President Obama’s Nobel Peace Prize must make people question how a President considering sending more troops to Afghanistan qualifies for such a prize. Whatever about that at a more local level there are plenty of people who really deserve their awards. Take the teacher of the year awards for instance. What they do may not affect the world but a good teacher can do wonders for individual students which in turn influences others through the generations. It is no co-incidence that when famous people speak of those who have influenced them many choose to speak of a particular teacher. The Nurse of the year receives her award for the care and devotion she has shown her patients and surely that is a more richly deserved award than one given to someone who sends young troops to be shot? When speakers give volunteer appreciation speeches they are honouring those who have done something positive for society, people who are often unsung heroes or heroines. Even the entrepreneur of the year is usually given his or her award because they have created employment for others. The question must be asked have the Nobel prizes gone past their sell by date?

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Redundancy doesn’t make you redundant. You are still the same person with the same talents and skills. The big difference is that you are not earning a wage and you have more time on your hands. So what are you going to do with that time? Will you use it to change your life by learning a language, doing a computer course or deciding on a total change of career? Maybe you could look for a partner who shares your ideas and enthusiasm for meeting a need you have identified in the market. Maybe you could use your gardening skills or your D.I.Y, skills to create work for yourself.

Have you considered how you could use your time to help others? You might visit someone in hospital who doesn’t have visitors. You could help out at your local community radio station. You might volunteer to give talks at a pensioners club, do meals on wheels or train youngsters in your local sports club.

There are never enough volunteers and every charity needs them. Would you sell tickets for cancer research or spend six months helping build a school in a third world country?

You might organise a black tie event to raise funds for heart disease or a spellathon to raise funds for a nearby school.
So get out and do something. Keeping yourself busy will ensure you meet new people who may be able to help you find work. More importantly, even if you haven’t job satisfaction, you will be getting satisfaction from doing something worthwhile with your spare time…

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Despite Christmas it seems we haven’t forgotten our pagan roots. When the dark nights close in we try to banish them with flickering candles and festive gatherings. Winter is the time when, whatever the reason, annual dinners are held and people get together to enjoy good food and good cheer.
It isn’t always for selfish reasons. There are benevolent association dinners where workers gather to raise funds for a colleague who has hit on hard times. There are fundraisers for a children’s charity or for sufferers from an illness such as cancer or heart disease. Perhaps the organisers know that in winter we have more time to think of others and suffering seems more poignant in the dark and dreary months.
On the other hand of course there are family re-unions when families travel long distances just to meet each other and to celebrate the festive season. A Christmas wedding is special simply because besides the frills and flounces we have the sparkle and staff motivational speeches perhaps because they have a captive audience. After all most of us aren’t out playing tennis or fishing in the long dark nights of winter. Clubs and societies therefore, choose to have their parties in December or January.
So if you are invited to a dinner or a gathering make the effort, dress up and go. Our ancestors were right. Fun and laughter and good company are the best possible ways to banish the dark devils of those long cold nights.

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An acceptance speech was given
T’will go down in our history
As Obama was duly elected
The new hope for democracy.
He promised troops out of Iraq
But to keep them in Afghanistan
He’d make America great once more
His party political fundraisers saw that he ran
On a ticket that promised great reform
Of tax and health and that he would storm
With his election campaign he’s surely be
In the White House claiming a victory
But McCain says the same, they’re neck and neck
Exciting times ahead surely by heck!

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There are hundreds on wonderful charities and no shortage of fundraising events. If you want to grab the attention of your audience you should speak from the heart and from your own personal experience. Say what it’s like to be in hospital for months. Tell people what a difference a special hospital unit would make to the children in your area. .Explain how difficult it is to drive miles for treatment. Wring their hearts and their purse strings.

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There are thousands of good causes and an equal number of appeals. So you should tell one story about how each member of your audience can personally make a difference to your one chosen charity. Involve them in what you are trying to do. Talk about the progress that is being made with their help. Urge them to continue helping. Then leave them with the feel good factor that comes from doing something for others.

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