Author Archive: Zeb Welborn

Team GB vs. New Zealand: The Kick-Off

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Karen Bardsley

Having never been to Cardiff before I didn’t have any preconceptions of the city, stadia or the people but sure enough we were greeted with open arms. Cardiff was a beautiful town and we had the good fortune of staying at a hotel in the middle of the city, directly across from the high street. It was so nice to be able to wakeup in the morning and walk to the local Starbucks and get a lovely coffee in the morning. A barista asked us to sign some coffee cups, he was dedicating a shelf to all the Olympians that were visiting and to be fair he had quite a few from various nations. He also asked for our twitter handles so he and his co-workers could follow us – pretty cool! We also had an interesting dinner while in town, when we were in Middlesborough with the Men’s team someone spoke with Craig Bellamy. Being Welsh he knew quite a lot of good places to eat in Cardiff so he recommended an Italian restaurant, naturally we assumed it would be a treat but it turned out to be a little bit of a nightmare. A few of us ordered the seabass and it was quite different then what we expected, it certainly sounded delicious on the menu but when it was delivered it was literally a fileted fish, complete with eyes, head, and tail. It was stuffed with lemon and a few herbs sprinkled here and there. Sorry Craig but it was not my bag, they must really like you!

Kit

In preparation for our matches we did a lot of training but as the matches drew nearer we allotted more rest and recovery time. Players do a lot of different things to aid their recovery: ice baths, massages, walks, jogs, bike rides etc. but how do we stay entertained? Usually we find various ways to entertain ourselves or each other but one night in particular we felt like going to the cinema. We did the usual, we rounded up the team in the lobby and asked who would be interested in going but this time the manager on duty at the hotel overheard us and said, “I know the manager at the Cinema, let me give him a call.” We waited a few minutes and he came back to us with times for the films. A majority of us wanted to see “The Dark Knight” so we walked over and we were greeted and escorted to a theater. We sat there for about 15 minutes and the theater wasn’t filling up at all, we thought it was a bit strange but didn’t take much notice. A few people walked in a few minutes later and sat down mid-level but an usher quickly scurried in a asked them to follow him to another showing! WHAT?! Hang on a second. Were we having a private screening? We couldn’t resist tweeting about it.

The build up to the first match was great; not only were we full of enthusiasm, the whole city was buzzing with excitement too. Unfortunately we didn’t get to go to the opening ceremony but we did get to watch it together in our private viewing room (hotel meeting room) dressed in our snazzy opening ceremony outfits! We went down to dinner in our “spacesuits” and some of the girls paraded around the lobby, dining area and bar to rousing applause: the team made quite a scene. The following day we had the opportunity to visit Millennium Stadium and walk the pitch, it was a beautiful ground, the grass was immaculate. Unfortunately due to Olympic regulations, teams were not permitted to train at the stadium in the group stages so we had to go back to our training ground and get on with business as usual.

The following day was match day, Team GB v New Zealand. The most awesome thing about match day, especially on a massive stage like the Olympics, is the energy. As soon as the team woke up we could feel the energy and excitement exuding from every single person in the squad. It carried on all throughout the day: to Millennium Stadium, where we were escorted the last few kilometers by Police on horseback through a crowd of supporters, to the changing room and on to the pitch as we began the warm up. People were chanting our names, chanting Team GB and making up songs. The match hadn’t even started yet! It was definitely a feeling we will never forget. New Zealand were a very dangerous team, they were very fit and physical. They put us under some immense pressure at times, especially in the first half. The occasion may have got the better of us but in the end we came together as a team and secured our first three points and Team GB’s first official victory.

ABC Services | Turnkey Network and PC Solutions

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Applied Business Computer Services President Jim Keneaster

In 1990, founder of Applied Business Computer Services or ABC:\Services, Jim Keneaster recognized a need for a timely, reliable, on-call computer service.  Since that time, ABC:\Services has been helping to provide computer support to businesses throughout California’s Chino Valley.

Many changes have come to computers since 1990, but ABC Services has grown, adapted and responded to those changes by meeting demands and acquiring technological expertise.

The services at ABC Services are extremely flexible and believe in the “Golden Rule.” They are devoted to treating their clients with equality and respect without regard to their size or wealth.  Client relationship is their top priority.  Their slogan, “At your door – at your convenience.” is more than a slogan, it’s the way they do business.  If you need troubleshooting and repair, hardware upgrades, custom PC systems, office products, maintenance agreements, and/or data back up contact ABC Services.

As an active member of the “Chino Valley Chamber of Commerce,” ABC Services is committed to providing the highest quality services to their community.

ABC Services is a turn-key, (they do it all), solutions provider for networked computer systems.  They even provide pre-arranged services to our clients after normal business hours, including weekends and most holidays.

ABC Services maintains technical expertise plus sophisticated software, and hardware tools to provide your company with security against viruses, worms, and data loss.  They can recover your lost or erased data, provide low cost, off site client data backup storage, break passwords, and repair virus and worm damage.

Applied Business Computer Services

Contact President Jim Keneaster by telephone, (909) 590 – 7500, by email jimk@abc-services.com or visit the ABC Services website www.abc-services.com.

 

Facebook Secrets Revealed: Zeb Welborn of Welborn Media

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Join us this Wednesday as Zeb Welborn from Welborn Social Media presents Facebook Secrets Revealed at the Chino Valley Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, September 26 at 7:30 in the morning.  If you would like to learn how to use Facebook to improve your business please stop by the Chamber of Commerce this Wednesday morning at 7:30 AM.

Zeb Welborn gave a presentation to the Chino Valley Chamber of Commerce titled, Facebook Secrets Revealed

Facebook Secrets Revealed

 

Rodell & Company | An Accountancy Corporation Designed to “Help Your Business Succeed”

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Rodell & Company recently signed on with Welborn Social Media to help improve their online presence.

Rodell & Company is an accountancy corporation located in Chino Hills, CA, but services clients all across Southern California.  Specializing in management consulting services and traditional accounting engagements (compilations, reviews, audits, tax preparation and planning for business and personal taxes), Rodell & Company is here to “help your business succeed.”

“Our company is committed to serving your business needs. We take pride in focusing in on your business environment and core competencies. Most CPA firms treat you as a client and see you as an account with a budgeted number of annual hours for your engagement. This is where we separate ourselves from our peers. If your business doesn’t succeed, then we have not done our job, hence our mission statement, ‘Helping Your Business Succeed,’ plain and simple.”

Owner, John Rodell is extremely active in the community, he participates heavily in the Chino Valley Chamber of Commerce, sponsors Kristie’s Foundation, a local NPO servicing the needs of families with critically ill children, participates in “Chino in the Know” and a variety of other local organizations.

If you’re looking for a CPA, we encourage you to contact John Rodell of Rodell & Company for more information –  (909) 606-3544 ext 117.

Save Lives . . . Complete Cambodia

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Complete Cambodia | Building a Future, Free of the Past

We recently began working with Steve Pennington from Complete Cambodia.  We’ve never met a more passionate individual . . . a man who is trying to make a difference.  During the Vietnam War massive amounts of bombs were dropped in Cambodia. They are still going off today, killing innocent Cambodians more than 30 years after the Vietnam War.  Complete Cambodia’s mission is to remove those mines from Cambodia by building awareness for this cause.

To build awareness, Steve has asked us to build a website designed to accept donations and by holding fundraising events. He already has plans for a benefit concert at a later date.  Steve is also headed to Cambodia on September 18 to assist in removing land mines.  Here is what Steve had to say about his mission for Complete Cambodia:

I have been inspired to take action in raising the awareness level, as well as fundraising for what is occurring in Cambodia as a result of America’s actions during the Vietnam war. From the years of 1964 through 1973 over 2 million tons of ordnance were dropped by United States bombers over Cambodia.

Presently, men, woman and children are being injured and killed by land mines and unexploded bombs. At a rate of almost 1 per day.

Cambodia is by far the most bombed area on the planet to date, and because of that their economy is handcuffed. Land can’t be developed for building roads and schools, as well as farmed. It’s crippling a society. The children seem to be the most affected as they tend to think the land mines are toys, and when they pick them up, they obviously explode.

If the organizations that are there don’t continue to get funding and a dialog in this country is not created, casualties of the Vietnam war will continue to occur. The people of Cambodia will never have the ability to thrive as a society and will constantly be living in the face of fear.

By creating awareness and doing the fundraising, the people of this amazing country will finally be able to take ownership of their land. They will be able to walk anywhere without the fear of being injured from a land mine or bomb. They will have the ability to build and farm on land that they have not been able to because it WILL be safe to do so. Most of all, as a society, they will start to get complete with something that we as being on the outside, consider history.

My intentions are to host a benefit concert to not only fundraise, but to generate more recognition towards this cause. Any help is greatly appreciated on raising the awareness of the Complete Cambodia project.

Thank you,

Steve Pennington

We are thrilled to work with such a passionate individual and encourage all of you to become engaged in his cause.  Visit his website at www.completecambodia.com and tell us what you think.

You can also connect with Complete Cambodia on their Facebook page – Facebook.com/Complete.Cambodia, or their Twitter account @CmpleteCambodia.  Together we can make a difference.

David Kramer Recommends Welborn Social Media | Senior Vice President at Los Serranos Country Club

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David Kramer recommends Welborn Social Media – We began working for Los Serranos Country Club in July, 2008 and have helped foster a thriving online community for golfers who play golf in Southern California and at Los Serranos.  With over 2,500 Facebook fans, over 5,500 Twitter followers, over 100 YouTube videos and over 300 blog posts we have established and maintained an active and vibrant online community.

When I announced my presentation at the Chino Valley Chamber of Commerce entitled, “How Social Media Can Benefit Any Business,” David Kramer, Senior Vice President at Los Serranos Country Club had these words of encouragement for me:

“We’re in a communications economy where story telling i.e. subjective narrative brings educational value i.e. that has transformational value. Transformation towards health, happiness, easiness and orderliness on all levels of life.  If that value is missing from what a business performs then what is the point?   Certainly not just money$$.

Social media is a reflection of advanced artistry and brain functioning. It’s a vehicle that expands the territory of influence.  It makes everyone more effective and affluent in what they know and how they learn to know.”

David Kramer recommends Welborn Social Media and Los Serranos Country Club has seen the benefits of a thriving online community through the use of social media.  His statements regarding the impact social media can have on any business is simple, yet profound.  We are living in a communications economy, our collective knowledge is growing and those who have the passion to achieve their dreams have a far greater ability to do so than ever before.

Thank you David Kramer for all your encouragement and support . . . it is an absolute pleasure to work for Los Serranos Country Club.

Los Serranos Country Club is located in Chino Hills, CA.  For Southern California golf there is no greater golfing destination.  Please check out the Los Serranos Blog Page, the Los Serranos Facebook Page and the Los Serranos Twitter Page to see some of our work and to connect with Los Serranos Golf & Country Club.

David Kramer Recommends Welborn Social Media

David Kramer and the Kramer Family

 

Thank you David Kramer for the kind words.  To learn more about Welborn Social Media, Zeb Welborn and golf, visit 19th Hole Media.  At 19th Hole Media we provide tips and advice on how to help golf courses grow using social media.

David Kramer also appeared on the Defining Success Podcast with Zeb Welborn where he shares his insights on business and how to grow your business using friendliness and hospitality.

Team GB Women’s Football by Karen Bardsley

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Team GB Women's FootballBeing at the Village was an eye opening experience. In hindsight, I am glad we got our bearings before we played Brazil. Most of us made the best of the evening and headed over to “the globe” to shoot some pool and hang out after meetings and meals. This place looked like it was straight out of the film “Roadhouse,” it was filled with neon lights, pool tables, a few XBOX, and Wii consoles, bandstands, a digital jukebox, and a Powerade bar where you could customize your own Powerade bottle and name bands. Quite a lot of athletes were tweeting their custom bottles, using hashtags and all sorts of mentions. I felt that social media outlets were well used throughout the Olympics and almost all of the interactions I saw were very positive. I even used the search feature a few times to find other athletes, where they were competing, how they did and send them well wishes. Team GB Women’s Football was constantly connected throughout the games, most of the staff were on Twitter and constantly posted updates, results and more good luck messages. Our time in the Village was brief; we very much enjoyed it but were were soon back to business as we had a pre-Olympic match to prepare for. So off we went to Middlesborough following morning.

We made our way Stratford Station ,directly across from the village and after multiple security screenings we were joined by Team GB Men’s football. Police escorted us to Kings Cross where we boarded our first class train to Middlesborough. Ooh la la. We were all left to our own devices, I filled up my time editing video and scarfing my sandwich whilst most of the others tweeted, “facebooked,” napped or watched movies on their iPads and computers. I had never been in a first class cabin on a train before so I was a bit surprised when the attendants came around with the trolley and gave us a selection of snacks to chose from, as I eluded to earlier I had a sandwich and the attendant asked how many I wanted. I thought we only got one, that’s first class for you – an unlimited supply of sandwiches.

After a short coach journey we arrived at a rather palatial hotel, it was absolutely massive – gorgeous. The corridors were decorated with ornate filigree, antique paintings, bold carpeting and our rooms were enormous with all of the accoutrements and even a fancy turn down service (I could get used to this). There was a golf course on the grounds as well as Middlesborough’s training ground – immaculate pitches. The staff were all obliging and lovely and even took us on a few guided golf buggy tours, lucky us. As the week went on we had a few open training sessions; media and supporters came to watch – we enjoyed that immensely!

Before we knew it match day was upon us. This day in particular was a bit of a rush due to the doubleheader’s early kickoff but regardless we were eager to get started. The excitement was palpable, it had been building for a few weeks now and it was finally time to warm up and play. The match ended in a goal less draw but there were a lot of positives to take away from our performance. We had many opportunities but failed to convert, all things considered it was a pretty good start to our Olympic campaign. Not bad for a team that had only been together for two weeks. After the match we headed back to the changing rooms for ice baths and showers but not before taking some photos and signing autographs for our awesome supporters. One thing the team really enjoyed about Twitter and Facebook was seeing the photos that people took at the match and mention the enjoyment it brought to them. It was nice to feel supported, especially when everyone’s comments were so positive!

After a lie in, breakfast and a recovery session we packed up and made our way to one of Middlesborough’s local airports. Much to our surprise a private jet awaited our arrival. We breezed through security, had a browse in W.H. Smith and boarded the plane to Cardiff; where we had the honor of kicking off the London 2012 Olympic Games.