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NAPO Leads the Charge to Get Organized During GO Month

2010 GO Month Press Releases

NAPO’s fifth annual Get Organized Month was a huge success, garnering nationwide press coverage in a variety of news outlets! NAPO educated the public through a variety of Get Organized programs, including ask the organizer panels, clutter workshops, and recycling and collection events. NAPO spread the word about the benefits of getting organized and hiring a professional organizer through numerous newspaper articles, radio interviews, and television segments.

Articles about GO Month were picked up by newspapers and websites nationwide, including:

In addition to media coverage, NAPO members offered a variety of organizing events—many focused on nonprofit groups—during Get Organized Month, including:

Planning/promotion: A $250 contribution from Hospice House and donations from professional organizers helped fund this outreach, which took 10 organizers roughly 60 hours to plan. An article with photos will be submitted to the Hospice House newsletter.


LEFT to RIGHT: Sue West, Space4U, llc, Amherst NH; Patti Dill, Patti's "Clean Your Space," Nashua, NH; Helene Parenteau, Organizing Specialists, Salem, NH; Lisa Brylczyk, Organizing Czyk, Fremont, NH; Lorraine Falcone, Naturally Organized, Hudson, NH; Linda B. Hutchinson, LBH Professional Services & Consulting, Manchester, NH; Patricia Sangillo, The Clutter Whisperer, llc, Contoocook, NH; Kelly Santos, Xtra Hands, Lowell, MA; Back row, far right, two individuals: left to right, Sandy Rhee, Organization Guru; Elizabeth Early Sheehan, Organizational Solutions, Deering, NH

Planning/promotion: The Milford Rotary Club donated shelves and bins. The chapter submitted press releases to NAPO, 30 local radio, TV, and newspapers and to several online event listings sites pre- and post-event. Various event listings and an article in the Area News Group newspaper highlighted the work of the ten professional organizers.


Planning/promotion: There were no costs involved, so there were no budgetary considerations, or pre-event promotion. Afterward, press releases were e-mailed to Long Island newspapers.

Left to right: Alix Lieberman, Pat Botter, Jayne Schoenbrun, Carla Mazzuchelli and Alice Price

Left to right: Marguerite Barone, Joan Essex, Cynthia Braun, Noelle Campbell (in pink), Carla Mazzuchelli and Jayne Schoenbrun


Several M.D. Anderson employees cluster around the Heritage Makers booth at the annual Organizing Expo.

Planning/promotion: The six months of preparation paid off as more than 450 people visited the Organizing Expo. Simon used her $600 budget to send out fliers. Items were also posted on the center’s internal Channel 20 station. Information was printed in the center’s employee and faculty newsletters.


Seated:  Patty Ribera, Dale Manno, Susanne Phelps, Lori Abou
Standing:  Jennifer Alman, Suzy Wilkoff, Sheila Zayas, Gail Biers, Bonnie Mashiach, Gayle Jacobs, Kelly Barber, Cristina Maria Lloyd, Tonya Paulette, Michelle Katzman, Connie Kippycash and Tracy Colleran

Planning/promotion: The 16 professional organizers who volunteered spent several weeks prior to the Jan. 14 event distributing press releases to local media. The event was covered on the food bank’s website, and on Yourhub.com.


From NAPO-Ohio. Reorganization of the Waste Not Center.
L-R front: Andrea Smith, Julie Riber (chapter President), Melanie Dennis
L-R back: Karen Kruzan, Martha Clouse, Deb Heimann, Ellen Limes, Miriam Bogard, Birdie Brennan

Planning/promotion: The group spent roughly 30 minutes and $100 planning the project. But, after its completion, the Waste Not Center held a grand re-opening and the public was invited. NAPO members were featured on the local Fox TV morning show.


Library Before

Library After

NAPO-Washington, DC Metro Volunteers (From left starting with bottom row):  Heather Cocozza, Victoria Robinson, Amy Goldberg-Cutler, Theresa McDonald, Sandee Merrigan, Alisa Levy, Wendy Glover, Terri Fischer, and Xan Koneff volunteered their time on Jan. 25 to organize the offices of 40Plus of Washington D.C.


Planning/promotion: The chapter spent several months and $100 preparing for the event, which generated coverage on two local TV stations, as well as in community calendars and newsletters.


Planning/promotion: Testo spent six weeks planning for the project, and through individual sponsors, a contractor, and Home Depot, she was able to complete the project with a $725 budget.


Camp Erdman desk before
This photo shows the wall before the shelving was installed by 1Hot Garage & Systemcenter.

Planning/promotion: The organizers spent several months planning for the organizing project, which was carried out as a contest. The group sent press releases and announcements to several nonprofit associations. The organizers were soon inundated with applications and photos from groups looking for organizing assistance. The organizers then narrowed the selections down to nonprofit associations that help kids. Soon after, Camp Erdman was chosen as the winner of the office makeover.

Camp Erdman storage after
NAPO members removed everything from this storage closet. When it was replaced, it was then labeled. Smaller items were contained in clear plastic boxes.

Camp Erdman after
Sondra Allen of 1Hot Garage, Morgan Casement, Camp Erdman Conference Director, & Stephan Edwards of Systemcenter, Inc. show off Camp Erdman following a GO Month event in January 2009. 1Hot Garage & Systemcenter donated and installed the shelving

(From left) Karen Simon, Ellyn Sollars, Denise Mazzanti, Morgan Casement, Gina ONeill, Suzanne Acker, Andres Harnisch pose for a picture following a GO Month organizing event in January 2009 at Camp Erdman. (NAPO members are: Karen, Ellyn, Denise & Nancy).


Planning/promotion: The Classroom Makeover began with "NAPO in the Schools" organizational lessons from Kathy Jenkins; the children were attentive, appreciative and eager to learn. Next, nine Closet Factory volunteers, including owners Theresa and Bryan Mueller, donated their time and products for the incredible makeover. Closet Factory designed and installed lockers, cabinets and shelves for 31 at-risk children in two classrooms. Attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony and observing the smiles on the faces of the children the first time they entered their renovated space were proof of this project’s huge impact on at-risk children in the community.


The Dallas-Fort Worth Chapter of NAPO marked Get Organized Month by collecting donations for hurricane survivors in Galveston, Texas on Jan. 31, 2009. By partnering with The Container Store and I.M.S. relocation, NAPO-DFW motivated its members and local volunteers to help collect, sort and pack donations that filled one-half of an 18-wheeler.