Let's face it times are tough and some Volusia County children will not have the basics they need to have a very happy and productive school year. 

Let's just forget about school for a minute and think about the lives these same poverty stricken children lead as they go without undergarments, proper nutrition and things so many people take for granted such as toothpaste, deodorant and 3 squares a day. In most cases these same children are put down, held back and ridiculed.  For children, being poor is not a choice its what they were born into, life happened and the children are the ones that suffer the hardest and will continue to do so until someone steps in and helps.

According to Census Data 16% of children of Volusia County under the age of 18 lives in poverty. 

When I think about the children in our county as well as across the globe who suffer from poverty and at no choice of their own.  It hurts me..it makes me sad.  Let's face it, every child counts regardless of race, religion and income.  Some of the most prosperous contributing adults I know today come from a background of poverty. It surely doesn't have to be that way!

If you do not know much about poverty, its hard work.  For the parents who work hard to try and keep food on the table and for the children who are made to feel as if they are nothing due to circumstances beyond their control!  Please do what you can and extend your hand in helping others to become a productive part of society. 

ADOPT A CHILD BACKPACK PROGRAM

The Daytona Beach Area Association of REALTORS proudly presents

A CHARITY SOCIAL @MARTINI'S CHOPHOUSE RESTAURANT

1815 SOUTH RIDGEWOOD AVENUE in DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA

Live Entertainment: STONY SIXMA ON ACOUSTICS

Considered to be one of Volusia's foremost entertainers.  Stony keeps packing 'em wherever he performs.

MARTINI'S CHOPHOUSE RESTAURANT HAS AGREED TO DONATE 10%

OF SALES FROM THIS SOCIAL TO ADOPT A CHILD BACKPACK PROGRAM!

WHEN: FRIDAY JUNE 3, 2011  TIME: 5:30 P.M. UNTIL ??????

HELP US RAISE MONEY FOR THE CHILDREN * ENTER TO WIN GREAT DOOR PRIZES and 50/50 * SUGGESTED DONATION/ENTRANCE FEE OF $5.00

Its been some time since I posted but I can't help to think this is the perfect place to send my mom Mothers Day wishes and ask my friends for a little help.  This Mothers Day is really different with a lot of happiness and a little sadness.  I have to share and want my mom to know just how much I love her.

My mom and dad took us in when we were little and raised as their own.  They had 5 kids of their own and gave us all a good life but it seems my mom and dad have been through so much yet they will never stop giving and caring about people. 

Giving and caring to their friends and family, to total strangers and to the community. I love her so much for that, if anyone ever understood pay it forward, yes it is my mom, many of the traits I have come directly from her. To me she is amazing and I think many would agree. 

Thank God, for my mom, they don't come any tougher than her. She takes such good care of my dad and the family in Alabama.  She won't hesitate to lend a helping hand to those in need.  My mom has to stay busy...she is in everyones business...in a good way..reaching out..loving and giving.  It's what she does.  That's my mom.

My mom is a great grandmother not once but twice so far.  The joy these babies bring to her is simply divine..there are no others words to describe it.  If you don't know my mom and dad live in Alabama and is surrounded by some of the family. 

It's where my mom feels at home and it's the happiest I've ever seen her.  To me its seems to be a hard life but its not to her, I know she wouldn't trade it for anything.  Well I'm not sure anymore.

Cullman Alabama was struck by tornadoes, for a bit I was freaking out but thanks to text messaging I learned my family was safe. 

Fortunately they now have power and they have each other.  My mom doesn't need much more than that but I am sure that she is crying inside witnessing the loss, devastation and sadness that her friends and community are experiencing today.   I could use a little help from my friends..and so could the folks in Cullman Alabama.  Here is how you can help:

1.  Post a heart felt comment to the folks in Cullman Alabama and let them know they are not alone and remind them the good people of the world truly care and whatever they do, DO NOT to lose faith and hope.  Feel free to re blog, share it or copy..it doesn't matter to me..I just want the message out there.  For my family and for my family's community.

2.  Wish my mom a happy Mothers Day in the comments below...if you know her and she has impacted your life in any way..please let her know of if you don't please send her some good cheer.  My mom's name is Ruth Terwilliger, she will respond to mom, mother, momma, ma, nanny, grandma, honey and occasionally she'll remember her name is Ruth. :) 

3.  Do what you can to help the good people of Cullman Alabama, join the fanpage and see what they need. I think its the best way as they are fully aware of where to ship goods, send money or help those who are in dire need.  Tell them the proud daughter of Ruth Terwilliger sent you or better yet Ruth Terwilliger sent you.

I love you mom and miss you all very much..and to you good folks in Alabama, you'll be ok..ask my mom, she tell you that whatever obstacles u go through in life..you have to keep the faith and always be hopeful and whatever you do...keep going!

Brandon is the son of a local real estate agent, Keith Kiel!  Please feel free to reblog, repost or say thank you to Brandon...I am no fan to war whatsoever...but I love my freedom and feel protected and privelidged to live in the U.S.  W e appreciate your service, we appreciate your beautiful music...we appreciate you!

The early days of Activerain was a great place to be.  It was a time of building and growing and learning.  Never did I gripe about the featured board because I knew that the moderators were people like you and me...hard working...and not paid but volunteering their time to help this network grow.  Laurie Manny was one of them...the classy dame!

The moderators had it tough and some moderators were tough, the classy dame, Laurie Manny had a way to set people straight...who was very direct and honest and who mentored many who in turn shared with all of us.  I was one of the lucky ones!  Laurie was unique, she would jump in and fight the good fights.  

Receiving an email was always enlightening..and always exciting and sometimes a little scary to me...you never knew what she was gonna email you for.  On occasion I would wonder, am I in trouble?  But in all the email interactions it was kind, thoughtful or asking a question.

I guess my best memory was when she came to the rescue and wrote the best comment in reference to a post written about ghostwriting..not only did she take the time to come back and leave a very well thought out, thoughtful comment but shot me an email that made me want to pursue it even farther and I knew I was on the right track. 

I valued her opinion...I wasn't alone...many valued her opinion, her knowledge and her friendship.  She was a hell of a woman, one classy dame!  I nicknamed her that...she reminded me of pure class and glamour from an era that no longer exists today.

 You don't come across dames like that today!  Laurie Manny - Thank You

Rest in Peace and may your family and friends find comfort!

We digg and like and stumbleupon, we blog we comment and sometimes rate.  Can you affect the behavior others? Do you have Real Influence...impacting others to digg, like, comment and share your link? 

Real Influence ...we like to share and spread our word in hopes it will benefit someone.  Let's face it, we post our articles and our links because we want to impact...influence someone to read, comment, contact and/or do business. You are trying to influence people to contact you, influence people to do business with you. Can you affect the behavior of others?  You are more influential than you think!

I've entered all kinds of contests right here and in various places.  Every contest I entered offered benefits but the latest adventure offers something very exciting...and you can join too.

You Can Gage Your Real Influence

We all like free marketing and free publicity, right?  We also enjoy seeing our rankings whether it be subscribers, fans and on the search engines. With participation includes recognition and some FREE marketing.  

Let's Talk Real Influence for a minute.  So what is it?  According to Fast Company, real influence is getting those in your social network, your own personal web to take action with a suggestion or recommendation.  Do people really pay attention to your posts and links and truly check them out?  Do people pass them on and forward them? Do you have real influence?

Fast Company is searching for 2010's Most Influential Person Online.

You are more influential than you think.

  So What do you have to do?

• You upload a picture.
• They give you your own personalized, unique URL link to the site.
• The more people you influence to click on your link, the bigger your picture grows.
•  Fast Company tracks where your influence leads, how it spreads, and where you stand.

The final results, and your picture, will appear in the November issue of Fast Company magazine.

So, start influencing!

BTW, On July 23rd there were only a little over 9000 people participating and today the numbers have jumped to 26,123.  Hurry as the deadline is getting close this opportunity ends August 15th. I can't confirm anywhere when this ends.  

IJustine is ranked #4 and I am ranked 1,644.  IJustine is the one who influenced me.  I hate to admit it, Fast Company is right, I am more influential than I thought, I bet you are to. Click here to get started!

Read the Fast Company Blog

This is not a typical post that I would write but a post that needs to be read and heard and shared.  It isn't about me or the ActiveRain Real Estate Community but an individual and a family that really needs our help!

They need our thoughts and prayers!

I joined ActiveRain when real estate blogging was becoming the next big thing since sliced bread, I am so lucky because there were so many fabulous bloggers in the early days that already maintained their own sites...some with such big followings, readers and comments you would have thought they were their own social networks.  I was able to learn from each one of them and continue to do so today. 

For weeks now I have been visiting someone on Facebook regularly, who really needs our help..he was someone many of us learned a great deal from and now has been battling cancer.  I have never met him face to face but I feel like I know personally.  I am really really sad...and so are many of his friends but imagine being his wife and family.

I am really asking you to stop what you are doing and either send some warm thoughts or say a little prayer.

Joseph Ferrara and Family need your warm thoughts and prayers and I think they would really appreciate them!

Comments closed... you can visit his wall on facebook or join the group Friends of Joseph Ferrara. 

* My personal views are expressed here * I Believe in the power of prayer!  * I believe in the power of warm thoughts * Collectively * We * Us * sending warm thoughts and prayers!

I'm splattered all over the net from my real estate business license to personal information that other sites accumulate...does it bother me sometimes.

At least Facebookallows you to change your settings!

Does My FACEBOOK settings bother you? Check out ReclaimPrivacy.org

Let's get real if I really wanted to be private I guess I wouldn't be on the net or I wouldn't expose myself the way that I have throughout the years. Today nothing is private and if you have lots of friends online there is a chance they may be sharing your personal information and you might not be aware of it. Doesn't bother me...but it may bother my friends...

For All of My Private Friends - I Made Adjustments To FACEBOOK!

There is an awesome tool available called reclaimprivacy.org if these things matter to you. Its very simple to use and will let you know the adjustments you need to make if you want to be "private" Follow the simple instructions below but while you do it...make sure you are logged into facebook.

1. Drag this link to your web browser bookmarks bar: Scan for Privacy
2. Log in to facebook.com and then click that bookmark
3. You will see a series of privacy scans that inspect your privacy settings and warn you about settings that might be unexpectedly public.

Adjust your setting as you see fit...don't worry...my friends info..is just between friends! :)

"A DeBary woman was arrested after a Volusia County Sheriff's Office investigation found that she participated in a Nigerian check-cashing scheme that defrauded at least 15 victims of $26,835, sheriff's spokesman Gary Davidson said Saturday."  Daytona News Journal Read the full story here. 

OK so you read right and many will have something to say to those that fell prey to these scam artists.  The truth is not everyone is tech savvy or spend hours on end online or in their email.  Some folks might be desperate or in a desperate situation and lo and behold their prayers are answered.  Money from the net.

Be Careful of Nigerian Scams-Consumer Beware-Many Scams

This scam is different from the Homes on Craigslist or the millions they try to send everyone to safely remove their family inheritance to the U.S.  While this one involved scholarships and rebates, keep in mind, there is a wide variety of these scams going on...and no one should joke about someone being scammed..instead use the energy and inform those who might fall prey to one these schemes.

Read consumer reports on the different types of scams that they have seen and experienced first hand.  Read the reports here. 

Be leary of those handing you big bucks via email and you have never met them and they want your very personal information which would include bank account info, social security numbers. 

• Craigslist and Rental Scams-Port Orange Florida
• Rentvine Creates Rental Scam Detection Tool
  

If you found this useful please subscribe! Midori Miller authors DaytonaRealEstateTrainer.com | The Business Center | Celebrity Truths and her Active-rain blog DaytonaRealEstateTraining.com. Midori is also an Activerain Ambassador, have questions?  Feel free to contact her via email or phone.