The bake sale is complete, the pledge forms have been signed and the principals have received their holiday gift. And, we’ve met the criteria to be a Company that Cares for the 18^th year in a row!

Borshoff is proud to support the United Way of Central Indiana through our annual campaign. This year we raised more than $21,000 – our largest donation yet!

Sure, it was hard eating cookies the days before Thanksgiving, but to help the community, we’ll suffer!

Haven’t made your contribution yet? Visit United Way of Central Indiana to give and earn your year-end tax deduction.

I ran track in high school, but I was never very good, and I wasn’t committed enough to keep it up beyond high school. My husband thinks that one of the funniest things I ever said was, in response to the question, “Do you run?”

I answered, “Only if something is chasing me.”

It takes focused commitment and the ability to step out of your comfort zone to become a great runner. And really, that’s what it takes to become great at anything. By great, I don’t just mean the fastest or the one who wins the race. To me, winning is about constantly becoming better and putting so much passion into what you are doing that you can look back on it later and say, “I am proud of that effort.”

On November 5, I was inspired by the focused commitment and ability of others to step out of their comfort zones. As a member of the board of directors for the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon, I had the opportunity to hand out medals at the finish line. It was exciting and invigorating to share in the celebration as the runners crossed that line. I could feel myself well up with pride and happiness for these total strangers.

Many of them beamed at me when I would say “You did it! Congratulations!” Some cried tears of joy, others laughed and yes, a few looked like they might pass out and puke on my shoes. But each of them had something in common:  they set a goal, they worked to make it happen, and they took one step at a time to complete 26.2 miles. It’s an accomplishment that less than 1 percent of people ever achieve in a lifetime.

To me, they were all winners. They each deserved their medals, even though only one of them crossed the finish line first. As my years of professional experience start to turn into decades, I’ve been reminding myself that my career is not a sprint, it’s a marathon. If I can stay focused on what’s important, if I can constantly strive to become better, and if I can keep going with passion, I know I’ll finish the race strong.

As for running, well, the race inspired me to get out there and do it, although it’s too early for me to commit that I’ll run a full marathon any time soon. The same characteristics that enable a person to succeed in their career can also prepare them to run 26.2 miles. It also might help if something starts chasing me.

…Time for our annual gallery show featuring the work of talented artists from the Herron School of Art + Design. We truly look forward to this event … as much as a child looks forward to Christmahanakwanzika! (And just as much care and planning go into making this a great event.)

Each year, we get to meet fresh new artists and collaborate with them on a theme for the show. “Continuous” is our 2011 theme and it was inspired by the transformation our city has encountered over the past couple of decades – a result of the ongoing dedication of people who desire to make Indianapolis a great place to work, live and visit.

We let the artists choose their subject matter, but gave them one condition … they had to create their masterpiece using one, single, continuous line. This should be GOOD! ; )

We’re super excited to see the final art and hope you can join us for our gallery show. You can even vote for YOUR favorite art!

To learn more and register, click here.

Beautiful foliage, ripe apples and cooler weather – Autumn is here. That means we are getting ready for the Borshoff Annual Gallery Show + Awards. Traditionally, every Fall we partner with Herron School of Art and Design and have a gallery show here at Borshoff. This year we’re changing it up.

I am excited to announce that we will host our 2011 show at the Harrison Center for the Arts (16th and Delaware St.) from 6-9 p.m. on Friday, November 4.We will be on the lower level of the Harrison Center in Hank and Dolly’s Gallery (5 gallon hats not required).

The Harrison Center is a hub for arts and culture in Indianapolis. It has many galleries and artist studio spaces. Additionally, it’s the site of multiple art events throughout the year – such as Independent Music + Art Festival, Foodcon and The Handicraft Exchange. I am thrilled to have our show among so many great Indianapolis artists.

This year’s gallery show will be held on IDADA’s First Friday, and our new location will guarantee great exposure for these young and talented Herron students. Hope to see you there.

Running, jumping, crawling. Incredible feats of athleticism. It’s just another day in the office for Borshoff employees. Actually, it’s a day out of the office competing for bragging rights in Indianapolis’ corporate community.

For the third straight year, Borshoff employees competed in the Indiana Sports Corp’s Corporate Challenge on Saturday, September 24. Everyone from the four principal owners to the newest employee was part of the fun and festivities.

As we went head to head against our clients, vendors and community partners, our competitive nature shone through. An estimated 5,000 participants from 118 businesses competed in the 2011 Corporate Challenge. Saturday’s events included a 5-mile run, 5K run, ½ mile run, 5K fitness walk, team medley relay, basketball shoot-out, corn hole, football accuracy throw, Frisbee toss, golf chipping challenge, tug-of-war, obstacle course, and a parallel parking challenge.

In addition to the track and field events, Borshoff employees showed compassion for the community by participating in the charity portion of the competition during the weeks leading up to the Corporate Challenge main events. Our team earned points based on donations to local charities including Gleaners Food Bank, the Indiana Sports Corporation’s Geared for Health: Sports Equipment for Kids program and the Indiana Blood Center. We earned additional points by hand knitting scarves for “Super Scarves,” an initiative launched by the Super Bowl Host Committee.

An event like this is not only about competition, but it’s also about bringing our team together and building a stronger sense of community. Preliminary results are in, and we’re not sure we place in the standings, but we know that we had fun getting there.

We’re already strategizing for next year. See you in 2012!

One of my must-read columns in More magazine is, “This is What (40-something) Looks Like.”

This spotlight on well-known and everyday women is a personal reflection on career, family, lessons learned, beauty and the often-dreaded subject of body image.

Responses about the changes that occur in women’s bodies during their 40s are, at times, funny and always refreshingly honest. I’ve discovered that there is one common denominator among the stories I read, and that is acceptance.

That makes me think about something my grandmother would say in her later years when she couldn’t quite remember the grandchild’s name she was staring directly in the eyes or when her walk slowed and she couldn’t stand in front of the stove as long as she used to preparing one of her famous Southern meals.

“Just keep on living,” she would say.

These days, I find myself reflecting on my own personal journey toward maturing and accepting the body I have. My conclusion: When I look in the mirror, I’m OK with what I see.

Sure, I’m visiting my hair stylist more frequently for color treatments to cover the strands of gray invading my hairline.

I like wearing heels, but after walking from meeting-to-meeting, my feet hurt. That’s new for me. What’s also new is I don’t have a problem changing into the pair of flats I keep in my office.

I’m finally hearing what my doctor has told me for years, and that is there’s no quick-and-easy way to shed those extra pounds. I actually have to get up and get moving!

I’m as tall as I’m going to be. At nearly 6-feet-tall, my ‘tween son towers me, and I’m certain I’ll never have enough energy to keep up with my rambunctious second grader.

I accept these life situations and the impact they will have on my body as I age because my grandmother prepared me for what’s to come.

So, I’m just going to keep on living.

“The Body” is the theme of this year’s Spirit & Place Festival, Nov. 4-13.

Organizers have launched a cool feature, BodyBlubs, where you can share your personal account about the body.

What’s your story?

I heard a great story at the Keep Indianapolis Beautiful fundraising luncheon today. Board chair John Kyle read from a letter KIB had received from the leader of a neighborhood association that participates in KIB’s Neighborwoods tree-planting program.

 Two years ago when our group visited one particular home to ask if the resident would like a tree planted in his front yard, he told us, “No. (Hell) No! I don’t want a tree.” The neighborhood association had always thought of him as an anti-social curmudgeon, so we wrote him down as a ‘no’ and went along our way.

The next year, when we began the tree-planting program, this same gentleman saw we were out planting trees on the properties adjacent to his.  Seeing that the trees were nice, small, and added some nice cover, he came out and asked if we could plant one in front of his house. We were a bit surprised but happy to add another tree to our neighborhood.

Watching the youth team and volunteers from our neighborhood plant the tree, he smiled and stood on his porch.

After the day of planting was done, I stopped by his house to deliver a water bucket and to share some helpful hints on caring for the tree. As I approached, I saw that he was standing out in front of the tree.  In his hand was a hose, and as he watered his tree he was smiling. He was happy not only because he was given a tree, but because he saw that his neighbors cared for him and had made a gesture of community.

I talked to him briefly that day, and then over the next 3 months. I watched as he watered the tree each week. It was great to see, because every time he watered that tree, he wore a smile, shared a wave, and talked to other neighbors as they walked by.

I share that story with you all because this program and KIB provided more than just a tree.  This program helped transform one of our neighbors because it provided an opportunity for the neighborhood to build relationships, create community, and add some beauty to our struggling neighborhood on Indy’s near eastside.

I am happy to also share that the tree is growing strong and that this neighbor continues to be more involved in our community. Thank you again for all the work you do and the amazing impact that your work has in our city.

The tallies aren’t yet in, but I sure hope this and the other inspiring stories told at today’s Dig Deep event encouraged participants to “dig deep” and support Keep Indianapolis Beautiful in a big way. It’s so important that we support KIB’s mission to unite people to build community and transform public spaces through aesthetic and environmental improvement.

Note: Susan Matthews is a member of the board of Keep Indianapolis Beautiful.

Last week, I had the pleasure of welcoming guests to the 25^th annual Start with Art kick-off celebration in downtown Indianapolis. Sponsored each year by the Arts Council of Indianapolis, this luncheon celebration – supported by a number of generous corporate, foundation and individual donors – recognizes the talent and dedication of those in the arts who work and volunteer throughout the year to protect, preserve and further enhance the wonderful arts and cultural assets we enjoy in Indianapolis.

In preparing my remarks, I recalled a news article about the Middle East unrest, saying:

January of this year, in Cairo, Egypt – right in the middle of the worst rioting – there was a great threat to the magnificent Egyptian Museum and its massive collection of art and artifacts – first the threats came from the fire engulfing the ruling party headquarters next door.

Then dozens of would-be thieves started entering the grounds surrounding the museum.

Suddenly, in the midst of the riots, a number of young men — some armed with batons taken from the police — formed a human chain outside the main gates in an attempt to protect the collection inside. Four Army vehicles then joined to preserve the massive coral-colored building in downtown Cairo.

Even in the face of crisis, we as humans know to protect and preserve art, and all that it means to us and will mean to the generations that follow.

As we enter the start of Indianapolis’ arts and cultural season, I urge you to increase your support for our arts and cultural organizations. We have so many quality arts and cultural attractions, but as with most not-for-profits, these fine institutions need our ongoing and generous support. So, this fall, please go see a play, attend a symphony, visit an arts gallery (and buy a piece of art) and support Indianapolis’ arts and cultural institutions in some meaningful and generous way.

Johnson is chairman of the board of the Arts Council of Indianapolis.

 “Thank you so very much for all your help on Friday.  It is so good to see our building “trimmed up” again.  All the staff noticed it and thank you as well. We so appreciate you choosing St. Elizabeth/Coleman.” – Priscilla Kamrath, director of community relations at St. Elizabeth/Coleman Pregnancy & Adoption Services

For 17 years, Borshoff has earned the “Company that Cares” designation from United Way. To continue our streak, we must show that we care for the community with more than just our checkbooks. At Borshoff, we are more than happy to do so.

We all have busy lives and it’s sometimes hard to find the time to volunteer and give back to the community. However, on August 26, we were given the opportunity to do just that. Chosen as Borshoff representatives to participate in United Way’s annual Day of Caring, we volunteered at St. Elizabeth/Coleman Pregnancy & Adoption Services center. A United Way agency, St. Elizabeth/Coleman is a nonprofit adoption agency providing full-service birthparent and adoptive parent preparation and support for domestic, transracial, medical needs, and international adoptions.

On the Day of Caring, we worked with the facility and grounds director to cater and clean-up the land. With a rake, clippers, or trash bag in hand, we trimmed hedges, bushes and trees around the building before cleaning out the fence line. Five hours later, the grounds were in mint condition once again.

In addition to Day of Caring participation, Borshoff holds an annual pledge drive securing donations for United Way and its community agencies and, every year, we strive to be more generous than the last. We are both grateful for the opportunity to meet the folks at St. Elizabeth/Coleman and learn about their services. However, the greatest joy of all was seeing the smiles on their faces just for us coming out to volunteer that day.

Our own Susan Matthews, APR, Borshoff principal, was honored Saturday night with a Cancer Support Community 2011 Women of Wellness Award. We couldn’t be more proud.

Presented during the Cancer Support Community’s 11^th Annual Laughing Matters program, this important award recognized Susan’s hard work and passion for the cause, both as a trustee of the Cancer Support Community from 2001-2010 and as chairman of the board in 2004-2005. Moreover, the award citation applauded Susan’s drive and vision to build a warm, welcoming place of respite for people facing cancer – the Paulsen Center for Cancer Support, which opened in 2008.

The program was held at the new downtown J.W. Marriott and featured American actor and stand-up comedian Brad Garrett – best known for playing Robert Barone on the TV show, “Everybody Loves Raymond.”

It was a fun night for everyone, unless you happened to be sitting in the front row during Garrett’s routine. Or…maybe I’m getting more conservative.

Susan Matthews, pictured with Kathleen Spears, executive director, Cancer Support Community

Welcome home 2012 Super Bowl Host Committee! Once you chip and shovel away the ice blocking your front doors, it’s time to unpack those note-filled binders and share with us the lessons learned from North Texas. Yes, the Super Bowl – THE Super Bowl – is less than a year away now and all eyes turn to Indianapolis.

These past few months of solid planning, coupled with these past several years of vested experience, equals a great deal of wisdom and knowledge. And so I offer you a familiar prayer – the often-called Serenity Prayer:  “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.”

Clearly, our Super Bowl Host Committee knows the difference. We all saw the news reports from North Texas – question after question directed to our leaders: “What about the weather?” “What about the proposed lock-out?” These are the two primary issues that we, in Indy, have absolutely NO control over.

So let’s call on that wisdom now. Let’s affect what we can – like having a solid ice-melt, snow-shoveling, finger-warming plan. And let us all join our Host Committee in focusing on what we do best – preparing to host the masses – because we have a party to put on and a city to showcase for the Super Bowl is on its way.

The NFL will work this labor issue out. Mother Nature will do whatever she darn well pleases. And the time is here to step forward confidently that this is OUR time. Bring it on!

2010 marked my first year as a full-time professional at Borshoff. I learned something new every day, developed my communications and business skills, and discovered personal and professional strengths—as well as areas of improvement.

With a year under my belt and 2011 upon us, I know exactly what my 5 PR resolutions are for the new year:

1. Meet my professional network. As an active Twitter user, I wish I could put names and faces together more frequently. On occasion, like at Hoosier PRSA luncheons or social media breakfasts, I see someone’s nametag and put two and two together. The relationship grows once you have both online and face-to-face interactions. This year, I plan to be more intentional about meeting my growing professional network in person and further developing these important relationships.
2. Speak up. Although I’m a young professional among many accomplished veterans, I plan to be more proactive in sharing my thoughts, concerns and ideas. It’s important for my colleagues and clients to know I’m thinking proactively and outside the box. And who knows? Perhaps my idea may be one that others have never considered.
3. Get involved. Borshoff is big on community involvement, and it’s important to me too. Whether I decide to join a not-for-profit board or committee, volunteer or attend events, I want to be active in my community.
4. Become an expert.  It’s vital to be excellent at a lot of things in our field: writing, proofreading, project and time management, and problem solving. In 2011, I resolve to dig into something I know little about or don’t know how to do. I might just master the flip cam or learn a software program that I can teach my coworkers.
5. Find balance. As many full-time employees have already discovered, often the workday goes well beyond 5 p.m. While it’s essential to keep promises and maintain responsibilities, it’s also important to do something for me outside of work — whether it’s exercising, trying a new Starbucks drink or taking a 20-minute power nap (outside of office hours, of course). When you take care of yourself, you’ll be better able to serve  your clients.

If I accomplish these 5 resolutions, I know that 2011 will be just as great as 2010. Now you know my goals for the new year, what are yours?

Today Borshoff will host its second blood drive this year. Throughout the day, my coworkers, their family and friends, and people from our building, will enter the Indiana Blood Center’s bloodmobile on south Pennsylvania to make a donation. After all, it is the season of giving, and as a company, this is one important way we can give back and support our community.

By donating, each person will make a small sacrifice, and for that, I am extremely grateful. This fall, I was the recipient of a platelet transfusion and a red blood cell transfusion due to the medical treatment I was undergoing. Until this time, I hadn’t really thought about the importance of blood donors and donations. Now because of my personal experience, I know that the need is very real.

I was also reminded that at certain times in our lives, we’re able to give, and at other times, we’re on the receiving end. It’s a humbling experience, but I’m truly thankful for those who have and will donate blood. It’s a gift that will result in a big benefit for someone who needs it.

If you’d like to donate, stop by the Bloodmobile today between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. It’s parked across from the Majestic Building, 47 S. Pennsylvania. There are still 11 available appointments. Or, visit www.indianablood.org to schedule an appointment at another Indiana Blood Center location.

Somewhere between planning menus for my husband’s family and scouring circulars for toy bargains, I, along with a few others, decided holding a bake sale at work the week of Thanksgiving would be a good idea. With Borshoff’s annual United Way campaign in full swing, our hearts were in the right place.

Earning the United Way’s “Company that Cares” designation is an honor for Borshoff.  We’ve achieved that distinction every year since the United Way started the program 16 years ago.

So in addition to the presentation at our October staff meeting and e-mails reminding people to fill out their donation forms, a bake sale was the best way to get everyone involved.

For the bakers in the group, it provided a chance to try a new recipe. For the non-bakers, it was a chance to buy something and present it as homemade. Or maybe it was a chocolate pick-me-up to push them through the end of this short week. Regardless of the motivation, bake sales are good old-fashioned fun.

So price tags and silent auction forms in hand, Holly Havener and I started the extravaganza in front of a waiting crowd of co-workers. We had a little bit of everything – chocolate cake, pumpkin cream cheese tarts, sugar cookies, bread – you name it!

The bidding got a little fierce toward the end. Account manager Chad Mertz alerted those bidding against him that this “wasn’t his first rodeo” and he wouldn’t be outbid. He bought the pumpkin tart for more than $40.

All in all, our work paid off. We raised $350 to donate to the United Way’s general fund and had a good time showing we are, after all, a Company that Cares.

Want to learn more about the United Way’s annual campaign? Visit www.uwci.org.

As a relatively new board member of Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, I’m still learning about the many important initiatives KIB drives – all with the purpose of uniting committed people; planting trees, bushes and flowers; and ultimately transforming communities.

One of these initiatives is NeighborWoods. This program, a partnership with the City of Indianapolis, will plant 100,000 trees in 10 years. At our most recent board meeting, I learned about the My Tree and Me program.

Through My Tree and Me, you can:

• Get a $20 off coupon towards the purchase of a tree at a number of Indianapolis nurseries.
• Help clean our air and water, making Indy a better place to live.
• By using your coupon, we’ll automatically enter the location of your new tree into a database that tracks all the trees planted through this program. (If you plant a tree and didn’t use a coupon, you can enter the data yourself.)

Fall is a great time to plant trees. What are you waiting for? Print off your coupon (on recycled paper, please) and go get your new tree!