Communications Pro Blog

Archive for June, 2010

I received an e-mail tonight from a colleague I have known for about four years. We’ve done some work together and I babysat for his two young boys a few times; most recently about a month ago.

The e-mail informed me that his young wife was recently diagnosed with breast cancer asked whether I would consider pitching in to help during this difficult time. He included a link to the web site http://www.LotsaHelpingHands.com. I’ve spent some time on the site and can only say “Wow, what a wonderful use of technology!” The service is designed to make coordinating volunteers easy and efficient. There is a calendar that shows tasks that need doing and whether or not they have been filled.

So with a few mouse clicks I was able to sign on offering to drive, cook, babysit, fold laundry and pray, pray, pray. While the family has health insurance, they will have to pay 20 percent out of pocket, and a fund has been set up to take donations.

Jazz Bridge Project
Daphne Fund
3008 Limekiln Pike
Glenside, PA 19038

Do you know someone who could benefit from a site like this? If so, please spread the word and pray, pray, pray.

By Barbara L. Sherf
I was honored to have been part of a press tour of the Late Renoir exhibit at the Philadelphia Museum or Art (PMA) this past Friday.  I must agree with the late Albert C. Barnes, who assembled an exquisite collection of Pierre-Auguste Renoir paintings on display at the Barnes Foundation Museum in Merion.   Barnes felt that as Renoir aged, he mastered the use of light, color and form. Born in 1841, Renoir died on December 3, 1919, having worked on a still life of flowers earlier in the day.  According to Curator Jennifer Thompson, he handed his paintbrush and palette to his nurse, declaring “I think I am beginning to understand something about painting.”  The room full of media representatives turned unusually silent and I got goosebumps listening to that quote.  I have been thinking about that statement and the exhibit much of the weekend.

The show features 79 original works by Renoir and 14 by his admirers. Unlike his earlier works, consisting  primarily of landscapes, in the later years you will find primarily portraits and sculptures of nudes. The full-figured women bathing and dressing were refreshing in this era of ‘thin is in.’  While the exhibit was superbly curated by Thompson, the real treat awaits you at the end, where you can view old black and white silent film clips of Renoir painting, smoking, and generally looking like he was enjoying life – despite his severe arthritis.  On my way out of the gallery

Renoir "Bathers Playing with a Crab" at Philadelphia Museum of Art

I decided to treat myself to a lovely lunch at the restaurant and listened to an amazing jazz duo.  Their seafood cocktail was quite refreshing and my server, Deran, turned out to be a true Southern gentleman.  What a  lovely way to start the weekend.   If you live in or around Philadelphia, you must treat yourself to the Late Renoir exhibit at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.   For more information, go to www.philamuseum.org.
Note: A fuller article, with some interesting Mount Airy and Chestnut Hill connections, is being researched and written for The Chestnut Hill Local.  It will be posted here following publication.

As some of you know my 21-year-old niece has epilepsy. Last year I participated in the Epilepsy Foundation of Eastern Pennsylvania’s Summer Stroll in Fairmount Park http://www.efepa.org. It rained, and rained, and rained some more. Fortunately my sister had rain ponchos in her car for the five of us who made up Becky’s Buddies. We walked from Northwestern Avenue and Forbidden Drive to the Valley Green Inn and back again.

We were delirious toward the end of the walk and resorted to singing “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” and “It’s Raining Men.” The fact that it rained so hard really made a lasting memory – and a good one at that. Another highlight of the walk was finding a Port-a-Potty about halfway to the Inn, but realizing that it was locked! I couldn’t make this stuff up.

I’ll never forget the look on the face of the waitress at Bruno’s Café when the five us marched in to get some lunch after the walk. We looked like drowned rats.

I will again be participating in the event on Saturday, June 19th. Some of you live close to Forbidden Drive and I thought you might want to join me on Saturday, June 19th – rain or shine.

We gather at Northwestern Avenue and Forbidden Drive around 8:30 or so and by 9, our team, Becky’s Buddies, will stroll down to the Valley Green Inn and back. If you want to start your own group, you can do that too.

Despite the downpour, we really had a swell time last year. This year we should have even more fun as my niece is bringing her little Cockapoo, Cody. Since Becky got Cody around this time last year, I’m happy to report she has not had a single seizure. Oh the power of pets.

So please follow the link for additional information and possibly take a stroll with us for a good cause.

http://www.strollforepilepsypa.kintera.org/barbarasherf

Thanks for whatever you can do to get the word out.

Barbara Sherf

By Barbara Lee Sherf

First of all, let me set the record straight, I am not dude. So many blog comments come over saying “hey dude, great blog ya got there…blah, blah, blah.” Even though the content of the comment may be complimentary, I refuse to post these comments. I am not a dude.

Second point. About half of the comments I receive I refuse to post because of poor grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc.

Below are three samples I recently received and refused to post.. I did not, nor could I ever make these up:

1) You got a indeed useful blog I compel ought to been here reading in behalf of about an hour. I am a newbie and your success is very much an insight in behalf of me.

2) I was looking instead of pivotal information on this subject. The advice was important as I am nigh to launch my own portal. Thanks conducive to providing a missing associate in my business.

3) great experience, dude! thanks for this great post wow… it’s very wonderful report.

I guess you can call me a blog comment snob, but I believe that approving these kinds of comments reflects poorly on me. A few have slipped through early on, and I am now going back to take a second look and delete with a more critical eye.

So if you would like to comment on my blog and see it posted, please use spell and grammar check, proper capitalization and punctuation.

Thank you.