"Hello, From My Heart"

August 25, 2004

BE HAPPY ZONE
By Lionel Ketchian

"Hello, From My Heart" If you hear those words being spoken on September 11, you may want to know why. Five years ago Gary moved to Florida. He noticed that the residents of his new community were ignoring each other. Gary jogs most mornings and he noticed that the other assortment of walkers, runners, and cyclists, for the most part kept their heads down in silence. This would not do for Gary so he began greeting everyone with a smile and some pleasant words. Today, it seems everyone greets everyone. "In fact," he remarks; "One recent first time visitor said three strangers waved at him." His visitor then said; "boy, this is a friendly place."

Maybe that was the beginning of "Hello, From My Heart" Day or maybe it really started in the small country town where Gary grew up. There was no crime in the small country town where he was raised. "We didn’t even have a local police department," Gary recalls. "For traffic infractions and the like we employed the patrolling services of a department two towns away." As one can imagine in a town typified by this and the two-room schoolhouse he attended for eight years, everyone knew each other. Everyone said "hello." and if someone said, "How are you;" they expected a meaningful answer.

Ask Gary, Can we change the world? He will say, "Yes, we can!" This year he has a global campaign on September 11th. Currently he has projected to reach in excess of 16 million people. He expects to reach 100,000,000 people and with your help I know we will. Gary says he learned many things from that inaugural "Hello, From My Heart" Day: 1. We are very powerful. When we choose to greet each other with a smile and the words "Hello, From My Heart" the impact is registered for miles around. 2. Participation determines results. There's no getting around that. Where participation was the greatest, the results were the greatest. 3. Media coverage is triggered by mass participation, and the media is very important to our results.

You can do several things right now: 1. Please register at: www.hellofrommyheart.com. All registering will receive a listing on the Who's Who Page of "people who make a difference" on the web site which can include your web address. Be sure to check whether or not you wish to be interviewed by the media. 2. Please forward this invitation to every person, business and organization that you know. 3. Call or send Gary a note with any questions, ideas, or suggestions. 4. Mark September 11th on your calendar as "Hello, From My Heart" Day.

As Margaret Mead once said: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world; indeed it is the only thing that ever has."

On September 11, join Gary and I and many others in saying: "Hello, From My Heart" to people you meet. It may take a certain amount of courage, but you will feel good about it, I guarantee you. It will give you a chance to experience putting other people ahead of yourself. It is an opportunity for you to connect with others and taste the feeling of being friendly. It is good for business, it is fitting for our community, and it is wonderful for you. So join me in leading the way with a "Hello, From Your Heart."

This is your invitation to participate in measurably changing the world on September 11, 2004. We can live in a happier, healthier, and more peaceful world. It’s so easy, and it’s only a matter of choice. Our dreams for a happier, healthier, and more peaceful planet can come true. It can all start with a simple "Hello, From My Heart." Now, it's up to each of us. "We can. We will. And we are changing the world. I hope you will join us. From My Heart, Gary Schineller, Founder Hello, From My Heart, Inc. 727-376-0753

Gary reminds us he’s only 56! Gary says, "I’ve always enjoyed everywhere I’ve lived." Like many folks living in Florida, he lived with a lot of snow prior to moving there. He graduated from SUNY at Buffalo (UB) with a degree in Social Psychology. His career in broadcast television also began in Buffalo at WUTV and then WBEN before he moved to Chicago to join ABC-TV. He was promoted to Detroit and then to NYC where he was named the Eastern Sales Manager for the ABC-TV Owned and Operated Stations. Since then he has produced and directed a number of network television shows and consulted for various companies and networks. While he has received numerous awards, the one Gary says he is most proud of being named the N.Y.S. Volunteer of the Year by the American Heart Association.

Our next Happiness Club meeting will be on Thursday, September 16, from 7:00 - 9:00 P.M. at the Fairfield Sullivan Independence Hall in Fairfield. The topic for the evening will be "Personal Happiness and the Work World," will be the presentation by Cal Sutliff, a management trainer, organization consultant in people management areas and a management coach. Come on down, meet some great people, get connected, and be happy. Admission is free; everyone is welcome.