Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce Blog

Mindful Moments - December Giveaway!

11/28/2018

Feature Blog Post by Shelley Jaye, co-owner, Jim Thorpe Massage & Wellness Studio

mind·ful·ness
[ˈmīn(d)f(ə)lnəs]
NOUN
1. the quality or state of being conscious or aware of something.

2. a mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic technique.

“Mindfulness Moments,” is a monthly addition to The Jim Thorpe Current. Shared here you will find tips on short practices moving you toward a more energetic and mindfulness way of life. Learn to maximize your energy by experiencing living in the present moment. These are intended as practices, not lessons.
Being Present

As we have hopefully adjusted to the end of daylight-saving time, Thanksgiving has been celebrated and we move toward winter and our religious and spiritual celebrations in December. Much to think about relative to time. We can fully embrace time in a different way. What if we still get up in the morning at the same time as we did before daylight savings? We could use this hour to do some meditation, or quietly contemplate our day, week and month ahead; perhaps in a different way. We can use this time to tune in to our body. How can time help us to focus on our wellness? One way for us to be present in our life is to listen to what our body needs. Your body will tell you exactly what it needs. Does a vigorous walk sound appealing? Go for one. Do you want to curl up on the couch with a book instead? Are you craving dark chocolate? Eat some. Maybe today you want fresh juice.
Being present is creating awareness in the moment, each moment. Much easier said than done. Imagine a practice of the simple act of paying attention to what is going on without changing anything. When you achieve being present you find increased happiness in the moments of life. The chaos and hectic times feel less stressful and recovery from trying times become effortless.

All responses received in December will be eligible for a drawing for a $15.00 gift certificate at Jim Thorpe Massage & Wellness Studio. This is good for a chair massage or can be used towards any service with me, Shelley.

If you have questions or would like to share your experience feel free to email me atJimThorpeMassage@gmail.com. Please

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Save Money on Electric While Using Your Kitchen this Holiday Season

11/26/2018

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Guest blog post from Carol Obando-Derstine, regional affairs director, PPL Electric Utilities

A line from the song Deck the Halls is often repeated around this time, which is ‘Tis the season to be jolly. We know so much of that joviality revolves around family time, cooking, and of course eating. It’s no wonder by January gyms are packed with folks trying to undo all this cheerfulness of the past two months.
While we are not in the business of counting calories, although there are plenty of apps for that, we can save you money on your electric bill if you will be spending lots of time in the kitchen. And the great thing about these tips is that they are applicable all year long.
So here are just a few of our most popular recommendations that we compiled over the years from various sources including the U.S. Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR® program:

Use small electric pans, toaster ovens, or convection ovens for small meals rather than your large stove or oven. A toaster or convection oven uses one-third to one-half as much energy as a full-sized oven.
Use microwaves and slow cookers when possible. They use less energy than the stove or oven. When reheating food or cooking smaller dishes, consider using your microwave whenever possible because you could save up to 50% of your cooking energy usage. Cooking in a crock pot can also be much more efficient than using your oven. Crock pot costs 10 cents to run for eight hours while an oven costs 32 cents to run for just one hour.
Keep the inside of your microwave and oven clean because it improves their efficiency.
Use your dishwasher only when it’s full. You can save 5,000 gallons of water each year and $40 in utility costs by using a dishwasher instead of hand-washing dishes.
Use the air-dry option on dishwashers. It saves energy and keeps the machine from using a heating element to bake your dishes dry. Most dishwashers today are equipped with an electrical heating element that can account for up to 15 percent of the energy used.
Unlike a refrigerator, a freezer works most efficiently when packed as full as possible.
Use a thermometer to check the temperature. Freezers should be kept between zero and five (5) degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures that are too cold waste energy, and too warm temperatures can lead to premature food spoilage.
Leaky door seals are a main culprit for energy loss in the freezer. Improperly-sealed doors let cold air escape, making it work harder.
Turn off that ice maker until you really need a lot of ice because automatic ice makers generate heat that the freezer has to offset. Ice makers can increase your refrigerator's energy use by 10% or more.
Install and use efficient exhaust fans because they can be very effective in removing moisture, pollution, and odors from your kitchens and bathrooms. When installing new fans, install ENERGY STAR® qualified ventilation fans. These use less energy and last longer than conventional models. Also, they don't need to run more than 20 minutes to do their job. Leaving a fan on too long not only wastes energy, it wastes cool air in the summer and hot air in the winter by releasing them outdoors as exhaust.

If you want other energy efficiency tips for the rest of the house, please visit savewithppl.com . And of course, best wishes on a safe and healthy holiday season!

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Top 20 - Procurement Organization Best Practices

11/14/2018

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Feature blog post by Mike Cargiulo, President & CEO of MJC Sourcing, LLC

Move fast, segment spend, address large spend opportunities 1st
Develop and track annual savings goals by spend category
Competition more important than size of deal - for leverage and best deal
Standard “Sourcing Process” understood by all with team-based supplier selection decisions
(procurement led, finance, legal and business areas on team for large strategic spend)
Need data and systems to know where, how much, and with who you are spending
Procurement organization staffing should be adequate to address all spend, target ROI 50-1
Reverse auctions for all “commodity” spend categories, try to commoditize as much as possible
Be confident suppliers are not charging you 20% more than your competitors
Have supplier contract exit strategies wherever possible for leverage and optimal service
You have the money, you always have the leverage, always push for more
Suppliers must earn a fair profit
Local, regional, and global sourcing strategies must be considered
Never commit longer than 3 years, unless supplier has no real competitors in the market
Reevaluate large and critical spend categories every 2-3 years, new products always emerge
Hire top talent and provide ongoing training
Supplier relationships and who owns it are not as important as their ability to deliver
Never commit to purchase volumes if possible, forecasts work best
Procurement organizations are like Switzerland - always neutral for best deal for the company
Watch for supplier divide and conquer tactics, everyone at the company is on the same side
Electronic RFPs when available, paper RFPs/binder responses waste time and money

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GREATER LEHIGH VALLEY CHAMBER BLOG

Mindful Moments - December Giveaway!

Save Money on Electric While Using Your Kitchen this Holiday Season

Top 20 - Procurement Organization Best Practices

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