NRVLiving - Real Estate. Simplified.

NEWS FLASH: NRVLiving's Abandoning Real Estate, Moving Into Apparel! Video at 11!

Out of the Absolutely-Positively-100%-Without-A-Doubt-Shameless-Promotion-And-I-Don't-Care Department comes this post ...

Last week Jay Thompson in Phoenix talked about how he was paying models across the country to show off his "Phoenix Real Estate Guy" t-shirts.  Jay is known far and wide as THE Phoenix real estate dude in, well, Phoenix, and now he has the models to prove it.

Which got me thinking ...

I haven't mentioned in a very long time that NRVLiving Real Estate has things for sale.  We have for a long time, actually.  Shirts ... and mugs ... and stuff for kids ... and it's Christmas, don't you need to pick up some last-minute gifts for the special pet in your life?

It's true, the NRVLiving Real Estate Group has it's own store, and you can buy all kinds of things there that are emblazoned with our very own NRVLiving logo.  I mean, look at that smile on WDBJ7's very own Natasha Ryan as she shows off her new t-shirt!  Don't you want that same sense of excitement?!

Seriously though, we do have a store.  And it's not to put money in our pockets, either - we're an entrepreneurial bunch here, but not quite like that.  See, we don't talk about the ways we're involved in the community very much, but one of the things I AM proud to talk about is our involvement with a local child care center, the Valley Interfaith Child Care Center.  The folks involved with this center are very dedicated to their mission ... taking care of children from low-income, working families throughout the New River Valley, so that Mom and Dad can get back into the workforce.  One of the many ways we support this group is through the NRVLiving Store - 100% of all profits we make go directly back to the center.  It's not much, I promise you, but every little bit counts. 

All kidding aside, if you'd consider supporting the Valley Interfaith Child Care Center through our store we'd greatly appreciate it.  And if you'd like to discuss other ways you might be able to support, either through volunteering your time and talents, dedicated giving, etc., let me know - I'd be glad to tell you more about what we're doing.  The needs are great, for sure - thanks for considering how you might give back.

NOW GO GET YOUR SHIRTS! :)

E-Waste Recycling Event

Have old electronics piling up, and don't know what to do with them?  Old computers, radios ... we've all had them at some point, and you've likely wondered what to do with them.  I've got an easy solution for you - bring them to the second annual E-Waste Recycling Event, to be Saturday November 8 from 9 am to 3pm.  And it's FREE.  The event is a joint venture between Virginia Tech and Hollins University.

Click the image below to see the full list.

It's important.  From their website:

Along with many other serious issues facing our environment, the world is experiencing a crisis in electronic waste. Toxic materials such as lead, mercury, chlorine and bromine are commonly used in producing computers and other electronics, and if these devices are dumped into solid waste systems after they have outlived their usefulness, the toxins can seep from landfills into groundwater or be released by incinerator emissions or ash.

Hazardous e-waste is often sent to developing countries for recycling. However, once there it is often simply discarded. Even if recycling occurs, the process used in those countries is very dangerous to workers and pollutes the general environment.

Load up the cars, and bring in that old stuff.  There are a LOT of items they'll take, but some they can't - check their website for a more comprehensive list.  It'll be held at the old Blacksburg Middle School, 501 South Main Street in Blacksburg.

Thanks to Natalie for pointing this out!

Green Living & Energy Expo in Roanoke

Don't forget that November 7 and 8 is the Green Living & Energy Expo in Roanoke ... loads of exhibitors, presentations and more on topics like new ways to heat and cool your home, limiting your use of fossil fuels, and more.

It's a big deal to have an event like this in Roanoke - shows us that the two valleys (Roanoke and New River Valley) are continuing to get more serious about making sure we're good stewards of the tremendous resources we have here.  And it's gaining attention elsewhere - check out some of these other great alternative energy links, courtesy of Carnival of the Green and Jim Duncan.

Sustainability Week in Blacksburg - October 20-25

I mentioned Sustainability Week recently, but there wasn't much information available. 

Now, there's a lot more.

• What is Sustainability Week?
• What's happening?  Short version or long version.

Why is this important?  Taking care of our environment is more than a fad, it's the right thing to do.  We have a legacy to leave - what will it be?

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Think Recycling Doesn't Make A Difference?

Was sent this link by a reader.  The savings from paper alone are tremendous ...

Recycling a ton of paper saves:

• 17 trees
• 275 pounds of sulphur
• 350 lbs of limestone
• 9,000 lbs of steam
• 60,000 gal of water
• 225 kilowatt hours
• 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space

Do your part.  Reduce.  Reuse.  Recycle.

Friday Is For Quiet

On Wednesday, I asked how to memorialize someone you've never met in person although you've never met them.  The real estate community, and blogosphere in general, lost a friend earlier this week when Sheila Lublin passed away suddenly.

Today, Friday, there will be many blogs around the country that will be quiet as she's laid to rest.  We're also raising money for the American Cancer Society, Sheila's husband Bill's favorite charity.  Our goal WAS to raise $1500 by Monday, but we blew through that in 24 hours and so we'll also be sending funds to the Lupus Foundation of America (a disease Sheila lived with). 

See everyone over the weekend - for now, enjoy time with friends and family.  If you'd like to give, perhaps in memory of someone else, please feel free to do so.  More importantly, give someone you love a hug.

How Do You Memorialize An Avatar? There's A Person Behind That Icon.

I catch a lot of flack around the office, in our real estate Association, and among friends, about my interest in blogs and Twitter and social media stuff in general.  I was at a NRVAR meeting this morning, in fact, and when asked to speak about some of these topics, and you can tell there were some that just thought it was techie, geeky stuff.  Maybe it is, maybe it isn't, but I believe in the power of making connections over the Web; there's a value from a business perspective, certainly, but there's an even greater personal connection.

Today, I "feel" that personal connection.  Today - or late last night, actually - I learned that one of my online colleagues lost his spouse yesterday, very very suddenly.  I'd only known her as an avatar, a computer icon. But I "knew her" virtually, and there comes a point in all of this networking where avatars become people, and people become friends.  Loss happens every day, and although I never had the opportunity to meet the woman who was by all accounts just an extraordinary person, this one hits a little closer to home because of the relationship we formed through the Web.

Bill, thinking of you today.  In honor of you, and your wife and family, NRVLiving Real Estate blog will be quiet on Friday in remembrance.

Every Little Bit Counts

A cause came to my attention the other day that I thought worth sharing here on the blog.  I spend a lot of time working with the Valley Interfaith Child Care Center, and I know firsthand how difficult it can sometimes be to raise money for a cause you KNOW is worth it.  With that in mind, I learned recently about Chris Strock's efforts to build a bridge in Boucan Carré, Haiti.  My wife knows Chris through classes here at Virginia Tech, and they had a chance to catch up with each other earlier this week.  Chris has  a real direction in his life, and he feels strongly about this project.  Because of the weather, they only have ~ 4 months out of the year on which to work on the project.  I'd encourage you to find out more about the project here and here, and if you're so inclined,give in some small way.  As he says in the email below, only $50 from a thousand people goes a VERY long way.  Please pass this on ...

---

Dear Friends and Family,
Most of you know about my volunteer work in Nigeria, Haiti and Belize. Every trip has been incredibly rewarding, but so far my most compelling work has been with the people of Haiti. Currently, Anna and I have both taken-up an effort to help build a bridge for more than 20,000 people living in Boucan Carré in Haiti's Central Plateau. We are doing this as a project with Partners In Health (PIH), a U.S. based non-profit organization that provides free health care to hundreds of thousands of people throughout the Caribbean, South America and Africa. (See their recent 60 Minutes story and learn more here).

Our goal is to raise $250,000 and we need your help. We've completed a construction plan, drawings and cost estimates. Now all we need is funding. Please take a look at our website, http://www.bridgeforhaiti.org/, which tells the story of the project and provides directions on how to donate. All donations are tax-deductible, go directly to PIH and to this specific project. Once our funding goal is complete, I'll return to Haiti to oversee construction.

We know this won't happen overnight, but with your help, we really do believe it can happen. Its amazing how Obama was able to garner millions of dollars for his campaign from so many donations under $50. To me the sad thing is how quickly those millions of dollars seem to just vaporize into political air. We've already raised $35,000 and if we can get a thousand people to donate just $50, we'll be  another $50,000 closer to our goal.

Also, we realize that not everyone is in a position to give financially, so please know that sometimes the greatest gift is just getting the word out. Please consider passing this along to your own friends and family. If you are part of any group or organization that might be interested in getting involved please let me or Anna know. We would be happy to provide any additional information or give a presentation.

We believe that together, if we ALL do just a little bit, we can build a bridge that will provide long-term access to health care, education, and an overall improved well-being for the people of Boucan Carré.

Thank you in advance for your consideration -- and as always, thank you for your support,
Chris and Anna

P.S. Don't forget to go to http://www.bridgeforhaiti.org/ today!!