Call for Submissions

Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center in partnership with the Takoma Film Festival presents The Takoma Park/ Silver Spring Experimental Film Festival. This event is a showcase for independent and experimental films from around the world that are visionary, cutting-edge and artistically-inspired. This year's curator is noted experimental filmmaker Chris Henry Lynn.

The festival, formerly the Takoma Park Film Festival is a free community event and is open to the public. This years dates are May 6th, 7th and 8th. A full schedule with dates and locations will be announced in April.

To submit your digital film for consideration, email lbesong@asu.edu or cashley@gmu.edu to be sent a submission form. Deadline for submissions is April 1.

We encourage filmakers under the age of 21, to submit their films to our youth media partner, the Gandhi Brigade and their Youth Media Festival.

For more information, please see http://bit.ly/392oI

Haiti Relief

If you listen to the radio, watch TV or surf the internet then you are aware of the devastating earthquakes that have rocked Haiti. While lots have been done to help Haiti, there is still a tremendous amount of work to do. Everyone can help. Believe it or not, for as little as $5 dollars you can help make a difference. David Adler, the CEO and founder of BizBash Media provided the following list of non-profit organizations to which you can donate to the Haiti relief effort.

In the U.S.


American Red Cross
redcross.org
800.733.2767
Text "Haiti" to 90999
to donate $10


Clinton Foundation
clintonfoundation.org
Text "Haiti" to 20222
to donate $10


Doctors Without Borders
doctorswithoutborders.org


Global Giving
globalgiving.org


International Medical Corp
imcworldwide.org
Text "Haiti" to 85944
to donate $10


International Rescue Committee
theirc.org
Text "Haiti" to 25383
to donate $5


Partners in Health
standwithhaiti.org


Oxfam America
oxfamamerica.org
Text "oxfam" to 25383
to donate $10


Save the ChildrenFederation
savethechildren.org
Text "Save" or "Safe"
to 20222 to donate $10


Salvation Army
salvationarmy.org
Text "Haiti" to 52000
to donate $10


UNICEF
unicef.org
Text "Hope10" or "UNICEF"
to 20222 to donate $10


United Nations World Food Programme
wfp.org


Yéle Haiti Foundation
yele.org
Text "Yele" to 501501
to donate $5


In Canada
The Canadian government is matching all
donations made to registered Canadian Charities.


Canadian Red Cross
redcross.ca
800.418.1111


Clinton Giustra Sustainable Growth Initiative
clintonfoundation.org
Text "Haiti" to 20222
to donate $5


Plan Canada
plancanada.ca
Text "Haiti" to 30333
to donate $5


Salvation Army Canada
salvationarmy.ca
Text "Haiti" to 45678
to donate $5


Save the Children Canada
savethechildren.ca


UNICEF Canada
unicef.ca

Writing the dreaded thank you note

The holiday season is now in full swing; that means lots of thank you notes. Thank you notes should be sent within two weeks of receiving the gift. However, a late thank you note is better than no thank you note at all. Be sure to send a thank you note for every gift you receive.

At a lost for what to say in your thank you note, please referral to abwai’s December 13th blog entry. Need more help? There are books and dozens of blogs such as www.1weddingsource.com that provide sample wording for wedding thank you notes. Now all you need is stationery.

You can find gorgeous stationery in stores such as the Paper Source and other specialized stationery stores. But you can also find beautiful stationery in large chain stores such as Target and book stores such as Borders and Barnes and Noble. If you want personalized stationery, you can order custom stationery or you can make it. Over the next few weeks, we will run a series on creating custom stationery.

Everyone loves the written word!

I want you to know that I am not the only person who feels this way. Check out this blog http://bit.ly/4HP4gG. I know the blog was posted on Write On, the National Stationery Show's blog, but check out the sign posted in the Getty store.  Also get inspired by the article posted by Giftin24.com at http://bit.ly/7PjXwn which discusses hand written correspondence versus emailing.

See ya soon.  And let the adventures begin!

A few months ago, I sent my nephew a box containing several gifts. My nephew lives in an apartment with his parents so you can imagine how concern I was whether he would actually receive his package; especially when I had not received a letter or even call from him several weeks letter. Needless to say his (or should I say his parents) failure to send me a thank you note, or call for that matter, put a damper on my gift giving to my nephew.



Sending a thank you note is not just etiquette; it is how you show the giver you appreciate their thought and effort. Never forget that there are other things people can do with their money than spend it on you.


Thank you notes are easy to write and do not have to be long. According to Heartfelt Thank Yous, by Beverly Clark, here is what should be included in thank you notes:


1. The gift givers name and salutation.

Ex.: Dear Grandma Tate,


2. Use the words “thank you” and thank the giver for the specific name of the gift


Ex.: Thank you for the beautiful candlestick holders.


3. Say something nice about the gift and/or how you plan to use the gift.


Ex.: I used them last night to decorate the table when John and I had dinner; it was very romantic.


4. If you wish, you can add a sentence or two about what is going on in your life.


Ex. We are working on those great grandchildren for you (smile).

5. Signature line


Ex. Love, Indra


See, easy. No more excuses! Send those thank you notes out in a timely matter. Over the next few weeks we will talk about stationery and how to create personalized stationery that reflects who you are and inspire you to write.

Talk to you soon. And let the adventures begin!

What ever happened to letter writing?

Remember the excitement you used to feel when you received a card or better yet an actual letter in the mail?! Now all you ever get are magazines, advertisements and worst still - bills. Arrgh! What ever happened to letter writing? And thank you notes?



When I was younger my mom used to make me write letters quarterly to my grandmother detailing the exciting adventures I had in school and ballet lessons (what can I say I was a geek and actually liked school). I also had to write thank you notes for every gift I received whether I liked it or not? When I grew older, my friends and I wrote letters to each other while at summer camp or on vacation so that we could keep each other abreast of our exciting lives.


As much as I hated writing letters as a child, I can’t tell you how sad I am over this lost art. They say change starts with one so I am going to put that philosophy to test. Over the next few weeks, I am going to blog about letter writing and how to make it fun (such as creating personalized stationery). Don’t worry; we’ll discuss other things too! Well, see to ya soon. And let the adventures begin!

Thank you for checking out my blog!

First thing you need to know about me is I LOVE paper and I LOVE to party. I look for any excuse to throw a party: Happy First Snow party, I Want to Try Out This Cocktail party and a yearly When is Spring Coming Bar-B-Q party.

Because I love paper, I try to create an invitation every time I throw a party. It took me two years to figure out that my friends enjoyed receiving my custom designed invitations as much as they enjoyed the party so each time I create an invitation; I try to top the previous one. I created my blog to share my passion with you and to hopefully inspire you to do fun and crazy things to make your events special. You’ll be surprised at how little effort it takes to show your friends how much you care.

See ya soon and let the adventures begin!