Go Month 2009

Cleveland, OH – The month of January, recognized as National Get Organized Month, is a time when professional organizers across the country give back to their community by offering their time and skills to others, and the NAPO (National Association of Professional Organizers) North Coast Chapter is no exception. On Wednesday, January 7th, the local NAPO chapter will head downtown to offer their organizing services for the second year in a row to The Ronald McDonald House (RMH) of 10415 Euclid Ave. While one group of organizers will begin their work at the main house, another set will be shuttled over to the Ronald McDonald Family Room at University Hospital (UH). By the time the noon lunch bell rings, the local group hopes to have increased storage capabilities at the main house and to have created more user-friendly systems for families and volunteer staff at the UH Family Room.

Planning for the event, began several months ago with an initial needs assessment at the home and the UH Family Room to fully understand the organizational challenges the staff, volunteers, and administrators faced during their time at these two locations.

Mark Destino, Linda Peters, Diane Weiner, and Samantha Stroud of RMH met with the chair of the organizing project Patty Clair (keeping it simple, Shaker Heights, OH) to determine which areas most needed the group’s assistance and expertise. “We are so happy to be able to return to this organization for a second time and to be able to finish what we started last year. It is gratifying to learn that many of the systems we set up for each of the spaces we organized in January, 2008 are still working well for the people who utilize those areas,” said Clair. “Our chapter is delighted to be able to give back to an organization that gives so much to families in need of comfort and support.”

JoEllen Salkin, President of the North Coast chapter and co-owner of Organizing 4 U, concurred with Clair. “This is a wonderful opportunity for our Chapter membership to give back to the community by assisting an organization whose purpose is giving to others. While working with the staff of RMH we will be able to teach them strategies for staying organized, so they can focus on their mission to others. At the same time we hope to be able to educate the public about the benefits of becoming more organized.”

Sponsored by NAPO, Get Organized Month is a national industry-wide event dedicated to raising awareness of the benefits of getting organized and of hiring a professional organizer. To learn more about NAPO or to find a local organizer, go to www.naponorthcoastoh.com.