Category Archives: Business

Business, Hiking, Nature, Sustainability

Forest Walks Rejuvenate Muscles, Mind

A brisk afternoon below-freezing walk in Byrne woods in SE #Burnaby does wonders to rejuvenate one’s stiff muscles and overtaxed mind.

Byrne woods Burnaby

Nature in general, and forests in particular, are my lifeline. They alleviate general blahs, stiff muscles from sitting too much at the desk, brain stupor from too much office work, and more. Get the blood pumping, muscles moving, and it’s amazing how much better you feel.

We are so fortunate to have this wonderful ravine park just out the back gate to our townhouse complex.

Business, Editing, Streamkeeping, Writing

Basic Reporting for Concerned Citizens

Hi folks, here a few tips for effectively sharing information, or reporting on things that concern you, be it via social media, email, phone, snailmail, etc.

Learn and remember the journalist’s question prompts of 5WH.

5WH?

Who
What
Where
When
Why
How

Answer those questions as best you can before you start sharing information, before you start writing, calling, Tweeting, posting to Facebook or blogs, emailing… and you’ll be miles ahead in clarity, conciseness, accuracy, and so on.

For a fleshed-out guide to 5WH see the Wikipedia entry here.

This applies to streamkeepers reporting spills or fish kills, to citizens reporting crime, to folks contacting their local papers, to students posting on blogs, to. . .

Business, Photography, Society

Setting Limits on Volunteer Photography

Just a heads up to folks looking for free, er, “volunteer” photography. I’m full up for free photography.
 
For years I have volunteered for, or provided a much-reduced token rate for, several annual events, including local community organizations, the Editors’ Association of Canada, the DFO Salmonid Enhancement Program, the MS Society, etc. I’ve also provided volunteer coverage for large, less-regular events like the BC Seniors’ Games.
 
I love photography. I enjoy event photography, and if I may say so, I’m good at it.
 
But I’ve reached my limit.
 
In fairness to myself, and to working photographers, I will not take on any more new unpaid assignments. I may continue with the volunteer events I’ve shot in the past, while nudging them toward at least token payment, but nothing new that doesn’t pay.
 
As I pull out of some of these gigs, if you’re an up-and-coming young documentary photog who is looking for some portfolio material, let me know. I may be able to hook you up, and give you a few tips on equipment, vision, attitude, performance, delivery, etc.
 
Some of these groups simply can’t afford to pay a pro, or even a semi-pro, but you should limit your donations of time and expertise to a year or two. Or choose one org or event, and commit to them.
 
After all, you won’t get a plumber to your house at 7 pm on a weekend (common working hours for a photog) for a promise of “credit” or “exposure.”
Business

Thank you Lowe’s!

Just what you don’t want to see when you go upstairs to the kitchen to get a second cup of coffee — a puddle of water on the floor in front of the sink. The leak was coming from under the faucet so I pulled off the hot and cold lines, and redid the connections with fresh plumber’s tape.

As I was tightening everything up, damn, a drip. From where? Ah, even higher up! Dismantled the faucet and discovered the cartridge was cracked. Did the round of hardware stores until finally the folks at Lowe’s found what we needed in a bin of dusty spare bits and pieces, and let us have it for free. It wasn’t the exact replacement, but close enough to work. Thank you Lowe’s!

Otherwise it would have been a week or two to get another cartridge ordered in.

Books, Business, Editing, Writing

Shifting Volunteer Hours to Work-Related Endeavours

I’m rejiggering my volunteer time. Pulling back a bit from some of the fishy/enviro stuff, and shifting over to more work-related volunteering.

First step, meet the new Program Chair for the Editors Canada BC Branch :-).

I really enjoyed meeting lots of folks and renewing many acquaintances at the Editors Canada BC Branch Annual General Meeting tonight.

Thank you for your confidence in accepting me into the executive fold, and here’s to having more great programs for 2016-17 starting next autumn! And thanks to Kyra and Marianne for also joining the program committee.

I have some big shoes to fill, but I’m happy that everyone is happy to help.