In the 1930s, the National Association of Real Estate Boards (the predecessor of NAR) witnessed a growth of women working in real estate and an increased participation of women at national conventions, as women were becoming aware of their potential in and importance to the industry.

Today, Women’s Council is a nationwide community of 16,000 real estate professionals who include many of the best and brightest in the business. The backbone of WCR is its network of more than 300 local and state chapters with volunteer managers trained to position their groups as a business resource in their REALTOR® communities.

WCR has grown to be the twelfth largest U.S. women’s professional organization and has one of the most successful communication networks in the NAR family. Chapters include real estate professionals who support the objectives of WCR and are interested in serving the industry, the community and fellow REALTORS®.

The Women’s Council of Realtors’ Mission Statement is – “We are a network of successful REALTORS® empowering women to exercise their potential as entrepreneurs and industry leaders”.   They work toward their mission by establishing themselves as a reliable source of knowledge committed to both the personal and professional success of their members.  They have been trusted by professional Realtors for more than 60 years as bearers of professional and personal excellence.  WCR provides programs to build relevant skills and has built a referral network generating 100 million commission dollars annually.  WCR strives to be the premier organization for individual achievement. 

Click Women’s Council of REALTORS® for more information.

Are you feeling discouraged in your OC job search?  And while it is certainly understandable that discouragement might replace optimism as the emotion of the day, it’s not time to give up the search.

Harvard University labor economist Lawrence Katz thinks it could take half a decade or more just to get to the employment levels we had two years ago. Still, he expects that during this new decade, the U.S. economy will eventually create 15 million new jobs, with the unemployment rate falling to around 5 percent.  But what is interesting is in what fields the jobs will be located. 

Katz says the U.S. has experienced polarization of the labor market. It results in strong job growth for the high-paying jobs and the low-paying jobs at both ends of the labor market, but less growth in the middle to replace the well-paying manufacturing jobs the U.S. is losing.

Dixie Sommers, assistant commissioner for the Bureau of Labor Statistics, recites a list of the 10 occupations that the BLS expects will provide the greatest number of new jobs over the next decade.  These include:

1. Registered Nurses
2. Home Health Aides
3. Customer Service Representatives
4. Food Preparation and Serving Workers
5. Personal and Home Care Aides
6. Retail Salespersons
7. Office Clerks
8. Accounts
9. Nursing Aides, Orderlies, and Attendants
10. Postsecondary Teachers

Orange County Resource Guide wants to help you in your OC job search.  Find help on how to write a resume as well as searching for available jobs by category or Orange County city.  And always remember…

“It’s not what you achieve, it’s what you overcome.  That’s what defines your career.”  ~Carlton Fisk

Prepare your Pet  with a Pet Sitter or Boarding Kennel

Spring Break is quickly approaching.  We look forward to reconnecting with family and friends or taking a much needed break from our busy lifestyles .  But with  travels in the near future, have you thought about what you are going to do with your pets?  Pets are such an important part our families, but sometimes for a variety of reasons it just make sense to leave them behind.  Happily, there are options. Some swear by boarding their pets.  Others want the security of knowing their pets are in the comfort of their own homes.  Here are a few benefits of both options…

Hire a pet sitter:

• Reduced stress to your pet as they stay in an familiar place
• Tailored care
• Less exposure to illness from other animals
• Personal attention, play time and love 
• No guilt from imposing on family members or neighbors
• No transportation concerns
• House sitting bonus
• Crime deterrent- newspapers and mail are brought in.

Use a boarding kennel:

• Kennels are run by professionals who have the skills, experience, and time to properly care for your pet.
• Secure, welcoming environment
• Playtime each and every day
• Receive plenty of attention
• Many offer grooming services so your pet is fresh and clean upon your arrival to pick them up

Whether you ultimately choose a pet sitter or a kennel, be sure to do your research.  Visit the kennel, interview the pet sitter.  Ask about insurance and hidden costs.  Check references.  Your furry, feathered, or scaly family member deserves the best you can offer.  To get started to learning about your options in Orange County, visit  Pampered Pets at Orange County Resource Guide

Have you traveled down that well-worn path of good intentions? Hmmm, how many of these resolutions have you actually kept longer than a few weeks?  So how can this year be different?  How can you make a resolution, keep it, and be a better person for it?  Get off to a successful start with these tips:

Create a Plan: Determine what is your goal.  Be realistic, but don’t sell yourself short.  Goals are something to reach for, not something easily within your grasp. Now write down your plan in a notebook or journal in ink.  It is wishful thinking that you can accomplish your goals without a plan.

Be committed: Experts say it takes about 21 days for a new activity, such as exercising, to become a habit, and 6 months for it to become part of your personality.   Each day of perseverance brings you closer to your dream.

Connect with others with similar goals: Form a support group of same-minded people.  Hold them to their choices and expect them to do the same with you.  Receiving an enthusiastic phone call or email may be just the encouragement you need to stay the course.

Track your progress – Give yourself a high five as you maintain steady progress.  Reward yourself in healthy ways as you meet mini-goals. 

Be prepared for setbacks – Remember the saying that Rome wasn’t conquered in a day?  Realize that you are human and that there will be days where you slip up.  Don’t let it be an excuse to give up.  Go back and review your plan, ask for encouragement from family or friends and get started again. Remember that while it may have only taken a moment or two to choose a resolution, it is going to take much more time to be successful.

Lastly, remain flexible.  Life is a joyous experience and every day is not scripted from beginning to end.  Circumstances may arise where you need to take a step back from your resolution (provided that it won’t cause harm to your health, of course).  Staying flexible will help you to feel that you do have options and that step away from your resolution is not necessarily a step away from meeting your goals.

There is an expression about the road paved with good intentions.  But recognize that self-change is one of the most difficult things we can do.  Each day is a fresh start to pick up again and travel down the road less traveled; the road that leads to the fulfillment of your goals.  Success breeds success, not just for the New Year but all year.

Receive the help and motivation needed to reach the goals you set on January 1st.  Find anything from closet organizers to fitness centers. Get started today with just one click!

To regift or not to regift, this is becoming an increasingly popular question especially at this time of year.  For many regifting (to give a gift to someone after it has already been given to you) comes into play when you have received a gift for which you have absolutely no use.  Practically speaking, why keep something when you know it would be perfect for someone else.  That would just be selfish, right?  Perhaps.  Or maybe you tried regifting the first time when a friend dropped by unexpectantly with a gift and you were caught with your hands empty.  Quick, what do you have that you could put into a gift bag with some fresh tissue and voila, look like Martha Stewart?   

But when regifting, keep in mind that there are some guidelines.  Make sure the gift is not dirty, torn, stained or otherwise in poor condition.  Look for hidden gift tags or cards that identify you as the original recipient. Don’t pass on a gift to someone who is friends with the original giver.  And of course, don’t regift anything used unless you are honest about being the first recipient.

Although there very well may be perfect occasions for which regifting is appropriate, remembering friends and family with the perfect gift can be accomplished with shopping early and keeping a list.  Check out this comprehensive shopping guide.  Perhaps the issue of regifting can be avoided by making great shopping decisions the first time around.

Welcome to OC is the official Orange County Welcome Blog. 

Part of the growing “Welcome Express FAMILY OF PRODUCTS” this site points you to a great source of OC information –

Orange County Resource Guide.com

This site is a great tool for exploring “Life in OC.”  Whether you’re relaxing on a comfy chair in front of your ‘puter or on the run with your smartphone in “gotta know it now” mode–we can help.  OCRG removes a lot of the guesswork from daily life.

 In an age of information overload, where and how you find that information is – in a way – just as important as the information itself. OCRG targets local information for local people with local need to know”—quickly.

 As the leading Orange County, CA Directory & Resource Guide, we provide newcomers and established residents with essential OC information at the city and county level.  Explore details on “Everything OC” — With more than 130,000 registered Business Listings, www.OrangeCountyResourceGuide.com is rapidly becoming Orange County’s #1 choice for Local Search  Here is a sampling of some of the things you will find there:

Find a Business – product or service – no matter where you live or what you need, if it’s in OC, we’ll help you find it.

 City Info – for when you need to reach out and find that “special someone” to help you navigate the bureaucratic maze. This is especially useful for newcomers.

 OC Traffic – need we say more? We’ve got real-time traffic feeds that let you know what to expect and where – 24 / 7.

 OC Weather – sometimes it actually changes! Usually, a quick look out the door or window works most of the time, but for longer term plans a forecast might come in handy

 OC Shopping – Search for stores from antiques to zippers

 OC Dining – Search for restaurants by type of dining.

OC News – The latest breaking OC news. 

 OC Best Gas Prices – Find the best gas prices close to where you live and work

 OC Essential Services for:

• Kidz Korner
• Savvy Seniors
• Pampered Pets 
• Going Green in the OC

 Quick Links to: