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COURTESY COACH: Tackling Thank-You Notes
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The Tea Party Company
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Jul 22, 2005 12:48 PDT
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IN THIS ISSUE:
TACKLING THANK-YOU NOTES
LEMONADE STAND PHILOSOPHIZING
UPCOMING EVENTS OF COURTESY COACHING
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“Gratitude is the sign of noble souls.” –Aesop
“Whenever we are appreciative, we are filled with a sense of well-being
and swept up by the feeling of joy.” –MJ Ryan
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TACKLING THANK-YOU NOTES
As summer rolls along, so do weddings, showers, and other social
gatherings. And at those events where gifts are exchanged, sending
thank-you notes is an important way to help cultivate a culture of
courtesy and express gratitude to others. But the fact is that it can
often be a chore. And so, in this issue of Courtesy Coach, we offer a
few quick tips to help make the task a bit more manageable:
1. Here’s a hint which helps with birthday parties and showers--address
the envelopes for the THANK YOU notes at the same time that you address
the envelopes for the invitations–at the planning stage of your party,
when motivation is higher, rather than after-the fact (a GREAT favor
that hostesses can do for guests-of-honor!). In this way, you might be
cutting your task by at least one-third of the workload.
2. Keep your thank-you notes in your day planner or even in the car to
grab and take with you when you’ll have a few moments to write out your
sentiments. While you’re waiting for kids at music lessons or sitting
at the doctor’s office, you’ll make good use of your time and knock out
the task!
3. While you naturally want to personalize each note, feel free to
include a few ‘stock statements’ as long as they sincerely convey your
feelings about the gift and/or occasion. A uniformly-included
statement which expresses your feelings about the celebration such as
“John and I are so grateful for the lovely celebration of our wedding
and appreciate you joining us!” is entirely appropriate to include in
more than one of your notes.
4. With children, have them complete a few notes per day until the task
is complete. For very young children, try a non-traditional thank-you
note such as a digital photo of the celebration with a short note of
thanks which they can sign...or have them draw a picture of themselves
with the gift-giver.
5. Finally, keep your eyes on the prize...conveying your gratitude in
the form of a handwritten note is one of the kindest, most personal ways
that we can communicate with someone who values us. Although it can be
a chore, completing that stack of thank you notes is highly rewarding!
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LEMONADE STAND PHILOSOPHIZING
With the summer’s heat added to our little community’s preponderance of
minivans full of kids in transit between soccer games, swim team, summer
camps, and other activities, my twin boys saw an opportunity to open
what was sure to be a lucrative lemonade stand last week. Because we
live on a dead-end street, they decided to set up shop at the end of the
block, just a few yards away from a 4-way stop red light. And so, off
we went, with the rolling cooler packed with our valuable refreshment
and a sack full of plastic cups. My heart skipped a beat as I reflected
on the fact that it won’t be long before sitting on the roadside with
Mom hocking quarter drinks won’t be such a thrilling proposition to
them–they grow up too fast.
And so, we set up shop and got ready for business. Although the heat
was a blistering ninety degrees in the shade, the boys waved the signs
they had made at passing traffic and smiled their most pleading smiles.
And although many folks smiled and waved at us, only THREE customers
stopped in the nearly two hours that we were there. I was surprised to
the point of near shock.
It bears mentioning that we live in a community which prides itself on
its focus on families and kids. Our schools are some of the best in the
state, maybe even the country. Our park systems are nationally
recognized and make Grosse Pointe one of the most desirable places to
live in the midwest. No doubt, many if not most of the people passing
by our lemonade stand were kind, compassionate citizens who consider
themselves friendly, good neighbors. And yet, they just whizzed on
past.
In the end, we still had a great day and I’d do it again tomorrow if
they asked. It was a fun time to giggle at one another as we tried to
devise strategies for marketing our luscious drink. And of those who
did stop, two gave the boys major tips...which just made their day! But
perhaps the most positive outcome of the whole experience was that it
led me to discover a book entitled ‘Stopping at Every Lemonade Stand:
How to Create a Culture That Cares for Kids’ by James R. Vollbracht.
In this book which is chock full of wisdom, the author quotes Native
American Chief Seattle as saying “All things are connected, like the
blood which unites us all. Man did not weave the web of life; he is
merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to
himself.”
He goes on to point out that “today we would call this concept, which
recognizes that ultimately everything is connected, a ‘systems
approach’. Each time we open the door for someone, give up our seat on
a bus, or respond to the beautiful face of a child, we reinforce the
circles within our community life.”
The book further asserts a theory that I have long suspected...that
while most Americans would easily agree that we need to be collectively
more ‘neighborly’ to one another, we’re quicker to point to others than
we are to ourselves. It would seem that we favor a broad, nationwide
approach which deals with those scores and scores of folks who just
don’t measure up as much as we fancy ourselves to.
And so, most everyone might agree that stopping at a lemonade stand is a
great thing for people to do...but provide a long list of reasons why
they themselves are just too busy or rushed to do so. And so there it
is..why should YOU and I stop at lemonade stands or smile at the bag boy
or pull weeds from an elderly neighbors’ lawn? Because when we share
our time, talent, or treasure we are strengthening our entire community
and Cultivating a Culture of Courtesy. One cup at a time.
Buy the book (new and used available from less than one dollar!):
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UPCOMING EVENTS OF COURTESY COACHING
(only events which are open to the public are listed here)
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COURTESY COACHING SUMMER MINI-CAMP: Participants will learn essential
behaviors, skills, and values of courtesy in this fun and interactive
course! This summer, we are proud to offer an etiquette course for boys
and girls ages 8-12 on Tuesday, August 9th through Thursday August 10th
from 10:00-11:30am at the Grosse Pointe Historical Society’s
Provencal-Weir House on Kercheval Avenue in Grosse Pointe Farms. Topics
covered include body language and introductions, table manners,
correspondence, email and electronic etiquette, and friendship issues
specific to upper elementary students. The cost is $70 and includes all
materials and a light snack daily. For more information or to register,
please call 586-246-3123 or email us at Regi-@teapartycompany.com.
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COURTESY COACHING FOR LEADERS AND MANAGERS: An October retreat is being
planned in Atlanta, Georgia for business leaders who are interested in
cultivating a culture of courtesy in their workplace. This
train-the-trainer session will focus on encouraging ethical
decision-making and business practices as well as social norms and
behaviors in the workplace. Courtesy Coaching improves work skills by
improving life skills. For more information, please call 586-246-3123
or email Busi-@teapartycompany.com
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The mission of The Courtesy Project is to Cultivate a Culture of
Courtesy where individuals work, live, play, and learn. Our training
improves work and employability skills by improving life skills.
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