So, you want to invest in Las Vegas. Maybe you sold that shopping center or at least have it in escrow and you have an estimated closing date. Well, consider downtown Las Vegas. When people think of Las Vegas, they think of the "Strip", where the major Hotel Casino's are built, but the downtown area offers a wonderful opportunity for investing.
Take our High-Rise, mixed use projects that are springing up all over the valley, and imagine yourself having purchased some of the parcels in their path of growth, just a couple of years ago. What a wonderful dream that would be. Your piece of dirt that probably cost you around $24 SF, now is worth $100+ SF. Not bad! AND, you may say, those days are gone....... not so. Sure the per square foot cost may be higher today, but the upside is just as great a spread. Money, making money!
Give me a call and let's talk on how you too, can position yourself in the path of growth, in downtown Las Vegas. Casino's, Entertainment District, Arts District, Judicial Center, Union Park... you name it, I can find it for you.
I have been here over 28 years and this is home to me and my family. Let me show you how, you too, can experience the other side of Las Vegas, the side that offers opportunity, short term or long term.
If you have a real estate investment that is about to close, as you have sold it, and you want to defer the capital gain tax, let's talk, ... Investigate the opportunities that Las Vegas offers you.
God Bless,
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Las Vegas... On the Grow!!
Have you ever driven back to your home town, where you grew up, knowing everyone on your block, and got totally blown away at the growth and all the new streets, buildings, shopping centers, new car lots, new schools (private and public). Normal dirt desert roads are now busy metropolis major arterials. Looking South, you used to see mountains, now all you see is more growth! Ever drive the normally unused streets, to now, only find yourself in a 6 lane, bumper to bumper highway?? (Ha! then there are those of you who may say, your home town is still the same, mayber worse, because the freeway bypassed it.)
Well, if you can identify with my question...Welcome to Las Vegas. A City that once (only 29 yrs ago) was only a total population in the entire valley of 200,000 people, and today, at least 180,000 visitors a day, EACH DAY, drop in for their idea of Fun and Relaxation, or a New Start. Traffic on Sahara Ave., was so slow, I used to polish my nails as I drove across town, from the West side to the East Side of Las Vegas in just 10 minutes, without major interference, bumps or stops that would cause me to spill my polish or to smudge my nails. Not anymore!!
Would you believe it, I used to live on W. Desert Inn Rd., then, a dirt road with open desert to the south of the road and when I looked East, I could see mountains. Now??? 6 lane, busy arterial with no parking on either side of the street, and when you look East, you see the "Strip", Hotel/Casino Resorts, like Wynn, Stratosphere , Trump Tower, Venetian, TI, and more. I wonder what ever happened to that ole goose that used to sit out on a desert hill out in front of my house? Or that little guy, that would walk to work, on schedule every day of the week. You would see him walking East in the morning and walking West in the evening.
Think back at all the beautiful people that have come and gone through your life, that you never took the time to get to know them, taking for granted that they will just "be there" as usual. Wow! Well, there is no-thing as "usual" in Las Vegas. We are growing and there is no stop in sight.
This is a pro-growth City, just ask the developers that delight at the local municipal support they get for their projects. Too Big, you say! When is enough, enough?? Back, 28 yrs ago, folks then talked about the days when the Rat Pack was active and that blew alot of people away, in saying "What ever happened to the good ole days? The good ole Vegas."
Guess what, Vegas is still Good. As a matter of fact, it is even better than ever!! Whatever it is you want, you can find it here. You want to go out at 3 AM cus you can't sleep? Go!! You will fit right in, even in your P.J's. You want to join a good Church?? Las Vegas has more churches per capita that any other City. How about "escaping"? You can drive maybe 20 minutes and be out in the desert, off on a dirt trail, all alone, in the beauty and silence of No-Thingness. Just You and YOU, everywhere you look, you will see more of yourSelf. The you that has the strength of the mountains around you, that have withstood global changes for millions of years, the you that is fertile with creativity and idea's, like you, the desert just needs a little water and it is off creating!
Everywhere you look you will see how beautiful you are.
You see, I have come to realize that Las Vegas, is more than just another City, it is a place of Growth. People come here for many reasons and they leave for many reasons, but all roads lead back here. They return, for many reasons. This is the place to truly unveil your full potential, and your hearts passion. Here, in this island of growth, is your opportunity to finally, face your greatest fears and turn them into your greatest dreams. It's all energy and that is all you are, so how you use it, is up to you.
Well, if you can identify with my question...Welcome to Las Vegas. A City that once (only 29 yrs ago) was only a total population in the entire valley of 200,000 people, and today, at least 180,000 visitors a day, EACH DAY, drop in for their idea of Fun and Relaxation, or a New Start. Traffic on Sahara Ave., was so slow, I used to polish my nails as I drove across town, from the West side to the East Side of Las Vegas in just 10 minutes, without major interference, bumps or stops that would cause me to spill my polish or to smudge my nails. Not anymore!!
Would you believe it, I used to live on W. Desert Inn Rd., then, a dirt road with open desert to the south of the road and when I looked East, I could see mountains. Now??? 6 lane, busy arterial with no parking on either side of the street, and when you look East, you see the "Strip", Hotel/Casino Resorts, like Wynn, Stratosphere , Trump Tower, Venetian, TI, and more. I wonder what ever happened to that ole goose that used to sit out on a desert hill out in front of my house? Or that little guy, that would walk to work, on schedule every day of the week. You would see him walking East in the morning and walking West in the evening.
Think back at all the beautiful people that have come and gone through your life, that you never took the time to get to know them, taking for granted that they will just "be there" as usual. Wow! Well, there is no-thing as "usual" in Las Vegas. We are growing and there is no stop in sight.
This is a pro-growth City, just ask the developers that delight at the local municipal support they get for their projects. Too Big, you say! When is enough, enough?? Back, 28 yrs ago, folks then talked about the days when the Rat Pack was active and that blew alot of people away, in saying "What ever happened to the good ole days? The good ole Vegas."
Guess what, Vegas is still Good. As a matter of fact, it is even better than ever!! Whatever it is you want, you can find it here. You want to go out at 3 AM cus you can't sleep? Go!! You will fit right in, even in your P.J's. You want to join a good Church?? Las Vegas has more churches per capita that any other City. How about "escaping"? You can drive maybe 20 minutes and be out in the desert, off on a dirt trail, all alone, in the beauty and silence of No-Thingness. Just You and YOU, everywhere you look, you will see more of yourSelf. The you that has the strength of the mountains around you, that have withstood global changes for millions of years, the you that is fertile with creativity and idea's, like you, the desert just needs a little water and it is off creating!
Everywhere you look you will see how beautiful you are.
You see, I have come to realize that Las Vegas, is more than just another City, it is a place of Growth. People come here for many reasons and they leave for many reasons, but all roads lead back here. They return, for many reasons. This is the place to truly unveil your full potential, and your hearts passion. Here, in this island of growth, is your opportunity to finally, face your greatest fears and turn them into your greatest dreams. It's all energy and that is all you are, so how you use it, is up to you.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Give You, your Support!
Wow!! Our high-rise development project downtown Las Vegas finally got full entitlements. We received the City of Las Vegas APPROVAL, on Sept. 19th, 2007. Go to: http://www.theislandlasvegas.com/ and check us out.
Talk about going into a "numb" zone, after working on this for 3 years. Normally, with steady, unrelenting focus and pushing, this process may have only taken 8 months, but during our 3 year time frame, there actually were ordinances changed that helped our getting approval for building 50 stories, not just the original 45 that we started out wanting to develop.
I know that ALL things happen in Divine Order and my taking the second year off, to handle my physical challenge of cancer, was also part of the great plan that ultimately guided my Development Team to a win!!
We are all so excited to be part of changing the face of a neighborhood and watching the faces in the neighborhood change!!
How about you? Is there a "project" or a "dream" in your heart that is waiting for you to support YOU?? Just know that you are worth your support and whatever you are working on, whether it be in the after hours, after your regular job, or if you are Full Out There, like I have been this year, each little step you take will get you that one step closer. Then the day will come when you will Step right into your Dream. You know, ... that one that is waiting for you to step into it .... by taking a step in it's direction, NOW!
Gosh, I am still in that Numb space. Ha! So this is what it is like to burst through that ribbon! Haven't done that in 44 years. (I used to be a high school track star. Low hurdle jumper.)
Talk about going into a "numb" zone, after working on this for 3 years. Normally, with steady, unrelenting focus and pushing, this process may have only taken 8 months, but during our 3 year time frame, there actually were ordinances changed that helped our getting approval for building 50 stories, not just the original 45 that we started out wanting to develop.
I know that ALL things happen in Divine Order and my taking the second year off, to handle my physical challenge of cancer, was also part of the great plan that ultimately guided my Development Team to a win!!
We are all so excited to be part of changing the face of a neighborhood and watching the faces in the neighborhood change!!
How about you? Is there a "project" or a "dream" in your heart that is waiting for you to support YOU?? Just know that you are worth your support and whatever you are working on, whether it be in the after hours, after your regular job, or if you are Full Out There, like I have been this year, each little step you take will get you that one step closer. Then the day will come when you will Step right into your Dream. You know, ... that one that is waiting for you to step into it .... by taking a step in it's direction, NOW!
Gosh, I am still in that Numb space. Ha! So this is what it is like to burst through that ribbon! Haven't done that in 44 years. (I used to be a high school track star. Low hurdle jumper.)
Monday, September 10, 2007
Pin the Tail... is that like Life??
Ever wonder how to get beyond that seeming impossible hill?? Sure, I have said many times, just see yourself on the other side, and the "where with all" to get you there will show up. Yes,..... AND, then you find out that the other side is another hill, even bigger!! Kinda like playing that child game of Pin the Tale on the Donkey!! There you see it (your dream), the donkey in clear big color, right in front of you. You are handed it's tale (just enough of your dream to make it real to you) with a pin on the end so you can just take a few steps forward, and "stick" the pin in, at the hind end of the donkey and you win!! Nice and Easy, right? Wrong. They blindfold you, and spin you around so you loose your balance and sense of direction. Does any of this sound familiar with your "Dream"? One minute you can see it right there, in front of you, clear as a bell, you can even touch it, even have a piece of it in your hands, then the "blindfold" comes on and you loose sight of it, not to mention you are spun around so now you don't even know in which direction you are to go!
.......... but is real Life, that kind of a game?? Are we to accept that we are blind to what we want, and go around with a piece of it in our hands, totally spun around, dizzy and yet expected to find the right dot in which to stick this Pin?? Look at your life. Where are you seeing yourself, if you are blindfolded, and are to stick a pinned tail on your donkey?? Are you even in the same room, for God's sake? Ha!! Now, that is a new one that I just thought of.
Yeah, maybe that's it! I have not been in the same room with the donkey.
Gosh, that is really a sad thought, when I think it through, it is not so funny after all!
Well, at least I am willing to play. Are you?? Are you willing to take another spin and try another shot at Pinning the tail on your donkey?? Maybe your donkey is running for a political seat, or perhaps you may be thinking about pulling all those loose ends together to finally close that sale, and you may be thinking that all you need do is to pull.... "just one more rabbit out of that hat"....... then you realize, that you don't even have a hat!!! Can you tell that I have been there?
Perhaps this is why I can make "jest" over the situation of being in this position in the first place. Sure, if I just had an 8 to 5 job and got a salary and a steady paycheck, I certainly would not be posting these silly thoughts, and personal truisms, but alas, I don't ...... and I am!
So, what to do, when in this spot? ......................... Put on a funny movie and know that you have done all you can do, even gone beyond the expected, and now, it is time to just let go. That's right! Let Go and Let God.
So, in my letting go, I sit here with my fingers talking to you, and you and you. Guess I need to go find a "funny movie" to put on.
Notice I said Funny! Life is stressful enough, without watching movies that require a session with your therapist, afterwards.
Take care and let's chat more later. God Bless....... Dusty
.......... but is real Life, that kind of a game?? Are we to accept that we are blind to what we want, and go around with a piece of it in our hands, totally spun around, dizzy and yet expected to find the right dot in which to stick this Pin?? Look at your life. Where are you seeing yourself, if you are blindfolded, and are to stick a pinned tail on your donkey?? Are you even in the same room, for God's sake? Ha!! Now, that is a new one that I just thought of.
Yeah, maybe that's it! I have not been in the same room with the donkey.
Gosh, that is really a sad thought, when I think it through, it is not so funny after all!
Well, at least I am willing to play. Are you?? Are you willing to take another spin and try another shot at Pinning the tail on your donkey?? Maybe your donkey is running for a political seat, or perhaps you may be thinking about pulling all those loose ends together to finally close that sale, and you may be thinking that all you need do is to pull.... "just one more rabbit out of that hat"....... then you realize, that you don't even have a hat!!! Can you tell that I have been there?
Perhaps this is why I can make "jest" over the situation of being in this position in the first place. Sure, if I just had an 8 to 5 job and got a salary and a steady paycheck, I certainly would not be posting these silly thoughts, and personal truisms, but alas, I don't ...... and I am!
So, what to do, when in this spot? ......................... Put on a funny movie and know that you have done all you can do, even gone beyond the expected, and now, it is time to just let go. That's right! Let Go and Let God.
So, in my letting go, I sit here with my fingers talking to you, and you and you. Guess I need to go find a "funny movie" to put on.
Notice I said Funny! Life is stressful enough, without watching movies that require a session with your therapist, afterwards.
Take care and let's chat more later. God Bless....... Dusty
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Commercial Marketing Group
If you are in the commercial arena of real estate in Las Vegas, Nevada, you want to be a member of Commercial Marketing Group.
We are about networking and doing deals. We meet twice a month, second and fourth Wednesday at 7:30 AM at the Las Vegas County Club, on Joe W. Brown (behind the Las Vegas Hilton). Guest speakers provide valuable information about our industry and it's growth.
"There are no strangers, only friends we haven't met yet." During our meetings, we go around the room introducing ourselves and we share our "Haves" and "Wants", and this is where we do deals, sometimes, right there in the room. If you have a buyer looking for something or you have a property you want to sell, we get it done!! CMG (Commercial Marketing Group) just celebrated it's 20th yr.
Annual membership is $100 and if you are a residential agent wanting to get into the Commercial arena, you may join CMG as an Associate member (less than 2 yrs. of Commercial experience) for only $150. If you are not a RE Licensee, but you are in the arena of development, commercial lending, appraiser, or any avenue of the Commercial field of real estate and development, you can join as an Affiliate for $150 annual dues. Each breakfast meeting is $25 per member (full breakfast) and $30 for guests.
Go to: http://www.cmglv.com/ check us out.
As Past President of CMG for 2005, and an active member for 18 yrs, I can truly say that this organization has brought me the most honorable, FUN, compassionate, professionals that I enjoy doing business with.
We are active in creating events that broaden our opportunities to not only make money, but to expand our circle of influence. Example:
Sept. 7th, 2007 at 1PM at the World Market Center, second building, 16th floor, we are hosting our first annual ... VISION 2008
Our Master of Ceremonies will be none other than the development guru of Las Vegas, Mr. Richard Lee, also VP of First American Title Co.
Our honorable Mayor, Oscar Goodman will give the opening talk, introduced by County Commissioner, Chip Maxfield. Students from the Academy of Performing Arts, in downtown Las Vegas, will entertain us during the Mayors entrance and again during our Wine and Cheese hour.
Incredible guest speakers like: Sam Cherry, of Cherry Development, developer of the So-Ho- Lofts, Newport Lofts & Stanhi .
Suzanne Sanders of the Molasky Group, the first Green Office Building in downtown Las Vegas.
Jeff Yamaguchi, Global Resorts International, fractional ownership
and many more fabulous speakers.
Go to http://www.cmglv.com/ and then calendar to see our flyer on all of our speakers at this event.
You see, CMG is more than just a group of Commercial RE people and Affiliates, we are all incompassing!! We cover this great City and we outreach into the depths of our community to constantly grow, and make new friends, all the while...... having FUN and making money!
If you have any questions about CMG, contact me. I would love to talk to you about what we can offer you. I am Dusty Buckel, currently going through the entitlement process for a super new mixed use development in downtown Las Vegas. On the downtown map of projects, approved and proposed, we are #102..... The Island .... http://www.theislandlasvegas.com/
Look forward to hearing from you. Remember: "Choose Your Miracle, and Create It!"
We are about networking and doing deals. We meet twice a month, second and fourth Wednesday at 7:30 AM at the Las Vegas County Club, on Joe W. Brown (behind the Las Vegas Hilton). Guest speakers provide valuable information about our industry and it's growth.
"There are no strangers, only friends we haven't met yet." During our meetings, we go around the room introducing ourselves and we share our "Haves" and "Wants", and this is where we do deals, sometimes, right there in the room. If you have a buyer looking for something or you have a property you want to sell, we get it done!! CMG (Commercial Marketing Group) just celebrated it's 20th yr.
Annual membership is $100 and if you are a residential agent wanting to get into the Commercial arena, you may join CMG as an Associate member (less than 2 yrs. of Commercial experience) for only $150. If you are not a RE Licensee, but you are in the arena of development, commercial lending, appraiser, or any avenue of the Commercial field of real estate and development, you can join as an Affiliate for $150 annual dues. Each breakfast meeting is $25 per member (full breakfast) and $30 for guests.
Go to: http://www.cmglv.com/ check us out.
As Past President of CMG for 2005, and an active member for 18 yrs, I can truly say that this organization has brought me the most honorable, FUN, compassionate, professionals that I enjoy doing business with.
We are active in creating events that broaden our opportunities to not only make money, but to expand our circle of influence. Example:
Sept. 7th, 2007 at 1PM at the World Market Center, second building, 16th floor, we are hosting our first annual ... VISION 2008
Our Master of Ceremonies will be none other than the development guru of Las Vegas, Mr. Richard Lee, also VP of First American Title Co.
Our honorable Mayor, Oscar Goodman will give the opening talk, introduced by County Commissioner, Chip Maxfield. Students from the Academy of Performing Arts, in downtown Las Vegas, will entertain us during the Mayors entrance and again during our Wine and Cheese hour.
Incredible guest speakers like: Sam Cherry, of Cherry Development, developer of the So-Ho- Lofts, Newport Lofts & Stanhi .
Suzanne Sanders of the Molasky Group, the first Green Office Building in downtown Las Vegas.
Jeff Yamaguchi, Global Resorts International, fractional ownership
and many more fabulous speakers.
Go to http://www.cmglv.com/ and then calendar to see our flyer on all of our speakers at this event.
You see, CMG is more than just a group of Commercial RE people and Affiliates, we are all incompassing!! We cover this great City and we outreach into the depths of our community to constantly grow, and make new friends, all the while...... having FUN and making money!
If you have any questions about CMG, contact me. I would love to talk to you about what we can offer you. I am Dusty Buckel, currently going through the entitlement process for a super new mixed use development in downtown Las Vegas. On the downtown map of projects, approved and proposed, we are #102..... The Island .... http://www.theislandlasvegas.com/
Look forward to hearing from you. Remember: "Choose Your Miracle, and Create It!"
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Secret Santa
Be a Secret Santa this year!! Here in Las Vegas, I round up all my friends and contacts, business and social, and I invite them to take on one or more children or even a family, and be their Santa for Christmas.
It's easy! Just find an elementary school in your community that has children that are (as I grew up) environmentally handicapped, like "at risk" children. Kids that are in very low income homes, or living doubled up, several families to one home. Believe me, they are in your community. The teachers at the schools know who these children are.
Sit with the Principal of the school and get their support. Tell them, you will need a list on the needs of each child in their school that they know, is impoverished, or who's parents are on welfare, or out of work, etc.
Print out a list, per child: School name at the top, year, and shool phone number with contact person. Write the first paragraph to read something like this: "Number of children in home ___ number of adults ____ (get the sizes of the adults for a jacket or PJ's or something, when you follow up with the family via phone, upon receiving their list. Leave a space for the teacher to fill out their own remarks on the status of the family, ie., father is out of work, (or was killed by drive by shooting) or parents are in jail and children live with grandma, etc.
Family name:
Address: Phone # and Phone of relative
(a lot of the time, the phones will be disconnected so an alternative way to contact them is needed.)
Name of child, age, gender, shoe size, jacket size, interest of child, special request from child to Santa. (you can add anything else you want)
List the above informatio per child, numbered 1, 2, 3, and so on, down the page, so the teacher can fill them out. (remember, the teacher knows the situations of these kids ... or, a family member can help)
Usually I can get 6 to 8 children on a page. If you need more room, use a second page (not the back because the school will sometimes copy the pages and the back sides get skipped, thus leaving children off the list). These pages will be given to you, filled out, by the school so that you can distribute the needs of the family, or child(ren) to your Santa friends. When you get all the pages from the school, number the top corner of the pages (this will be your Family numbers) so you can identify the child and address of delivery. Be Sure to put the same family NUMBER on any second pages that may apply to the same family. Make a copy of the page for your Santa or Santa's. You keep the original. As you assign a Santa to a child or children or family, put that Santa's name and phone number at the right column of your page, next to the child assigned, so you are sure that every child is covered, and no-one falls through the crack. Coordinate the Santa's if two or more take on the same family so they can communicate with each other. This avoids one child in the family receiving a bike, skateboard, used computer, new clothes, and toys, while the other may only get a back pack of school supplies and a jacket. Got it?? Try your best to have the Santa's all balance out for the same family. On the other hand, if you have a Santa that wants to pay the power bill for the unemployed mom, that is wonderful too.
I remember Cowboy John, 6'5" handsome guy with an long ponytail, stand at the doorway of a small apartment, where he was delivering groceries to the family of 3 children and an unemployed mother. Mom was not home and the children opened the door and looked up those long legs of Cowboy John and saw grocery bags in his arms and a big smile, they squeeled and as John unloaded his arms on the little table in the kitchen, he sent the older kids to his car to help bring in the bags, he looked on the counter and saw the power bill disconnect notice for unpaid electricity. He picked up the bill, said no-thing to anyone and he paid that families power through the entire winter months!!
You see, there is no end to sharing, in any way that you can. Annually, I have directed the Santa'ing of over 330 children and 60-70 families.
Even the grandparents and parents get a gift. No one is left out.
You can choose to have your Santa's bring the gifts for their children to a central place where you have a "wrapping" party, being sure to put the number that is on the top of the page, (Family Number) on each gift with the childs name of that same page (Family). Stick it tight so it cannot peal off during transportation. This way, if a bag should break open and a gift falls out, you can find the "Family Numbered" large trash bag that also has the family number on it, and put the found gift back in, for delivery. We use large black trash bags, I know that cute christmas colored bags would be nice, but they don't make them strong enough or big enough.
You will need a large space to store the wrapped gifts that are number and in their numbered black bags, if your Santa's do not want to deliver them. (I remember one Christmas where I lost my dog in the stacks of black trash bags through out my home; no-thing but a narrow path, with bags stacked shoulder high) You make arrangements to get a truck to load up all the numbered bags and deliver them with Santa's helpers. Be sure the numbers on the bags are huge!! You have got to read them in the dark if you deliver the gifts at night.
Map out your route for delivery and give a copy of it to the driver of the truck, remembering to load the trucks according to delivery drop offs. That is... you don't want to put the bags for the first delivery in the truck first!! They get loaded last, so they can be first off!! Yup, even I can figure a way to screw that one up, and I have. Ha!
Be sure you stay in contact with the family, letting them know that they have a Secret Santa and ask them if they need any food. You can bet they do!! Talk to the mothers and make sure they will be home at time of delivery, as you do not want to leave anything outside their home. Guess why?? Personal delivery only!!
Shools let out for the Christmas Holiday two weeks before Christmas, so be sure you have all your questions asked of the teachers, before they dissappear for the holiday. Be sure you have the correct address and phone number by calling the home and speaking with the parent, and set up a time for delivery. BE SURE of guiding your Santa's to the right home and most of all, be sure you have a gift for every child in the home. Go over the list with the parents, go over the shoe sizes, etc., and always ask if they need food.
Our City donated $1,000 for food, and a girlfriend and I went grocery shopping for 10 families that were destitute. $100 per family, bought a turkey with all the trimmings (for mom to prepare) and cereal (Tony the Tiger was the cereal of choice for the minorities who did not speak English, they would say Tiger) milk, bread, beans, flour, rice, etc. If you or your Santa's stay in touch with their family, this will be the best experience for all. I have had Santa's that call me in October, wanting the info on a family so they can begin shopping. Round up some unused bikes or skateboards from garages, freshen them up and get them in to the hands of a kid. Use your imagination..... you will FEEL your reward.
One last thing... I remember it was 11:35 PM Christmas eve, and my uncle and I were so tired, having delivered two truck loads and came home with about 10 large black trash bags full of gifts to about 6 families that were not home to receive them earlier in the evening.
Neither of us felt good, we were cold, tired and ached from carrying bags up and down stairs of apartment buildings, and in and out of our trucks.
Gosh, it was so tempting to just say, No More, and stay home in front of our wam fire with the family... AND, we didn't! We drove off into the uncoming hour of midnight, the time that Santa delivers the gifts, for the Hispanic children, at least. As it were, we had the Hispanic neighborhood on our list, we were committed to deliver these last 10 bags. One by one, we delivered them, until we got to the last two. We were cold and with runny noses, my uncle and I got out of the truck. I opened the tail gate as my uncle went knocking on the door, just about 50' from me. As I reached into the back of the truck for the bags I heard this little voice come running up to me. I turned to see a precious little boy, dark hair falling on his forehead, with the biggest dark eyes sparkling at me as he said.... "I knew he would come, I knew Santa would come. I told my Nana that I am not going to bed because Santa is coming and I will wait for him."
My tears just flowed down my cheeks as I bend down infront of him and said..."Yes, Mijo (son), Santa was so busy tonight he asked us to bring these to you because he has a lot of children this year." He answered,... "Yes, I know", and he ran skipping, in front of my uncle back to his apartment, as my uncle carried the two huge bags for this family. I just stood there, crying tears of Love, and said Thank You God, that we did not stay home and wait till tomorrow. This little guy was my Star of David on that beautiful Christmas Eve.
My uncle and I looked at eachother, both with tears flowing down our faces and we said,... "Let's go home."
No-thing can match that feeling. All the Santa's have their own stories of what they saw, how they served, and most of all, they all say... how this experience of being a Secret Santa, has changed them in some way.
Join us!! BE a Secret Santa and orgnize your friends to join in. Right where you are is where you start. If you have any questions, contact me and let's discuss them.
Responding to Miracles!! God Bless you,
Dusty
It's easy! Just find an elementary school in your community that has children that are (as I grew up) environmentally handicapped, like "at risk" children. Kids that are in very low income homes, or living doubled up, several families to one home. Believe me, they are in your community. The teachers at the schools know who these children are.
Sit with the Principal of the school and get their support. Tell them, you will need a list on the needs of each child in their school that they know, is impoverished, or who's parents are on welfare, or out of work, etc.
Print out a list, per child: School name at the top, year, and shool phone number with contact person. Write the first paragraph to read something like this: "Number of children in home ___ number of adults ____ (get the sizes of the adults for a jacket or PJ's or something, when you follow up with the family via phone, upon receiving their list. Leave a space for the teacher to fill out their own remarks on the status of the family, ie., father is out of work, (or was killed by drive by shooting) or parents are in jail and children live with grandma, etc.
Family name:
Address: Phone # and Phone of relative
(a lot of the time, the phones will be disconnected so an alternative way to contact them is needed.)
Name of child, age, gender, shoe size, jacket size, interest of child, special request from child to Santa. (you can add anything else you want)
List the above informatio per child, numbered 1, 2, 3, and so on, down the page, so the teacher can fill them out. (remember, the teacher knows the situations of these kids ... or, a family member can help)
Usually I can get 6 to 8 children on a page. If you need more room, use a second page (not the back because the school will sometimes copy the pages and the back sides get skipped, thus leaving children off the list). These pages will be given to you, filled out, by the school so that you can distribute the needs of the family, or child(ren) to your Santa friends. When you get all the pages from the school, number the top corner of the pages (this will be your Family numbers) so you can identify the child and address of delivery. Be Sure to put the same family NUMBER on any second pages that may apply to the same family. Make a copy of the page for your Santa or Santa's. You keep the original. As you assign a Santa to a child or children or family, put that Santa's name and phone number at the right column of your page, next to the child assigned, so you are sure that every child is covered, and no-one falls through the crack. Coordinate the Santa's if two or more take on the same family so they can communicate with each other. This avoids one child in the family receiving a bike, skateboard, used computer, new clothes, and toys, while the other may only get a back pack of school supplies and a jacket. Got it?? Try your best to have the Santa's all balance out for the same family. On the other hand, if you have a Santa that wants to pay the power bill for the unemployed mom, that is wonderful too.
I remember Cowboy John, 6'5" handsome guy with an long ponytail, stand at the doorway of a small apartment, where he was delivering groceries to the family of 3 children and an unemployed mother. Mom was not home and the children opened the door and looked up those long legs of Cowboy John and saw grocery bags in his arms and a big smile, they squeeled and as John unloaded his arms on the little table in the kitchen, he sent the older kids to his car to help bring in the bags, he looked on the counter and saw the power bill disconnect notice for unpaid electricity. He picked up the bill, said no-thing to anyone and he paid that families power through the entire winter months!!
You see, there is no end to sharing, in any way that you can. Annually, I have directed the Santa'ing of over 330 children and 60-70 families.
Even the grandparents and parents get a gift. No one is left out.
You can choose to have your Santa's bring the gifts for their children to a central place where you have a "wrapping" party, being sure to put the number that is on the top of the page, (Family Number) on each gift with the childs name of that same page (Family). Stick it tight so it cannot peal off during transportation. This way, if a bag should break open and a gift falls out, you can find the "Family Numbered" large trash bag that also has the family number on it, and put the found gift back in, for delivery. We use large black trash bags, I know that cute christmas colored bags would be nice, but they don't make them strong enough or big enough.
You will need a large space to store the wrapped gifts that are number and in their numbered black bags, if your Santa's do not want to deliver them. (I remember one Christmas where I lost my dog in the stacks of black trash bags through out my home; no-thing but a narrow path, with bags stacked shoulder high) You make arrangements to get a truck to load up all the numbered bags and deliver them with Santa's helpers. Be sure the numbers on the bags are huge!! You have got to read them in the dark if you deliver the gifts at night.
Map out your route for delivery and give a copy of it to the driver of the truck, remembering to load the trucks according to delivery drop offs. That is... you don't want to put the bags for the first delivery in the truck first!! They get loaded last, so they can be first off!! Yup, even I can figure a way to screw that one up, and I have. Ha!
Be sure you stay in contact with the family, letting them know that they have a Secret Santa and ask them if they need any food. You can bet they do!! Talk to the mothers and make sure they will be home at time of delivery, as you do not want to leave anything outside their home. Guess why?? Personal delivery only!!
Shools let out for the Christmas Holiday two weeks before Christmas, so be sure you have all your questions asked of the teachers, before they dissappear for the holiday. Be sure you have the correct address and phone number by calling the home and speaking with the parent, and set up a time for delivery. BE SURE of guiding your Santa's to the right home and most of all, be sure you have a gift for every child in the home. Go over the list with the parents, go over the shoe sizes, etc., and always ask if they need food.
Our City donated $1,000 for food, and a girlfriend and I went grocery shopping for 10 families that were destitute. $100 per family, bought a turkey with all the trimmings (for mom to prepare) and cereal (Tony the Tiger was the cereal of choice for the minorities who did not speak English, they would say Tiger) milk, bread, beans, flour, rice, etc. If you or your Santa's stay in touch with their family, this will be the best experience for all. I have had Santa's that call me in October, wanting the info on a family so they can begin shopping. Round up some unused bikes or skateboards from garages, freshen them up and get them in to the hands of a kid. Use your imagination..... you will FEEL your reward.
One last thing... I remember it was 11:35 PM Christmas eve, and my uncle and I were so tired, having delivered two truck loads and came home with about 10 large black trash bags full of gifts to about 6 families that were not home to receive them earlier in the evening.
Neither of us felt good, we were cold, tired and ached from carrying bags up and down stairs of apartment buildings, and in and out of our trucks.
Gosh, it was so tempting to just say, No More, and stay home in front of our wam fire with the family... AND, we didn't! We drove off into the uncoming hour of midnight, the time that Santa delivers the gifts, for the Hispanic children, at least. As it were, we had the Hispanic neighborhood on our list, we were committed to deliver these last 10 bags. One by one, we delivered them, until we got to the last two. We were cold and with runny noses, my uncle and I got out of the truck. I opened the tail gate as my uncle went knocking on the door, just about 50' from me. As I reached into the back of the truck for the bags I heard this little voice come running up to me. I turned to see a precious little boy, dark hair falling on his forehead, with the biggest dark eyes sparkling at me as he said.... "I knew he would come, I knew Santa would come. I told my Nana that I am not going to bed because Santa is coming and I will wait for him."
My tears just flowed down my cheeks as I bend down infront of him and said..."Yes, Mijo (son), Santa was so busy tonight he asked us to bring these to you because he has a lot of children this year." He answered,... "Yes, I know", and he ran skipping, in front of my uncle back to his apartment, as my uncle carried the two huge bags for this family. I just stood there, crying tears of Love, and said Thank You God, that we did not stay home and wait till tomorrow. This little guy was my Star of David on that beautiful Christmas Eve.
My uncle and I looked at eachother, both with tears flowing down our faces and we said,... "Let's go home."
No-thing can match that feeling. All the Santa's have their own stories of what they saw, how they served, and most of all, they all say... how this experience of being a Secret Santa, has changed them in some way.
Join us!! BE a Secret Santa and orgnize your friends to join in. Right where you are is where you start. If you have any questions, contact me and let's discuss them.
Responding to Miracles!! God Bless you,
Dusty
Monday, September 3, 2007
Follow Your Dream
I have heard it said..... "When your Dream is BIG enough, the facts don't matter." Well, I am truly walking the path of Faith, in my dream. Not just talking it.
"I am a successful downtown Las Vegas developer, making a difference!" This is my dream. To develope a 50 story mixed use project in a redevelopment area of downtown Las Vegas. We are just waiting for our international funding to show up at our bank, and we go back to the City Council showing that we have the funds to build our project if our entitlements are approved. That is now, two weeks away.
Check out our website: http://www.theislandlasvegas.com/
I have been a commercial realtor in Las Vegas for almost 19 yrs., and my specialty is assembling dirt, for developers to develope. So far, I have made my investors a lot of money and now it is time for me to BE that developer that I can be. You see, I realized that I don't have to be the 'builder' of the project, all I need to do is to bring together the professionals that can do that; and with the money available to me, this part of the equation can be fulfilled. You see, a Developer is no-thing more than the "orchestrator", and heck, I can orchestrate.
Is there a "Dream" in your heart that you have not allowed to surface, because you are waiting for something outside of yourself to occur first, before you make your commitment??
Just notice, how long you have been waiting. When will you realize (to make real) that it is YOUR Dream, and YOU need to support YOU, before anyone else will. Start on your Dream now. All there is, is now, anyway. When you begin to take a step in the direction of your dream, you open the doors for the right people, places and things to show up.
This walk of Faith is tested when it appears that a very important component may be missing, and your efforts are exhausted, with no apparant results supporting your dream. When you personal funds are deminished and you are at the verge of "break".... then you remember to bend, instead of break. You refocus your energies, with the "knowing" that God has brought you this far, and as long as you believe in your dream, you will attract people that believe in your dream and who will partner with you.
See your Dream, as already complete, and behind you. See all of your obstacles as being behind you. Speak completion, speak fruition, speak of yourself as BEing whatever your dream will create you to BE.
You are not alone, and you were born to fulfill your Dreams!
"I am a successful downtown Las Vegas developer, making a difference!" This is my dream. To develope a 50 story mixed use project in a redevelopment area of downtown Las Vegas. We are just waiting for our international funding to show up at our bank, and we go back to the City Council showing that we have the funds to build our project if our entitlements are approved. That is now, two weeks away.
Check out our website: http://www.theislandlasvegas.com/
I have been a commercial realtor in Las Vegas for almost 19 yrs., and my specialty is assembling dirt, for developers to develope. So far, I have made my investors a lot of money and now it is time for me to BE that developer that I can be. You see, I realized that I don't have to be the 'builder' of the project, all I need to do is to bring together the professionals that can do that; and with the money available to me, this part of the equation can be fulfilled. You see, a Developer is no-thing more than the "orchestrator", and heck, I can orchestrate.
Is there a "Dream" in your heart that you have not allowed to surface, because you are waiting for something outside of yourself to occur first, before you make your commitment??
Just notice, how long you have been waiting. When will you realize (to make real) that it is YOUR Dream, and YOU need to support YOU, before anyone else will. Start on your Dream now. All there is, is now, anyway. When you begin to take a step in the direction of your dream, you open the doors for the right people, places and things to show up.
This walk of Faith is tested when it appears that a very important component may be missing, and your efforts are exhausted, with no apparant results supporting your dream. When you personal funds are deminished and you are at the verge of "break".... then you remember to bend, instead of break. You refocus your energies, with the "knowing" that God has brought you this far, and as long as you believe in your dream, you will attract people that believe in your dream and who will partner with you.
See your Dream, as already complete, and behind you. See all of your obstacles as being behind you. Speak completion, speak fruition, speak of yourself as BEing whatever your dream will create you to BE.
You are not alone, and you were born to fulfill your Dreams!
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Surviving Cancer
When I "Got the call" that I had Stage III Breast and Lymph node cancer I was shocked. I am glad I took a girlfriend with me to listen to the results of my tests, because when the doctor said I had cancer and it had spread to my lymph nodes and he continued talking about it serious implecations, I went blank. Like Roger Rabbit, I felt trapped between the walls where someone has just knocked the "code" and I was suppose to respond......... but what was the response I was to deliver???
I stayed in this "wall" for four days, going through doctor appointments, tests and more tests and I have no recall of any of it.
All in all, I found myself registering at the Cancer Institute, preparing for treatment, and since I do not have health insurance, I had a choice. Pay Cash prior to any appointment, or sign up for County Social Services; welfare. What an added "hit" to my self image! The doctor said that my chemo treatments alone would be $100,000.00 (Ten thousand dollars per treatment) and that they would begin immediately. They would start with a choice of 3 out of 4 differenct chemicals, mixed together for my first intervaneous injection. Then, in 2 or 3 weeks, the second dose would consist of a different combination of these 4 chemicals, and so on and so forth until they found the right balance of chemicals, and degree of doses that would work best for me. YUK! Testing on Me, was not setting right to me.
My friend sent me a website of: http://www.sanoviv.com/ Thank God, because Sanoviv saved my life, with dignity and compassion. I reviewed the website, interviewed a doctor on a conference call with them and within the week, I was there. Rosarito Beach, in Baja California (Mexico) just a 45 minute drive south of San Diego. Sanoviv picked me up at the San Diego airport and brought me to their beautiful medical resort on the Pacific Coast where, within 4 days, they not only found the primary cancer (which my doctor here said they could not find because it had spread into my lymph nodes and now was all over my body); but they also surgically removed it. I came home for 3 weeks, while they tested my cancer cells in a laboratory (not on my body) with different chemicals to determine the dosage and type of chemical that best destroyed the cancer cells without killing me. While they had my cells ,and once they determined what type of chemical I needed and what dosage, they then, created a serum utilizing my own cancer cells, that I would injest on a given prodocal, that would "tag" the cancer cells anywhere in my body, so that my immune system could then fight it off.
You see, cancer is invisible to our immune system. Our immune system knows something is wrong but cannot identify what cells to fight, until they are "tagged" with this TRANSFER FACTOR, that is created from your own cancer cells. Talk about intelligent medicine. I can't say enough about this wonderful place.
I stayed in this "wall" for four days, going through doctor appointments, tests and more tests and I have no recall of any of it.
All in all, I found myself registering at the Cancer Institute, preparing for treatment, and since I do not have health insurance, I had a choice. Pay Cash prior to any appointment, or sign up for County Social Services; welfare. What an added "hit" to my self image! The doctor said that my chemo treatments alone would be $100,000.00 (Ten thousand dollars per treatment) and that they would begin immediately. They would start with a choice of 3 out of 4 differenct chemicals, mixed together for my first intervaneous injection. Then, in 2 or 3 weeks, the second dose would consist of a different combination of these 4 chemicals, and so on and so forth until they found the right balance of chemicals, and degree of doses that would work best for me. YUK! Testing on Me, was not setting right to me.
My friend sent me a website of: http://www.sanoviv.com/ Thank God, because Sanoviv saved my life, with dignity and compassion. I reviewed the website, interviewed a doctor on a conference call with them and within the week, I was there. Rosarito Beach, in Baja California (Mexico) just a 45 minute drive south of San Diego. Sanoviv picked me up at the San Diego airport and brought me to their beautiful medical resort on the Pacific Coast where, within 4 days, they not only found the primary cancer (which my doctor here said they could not find because it had spread into my lymph nodes and now was all over my body); but they also surgically removed it. I came home for 3 weeks, while they tested my cancer cells in a laboratory (not on my body) with different chemicals to determine the dosage and type of chemical that best destroyed the cancer cells without killing me. While they had my cells ,and once they determined what type of chemical I needed and what dosage, they then, created a serum utilizing my own cancer cells, that I would injest on a given prodocal, that would "tag" the cancer cells anywhere in my body, so that my immune system could then fight it off.
You see, cancer is invisible to our immune system. Our immune system knows something is wrong but cannot identify what cells to fight, until they are "tagged" with this TRANSFER FACTOR, that is created from your own cancer cells. Talk about intelligent medicine. I can't say enough about this wonderful place.
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