What I learned today...

I don't have a smart phone but I hope to get one next year. As I prepare for my 2012 Homeschool Convention events I was encouraged to make a QR Code sign for my booth.  So, here it is, the QR code for my Homeschool Resource Library. I put this code on a table sign which will sit on the front table of my Sonlight Curriculum Booth.

I really wonder if anyone will use it. Do you ever scan any QR codes? If so, do you do it often? What makes it more likely  that you will scan one?

 I am really interested.

 I see them around, but don't really have a clue as to how they are used.

So, anyway. It"s true you learn something new every day. Whew! Now I can relax for the rest of the day, knowing I already learned something today.

Take care,
Jill

Off to Indianapolis

Today we pack up the truck so we can leave for Indianapolis tomorrow. The first convention of the year, IAHE .

Here is my office-notice matching shirts for the booth assistants and boxes and tubs of supplies.

We have a little apartment/guest room in the back of our house. I have tubs of books here, ready to be packed up--too bad it is cold and a bit snowy today.






There will be much scurrying around once we get to the conference center, trying to set up a 30x10 foot booth to look like a showcase. Here are a few boxes of catalogs. There are five altogether--each weighing 58.1 pounds. They have each been stickered twice--once with my contact information and one that is a unique coupon, good for $5 off an order of $50 or more. These are piled up in our short hall, blocking the cold air return and not allowing the bathroom door to open very far--see the door on the right side.

It is just like anything else-it is WAY more work than anyone thinks. Here you see a Newcomer 3 in the purple tub, the math supplies and in the bottom tub are the books for the front table.

I don't want to bore you with all the details, but there are signs to print, catalogs to label, coupons to print, books to organize, and then you have to figure out what tables, book shelves, book racks and other display items to bring. Here is a box of pens and gift bags, each with a book and a Smencil. These bags will be given away to every person who fills out a contact card that has a star sticker on it. 4% of the cards have star stickers on them.

And then there are banners, tablecloths, pens, tape and the equivalent of an office supply store to pack away. There are 5 banners [in the black cases] for each booth. Since I will have two booths, that is ten banners.


What if you need a utility knife, or tape, or scissors or... All that has to be packed.

It reminds me a bit of backpacking--only lots heavier! If you don't take it with you and then you need it at the convention, you are out of luck. I have had frantic convention neighbors who are relieved to find I have duct tape! My motto: Don't leave home without Duct Tape!

And then there is chocolate, nuts and dried fruit that are the fuel to keep my many assistants working during the convention. There will be a total of six moms, 4 teen girls, my graduated daughter and my husband working in the two booths during the two days. Their hours have to be coordinated, they need to be paid and the out-of-towners need to be housed.

At any rate, we have a small house. So, today, before we try to fit everything in our convention mobile [also known as a Dodge Ram pick up truck] there are boxes, tubs and more boxes scattered all around the house. I am praying it all fits!

Take Care,
Jill

Note: It all fit! I am so thrilled that there is even room left over for our suitcases!

INCH by INCH

I just got back from the Lansing, Michigan INCH [Information Network of Christian Homeschools] convention. It was a great convention--and I might add "fast and furious." You can see our set up here--this was before the convention hall filled up-while everything was still calm and waiting in expectation.

With my faithful husband Bob and my most excellent assistant Maureen, we were able to talk to well over 300 people during the 12.5 hours the convention was open--that is about one person every 2.5 minutes. If you didn't get a chance to talk to us as much as you would have liked, please call me. I have lots more time to chat at home.

[Maureen, my cousin Pam--a Sonlight mom--and me. Bob is taking the photo.]

Sue D. of Lapeer won the "Tote of fun" and Debbie P. from Levering won the $10 "Bring a Friend" Gift Certificate. Congratulations Ladies!

The big hit of the booth was the peek into the Science Instructor's Guides. They are MUCH improved and the new books are fabulous. They are more colorful, have more photographs and are so inviting I wish I could start homeschooling over again--just so I could use all the new elementary science.

But my favorite part of every convention is talking to the homeschool moms and dads. It is so encouraging to see so many bright, caring parents that truly want to give their kids an excellent education and knit a close family in the process. I have to think that this generation of kids will change their world for the better.

If you can't get to a convention, hopefully this gave you a bit of a taste for what goes on. Send me an email and I will be glad to help you with your homeschooling questions, or we can set up a phone meeting.[Science Instructor's Guides and samplers so folks can see how Sonlight does science.]

Take care,
Jill