Net Gamblings

Combat boots are a fixture in today’s culture. They are worn by people of all ages and races, and have developed in style and diversity over the years. They obviously started out as a basic military clothing accessory, but have been radically transformed into something completely different.

Combat boots are now viewed as “hip” to most youth, and it maintains a reputation as one clothing accessory that appeals to a wide variety of people. Urban culture, for example, plays a large part in the success of combat boot sales. They have come a long way since their creation and have radically transformed into a market in itself, spawning several successful brands of boots.

Back in the 1960’s, during the Vietnam War, the U.S. government was responsible for the creation and distribution of combat boots to soldiers, and soldiers only. They were specifically and obviously designed for combat. Boots of this nature needed to be tough, water-proof, and easy to lace. Obviously, they have become more “fashionable” over the years.

Who would’ve known a war-related apparel item could develop into one of our nation’s most coveted styles? That, in itself, is a sign of the times.

Bill “Ol’ Sarge” Harris owns http://WWW.MilitarySurplusStore.com where you can find the guaranteed lowest prices on combat boots. Stop in and Ol’ Sarge will give you a free pocket knife.

If it’s so easy to coach youth baseball and do it well, why do you see so many poor coaches? In my years as a player and as a coach, I can tell you that my opinion of poor coaching can be simply boiled down to: A LACK OF KNOWLEDGE AND A LACK OF PREPARATION! Simply stated… NO Game Plan! The great news is…both can be taught and both can be learned! And please don’t say that you don’t have the time. You do!

Here’s the math over a typical 15 week season:
10 practices of 90 minutes = 15 hours
20 games (includes exhibitions, etc.) = 40 hours
Misc. phone calls of 2 hours a week = 30 hours
Plus meetings, evaluation & draft, rainouts, team pictures, personal instruction, travel time, etc. Lets say that = 65 hours

Plus, who knows what I haven’t added in, and the money you spend just doing these activities! You’ve just spent 150 hours… 10 hours per week (plus cash) on a hobby, community service, enjoying baseball, mentoring kids, or whatever your motive is for being a coach.

Get a plan…save your sanity… NOW! It will flat out save you time, not cost you time. It will reflect positively on your kids and your team’s play, and as a byproduct, coaches, parents and players will see a better coach who is having a better time!

So… What does it take?
1. Interest in becoming a better coach.
2. A PLAYBOOK. A simple 3-ring binder where you can write out your practice plans on lined paper. If you write in it the night before each practice or game, you will be dedicating about 25 minutes each week (based on 2 practices/games). You will begin remembering to do it as soon as practice sessions start because you will be bringing it with you and referring to it at each practice.

Hints for your Playbook

Include all the correspondence, notes, and forms from your league or school that you find yourself collecting and passing out to your players. Keep that stuff in your new “playbook.” It will easily become a habit and a central spot to refer to regularly.

Use a pencil and simply make it legible. Don’t make a big deal out of this, just get it done!

Beginning in practice #2, you should always spend 10-15 minutes reviewing any new concept you might have introduced in practice #1 or the previous practice. It is a common fault (not to mention a complete waste of time) to teach your team a concept and assume that players will perform when the time comes in a game situation just because you taught it once. And it just kills player confidence after the play because he knew he’d been taught. But obviously, not well enough. Your error, coach!
So … What’s in the binder?

The practice session number

The date, time and field of the practice.

Goal of the particular practice (keep it simple).

Each activity or drill. Note whether a review or new concept.

Time allowed for the activity or drill. NEVER OVER 20 MINUTES! If you’ll simply wear a watch, you’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish and how much fun your kids have, not to mention how much more baseball your team will learn. Keep ‘em moving: No drills over 20 minutes!!

Anything else that will help you, such as: which coach runs which drill, which pitchers and catchers throw together, reminders of when the next game or practice is. Just make it legible and don’t allow this to take up too much time. This isn’t supposed to be work, it’s an activity to keep coaching from becoming work! ENJOY YOURSELF!

Coach JP’s Note
Want to know the easiest way to teach and learn winning, fundamental baseball? Check out our newest videos aimed at younger ballplayers. Why do we suggest videos? Quality repetitions!! Learn at your own pace and on your own time. A remote control lets you slow it, repeat it, absorb it and understand it…year after year. Trust yourself to learn. If you are a dad or are coaching a team, you are your kid’s best chance of learning about the game. Camps, clinics and lessons can be great, but you are there to teach and reinforce through quality repetitions. Every day…every week…all season long! You can help! It is your responsibility to get better and learn more! You want it for your kids so you should ask it of yourself! Videos will give you a chance to help your kids quickly…and for a reasonable cost. Start a library now and watch your knowledge grow and your teams improve while everyone has a lot more FUN along the way!

Get your free instructional articles at www.baseballtips.com

About the Author

John Peter, presently aged 50 something, is a lifelong student of the
greatest game on earth.
After being asked to find a more suitable occupation at age 26, many seasons
after donning his first uni at age 7, he has transcended his skills into the
much more important role of coach and especially as an instructor! He prides
himself as never having charged any player or coach for a single lesson!

Runner’s World, a magazine for athletes who are serious about their exercise, includes Pacemaster treadmill reviews in its repertoire of sporting information, One of the latest evaluations included as part of its Pacemaster treadmill reviews is that of the Pacemaster ProElite.

This treadmill, retailing at over $2000, offers a 3 hp motor, a noteworthy maximum speed of 12 mph, an incline of up to 15 percent and a running area 20 by 58 inches. Weighing in at 190 pounds itself, the Pacemaster ProElite can accommodate runners up to 350 pounds.

You can choose from 17 different running programs, four of which are heart rate programs, nine preset for you, and 4 that you can manually customize on your own. Important information included about this product as part of the Pacemaster treadmill reviews is that it offers a ton of displayed information that, according to the evaluator, might confuse the novice runner at the time of initial use.

This treadmill, in comparison with others reviewed as part of the Pacemaster treadmill reviews, was found to be a good, although basic exercise product. The tester’s primary complaint was that the time, distance and pace indicator could only provide the runner’s pace in 10-second increments.

Rating on a scale of 1 to 10, this Pacemaster ProElite came it at a respectable number seven. Its overall rating was 6.8. Evaluators gave it a 6.7 for cushioning, important for not only a comfortable run or walk, but also for minimalization of sore muscles and fatigued brought on by harsh joint and muscle impact. This Pacemaster rated high for stability, at 7.3, which means the evaluating runners, when taking part in the Pacemaster treadmill reviews, experienced little movement such as jiggling or shaking.

About the Author

Timothy Gorman is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Treadmill-Solutions.com. He provides more treadmill ratings, rankings and treadmill reviews that you can research in your pajamas on his website.

Modern technology has given us a wonderful range of sports sunglasses frames and sports sunglasses lenses made to both enhance and stand up to the demands of the sports enthusiast with lightweight, flexible, durable materials, no-slip frames and a wide variety of lens options. The sports sunglasses and discount sunglasses are made to suit whatever sporting activity you might be considering whether it be golfing, skiing, snow boarding, playing tennis, motorcycling, cycling, kayaking, boating, water skiing, fishing, mountain climbing, snow shoeing, mountain biking, playing baseball, running or jogging the options have never been more abundant.

One of the most important aspects of the sports sunglasses is the lenses. The optical quality and visual enhancement of sports lenses has never been better. Lens colors such as brown, yellow, green, gray, rose, amber and orange can help enhance your sports performance by filtering out colors and allowing you to see what is most important. Polycarbonate lenses are a popular choice as they are impact resistant and very strong which is helpful when it comes to sports. Having lenses that are impact resistant is also a necessary factor when it comes to children wearing sunglasses, impact resistant means the lenses won’t shatter if bumped or knocked.
The sports sunglasses frames available are just as important as the lenses you choose. Sports sunglasses frames can be found in lightweight and durable frame materials such as polyamide which keeps it shape even when under stress. Goggle frames made of softer flexible materials like rubber, nylon and propionate prove to be excellent as they hold their shape and will not become brittle in the cold temperatures when skiing or snow boarding and therefore will not injure your face. It is possible to find good quality discounted sunglasses, replica sunglasses and sports sunglasses frames to accommodate whatever sporting activity you choose to participate in.

When it comes to sports sunglasses polarized lenses are another popular option as they are ideal for water and winter sports where water and snow can increase the reflective glare, especially on flat surfaces. Polarized sunglasses lenses absorb approximately ninety eight percent of reflective glare offering glare free vision for your sporting activities. Polarized sunglasses are excellent choices for boating, water skiing, skiing, snow boarding, golfing, motorcycling, cycling and jogging with polarized lenses also available in ski goggles. Polarized sunglasses come in a wide variety of designs, colors and styles and can be found on discount sunglasses sites at affordable prices for everyone.

With so many wonderful sports sunglasses, polarized sunglasses, discounted sunglasses and replica sunglasses to choose from you might have difficulty selecting just one or two pairs of sunglasses. With that said the following are just a few of the sports sunglasses trends you might encounter and can include; no-slip temple grips and nose pads (quite often made of rubber); polarized sunglasses lenses that enhance sports performance by absorbing ninety eight percent of reflective glare; lightweight and durable sports sunglasses frames made with polyamide which keeps it shape even when under stress; sports sunglasses with changeable lens systems that allow you to use dark lenses under sunny skies or clear lenses for darker conditions; and sports specific sunglasses with color enhance lenses.

Ski goggles like sports sunglasses have also benefited from modern technology with the materials used to make them. Ski goggles not only provide protection for the face but for the eyes as well, with some ski goggles covering the whole upper portion of the face (smaller goggles are also available). Ski goggles are made with a lens area large enough to give the wearer a wide field of view and good peripheral vision. Unlike sports sunglasses ski goggle frames are made of softer more flexible materials like rubber, nylon and propionate as they hold their shape and will not become brittle in the cold and injure your face. Available in rose, yellow-orange and pink tints ski goggles allow you to make out the shapes, objects and bumps in the snow. Like sports sunglasses ski goggles are also available with polarized lenses which filter out the glare.

Due to the large number of sports related eye injuries each year, the importance of athletes wearing protective sunglasses and sport eyewear becomes obvious.

Whether you wear ski goggles for snow boarding and skiing or protective eye shields made of polycarbonate (impact resistant) for baseball eye safety is necessary.

Sports sunglasses will not shatter or bend like regular sunglasses might. Another reason for wearing protective sports sunglasses is simply for their UV (ultraviolet) protection, you should look for at least ninety eight percent UVA and UVB protection when selecting your sports sunglasses because without proper eye protection keratitis (sunburn) of the eyes can occur. The tinted ski goggles available can also assist with seeing the subtle bumps and lines of the ski hill which in turn can ensure your overall safety.

A popular trend in sports sunglasses is that of sunglasses for enhancing sports performance. Some of the sports enhancing sunglasses can include; yellow tinted sports sunglasses used for tennis where the balls are usually yellow; green tinted sports sunglasses excellent for golf as they give more contrast and visual acuity so the objects in the course such as flag stick and ball will stand out; specially tinted sports sunglasses for trap shooting and baseball; amber or rose ski goggles which enhance the soft grays that mark shadows on a ski slope, these shadows allow you to distinguish the ridges or bumps in the surface. The sports sunglasses that you select should also offer protection for your eyes.

There are sports sunglasses available for whatever types of sports you and your family are interested in. Whether you purchase your sports sunglasses or polarized sunglasses from discounted sunglasses, replica sunglasses or fake sunglasses sites you should always be sure that the quality of your sports sunglasses is high. By selecting high quality designer sunglasses lenses and sports sunglasses frames you will be protecting your eyes from damage, while at the same time enhancing your sporting activity to the fullest.
Valerie Giles owns and operates Eyewear-4U http://www.eyewear-4u.com, an eyewear site featuring fashion eyewear, sports eyewear, prescription eyewear, discount sunglasses and contact lenses as well as accessories. The accompanying article is copyrighted. It may be reproduced only if the hyperlinks here are left intact.

2 tb Butter or margarine -coarsely grated
1 lg Carrot, coarsely grated (about 1 cup)
-(about 1 cup) 1 lg Egg, lightly beaten
1 md Zucchini, coarsely grated Salt and freshly ground
-(about 1 cup) -black pepper to taste
1/4 c Diced onion 2 Split chicken breasts (4
1/2 c Grated part-skim mozzarella -pieces with ribs),
-cheese About 2 1/2 pounds
2 sl Firm-textured white bread, 1/4 c Honey

Start fire in grill, placing rack 4 inches above the coals (see note). Melt
butter in a 2-quart saucepan over medium-high heat; add carrot, zucchini,
and onion. Cook about 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until crisp-tender.
Remove from heat; stir in cheese, bread, egg, salt and pepper to mix well.
Set aside. Push fingers between meat and skin on each chicken breast half
to loosen skin and form pocket. Divide stuffing mixture among pockets;
secure openings with wooden picks. Set breasts aside until fire is ready.
Place breasts, skin side up, on hot grill rack. Cook, covered with grill
cover, 30 minutes. Brush with honey; grill, covered, for 5 minutes longer.
Serve when chicken is well glazed and cooked through; remove wooden picks.

NOTE: Breasts may be baked in oven. Heat oven to 400F. Prepare stuffing
and stuff breasts as directed. Place breasts, skin side up, in jelly-roll
pan or shallow roasting pan; bake 40 minutes. Brush with honey; bake 5
minutes longer until cooked through.

Makes 4 servings.

About the author:

Grab more free recipes at http://recipe-directory.net

Diet is another major component of a body detox program. Embarking on a detox diet or a juice diet (juice fasting) seems to be “in” today. The reason juice fasting is great for our health is because with juicing we are able to get a lot of nutrients into our system without putting much stress on our digestive system. When I first discovered fasting 15 years ago I felt as if it had saved my life and transformed my illnesses into health. Learn more at about Detox Centers In Arizona! Just be logical and don’t kid yourself.

Recommended Diet To Follow While Doing Liver Detox:
Diseases such as cancer. Some people also experience side effects feeling tired sick and headache. Foods that should be included are whole grains fresh fruits and vegetables and hormone and antibiotic free animal products as these go a long way to helping to keep the liver healthy. Do view more on Detox Centers In Arizona. You may have just pampered yourself with some kind of bodywork-this sometimes stimulates a healing crisis. This is a good thing. A well-regarded detoxifier of the cardiovascular system is sublingual EDTA.

Detox Diet Plans For Weight Loss:
Emotional RET Remedies: These wonderful homeopathic/flower essence combinations were developed by Professional Health Formulations to help with the emotional aspects of physical symptoms within the body. herbs and supplements as well as Detox Centers In Arizona. Haas M. A detox program or detox diet is designed to support the body organs in order to prevent a toxic overload that can slow down body systems and functions leading to exhaustion premature ageing and degenerative diseases.

Buying your own pool cue can be a confusing business as there are so many different brands on offer. Because of this it is important that you do not jump straight in and buy the first cue that catches your eye.

I agree that most people will purchase a cue first of all because of its aesthetic appeal but you don’t have to be a cue maker to realise that aesthetics do not reflect the playability of a cue.

Players who want to improve their game all come to the conclusion that they require their own playing cue. This is very important to a pool player’s development, a player builds a bond with a particular cue and get used to the way it feels and the way that it plays. A player that is playing regularly cannot get this same consistency from a standard house cue. You cannot guarantee that a house cue is straight or that the tip will do a proficient job.

When buying a cue it is important to try and get the right feel as if you just buy the first thing you come across then you could be spending hard earned cash on an instrument that you are not happy with in the long run. My advice to anyone purchasing a cue is to try as many different types before you buy. Ask friends, family or other regular players down at your local pool hall if you can play a few racks with their cue. This will give you a better understanding of what suits you and what doesn’t.

When ordering a cue make sure that it is the correct weight for you, not only should it be comfortable, but also having the wrong weight can make a huge difference to the feel of the cue. I have had many players in the past that have come to me to purchase a cue and have just ordered the weight that I have in stock rather than waiting the couple of weeks whilst it is ordered.

The next thing to consider is the shaft; the majority of pool cue shafts are made from Maple, this is a very hardwearing wood. You have to decide whether you are going to go for a plain Maple shaft or one of the name brands like Predator or Meucci. The name brand shafts are excellent for what they offer but it is also reflected in the price, both of the manufacturers mentioned claim to have the least cue ball deflection when playing with side English. The predator has a very stiff hit created by the laminating of ten pieces of maple in a cylindrical pattern. The Meucci has quite soft whippy feel to it, which is caused by the flat lamination of 32 thin pieces of maple. Both cues are excellent but there are a whole host of other manufacturers out there whose cues would suffice. Another thing to look out for is shafts layered with fibreglass. These cues do have extra strength through the design but the feel of the shaft can get very sticky and jerky through your bridging hand, the main brands that use this are Cuetec and Scorpion.

When a manufacturer releases a new range of cues they more than likely will all play the same what you are then paying for is the level of decoration, or the exotic woods that have been used in the inlays. For example in the Predator 4K Series you would get the same feel from the 4K1 at £380 as you would get from the 4K7 at £720. The only difference would be the hole in your pocket. But don’t be put off, if you like a cue and are happy with the feel and playability then go for it, who am I to stop you?

To sum up the important things are:

Try before you buy
Get the right weight
Select the type of shaft to suit you
Get the price right
Choose the decoration to suit you.

When you have combined all of these factors then you should get years worth of playability and pleasure from your investment. Some cues if looked after may even grow in value.

By P. Williams
http://www.americanpool-network.co.uk

About the Author

P.Williams has been involved in the cue sports industry for around 6 years, first for pleasure but now for business with the launch in 2004 of href=”www.americanpool-network.co.uk/shop/default.asp”American Pool Network

Public liability indemnity is essential because all corporations are at peril to some extent. Even though nothing dreadful has ever happened to your firms property doesn’t guarantee that it won’t at some point. If somebody is harmed or their goods lost, it is your duty to appropriately refund them. This cost might be terrifically large, depending on the particular case.

Fortunately, you do have a means to protect yourself against this contingency. Choosing public liability cover allows you to breathe a great deal easier. If a specific claim is very expensive, the insurance organisation will be on hand to supply you with a security net. It is their contractual responsibility to keep you shielded from any claims and legal bills. This leaves you free to concentrate on actually doing business, instead of worrying about what might happen. The following are some case studies of times when public liability indemnity might come in useful. Help protect your firm with Insured Risks Professional Indemnity Insurance.

CEOs of plumbing organisations regularly get the job done quick & easy. Yet periodically something might go badly wrong. For instance, should you damage a customer’s gas pipes whilst on the job, affecting belongings like that of work stations & flooring, public liability insurance will be there to pay the costs.

Another example is that of a promotions corporation. If a customer were to break an ankle in your workplace, even if it’s not your fault, you would be held responsible. Although, with public liability cover you wouldn’t have to resolve the claim yourself.

In a comparable position, physical damage caused to an onlooker by a member of staff on a construction site is the duty of the business director. This sort of claim can become awfully costly indeed, unless you get the correct protection.

Ice Golf – only the coolest need apply!
Want to try the ultimate golf challenge on a course where you’ll have no trouble staying cool over even the most testing putt? You should consider taking up Ice Golf – the most amazing development that the golf world has seen for decades.
Every year thirty six golfers (or lunatics, depending on your viewpoint) gather in Greenland to play in the World Ice Golf championship. This year’s event takes place in late March and early April. The course is marked out on the ice of the frozen fjord and you can expect icebergs or the occasional polar bear for company! As the organisers say: “if you’ve played on the greens of Europe, then you’ll find the “whites” of Greenland rather special.”
The World Ice Golf Championship was the brainchild of Mr. Arne Neimann, a local resident and hotel proprietor on a small island called Uummannaq, off Greenland’s North West coast. He and a friend designed the first course in 1997 and the sport took off from there.
The world championship is played on the ice in years when the conditions make the ice fields safe and predictable. Players compete over two days and play thirty six holes of stroke play. There is a “warm up” tournament the day before although “cool down” might be a more applicable phrase to describe the effect it has on the golfers. In March, when the world championships are held, the average temperature is minus 13.9 degrees Celsius, but temperatures as low as minus 25 can occur. The dry climate and the strong sunshine can make it seem slightly less cold than that – but not by much!
The organisers also try to keep the golf course open and accessible for several weeks each year for other open icegolf tournaments.
The greens are white and the balls are red. The “whites” are defined by a small wall of snow or by a red line on the ice. Players are allowed to use a scraper to smooth the snow on the white in front of their putt – the only time in golf that a player can legitimately improve the line of his putt. The snow and ice conditions underfoot vary from hole to hole and contestants need to wear polar ice gloves, artic boots and countless layers of clothing. Anti-glare sunglasses are also a good idea.
One contestant a few years ago quipped that “the only hole in one I scored was when one leg disappeared through a seal’s breathing hole in the ice.” There is also a local rule to deal with the unlikely situation of a polar bear interfering with your ball!
The organisers are looking for a new sponsor this year but in previous years the Drambuie liqueur company took the lead. Players and spectators were able to warm themselves by sampling some of the sponsor’s finest product. As always however, even that feature has a twist to it. Rather than ice cubes in the drink, the drink was served in “ice cubes” or glasses carved out of ice to be more exact. Trophies were presented from tables carved out of ice and the scorer’s tent was to be found in an igloo!
If you get the chance to visit Greenland for a game of ice golf then sieze it with both hands. It’ll be the most unique game of your life.

About the Author

Gary Hill lives and works near Edinburgh in Scotland.
Playing winter golf on the links of Scotland’s east coast is cold enough for him.
You can visit his website at http://vacation2europe.com and find information about golf in Ireland at http://www.vacation2europe.com/ireland-golf-vacation.html

The company picnic is a beloved tradition at many firms.

It’s an opportunity for employees to mingle and “let down their hair.”

A well organized company picnic with planned activities can help integrate employees with each other. This is particularly important if the company has undergone recent reorganization. As such it functions as a “team bonding” mechanism.

A company picnic can be held for an entire firm of thousands or for a single department of 30.

In my role of party entertainer (and prior to that corporate employee), I have attended countless such events. Here are some observations, tips, and ideas I picked up along the way.

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS

Like any other type of event, you must decide what you want your picnic to be like and how much you want to spend.

As with any event, it is important to keep the needs and tastes of your attendees paramount.

Allow yourself sufficient time to book your venue if the picnic is offsite. Demand for some venues is at a premium during peak periods. It is not uncommon to make reservations several months or more in advance of a given date.

You’ll need to plan food and beverages, and activities and entertainment and, in some cases, transportation to the picnic site.

Allow enough time so you can give your employees sufficient advance notice to include the picnic into their plans. This is especially important if you’ll be inviting family members or if it is held on a weekend.

Company picnics and company picnic ideas can range from the very simple to a pull-out-all-stops extravaganza. My observation is that people have a good time at both.

Do you want to have a theme? A theme is fun! Plus it makes it easier to organize food and activities.

WHEN DO YOU WANT TO HOLD YOUR COMPANY’S PICNIC?

Here, in the Philadelphia area, companies hold their picnics beginning in June through early October.

Considerations such as your company’s workflow, availability of a desired venue, etc., will help you determine the date. Employees are less apt to be away on vacation in June or September, but they will really enjoy the chance to kick back in July or August.

There are pros and cons to weekday picnics versus weekend picnics.

Company picnics held during a workday will ensure a greater attendance for employees when they would normally be in the office. And, they don’t cut into precious personal time.

But spouses and children are generally more available for a weekend date.

WHOM DO YOU WNAT TO INVITE?

Staff only? Members of the employee’s immediate family? What about significant others, friends? Decide where to draw the line.

Family picnics are a great way for employees to meet co-workers families. It humanizes co-workers by allowing them to relax their at-work personas.

On the other hand, single or divorced employees can feel like the odd wheel at a very family oriented event. That can be overcome by planning activities suitable for people of all ages.

Activities that require participants to form groups can help integrate the attendees. And it keeps your guests occupied.

WHERE DO YOU WANT TO HAVE YOUR COMPANY PICNIC?

While many picnics take place under a tent in the company’s parking lot, offsite venues can make people feel more relaxed. If you’re on a strict budget, one option is a nearby state park. Many have large pavilions ideally suited for such events.

I’ve also been to company picnics given at the home of the firm’s CEO or owner. This kind of setting adds a homey touch to the festivities. In some instances, facilities were set up so that the guests attend to their needs without entering the host’s private home.

An excellent option to consider is a venue that is set up especially for hosting the company picnic. Generally these picnic parks come complete with in-house catering and lots of games and activities for kids both big and small. Some day camps rent out their facilities on weekends when they are otherwise not in use.

Amusement parks and river cruises are other options.

TIP: Have a Plan B in the case of rain.

Some Plan B options include:
* A tent with walls or access to an on-site building
* Event insurance
* A rain date

Keep in mind that if you opt for a rain date, your vendors and entertainers may require additional payment to reserve the second date. That is because they have to turn down other clients during the busy summer season to keep that time open for you.

FOOD AND BEVERAGES

If you choose to have the food catered, you don’t have to worry about preparation or cleanup. Many venues such as picnic parks have in-house catering. And many caterers specialize in handling company picnics.

The best part of picnic fare is that it is simple and satisfying. Hot dogs and hamburgers are extremely popular at picnics. But they are not compulsory and caterers will cater to your every whim.

Keep the menu flexible enough to accommodate those with special needs and preferences. These days youll find many meat eaters and vegans, not to mention devotees of Atkins, South Beach, and other diets. Muslims and Jews may not wish to eat pork.

So having at least one non-pork and non-meat option is an excellent idea. If your picnic has a theme, your menu can reflect that.

Decide whether you want to permit alcoholic beverages. If so, make sure there is a way to ensure that anyone who drinks a bit too much makes it home safely.

HAVE AGE APPROPRIATE ACTIVITIES AND GAMES

Some venues such as picnic parks make it a point to supply many activities. Nonetheless, you may want to supplement them. Entertainers such as DJs, caricature artists, Tarot card readers, magicians, face painters, clowns are some popular additions.

Door prizes are a cherished company picnic idea at many firms. Door prizes work both as employee appreciation and an incentive for the employees to linger.

Examples of some prizes I’ve seen include certificates good for a dinner for two at a local restaurant, gift certificates at local department stores, a day off with pay, even a free vacation complete with round trip airline tickets.

These are some company picnic ideas and planning tips to get you started.

But the most important tip is the one I save for last. After you’ve worked so hard to organize and plan your event, be sure to go and enjoy the festivities yourself!

About the author:

Ellen Zucker owns Faces & Fortunes, which provides party entertainment in the Philadelphia, PA area. http://www.faces-and-fortunes-partytips.com

Visit Ellen’s site, Faces and Fortunes Partytips.com for tips, interviews, and advice on party and event planning from Party Pros.