tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60338611977188978862009-11-02T05:31:52.417-08:00The mission of F.L.O.W. is to provide a caring hand to urban communities of Grand Rapids, Michigan proper. To be able to provide assistance in transforming yards to new home owners, with community support. Our dedication is to the local neighborhoods. To be able to effect the quality of life of homeowners and to the public by beautifying curb appeal. To bring much happiness to all who get to enjoy it.WCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08076517477363700604noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033861197718897886.post-12432502271939920782009-05-14T04:45:00.000-07:002009-05-14T04:50:20.770-07:00

Thank you to our volunteers for "Smile and Dial"We had a very successful fundraiser to raise money. The volunteers called local Realtors and their brokers to contribute. We are still receiving checks from people who have committed to donate, so not all the numbers are in but will update as soon as we gather all the information.Our dialers were:Committee chair - Mary Kent - Five Star Real

WCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08076517477363700604noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033861197718897886.post-52658698765954637792009-05-04T04:02:00.000-07:002009-05-04T04:12:35.952-07:00

What a great community we have here in Grand Rapids! I have to admit with I was a little worried with all the news reports that 2009 will be the toughest year that we would have a hard time getting this ball rolling for 2009. However we are blessed with great Landscaping companies that are participating this year. Many have returned for a 2nd year and we also have some new Landscapers. We will

WCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08076517477363700604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033861197718897886.post-23504198403504157952008-09-19T04:47:00.000-07:002008-09-19T04:49:14.115-07:00

Good morning my fellow WCR members and readers! I wanted to share with you an article on this project we have been working on all year!We are celebrating our first years success on September 27th! It has been a very busy this year getting this project up and running..........but we did it and we are proud!Our local Chapter made the on line news paper, and we have claims from other media that

WCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08076517477363700604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033861197718897886.post-24712113548810393632008-09-15T04:46:00.000-07:002008-09-15T05:05:06.233-07:00

Our Landscapers:Signature Outdoor Concepts - Jason Haywood http://www.signatureoutdoorconcepts.com/Wabeke Lawn Service and Snowplowing, Inc. - Mike Wabekehttp://www.wabekelawn.com/River's Edge Property Management - Lynn BeukemaRiversedge5558@sbcglobal.netD.J.'s Lawn Service, Inc. - D.J. Vander Slik Jr.http://www.djslawnservice.com/Wildwood, Inc. - Justin Heyboerhttp://www.wildwoodlandscape.com/

WCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08076517477363700604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033861197718897886.post-65814916320600240382008-09-10T05:17:00.000-07:002008-09-10T05:19:10.175-07:00

Collating and book making was the plan for the day yesterday. ICCF who has partnered with us for the F.L.O.W. foundation, called in their senior volunteers. We had fun and they worked hard to get it all done. I got to learn how to use a binding machine! The books look great.........Mary Mishler made the lay out and Brendan O'Driscoll printed the pages for us. Which has been wonderful, as

WCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08076517477363700604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033861197718897886.post-86737615127985174092008-08-24T14:25:00.000-07:002008-09-13T15:00:14.181-07:00

WCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08076517477363700604noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033861197718897886.post-91090408344864924172008-08-14T18:15:00.000-07:002008-08-14T18:19:52.433-07:00

We are excited! September 27, 2008 will be the Garden Tour and Garden Party to celebrate F.L.O.W.'s first years success!Yes, we have a commitment for 10 yards to be transformed..........and a great party planned! For those of you that have been to a WCR party, you know we can throw a great party!Here are the details:Garden Tour Saturday September 27th, 10am till 4pmGarden Tour books with maps

WCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08076517477363700604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033861197718897886.post-71626452189205774142008-06-17T06:31:00.000-07:002008-12-09T06:08:39.077-08:00

Well, the landscaping of the Woman Built Habitat Home was great fun! We got VERY dirty, and I probably have never worked this hard ever in my life! I was sore from head to toe and perspired in places that I had no idea there were sweat glands! It was the hottest day of the year so far! However we worked hard and got it all done. What a great sense of accomplishment it was!WCR members, Mary

WCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08076517477363700604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033861197718897886.post-31719903465216394762008-05-09T09:37:00.000-07:002008-12-09T06:08:39.985-08:00

We had a wonderful time at the “Making Thyme Kitchen” on Tues May 6th. We tasted some awesome foods served up by our gracious host’s Karen and Ken the owners. While the tasting event is over, they’re still offering through end of May to give 20% back to FLOW!!!Words from Mary Kent our Sponsor co-chair:We sampled the Jamaican Chicken Burgers with Mango Sauce YUMEEE!!! The Sweet Potato and Black

WCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08076517477363700604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033861197718897886.post-69367297712715515042008-04-28T05:33:00.000-07:002008-04-28T05:34:13.046-07:00

What a fun day this was! We Raised another $250.00. A big thank you to all who donated and to Naya Bistro for the donation of the room. We had a rapid change in the weather. It got chilly, so having the yard sale inside was a God send.The volunteers who worked the sale, Mary Kent, Susan Pastoor, Sarah DeWitt, Linda Pell, I – Michelle Gordon and 3 youth also spent money, many goodies were to

WCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08076517477363700604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033861197718897886.post-50124313861562309322008-04-17T07:38:00.000-07:002008-12-09T06:08:40.711-08:00

Another person went out on their own to work on the “Woman Built” Habitat home for humanity. Linda Pell a member of WCR, went out on her own and worked at this home. Linda called me after working on the home yesterday, as she had a great experience, she said she was pleased with how many people came out to help after they worked their “full time jobs” . If felt like an Amish committee that is

WCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08076517477363700604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033861197718897886.post-83726004067787594652008-04-15T08:37:00.000-07:002008-04-15T08:43:04.672-07:00

Shelly took it upon herself to be the first to assist with the "Woman Built" habitat for humanity home, here is what they had to say about Shelly:I had the pleasure of meeting Shelly Abbott from Greenridge Realty on Saturday who was a part of the first day of construction! Shelly decided to help out as a general volunteer and is excited about returning to work on the landscaping with the Women’s

WCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08076517477363700604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033861197718897886.post-18454687476222249812008-04-07T06:43:00.000-07:002008-04-07T06:44:51.443-07:00

Yes, it is spring cleaning time. Do you want something to do with that old junk you have laying around? Please consider donating to our Yard Sale. When: April 26th – SaturdayTime: drop off time 7am – 9am - Sale 9am – 4pmWhere: Naya Bistro and Wine Bar – 1144 East Paris, SE – Naya will be having a new special - $5.00 off diners ordered between 4pm and 6pm!What: Give us anything you do not

WCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08076517477363700604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033861197718897886.post-15521148787513186382008-03-09T07:04:00.000-07:002008-03-09T07:05:53.829-07:00

I want to thank everyone who participated! This first fundraiser was a HUGE success. We raised $1,000.00! It was so much fun. The hostess for the products were wonderful, and I had the most fun ringing the bell every time some one cashed in at the gold swap. Jennifer Tabor gets a special thank you, as she cashed is 2,500.00 in gold! However our money from this event has not stopped

WCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08076517477363700604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033861197718897886.post-62613854030381781322008-03-01T13:27:00.000-08:002008-03-02T08:18:11.599-08:00

We have 8 home shopping representatives all in one place for your enjoyment and convenience. Each rep is going to donate a percentage of their proceeds to F.L.O.W.Olives Restaurant is going to open their doors for our “private” party. The bar will be open (cash bar) and a special appetizer menu will be provided. From 1 p.m. till 4 p.m. 10 PERCENT OF ALL BAR SALES WILL BE DONATED TO F.L.O.W. so at

WCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08076517477363700604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033861197718897886.post-37961655001687591462008-02-25T05:59:00.000-08:002008-02-25T06:03:13.685-08:00

Homes sales keep the economy purring. Home buying is one the main factors of turning the economy around. If we increase home sales, it will affect everyone even if they are not buying or selling a home. Increased home sales will help boost our economy in this domino effect:Landscape city yards….City neighborhoods become a more desired area to live for home buyersHome sales increase in the city

WCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08076517477363700604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033861197718897886.post-39054446009384166592008-01-25T05:04:00.000-08:002008-01-25T05:06:32.418-08:00

A big thank you goes out to Lola Audu! Lola with Audu Real Estate in Grand Rapids got wind of my community project that I have been working on with ICCF and Woman Council of Realtors. She loved the idea and has bloged it for me on her own blog. Our community project is F.L.O.W. (friends landscaping our world). A non-profit community project to landscape lower income family homes in the city of

WCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08076517477363700604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033861197718897886.post-21938745338170807592008-01-16T06:19:00.000-08:002008-01-16T06:26:16.302-08:00

To date I have posted on this blog information that has been PR worthy. However, a true blog is a web journal, where personal thoughts and ideas are shared. Google thinks of them to be more reliable source of information, as they contain a 2 way conversation and are constantly updated VS a website that may be updated once a year, and no access to a 2 way conversation. So feel free to post your

WCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08076517477363700604noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033861197718897886.post-21881628421558411762008-01-06T06:50:00.000-08:002008-01-06T06:52:42.908-08:00

One of the homes we have selected to landscape is a home by Habitat for Humanity woman build. “With the help of Woman’s Council of Realtors and other community partners we can build much more then a simple house. We can help make a dream of affordable homeownership a reality for a hard working family and help strengthen the community in the process”. Quote from the funding department of

WCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08076517477363700604noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033861197718897886.post-13024791912737106372007-12-21T07:34:00.000-08:002007-12-21T04:36:15.956-08:00

With the Help of ICCF (Inner City Christian Federation), Women’s Council of REALTORS® has been able to facilitate the use of their charitable status for F.L.O.W. (Friends Landscaping Our World).You can write off your donation on your taxes.We have teamed up with ICCF http://www.iccf.org/ for this project.ICCF is a wonderful non-profit organization that also helps rebuild our neighborhoods. What a

WCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08076517477363700604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6033861197718897886.post-58683000623406138712007-12-14T05:32:00.000-08:002007-12-14T05:38:41.625-08:00

Financial donations from local business or private parties:Email mkent@kentcountyhome.com Mary Kent to donate.Labor donation from landscapers:Email sabbott@greenridge.com Shelly Abbott to donateSplit plants from local neighborhoods, home owners or neighborhood associations: Email kathy.thayer@chemicalbankmi.comGet with the F.L.O.W.

WCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08076517477363700604noreply@blogger.com0