Well, folks, it's just what we've all been wanting-- a break on international pricing!!!

Everyone in Canada has been patiently (or maybe not so patiently) waiting for prices to come down with our dollar going up, and the wonderful folks at The Old Schoolhouse magazine have listened. Postal costs to Canada are  not as high as to other international locations, so the new pricing reflects that as well.

Hurry and subscribe while the exchange rate is in your favour! You can check out all the info here, as well as the 19 FREE GIFTS you get with your paid subscription.

I am shamefully lazy... I could've gotten creative and written my own text, but Tia said it so well...!!! So, check out what Tia Linschied had to say over on Gena's blog about our new survey:

HomeschoolBlogger.com is now hosting its own survey to get a better idea of what the bloggers here are like and what kinds of changes they would like to see take place to make HSB a better blog host.  Go on over and take the survey, it's short and painless.  Just click on the graphic below.

There's an interview over on Gena's blog today with Scott Somerville of HSLDA. Check it out!!! And I promise not to do the VeggieTales rap from Madame Blueberry again. Oh, and while you're at it, Part Deux of that interview is up. I loved this quote from Scott:

My children have led two of their online friends to Christ, over the years--I hope to see the day when pagan parents are scared to let their children go online for fear they'll get saved.

Amen! Amen amen amen!

Note from Gena Suarez, Publisher of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine:  

Dear Support Group Leader ~Help us spread the word of our first-ever gift promo for international subscribers and get a FREE 6 month subscription to The Old Schoolhouse Magazine and our popular Secrets of Successful Homeschooling E-book for yourself!

Email me, the publisher - publisher@theoldhomeschoolhouse.com - your name, address, phone number, email address and your intent to forward this to your friends!  Hit "forward", send it to your group(s) and remove this note from me…we will begin your 6 month sub and send the e-book!  Thanks for your help! - gena

**CONTEST IS CLOSED**

You people are pitiful! Not even one entry! And the book is supposed to be really good. Ok.. new contest coming up. And I expect entries!!!!!

OK, Folks!!!!

Someone is going to win the new e-book,  Secrets of Successful Homeschooling.

All you have to do is leave a comment with 10 cool places to go on a field trip here in NB (with website addresses, if you can find them), and leave me your e-mail addy (disguised with spaces and spelled out punctuation, if you want to avoid those nasty addy-picker-upper things that like to send you spam) so I can send you the e-book. Drawing will take place next Friday (May 5).

Good luck!!!

~Jen

EDIT: this can be ideas for groups OR families (which can sometimes seem like a group!)

One2believe has put out these new Messengers of Faith dolls. I personally reviewed two of them (Esther and Jesus), and you can read my posts here and here. I tried to put pictures in, but they were huge, so I'll give the links and you can check them out:

Jesus: http://www.messengersoffaith.net/images/Jesus2.jpg

Mary: http://www.messengersoffaith.net/images/REV_Mary_2.jpg

Moses: http://www.messengersoffaith.net/images/Moses2.jpg

David:  http://www.messengersoffaith.net/images/David2.jpg

Esther: http://www.messengersoffaith.net/images/Esther3.jpg

There is a home-based business opportunity involving these dolls, for those who are so inclined- I am neither endorsing this nor negating it, just simply passing along the information I was given:

About Messengers of Faith:      

 

Messengers of Faith dolls from one2believe are a new and unique resource designed to help parents teach their children Bible stories and Scripture in a fun and entertaining way.

 

The collection currently consists of Jesus, Moses, Mary, David and Esther.  Standing12” tall, each recites Bible verses at the push of a button, making scripture memorization fun and easy for children ages 3 and up and a great alternative to toys currently on the market.  Additional dolls will join the collection later this year.

 

More information about the dolls and those who have endorsed the line can be found at www.one2believe.com or by contacting me.  Information about our work at home program is listed below.  We look forward to having you join us in our mission to teach 10 million children Bible stories by introducing this resource to your friends, family and church congregation.

 

Sincerely,

 

Joshua Livingston

(860) 693-0511 office

(860) 655-6089 cell

josh@one2believe.com

Get 50 Free Bible Stories at www.one2believe.com.

 

one2believe’s Work at Home Program

 

2 Ways to Start                                                                                                                     

1) Buy in:

$50.00 cost (plus shipping)                                                                  

$100.00 value                                                                                                

            You receive:     5 Messengers of Faith Dolls                                                                                                      2 - 8½ inch x 11 inch Point-Of-Purchase display                                                                4 - Messengers of Faith full color brochures                                                                                 2 - Messengers of Faith order forms                                                                                         1 - Messengers of Faith promotional DVD

Selling literature, endorsements, articles, reviews                                                *Additional brochures, DVD’s and POP available for purchase                   Free consultant websites will be available 4/1/06                                                                                                 

2) $0 upfront:                                                                                                  

You receive:     2 - Messengers of Faith brochures                                                                                            1 - Messengers of Faith order forms

                                    1 - Messengers of Faith promotional DVD

Buy individual dolls for $14.00* each

*Additional brochures, DVD’s and POP available for purchase

Free consultant websites will be available 4/1/06

 

3 Ways to earn money with Messengers of Faith                           

                                   

1)         Individual sales- Home Parties, Playgroups, Bible Study Groups, Town Fairs

            $20.00             selling price      

            $14.00*           your cost         

            $6.00   your profit (30%)         

                                   

2)         Fundraisers- Churches, Religious Schools

            $20.00             selling price      

            $14.00*           your cost         

            $6.00   your profit (split with church)    

           

3)         Become a Team Leader– sign up new independent consultants

            Earn 10% of a level 1 consultants purchases.

Example – if 3 members of your team each purchase 20 dolls at $14.00 each, you earn $84.00 (60 dolls X $14.00 = $840.00 X 10% = $84.00).

 

*independent consultants pay all shipping charges ($2.00 per doll – with a minimum purchase of 6 dolls to one address).  Orders for less than 6 dolls will be charged calculated shipping charges.

 

 

 

Overview of Individual Sales Program:

Playgroups, Home parties and Bible study groups are great ways to introduce Messengers of Faith Dolls to your friends.  Parents of young children will appreciate access to a wholesome toy and learning tool designed to help them teach their children Bible stories and Scripture.

 

 

Overview of the Church Fundraiser Campaign:

1) Church Set Up:

The Messengers of Faith Church Fundraiser campaign follows a very simple and straight-forward approach. You work with the participating church to set up a product display in a high traffic area of the church or school where parents can examine the Messengers of Faith doll line and place their orders. Over time, we’ve developed some easy-to-follow guidelines that will help you maximize your efforts:

 

1.      Post flyers at the church about 1-2 weeks prior to your fundraising effort.  You can download a flyer from our website (pdf format, black and white) to give to the church. 

2.      Churches that make announcements about the fundraiser from the pulpit have the most success.  If that’s not possible, you can download a bulletin insert from our website and have the church place it within Sunday bulletins about a week prior to the event

3.      Set up your display during high-traffic times before and after your weekly services.  For best results, you should man the table.  If you are unable to do so, be sure you’ve trained church personnel so that they are familiar with how the dolls work, what they say and other program details.

4.      Fundraisers work best when congregants can take home their purchases immediately.  We recommend that when you plan a Church fundraiser, you arrange to have at least some product available for immediate purchase.  One of our most successful churches sold 88 dolls in one morning because they had dolls available for immediate purchase (and the church has fewer than 300 members!)  The pastor told us that he easily could have sold more, had he more merchandise on hand. 

5.      You decide how you’re going to split proceeds with the church.  If you have not pre-ordered dolls for the fundraiser, a check for the total number of dolls sold x $14 + $2.00 per doll for shipping must be sent to one2believe prior to release of merchandise.

6.      Once your check has cleared, we’ll ship the merchandise directly to the church for pickup.  In general, you should allow approximately two weeks for delivery once we’ve received your check.

.

 

Churches can generate significant funds with the Messengers of Faith Church Fundraising Campaign

 

Recommended retail price is $20.00, however you may choose to set your own prices.

You pay only $14.00 per doll and split the rest with your participating church!

* Example:  

Church sells 50 dolls at... $20.00 each (plus $2.00 S&H)

Total revenue: $1000.00

Cost of dolls: $   700.00

Total proceeds: $   300.00

In this example, your fundraiser at Church A collects a total of $1,100.00 (1000.00 plus $100 total S&H), you or the church writes a check to one2believe for $800.00 ($14.00/doll plus $2.00/doll S&H), and then you and the church keep $300.00. It couldn't be easier!

 

2) Alternative Church School Fundraiser (Student Sales):

Same idea as above, but rather than setting up a display in-church, Church School students sell Messengers of Faith dolls by contacting friends, family and neighbors.  We provide downloadable order forms, flyers and other materials (downloadable from our website).  Prizes are awarded to students based on the number of dolls sold.

 

Sales Rep Bonuses/Prizes:

Prizes for top sales will be given on a quarterly basis.  These prizes will include an annual trip to Hawaii and additional sales bonuses.  Details will be announced in the next few months.

 

Are you ready to join us? 

Contact Josh Livingston at josh@one2believe.com or by calling (860) 693-0511.

 

 

 

 

Good news! Maybe...lol

TOS now has a curriculum store you can find here. There are interesting details about it on the Front Porch. It features free shipping, but I'm not sure if that includes addresses within Canada. I will post on that when I find out.

I don't think there is anything there I've used personally yet, but there are great reviews there you can read to find out all about each product.