Welcome back to you all...

2008 is bringing a lot of changes for me and I hope that those changes will be evident in this blog. I think instead of having a "day for a certain thing", I'm going to play it by ear. Whatever comes to mind, will be posted.

I still want this to be a blog that will share information between managers to help each of us be better managers. So please SHARE!!!

The beginning of the year is a time to start fresh. Fresh ideas...a fresh take on things and fresh new attitudes...

Please share some of your fresh ideas with me and the other readers...

How can we make our newsletters to our residents better?

We can add the normal things, like...resident birthdays, things that are happening around your complex or town, but what else. What can make our residents really want to read our newsletters...

1. What is the name of your newsletter? If the newsletter has a boring name, then why would someone read it? Better yet, let your residents name your newsletter...give them a deadline to enter a name...then list all those names and let your residents choose the one they like best...that way your residents feel like they are a part of the newsletter.
2. Have a section in the newsletter for your residents to "speak their mind"...ask a monthly question and catch a few residents and put their answers in the newsletter...Have a section that a resident can tell people about their hobbies...get your residents involved and they will read it..
3. Give them suggestions that pertain to them...If you have an elderly property, then you don't want to rate the newest Brittany Spears CD...If you have an affordable property, then you don't want to tell them about the Broadway shows that are coming out...because they can't afford them...Give them a newsletter that helps them in their everyday life...
4. Set up a "Newsletter Group" and let them gather the information. Maybe one of them can type up the original and then you can make copies for everyone. This is getting your residents involved and they will read things that they had something to do with...

So what would (do) you put in your newsletter? Where do you find your information? Share with us. I know that right now, we don't have much of a following, but each day is a chance to help a new manager who is reading this for the first time...