Realty World Northern California & Nevada

There are a number of things that influence the value of a home; one being local schools.

Did you know that…

• During the 1970s, California’s school spending per student was close to, or even higher than, that of the US as a whole. Since 1981-82, California has consistently spent less per student than the US as a whole.
• We rank 34th out of the 50 states in our spending per Student 34 at $8,607 compared to the national average of $9,566.
• We rank 34th out of the 50 states in the percentage of our state’s income on K-12 education.
• We rank 48th in the number of K-12 students per teacher at 19.1 compared to 14.7 for the nation as a whole. Source: http://www.learnmorecalifornia.org

I find it perplexing that we don’t fund our childrens’ education at a level in which our schools can properly maintain and build campuses, provide current technology, and hire and retain the very best teachers and administrators. With current budgets being slashed further, where will California rank next year? Lack of funding affects our ability to provide the resources necessary to educate our children, negatively infuencing our ability to continue to compete and succeed globally.

Funding is a large part of the equation; however, involvement in our local schools can also make a substantial impact. Your involvement, whether it’s volunteering in the classroom or office, supporting a music or sports program, sprucing up a school campus, or getting involved in the PTA, is an investment that can make a difference on many levels. Despite so much negative publicity, there are a lot of great things happening in our local schools. Stop by and obtain a pass to sit in on a class, sign up to be Principal for the Day. Get involved…not only will your local school benefit but you will too…both personally and professionally. Any other ideas out there on how we can assist our local schools?

With winter nearing, as well as Thanksgiving and Christmas just around the corner, there are many opportunities to help those who are in need. Giving back to your community shouldn’t seem overwhelming; it doesn’t necessarily mean that you must volunteer every minute of your spare time to help the underprivileged. Remembering that “it’s the little things that count” can motivate anyone to do a ‘little’ something for the homeless and make a huge difference to them this season. Below are some ways you can contribute:

• Pre-make bag lunches (i.e., sandwich, crackers, fruit, juice, etc.) and hand them out to homeless people on the street. Bag lunches/sandwiches need not be elaborate (peanut butter, bologna, etc.), but enough food to know that someone won’t go hungry.
• Hand out food/meal certificates from local fast food restaurants so they can get something to eat.
• Buy canned goods or other non-perishable items and deliver to a food bank.
• Order an extra meal when you go eat out, or bring home leftovers, and offer the food to someone hungry who is living on the street.
• Provide warm blankets, sleeping bags, coats, sweaters, or other clothing. This type of donation can be made to homeless shelters, but if your contribution is small or you’re not part of an organized group, handing one coat or blanket directly to someone living on the street will make a world of difference.
• Donate soaps/shampoos/deoderants/toothbrushes/toothpaste to a shelter program.
• Give your recyclables. In many cases, homeless people collect aluminum cans and bottles as a way of making money. If you have some that can be recycled, give it to a homeless person.

Never directly give cash to a homeless person because all too often this well-intended gift is converted to drugs or alcohol. Don’t get me wrong… their hardship stories may be true, but if the person is truly hungry they’ll take the food and beverage you’re offering them.

And, of course, you can always find local soup kitchens or shelters in your area if you do want to go the distance and volunteer some of your time. Shelters need volunteers all the time.

If you have additional ideas on how to help the homeless this season, please feel free to comment. No one should be cold or hungry this holiday season.

In a discussion I had with the father of a wonderful teenage daughter, he told me of an evening when he returned home and found his home full of ladies who had just finished an evening of games and refreshments. He told of how one of the ladies pulled him aside and proceeded to compliment him on his teenage daughter and how, without being asked or told, she served refreshments, cleared tables, washed dishes, and cleaned and straightened things around their home. This father’s reaction was, “Of course, it’s expected.” He never, however, expressed this to his daughter who was within range of hearing the conversation.

This moment in this father’s life found a special spot in my heart as I listened. How many times in our lives do we teach the correct principles and concepts of life to those around us and then ‘expect’ that it will sink in and automatically happen?

Life is more than expectation! In our relationships with our children, with our significant other, within our professional lives, and within our sphere of influence we should always convey the true principles and concepts of how we live, how we run our business, what our standards and core values are, and then allow whomever we touch to understand.

I would venture to say that this father understood how this lady could be impressed because the correct principles and concepts were taught and nurtured by example within the home. He did not truly ‘expect’ his daughter to do what she did, although he understood why she did.

If anyone has a similar story to share, I ‘d like to hear about it… please comment.