copyright 2015 Bettina Network, inc.

We’ve been very serious about all kind of civil rights.  Along comes a breakfast which brings us back to making money – we hope!

It was a very exciting morning – so much so that I decided to splurge and bought National Bank of Greece stock.  Paid $.79/share for it and all because of a breakfast conversation.

We had a wonderful guest from Greece who talked about the situation with the credit and whatever else was happening in Greece.  His concern was that the banks had closed and he wasn’t sure for how long or what to do about his travels – cut them short and go home or hold out and hope everything worked itself out so he could continue his quest for knowledge.

A few days later the banks opened – about August 3rd and we were very excited to follow what was happening.

One guest was buying National Bank of Greece stock (NBG) so we followed suit.  I remember my lessons on stock buying – buy when things look hopeless, sell when they look as though the stock is going through the roof.  This looked sort of hopeless, but not quite, so we bought and so did everyone around the table.  What incredible fun and what trouble we could get into if this Bank closes.

Today, the stock is selling at about $ .86/share so we are ahead of the game.

Greece has always had a secret place in my heart so it was great to be able to participate in this.  Hopefully, I will become an almost instant millionaire.  But since I only bought 2,000 shares, the stock would have to move dramatically for that to happen.  As it is, I have a nice little profit and so do my breakfast mates.

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We are a part of Bettina Network Hedge Schools and buying and selling stock is our specialty.  We love it, talk about it all the time, buy and sell -sometimes responsibly, but sometimes just for fun.  When you visit with us the conversations are always about the stock market and most people come to learn more, to do a bit of trading on their own and to spend a few days with like minded people from all over the world.

Ed. Note: Members of the Bettina Network Lifestyle Community can contribute to the Bettina Network blog whenever they have anything they want to say and be heard by this fantastic group of people. Send your blog to bettinanetwork@comcast.net or mail it to us at P. O. Box 380585 Cambridge, MA. 02238 or call us on the telephone at 617-497-9166 to tell us what you want to say and we will write it for you.

TO RESPOND TO THIS BLOG email bettina-network@comcast.net or info@bettina-network.com

TO LEARN MORE try www.bettina-network.com

6 Gray Circle – Arlington, MA. 02476                                                           Saturday, July 18, 2015 from 10am-4pm

All Bettina Network Sales accept cash, checks, credit cards (American Express, Visa, MasterCard, Diners Club).

There is a Bettina Network Game of Skill with this moving sale.  See the rules of the game at the end of this blog post.

We are working with this family to help move their 92 year old father to assisted living. He has lived in this home for 60 plus years.

He and/or his daughter will be at the sale to talk with anyone who wants to know some history of what they are purchasing.

Always look for the Bettina Flag waving in the breeze to know you are in the right place.

You will find a collection of many different things including: tools which are ancient; sleighs for enjoying winter on a small hill and more.

We will have a pot of organic Bob Marley coffee – this time, featuring “One Love” – for those who would like to spend a few minutes getting into the history of the items in this home and a kitchen table where you can talk comfortably.

This is a great opportunity to buy something and get to know its provenance and/or to begin to put together a provenance for whatever you purchase.

Take part in a game of skill for a beautiful hand-made porcelain village. For only $3 you could take home this village which appraises at $130.00) . All you have to do is write the winning essay on what you would do with such a village. Beautifully made by the mother of this family who died in 1977 and before that, she made several very lovely porcelain pieces. This village, with many houses could be a Christmas village, a Swiss village tucked into a snowy place, houses around or on the side of a train set to enhance the train set-up, or – what are your ideas? The winning essay will be chosen by three independent judges.

beautiful lace curtains for the window that needs a life.

Lovely candle holder and sun figure for over the fireplace or anyplace else you choose.

What a lovely stand to hold your very valuable collection of small items.

Multi-million dollar items have provenances, but so does that lamp you like; the sofa that attracts your attention; the dining room table and chairs which are beautifully made. Don’t cheat your family’s history. When you buy for your home and your estate make sure you have as much information about the items you purchase as possible – no matter how small. You never know what you buy today will be worth tomorrow. Be Prepared.

Very comfortable chair for the desk or computer table with a small handmade table to hold your coffee and sandwich.

All of our invoices – which you take home – have a short story on the back telling you a bit about the family and circumstances of the items you purchase.

AND,

be a part of helping to bring closure to someone who has enjoyed the items you are purchasing. It is nice to know where the items you cherished over your lifetime are going to reside in the future. Of course, that means, if the owner doesn’t like you, we can’t sell you the items you may like and want to buy, no matter how much you are willing to pay. 

A Game of Skill*

*The Bettina Network, inc.’s Estate Sale Game of Skill (copyright 2015)

Rules of the Game

The prize for the winner of this test of skill is the hand-made porcelain village with lights. 

The winner will have written the two paragraphs suggesting a use for this village and the winning essay will be the one with the most imaginative suggestion. 

The Game of Skill will begin at 10am on Saturday July 18th and end at 4pm on Saturday, July 18th. All who visit the estate sale at 6 Gray Circle, Arlington, MA. are eligible to enter. 

The primary consideration in judging the essay will be IMAGINATION - not the English, nor how well or poorly written is the essay. There will be nothing subtracted from the writers score for poor spelling, or poorly constructed sentences. 

The cost to enter is $3.00 per entry. One can enter as many times as you have individual essays at $3.00 per entry. There is no lower limit to the number of essays nor is there a limit to themost number of essays that will be accepted. If only one essay is submitted Bettina Network,incwill backstop the cost of the village to the Santora family to the maximum amount of $95.00 

You can use the kitchen table on which to write your essay. 

Three people - independent judges - will judge the winning essay and the winner will be notified on Sunday May 19, 2015 that they can pick up their newly acquired village. 

The Judges are - Ms. Trudi Van Slyck, co-founder of the New School of Music 
                 Mr. Eric Huenneke, organist, First Parish Church in Concord, MA. 
                 Ms. Judy Huenneke, Mary Baker Eddy Library, Archivist. 

Any complaints, disagreements, etc. with the Game of Skill will be settled by Marceline Donaldson. May 18, 2015

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We had a really fantastic weekend.  So much so that we are all exhausted and using lineaments to ease the muscle pain.

We packed and moved two town houses and delivered the contents to people who needed what was given.

We were going to do this in one day, but thanks to the UHaul people (see below), we had to do all of this over two days, both Saturday and Sunday, making our work harder, but the rewards were still great.

We had a couple problems which we need to resolve as we move into the future and hope you can help us:

1) We need trucks and moving vans which will make these moves easier and less expensive.  On Saturday, our first problem happened.  We made reservations to pick up a UHaul Truck between 7:30 and 8:30am Saturday morning.  When we arrived at the UHaul place – it was closed and would not be open anytime that day.  It caused us untold problems and extra money.  So even though we had made reservations to pick up a truck at a particular location, the fact that the location would be closed for the day was not communicated to us when we made and they accepted the reservation.  Not a good way to do business.  Since we do this on a budget,  UHaul cost us for reasons we don’t understand and no apology has been forthcoming.

So after calling around, looking on the internet and trying to make reservations for a truck for an immediate pick-up on a day when lots of people were moving, we finally found a Budget truck.  It was too small, but all that was available,  so we had to make two trips when one should have been sufficient.  So hours were spent – as was extra money – thanks to the UHaul Company.

2) We need volunteers who will help us clean the items given to us before we pack and take them to their new home.  That would be a big bonus.

Since we have our own special way of cleaning – those who volunteer will find their hands wonderfully soft, moist and wrinkle free at the end of the day.  We don’t use petroleum based products to do any cleaning.  Nor do we use anything which is harmful to people or the environment.The products we do use are healthy, good for you, and good for what you are cleaning.  To peek into our secrets you have to volunteer to help us with these moves.

Once past the above two problems we were back to normal.  Which means the party started and we packed, moved, joked, sang, and generally had a good time together.

It was very rewarding at the end of the day to get together to debrief; talk about what the day was like; how we could improve what we do for the next pick up and delivery; and how we were going to put the word out even further to let people know who we are and how they can join the party.  We met to hold this debriefing and conversation and planning session on the concrete in the parking lot of the local Whole Foods Store.  Folks just walked around us and went about their business. We thought we should have a sign which read something like “Bettina Network Foundation, inc. Debriefing Meeting”, so those passing by could join us if they had something to say or have their curiosity relieved by reading the sign to give them an idea as to what we were doing – and there were the curious stares.  We stopped in the Whole Foods parking lot because that is where we were going food shopping at the end of the meeting.  Everyone who volunteered, signed up to join The Black Race so we were all thinking about being extra careful with the food we bought and put into our bodies, because it  is one of the things we need to be concerned about as members of this Black Race.

We were all colors, ages and conditions.  From age 4 through 84.  Some of us could get around, lift heavy objects, move stuff and some of us only walked with a cane, but still made a substantial contribution to the effort.  If you are handicapped, we still have jobs you can do.  In this move you could sit by the front door and keep the inventory as items went into boxes and/or were carried out the door.

We give those who donate a 501 (c ) 3 letter for their contribution so it is important that we keep track of everything donated and what it is worth.  One person inventoried everything and one person kept track of value.  Where they weren’t sure, they looked it up on the internet or called a knowledgeable friend for input.  We keep a wheel chair, a walker and other such things close by in case of need.  Although we had to keep a couple of the able bodied people out of the wheel chair.

What was most rewarding was the feeling we were left with – that we reached out to other human beings, like ourselves, who needed a boost to live a little more graciously and we were glowing because we had just come back with the knowledge that our work was appreciated, both by those who gave and by those who received.

3) Going into the future, we need volunteers who will go before us, to the homes we have researched and selected as those we would minister to that day, and help the families get ready to receive these additions to their lives.  The volunteers need to be – Designers who can help arrange things with the families input and guidance as to their lifestyles; people willing to help the families clean their homes and organize what they have; future planners who will work with the families on how to best use the items being delivered to them, how to take care of what they have and what they will receive;  and  those who will talk with the families going forward on what they can do to give back and help others over the next several weeks.  We also need those who can bring back to us what else the families need so we can organize the next move incorporating those families once again, if the next house turns up something they can use.

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Want to join us? Have a home that you want to open to become one of Bettina Network’s Hedge Schools? Call us and lets talk – or email us.

Ed. Note: Members of the Bettina Network Lifestyle Community can contribute to the Bettina Network Blog whenever they have anything they want to say and be heard by this fantastic group of people. Send your blog to bettinanetwork@comcast.net or mail it to us at P. O. Box 380585 Cambridge, MA. 02238 or call us on the telephone at 617-497-9166 to tell us what you want to say and we will write it for you.

Volunteer with Bettina Network Foundation, inc. to work estate sales; to help move items from one home to another; to contribute your ideas on how we can better use our resources in this effort to relieve and eliminate homelessness and poverty. We also need photographers; designers; and more. However much or little time you have, we are grateful.

Send your event information to be included in Bettina Network’s Menu of Events to: bettina-network@comcast.net

This is a curated blog so you cannot write your responses at the end of each entry. TO RESPOND TO THIS BLOG email bettina-network@comcast.net or info@bettina-network.com

TO LEARN MORE try www.bettina-network.com