Really quick…how many songs can you come up with that talk about change?

Not about change, like spare change… as in ‘Mr. Bojangles – dancing for drinks and tips’…but change as in transition. Okay, go!

Change is in the air and you can almost feel it.

Locally and globally you can see signs of change just about everywhere you look. Open any newspaper, tune to any radio or network, log on to any news site or chat with your neighbor over the fence – we’re all generating or participating in one type of change or another and you know what – it’s exciting!

Dialogue is in the process of developing positive change and we’re thrilled with how our planning and strategy is positioning us for our new direction. And like most successfully implemented change we’re not rushing – we’re prudently weighing and considering trends and opportunities. We see shifts occurring in business and frankly, we like what we see on the horizon. So much so in fact that one of our primary goals is to expand our products and services. We’ll be mindfully rolling out several new concepts during calendar year 2011.

We invite you to visit our site from time to time and check out our progress as we get underway with presenting new and innovative marketing solutions. We also love hearing from you, so feel free to keep the suggestions and recommendations coming.

And btw…for what it’s worth… I came up with twelve, two of which were Dylan songs– The Times They Are A-Changin’ and Things Have Changed.

How did you do?

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Sounds crazy right about now, right?

Not really. We’re quite aware of the fact that our current economic condition is presenting challenging times for everyone. However, Dialogue believes that celebrations need to continue in good economic times and well…not so good.

Take property renovations for example — announcing the completion of your hotel renovation is a definite cause for celebration.

Think about it. Your entire team has endured the unrelenting sound of jackhammers for months on end. Case goods have been arriving on a daily basis for weeks. And all the while, your associates have done a remarkable job to ensure impeccable service continued to be provided to each guest. Now a stunning new property is yours to promote. How do you spread the good news about your successful renovation? Consider Dialogue’s “Rory” card to announce your property’s recent conversion. “Rory” sums up the transformation your hotel has undertaken in three simple words: reinvigorated, restyled, renewed.

Or, celebrate your guests with “Grant.” Vibrant fireworks burst off the card to catch their eye and capture their imagination. The inside of the card is blank so you have plenty of room to handwrite a message inviting clients to revisit your property soon. Your note will remind them of their previous experience and encourage them to plan their next event at your property.

A personal note is a courteous, memorable contrast to email or even a telephone call. Get back to the basics of communication by writing a personal note inside a Dialogue note card. Before your know it, your prospects will be up and business will look brighter.  Now, that’s worth celebrating!

–Lisa Farrar Wellman

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Shop your way to success! Dialogue announces the launch of our new online retail element: www.dialoguecards.com. Now it’s easier than ever to maintain your handy supply of our fun and useful greeting & note cards any time day or night.

Each card comes in a variety of fantastic color combinations so pick your favorite to order; or if you love them all (as we do), simply choose the “mix and match” option to receive several of each color. Every pack includes 10 cards and 10 white, recycled envelopes.

Being in regular communication with your clients is so important, especially during these challenging times. If you have a client that is expecting their first baby, we have a card for that. Perhaps they just brought a new puppy home? We have cards that will touch any pet lover’s heart. Put your knowledge to work for you by choosing one of Dialogue’s standout cards to reach out to your clients in a distinctive, memorable way.

Use “Madison” for an immediate follow-up to a recently called potential client and to let your client know you appreciate them taking time to connect on the phone with you.

Another practical note card is “Delilah”—a thank you note with a touch of exuberance. “Delilah” comes in Onyx, Cocoa or Turquoise and all three choices express the simplest, most polite words in our language but they do it with spirit! “Delilah” is a joy for you to send and will definitely make your recipient smile. Send it to a favorite hotel guest or the co-worker who gave you a great lead.

So, visit www.dialoguecards.com today and start building your inventory of great communication tools to have on hand for every occasion. What will seem like a grand gesture to your recipient is just an online shopping spree away for you!

–Lisa Farrar Wellman

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“This is my wish for you: Peace of mind, prosperity through out the year, happiness that multiplies, health for you and yours, fun around every corner, energy to chase your dreams, joy to fill your holidays.”- D.M. Dellinger

On behalf of our dedicated staff and loyal clients, this holiday season Dialogue has decided to provide a donation to Freedom from Hunger, an international development organization working in 17 countries across the globe. Our donation will help to bring innovative and most importantly sustainable self-help solutions to the fight against chronic hunger and poverty.

Learn more at www.freedomfromhunger.com

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It takes something truly important to pull Dialogue staffers away from our work but we set aside our super stylish note cards last weekend to get physical for a worthwhile cause. Dialogue participated in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in San Diego on Nov. 2.

Company employees, friends and family laced up their tennis shoes and donned pink to walk in the 12th annual 5K to continue the fight against breast cancer. Even some of our four-legged friends got in on the action; you can see them in our picture! Each person at Dialogue has been affected by breast cancer whether as a survivor or loved one of a breast cancer patient. We had a fabulous time but we were really out to raise awareness about this horrible disease, which threatens the life of one in eight women.

Nearly 13,000 people joined forces to raise almost $1.4 million in the San Diego area alone. Our team raised over $700 for the organization, which will fund breast cancer screenings for women who may not otherwise be able to afford them.

Since it began in Dallas in 1983, the Komen Race for the Cure Series has grown from one race with 800 participants to an international series of 117 races with more than 1.3 million participants. We loved being part of something bigger than ourselves, something that will have lasting impact on our community…and our world. Race organizers encouraged us with a quotation from author Albert Pine: “What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal.”

Dialogue encourages all women to receive age-appropriate testing annually. Grab a friend and head to your doctor’s office today. We’re back to the world of creative communication now but we never stop thinking about kicking breast cancer’s tail. We’re already anticipating next year’s Race for the Cure and the difference we can make one mile at a time.

–Lisa Farrar Wellman

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Nothing gives Dialogue a better feeling that seeing a handwritten note work its magic on an unsuspecting recipient. We readily admit, however, a close second is the emotion we experience when we know we’ve done something good for our planet. Our green practices are reflected in all that we do. When you consider our Office Buzz collection or imagine the sunshine of our Sand and Surf cards, keep in mind you’re not only getting classy and useful marketing tools but also executing a little earth-friendly maneuver of your own. Check out Dialogue’s green practices to learn more about what we’re doing to protect the planet:

1. All of the standard white envelopes that accompany our card collections contain at least 30% post-consumer content (that means something that otherwise would be in a landfill is serving a purpose instead of poisoning our planet).

2. Dialogue has never purchased shipment packaging materials. We literally reuse every peanut, air pack and box we receive from others. Reusing what we already have is simple, saves money (savings we pass on to our clients) and does good things for our environment.

3. Speaking of packaging, when you order sets of Dialogue cards from our new retail site – coming soon, they arrive neatly and securely in 100% biodegradable sleeves. We hope you’ll find a new use for the sleeves but if you toss them out, they’re compostable and do not harm nature.

4. We now offer a wide range of products from rack cards and brochures to greeting cards and envelopes—all printed on recycled paper. Let us price out both recycled and traditional options for you so you can see for yourself how affordable being green really is.

Give green a try for yourself; you’ll love how it feels. Even little steps like using recycling bins or encouraging office carpooling go a long way to save the planet. Your clients will notice your earth-savvy example and we promise the good vibrations will put a smile on your face. Trust us. Earth isn’t the only one who benefits from green habits; Dialogue knows from experience that going eco is good for the soul, too.

- Lisa Farrar Wellman

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Make your 4^th of July party the place to be this year! Find inspiration in some of Dialogue’s Independence Day party tips and give our recipes a try, too.

• Let your invitations set the tone of your party. Send them out well in advance to give proper notice to your guests. Use a sparkly fireworks theme if you’re going for drama. Let the kids help if your party is family friendly. You know how Dialogue feels about a handwritten note; no matter what mood you’re trying to set, be sure to make your invites personal and special.
• Fill ice trays with blue and red Gatorade or Kool-Aid and then serve your patriotic cubes in glasses of fresh lemonade (see recipe below).
• Offer friends delicious kabobs in addition to burgers and hot dogs. Visit your local farmer’s market for the freshest veggies and don’t forget pineapple to add zing to your ‘bobs!
• While your culinary delights are cooking, challenge friends and family with a fun 4^th of July quiz. We like this one but you can make your own, as well. Don’t forget prizes for your winners. Consider fresh fruit, grilling utensils or a potted plant to honor the champion!
• Start a tradition by asking your company to decorate the tablecloth! Use a crisp, white cloth and while guests visit, they can make their mark using red and blue permanent markers. Ask them to share favorite 4^th of July memories, sketch a flag or share a meaningful quotation. Add to your all-American tablecloth for years to come!

Keep tummies full and taste buds happy with these easy, economical recipes! Don’t be afraid to try something new for your party or let your family taste test your treats ahead of time. We’re sure they won’t complain!

Strawberry Lemonade
¼ cup strawberries, puréed
1 (12 oz.) can of frozen lemonade
1 (2 liter) bottle of ginger ale
Stir all ingredients together in a pitcher and enjoy simple, refreshing lemonade!

Black Bean Salsa
2 (15 oz.) cans of black beans, drained and rinsed
1 medium green pepper, seeded and chopped
1 (15 oz.) can of corn, drained and rinsed
2 medium tomatoes, seeded and chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
¼ cup parsley
8 oz. of your favorite vinaigrette
Toss all ingredients together and serve with tortilla chips or as a salad!

We hope you find these suggestions helpful. No matter what kind of party you throw, Dialogue wishes you a happy and safe 4^th!

- Lisa Farrar Wellman

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What have you got planned today? Dialogue invites you to participate in a life-changing event without leaving your chair. A colleague of ours is walking in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in San Francisco July 12-13. She will walk at least the length of a marathon, maybe more. Every step she takes raises money for breast cancer research.

Dialogue is proud to sponsor our friend and we encourage you to join us. Make a difference right now. Please click here to visit our colleague’s donation page to support the Avon Walk.

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After a couple announces their engagement, every nearby venue fills the bride’s mailbox with glossy, tri-fold pamphlets promising the perfect setting for the perfect day. Dialogue helps you rise above the competition. Our Essentials line includes three cards for the newly engaged. Each note card sets a specific mood. “Zoe” expresses frivolity and fantasy with its towering cake. Select “Charlotte” to remind your prospective bride of the moment he proposed. If it’s an air of romance you’re going for, choose “Lea” with its luscious bouquet of roses. Let us add your locale’s distinctive flair to our cards by changing colors and logo to match your branding. If you’d rather purchase stock versions, all three are available for great, low prices. Amidst the direct mail pieces, your Dialogue card will immediately catch the bride’s eye. The hotel’s logo appears in your recognizable color palette. The handwritten note thanks her for visiting the hotel or invites her to tour the resort’s grounds. Dialogue’s card selection and branding opportunities are the perfect backdrops for your well-worded message. If you’re not sure what to write in your Dialogue card, here are a few ideas to get you thinking in the right direction.

• Take care that your handwriting is legible.
• Be brief, genuine and thoughtful.
• Mention two or three features unique to your venue.
• Offer to speak with her if she has further questions.
• End by offering your congratulations once more.
• Don’t forget to enclose your business card.

With Dialogue’s Essentials cards and a few nicely written lines, your resort or hotel is well on its way to being a part of the blessed event. The competition never stood a chance. - Lisa Farrar Wellman

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We all make little foibles and great, big blunders. Fortunately, Dialogue has the ideal solution to your tricky tight spots.

Our Emo cards are the perfect combination of sincere apology and clever wit. Their bright colors and simple messages get the point across—you messed up and you want to fix it.

Use our fire-engine-red “Oops” card to apologize for being late or forgetting someone’s job title. Make amends in the trendiest of ways with “My Bad,” a bright orange card that expresses just how you feel.

Reach for hot pink “Yikes!” when you miss a meeting. Or, let our classic “Sorry” (in a not-so-classic shade of yellow) say it all when you hurt a co-worker’s feelings.

Mistakes happen. Unfortunately, in a competitive business world, those bloopers can cost you. Turn the situation around. Use Emo cards to endear yourself to colleagues, clients, even your boss.

Stock up on Dialogue’s Emo cards today. That way, tomorrow (when you might put a foot in your mouth) you can apologize with style.

- Lisa Farrar Wellman

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