July, 2015 - Bettina Network's Blog

Archive for July, 2015

Thanks for the Sandra Bland blog

Monday, July 27th, 2015

It is amazing how little there is about Sandra Bland in the major media outlets.  What is there that I have heard talks about her committing suicide and whatever else negative could be found.

I am sending this list, which I got from the FMF (Feminist Movement Foundation) newsletter.  I think Sandra Bland needs to be put into context.  She is not alone there are others.  That gives a very different picture.

“Less than 24 hours after Bland’s death, 18-year old Kindra Chapman was found dead in a Homewood City, Alabama jail cell one hour after being arrested for allegedly stealing a cell phone. Chapman’s death, also called a suicide by authorities, has spurred the hashtag #IfIDieInPoliceCustody. Two months ago, activists gathered in California to demand justice for Tanisha Anderson, Rekia Boyd, Miriam Carey, Michelle Cusseux, Shelly Frey, Kayla Moore, and Alberta Spruill, all Black women killed at the hands of police violence. Just weeks after this protest, 15-year-old Dajerria Becton was violently attacked by a police officer in McKinney, Texas at a neighborhood pool party.”

Now what do you think of this Sandra Bland incident.  Can you really go back to business as usual with all of this going on?

_________________________________________

Learn More About How We Use Your Donation!

[give_form id=”3763″]

_________________________________________

Ed. Note: Members of the Bettina Network Lifestyle CommunityB can contribute to the Bettina Network blog whenever they have anything they want to say and be heard by this fantastic group of people. Send your blog to bettinanetwork@comcast.net or mail it to us at P. O. Box 380585 Cambridge, MA. 02238 or call us on the telephone at 617-497-9166 to tell us what you want to say and we will write it for you.

TO RESPOND TO THIS BLOG email bettina-network@comcast.net or info@bettina-network.com

TO LEARN MORE try www.bettina-network.com

Response to “Strange Fruit” – Sandra Bland

Saturday, July 25th, 2015

Wow, Cookie!  Every time I look away from your blog you have taken it to a new height.  What a prophetic voice.  Who knew!

Thank you for this blog.  It says everything I wanted to say in ways I hadn’t even thought about.  The parallel to Billie Holiday singing “Strange Fruit” is awesome.

I don’t think this stuff will ever stop.  There are more African Americans being lynched today than in the 1920′ and 1930’s and none of us knows how to stop it.  The majority society has given this their blessing, it seems.  Their day is coming and it isn’t going to be pleasant.

Keep writing.  I will keep reading.

___________________________________________

Learn More About How We Use Your Donation!

[give_form id=”3763″]

____________________________________________

Sandra Bland – Strange Fruit

Friday, July 24th, 2015

imagesOnce upon a time, the “Strange Fruit, hanging from the trees” used to be from trees with green leaves, a trunk and branches growing up from the ground splattered with red.

Today, the “Strange Fruit, hanging from the trees” is hanging from man-made trees with blue reflected all around.

But look!  Isn’t that the old white cloth under the blue?

And aren’t those tall pointy white hats pushing out from under the official issued uniform?

Really strange and awful fruit, rapidly spreading the disease of racism all across the country.

Being covered up by fear – that fear keeping those who could act from doing so.

Why!  Oh God, Why!

This strange fruit is is Black and female –

the fear is that riots will invade those lovely, green, middle-class communities.

Rather let the strange fruit multiply and just hang there in silence.  Much better than to act.  The sacrifice of the few for the many.

But doesn’t that spread?  isn’t it happening more rapidly?

Terrorism?

Not from the Middle East!

White – Male – Conservative – with strings into the groups of old

The Klan, the Citizens Council, the neoNazi …………………….why bother with a list, you know the names

This isn’t simply racism – this is Racism and Sexism.

Life is becoming ever more strange and silent.

The silent majority is back and in control!

Let the media slip in little bits and pieces to make it sound less awful; less threatening; let us not place blame where it belongs, but obfuscate.

Won’t that protect those of us who count?

Homicide, murder, reduced to a paid vacation, sometimes called Administrative leave – which happens before exoneration.

_______________________________________________

Learn More About How We Use Your Donation!

[give_form id=”3763″]

_______________________________________

Want to join us? Have a home that you want to open to become one of Bettina Network’s Hedge Schools? Call us and lets talk – or email us.

Ed. Note: Members of the Bettina Network Lifestyle Community can contribute to the Bettina Network Blog whenever they have anything they want to say and be heard by this fantastic group of people. Send your blog to bettinanetwork@comcast.net or mail it to us at P. O. Box 380585 Cambridge, MA. 02238 or call us on the telephone at 617-497-9166 to tell us what you want to say and we will write it for you.

Volunteer with Bettina Network Foundation, inc. to work estate sales; to help move items from one home to another; to contribute your ideas on how we can better use our resources in this effort to relieve and eliminate homelessness and poverty. We also need photographers; designers; and more. However much or little time you have, we are grateful.

Send your event information to be included in Bettina Network’s Menu of Events to: bettina-network@comcast.net

This is a curated blog so you cannot write your responses at the end of each entry. TO RESPOND TO THIS BLOG email bettina-network@comcast.net or info@bettina-network.com

TO LEARN MORE try www.bettina-network.com

Bettina Network Foundation needs Volunteers!

Thursday, July 23rd, 2015

Bettina Network Foundation, inc. is looking for volunteers to help us move furniture and other items from the home of one who has to the homes of several who have little.

Spend Saturday morning, July 25, 2015 starting at 10:00 am making an impact in this world.  Or, volunteer to spend some other days volunteering with Bettina Network Foundation.  Let us know if you are interested in working with us to bring about changes for the better in all of our lives.

We are given many things for those who are recently homeless and/or are having a difficult time with survival.

We move those items out of the house from where they were given and deliver them to a list of people who are in need.  We need volunteers who will help us do that.  If you have a car that is wonderful.  If not you can pair up with so meone else who has a car, van, truck.  There will be a truck at each location to take things that are too large for a car, van, etc.

It is a great experience.  Fun! New friends! Some experience with Bettina Network Foundation! Are you a student who needs Community Service hours – we can provide you with a letter of your work and the hours you spent engaged in helping others through the Bettina Network Foundation, inc.

If you have access to newspapers and boxes for packing, please bring them along.  Every little bit helps.

Call for more information – 617 497 9166 or 800 347 9166 and talk to us.

Email – bettina-network@comcast.net

This week, we start at 10am in the Arlington area and should finish by 11:30am.

We provide  a debriefing lunch for all who want to join us.

Get to know Bettina Network Foundation, inc. and feel the great experience of being a direct help to those who give and those who receive.

Everyone who helps gets to take one item for themselves from the estate as our way of saying thank you.

 

Ed. Note: Members of the Bettina Network Lifestyle Community can contribute to the Bettina Network blog whenever they have anything they want to say and be heard by this fantastic group of people. Send your blog to bettinanetwork@comcast.net or mail it to us at P. O. Box 380585 Cambridge, MA. 02238 or call us on the telephone at 617-497-9166 to tell us what you want to say and we will write it for you.

TO RESPOND TO THIS BLOG email bettina-network@comcast.net or info@bettina-network.com

TO LEARN MORE try www.bettina-network.com

A Bettina Moving Sale!

Friday, July 17th, 2015

 

 

 

An Exciting Event Always

6 Gray Circle – Arlington, MA. 02476                                                           Saturday, July 18, 2015 from 10am-4pm

 

All Bettina Network Sales accept cash, checks, credit cards (American Express, Visa, MasterCard, Diners Club).

There is a Bettina Network Game of Skill with this moving sale.  See the rules of the game at the end of this blog post.

We are working with this family to help move their 92 year old father to assisted living. He has lived in this home for 60 plus years.

He and/or his daughter will be at the sale to talk with anyone who wants to know some history of what they are purchasing.

Always look for the Bettina Flag waving in the breeze to know you are in the right place.

Always look for the Bettina Flag waving in the breeze to know you are in the right place.

You will find a collection of many different things including: tools which are ancient; sleighs for enjoying winter on a small hill and more.

We will have a pot of organic Bob Marley coffee – this time, featuring “One Love” – for those who would like to spend a few minutes getting into the history of the items in this home and a kitchen table where you can talk comfortably.

This is a great opportunity to buy something and get to know its provenance and/or to begin to put together a provenance for whatever you purchase.

Take part in a game of skill for a beautiful hand-made porcelain village. For only $3 you could take home this village which appraises at $130.00) . All you have to do is write the winning essay on what you would do with such a village. Beautifully made by the mother of this family who died in 1977 and before that, she made several very lovely porcelain pieces. This village, with many houses could be a Christmas village, a Swiss village tucked into a snowy place, houses around or on the side of a train set to enhance the train set-up, or – what are your ideas? The winning essay will be chosen by three independent judges.

 

beautiful lace curtains for the window that needs a life.

beautiful lace curtains for the window that needs a life.

Lovely candle holder and sun figure for over the fireplace or anyplace else you choose.

Lovely candle holder and sun figure for over the fireplace or anyplace else you choose.

What a lovely stand to hold your very valuable collection of small items.

What a lovely stand to hold your very valuable collection of small items.

Multi-million dollar items have provenances, but so does that lamp you like; the sofa that attracts your attention; the dining room table and chairs which are beautifully made. Don’t cheat your family’s history. When you buy for your home and your estate make sure you have as much information about the items you purchase as possible – no matter how small. You never know what you buy today will be worth tomorrow. Be Prepared.

Very comfortable chair for the desk or computer table with a small handmade table to hold your coffee and sandwich.

Very comfortable chair for the desk or computer table with a small handmade table to hold your coffee and sandwich.

All of our invoices – which you take home – have a short story on the back telling you a bit about the family and circumstances of the items you purchase.

AND,

be a part of helping to bring closure to someone who has enjoyed the items you are purchasing. It is nice to know where the items you cherished over your lifetime are going to reside in the future. Of course, that means, if the owner doesn’t like you, we can’t sell you the items you may like and want to buy, no matter how much you are willing to pay. 2015-07-10 13.56.04 2015-07-10 13.56.34 2015-07-10 13.59.25 2015-07-10 13.59.33 2015-07-10 14.00.30 2015-07-10 14.01.40 2015-07-10 14.05.26 2015-07-10 14.06.49 2015-07-10 14.07.55

A Game of Skill*

*The Bettina Network, inc.’s Estate Sale Game of Skill (copyright 2015)

Rules of the Game

The prize for the winner of this test of skill is the hand-made porcelain village with lights. 

The winner will have written the two paragraphs suggesting a use for this village and the winning essay will be the one with the most imaginative suggestion. 

The Game of Skill will begin at 10am on Saturday July 18th and end at 4pm on Saturday, July 18th. All who visit the estate sale at 6 Gray Circle, Arlington, MA. are eligible to enter. 

The primary consideration in judging the essay will be IMAGINATION - not the English, nor how well or poorly written is the essay. There will be nothing subtracted from the writers score for poor spelling, or poorly constructed sentences. 

The cost to enter is $3.00 per entry. One can enter as many times as you have individual essays at $3.00 per entry. There is no lower limit to the number of essays nor is there a limit to themost number of essays that will be accepted. If only one essay is submitted Bettina Network,incwill backstop the cost of the village to the Santora family to the maximum amount of $95.00 

You can use the kitchen table on which to write your essay. 

Three people - independent judges - will judge the winning essay and the winner will be notified on Sunday May 19, 2015 that they can pick up their newly acquired village. 

The Judges are - Ms. Trudi Van Slyck, co-founder of the New School of Music 
                 Mr. Eric Huenneke, organist, First Parish Church in Concord, MA. 
                 Ms. Judy Huenneke, Mary Baker Eddy Library, Archivist. 

Any complaints, disagreements, etc. with the Game of Skill will be settled by Marceline Donaldson. May 18, 2015

__________________________________________________

Learn More About How We Use Your Donation!

[give_form id=”3763″]

_________________________________________________

Trump, Thurmond, Duke

Saturday, July 11th, 2015

Thank you for the blog on Donald Trump.  I am amazed at how edited the press reporting is on this man and his political machinations.

Too many people are calling this a “Republican” phenomenon.  I want to remind them that Strom Thurmond, in whose shoes Trump is walking politically and otherwise, was a Democrat – remember the famous Dixiecrates?    They found a weak spot in the Republican Party and have been trying to take it over every since only this time with a new name.  Don’t they remind you of the Tea Party? When groups disguise themselves, good investigative reporting would put the story out for all of us to read – an accurate version.

Trump’s politics are the politics of the old South which demanded the raising of the confederate flag and kept it flying for some 50 years under a false guise.  It is also the politics of the early rise of Hitler.  Too stringent for you?  Check out your history and see the parallels.

His is the politics of race and it is becoming race that even Thurmond and Duke didn’t promote.  His racism is taking an issue with emotional appeal and laced with much bigotry and is using that to promote himself.  He may have lost some 500 million, but what is that to a billionaire who is probably going to turn this campaign into lots of money down the road for himself that will make the $500 million look like peanuts.

Hope you title this – Race Politics revisited by Donald Trump.

_____________________________________________________

Learn More About How We Use Your Donation!

[give_form id=”3763″]

_____________________________________________________

Donald Trump? How to ruin a great breakfast!

Thursday, July 9th, 2015

A brief breakfast conversation, which most of us killed almost immediately, but not before several points were made:

1) While his first wife was working hard to help develop the Trump empire, the man was womanizing!  And who knows what kind of sexual activity happened after and through the rest of his life and marriages, especially given that history, which could not be denied!  Is it true that questionable sexual ethics go hand and glove with questionable life and business ethics?

2) His wife divorced him and in the process, he filed bankruptcy – isn’t that normally done to negatively affect a divorce settlement? Is he ethically challenged?

3) What does that add up to? – adultery? sexual abuse? questionable business strategies? etc.

And he is dumping on Mexicans – and whoever else he thinks will help his presidential aspirations!

He doesn’t have to do that, the media/press has been roped into being an excellent campaign committee to promote his presidential aspirations.  If the press didn’t idolize him, his presidential bid would be in the dumpster. – actually, at breakfast, it was said ….”in the toilet”.

With all his comments and public/press appearances – consider the source.

We nominate Donald Trump, his presidential aspirations and the media who lionize him to Bettina Networks Box of Shame and Bettina Networks’ Hall of Shame.  One category does not suffice.

——–     30    ————

___________________________________________

Learn More About How We Use Your Donation!

[give_form id=”3763″]

___________________________________________

Want to join us? Have a home that you want to open to become one of Bettina Network’s Hedge Schools? Call us and lets talk – or email us.

Ed. Note: Members of the Bettina Network Lifestyle Community can contribute to the Bettina Network Blog whenever they have anything they want to say and be heard by this fantastic group of people. Send your blog to bettinanetwork@comcast.net or mail it to us at P. O. Box 380585 Cambridge, MA. 02238 or call us on the telephone at 617-497-9166 to tell us what you want to say and we will write it for you.

Volunteer with Bettina Network Foundation, inc. to work estate sales; to help move items from one home to another; to contribute your ideas on how we can better use our resources in this effort to relieve and eliminate homelessness and poverty. We also need photographers; designers; and more. However much or little time you have, we are grateful.

Send your event information to be included in Bettina Network’s Menu of Events to: bettina-network@comcast.net

This is a curated blog so you cannot write your responses at the end of each entry. TO RESPOND TO THIS BLOG email bettina-network@comcast.net or info@bettina-network.com

TO LEARN MORE try www.bettina-network.com

Transforming Africa! A Poem by Esi Elliot

Tuesday, July 7th, 2015
Copyright by Bettina Network, inc. for Esi Elliot

Africa, once again is transforming into a king

Linking,

Bridging and reaching to unite as one motherland!

Embracing and lacing through cleave of nations,

Moving from collision to coalition.

Golden chains of economic cooperation that adorn the neck –

Thinking –

A crown of dazzling precious stones

Adorn the head and stirs the blood in the brain.

Creative thoughts are ablaze like crackling fireworks,

Shooting upwards with strategic zest and zeal

Signaling kingly feats.

Drinking,

Gulping down sweet wines of knowledge and education

Refreshing liquids of intellectual realization

Greatly priced and intricately styled

Prints of human capital

Rich gold bouquets of culture and empowerment

Quilts of liberalization and freedom

Milking

The belly of resources split open

To spill out the innates of prosperity

Gold, silver, diamonds, wood, ivory and precious stones

Carved intricately into vanity cases full of perks that surround the cities

Blinking

Away the tear drops that blind the vision

Eagle eyesights watchful over courts and parliaments

Eyes like colored glass-beads feast on order

A resplendent image of a million twinkling stars

Organized, prioritized, synchronized

Sinking

Dredging the stinking oasis of corrupt practices and wrong values

Siphoning the huge infected cloistered water bodies

Destroying the sandbars of barren deserts of extortions

Creating a timeless and enduring allure of a welcoming land

Winking

We did it!  Great dynasty of lucrative offers, studied elegance, colorful mosaic

Of festivals, fairs and feasts

Joyous pageantry of celebration, exuberance and fanfare

King again, oh Africa!

King again, oh Africa!

By: Esi Elliot

Dr. Elliot is Assistant Professor of Marketing at Suffolk University

 She researches  and teaches Global Marketing, Innovation, Consumer Behavior

with Degrees from:  University of Illinois (PhD)

                                     Schiller International University in the UK (MBA)

                                     University of Ghana (BS)

A distinguished scholar who uses metaphors as motivation

and a member of Bettina Network’s Lifestyle Community!

 ______________________________________________

Learn More About How We Use Your Donation!

[give_form id=”3763″]

______________________________________________

Want to join us? Have a home that you want to open to become one of Bettina Network’s Hedge Schools? Call us and lets talk – or email us.

Ed. Note: Members of the Bettina Network Lifestyle Community can contribute to the Bettina Network Blog whenever they have anything they want to say and be heard by this fantastic group of people. Send your blog to bettinanetwork@comcast.net or mail it to us at P. O. Box 380585 Cambridge, MA. 02238 or call us on the telephone at 617-497-9166 to tell us what you want to say and we will write it for you.

Volunteer with Bettina Network Foundation, inc. to work estate sales; to help move items from one home to another; to contribute your ideas on how we can better use our resources in this effort to relieve and eliminate homelessness and poverty. We also need photographers; designers; and more. However much or little time you have, we are grateful.

Send your event information to be included in Bettina Network’s Menu of Events to: bettina-network@comcast.net

This is a curated blog so you cannot write your responses at the end of each entry. TO RESPOND TO THIS BLOG email bettina-network@comcast.net or info@bettina-network.com

TO LEARN MORE try www.bettina-network.com

A Bettina Network Foundation, inc. UPDATE

Wednesday, July 1st, 2015

We had a really fantastic weekend.  So much so that we are all exhausted and using lineaments to ease the muscle pain.

We packed and moved two town houses and delivered the contents to people who needed what was given.

We were going to do this in one day, but thanks to the UHaul people (see below), we had to do all of this over two days, both Saturday and Sunday, making our work harder, but the rewards were still great.

We had a couple problems which we need to resolve as we move into the future and hope you can help us:

1) We need trucks and moving vans which will make these moves easier and less expensive.  On Saturday, our first problem happened.  We made reservations to pick up a UHaul Truck between 7:30 and 8:30am Saturday morning.  When we arrived at the UHaul place – it was closed and would not be open anytime that day.  It caused us untold problems and extra money.  So even though we had made reservations to pick up a truck at a particular location, the fact that the location would be closed for the day was not communicated to us when we made and they accepted the reservation.  Not a good way to do business.  Since we do this on a budget,  UHaul cost us for reasons we don’t understand and no apology has been forthcoming.

So after calling around, looking on the internet and trying to make reservations for a truck for an immediate pick-up on a day when lots of people were moving, we finally found a Budget truck.  It was too small, but all that was available,  so we had to make two trips when one should have been sufficient.  So hours were spent – as was extra money – thanks to the UHaul Company.

2) We need volunteers who will help us clean the items given to us before we pack and take them to their new home.  That would be a big bonus.

Since we have our own special way of cleaning – those who volunteer will find their hands wonderfully soft, moist and wrinkle free at the end of the day.  We don’t use petroleum based products to do any cleaning.  Nor do we use anything which is harmful to people or the environment.The products we do use are healthy, good for you, and good for what you are cleaning.  To peek into our secrets you have to volunteer to help us with these moves.

Once past the above two problems we were back to normal.  Which means the party started and we packed, moved, joked, sang, and generally had a good time together.

It was very rewarding at the end of the day to get together to debrief; talk about what the day was like; how we could improve what we do for the next pick up and delivery; and how we were going to put the word out even further to let people know who we are and how they can join the party.  We met to hold this debriefing and conversation and planning session on the concrete in the parking lot of the local Whole Foods Store.  Folks just walked around us and went about their business. We thought we should have a sign which read something like “Bettina Network Foundation, inc. Debriefing Meeting”, so those passing by could join us if they had something to say or have their curiosity relieved by reading the sign to give them an idea as to what we were doing – and there were the curious stares.  We stopped in the Whole Foods parking lot because that is where we were going food shopping at the end of the meeting.  Everyone who volunteered, signed up to join The Black Race so we were all thinking about being extra careful with the food we bought and put into our bodies, because it  is one of the things we need to be concerned about as members of this Black Race.

We were all colors, ages and conditions.  From age 4 through 84.  Some of us could get around, lift heavy objects, move stuff and some of us only walked with a cane, but still made a substantial contribution to the effort.  If you are handicapped, we still have jobs you can do.  In this move you could sit by the front door and keep the inventory as items went into boxes and/or were carried out the door.

We give those who donate a 501 (c ) 3 letter for their contribution so it is important that we keep track of everything donated and what it is worth.  One person inventoried everything and one person kept track of value.  Where they weren’t sure, they looked it up on the internet or called a knowledgeable friend for input.  We keep a wheel chair, a walker and other such things close by in case of need.  Although we had to keep a couple of the able bodied people out of the wheel chair.

What was most rewarding was the feeling we were left with – that we reached out to other human beings, like ourselves, who needed a boost to live a little more graciously and we were glowing because we had just come back with the knowledge that our work was appreciated, both by those who gave and by those who received.

3) Going into the future, we need volunteers who will go before us, to the homes we have researched and selected as those we would minister to that day, and help the families get ready to receive these additions to their lives.  The volunteers need to be – Designers who can help arrange things with the families input and guidance as to their lifestyles; people willing to help the families clean their homes and organize what they have; future planners who will work with the families on how to best use the items being delivered to them, how to take care of what they have and what they will receive;  and  those who will talk with the families going forward on what they can do to give back and help others over the next several weeks.  We also need those who can bring back to us what else the families need so we can organize the next move incorporating those families once again, if the next house turns up something they can use.

______________________________________________

Learn More About How We Use Your Donation!

[give_form id=”3763″]

_____________________________________________

Want to join us? Have a home that you want to open to become one of Bettina Network’s Hedge Schools? Call us and lets talk – or email us.

Ed. Note: Members of the Bettina Network Lifestyle Community can contribute to the Bettina Network Blog whenever they have anything they want to say and be heard by this fantastic group of people. Send your blog to bettinanetwork@comcast.net or mail it to us at P. O. Box 380585 Cambridge, MA. 02238 or call us on the telephone at 617-497-9166 to tell us what you want to say and we will write it for you.

Volunteer with Bettina Network Foundation, inc. to work estate sales; to help move items from one home to another; to contribute your ideas on how we can better use our resources in this effort to relieve and eliminate homelessness and poverty. We also need photographers; designers; and more. However much or little time you have, we are grateful.

Send your event information to be included in Bettina Network’s Menu of Events to: bettina-network@comcast.net

This is a curated blog so you cannot write your responses at the end of each entry. TO RESPOND TO THIS BLOG email bettina-network@comcast.net or info@bettina-network.com

TO LEARN MORE try www.bettina-network.com

 

 

 


Bettina's Lifestyle Commnity!

Join us!

Bettina’s Lifestyle Community

Making a difference in this very difficult and changeable world.

Bettina's Lifestyle Commnity!

Join us!