ExecMagazine

I first met Lucious about 10 years ago.  He came to our church to make an appeal for help.  Here is how I remember his story.

 

About 22 years ago, at age 70, Lucious Newsome, then a Baptist minister in Chattanooga Tennessee was invited to Indianapolis by a friend to help feed the poor for Thanksgiving.  He was overwhelmed by the amount of hungry people that really had no one to care for them.  After that days feeding, he asked his friend, “so what do we do now?”  He was told that he should go back to Tennessee and if he wanted to, he could come back next year.  “But they will still be hungry tomorrow, he said”.  Therein formed the ground work for what would become “the Lords Pantry.

 

Having compassion for the hungry, Lucious went to Baptist elders to get help in furthering his cause and was turned away.  Without pride he went asking help to the Catholic Church and found a group that would help begin his ministry.  Aside from the food, his first mission was to get table to serve the food on.  “These people should not have to pick up the food from the ground”, he says.

 

10 years ago is when I first rode with Lucious, we went in a caravan of mini vans and started stopping in at grocery stores.  He had already set up a couple of these stops in advance so the hard work was done.  I would come to find that in my own efforts to secure additional food from stores, that they were not open to this, as there were liability issues regarding handing over dated food.  Corporations did not need this kind of liability. 

 

Not having helped Lucious since last Christmas, my wife and I found we needed to help out again.  There were no big surprises, but it left me once again feeling the need to do more.  I told Lucious that I had a few dollars that I could help with and what did he want me to do?  In the past, he first asked me to pay a few peoples electric bills.  A couple of years later he told me a story about a battered woman that had to leave her house in the middle of the night and literally had nothing.  Her kids slept on the floor and that just wasn’t right.  He told me that I needed to get them beds… but there was a twist.  While I could have easily gone out and bought beds, he told me that I needed to beg for them.  I would need to ask people if they would give me a bed.  Needless to say, I was shaken up.  I went into work the next day and began begging people for beds.  Within 10 minutes I found a coworker whose mother had passed away and they needed to empty there house.  He was happy to donate them to me.  I needed to borrow a truck to pick them up, 50, miles away.  A friend was happy to loan me his truck.  That day my wife and then 8 year old son had our own little mission and we accomplished it.

 

Today, while he was busy feeding 2-300 people, I told Lucious that I had a few dollars that I could help him with.  He immediately told someone… “Get me my little girl; you have got to meet her”.  In came a very attractive 15 or 16 year old girl.  She was a high school student and a few months ago she had told Lucious that she wanted to open up a place for battered women.  You see, while Lucious spends much of his time feeding the poor, he is also a champion for battered women as well.  This young lady began telling me about her little project.  Lucious had a beaten down property close to the women’s prison that was all boarded up and in need of repair.  She began to tell me how she and some friends had already pulled 4 dumpsters full of trash out of the house and that they would have to totally renovate it.  She had already found a plumber and carpenters.  She needed an electrician and money.  She would have a massive group of people helping her out on December 8^th, 2007.  After helping out today we drove by this house and it looked like a war zone.  How could this young gal put this together?  It’s really quite simple, we are all put here to help each other.  Now it’s time for me to beg.

 

I don’t know how far this will go, but if anyone can help physically or monetarily, here are the details. The property that will be worked on is at 242 and 244 Hendricks Street, in Indianapolis.  It is a one way street and you must get there off of New York Street.  If you would like to meet Lucious in person, come down on any Saturday to:  The Lords Pantry, 303 Elder Street, Indianapolis, IN 46222.  Be prepared to meet someone special.

 

Should you feel generous enough to donate jackets, please be sure that they are new and nothing less than what you would want to wear yourself.  As I’ve come to learn, each person that we serve IS CHRIST!!!  I would never want to give Him anything more than the best.

 

If you would like to meet the closest resemblance to Christ, come and meet Lucious Newsome.  Ask him what he needs you to beg for?  For more information or further verification of the lords pantry and this ministry, contact editor@execmagazine.com

  

One of our Indianapolis Interior Designers recently shared with us a new line of lighting that really stood out.  The styles available range from almost Zen like to extreem.  Our favorite selection was the found in the Lio Collection.

These molded designs are all created with small squares of glass.  Colors can be matched to enhance your current interior decor.  Many of the designs come in multiple sizes so you can transfer your these throughout the room.

There are a number of towers that also had a striking appeal.  While we are only showing a few here, numerous styles are available.  These are great for lighting hallways or foyers.

These ideas have been provided to you by Dot Reinstrom.  Dot has been decorating fine homes thorough out the world for over 20 years.  Her office resides in Indianapolis and she can be found online at www.indydeco.com.

One popular way to award people is with logo’d jewelry.  OK… You may say, who wants a piece of Jewelry with the place that I work on it?  Well, if you were part of an elite team, perhaps the only team that met 125% of their sales goals, how would you like to be wearing that piece for the next year?

 

There are a number of ways to use these high quality items.  As a sales award, you would want to be sure that you keep the salespeople motivated year after year.  In this case you can add on stones of your choice.

 

There are numerous styles ranging from collgiate styles in both ladies and mens designs.  Next time you are looking to reward your top performers, contact sales@caseandtote.com

After a little bit of web browsing, one of my regular stops is www.JohnChow.com.  John always seems to know what the latest trends are and who the shakers and movers are.  One of his articles led me to www.TimothySykes.com.

Tim Sykes, now 26, is best known for having taking the $12,415 he received for his Bar Mitzvah, investing it and multiplying it to a pre tax total of $1.65 million dollars from 1999 to 2002.   While the exact numbers are not 100% transparent, Sykes had a large investment in one particular company and it went south, supposedly to the tune of a 35% loss.  Regardless, Tim has decided that if you can do it once, you can do it again.  He will once again start with his same initial investment of $12,415 and see if and how fast he can grow it back into a Million Dollar plus portfolio.

This time, says Tim, he will do it totally transparently, with every transaction posted on his web site.   After reading a number of his posts, he looks like the real deal.  In fact, he has even written a book that can be purchased on his website.  Good Luck Tim.

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CaseandTote.com has come up with an outstanding promotion that incorporates 2 outstanding brands…  Maui Jim and Tonino Lamborghini.  Purchase at least 1 piece of either the Yellow and Black Trolley Case, the Light Brown Trolley Case or any order over $1000 and you will receive a pair of Maui Jim Kanaha sunglasses.  Type code ExecmagMJ into the comments when ordering.

Upgraded may be available with an upcharge.  To purchase the sunglasses at a discount Click Here.

 

I would have to say that the USB has been one of the coolest gadgets that has been around for the last 3-4 years.  The style above shows just a few of the ways this item has been utilized.  I have now seen jump drives inserted into plush teddy bears, swiss army knives, pens, etc…  They even seem to make them in custom shapes.  I’ve seen trucks, Lego pieces, Coke bottles and pipe fixtures.  They are also starting to load them with widgets and tools that show your updated information upon request.

Are you ever curious of a nice gift to give anyone who uses a computer, give them a jump drive.  For creative gift ideas email sales@caseandtote.com

     

While we are on the theme of electronics, here is a new item and design that is new to premium markets.  First, I must say that this concept is a winner.  IPOD’s are continuously gaining more and more users.  And while many people think of Ipods as music devices, they are starting to gain favor for training, educating customers, podcasting, carrying digital files, etc, etc, etc…  Here is one creative use.  Offer one of these devises to your employees with the understanding that they will be receiving important company information that they need to agree to listen to.  Then have all of your office policies relayed by podcast.  These will get uploaded every time they connect to a company computer.  Then a questionaire would be sent out to your employee that would require them to confirm that they have listened to and agree with the company message.  This is a huge legal benefit to the company and a nice perk for the employee.  How about this as a recruiting tool at job fairs?  Would the words “Receive your free IPOD” get attention?

For creative ways to use promotional products with a true unique flair, contact sales@caseandtote.com.

On the last trip I won, one of the gifts given to me was a Digital Picture Frame.  This specific piece was purchase at Brookstone and what I liked about it was that a company logo was not plastered on it either.  However here are the other things I would have considered if I were the event planner.  I find that once I’ve seen a number of the pictures, I don’t seem to leave the electric frame turned on, unless I am expecting company.  When you first turn on the frame, there is a “boot up” picture that features Brookstone.  Why not have that first boot up page be a thank you note from the company.  I thought it certainly would be discreet enough. 

I must say, I have seen all diferent kinds of gifts and gadgets, but this one really is great.  My wife always used to complain about me taking digital pictures and never printing them.  With this new device, I simply upload new pictures whenever there has been a new event.  I can almost say that the picture frame is a “Green” gift.  Saving paper, ink and yes… MONEY.  Digital picure frames come in numerous sizes and price ranges.  For the most detailed breakdown and for samples, contact sales@caseandtote.com.

As we close out our segment on note cards and pens, it seemed appropriate to also include a promotion that deals with the stamp on the card as well.

 

We work with a factory that has a vast collection of stamps from all genres.  They include the aviation theme above as well as animals, organizations, medical, states, sports, history, military and space.  How can these be used in a promotion?

Lets say that your organization is planning an event at Cape Canaveral.  The event planner might have a gift waiting for them in their room or better yet, waiting for them when they get home from the trip.  The framed stamp would also include their trip logo and perhaps a thank you note from the person that sent them on this trip.  Remember if you are an event planner and you ever need a creative idea, contact sales@caseandtote.com.

With all of the quality suppliers that caseandtote.com represents, I thought I would share just a few of the other brands that offer some of the finest writing instuments available.  Prices shown are retail .  Discounts may be available for volume orders.

        

OMAS is a hand crafted pen made in Italy.  They have been manufacturing pens since 1925.  The fountain pen is priced at $345 with the matching roller ball starting at $245.

Another line that has a roccoco style is Aurora.  They carry a number of limited edition pens that are second to none.  The style above is called the POPE.  Pricing is $1650 for the fountain pen and $1300 for the ball point.  The gold plated cap features 2 papal coat of arms and the marble material is designed to remind you of the columns at St. Peters square.  Originally there were only 1919 fountain pens made and 499 roller balls.  Due to the nature of this pen, personalization is not available.

 

For something a little more fun, try OMAS design inspired by Emilio Pucci.  All models are priced at $295 each.  They feature a clean steel base and airbrushed thermo plastic resin.

When it comes to finding that perfect gift for your friend, spouse or client, contact sales@caseandtote.com.