Admins @ Work » Environment http://adminsatwork.com A Resource for Administrative Professionals Tue, 18 Mar 2008 03:05:23 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Custom Holiday eCards from Adobe http://adminsatwork.com/2007/12/13/custom-holiday-ecards-from-adobe/ http://adminsatwork.com/2007/12/13/custom-holiday-ecards-from-adobe/#comments Fri, 14 Dec 2007 03:48:54 +0000 Erin Colbert http://adminsatwork.com/2007/12/13/custom-holiday-ecards-from-adobe/ Send a fun and environmentally-friendly holiday card this year with Adobe. The eCards are free and don’t contain advertising (except Adobe of course). Visit http://www.adobe.com/aboutadobe/holidaycard/2006/ and get started. First, you select a background theme, then add a border, then select your holiday message available in 17 different languages. Finally, pick your music and send it off. You’ll need JavaScript enabled.

Click here to see my card! Below is the message that appears in the recipients email box.

Adobe Greeting Email

]]> http://adminsatwork.com/2007/12/13/custom-holiday-ecards-from-adobe/feed/ 1 Rid Yourself of Unwanted Junk Mail http://adminsatwork.com/2007/11/22/rid-yourself-of-unwanted-junk-mail/ http://adminsatwork.com/2007/11/22/rid-yourself-of-unwanted-junk-mail/#comments Fri, 23 Nov 2007 03:14:35 +0000 Erin Colbert http://adminsatwork.com/2007/11/22/rid-yourself-of-unwanted-junk-mail/ ProQuoWith the holidays upon us junk mail is at it’s peak circulation and leaves us all vulnerable to identity theft. I get dozens of credit card offers, local circulars, and product newsletters each week – both at home and at work. I found a website called ProQuo that aims to put the consumer back in control of their information. I signed up a few weeks ago for their beta and, to be honest, haven’t seen much of a difference as yet. However, I’m keeping at it because they say it takes between 4 weeks and 3 months to see a drastic reduction, especially for snail mail publications.

ProQuo Opt OutThe service is free and they will make money by allowing consumers to opt-in to specific offers in addition to opting-out. This is the best site I have seen thus far to offer centralization of opt-out notices. It has a clean interface and is very user-friendly. The only downside is that many of the marketing companies still require written notice for name removal, so it can be time consuming to write letters to the 5 or so companies who haven’t made it to the internet age. I guess that’s how they get you though – make it so difficult to unsubscribe and people will just leave it be. To combat this, ProQuo has developed templates for the letters, but it can still be time consuming. Try it yourself and let me know how it goes.

]]> http://adminsatwork.com/2007/11/22/rid-yourself-of-unwanted-junk-mail/feed/ 0 Help Get Your Office Certified Green http://adminsatwork.com/2007/11/09/help-get-your-office-certified-green/ http://adminsatwork.com/2007/11/09/help-get-your-office-certified-green/#comments Sat, 10 Nov 2007 05:16:17 +0000 Erin Colbert http://adminsatwork.com/2007/11/09/help-get-your-office-certified-green/ There has been a lot of press lately on environmental awareness and global warming, to which some have still not fully acknowledged the extent of our impact. Earlier this week a cargo tanker headed for South Korea struck the Bay Bridge and leaked 58,000 gallons of oil into the San Francisco Bay. The effects have already been realized with the closing of Bay Area beaches and killing of dozens of birds and other wildlife. Many experts believe the effects will continue to be seen in this region for the next 20 – 40 years. So, what can we do about this? I say we start at the office.

San Francisco Bay Oil Spill

My company started a Green Committee in which we are addressing how we can operate in an environmentally conscious manner, including internally and externally with our customers. We are currently in the process of being reviewed by the Bay Area Green Business Association to become “Green Certified.” The program was developed by local Bay Area governments in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Cal EPA Department of Toxic Substances Control and the business community. Organizations such as this exist and are flourishing all over the nation.

The program covers many elements, not just paper recycling, and you might be surprised at how many good things your company is already doing. General measures include tracking water and energy usage, providing on-going training and incentives for employee participation, informing customers about your business’ environmental efforts, and assisting at least one other business in learning about becoming a Green Business. I challenge you to get started today and help reduce the impact on our environment.

Why should my business get certified as a Green Business?

  • Saving energy, water and raw materials saves you money. Sending less trash to the landfill saves you money too.
  • Developing a positive, proactive relationship with local compliance inspectors can help you avoid liability, fines and other sanctions.
  • The Program promotes Green Businesses to the public and other businesses for free!
  • Your company’s community image is enhanced through Green Business Certification.
  • Your employees will enjoy a safer workplace and will have one more reason to take pride in working for you.
  • The Green Business Program offers you free, convenient, time-saving assistance.

- Santa Clara Green Business Checklist

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