APIOH Blog

Dear Patrons,

February is Black History Month.  It is the month set aside to recognize the difficulties the black community has had to overcome and the advances they have made in history despite their adversities.  There are a number of wonderful websites including http://www.biography.com/blackhistory/ and http://www.history.com/topics/black-history-month, dedicated to presenting the histories of those who have helped overcome the stereotypes created in our society and to highlight the contributions made by the African American population to all mankind.  But who is sharing the stories of the others who did not make it into our history books.  Who is recognizing the important role an everyday African American father plays in providing for his family despite the racial hurdles he has to overcome?  Who focuses on the mother who misses her own needs for nourishment to feed her family and educate her children?

The need to highlight the stories and achievements of the common man and woman among their peers and loved ones spans beyond the bounds of racial, ethnic, religious or gender. APIOH works with organizations to determine how to provide those associated with their organizations a means to pay tribute to those they wish to recognize.  We help develop programs to work with the needs of the organization. Whether it is necessity to generate revenue, recognize donors, foster goodwill, enhance communication or simply provide added value to ones patronage, APIOH can help.  Call us to find out how we can help you and your organization.

There is an organization in Jerusalem, Israel, called Yad VaShem.   Yad VaShem  is dedicated to preserving the memories of those who perished in the Holocaust.  Its mission is Holocaust commemoration, documentation, research and education.

Yad VaShem, meaning ‘a memorial and a name’, takes its name from Isaiah, chapter 56, verse 5.  “I will give them in My house and in My walls a “Yad VaShem” (memorial and a name), better than sons and daughters; an everlasting name I will give them, which will not be discontinued.”  The idea presented in Isaiah is about the importance of having a good name that lives on eternally within a place of importance.  Yad VaShem, like all Holocaust Centers around the world, creates a place of importance for those remembering and commemorating those whose lives were destroyed in the atrocities of the Holocaust and other acts of genocide.  This is the underlying theme for all Holocaust survivors and is embodied in the Hebrew word Zachor (remember).  It is the understanding that memorializing the Holocaust is to ‘remember and never forget’ the victims and their suffering.

In January 2011, Google partnered with Yad VaShem to further Yad VaShem’s efforts to preserve and share Holocaust archives.  This is a very significant contribution by Google to allow the events of the Holocaust to be remembered in future generations especially since the generation of Holocaust survivors - those who can give a firsthand account and who have dedicated their lives since the Holocaust to uphold the ideals of Zachor (remember) - is nearing an end.

The archives maintained by Yad VaShem and shared through Google’s efforts contain information and stories of the atrocities that individuals went through.   However, they also help share the human side of the atrocities.  They help attach names to the pictures we often see.  They bring those names to life by adding life events.  The stories are not only about how individuals were dehumanized and murdered, but just as important, how they lived and what they were forced to give up.

Like Yad VaShem and the other Holocaust Centers, all recognition needs appropriate representation that goes beyond just a name.  Further, it is not enough just to keep such recognition locked in our individual hearts and homes.  To paraphrase what was said in Isaiah, we need to place in our organizations systems of recognition (…in My house and in My walls a memorial and a name).  It has to be shared beyond the immediate household.  It needs to be maintained in communal places of importance for others of a like mind to appreciate (…better than sons and daughters).   In addition, the commemoration goes well beyond the moment.  Such tributes need to live on for future generations to appreciate and learn from (An everlasting name…which will not be discontinued). 

APIOH – A Place In our Hearts consults with organizations to determine how to best present recognition, providing a service to their patrons by which they can preserve and share their memories and stories within those organizations.  Let us help your favorite organizations identify their recognition opportunities.

Dear Patrons,

The father of a friend of mine passed away earlier this month.  My friend, Nat, is an Orthodox Jew so he sat Shiva.  (Shiva means 7 in Hebrew.  After the burial of a relative, the immediate family sits in mourning for seven days.)  During Shiva, family members have the opportunity to reflect on the loss they are experiencing.  But even more significant, they get to experience the life of the deceased through the eyes and hearts of the family and friends they left behind.  It is a very inspiring experience.

Nat told many stories of his father’s zeal for life and his devotion to his family and friends.  His father was one to never let an opportunity pass him by.  He also didn’t wish to experience life by himself.  He would take his children, friends and clients with him on “Once in a Lifetime” outings.  Whether it was to see the leaves change on that most opportune moment each year, find the perfect spot to experience a meteor shower or seek out the illusive train tracks once commissioned to transport a dying President Garfield in 1881 [see http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/gar.htm], Nat’s father wanted to share the experience.  It is no wonder one of his passions even through his final illness was tennis – a sport that could only be shared with others.

Although I was not privileged to have known Nat’s father while he was alive, the legacy he leaves behind tells me I would have been fortunate to have known him.  Participating in his Shiva and hearing the stories of his love of life from his son was very inspirational.  It truly was a Once in a Lifetime Opportunity.

A few weeks ago during prayer service, I watched a man behind me engrossed in his prayer. He sat closely staring at pages before him, following along carefully and underlining every word with his hands as he said them.  His concentration and deliberation were moving enough until I noticed the pages he was so focused on were blank.  It took me a moment to realize what I was seeing.  The man of course was blind, but his focus on the words…  It was as if not only was he touching every dot of every letter of every word, but they in turn were touching him.

I was very humbled.  I am able to see the words, to explore their meaning and to study further commentators who could add deeper insight to my supplication, but instead of taking advantage of my gift of visual focus, I often find myself void of spiritual focus.  In contrast, the blind gentleman had every reason to be distracted, but was drawn instead to every letter of every word.  He may have been physically blind, but he was spiritually attentive.

Often when we present recognition within our organizations, we have the ability to go beyond the artistic beauty and introduce depth to each person we display.  Yet we believe the surrounding aesthetics will equally represent each of the individuals.  We need to focus on the people we are recognizing.  We need to appreciate the contributions, sacrifices and significance that are the depth of their being.  We need to know what makes them different from the others we are honoring.  We need to know more and share more.  We need to be able to touch them and be touched by them.  That is the recognition we should strive to present and share.  Otherwise, we are truly blind.

Their accomplishments and life experiences make them unique.  Why portray them the same as everyone else.

APIOH - A Place In Our Hearts allows organizations and their members to recognize the life’s accomplishments behind the names.

Chapter 1 - The Plaque

Charlie - “Bill, do you know who Jane Doe was?”

Bill - “No, why?”

Charlie - “There is a plaque on the wall with her name.  Says she died October 12, 1961.”

Bill - “Sorry, never heard of her.”

Charlie - “Me neither.  Do you know any relatives?  Maybe we can ask them.”

Bill - “No clue.  We may never find out.”

Chapter 2 - APIOH

Donna - “I overheard you guys talking about Jane Doe. I didn’t know her, but maybe she is on the APIOH Memorials board.”

Charlie - “Great idea.  Why didn’t we think of that?  The APIOH Memorials board holds much more information and may even tell us who she was related to or something more about her.”

Bill - “Yeah, but I heard there are 2,500 names in the APIOH system in our organization alone.  We will be browsing names forever.”

Donna - “No we won’t.  That’s one of the nice features of APIOH.  We can do a direct search for Jane and we will know right away if she is in the system.”

Bill - “Where’s the keyboard on that thing?  You can’t search it.”

Charlie - “It’s touch screen.  Let me show you.   See, here she is.”

Bill - “Cool.  It says here that she was born in Italy in 1903.  She grew up in Spain and moved to the US when she was 18.  She married John Doe and had a daughter, Sue Ann, in 1926.  Wow, this is neat.”

Charlie - “And now if we look at the relatives tab, it says her daughter Sue Ann became Sue Ann Smith.  It has Sue Ann’s name underlined.  I wonder why?”

Donna - “It means Sue Ann is on the memorial board as well.  Click on it and it and you will see.”

Bill - “Wow, it gives me all this information about her daughter Sue Ann Smith who married Sam Smith in 1950.  Wait, I know a Sam Smith. Sam Smith is also underlined on Sue Ann’s information. Let’s go to his memorial and check something out.

“I thought so.  Sam Smith is my Uncle Sam.  He is my mother’s brother.  Jane Doe must be my Aunt Annie’s mother.   Aunt Annie passed away just two months ago.  I guess Aunt Annie’s full name is Sue Ann Smith.  I would have never realized just looking at that bronze plaque in the other room.  This APIOH thing is great!”

APIOH – A Place In Our Hearts.  Add some ‘color’ to your memories?  How do you want to be remembered? 

Limited Time Offer

Order an APIOH Memorials, APIOH Donors or APIOH Life Events system by December 31, 2010 and be eligible for our lowest prices ever.  Up to 50% savings.  Reduced subscription prices.   Call us at (877) 289-4690 or email us at sales@apioh.net for more information.

Referrals for existing customers –

When ordering, please be sure to let us know if you were referred by an existing customer.  Existing customers are eligible for a $500 referral bonus for each unique referral that produces a sale.  Only one referral bonus per eligible sale.

Multiple purchase discount –

Customers ordering more than one unit are eligible for a discount on each additional unit purchased.   This discount is in addition to the existing customer discount.

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. 

~John Fitzgerald Kennedy

The only people with whom you should try to get even are those who have helped you. 

~John E. Southard

Edward Sandford Martin

Thanksgiving Day comes, by statute, once a year; to the honest man it comes as frequently as the heart of gratitude will allow. 

~Edward Sandford Martin