”Lisa Tolliver Show” past guest (and Lisa’s aunt) Mary Frances Golff died 5/16/2005

MIAMI, FL - Mary Frances Golff participated in a 2004 “Lisa Tolliver Show” broadcast encouraging listener participation in Make a Difference Day. She was an angel who made a huge difference in her church, her community and her family. Upon her death on May 16, 2005, she undoubtedly earned her wings.

Frances (as she was affectionately known) was far more than a do-gooder and friend of my show. She was also my paternal aunt, the family matriarch (after her mother, Pearl, died in 1990) and my ace boon coon. I captured some of Aunt Frances’ dynamic spirit and legacy in the obituary I wrote (and orally presented) at the funeral.

A native New Yorker, Aunt Frances moved to Miami in September 2004 to live with her son, Frank, Jr. (affectionately known as “Nicky”). Although always cheerful, she suffered from various ailments related to diabetes and died of a heart attack on May 16, 2005. The wake and funeral services were held in North Miami on Friday and Saturday, May 20 and 21, respectively.

I admired, respected, emulated and adored my Aunt Frances. It was a privilege and an honor to know her and to know how much she loved me. I had planned to visit her in Miami this summer and regret not doing so when it mattered. Readers, please do not make the mistake I made…do not put off until tomorrow spending time with and taking every opportunity to show appreciation for your loved ones. Tomorrow is not promised.

My mum sent me this comforting passage, which had been forwarded to her by Miriam Jenkins, Apopka High School, Girls Basketball. Perhaps you’ll enjoy it, too. I know Aunt Frances would have.

Yesterday is history
Tomorrow is a mystery
Today is a gift
That is why it is called the present!

I think this life is special,
live and savor every moment!
Life is not a dress rehearsal!

5/25 "Lisa Tolliver Show" reruns search engine seminar with web diva Stephanie Cockerl

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY - I rebroadcast this show (which originally aired in 2003) because my heart wasn't into doing a live one. I'd planned to celebrate Memorial Day on air, but my beloved Aunt Frances died (see posting).

I swiped Search Engine audiofile from the archives of “T3: Trends, Tips & Tools for Everyday Living,” an on-air magazine I produced and co-hosted with a roster of subject matter experts, most frequently Stephanie Cockerl. Steph, who owns web design and consulting firm NextSteph, is one of the wizards behind the curtain of award-winning website www.metropolitan.edu. She also teaches at the Metropolitan College of New York School for Business.

5/25 "SCORE Radio" broadcast reruns interview with multimedia artist Steve Williams & on-air advisement session with interior designer Cory Michael

I rebroadcast this show (which originally aired in 2002) because my heart wasn't into doing the live one I'd planned RE: World Trade Week 2005. See the post above RE: the death of my beloved Aunt Frances.

Steve Williams has contracts with such organizations as the National Basketball Association, various entertainment industry clients and institutional clients. Cory Michael does interior design--including textured wall, floor and ceiling designs-- for residential and business customers, such as Circle Entertainment (whose Cory Michael design incorporates the clients' platinum records). He also designs clothing for his brother and sister who are professional singers/musicians. Steve, who hails from South Carolina, and Cory, who's originally from N'Awlins, are young, hunky, southern gentlemen with fantastic talents and bright futures. I'll soon post the audiotape of that show right here so you can hear it for yourself!

"Lisa Tolliver Show" guest, Lowes Moore, initiates weekly gang suppression meetings at Mount Vernon Boys & Girls Club

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY - We don't need no stinkin' gangs.

Although not a direct quote, that's the clear message that Mount Vernon Boys and Girls Club (MVBGC) members and friends are sending lately.

On May 3, Lowes Moore - MVBGC Executive Director and alumnus - initiated a weekly discussion series to help parents and community members identify and suppress kids' involvement in gangs. The format: discussions led by speakers such as Moore, educators and Westchester District Attorney, Jeanine Pirro, and frank exchanges among all participants. Although adults are the target audience for these sessions, young people have been joining in voluntarily. And so far, when the one-hour Tuesday night sessions are scheduled to wrap up at 7:30 p.m., the participants seem to be just warming up. The discussions consistently continue both inside and outside the club and throughout the week.

Are the sessions helpful? It's still early yet, but the immediate impacts are unmistakable. For example, the very day after the first meeting, Moore received requests for help from concerned parents who'd learned to detect warning signs of gang involvement in their childrens' behavior and attire. The young people are showing the effects, too. They have thanked Moore for holding the sessions and apparently look forward to attending them. Moreover, they relentessly apply peer pressure to cronies who wear garments that resemble gang colors. Apparently, members of the club have no use for gang activity.

NOTE: Lisa Tolliver serves on the MVBGC Board of Directors.
DONATE TO MVBGC: http://www.bgcmvny.com/index.php?PID=5&cid=2#Help

And that, dear readers, is precisely the point.

Click here to visit the MVBGC online. It is located at South Sixth Avenue in Mount Vernon, NY.

This summer, I'm teaching two sections of a 15-week course: "Developing a Busiiness Plan"

"If you fail to plan, you plan to fail." - Common saying, author unknown

Off air:

This summer, I'm facilitating approximately 20 adult students to write strategic business plans. That's fun and exciting for me, and apparently quite intimidating for some of them. At least so far. However, if they adhere to three critical success factors (CSFs), they will write actionable plans and might even enjoy the process.

Here are the three CSPs:

• Plan the work and work the plan (which it's my job to help them do in the guided independent study course)
• Select a project they're passionate about and/or have to do anyway
• Adhere to the KISS Principle (Keep it Simple, Student)

I know from whence I speak. I've been a strategic planner throughout my career and developed plans for a virtual cornucopia of initiatives. These range from corporate plans for multinational firms to business and marketing plans for small start-up ventures and entertainment projects.

Here's a secret: what's at stake and how one manages the relevant people and processes may differ vastly among various planning projects, but the essential elements of a strategic plan do not. Imagine how drastically the divorce rate would plunge if more people were strategic and planful about selecting a mate, crafting mutually agreeable short and long-term goals, and periodically discusssing their shared vision of the future.

On air:

These are the topics I address in my radio and lecture series: "The business side of love and marriage."

April 27 "Lisa Tolliver Show" broadcast celebrates Mother's Day and National Poetry Month

Guest Jen Gross (author of A Visit Up & Down Wall Street), Dee Hargrove (Lisa's mother and an educator), Norman Smalls (theater producer and one of the "Business of Creativity Conference" organizers) and Ramona Wiley (founder of New Day Women's Services) helped Lisa Tolliver celebrate Mother's Day and National Poetry Month.

Here are some Mother's Day resources: http://special.msn.com/network/05mothersday.armx?GT1=6393

Here's the Mother's Day poem Lisa composed to honor Dee:
You're five foot six and I'm five foot two
But that's not why I look up to you.
Yours is the face that one should see
When looking up "love" in the dictionary.

April 27 "SCORE Radio" broadcast features author Jen Gross

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY - Last Wednesday, it was my turn to host "SCORE Radio" on WVOX AM 1460. The show is sponsored by SCORE: Counselors to America's Small Business, Chapter 306 and hosted by a team of volunteer business experts. We broadcast every 2nd and 4th Wednesday at 1:00-1:30 pm, Eastern Time. Listeners outside of broadcast range online can listen live online at www.wvox.com or hear and share by phone at 914.636.0110.

My guest--mother, children's book author and Wall Street trader, Jen Gross--helped celebrate the United Nations Decade of World Literacy (2003-2012), National Take Your Child to Work Day (April 28, 2005) and Mother's Day (May 8, 2005). She discussed her book, A Visit Up & Down Wall Street, the process of co-authoring it with gal pal, Jen Hoch, and the illustrations by her mom, Margaret Gross. The attractive, colorful, hardcover book is the first of a series to be published by Harry and Stephanie Books and is targeted for kids aged 4-10. Younger kids (like Jen's 3 year old son, Harry) enjoy it too, when someone reads it to them. I daresay older kids (like I) also find it enjoyable and informative.

Here are some useful resources for writers and small business owners:

• Arts and Business Council
• Foundation Center - funding and grantmaking resources
• National Endowment for the Arts
• National Endowment for the Humanities
• National Writers Union
• New York Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts
• SCORE: Counselors to America's Small Business
• U.S. Copyright Office
• U.S. Small Business Administration

Experiment with an audio post

April 13 "Lisa Tolliver Show" broadcast celebrates Poetry Month and the business of creativity

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY -
Today's guests:
Cheryl Dixon, Entertainment & Media Professional and co-founder, DC Film Society
Rocco de Giacomo, Editor-in-Chief of Latchkey.net
Fred C. Rutherford *
Jessica Nyel Willis *

* Co-organizers of MCNY's MBA in Media Management Program conference on April 26--The Business of Creativity--and founding member of the Graduate Media Association.

Lisa Tolliver wins 2005 Emmis Communications/98.7 KISS FM Phenomenal Woman Award

Photo:

Receiving award from KISS-FM Radio Host Kesha Monk

• With fellow Phenomenal Woman, American Idol winner Fantasia Barrino

NEW YORK, NY - On April 7, 2005, Emmis Communications/98.7 KISS FM celebrated Women's History Month by introducing its first annual salute to Phenomenal Women. I was honored to be among those selected. As Emmis Communications puts it, the luncheon-awards ceremony was:

"An empowering event saluting Phenomenal Women throughout the tri-state area who are breaking records in business, education, the community & family, technology, the arts/entertainment, medicine, local politics, etc. Women who inspire and empower...NOW THAT'S PHENOMENAL....ordinary women doing extraordinary things....NOW THAT'S PHENOMENAL.....women making positive change....NOW THAT'S PHENOMENAL.....women that anchor our communities...NOW THAT'S THE KISS PHENOMENAL WOMAN!"

Here's the complete list of winners:

Adonica Harrison
Adrienne Wheeler
Alleyne Fraser
Allison J. Davis
Amy Barnett
Andrea Lunkins
Audra McDonald
Beryl Clark
Brenda Blackman
C. Virgina Fields
Capathia Jenkins
Carla Harris
Cheryl Marrow
Chrisena Coleman
Cissy Houston
Dara Richardson-Heron,
Deborah Williams
Dedra Tate
Denise Howard
Dr. Donna Mendes
Elaine Edmonds
Elaine Flake
Erica Ford
Erika Ewing
Fantasia Barrino (American Idol – Winner)

Fantasia Goodwin
Faye Wattleton
Gayle King
Joi Gordon
Jonelle Procope
Judith McRae
Kathryn E. Gibson
L. Marilyn Crawford
Leah Wilcox
Lisa Tolliver

Mamie McDonald
Maria Davis
Marilyn Francine Braxton
Mary Smith
Miriam Raccha
Olivia McClurkin
Pamela Price
Patricia Sweeney
Rachel Lloyd
Rolonda Watts
Ruth Hunt
Sandra Parks
Sharon Goodine
Shawn Lawson-Cummings
Shirley Madhere
Shon Gables
Susan Taylor
Tai Murray
Travia Charmont
Wincey Terry Bryant
Valerie Simpson
Vy Higginsen