Ann-Marie's Blog

What a great way to show how New Brunswick Realtors have writing savvyness!!!  Start writing your stories and have some photos to contribute!!! 

Please check out the rules and have fun creating your story!!!

                 ;>))

       Ann-Marie Clements

Okay New Brunswick Realtors,

Lets show the world our beautiful area!  I'm challenging you all to send your photos to this ActiveRain & Kodak Contest.  Let's show the hidden gem this area truly is, so the rest of the world will see the potential this area has for businesses and their families!!!

                                         ;>))

This is my PART 2 of my blog about outside plaques at the Boston Federal Building during my time at ActiveRain's Boston RainCamp.  Here's a link to my PART 1:

http://activerain.com/blogsview/1851194/profiles-of-justice-from-the-american-legal-system-part-1

I believe we should all think about these plaques and their meanings, since sometimes we have to review what they mean and help others remember what their original thoughts might have been.  Of the 9 plagues the next 5 are my interpretations!

The 5^th plaque stated:  “OUR GOVERNMENT IS THE POTENT, THE OMNIPRESENT TEACHER.  FOR GOOD OR FOR ILL, IT TEACHES THE WHOLE PEOPLE BY ITS EXAMPLE. – Louis D. Brandeis, 1928.”

This means our government should set the example to the people.  This is done when government can correct the injustice within their own corporations or outside private business corporations and the people they are guarding will watch and mimic by example.  Therefore, if we want our people to be just and follow the rules, then corporations & government need to begin with the example, so the people don’t run rampage. An example of this concept is the way President Obama met his obligation to defend the Constitution.  Though there was popular consensus by the people that a mosque should not be built in close proximity to ground zero, Obama supported the freedom of religion on which the US was framed.

The 6^th plaque stated:  “THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THOSE WHO EXERCISE POWER IN A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT IS NOT TO REFLECT INFLAMED PUBLIC FEELING BUT TO HELP FORM ITS UNDERSTANDING. – Felix Frankfurter, 1958.” 

People in power should represent the people, but should also mold some of the opinions to reflect the understanding of the constitution to those who don’t understand the constitution or the Bill of Rights.  Education is critical to the understanding of our rights and religions should never play a role in our laws, since we are a “melting pot of people from all over the world”, otherwise, we are eliminating others to their rights & the laws of our country. Again with my previous example Obama supported the freedom of religion.  With the latest issue brought up by the Gainesville, FL minister that wanted to have a public burning of the Koran, Obama supported his freedom of speech.  Though the burning of the Koran publicly had popular support President Obama went against the popular support to encourage moderation over an inflammatory issue.

The 7^th plaque stated:  “WE ARE CONFRONTED PRIMARILY WITH A MORAL ISSUE.  THE HEART OF THE QUESTION IS WHETHER WE ARE GOING TO TREAT OUR FELLOW AMERICANS, AS WE WANT TO BE TREATED. – John F. Kennedy, 1963.” 

This I remember from my childhood (this also tells you how old I really am).   The Kennedy & MLK years really hit home!  We really need to treat anyone from any country the way we want to be treated, period!  We can’t go to other countries and be insensitive to their ways, but we should try to improve their ways by creating brainstorming to allow them to change it themselves and only if they want to.  People change the country only when they are ready as a people!  This is something we should never try to push on others.

The 8^th plaque stated:  “THE BEST ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE MAY BE MOST SAFELY SECURED BY ALLOWING THE REPRESENTATION OF ALL CLASSES OF THE PEOPLE IN COURTS OF JUSTICE. – Lelia Josephine Robinson, 1881.”

No matter how mad we are about what a convicted person did to another, we should always give them sound representation, if they can’t afford a lawyer or if they are from another country.  We can’t say we are civilized if we don’t treat all men & women from all countries the same in our justice system!

The 9^th last plaque was my favorite and was also the oldest quote, which probably says something about the person who wrote it.  It states: “THE DIGNITY AND STABILITY OF GOVERNMENT IN ALL ITS BRANCHES, THE MORAL OF THE PEOPLE AND EVERY BLESSING OF SOCIETY DEPEND UPON AN UPRIGHT AND SKILLFUL ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE. – John Adams, 1776. 

Hopefully, Congress, who create many of our laws, are thinking about this everyday, so we can jump out of our current economic situation and begin to flourish again.  Let’s begin to hold the businesses and their CEO’s responsible for their actions to our country and their fleecing of our people! 

Finally, I would love to be able to go into the Boston Federal Building, since the guard did inform me that their were more plaques inside!  I hope I can see them one day, but not have to go there for any other reason!

My life right now is in between being an American that is going for her Canadian Citizenship and waiting patiently for the Halifax office to acknowledge our paperwork with $$$ sent in January 2010.  I was born in New York City many decades ago!

Today, thinking about the 9^th anniversary after 9-11 and only 11 days before this American-Canadian moves to Beijing, China for 9 months.  I remembered going to Boston for ActiveRain's Boston RainCamp this past July 2010 and taking photos of the Boston Federal Court Building outside, since they wouldn’t let me inside unless I had business there!  I took photos of plaques outside the building that I really thought made me think about what being an American-Canadian really means.  I’ve written this in two parts, since I want to discuss those 9 quotes from the Boston Federal Building.

The first plaque stated “ALL MEN ARE BORN FREE AND EQUAL AND EVERY SUBJECT IS ENTITLED TO LIBERTY AND TO HAVE IT GUARDED BY THE LAWS. – William Cushing, 1783”

To me, that means all Americans, Immigrants & Visitors are entitled to liberty, justice and be protected by our laws.  So when we, as a country,  allow others to use bigotry & anti-religious connotations, we are definitely not following this principle.   We should respect all cultures, religions & race!

The 2^nd plaque reads, “MEN AND WOMEN WERE CREATED EQUAL, THEY ARE BOTH MORAL AND ACCOUNTABLE BEINGS, AND WHATEVER IS RIGHT FOR MAN TO DO IS RIGHT FOR WOMAN. – Sarah M. Grimke, 1937”

With this saying, we have come a long way from the 1920’s but we still have to pay equally to all men & women during the same job, with no difference in pay due to gender.  This should include all medical studies also, we should do medical studies for both men & women and not just one gender.

The 3^rd plaque is very relative to this last week of media coverage, “WHERE JUSTICE IS DENIED AND ANY ONE CLASS IS MADE TO FEEL THAT SOCIETY IS AN ORGANIZED CONSPIRACY TO OPPRESS, ROB AND DEGRADE THEM, NEITHER PERSONS NOR PROPERTY WILL BE SAFE – Federick Douglass, 1886” 

My feelings with this last week between the protests on the building of a Islamic Mosque near 9-11 site in NYC & the Gainesville Christian Preacher who wanted to burn the Koran,  makes me feel ill.   We, as Americans are better than this.  There are extremists in all religions and we shouldn’t condemn all the extremists as the majority of the religions, when they are a very small minority!  We should never oppress, degrade or rob other people’s religions, cultures or countries, or we will NEVER be safe as a country!

The 4^th plaque stated: “THE LAW IS THE WITNESS AND EXTERNAL DEPOSIT OF OUR MORAL LIFE.  ITS HISTORY IS THE HISTORY OF THE MORAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE RACE – Oliver Wendell Holmes, 1897.”  

This means to me, that if we don’t follow our laws, we don’t have much of a moral life as a nation.  We, as a country of a variety of people, must always treat all people the same within the stating of our laws, since that is reflective of ourselves and our moral society.  We must treat all war prisoners & convicts the same as we would want to be treated!

The leaders that wrote these quotes understood the constitution and probably studied the true meaning of the “Bill of Rights”.  I will use this to guide me for the next year in Beijing and to represent all Americans & Canadians through respect & open thinking!

Thought y’all would love a challenge!  Where is this boardwalk?

;>))

Larry Estabrooks, an Independent REALTOR from Moncton, has a great representation of the New Housing starts comparison for Saint John, Moncton & Fredericton...  ;>))

Got this in my e-mail from one of my Canadian friends this morning.  Being an American-Canadian living in Canada for 6 years, I see the differences & similarities between the U.S. & Canada!  This joke could be applied both in the U.S., Canada or any other European country....

Sometime this year, we taxpapers may again receive an Economic Stimulus payment.  This is a very exciting new program.  I will explain it using the Question & Answer format:

Question:  What is an Economic Stimulus payment?

Answer:  It is money that a federal government will send to taxpapers.

Question:  Where will the government get this money?

Answer:  From taxpapers.

Question:  So the government is giving me back my own money?

Answer:  Only a smidgen!

Question:  What is the purpose of this payment?

Answer:  The plan is that you will use the money to purchase a high-definition TV thus stimulating the economy.

Question:  But isn't that stimulating the economy of China?

Answer:  Shut up!

Below is some helpful advice on how to best help the Canadian economy by spending your stimulus check wisely:

     If you spend the stimulus money at Wal-Mart, the money will go to China.

     If you spend it on gasoline, your money will go to the Arabs.

     If you purchase a computer, it will go to India.

     If you purchase fruit & vegetables, it will go to Mexico, Honduras & Guatemala.

     If you purchase useless stuff, it will go to Taiwan.

     If you pay your credit cards off, or buy stock, it will go to management bonuses and they will hide it offshore...

Instead, keep the money in Canada by:

     1)  Spending it at yard sales, or

     2)  Going to ball games, or

     3)  Spending it on "a girl", or

     4)  Beer or

     5)  Tattoos

(These are the only Canadian businesses still operating in Canada.)

Let me get this right:  I'm going to go to a ball game with a tattooed "girl", that I met at a yard sale and drink beer with her?

O, Canada, I stand on guard for thee....

I need you guys and gals to use your imagination to the best of your ability... in fact, please brainstorm these photos, they are funny!!!

Normally, I usually see a beautiful sunny, colorful sunrise, like the photos on the sides of my blog.  Today, I woke up to a quiet, sunny, beautiful morning and found an unknown, interesting and very artistic creature on my observation deck.   Came up the stairway and looked through one window to find this!

Looked at it unsure what to make of it, so I did a double-take and observed it again!

Living in Atlantic Canada, it wouldn't surprise me if it's some kind of friendly or frightening creature that climbed up my deck?  How did it get here?  There's nothing between the deck and the 2nd floor from the outside, except the very extreme hip roofline.  It apparently has arms, a head and a body.  It looks like it wants to grab something or someone, maybe me!!!  Does it have wings?  Did it fly onto my observation deck??  So I look at it through the other side of my French doors.

It actually has an extended body, that it seems to be dragging on.  Couldn't see what's on the bottom of the end, so I look at it even closer.

It actually has an endless tail that he/she/or it seems to be dragging on..   Couldn't find any shoes or feet....

OMG:  It's a ghost! or ....... Is It?    Is it a white fluffy icing that someone is playing a trick on me?  Since it's now attached to the bottom of my door, How do I get it off my deck???

PLEASE, DOES ANYONE KNOW KNOW IF THEY HAVE SEEN THIS PHENOMENA, CREATURE, THING OR DELICIOUS DESSERT BEFORE???

I'm sure the southern states haven't seen this around.... I LOVE WINTER AND THE UNEXPECTED GUESTS, ESPECIALLY THE CREATIVE ARTISTIC NATURE TYPE!!!  ;>))

Thinking of a “new” New Year’s resolution!  How’s your speaking ability?  Does it need improvement?  Would you like to learn new skills for public speaking?  Need more leadership skills?  Then let me tell you my story to help you decide if you would like to give yourself a boost!

Two years ago, when I first became a REALTOR, I had a secret that I knew would hold me back!   I was a smart educator with a Masters degree, with a “hidden disability” for holding myself back!  I was “extremely shy” since childhood, due to a young childhood illness!  I always learned quickly by visual & kinesthetic means.  In other words, I learned by reading and doing.   

Shy people tend to be online socially!  I’m connected on every social media I can find and probably more online than any of my Realtor co-workers in the Saint John, NB area.  Shy people tend to avoid groups of people and usually try not to attend any activities that involve massive amounts of people where they are forced to communicate verbally.  Social media is there savor and are very computer savy.

Knowing I had to come out of this dilemma I searched my options to see if I could learn the social skills to come out of “my shell”.  I learned that there was a weekly program called “Toastmasters” where I could learn the skills to work on speeches, face-to-face social skills and leadership skills.

Toastmasters International is a nonprofit organization that began in 1924 at the YMCA in Santa Ana, California.  They currently have 250,000 members in more than 12,500 clubs in 106 countries and are still growing. There is a nominal fee to join Toastmasters International, but you automatically sign up for their monthly magazine on improving your speeches and leadership skills.

I joined 1-1/2 years ago and went to the Saint John Monday weekly meetings.  This group is very sympathetic with any of their members and they all have various reasons for attending the group.  Our group has had members that have been their over 10 years and brand new members.  Our group has the following weekly positions to be done: Sergeant-At-Arms, Chairman, Invocator, Toastmaster, Table Topics, Timer, Ah Counter/Grammarian, Quiz Master, General Evaluator, Joke Teller & 2-5 Speakers, 2-5 Evaluators for each speaker.  Some weeks we could have 1-2 positions to do, which helps us multi-task meetings.

My first manual to work on was the “Competent Communication” which is a practical guide to becoming a better speaker.  You have to finish 10 speeches at your speed of choice to receive a recognition diploma that is also sent to your employer’s broker.  The 10 speeches you have to complete are: The Ice Breaker, Organize Your Speech, Get to the Point, How to Say It, Your Body Speaks, Vocal Variety, Research Your Topic, Get Comfortable with Visual Aids, Persuade With Power and Inspire Your Audience.   Usually the Ice Breaker is the first speech you give to introduce yourself.  The other speeches can be given in any order.  After you give a speech the manual has a section that can be filled out by the evaluator on the good and improvements that can be worked on.  Evaluators usually change for every speech you give.  They are two times that you will get a “standing ovation” in the group; the 1^st speech and the last speech you give within each manual. 

On December 1^st, 2009, I received my “Competent Communicator” recognition diploma for finishing my 10 speeches.  

Yesterday, I received my new Toastmasters package to work on my Advanced Communicator Bronze (ACB) manual.  I have to finish three manuals with 5 projects in each manual, with a total of 15 speeches before I receive my Bronze recognition.   There are also 15 manual choices; The Entertaining Speaker, Speaking to Inform, Public Relations, The Discussion Leader, Specialty Speeches, Speeches by Management, The Professional Speaker, Technical Presentations, Persuasive Speaking, Communicating on Television, Storytelling, Interpretive Reading, Interpersonal Communication, Special Occasion Speeches and Humorously Speaking.  I have chosen: Persuasive Speaking, Storytelling and Humorous Speaking.

I can tell you that most of my shyness has been eliminated and that I now have the confidence to speak to anyone that I come across.   This confidence was also reinforced due to all of the areas I've lived in across the world!  After this training, I learned my strengthens & weaknesses and look forward to the future. 

Recently I was given the title of VP of Public Relations for the Saint John Toastmaster's group and I'm going to love the challenge of this job.  I will be getting former training in the next week, from Toastmasters International on what the job consists of and plan to be the best VP this club has ever had.

If you are one of those shy individuals that need that extra “kick in the pants” to be more successful, here is more information for you to get started:

Toastmasters International

P.O. Box 9052

Mission Viego, CA 92690-9052

(949) 858-8255 – phone

(949) 858-1207 - fax

www.Toastmasters.org

Our local information for the Saint John area is:

Saint John Club  (# 1479, District # 45)  Established: 03/01/1954

Trinity Church (rear entrance on Charlotte)

115 Charlotte St, Saint John, NB

(506) 693-2019

e-mail:  contact@saintjohn.freetoasthost.org

Website:   http://saintjohn.freetoasthost.org/index.html

So we are celebrating the bountiful harvest!!! 

Each year, for the last 2 years, I have been chosen to be the Mascot for our Royal LePage Atlantic Kiosk.  The Kiosk is located at the local mall here in Saint John, New Brunswick, and is located in the center aisle of  the mall.  At our Kiosk we have photos of existing homes for sales on moveable display cases that potential buyers and sellers love to go and flip them over.  We also have a computer with a countertop so potential buyers or sellers can sit and discuss any details with the Realtor.   Each year, very young kids and their parents come in around 5:00 p.m. till 8:00 p.m. and do their "Trick or Treating" from store vendor to store vendor...  It's especially a busy place when the weather is probamatic; today being windy and rain showers.

This is a GREAT time and an effective marketing strategy for getting business cards out to potential sellers and buyer!!!

Last year I played Maleficent the "beautiful" witch from the Sleep Beauty story. This year I played "The Grinch" with a few modifications. My Grinch costume consisted of lime green tights with two pairs of socks; one with strips and the small ones with bells and finished off with elf slippers. (Had to stay comfortable!)  The rest of the costume had the official Santa look with "The Grinch" written across the front, with lime green winter gloves and the official "Grinch" mask.  Since the mask was warm to wear, when I had it off, I still looked like one of Santa's elves, so I could play two roles in one.

Going back to handing out business cards, this is the way I do it.  I get two pieces of "Good candy" and one business card that I put in each Halloween bag.  This way I feel like the possibility of getting future clients are higher, since most of the parents will check the candy, they will hopefully pull out the business card and give the candy to their kids, if they don't eat it themselves.  LOL  Getting the candy bags ready is time consuming, but I believe well worth it.

When I was ready to hand out the candy, it was FUN to see all of the kids & adult costumes and interact with the parents & their kids.  The parents and their kids usually start out from one end and work the whole mall through.  I usually stay on one side to give all the kids their treats.  Today, I gave out 370 BAGS OF CANDY...

I highly recommend this to other Realtors, since it's wonderful to interact with the community on different levels, especially the "humane" and compassionate side of us.  All Realtors should have fun with this day, it's a Great time to let loose and make connections with the community and at work....  especially if you've had a Halloween Barbecue at your office the day before!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN....