Spotlight

Getting Organized

Specialist offers tips on getting your life in order.

Tami Samson of Huntington Woods;
Heidi Brode of West Bloomfield and
Aimee Simtob of Farmington Hills

Jennifer Liss of Bloon fiekl Township,
Heather Marwil of West Bloomfield
and Julie Zalla of Bloomfield Hills

tacks of paper bags, piles of mail,
old clothes — these are just some of
the things that clutter our lives. A
group of about 35 women gathered at the
Huntington Woods home of Jeff and Amy
Schlussel to learn how to "de-clutter" dur-
ing a program called
"Lemonade, Laughter
and Life Lessons."
The event was spon-
sored by the newly
formed Young Women's
Network of Federation's
Women's Campaign and
Education Department.
Professional organizer
ROBIN
Debi
Weinstein, who
SCHWARTZ
runs
the
home-based
Columnist
business I've Gotta Get
Organized, Inc., gave a
crash course in tidying up.
"To me, collection is a four-letter word
— it's okay not to collect," said the
Farmington Hills resident.
"Think about what you really value in
your life and what you don't need," she
said.
Weinstein brought a suitcase filled with
props to demonstrate things that typically
pile up in people's homes. The items might
sound familiar: maps, invitations, greeting
cards, catalogues, calendars and old linens.
She says the key to getting organized is get-
ting rid of things you don't use that have
no sentimental value and simply take up
space.
"Throw away pictures of people you
don't like, throw away pictures of people
you don't know," Weinstein said. "I don't
believe you should ever hang onto some-

thing just because you spent a lot of money
on it."
Weinstein recommends donating
unwanted items to Jewish charities, or
using things that hold emotional meaning,
like your children's clothes, to make a quilt.
The lesson in getting organized also
included a discussion about adjusting per-
sonal priorities and getting involved in the
Jewish community.
You can always make room for what's
truly important," said Karen Alpiner of
Franklin, a mother of five children.
The Young Women's Network was creat-
ed to bridge the gap for women in their
30s and 40s who may feel too old to par-
ticipate in young adult events but too
young to take part in other women's pro-
grams. A new series of events is being
planned to create a niche for them.
"You can truly make a difference with
the time you have. It's not about writing
the big checks and being on 20 committees
— it's about doing your personal best,"
Alpiner said.
Spotted in the crowd at the Aug. 16
event were: Co-chairs Jennifer Silverman
of Franklin and Barbara Giles of Novi,
Women's Department President Sandy
Schwartz of Franklin, Barbara Zaltz of
Huntington Woods, Julie Zalla of
Bloomfield Hills, Jennifer Liss of
Bloomfield Township and Heather Marwil
of West Bloomfield. ❑

Call Debi Weinstein at I've Gotta Get
Organized, Inc. at (248) 882-5960 or
e-mail IgetOrgnzd@aol.corn.

ren Alpiner of Franklin, Tammi Cooper and I
Jennifer Freedland, both of West Bloomfield,
and Alaine Wildshan of Birmingham

Ellen Berlin and Amy Schlusseh both of
Huntington Woods, Anessa Kramer of
Bloomfield Hills and Julie Sosin of Franklin

Weinstein gives organizing tips:

9/ 1
2005

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