Category — Roz Shares

I’m Proud To Be An American

This is the greatest time to be alive… It is a time like no other. While America may be “temporarily” cash poor, we are a country that is once again UNITED in spirit and in service.We are once again “THE UNITED STATES!”

Barack Obama gave America back its fight, it’s pride and its belief in the Democratic System. I, myself had given up on it, but we all stuck to our guns and Barack Obama won in a landslide election victory!

This single man – Barack Obama – has given me back my hope and pride to be an American.

Roz Fruchtman, The Greeting Card Maven
http://www.SayItWithEcards.com
Roz@SayItWithEcards.com

It’s almost embarrassing to admit – When I was growing up I NEVER had dreams of a future. In those days… “If you did not get married and have kids” you were a failure.” Women were meant to be barefoot and pregnant!

I came from a family that considered me the black sheep of the family because I did not fit into the traditional mold. Traditional mode = what mom’s friend’s children were doing!

The good thing – “My past shaped who I am today and my dreams for the future!” As long as we have life, there is hope and time to make a difference.

Knowing discouragement, lack of self confidence, never feeling good enough, smart enough, etc. has made me an expert and advocate for making people feel cared for, loved, important, remembered, like they matter, that they have worth, that it is never too late, hopeful, etc.. Not a bad legacy, I would say!

On the Internet we are all equal. We all have a chance to fulfill our hopes and dreams. It really is not too late!

Send an eCard to someone you care about to “say hello,” “I was thinking of you,” “what have you been doing,” “I care!”

We are not promised anything in this life other than dying and paying taxes. The saying used to be: “None of us are promised a tomorrow!” The truth is: “None of us are promised a next breath!”

Don’t wait until it is too late to say I care!

MY DREAM

My dream is to provide a way for people to communicate using my art and eCards as their vehicle of communication. The time is right… In these uncertain times people are reaching out to others, to their loved ones, friends, families, business associates. They are spending more time together! They are keeping in closer touch with each other.

Don’t wait until it is too late!

Warm regards to you and yours,

Roz Fruchtman, The Greeting Card Maven
Say It With eCards / http://www.SayItWithEcards.com
Email: Roz@SayItWithEcards.com

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http://www.SayItWithEcards.com/twitter

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Love & Hugs to You!

Subhead:  How Say It With eCards Judaic Greetings Began
Writen by:  Roz Fruchtman,  The Greeting Card Maven

Welcome… Thank you for sharing my passion and a very intimate part of my life. 

It’s a miracle you are reading this.  It’s a bigger miracle that I am writing it…

It all started more than 10 years ago when I needed a “web version” of my resume.  Who knew from HTML, the language or code, used to display webpages in browsers. Like many — in those days —  I started to learn HTML by creating Holiday Pages.

My first two web pages were for Christmas and Valentine’s Day – G-d forgive me. Brought up in the tradition of “Jewish Guilt” I felt I should do something for my own, so I started with “Passover in CyberSpace.” This simple action shaped my career.

Not coming from a graphics background, I began to search the web for a Judaic image to use for my Passover page’s left border background.  After two weeks I came to the realization there was little, if anything available.  There were images for most religions, perhaps half-a-dozen Judaic.  It was the first time I felt in the minority as a Jew.

Finding the perfect image for my project, I had no idea what to do with it, not having a graphics background.  The only graphics I had ever used came from a box.  Another thing, I was now learning about was “copyright and copyright infringement,” thus presenting another challenge.  I needed permission to use the image.  An Internet friend created my background for me and when I asked her how she did it, she invited me to attend online-weekly meetings with the Paint Shop Pro User’s Group.  Paint Shop Pro was the program of choice on the web in those days.

Here I met people who graciously took me under their wings and taught me enough about graphics to become dangerous.  As time passed I began to enjoy what I was doing and actually created usable images, AND… I “did not” have to ask permission to use them!

Like most starting out, I began to create images that I offered free on the web.  I was amazed that people actually liked and asked to use them.  A Synagogue even used my images in their monthly newsletter.  For sure, I was flattered.  Coming from a background of little, if any encouragement or praise, I was inspired to go on – I was actually having fun!

As with the lack of Judaic images, I discovered there was a lack of Judaic Themed eCards.  It felt like the ultimate insult, and it became my mission in life to change things.  I dreamed of opening a Judaic eCards website to provide the Jewish Community and those having a need for Judaic Themed eCards a place to go.  Graphics Schmaphics Exclusive was to make its debut Rosh Hashanah 2001.

However, one week before Rosh Hashanah, on September 11, 2001 my dream went down with the Towers of the World Trade Center.  As a New Yorker and being trapped in Manhattan that fateful day, I was completely shattered and bewildered.  Who could think of eCards or promotion when our entire world was literally falling apart!

911 was a turning point for me as I discovered I design by emotion, a gift I cherish daily.  I was deeply touched by those searching for loved ones, I wanted to reach out and make it all better.  Of course I could not do that.  I could not go to what is now known as Ground Zero, I could not dig in the rubble, but what I was sure of was, “people would want to communicate and reach out across the country and the world.”  What I could do was design eCards as their vehicle of communication.  I was told this was “trivial” by a fiend, which made me feel like two cents.  However, in the following days, I was to learn from a TV Psychologist: “Creative people demonstrate their deep emotions via their artistic ability.”  My fate was sealed… My mission in life is to make people feel cared for, remembered, supported and loved — in good times and bad – via my art.  What started out as a makeshift eCard site is now Say It With eCards Judaic Greetings, offering more than 4,000 Judaic Themed eCards.

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As an aside:  It has always been my goal and mission to share life’s lessons and events, how we see or may not see things and how we can stay connected and make a difference while supporting each other as “people helping people.”  The Internet has caused some of us — me included — to lose sight of the people behind the products, software and services we enjoy on the web.
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Another one of my passions and a public service is to help spread the word about health awareness issues using my eCards.   With this said:   

UPCOMING HOLIDAYS — FEBRUARY is “Everything Heart Month”

National Heart Month / American Heart Month

February is known as both National Heart Month and American Heart Month.  This month is set aside to bring attention to the deadliness of heart disease and its preventions. While it is stressed more in women at this time, let’s not forget the men in our lives as they are important too!  

February 6, 2009 is “National Wear Red Day!

“This day originated in 2002 by “The Heart Truth,” national awareness campaign for women.  It started out with the Red Dress as its symbol.  Today, anything red goes – thus, opening the door to men, women and children helping to bring awareness to Heart Disease as the #1 Killer of women.

February 14, 2009 is Valentine’s Day…

or what I like to call “Love in February” or “Valentines Day Judaic Style” to make it a little more Yiddish.  While Valentines Day is still the day for lovers, it is also a day to reach out to friends, family and those we care about to show appreciation and gratitude for having them in our lives.
 
Tu B’Shvat is February 9, 2009

Last, but not least, Tu B’Shvat is February 9, 2009 – This holiday is known as Rosh Hashanah of the Trees, New Year of the Trees or Birthday of the Trees. Coming in late January or February, Tu B’Shvat is the time when the trees “start to awaken” from their winter rest and begin budding.

And now I would like to invite you to visit http://www.SayItWithEcards.com to gain instant access to some of our complimentary Health Awareness eCards for National Wear Red Day and National Heart Month.  Click the appropriate link under Upcoming Holidays and Events in the “right column.”

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions you may contact me at: mailto:Roz@SayItWithEcards.com

You may visit me at:
Say It With eCards Judaic Greetings aka Say It With eCards
http://www.SayItWithEcards.com

Shabbat Shalom & Warm Regards,

Roz Fruchtman