Cost Effective Art And Photo Presentation

Everyone is looking for an economical way of presenting your art or photos in a professional manner.

One of the simplest ways to accomplish this is to take the most common sizes of regular and digital artwork and purchase pre-cut mats.  To make things even simpler stick to black and white mats or a combination of those colors that suit the sizes and art or photos you are presenting.

When you purchase your pre-cut mats, you can source them in single or double with options like regular mat board, conservation quality or 8-ply conservation board. Don’ t forget to add items you will also need such as backing boards, crystal clear poly bags or acid-free tape and dispensers.  Many of the suppliers for pre-cut mats will also supply packages that include everything you need.

The result is an incredible saving over buying the components separately – yet sacrificing nothing in the area of professionalism and presentation.

One of the simplest and yet professional presentations is the simple single white or black mat over your work – placed on a clean white backing board and presented in a clear poly sleeve that can be sealed and then opened and re-sealed as necessary if you need to remove the artwork to show or even to autograph for a buyer.

One of the best things you can do in presentation is to standardize.  By staying with certain sizes, you simplify your own process of ordering, stocking and presenting your work.  You will find that you same money as well as use your materials wisely.

Try to choose a final size that is considered standard will also make it easier for your purchaser to locate and add a frame of their choice from either an on-line supplier, art supply, frame shop or department store.

Present your work elegantly, yet simply and cost effectively.  Some samples of packages like this can be seen at http://www.matshop.com.

Air Force Squadron Coins – From the First to Present Day

“Awarded on the Occasion of Becoming an Airman in the World’s Best Air Force” is the wording on the front of an original USAF airman’s coin. The reverse contains the words, “Excellence in all we do, Integrity First and Service before Self.” Representing the accomplishment of becoming an Airman, the coin is typically the beginning of many Air Force squadron coins that are collected by members of the United States Air Force.

Designs may have Changed, but the Meaning is the Same

Although the first airman’s coins featured an eagle, a new version now contains the Air Force Symbol in its place. This symbol was introduce in 2000 and is based on the “Hap” Arnoldwings from World War II. The design is representative of the Air Force’s present day abilities as well as future proficiency and adeptness for protecting this country’s freedom. A number of squadron coins today have this symbol as well as the name of particular Air Force bases and squadrons.

Featuring a variety of other symbols in addition to the Air Force symbol, there are several coins that contain the words, “veni, vidi, vici.” Latin for “I came, I saw, I conquered”, this sentence signifies the accomplishment of a mission. Other coins may have an eagle and are given for dedication and the performance of certain operations groups.

No matter what the coin contains in the way of embellishment or wording, they are given in recognition for a particular act or membership in an elite group – the United States Air Force. Collecting the coins has become very popular and some are quite rare. One example is the Bull Dog coin. This coin was limited to B-52 tail gunners and is no longer given. The rarer a coin, the more value it has and the Bull Dog coin is highly collectible.

Speculation Surrounds the Origin of the Coins

The coins are made from an array of metals including brass, nickel, bronze, silver, gold and copper. There are many stories of the origin of these coins. One is that the first ones were given to members of a squadron by a lieutenant and they were made of solid bronze. Another story says the first coins were actually given to members of the Army Special Forces.

Irregardless of where they originated, these coins are collected by members of the military and their family. They are also collected by others, not just for their value, but due to the unique styles and designs of the coins. The coins are given to enlisted members when they complete basic training. They are given to new officers when they finish their training school. Other reasons for the coins to be given to members are as acknowledgement for acts of bravery performed even when it is not considered worthy of an official medal.

The reason for giving the coins may vary; however, the recipient knows the pride of receiving one. They also know that the coins represent the united cause of members of the Air Force as well as other military divisions.

What Is Credit Card Debt Negotiation?

Today millions of people throughout the world are dealing with the overwhelming challenge of credit card debt. While debt consolidation loans and balance transfer are strategies utilized by many people to deal with the immediate cash flow issues, these strategies do nothing to reduce the total amount of outstanding consumer debt. In reality, more consumers should consider credit card debt negotiation as a tool for improving monthly cash flow and reducing the overall amount of carried debt.

The negotiation process begins by communicating with your current creditors. These communications need to clearly articulate no only your current financial situation and inability to repay at the current terms, but also a clear request of how you need your debts to be restructured. The most common form of credit card debt negotiation involves negotiating a lowered APR to reduce the amount of monthly interest accrual. At the heart of this process, the creditor and the debtor work together to formulate a plan that allows the debtor to fully repay their debt, while still protecting the interests of the lending institution. Successful negotiations will not only eliminate issues of delinquency on the part of the borrower, but it will also save the borrower a substantial amount of accrued interest.

If you are unable to negotiate an acceptable settlement on your own, it may become necessary to bring a third party to assist in this process. The two most common resources for credit card debt negotiation are consumer credit counseling organizations and professionals who specialize in consumer law. The expertise and experience that these outside parties bring to the table can be beneficial in creating a settlement that is equitable for all parties involved. In many cases the use of an outside third party can greatly reduce the total amount of outstanding debt that is required to be repaid.

Consumer counseling services will typically work directly with lending institutions, acting as a mediator between the debtor and the lender. The counseling service will typically work to establish a monthly budget with the borrower and will then negotiate a reduced principal and interest payment with the creditors. In this form of credit card negotiation, the borrow will make a monthly payment to the counseling service. The counseling service will then divide that payment between the creditors. When the balance is paid off on one account that amount is rolled over to another account each month, generally determined by the highest rate of APR.

The second method of third party negotiation is often referred to as credit card litigation. In this type of debt negotiation strategy, the debtor seeks legal remedies to relieve their debt obligations. Even though most people would assume this means bankruptcy filings, that is a common misconception. In reality, this type of negotiation uses legal filings and at times the court system to create a remedy to the unresolved debt liability.

Whether you handle the process yourself or utilize the services of a third party, don’t overlook the opportunity that credit card negotiation presents for reducing your overall debt and increasing your monthly cash flow.