading is Fun Week: 13-19 Salute to Moms 35+ Week: 13-19 National Return to Work Week: 13-19 National Women’s Health Week: 13-19 National Bike to Work Week: 14-18 National Etiquette Week: 14-18 National Hospital Week: 14-19	National Dog Bite Prevention Week: 15-21 National Educational Bosses’ Week: 15-21 National New Friends, Old Friends Week: 15-21 National Police Week: 15-21 National Transportation Week: 15-21 World Trade Week: 15-21 EMS (Emergency Medical Services) Week: 15-21 American Craft Beer Week: 16-21 National Safe Boating Week: 21-27 National Medical Transcription Week: 20-26 National Backyard Games Week: 21-25 Week of Solidarity with the People of Non-Self-Governing Territories: 25-31 Old-Time Player Piano Week: 27-30 Black Single Parents Week: 29-6/4
1: Amtrak Day 1: Batman Day 1: Beltaine 1: Childhood Depression Awareness Day 1: Executive Coaching Day 1: Keep Kids Alive! Drive 25 Day 1: Law Day 1: Lei Day 1: Loyalty Day 1: May Day 1: Mother Goose Day 1: National Dance Day 1: New Homeowner’s Day 1: School Principals’ Day 1: Silver Star Day 1: Stepmother’s Day 1: World Laughter Day 2: Great American Grump Out 2: National Play Your Ukulele Day 2: Roberts Rule of Order Day 3: Garden Meditation Day 3: Lumpy Rug Day 3: National Day of Prayer 3: National Day of Reason 3: National Two Different Colored Shoes Day 3: Paranormal Day 3: Public Radio Day 3: World Press Freedom Day 4: Intergalactic Star Wars Day 4: National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy 4: Tuba Day 4: Respect for Chickens Day 4: Star Wars Day 5: Armed Forces Day Military – Amateur Crossband Communication 5: Cartoonists Day 5: Childhood Stroke Awareness Day 5: Join Hands Day 5: Kentucky Derby 5: National Homebrew Day 5: National Scrapbooking Day 5: Space Day 5: Totally Chipotle Day 5: Cinco de Mayo 5: International Midwives Day 5: Free Comic Book Day 6: Buddha Day 6: Joseph Brackett Day 6: No Diet Day 6: No Homework Day 6: Nurses Day 6: Occupational Safety and Health Professional’s Day 6: World Laughter Day 6: International Babylost Mother’s Day 6: Motorcycle Mass and Blessing of the Bike Day 6: National Infertility Day 7: Accountant’s Day or Accounting Day 7: Bladder Cancer Awareness Day 7: Childhood Mental Health Awareness Day 7: Melanoma Monday 7: National Teacher Day	8: No Socks day 8-9: Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for those who Lost Their Lives During the Second World War 8-9: Second World War 8: VE Day 8: World Red Cross Day 9: Donate a Day’s Wages to Charity Day 9: National School Nurses Day 9: National Night Shift Workers Day 9: National Third Shift Workers Day 9: Receptionist Day 10: Lag B’Omer 10: Lupus Day 10: Windmill Day 11: Ascension Day 11: Eat what you Want Day 11: Child Care Provider Day 11: Military Spouse Appreciation Day 12: Birthmother’s Day 12: Hug your Cat Day 12: Limerick Day 12: Mother Ocean Day 12: National Babysitter’s Day 12: National Miniature Golf Day 12: National Nutty Fudge Day 12: Odometer Day 12: International Migratory Bird Day 12: Letter Carrier’s Food Drive Day 12: National Windmill Day 12: Stay Up All Night Day 12: National Train Day 12: World Belly Dancer Day 12: World Fair Trade Day 13: Frog Jumping Day 13: Mother’s Day 13: Rogation Sunday 13: Rural Life Sunday Day 14: Mothers at the Wall Day 14: National Chicken Dance Day 14: The Stars and Stripes Forever Day 14: Underground America Day 15: International Day of Families 15: National Chocolate Chip Day 15: National Safety Dose Day 15: Nylon Stockings Day 15: Peace Officer Memorial Day 15: Straw Hat Day 16: Biographer’s Day 16: National Sea Monkey Day 16: National Employee Health and Fitness Day 16: Turn Beauty Inside Out Day 17: World Hypertension Day 17: World Information Society Day 17: World Telecommunications Day 17: Syttende Mai 18-20: Bats Day 18: Endangered Species Day 18: HIV Vaccine Awareness Day 18: International Museum Day 18: International Virtual Assistants Day 18: Mother Whistler Day 18: NASCAR Day 18: National Bike to Work Day	18: National Defense Transportation Day 18: National Pizza Party Day 18: Visit Your Relatives Day 19-20: Artichoke Day 19: Armed Forces Day 19: National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day 19: Boys Club Day 19: May Ray Day 19-20: Mike, the Headless Chicken Day 19: O. Henry Pun-off Day 19: Preakness Stakes 20: Eliza Doolittle Day 20: Neighbor Day 20: Weights & Measures Day 21: American Red Cross Founder’s Day 21: End of the World or Rapture Party Day 21: I Need a Patch of That Day 21: National Endangered Species Day 21: National Wait Staff Day 21: Sister Maria Hummel Day 21: World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue & Development 22: International Day for Biological Diversity 22: National Maritime Day 23: Declaration of the Bab Day 23: National Taffy Day 23: World Crohn’s and Colitis Day 23: World Turtle Day 24: Brother’s Day 24: International Tiara Day 24: Morse Code Day 25: Cookie Monster’s Birthday 25: National Missing Children’s Day 25: National Tap Dance Day 25: Nerd Pride Day or Geek Pride Day 25: Towel Day 25: National Wig Out Day 25: Old-Time Player Piano Day 26: International Jazz Day 26: Julie Pierpont Day 26: Amateur radio Military Appreciation Day 26: Shavout 26: Victoria Day 27: Cellophane Tape Day 27: Indianapolis 500 27: Pentecost 27: Whit Sunday 28: Sierra Club Day 28: Slugs Return to Capistrano Day 28: Memorial Day 30: Prayer for Peace Memorial Day 28: Whit Monday 29: International Day of UN Peacekeepers 30: Loomis Day 30: National Senior Health and Fitness Day 30: World MS Day 31: Hug Your Cat Day 31: What you Think Upon Grows Day 31: World No-Tobacco Day

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and in the modern world of social media, the old saying is truer than ever. Your followers and supporters want to know what’s going on with your organization, but they don’t want to spend a lot of time finding out. Well-chosen photos maximize the impact of your message by forming an instant impression and telling a story in a brief glance.

Fortunately, the ever-changing technology offers new ways to take, keep, organize and share the pictures that show the world who you are and what you do.

• Flickr™ has been around long enough to be known by nearly everyone traipsing about the Internet. Sign up for a free account and start uploading your pics. You can sort and categorize them to suit your needs, and you maintain control over which ones can be viewed publicly. Once online, the photos stored on Flickr can easily be grabbed or linked to illustrate other social media efforts, like blogs and Facebook™ updates. Perhaps the greatest advantage to storing your organization’s photos on Flickr is that they are then accessible to multiple staff members from any location. 

If you need more storage, a pro account on Flickr™ is affordable. Or, check with TechSoup Canada for giveaway Flickr™ accounts. Encourage all of your staff members and volunteers to document events by providing portable camera cases that display your agency name and logo.

• The trip from real life to online image has never been quicker, thanks to the mobile app Instagram™. Just snap a pic with your iPhone, apply one of Instagram’s filters to make it perfect, and instantly upload it to your Flickr™, Facebook™ or Twitter™ account. Keep your organization’s friends in the know with up-to-the-minute photo updates. Don’t forget your universal charger to make sure you never miss a shot.

• Pinterest™, a relative newcomer in the social media world, offers free accounts and the ability to “pin” your photos (linked from a storage site like Flickr) to a “board,” which displays a themed array. Pinterest photos can be viewed by anyone visiting the site, and those so inspired can “re-pin” your photos to showcase them further. A clever way to let your supporters know about Pinterest: Send each one a photo of your agency’s work in a logo’d frame. Choose pictures that pack an emotional punch for Pinterest viewers and use silicone lens cloths to make sure your lens is clean prior to taking the shot.

• High-quality prints of your photos are just a click away on Shutterfly™, which acts as a photo storage site and a source for low-cost prints in multiple sizes. You can even create greeting cards and calendars with your photos—always a fundraising boon. After you’ve taken pictures, transfer the images from your camera to a computer using a compact multi-card reader.

• With just a little tech savvy and a flip cam in the hands of each staff member, your organization is ready to set up a YouTube channel and display your work in video. Considered a must-have by social marketing gurus, your YouTube videos can also easily be shared on Facebook™, Tumblr™, and other social sites where your followers congregate.

On the blog that accompanies the indispensable book, Social Media for Social Good: A How-To Guide for Nonprofits, author Heather Mansfield emphasizes the importance of YouTube and Flickr for building a strong social media presence. Your photos and videos share the important work you do with your closest friends and like-minded others from across the globe. Make every picture count.

Daffodil Month National Oral Health Month	Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Awareness Month Parkinson’s Awareness Month	Poetry Month Records Management Month

2nd Week: National Wildlife Week 2nd Week: National Dental Hygiene Week 2nd Week: Ontario Coaches Week 2nd Week: World Homeopathy Awareness Week	3rd Week: National Medical Laboratory Week 3rd Week: National Soil Conservation Week 3rd Week: National Volunteer Week	3rd Week: Screen-Free Week 4th Week: Arts and Culture Week 4th Week: National Organ Donor Awareness Week 4th Week: National Victims of Crime Awareness Week

2: World Autism Day 7: World Health Day 17: National Law Day	17: International Hemophilia Day 22: Earth Day 23: World Book and Copyright Day	24: World Meningitis Day 20-22: Global Youth Service Days 29: International Dance Day

• Square bottles actually hold more liquid than round bottles of the same height and width.
• The square shape actually allows for a more efficient use of storage space. This is valuable for both shipping and storing.
• Square sports bottles are stackable, and they don’t roll.

According to the design and environmental blog Inhabit, designer Andrew Kim developed this biodegradable concept bottle to show the impact Coca-Cola® could have simply by changing the shape of its bottle design.

This design change is coming to promotional products as well. Here’s the first example: Our exclusive PolySure Squared-Up Sport Bottle. The 24-ounce promotional water bottle comes in vibrant colors, both translucent and opaque.

The trend towards square shapes in sports bottles is still pretty new. So, be square. Your promotional items will really stand out from your competitors.

-Suzanne

Plan, Promote and Party:
A Beginner’s Guide to Planning Internal Company Events
4imprint Presents Latest Blue Paper™ and Podcast

(OSHKOSH, Wis.) – There’s no doubt about it: Planning internal company events is a challenging and time-consuming task. Well-planned events may re-launch a brand, educate a staff, build camaraderie and reward employees for a job well done. Poorly planned events, on the other hand, waste precious company resources and may actually hurt morale. This month’s Blue Paper and podcast from promotional products retailer 4imprint entitled, Plan, promote and party: A beginner’s guide to planning internal company events, provides in-depth guidance for anyone charged with pulling off a successful internal gathering.

With employee time and company resources at stake, businesses can’t afford to approach an internal event without a strong planning team, clear goals and an action plan. The Blue Paper, 4imprint’s version of a white paper, compiles the wisdom and experience of numerous expert event and meeting planners with additional resources to help internal event planning committees form a strategy to get the most value—for both employees and employer—out of a company event.
“Internal company events—from training sessions to team building to employee appreciation—are necessary for any business or organization,” says Kevin Lyons-Tarr, president for 4imprint. “This Blue Paper presents a strategic approach to planning business events and meetings that keeps company objectives in mind.”
The Blue Paper and podcast provide a step-by-step approach to planning an internal company event, including:
• Forming an event planning team
• Setting event goals and a budget
• Developing an action plan
• Promoting the event
• And more!
To read this Blue Paper, or download the podcast, visit www.4imprint.com/bluepapers.

About 4imprint Blue Papers
4imprint Blue Papers are in-depth, how-to articles, distributed to 4imprint customers to help their organizations succeed. Accessible at www.4imprint.com/bluepapers, Blue Papers have covered popular, cutting-edge topics such as podcasting, online social media, search engine optimization (SEO) and experiential marketing.

About 4imprint
4imprint is part of 4imprint Group, Plc, a publicly traded company on the London Stock Exchange, serving more than 100,000 businesses with promotional items throughout the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Ireland. 4imprint offers corporate gifts, personalized gifts, custom t-shirts, promotional pens, travel mugs, tote bags, water bottles, Post-it® Notes, custom calendars, custom shirts and much more. For additional information, visit www.4imprint.com.

No matter the size of the business or the reason for the event, planning an internal event is a challenging and time-consuming task. This Blue Paper™ is a beginner’s guide to planning and promoting internal company events, outlining steps from forming a (hopefully nontoxic!) event team, and completing an evaluation. Are you ready to party? Then get ready to plan!

Gone But Not Forgotten: Better Employee Exits
4imprintTM Blue PaperTM and podcast discuss making the most of employee turnover

(OSHKOSH, Wis.) – Turnover is costly. Between lost productivity and recruitment costs, employee attrition is bad news for the bottom line. But forward-thinking employers don’t just shrug and move on when an employee leaves. They use it an as opportunity for growth.

That’s the message behind “Better exits: Making the most of employee turnover,” the latest Blue Paper and podcast from 4imprint. Blue Papers (4imprint’s version of a white paper) provide business insight culled from leading industry sources, including business books, human resource journals and mainstream news outlets.

“Employee turnover is something that every business has to deal with,” says Greg Ebel, vice president of sales and marketing for 4imprint. “This Blue Paper provides insights on how companies can leverage employee turnover and turn it into a learning and growing experience.”

The Blue Paper focuses primarily on employee exit interviews and how to gather honest feedback from departing employees. If the company can identify the challenges—internal or external—that drive attrition, it can make an informed plan of action for addressing those hurdles and limit future turnover.

Beyond exit interviews, the Blue Paper presents the idea of corporate alumni networks, and shares how other organizations are using them to win back former employees and drive down recruitment costs.
To read this Blue Paper, or download the podcast, visit www.4imprint.com/bluepapers.

About 4imprint Blue Papers
4imprint Blue Papers are in-depth, how-to articles, distributed to 4imprint customers to help their organizations succeed. Accessible at www.4imprint.com/bluepapers, Blue Papers have covered popular, cutting-edge topics such as podcasting, online social media, search engine optimization (SEO) and experiential marketing.

About 4imprint
4imprint is part of 4imprint Group, Plc, a publicly traded company on the London Stock Exchange, serving more than 100,000 businesses with promotional items throughout the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Ireland. 4imprint offers corporate gifts, personalized gifts, custom t-shirts, promotional pens, travel mugs, tote bags, water bottles, Post-it® Notes, custom calendars, custom shirts and much more. For additional information, visit www.4imprint.com.

Atlanta Food and Wine Month
ASPCA Month
Alcohol Awareness Month
Amateur Radio Month
Autism Awareness Month
Brussels Sprouts and Cabbage Month
Cancer Control Month
Car Care Month
Celebrate Diversity Month
Child Abuse Prevention Month
Cesarean Awareness Month
Confederate History Month
Couple Appreciation Month
Cranberries and Gooseberries Month
Defeat Diabetes Month
Emotional Overeating Awareness Month
Fair Housing Month
Financial Literacy Month
Fresh Florida Tomatoes Month
Frog Month
Global Child Nutrition Month
Grange Month
Grilled Cheese Month
Holy Humor Month
Home Improvement Time (April – Sept)
Honor Society Awareness Month

The APAWAs  Pooper-Scooper Week: 1-7
Golden Rule Week: 1-7
Holy Week: 1-7
Laugh at Work Week: 1-7
National Blue Ribbon Week: 1-7
National Public Health Week: 1-7
National Week of the Ocean: 1-7
National Window Safety Week: 1-7
Medication Safety Week: 1-7
Testicular Cancer Awareness Week: 2-7
Explore Your Career Options: 2-7
Masters Tournament: 2-8
Hate Week: 4-10
Passover: 7-14
Bat Appreciation Week: 8-14
National Library Week: 8-14
National Networking Week: 8-14
Orthodox Holy Week: 8-14
Pan American Week: 8-14
Consider Christianity Week: 8-14
International Whistlers Week: 7-10
Health Information Privacy And Security Week: 10-16

1: April Fools or All Fools Day
1: Atheist Day
1: Boomer Bonus Days
1: International Tatting Day
1: International Tongue Twister Day
1: Library Snap Shot Day
1: National Fun Day
1: Palm Sunday
1: Poetry & The Creative Mind Day
1: Reading is Funny Day
1: Sorry Charlie Day
1: St. Stupid Day
1: US Air Force Academy Day
2: International Children’s Book Day
2: National Love Our Children Day
2: Reconciliation Day
2: Tater Day
2: World Autism Day
2: Tangible Karma Day
3: Pony Express Day
3: Tweed Day
3: World Party Day
4: International Day for Mine Awareness & Assistance in Mine Action
4: National Day of Hope
4: Paraprofessional Appreciation Day
4: Victims of Violence Holy Day
4: Vitamin C Day
4: World Rat Day
5: National D.A.R.E. Day
5: National Deep Dish Pizza Day
5: National Fun at Work Day
5: One Day Without Shoes Day
6: Army Day
6: Church of Latter Day Saints Day
6: Hospital Admitting Clerks Day
6: Good Friday
6: New Beers Eve
6: Drowsy Driver Awareness Day
6: Passover
6: Tartan Day
6: Teflon Day
7: International Beaver Day
7: International Pillow Fight Day
7: International Snailpapers Day
7: Metric System Day
7: National Beer Day
7: No Housework Day
7: Tangible Karma Day
7: World Health Organization Day
8: Buddha Day
8: Easter
9: National Cherish an Antique Day
9: National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day
9: Appomattox Day
9: Easter Monday
9: White House Easter Egg Roll
9: Jenkins Ear Day
9: Winston Churchill Day
10: ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Day)

10: Baby Massage Day
10: Equal Pay Day
10: National Be Kind to Lawyers Day
10: National Farm Animals Day
10: National Library Day
10: National Library Workers Day
10: National Sibling Day
10: Salvation Army Founder’s Day
10: Safety Pin Day
11: Barbershop Quartet Day
11: International “Louie Louie: Day
11: National Pet Day
11: World Parkinson’s Disease Day
12: D.E.A.R. Day (Drop Everything and Read)
12: International Day of Human Space Flight
12: Licorice Day
12: Tax Freedom Day
12: Support Teen Literature Day
12: Walk on Your Wild Side Day
12: Day of Silence
13: Thomas Jefferson Day
14: Children with Alopecia Day
14: Dictionary Day
14: International Moment of Laughter Day
14: National D.A.R.E. Day
14: Pan American Day
14: Poem in Your Pocket Day
15: DNA Day
15: Income Tax Pay Day
15: McDonald’s Day
15: Take a Wild Guess Day
15: That Sucks Day
17: Bat Appreciation Day
17: Blah! Blah! Blah! Day
17: Ellis Island Family History Day
17: National Haiku Poetry Day
17: National Stress Awareness Day
17: Ford Mustang Day
17: Nothing Like A Dame Day
18: Adult Autism Day
18: Pet Owners Independence Day
18: International Amateur Radio Day
18: National Wear Your Pajamas To Work Day
19: National Hanging Out Day
19: Oklahoma City Bombing Commemoration Day
19: Get To Know Your Customers Day
19: High Five Day
19: Yom HaShoah
20: Husband Appreciation Day
20: Record Store Day
21: Auctioneers Day
21: Bulldogs are Beautiful Day
21: Kindergarten Day
21: National Chocolate-covered Cashews Day
21: National Teach Your Children to Save Day

22: Chemists Celebrate the Earth Day
22: Earth Day
22: Girl Scout Leader Day
22: In God We Trust Day’ Day
22: Mother Earth Day
22: National Jelly Bean Day
23: Movie Theatre Day
23: International Marconi Day
23: Talk Like Shakespeare Day
23: World Book & Copyright Day
25: Administrative Professionals Day or Secretary’s Day
25: DNA Day
25: Dyngus Day
25: Hairstylists Appreciation Day
25: 20-Something Service Day
25: Malaria Awareness Day
25: Hug a Plumber Day or Plumbers Day
25: Red Hat Society Day
25: Yom HaZikaron
26: Hug an Australian Day
26: Audubon Day
26: National Kids and Pets Day
26: Poem In Your Pocket Day
26: Richter Scale Day
26: Take Our Daughters & Sons to Work Day
26-28: Bob Wills Day
26: Yom HaArzmaut
27: Arbor Day
27: Babe Ruth Day
27: National Hairball Awareness Day
27: Mantanzas Mule Day
27: Morse Code Day
28: Biological Clock Day
28: Eeyore’s Birthday Day
28: National Go Birding Day
28: National Rebuilding Day
28: Penguin Day
28: Save the Frogs Day
28: Sense of Smell Day
28: Spring Astronomy Day
28: World Tai Chi and Qigong Day
28: Workers Memorial Day
28: World Veterinary Day
29: National Pet Parent’s Day
29-: Mother, Father Deaf Day
29: National Dance Day
29: “Peace” Rose Day
29: Pinhole Photography Day
29: Zipper Day
30: Beltane
30: Bugs Bunny Day
30: Dia De Los Libros Day
30: National Honesty Day
30: National Take Back (Prescription Drugs) Day
30: Spank Out Day
30: Walpurgis Night
30: World Healing Day

ALS Awareness Month
American Wetlands Month
APS (Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome)
Arthritis Awareness Month
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
Awareness of Medical Orphans Month
Better Hearing & Speech Month
Borderline Personality Disorder Month
Brain Tumor Awareness Month
Carrots and Cauliflower
Celiac Awareness Month
Clean Air Month
Community Living Month
Creative Beginnings Month
Eco Driving Month
Family Wellness Month
Fibromyalgia Education and Awareness Month
Freedom Shrine Month
Get Caught Reading Month
Gifts from the Garden Month
Go Fetch! Food Drive for Homeless Animals Month
Grapefruit and Kiwi Month
Haitian Heritage Month
Heal the Children Month
Healthy Vision Month
Huntington’s Disease Awareness Month

Bread Pudding Recipe Exchange Week: 1-7
Update your References Week: 1-7
International Wildlife Film Week: 5-12
Be Kind to Animals Week: 6-12
Children’s Mental Health Week: 6-12
Choose Privacy Week: 6-12
Drinking Water Week: 6-12
Flexible Work Arrangement Week: 6-12
Goodwill Industries Week: 6-12
Kids Win Week: 6-12
NAOSH Week: 6-12
National Anxiety & Depression Awareness Week: 6-12
National Family Week: 6-12
National Hug Holiday Week: 6-12
National Nurses Day and Week: 6-12
National Occupational Safety & Health Week: 6-12
National Pet Week: 6-12
National Wildflower Week: 6-12
North American Occupational Safety &

1: Amtrak Day
1: Batman Day
1: Beltaine
1: Childhood Depression Awareness Day
1: Executive Coaching Day
1: Keep Kids Alive! Drive 25 Day
1: Law Day
1: Lei Day
1: Loyalty Day
1: May Day
1: Mother Goose Day
1: National Dance Day
1: New Homeowner’s Day
1: School Principals’ Day
1: Silver Star Day
1: Stepmother’s Day
1: World Laughter Day
2: Great American Grump Out
2: National Play Your Ukulele Day
2: Roberts Rule of Order Day
3: Garden Meditation Day
3: Lumpy Rug Day
3: National Day of Prayer
3: National Day of Reason
3: National Two Different Colored Shoes Day
3: Paranormal Day
3: Public Radio Day
3: World Press Freedom Day
4: Intergalactic Star Wars Day
4: National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy
4: Tuba Day
4: Respect for Chickens Day
4: Star Wars Day
5: Armed Forces Day Military – Amateur Crossband Communication
5: Cartoonists Day
5: Childhood Stroke Awareness Day
5: Join Hands Day
5: Kentucky Derby
5: National Homebrew Day
5: National Scrapbooking Day
5: Space Day
5: Totally Chipotle Day
5: Cinco de Mayo
5: International Midwives Day
5: Free Comic Book Day
6: Buddha Day
6: Joseph Brackett Day
6: No Diet Day
6: No Homework Day
6: Nurses Day
6: Occupational Safety and Health Professional’s Day
6: World Laughter Day
6: International Babylost Mother’s Day
6: Motorcycle Mass and Blessing of the Bike Day
6: National Infertility Day
7: Accountant’s Day or Accounting Day
7: Bladder Cancer Awareness Day
7: Childhood Mental Health Awareness Day
7: Melanoma Monday
7: National Teacher Day

8: No Socks day
8-9: Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for those who Lost Their Lives During the Second World War
8-9: Second World War
8: VE Day
8: World Red Cross Day
9: Donate a Day’s Wages to Charity Day
9: National School Nurses Day
9: National Night Shift Workers Day
9: National Third Shift Workers Day
9: Receptionist Day
10: Lag B’Omer
10: Lupus Day
10: Windmill Day
11: Ascension Day
11: Eat what you Want Day
11: Child Care Provider Day
11: Military Spouse Appreciation Day
12: Birthmother’s Day
12: Hug your Cat Day
12: Limerick Day
12: Mother Ocean Day
12: National Babysitter’s Day
12: National Miniature Golf Day
12: National Nutty Fudge Day
12: Odometer Day
12: International Migratory Bird Day
12: Letter Carrier’s Food Drive Day
12: National Windmill Day
12: Stay Up All Night Day
12: National Train Day
12: World Belly Dancer Day
12: World Fair Trade Day
13: Frog Jumping Day
13: Mother’s Day
13: Rogation Sunday
13: Rural Life Sunday Day
14: Mothers at the Wall Day
14: National Chicken Dance Day
14: The Stars and Stripes Forever Day
14: Underground America Day
15: International Day of Families
15: National Chocolate Chip Day
15: National Safety Dose Day
15: Nylon Stockings Day
15: Peace Officer Memorial Day
15: Straw Hat Day
16: Biographer’s Day
16: National Sea Monkey Day
16: National Employee Health and Fitness Day
16: Turn Beauty Inside Out Day
17: World Hypertension Day
17: World Information Society Day
17: World Telecommunications Day
17: Syttende Mai
18-20: Bats Day
18: Endangered Species Day
18: HIV Vaccine Awareness Day
18: International Museum Day
18: International Virtual Assistants Day
18: Mother Whistler Day
18: NASCAR Day
18: National Bike to Work Day