Monday Motivational - Oprah

Luck is a matter of preparation meeting opportunity.

~ Oprah Winfrey

We all know people that just seem to get all the right bounces. It's easy to chalk up their good fortune to being lucky, but Oprah's wise words would suggest there's much more to it. When we dig deeper, we'll probably notice that these "lucky" ones are also very focused, hard working, and never without a plan.

That said lottery winners are an exception!

This Day in History - Brown v. Board of Education

On May 17, 1954 in one of the greatest decisions it ever handed down, the Supreme Court unanimously declared that state laws allowing for racial segregation of public schools were unconstitutional. This ruling is considered a major victory for the civil rights movement in the history books. While most of us agree that there is still work to be done, it's safe to say we've made tremendous progress since 1954.

Check out the links below to learn more:

PBS: Landmark Cases

Wikipedia: Brown v. Board

 

Origins of Mother's Day

With Mother's Day right around the corner (second Sunday in May), we thought we'd provide you with some resources to learn more about this special holiday. If you have some time on your hands, we'd suggest this piece, that traces the modern celebration all the way back to its roots in ancient Egypt: Mother's Day History.

For those with less time on your hands, Wikipedia is always a great source of info: Wikipedia Mother's Day entry.

Mother's everywhere: Have a great week and wonderful Mother's Day! All you non-mothers: don't forget to thank your mother, wife and/or any other mothers in your life!

Help Spread the Word about Vmeals

April was a memorable month, highlighted by our celebration of Administrative Professionals Month. From the Thanks-a-Thon to Dessert Week to naming the 2013 Vmeals Administrative Professional of Year, we enjoyed every minute of it! Thank you all for your tremendous level of participation in the various promotions and activities designed to honor admins everywhere.

So, here's what we have planned for May. We're asking you to help us out and Spread the Word about Vmeals to your network. As we've said before, it's our sincere belief that a satisfied customer begets new customers. We've seen that belief validated - time and time again - by the willingness you've demonstrated to recommend our services to your colleagues and professional peers.

What's in it for you? Refer at least one person who registers a new Vmeals account in May and you'll receive a $5 Starbucks e-gift card at the end of the month. Even better: the customer who refers the most new Vmeals registrants in May will receive a $150 Target gift card!

Referrals can be made through the Refer-A-Friend link on your VCAP page or by emailing a list with first name, last name and email address to: referrals@vmeals.com. Please note: you will still receive VCAP points for any of your referrals that place an order (provided that you're enrolled in VCAP).

The Winner of the 2013 Vmeals Administrative Professional of the Year is...

It’s that moment you’ve all been awaiting. That’s right… it’s now time to announce the 2013 Vmeals Administrative Professional of the Year. But first, let us share a little background on the candidate pool and decision-making process that led to selecting the winner.

The candidate pool was wide and deep. We could not believe how many nominations we received, from the candidates themselves, colleagues, supervisors, and even direct reports. Our staff careful reviewed each candidate, some of whom received as many as 18 separate nominations!  It was difficult to choose a winner from among so many deserving candidates across dozens of cities. Unfortunately, we had to narrow the field to one, and this year it was the stories more so than the number of nominations that resonated with us most.

This year’s winner is a remarkable individual. An Administrative Assistant with Merrill Lynch in Baltimore, she will celebrate her 50^th anniversary with the company on May 13^th. She is considered “an inspiration” to her co-workers for her positive attitude, hard work, and plethora of administrative skills. There is no question that she embodies the core values that define the Administrative Professional position. Never content with status quo, she has recently completed her Series 66 Registration.

With no further ado, this year’s winner is Maggie Dilworth! Congratulations from the team at Vmeals. You’re an inspiration to us as well! And many thanks to Carla Hamilton, her colleague who nominated her. Maggie will be receiving a $150 gift certificate from Spa Finder, and Carla will be receiving a $50 gift card from the merchant of her choice.

To all nominees – you are an incredibly talented and deserving group. Who knows, maybe you’ll be next year’s winner?

Happy Administrative Professionals Day - 2013

We at Vmeals would like to recognize the thousands of talented administrative professionals we connect with great restaurants in 30+ markets. Simply put, you're amazing!

Thank you for the opportunity to serve your catering needs! Have a great day, and may you be showered with praise for you hard work, commitment, resourcefulness, smarts, and wonderful senses of humor.

Earth Day: How Can We Make a Difference?

Monday, April 22nd marks the 43rd anniversary of the inaugural Earth Day, where people from all over the world come together in support of our planet. There are many easy ways to participate, among them:

• try riding your bike to work (if you don't already) or taking public transportation
• pick up litter at the local park
• plant a tree or some flowers in your yard
• switch to online bill payments
• turn off the water when you brush your teeth
• Set up a compost bin

Learn more about Earth Day's history from this great PBS article.