College students, whether returning or entering, have it rough. With tuition steady increasing, financial aid packages drastically decreasing, and the job market so unpredictable, it's hard to keep an optimistic view on your financial health. It's not, however, impossible. There are a few things you should keep in mind this coming school year to keep you in the black and out of the red:

1. Live within your means: Whether you're earning your own money or getting help from your parents, don't allow your cash to burn a hole in your wallet. Live off necessities and limit your splurging. Unforeseeable circumstances can and will arise, and you want to be sure you're prepared to handle them.
2. Use your credit for emergencies only: That means don't let the cash-back or rewards persuade you to use your credit card as your debit card. Use your credit wisely! Use that as a last option. Credit cards should only be used in the event an emergency arises. If you absolutely can't help but use the card, be sure you only charge what you can pay back.
3. Have no shame: Never think that the little things to get extra cash are beneath you. If you're collecting bottles and cans to recycle in order to keep up with your Starbucks habit, then do that. If you're doing odd jobs on the weekends instead of sleeping through the morning well into the afternoon, then you're on the right track. Every little bit helps!
4. Make sure your bills are paid: When you're in a dilemma between paying your bills and purchasing Starcraft II, bills should always prevail. Paying your bills should never be an option. Not paying them will come back to haunt you.
5. Don't blow your financial aid on things unrelated to school: I received over $3,000 in scholarship money coming in to my freshman year of college, and it was all gone before Thanksgiving break. I can honestly say I can't account for where that money went, and I can guarantee it was not all towards school related expenses. This got me in a lot of financial trouble later on, when I realized how much books really cost. Use your financial aid for things like course materials, parking permits, and anything else pertaining to school.
6. You don't need a new laptop every year: Just because you saw your friend with a new MacBook doesn't mean you need to trade in your 2 year old one. Laptops are good for at least 4 years. If you notice it's going slow, clear out your hard drive, buy extra RAM, and find other means for speeding up your computer. Buying a new one is just shelling our unnecessary money.
7. College students can survive off 1 star meals: The tales of Ramen noodles and PB&J are not myths; college students do not need to eat at 5 star restaurants every weekend. Stretch your food budget out. You can survive off less than you think. Grab a grocery store sale paper, clip some coupons, or stick to your meal plan. Avoid those high end places at all costs.
8. Surplus? Save it! You always hear that you should save for a rainy day, and it's true! You just never know when you need that savings fund, and it hurts when it's not available. When you have more money than you expected, don't blow it on that shirt you saw in the mall last week. Build that rainy day savings account.
9. Look for cheap ways to entertain: Yes, new movies come out every weekend, but that doesn't mean you have to spend $10 and up to see it just so you can stay up to date. Utilize those college deals for entertainment. $2 movies are just as good, free concerts are awesome, and visit your student union for discounts on local amusement.
10. Be responsible: Learning how to manage your money when you're young is so much easier than when you're out of college with a mountain of student debt, no job, and facing the possibility of bankruptcy. Be responsible now with your money so you won't have to face the dire consequences later.

Follow Through:

Almost 25% of students who started looking for employment or internships before they finished the spring semester found a position. However, if you are of the unfortunate 75%, there are a few things you can do to still snag an internship or get your foot in the door.

We challenge you to optimize YOUR summer vacation. Check out our tips below and submit your story by August 31st for a chance to win a book scholarship for the Fall semester!

1. Explore an interest that you set aside during the school year. There's no better time than now to pursue something you're passionate about!

2. Take a summer class at a local community college that is completely unrelated to your major. You may find the pace and subject to be refreshing and to shed a new perspective.

3. Volunteer in your community. There's no better way to rub elbows with some pretty powerful people in your community! Roll up your sleeves and get started.

4. Get fit, mentally and physically. If you've ignored your health over the past nine months, it's time to get in shape and look great doing it. Exercise will help you feel better and build your confidence as you attend interviews and meet new people.

5. Make a 12-month plan. Take some time to re-think your job-hunting strategy and to re-examine your true interests. Methodically plan your next 12 months in terms of your education, career, health, finance, personal development, and more. Sign in and check out our Rain Resources for help and guidance!

Our phone lines and email boxes are completely open. Let us know how we can help -- no matter how big or small the task might be. We are here for you!

You may think you're too young to think about retirement, especially if you just graduated and are heading into your first entry level position, but it is never too early to prepare. With social security dwindling due to the baby boomers retiring, establishing financial security early is ideal. Managing your personal finances is key to being able to retire after 30 years of hard work.

Analyze your debt. Calculate your balance on credit cards and take into account your student loans.
Account for your bills. Whether you're buying, renting, or leasing a car, apartment, or home, these will be crucial. Be sure if you're in the market for any of these things that you are comfortable making payments regularly.
Secure regular income. With this economy, job security is a major issue. Your income will play a huge role in preparation for your retirement. Steady income will help you in your financial planning.


Here's a break down of where your money should be going:

• 50% of your check should go towards bills such as your mortgage/rent, car note, utilities, etc.
• 20% of your money should be used to take care of your debt from credit cards and student loans.
• 15%, divided in half for retirement and a savings/emergency fund, is recommended.
• The other 15% is available for your disposable income.
• If this plan is followed consistently for 30 years or more, you will have a nice nest egg to retire on, without even including pension or a 401K.

Related articles by Zemanta
Plan for Retirement Ten Years Early (retirementplanning.suite101.com)
3 Money-Smart Moves for Smart Grads (fool.com)
How to Retire Even If the Market Crashes (abcnews.go.com)

The incidence of food allergies is on the rise.  Mostly likely you or someone close to you suffers from some level of food sensitivities.  Many of my patients come in for this very problem.  Some of them don’t realize allergies might be causing or contributing to other health issues.  (See list below.) 

Why is this increase occurring?

I’ve found through research and clinical experience different reasons.  A few of them include:

1. Over-consumption of or too early exposure (under 6) to high allergen foods.
2. Genetically modified foods.
3. Side effects of certain vaccines.
4. Weakened immunity, if not breast-fed or exposed to high allergen foods through breast milk.
5. Overuse of antibiotics- either as medication or in non-organic animal products.

One of the tricky things about food allergies is that they don’t always show up how you’d expect.  Not everyone responds with an upset stomach, digestive complaints, or fatigue after eating.  This is not something many doctors know, unfortunately and may be slow to diagnose. 

Below is a list of some of side effects of eating foods you’re allergic to:

Eczema, Ear Infections, Infertility (men and women), Depression, Asthma, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Autism, Diarrhea, Gas, Abdominal Pain, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Gallstones, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Peptic Ulcer, Psoriasis, Rosacea, Seborrheic Dermatitis, Urticaria, Migraine Headaches, Multiple Sclerosis, Leaky Gut Syndrome, Epilepsy, Celiac Disease, Panic Attacks, Anxiety, Frequent Flus & Colds, and Weight Gain.

If you have any of the above health concerns, please consult a qualified physician for diagnosis and treatment. There is hope! Healing or minimizes food allergies is now possible. Abstaining from those foods, acupuncture/acupressure, detoxification, proper nutrition, and appropriate supplementation are a part of the protocol. Boosting your immune system, cleansing your body of toxins, and healing any damage done to your digestive tract from the exposure to allergen foods will bring you optimal wellness.  The result will most likely be at minimum a reduction in allergy symptoms, and at best- a complete elimination of your allergies.

Live Natural.  Live Well.

Heather

Part one: Put your passion into your work

I had the privilege of attending the annual National Association of Broadcasters event in Las Vegas. The Rainmaker Network was in full swing at the G-Tech/Hitachi booth. I got the chance to meet lots of media and tech professionals from all over the world. Lucky me!

A lot of the professionals that I spoke to all drove one point home: Put your passion into your work. You can't drive creativity without passion. It doesn't matter if you're an accountant, designer or marine biologist: you have to find what you love to do, you'll never work a day in your life! It is important not to be swayed by trends but to tap into your real interests. Even if you don't know exactly what you want to do, start somewhere and begin exploring your options through volunteering, internships or continued education. The more proactive you are about your passions, the happier you'll be in the long run. Being fulfilled and passionate about your work is incredibly rewarding and starts with a few small steps. Stumbling is allowed as long as you continue to move forward.

Here's some inspiration and pearls of wisdom, courtesy of Troy Church, a user experience designer for Adobe. For all of our design and media Rainmakers out there, TRN will be working with G-Tech/Hitachi at the Adobe CS5 Roadshow on Thursday June 10th...stay tuned for more details!

When answering a question or conveying an idea, do you have difficulty relaying what you mean? The type of communication you hold with friends, university staff and even professors is very different from the type of speech that is most effective in the workplace.

Taking on an internship or even a volunteer experience will put you in a professional atmosphere that you may be foreign in. It's worth a moment of your time to think about how you will communicate with your co-workers and your supervisor in these situations, especially concerning stressful topics or during crisis moments.

To speak the most effectively when communicating problems or issues to a supervisor or boss, make sure that you clearly understand what the issue is and are prepared to articulate it to others. If you feel angry or intensely frustrated over the issue, take time to cool down. It is perfectly acceptable to gather your thoughts. Second, know how you would like to see the issue resolved, or at least have a suggestion at the ready on how to improve the circumstances.

Once you are ready to speak, eliminate weak language. "I" statements are the most notorious for weakening your comments. Just as your professors ban the use of "I" statements in your papers, don't include them in the professional atmosphere. Here's how to turn those sentences around:

1. I am too stressed and over-burneded to take on an additional research project.

Considering these two research projects and quantitative data that I am already working on, an additional project of this size will be too large to handle until next Wednesday.

2. I have a problem with one of the associates in our department; they are not completing their work on time and it has made all of us late in finishing this project.

Our department has been unable to complete this project on time because there is a productivity issue with one of our co-workers.

It is also important to communicate effectively in your daily office interactions. Have you responded to a co-worker or boss' statement with offhand words like "cool" or "that's great" and felt immediately that it was not the best response? Don't worry, every one of us has made this mistake. Here is an example on how to respond with a stronger and more professional comment:

1. Respond with a simple okay. Acknowledging their statement shows that you listened and can now act upon their words or are ready to move on to the next topic.

If you need further clarification on their statement, say something like this: "If I heard you correctly, __________" or, "To clarify, ______________." Make sure to repeat what they said, using the same key phrases that they used while speaking to you.


Resources on Honing Your Speech:

For more tips on managing your communication in the professional space, review these two books.

Words that Work: It's Not What You Say, It's What People Hear by Frank Luntz
Words that Work is incredibly valuable for use in the workplace even though Luntz designed the book to guide people in the political arena. One of the best pieces of advice Luntz offers is to use a few, well-thought out words to convey your meaning instead of delivering a dissertation-like comment. The longer the email, letter or discussion, the less attentive the listener.

How to Say It For Women: Communicating with Confidence and Power Using the Language of Success by Phyllis Mindell
This book is more valuable than you can imagine. It's advice comes from a seasoned professional communications expert and will guide you through handling awkward situations, from working through communication mismatches and misunderstandings to handling hot button issues with dexterity. Each chapter is simply written and easy to digest. You'll be utilizing these principals the same day you read them.

If you've landed a job or internship this summer, congratulations! If you want to be viewed as a professional, you have to be fashionably prepared. Prepping your wardrobe doesn't have to be expensive. Here are some great places to get lots of pieces that'll work for you and your budget:

• Forever 21
• Charlotte Russe
• American Apparel
• H&M
• New York & Company
• Express
• Banana Republic
• Target

Grooming gets you places.

• Keep your nails manicured. Go for clear polish or French tip.
• Too much perfume may affect people with allergies. Be mindful.
• Carry gum or mints just in case.

Coachella 2010 is officially over, but it's still on the forefront of many of our minds- with the fuss over Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull volcano eruption, European band cancellations like The Cribs, crazy Coachella style and tons of creativity, as usual. To play at Coachella is an incredible recognition. This year, Jay-Z and Muse headlined the 3 day concert to a record attendance of 225,000 listeners. It's an emerging college band's dream.

Of course, it takes time and effort to make it to the top- so what steps can a band take to make it to the big league? Classes, papers, midterms and meager finances can all make the thought of going on tour or even producing a good- quality gig seem slim. But there's still a lot of room for college talent to shine, in local venues as well as nationally.

First, utilize the equipment and spaces that your college owns. Most likely, you have practice rooms, recording equipment, professional performance spaces and even editing software at your fingertips to hone your sound 24/7. Your campus music department will also have some talented music professors, some of whom might serve as mentors or guides. They'll know where all the best venues are, the cheapest and most reliable repair shops for your instruments and a slew of other necessary info. If you need help with figuring out how to record and edit your music, they'll know that too.

Second, you're probably not the only band on campus or in the area. If you team up with a few other bands you like and would enjoy performing with in one venue, package yourself to local restaurants or clubs as a pre-assembled night of fresh tunes from around the area. They don't have to do the leg work of finding, contacting and checking up on each and every band, and you just scored a gig!

Third, don't discount the opportunity of playing at your own campus, no matter how small. My college boasts only 600 students total, but we held over 8 big events a semester, all of which included the need for awesome music. Performing for your fellow students can earn you a lot of campus recognition, and also a guaranteed crowd at your local gigs.

Fourth, Radical Radio is here to help! It's The Rainmaker Network's newest venture, and it's all about promoting bands like yours on a national level. Radical Radio supports fresh, unsigned college artists and bands by streaming their music to over 100 campuses nationwide. Look out for the launch of our player in May- just in time for summer.

More tips to success coming soon from Will Hoback, Wells College alumni and vocalist for The Coast of Nebraska.


Rebecca, Radical Radio Correspondent

Intern season is right around the corner. As you are trying to gain real world experience during your summer vacation, whether you're in your home town or still on campus, your summer should definitely include an internship or two.

I don't need to tell you guys how it is in the job market; the news does that for you. Every industry is becoming more competitive, and you will rarely be considered even for entry level positions if you don't already have some type of background in what you're doing.

I have done 11 internships and I'm only a sophomore in college. Intern Queen Lauren Berger completed 15 by the time she graduated. Yes, I'm trying to take her crown, and I've told her that. The more background, the better.

Internships don't just give you something to do and don't just give you industry experience. They also teach you how to deal with people. Sure, being in public school all your life can do that also, but being in a real workplace will give you that experience face first.

Here are a few tips on your quest and journey during intern season. Whether you've never had one or if you've had many, I think you can benefit from these tips.

1. Apply early: Even as I'm saying this, if you're starting today, you're a little late in the game. Many companies like to get their interviews out the way, notify people if they got it, and start them right away. If you haven't already, start applying.
2. Apply for many: I have applied and interviewed for so many positions, it's ridiculous. There are so many interviews I just knew I aced, and guess what? I didn't get the position. Apply for as many as you can.
3. Don't let pay get in the way: If you've read my Recessionista Real World post, you may be thinking I'm contradicting myself but that's my particular situation. Most of my internships have been unpaid and have made up for lack of finances with lifelong connections. Many of these positions lead to full time positions in the future.
4. Meet everyone in the company: Whether it's a huge corporation like MTV or a small company with no more than 3 people not including yourself, make sure as many people as possible know your name. Everybody knows somebody that knows somebody.
5. Always be polite: There will be days where everything is going great, then there's that one grouch in the workplace who runs you over. No matter what, always be polite.
6. Don't allow people to take advantage of you: As an intern, a lot of companies (not all, but quite a few) see you as free labor. The New York Times did an article about illegal internships using interns and not giving them anything in return. I've been in this situation as well where the supervisor was using me for personal gain. If you get any kind of red flags, run it by your parents. If you all agree something isn't right, leave.
7. Communication is key: I just ended one of my internships and one of the reasons was because of lack of communication. Never assume your supervisor knows your schedule, even if it's in their Outlook calendar. Constantly remind them if you have other obligations. Treat it as if they are like Drew Barrymore in 50 First Dates; they won't remember tomorrow.
8. Punctuality goes a long way: 15 minutes early is on time. Traffic can be atrocious, especially in Los Angeles and New York. If your internship is 30 miles away, leave an hour and a half before you're scheduled to be there. If you're running late, contact your supervisor immediately.
9. Unplug: A lot of companies hate when interns are listening to their iPods, text messaging, instant messaging, on Facebook and Twitter, etc. Unless it's your job (and some positions are; a lot of my internships deal with social media) stray away from social media and your phone. Turn it on vibrate or silent and keep it out of sight.
10. What are you wearing: It's best to start stocking up on summer intern wardrobes right now. Sure, jeans and t-shirts work for some companies with the casual, laid back atmosphere, but if you want to be viewed as a professional, you have to act the part. Look for a future post on intern wear.

Not too long ago, I opened my heart and my world to you all about my recent trials and tribulations. I'm here with an update.

I wish I had fantastic news, but sadly, I'm still stuck in limbo. Today and tomorrow I'll be withdrawing from California State University Long Beach and applying for an educational leave. I'm in the process of applying for Woodbury University to pursue a BA in Organizational Leadership through a cohort program, which I think will better suit me for the moment. I have gone on multiple interviews, sent in about 200 applications/resumes (I'm not exaggerating), and have been lead on.

I finally got the call from Goodwill SOLAC, the job I was lead to believe was mine as a Development Associate, the position I thought was changing my life and therefore put me in the position to withdraw from school in the first place, only to find out I was no longer being considered for the position. Bummer is not a strong enough word. I made so many alterations to my life to make way for this position, and I did not get it. I was, and still am, frustrated, disappointed, embarrassed, and depressed about it, but all I can do is live and learn.

Shortly after that call, I got a call from the president of the Long Beach chapter of the NAACP to start working as her assistant. I started on Monday and will not return; the experience was horrific to the point where all I can do is laugh. I really thought I was on Punk'd. Feel free to read about the shenanigans I endured.

I've ended one of my internships and will be ending 2 more, as they directly relate to CSULB and won't be able to be completed if I'm no longer attending there.

I'm still actively applying and looking for something. I'm tapping into all of my resources and network connections. I've never been extremely patient, and it's really getting to me now. All I can do is sit and wait at this point, hoping something pans out. Bills still need to be paid, an education still needs to be obtained, my sanity still needs to be reinstalled.

Recessionista was initially created to help you all with tips on saving money, but it's more than that. This is also a real world account of surviving in the recession.

The recession has affected millions of Americans across the country. If it hasn't hit you directly yet, it has definitely impacted someone you know, or even someone close to you. If you're thinking "no, can't say that it has," you can retract that statement. Recessionista has been affected by the recession. I'm here to tell you how it's affected me and what I'm doing about it.

School: I chose to go to a public school for college so I can save money as opposed to choosing a private school. Initially, this was a great idea. I won several scholarships and was eligible for a CalGrant, essentially meaning I got a "free ride" to California State University Long Beach. I chose not to go to Biola University or Azusa Pacific University as to save money by avoiding student loans at all costs. Let's just say my plan has since backfired. My school has been directly hit with budget cut issues. Many classes are not being offered, tuition has increased, and I honestly believe I made a mistake in choosing my school. With over 36,000 students, I feel the campus is too large and impersonal for my education preferences. I found myself to be extremely unhappy with  my decision and felt lost & hopeless. Thankfully, I have found an alternative: Woodbury University. I plan (fingers crossed) to attend starting Fall 2010, pursuing a BA in Organizational Leadership. There's also the chance I can pursue this education for little to no cost out of pocket.

Work: I started college with a part time job working for my local city government's Parks & Recreation Department. Unfortunately, I had a family crisis which put me on little sleep and high stress. I had a class schedule starting at 8am Mondays and Wednesdays and 9:30am on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Being an insomniac, not being able to sleep until 2am and waking up at 6am was not cutting it. I changed my schedule to get some more sleep, requested a work transfer weekly for 5 months so I could work weekends, and was unsuccessful. I have been unemployed since August 31, 2009. I depleted my savings, maxed out my credit cards, and had to take small contract jobs to get by. Thankfully, my internship experience, even though unpaid, is finally paying off. I have lined up several interviews with companies that have positions open in my passion (social media and internet marketing), and I'm looking forward to starting a position or 2 within the next few weeks.

With just those 2 situations, the recession has given me a few hard-knock-life lessons:

1. Do not make your educational decisions strictly based on financial aid. Weigh all of your options or you will find yourself miserable.
2. Do what makes you happy.
3. Unpaid internships do pay off in the long run with invaluable experience.
4. Sometimes, you shouldn't take no for an answer.
5. Credit is not to be played with. Use responsibly.

The Rainmaker Network's Health and Wellness Expert, Heather Lounsbury will have Ed Begley Jr., star of Living with Ed on Planet Green, on her BlogTalk show Live Natural. Live Well Wednesday, April 7, 2010 at 10:00am. He'll be talking about his all natural cleaning products, Begley's Best, and giving you tips on how you can get involved in healing the planet.

Technology is constantly in the news. The more the world goes digital, the more the media covers the "next shiny thing". What many parents and other concerned adults don't realize is that you can use this budding technology to help out the environment and reducing your carbon footprint.

1. Laptops: With the right laptop, you're able to unplug and still get the job done. Since a lot of college work is done on the computer instead of hand written, it also reduces paper use. Put your computer in power saver mode, unplug (yes, even at home), and type away.
2. Navigation systems: A little on the more expensive side, have a navigation system will definitely reduce the amount of paper (and ink) you use on Mapquest directions to the next party. Most smart phones have a navigation app, so use it wisely. Hook up your Bluetooth to the device so the directions are spoken to you. Remember, no texting and driving!
3. E-readers: Some book loyalists such as myself will argue against this, but e-readers are paving the way to save a lot of trees. With e-readers, you can receive books, magazines, and newspapers on one device. This also saves your allergies as those books collect dust over the years.
4. Storage devices: Backing up your files is essential in this day and age. Reduce the clutter of the mounds of childhood photos in the old albums and put them on your computer. Scared of losing them? Back them up on external hard drives like the ones from Hitachi. I personally use the G-Drive mini, which holds 250 GB of storage. That's enough for your photos, old awards, report cards, and any other embarrassing memorabilia your mom has kept from your childhood.
5. Online bill pay: I don't know many young adults who don't use online banking nowadays, but it's one of the greatest inventions ever. Make sure you sign up for electronic bill pay for those credit cards, and select to receive your bank statements online as well.
6. Video conferencing: Programs like iChat, Skype, and oovoo makes it easier to keep up with friends far away with using your cell phone minutes or endless text messages. Some employers are also moving to interviews via video conferencing to reduce commuting and still keep it somewhat personal.
7. Online shopping: Who needs to spend time, and gas, at the mall or grocery store when you can get all your shopping done online? Places like eBay, and ClickBee have just about everything you need to buy, and you can even rent textbooks from companies online like Chegg, where they'll send you the book in the same box you'll ship it back in, or Amazon where you can find textbooks for cheap. Even hospitals like Kaiser Permanente have hopped on the bandwagon and allow you to have your prescriptions mailed to your house.
8. Workout at home: You can get your workout without leaving your home! Fitness is becoming more accessible as companies bring the classes to you. YogaVibes offers classes streamed live online, and O2 Max Fitness allows you to receive nutrition and fitness advice and plans via social media, e-mails, and your cell phone.
9. Distance learning: Going to school in your pajamas has been just about every kid's dream, and now you can. You can get your education without stepping foot in a classroom. More classes, and even full degrees, are being offered online through distance learning programs. One school that is on the ball is San Diego State University, who just opened a virtual campus through SecondLife technology.
10. Cell phone apps: App stores are saving our butts in college and making things so much easier. There's apps for flashcards for last minute studying, accessing Microsoft Office files in case you couldn't bring your laptop, making travel arrangements easier when you're going home for break, and even an app to turn off your lights when you forgot to do it at home.

So, you’ve made the decision to “go green” at your work or internship. You are taking a stand for sustainability. But somehow, the green starting line feels like a lonely place. Sure, you’re committed and ready to move forward, but how will you get your team in the same mindset?

It may have taken you some time to make the decision to be green, so don’t be alarmed if your staff is slow to start connecting the eco-dots. Change is hard, even good change. But there are a few things you can do to encourage your team to jump onto the green bandwagon and start building enthusiasm for your eco-friendly paradigm.

Be Knowledgeable About Your Operation—Benchmark!
Strive to learn all you can about the environmental effects of your business operations. Find out how many kWh of electricity your hotel averages per occupied room; how many gallons of water per occupied room; and your ratio of waste to recycled materials. The American Hotel & Lodging Association provides a spreadsheet to help you establish benchmarks and document your progress, and members can take advantage of GreenQuest, a free online tool provided courtesy of Burton Energy Group. Use these tools to define and establish your goals, and then continually measure and discuss your progress. Build enthusiasm for reaching milestones.

Speak the Language—But Don’t Show Off
Understand green terminology. But know how to translate green-speak into layman’s terms. Once you have command of your green vocabulary, you will find it easier to explain environmental concepts to team members in meaningful terms. Again, AH&LA has provided a glossary of terms that will aid you in this process.

Diversify Your Green Team
Don’t make the obvious mistake of selecting only department heads to be on your green team, especially if you sense reluctance from them. Instead, find cheerleaders, those with passion for the cause, who will help to build enthusiasm long after the green meeting has adjourned. Interview interested employees to be sure they understand the mission of the team and can fulfill the duties with the needed level of conviction.

Hold a Kick-Off Event
Set up a table in your employee break room with information on the new green initiatives. Use balloons, posters, anything to draw attention and make it fun. Communicate the benefits of going green and provide recycling commitment cards (visit America Recycles Day website for sample forms). Consider offering ceramic coffee cups to those who sign commitments to help them reduce the use of disposable cups. Take pictures or video and post them to keep people engaged.

Solicit Feedback
Ask your team for their ideas on how to more effectively reach the new goals. This communicates that you’re all in it together, and everyone makes a difference. Use suggestion boxes and employee surveys. Provide incentives and give recognition for making suggestions. Hold a brainstorming meeting. Make it safe to suggest—there are no bad ideas when it comes to helping the planet.

Set an Example
Publicly recycle. Visibly adjust thermostats. Openly turn off lights. And yes, be seen going through the trash to remove recyclable items. Be a role model for taking a stand to make a difference. Be consistent, every day, every hour. Your team will respect this and follow your lead.

Keep Learning
There is so much to know about environmental stewardship. Keep yourself informed. Subscribe to news and blogs relating to sustainability and green hotels, such as Green Lodging News. Strive to learn something new daily, and share it with your team.

Celebrate Achievements
Make a big deal when things go right! People need to know that their efforts are paying off, so share the good news about your waste reduction, water conservation, and energy savings successes. Post it on bulletin boards and feature it in your newsletter. Incorporate ecology into your instant recognition programs, and catch people in the act of being green. A little celebration goes a long way.

Don’t Lose Heart
Along the way, there will be setbacks. You might be tempted to feel discouraged when people temporarily forget about green initiatives. Remember that humans learn through repetition. It takes 21 days, and 30 to 40 repetitions to form a habit. Your team needs to know that you are there to lead the charge through thick and thin. When you witness a green indiscretion, correct it, forgive it, and don’t stop believing. Always trust that your efforts are changing the world, one initiative at a time.

Julie A. Baylor, CHA, Julie Baylor Hospitality Consulting, can be reached at julie.baylor[at]hotmail.com.

This article first appeared on the Green Lodging News website. Syndicated by Sustainable Travel International.

It is safe to say that the average college student has a cell phone and computer. Chances are, if you were ever forced to live without either of them for more than 24 hours you might go a little crazy. Now, imagine if all of the information you've stored on these two machines evaporated into nothingness. Does pandemonium ensue? Do you give up on modern life and move into a cabin into the middle of the woods and live off the land? Probably not, but it certainly doesn't hurt to have a backup plan in place just in case this unfortunate situation does occur.

The biggest tech crisis you're not prepared for is when technology fails you.

I know this because I've lived it a few times. The blood drains backwards from your extremities, you get a bit lightheaded, and maybe you pretend like it didn't happen for a few minutes. Then the panic sets in and you wish that you could move backwards in time.

Luckily, you kind of can! Back up your data. Here are a few pointers:

• Get a reliable back-up external hard drive. I've had a few cheapies but even they've crashed my data long before my computer did, which defeated the purpose of backing it up. I recommend G-Tech drives because they 1) stay cool to the touch 2) don't spin the drive too much 3) have a well designed shell and 4) last longer than the average drive. (Our lucky Rainmakers get a one-time 15% discount on their first purchase online!)
• Get a few memory sticks for day-to-day files.
• Burn discs and mail them to your parents (in case of fires or theft).
• Schedule a weekly back-up day. (I back up on Saturdays.)

How to back up a...

• PC: Go to Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Backup.
• Mac: Use Time Machine
• Both: Manually back up your files (watch this tutorial).
• Blackberry: Use Desktop Connect to backup and restore your data.
• iPhone or iPod: iTunes does it for you (here's a tutorial)

Take five minutes out of your weekend and back up your stuff! You'll be glad you did.

If you’ve been reading my blog or Tweets for a while, you know I’m not a fan of plastic. Well David de Rothschild, founder of Adventure Ecology, has found a way to make plastic work. After being inspired almost four years ago by a United Nations Environment Program Report, de Rothschild had an idea to build the world’s first boat made completely of recycled plastic bottles. David and his crew, heading from San Francisco to Sydney, set sail on the Plastiki last week.

The Plastiki, a 60-foot catamaran, is named after the Kon-Tiki -- the raft used by Norwegian explorer and writer, Thor Heyerdahl, in his 1947 expedition across the Pacific Ocean from South America to the Polynesian islands.

The Plastiki is made of 12,500 reclaimed plastic bottles. She will travel 11,000 nautical miles across the Pacific to both raise awareness about the condition of our oceans as well as to see first hand the impact we people having on the environment. The Great Eastern Garbage Patch is one of the destinations prior to completing the journey three months later in Sydney.

I was lucky enough to be invited to the Plastiki’s press unveiling a few weeks ago. I met the crew and was even able to go on board and check her out myself. David de Rothschild’s passion for this project and the environment is

obvious. For the past several years his life has been dedicated to saving our planet – even at great risk of his own.

Jo Royle, the Plastiki’s award-winning Skipper (hear my interview with her), was super-sweet and very enthusiastic about spreading the message about plastic and other pollutants in our oceans. Jo shared something that really made such an impact on me- and makes no sense to her: The boating industry is responsible for producing incredibly toxic waste, even though their own captains and crews see the effects first hand. Isn’t it time to change?

Another interesting person (and crew member) I met was Olav Heyerdahl -- Thor Heyerdahl’s (Norwegian explorer, writer and Captain of the Kon-Tiki mentioned above) grandson. Olav shared some of his own experiences sailing the world, comparing his journeys to those of his grandfather’s, via diaries and logs meticulously kept by the elder Heyerdahl. Since his grandfather’s travels, the condition of our oceans has changed drastically. Where sharks made it nearly impossible for his grandfather to swim, Olav said he has seen only a few. Where his grandfather was able to eat tuna daily, Olav only had one such, because there just wasn’t any tuna to be caught. Olav, unfortunately, has seen an abundance of trash, especially plastic; his grandfather, however, saw none. In fact, his grandfather never recorded seeing any man-made debris.

The Plastiki

Not that I’m an expert on boat building, but my first impression was how sleek she is. Nothing I saw made me think she was built from recycled materials. Actual bottles make up the body of the boat and provide nearly 70% of her buoyancy. The glue, made especially for the Plastiki, is a special mix of cashews and sugar (ok, yum!). The sails are one of the first to be made from recycled plastic and the masts are constructed from aluminum irrigation piping.

Matthew Grey, the Expedition Coordinator, demonstrated one of the most unique and interesting features of the boat – the on-board bicycle. The bike has a dual purpose: 1) to help prevent loss of muscle mass, and 2) to generate power.

One of my most favorite features was the vegetable garden. As a nutritionist and vegetarian, I thought this was such a great idea. Having on-board access to fresh, organic greens will no doubt help keep everyone healthy.

It took immense effort to make the Plastiki as sustainable as possible and if it’s possible for a boat, it’s no doubt possible for any building or structure. The homes we live in, the cars we drive, the offices we work in can all be made less toxic! The technology is out there. It takes commitment, but as David de Rothschild, his crew and the developing team have proven, it’s possible.

I commend them all for their dedication. David said that one of his goals was to show that it could be done. the Plastiki will definitely inspire other industries to head in the same direction.

Now I ask, how can you raise awareness and have a positive impact?

Live natural. Live well.

Heather

Check out Heather's site, www.getnaturalgetwell.com