Saturday, September 13, 2008
Achoooooooo!
Well, with all the movement off and on the islands from the states, etc. the viral season has finally hit...not to mention that all the tropical storms/hurricanes are blowing their "goodies" in with the Sahara Dust.
This has dramatically cut back on the volunteers that we can draw from for our "packing". But HOORAY! Today we were able to get a group together...thanks to some loyal friends and also the local LDS missionaries and the Branch President. And, with some elbow grease and sweat...(yes it was HOT!) we managed to dry can 82 cans of 2% non fat milk...and we did it all within about 2 1/2 hours. Thanks guys! Everyone did a GREAT job. And, now for the pictures!
This has dramatically cut back on the volunteers that we can draw from for our "packing". But HOORAY! Today we were able to get a group together...thanks to some loyal friends and also the local LDS missionaries and the Branch President. And, with some elbow grease and sweat...(yes it was HOT!) we managed to dry can 82 cans of 2% non fat milk...and we did it all within about 2 1/2 hours. Thanks guys! Everyone did a GREAT job. And, now for the pictures!
Friday, September 12, 2008
Making Barcodes
Because we are planning to place these dry pack canning items in the retail stores (in cooperation with the NaDMA emergency plan services), we had to put barcodes on the labels. This was at first a task which I was not sure I wanted to undertake...but it sure would make it easier for the stores to account for and then commuincate a need for more supplies from us.
And so, I searched and found a website that allows you "make" your own barcodes with the distinct names of your individual products. The good news is... it's FREE!
So here it is for all of your who will need to comply for your own supply purposes.
http://www.barcodesinc.com/generator/index.php
p.s. Enjoy! and, it's really easy. All you have to do is type in the name of the product and it autmatically makes the barcode. Then you cut and paste it onto your specific label. But, be sure and take the label for the Bureau of Standards to approve as we did.
And so, I searched and found a website that allows you "make" your own barcodes with the distinct names of your individual products. The good news is... it's FREE!
So here it is for all of your who will need to comply for your own supply purposes.
http://www.barcodesinc.com/generator/index.php
p.s. Enjoy! and, it's really easy. All you have to do is type in the name of the product and it autmatically makes the barcode. Then you cut and paste it onto your specific label. But, be sure and take the label for the Bureau of Standards to approve as we did.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Update...
As you can see there have been no update pictures posted...and that's because it's quite hard to take pictures of yourself while you are doing something. However, that said, we are planning to have a training session of the dry pack canning later this week, and we WILL get some pictures of that.
However, there has been alot going on, so let me give you some insight...
We had to wait after awaiting the "appointees" for the new govt. and we finally received invitations for meetings to re-discuss everything. That said:
a. we met with NaDMA and they are deciding how much they wish for their storage and we ill know within the month
b. we will also be providing storage for the police force as they are first line defense in emergencies. they are also notifying us with their needs by October
c. we are meeting with nursing home administrators in the next two weeks to present the information to them, but they already have said they want not only emergency storage, but a continuing supply for general use as it is hard to store the usual bags, etc. AND, on our recommendation, they can use the empty cans for projects that they can perhaps sell
d. we are also meeting with the friends for the mentally challenged to see how we can incorporate them into our training and staff needs as time goes on with the physician director for his support and assistance.
e. Spiceland Mall via Real Value (Giant) has agreed to discuss placing our items for shelving and general populace purchase (and so we needed to develop the label and include a "barcode" to make it easier for their inventory purposes)
f. we met with the Grenada Bureau of Standards to provide verification of size, weight control, etc. and labeling, which meant that Ann and I had to start canning to show a "stock" value. All was APPROVED!!! yippee
g. we have volunteers beginning training for the canning process Wednesday next...and they plan to "can" one to two days a week...their only pay is to be able to purchase some of what they can...(nice contract huh?)
so along that line, we had to increase our costs for purchase of gloves, sheets, etc. "c" clamps for securing the machine, garbage bags, etc. and oil for the machine so we have a supply.
h. I have also produced log books to include:
1. inventory log - has sheets with inventory of provisions (bulk) which are accounted for on purchase and then as they are used
2. invoice/receipt log- has purchase requests (blank) and those to be filled and those filled, for our ledger and accounting
3. general book - with training protocol (yes, I had to come up with that too), communications, purchase receipts for canning items, emails, government paperwork, etc.
i. each person working in the cannery, must have a name tag (so I have made those also) to comply with the Ministry of Health and Commerce requirements
j. Once we start making any profit, I will need to make application with the government for taxes, etc. but that is in the future as yet.
Does that sound like we have been busy? You bet it does...but now the fun will start and we will get to actually start marketing...the NEXT BIG process!
However, there has been alot going on, so let me give you some insight...
We had to wait after awaiting the "appointees" for the new govt. and we finally received invitations for meetings to re-discuss everything. That said:
a. we met with NaDMA and they are deciding how much they wish for their storage and we ill know within the month
b. we will also be providing storage for the police force as they are first line defense in emergencies. they are also notifying us with their needs by October
c. we are meeting with nursing home administrators in the next two weeks to present the information to them, but they already have said they want not only emergency storage, but a continuing supply for general use as it is hard to store the usual bags, etc. AND, on our recommendation, they can use the empty cans for projects that they can perhaps sell
d. we are also meeting with the friends for the mentally challenged to see how we can incorporate them into our training and staff needs as time goes on with the physician director for his support and assistance.
e. Spiceland Mall via Real Value (Giant) has agreed to discuss placing our items for shelving and general populace purchase (and so we needed to develop the label and include a "barcode" to make it easier for their inventory purposes)
f. we met with the Grenada Bureau of Standards to provide verification of size, weight control, etc. and labeling, which meant that Ann and I had to start canning to show a "stock" value. All was APPROVED!!! yippee
g. we have volunteers beginning training for the canning process Wednesday next...and they plan to "can" one to two days a week...their only pay is to be able to purchase some of what they can...(nice contract huh?)
so along that line, we had to increase our costs for purchase of gloves, sheets, etc. "c" clamps for securing the machine, garbage bags, etc. and oil for the machine so we have a supply.
h. I have also produced log books to include:
1. inventory log - has sheets with inventory of provisions (bulk) which are accounted for on purchase and then as they are used
2. invoice/receipt log- has purchase requests (blank) and those to be filled and those filled, for our ledger and accounting
3. general book - with training protocol (yes, I had to come up with that too), communications, purchase receipts for canning items, emails, government paperwork, etc.
i. each person working in the cannery, must have a name tag (so I have made those also) to comply with the Ministry of Health and Commerce requirements
j. Once we start making any profit, I will need to make application with the government for taxes, etc. but that is in the future as yet.
Does that sound like we have been busy? You bet it does...but now the fun will start and we will get to actually start marketing...the NEXT BIG process!
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