Orange Beach Festival of Art a huge success!

The weather cooperated and was a delightful 70 degrees and sunny. The crowd exceeded
10,000. Orange Beach artists were almost double the number from last year and
the quality of all were exceptional. Put this 2nd Weekend of March annual Orange Beach, Alabama, festival on your list of things to do next year. It gets better and better each year. One of the food vendors even had alligator bites on its menu.

I enjoyed meeting so many people this year in the authors' tent. Festivals like
the Orange Beach Festival of Art can exist because the majority of American people
are honorable, civilized, gracious people. It takes many volunteers working together with sponsors, hard working artists, authors and food vendors in addition to city officials and police officers to put this magnificent festival together. Peaceful, family friendly crowds mingling together in public is something we take for granted because it happens so often and is standard fare for life in
America. No need for a "fan code of ethics" or a "family friendly" section.
Respect and good manners make it fun and safe for all.

The older the crowds, the more gracious they are. This is because they were taught
at an early age how important it is to be respectful to self and others. These
traits form the backbone of our country.

"A Year of Good Manners" by Margery Sinclair and Jan Polk was very well received.
Many people commented that "they don't teach this any more." Many mentioned "This is great information, they should teach this in the schools! Several people bought multiple copies. Many mentioned young people need to know this. Two people (middle aged women!) said, "We don't care anymore." and laughed as they walked out. I suggested if they read our book they might change their minds. (Each of the 365 tips in our book has a reason/advantage to use it.)

The truth is teaching respect and manners is the responsibility of parents and should be valued and taught again in all our homes so we can free the teachers to do the work teachers need to do and not try to teach information that should be taught by the parents. Teachers are educators....not babysitters and parents.

I give away free book marks to anyone who would like one. They are special....
they won't fall out of the book and everyone takes one. I heard several time,
"You should patent this." My book marks have sayings on them either from our book or something that pertains to being an honorable, civilized, law abiding citizen. I gave one distinguished gentleman a book mark and he read it out loud to the whole tent. "An honorable person will not lie, cheat or steal even when the opportunity presents itself." www.janpolk.com.....www.ayearofgoodmanners.com Then he said to me,
"I don't like this one; give me a different one."

So I gave him this one:
"Behave decently to others, show consideration when there is conflict, and
maintain composure when displeased. Knowing etiquette makes you feel relaxed
and confident." Margery Sinclair.com.....www.ayearofgoodmanners.com
He kept it.

Jan Polk will be signing books at the Orange Beach Art Festival March 12 and 13, 2011.

Orange Beach Art Center, 26389 Canal Road, Orange Beach, AL holds their
annual Festival of Art on the second Weekend in March. It is going to be
the best one yet. It gets bigger each year. Come and spend the day both days. Great food, lots of painting activities for children, musicians, juried artists, jewelry, potters, local and national authors. Check out the hot shop......free wine....buy the glass and the wine is free. There is something scheduled
all day long both days. Check their website for a schedule of events:
www.obfoa.com

Park at the Orange Beach Senior Citizens center or at Orange Beach
Publix and take the shuttle right to the front entrance. Handicap
parking is available at the Church right next door and just past
the Orange Beach Art Center.

Hours 10 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday March 12 and 13, 2011.
We are expecting beautiful, sunny weather in the 70s.

Please stop by and say hello to me at the Author's Literary Tent and pick up a
special free book mark which won't fall out of your book! I made these just for
you and I wore my hand out working on the computer to make these! They are
worth it. These special book marks allow you to make notes in the book without
actually writing in it. Take advantage of this opportunity to have a special inscription and autograph for your copy.

"A Year of Good Manners" by Margery Sinclair and Jan Polk ($27.05) is for sale year round at the Orange Beach Art Center Gift Shop
as well as from my website and
Margery Sinclair's.

"A Year of Good Manners" by Margery Sinclair and Jan Polk is a beautiful hard cover birthday book featuring 365 etiquette tips written by Margery and the reasons to use each one. Margery uses a humorous style to convey very important information.
People always say they should teach this information in the schools. The truth is
parents should teach this information in the home because it is the foundation of
of our honorable, civilized, law abiding nation. We use this information everywhere
we go. Respect and Good Manners are the reasons we can meet in pubic places as large groups of free people and can feel safe while doing so.

Margery says, "Never discount the "likeability factor." When people like you
partly because of your good manners, they are more likely to give you a break
in other areas. A likeable person can be charmingly eccentric; an unlikeable
person just seems weird."

In these hard economic times, when all other factors are equal, employers
will hire the person with the best manners. It is our common bond. We
all want to be treated with respect.

We invite you to read some of the tips in our book at www.ayearofgoodmanners.com