How To Organize A Community Clean Up

We all should bring our parts in uplifting the world around us. One way you can make a difference is by helping struggling communities around you. Initiating a community cleanup is an effective way of promoting health, beauty, and safety. Not only will it benefit your local area’s environment, but it can also bring together diverse people in the neighborhood for bonding activities. But how do you organize a successful yet enjoyable cleanup event from start to finish? With this step-by-step guide on organizing a community cleanup, you’ll be able to put all logistical details into place quickly and efficiently — leaving more time for everyone involved to have fun and enjoy themselves while doing something worthwhile!

Via Pexels

Decide Which Area Needs Cleaning And Plan Accordingly

Before you can begin organizing a community cleanup, the first step is to decide which area needs the cleanup most. Then create a plan outlining what needs to be done, such as removing debris, replacing broken fixtures, and tidying up common areas. Next, set realistic goals for each step to complete the cleanup and list who will be responsible for completing each task. This should include information on volunteers and external support needed, if any. Also, make sure to factor in any necessary supplies or resources that may be required to ensure success during the cleanup process. 

Get Permission to Execute the Cleanup from The Local Authorities

Before planning a community cleanup, gaining permission and approval from the local authorities is essential to the event. Depending on the size of the event and its scope, different permits might be required from relevant governmental agencies or even municipalities. Furthermore, all volunteers involved should register themselves with the local Disaster Management Authority to ensure full compliance with safety protocols and for insurance purposes. Additionally, contacting your local neighborhood council or civic society to obtain legal permissions and securing any special equipment needed from the municipality itself is an important step. Getting all necessary permits in place beforehand increases participants’ confidence that the event can proceed without any potential roadblocks or obstacles standing in its way.

Secure Volunteers

Finding volunteers for a community cleanup event is an important part of successfully organizing and executing the event. Utilizing existing relationships and networks can quickly attract and motivate individuals to join in this effort. You can ask friends and family members to help you and even approach local businesses for assistance. Post a sign-up sheet for volunteers on social media. Connect with your local schools and churches to recruit more volunteers.

Develop a Logistical Plan

Developing a logistical plan is one of the most important steps when organizing a community cleanup. A good logistical plan should include important elements such as route selection, schedule creation, transportation arrangements, and volunteer recruitment. Put a list together of resources needed to complete a successful cleanup. This list could include garbage bags, a dump trailer, gloves, other equipment, first-aid kits, and signage for directing traffic and volunteers. Proper planning will ensure that everything is in place for a productive day of making your local community shinier than ever!

Helping the communities around you is a great way to give back to others and uplift the areas around you. A successful cleanup initiative is achievable through proper planning and can be a great experience for everyone involved.

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6 Travel-inspired Bachelorette Parties to Organize

It’s one of the biggest responsibilities of a girlfriend: plan a smashing bachelorette party that will wow the bride and her other friends. The thing is that your friend loves to travel and wants a travel-themed bachelorette party. There’s only one problem: you aren’t exactly fond of traveling. In fact, even before the pandemic, you haven’t spent much time outside the city or state. You only went to a couple of countries when you were in college just to get along with your friends, but traveling isn’t exactly your kind of thing.

Don’t fret. The internet exists primarily to help clueless individuals like you who have zero ideas about the task assigned to you. This is not the first time someone will plan a party without any idea where to begin. Not everyone is a gifted party organizer and planner, so there’s plenty of resources on the internet for this.

Plan a Yacht Party

Anyone who is carefree enough to love to travel will also have an affinity for the water. You can rent a party boat for hire to stay clear of the hustle and bustle of city life. In any case, it’s a luxurious treat for someone who is dear to you. Aboard a yacht, you can hire musicians, caterers, and bartenders to make it a full-on party. You can either have the boat anchored in the marina or have it sailed to the middle of the sea or at least a few miles away from the boardwalk.

Rent a House

Look for a house that has the classic tropical vibe of Indonesia’s Bali or the summer ambiance of Havana, Cuba. If no one in your friend’s circle has that kind of house, then rent an Airbnb and transform it into a beach house. Look for one with a private pool so you can splash around as a DJ mans the music table, and the other guests dance. Make sure there are inflatables in the shape of a donut, unicorn, and the sun to complete that summer vibe you are aiming for.

Glamp in Style

You have probably tried camping in the past. And if your friend loves to travel, she has tried it before, too. But now that you are older, camping isn’t really your style anymore. It is uncomfortable, and it hurts your back. No future bride wants that. So, what option do you have? Glamping means glamorous camping. Basically, you are camping but with all the amenities of a luxurious hotel, which means a soft bed, air-conditioner, indoor plumbing, and electricity. Forget about pesky mosquitoes since the bride needs to be smooth as butter on her wedding day.

Rejuvenate in a Spa Day

Honestly, who doesn’t deserve a spa weekend? Look for a spa resort somewhere outside the city. It doesn’t need to be too far; a two-hour drive is a good enough road trip. When you get to the spa resort, you can all forget about being in the same country or the same city. Most spa resorts have a meditative ambiance, which is something that your friend needs because of the stress that wedding planning brings her. So, although you are not exactly traveling, for now, a weekend in a spa resort will feel as relaxing as traveling, too.

Go on a Foodie Tour

Is there a better way to experience many other different cities than through their food? If there’s a particular country that your friend is fond of, then why not focus on a foodie tour of that country’s cuisine. If she wants Argentinian food, then schedule a food extravaganza with a local Argentinian restaurant so you can sample asado, chimichurri, empanadas, and dulce de leche.

Plan a Movie Night

Traveling through movies is also permitted for a low-key bachelorette party. You can watch movies that take you to far-flung areas such as “Eat, Pray, Love,” “Mamma Mia!,” “Only You,” and “Under the Tuscan Sun,” among others. You don’t have to leave your couch to experience traveling again. But make sure you have a bottle of champagne to toast the bride and a plate full of cheeses, dried fruits, chocolates, and nuts. Prepare for a long night of not really watching the movie but simply enjoying each other’s company.

Going out of town or out of the country, of course, is the most obvious way to have a travel-inspired bachelorette party. However, since not all people have the resources or time to make that happen, this list is a complication of unique ideas that will also make this party a fun event for everyone. Take your pick and work your magic.

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Big Mistakes to Avoid When Running Corporate Events

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Corporate events are important occasions for both your clients and customers. That is why you need to do everything that you can to ensure that they run smoothly. You want everyone to come away talking about the occasion for the right reasons. And while it is important to focus on the things that you can do well, in many ways, it is just as important to think about the possible things which could go wrong. Here, we will be talking about a few of the most common.

Not Setting Goals

There is no point in hosting an event unless you have an idea of what you hope to achieve from it. For example, you may be trying to improve public perception of your business, introduce a new product to the market or simply makes some new contacts and widen your client base. Your goals should be both measurable and achievable. This way, you can sit down after the event to assess how well you have done and what could be improved next time.

Failing to Plan Well Enough

A business event needs to run like clockwork, and without proper planning, it is very unlikely that this is going to happen. So, you need to map out your event as best you can. Take a look at these 62 Projection Mapping Ideas by Industry for some inspiration. You should have a time plan for what you want to happen and when. And you also need to communicate well with all of your different partners including entertainment, caterers, venue etc.

Poor Budgeting

You need to have a clear budget in mind before you host your event. Otherwise, it is very easy for costs to start spiralling out of control. Good cost management is one of the best ways of ensuring that your budget stretches further. You need to conduct this task thoroughly so that you are not hit by hidden costs which you never accounted for properly.

Being Dull

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An event needs to be memorable to have maximum impact on your guests. And since your clients may attend a lot of corporate events, you need to offer them something a little different. But all of this needs to relate back to the central purpose which we discussed earlier on. So, if you are going to be launching a new product, you need to think of an innovative way that you are going to reveal it. If the purpose of your event is networking, you could think up some games for people to play which help to get them talking.

Even the colors you choose to represent yourself at the event should be lively. For example, if you decide to use a custom tablecloth with your logo to advertise yourself, ensure that it is printed with high quality and attractive enough. This will ensure you leave a lasting impression in your audience’s mind even after they leave. This may seem like a small detail, but these seemingly little things might make an impact on your outcomes.

Choosing the Wrong Venue

The impression that you send from your even will largely come back to the venue that you choose for it. Make sure that it gives the right impression of your business, as well as being practically suitable to host an occasion like the one that you have planned.

Avoiding these five common mistakes will go a long way towards ensuring that you host the type of business event which lives long in the memory.  

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How To Plan A Perfect Summer Celebration!

With summer just around the corner, many people have at least one or two celebrations to attend. Despite the British climate we often envisage our events to take place outdoors, under a perfect blue sky. If you have the task of planning an outdoor event, a little preparation now will ensure the event is memorable for all the right reasons.

image source

The earlier you start to plan your event, the better. If your event is large you may need to look at regulations relating to holding big events in your area, particularly if you wish to feature loud music or fireworks.

Research your venue

It is important to visit the venue and carefully plan the space you have available. If you have a good idea on the numbers of people attending, you will need enough space to ensure your guests are comfortable, but not so much space that the guests look lost! Take photographs and measurements, even if the venue is your own garden, as the photographs will help you plan where to position tables etc.

If you have live music, the band will likely need access to power for equipment and all-weather protection. Allow space for a dance floor and arrange tables accordingly.

The entertainment you plan needs to be suitable for all ages and your aim is to create a fun happy atmosphere. If children are attending you could consider hiring an entertainer. A popular choice of entertainment is to hire a photo booth, Trez Entertainment have a great selection of booths and props.

Food

Think about where your food will be served from and where you will situate the bar. Toilets are also another essential consideration, if you are going to hire portaloo style facilities, think carefully on where you will situate them, preferably well away from food, but close enough for them to be lit when the sun sets.

What food to serve your guests is a huge consideration. You could hire outside caterers to lower the pressure, or cater yourself. Another popular option would be to ask all your guests to bring a dish to share.

A hog roast is normally very popular, as it feeds a crowd, Remember the vegetarians in your party by offering veggie options!

Drinks

summer cocktail

Drinks should be freely available without the need to queue for long periods. Hire plenty of bar staff if your event is large, or position drinks tables where they are easily accessible. Hopefully the weather will be lovely and warm, so ensuring your guests are hydrated is a priority.

Ensure you cater for all tastes, whether alcoholic or not and ensure there are plenty of options for children. If you have lots of families with young children attending consider using plastic glasses for safety.

Finishing touches

Finally you can have fun decorating your venue. You may have a colour scheme in mind, especially for summer weddings, or you could consider a theme for celebrations such as a victorian garden party, Hollywood or medieval banquet! A white table cloth is always a good base for any decor you wish to add, you can then let your imagination run wild.

Finally remember to plan for all eventualities. The weather could be a major factor as to whether your event is successful or not so consider hiring a gazebo to provide shelter.

Have fun!

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The Secret To Finding The Best Spot At Trade Shows

Trade shows and expos are a brilliant opportunity to meet a lot of customers in a short period and showcase your company. If you do it right you can come away with a lot of good contacts but if you get it wrong you’ll waste a day standing behind a table doing nothing. Your presentation is key and you need an eye-catching stall that draws people in, but the thing that will really make or break your expo experience is the placement of your stall.

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You might be hoping for a definitive answer to the very best place to set up but the truth is, there isn’t one. There are spots that are better than others and certain places you should avoid at all costs but it often depends on your own needs. Experts disagree on the importance of your location; some claim that location alone won’t stop you from drawing people in while others say it’s the biggest factor.

Either way, you need to know where to place your stall because there’s no point getting event popup printing companies to create an amazing display for you if nobody is going to walk past it anyway. You need to be somewhere that gets enough foot traffic as well as offering enough space for you to set up your presentation materials properly, but how do you find that magic spot?

Know What You Want

It might be tempting to go for the biggest stall you can get but it doesn’t always work. The thinking behind it is that the bigger your stall, the easier it is to notice so you’ll get more people coming in. The thing is, if you haven’t actually got enough products or displays to fill the space, it’ll look empty. Having a stall that’s way too big makes you look unorganized and immature as a company so people won’t trust you.

There’s also no need to go for the same sized space at every show you go to. You’ll see a different set of customers at each one so make sure you’re tailoring your stall each time rather than just getting the same thing.

Study The Floor Plans

The best way to choose the perfect spot at a trade expo is to study the floor plans and work it out for yourself, don’t choose based on the price. One of the first places to avoid is the entrance. Some people think that they’ll get more traffic because everybody has to walk right past them on the way in. However, people are reluctant to stop at a stall before they’ve had a bit of a walk around. That means most people won’t come to your stall on the way in and when they’re leaving they aren’t likely to either.

Check the layout of the room and see if you can have a guess at what the natural flow of people might be. Then you can place your stall along that path and hopefully get more foot traffic. It’s also a good idea to look for any obstacles like pillars that will restrict people’s view.

Location, location, location is an old cliché that usually applies to real estate but it works just as well for trade shows.

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Business Promotion: 9 Strategies For Winning At Trade Shows

Collision conference and trade show in New Orleans on May 4, 2017

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Depending on the nature of your company, some of the people reading this post might have to exhibit their brand at trade shows in the future. That can become somewhat of an expensive exercise because the business has to pay a fee to the organisers in most instances. There are also lots of other areas in which you’ll have to spend cash if you want to achieve the best results. There are some expert strategies listed below that all entrepreneurs should consider before arranging their next big trade show date. Failure to take note of this advice could mean your firm never reaches its full potential, and you never make the level of profits you deserve. So, take a read through this information and apply it to your business model as soon as possible.

Choosing the most suitable events

Before you do anything else, all business owners will have to make sure they identify the most appropriate trade shows for their brand. There are thousands of different exhibitions all around the country every single year. So, even those in niche markets should manage to find something that works for them. Get in touch with the promoters as soon as possible and ask about the process of getting a stall at the event. In most instances, you will have to send a small deposit and pay the entire cost at some point before the date. Some organisers are known to charge a small fortune, and so it’s wise to discover the price as soon as possible. That way, you have enough time to prepare. Ideas for reducing the price include:

  • Sponsoring the event
  • Striking a deal with the promoters

Just make sure the events you select will enable you to chat and network with the owners of rival firms, and any members of the public who show interest in your marketplace.

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Taking your best team members

No entrepreneur should go to a trade show without lots of back-up. That means it’s vital that you take a look at the people working in your office and try to work out which of them will provide the most assistance during the event. Ideally, you want someone who knows the company inside out and has an excellent approach to customer service. When all’s said and done, whoever you take along to the trade show will represent your brand just as much as you. They will have to speak to new potential clients and customers while trying to convince them to spend money. So, you want someone who deals well with stressful social situations of that nature. Bear in mind that anyone you take will have to:

  • Speak to people who show interest
  • Answer questions about the business
  • Present themselves in a professional manner

Once you select the right employees, you can write a script and ask them to learn it. That way, you still control 100% of the things they say to any attendees during the event.

Looking the part

First impressions count in the business world, and so anyone attending an exhibition will need to ensure they present themselves in the right light. If you run a fun company aimed at young people, wear some jeans and a funky t-shirt for the best results. If your brand focuses on providing legal services to large corporations, you’ll probably want to invest in a designer suit or something similar. Make sure any workers you take along to the event also follow that strategy. The last thing you need is for someone who looks like they’re about to go jogging to deal with new potential clients. That is not going to encourage anyone to part with their hard-earned cash. Some quick tips might include:

  • Wearing a uniform
  • Dressing to suit the occasion
  • Wearing branded clothing
  • Visiting a tailor

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Investing in promotional materials

It’s vital that you have lots of promotional materials available at your trade shows. That is because lots of other companies will occupy the same space, and so visitors won’t have enough time to stop off at every stall they encounter. Still, the last thing you want is for people to walk away without learning anything about your products or services. So, promotional materials like flyers, business cards, and other items are going to come in handy. Also, take a look at some cheap ID carrying ideas, so attendees have no trouble distinguishing between those working for your brand, and those stopping for a chat.

You might also like to buy:

  • Branded t-shirts
  • Mugs
  • Pens
  • Mousemats

Creating a quiet area

Some of the people who stop and have a conversation at the trade show might want to learn more about your company. For that reason, it makes sense to create a quiet area away from the hustle and bustle where you can chat. There are lots of tools that will assist during that process if you don’t mind investing some money. Indeed, it’s possible to find work pods online that should cancel out most of the background noise. That will make it much easier for individuals to hear themselves think and learn some more information about your business. Of course, those who can’t afford to do that should consider arranging meetings for the following day. Just hire an office somewhere near to the convention centre and book people in for a discussion.

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Getting in touch with graphic designers and printers

There is no getting away from the fact that you need to make your exhibition stand appear as attractive and appealing as possible. That is why you shouldn’t try to cut back on spending when it comes to contacting graphic designers and printers. Just search Google for renowned specialists in your local area and then visit them to discuss the work. Ideally, you’re going to want lots of posters and banners to ensure your stand catches the eyes of passers-by. Anyone on a tight budget should aim to use the same company for both the design and the printing work as that is the best way to get a discount.

You can also use some of the same graphics for the leaflets and flyers you hand out during the day. There is nothing wrong with killing two birds with one stone, and in most instances, the imagery will work well. Just ensure that every large graphic contains:

  • Your logo
  • Your business motto
  • Your website address
  • Other contact details

Making the stall interactive

You’re living in the digital age, and so it’s wise to use technology as much as possible at trade shows. There are lots of ways in which you could approach that goal. However, most entrepreneurs choose to invest in iPads and other tablet devices for exhibitions. Load them with product catalogues or brochures that explain your services, and then fix them to the stall. Some attendees won’t want to hold lengthy conversations with your team members because they’re shy or in a bad mood. However, those folks will often find the time to stand around for ten minutes taking a look at one of your tablet devices. Other ways you could make the stall interactive include:

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Giving something away

Everyone likes getting something for free, right? Well, maybe you could use that psychological knowledge to ensure you make an impression on everyone who takes the time to attend the trade show. Giving something away that contains your logo, or alternative branding is a fantastic move that doesn’t have to break the bank. As mentioned earlier, promotional materials are essential for all exhibitions. So, why not take it a step further and create some goodie bags that people can take away? In those bags, you could place:

  • Branded stationery
  • Magazines
  • Music CDs
  • Mousemats
  • T-shirts
  • And pretty much anything else you like

Assessing the results

It’s critical that all entrepreneurs work out a method for evaluating the results from their trade show activities. The easiest way to do that is to ensure everyone at the event gets a discount code they can use on your website. You then just have to get the marketing guys to see how many individuals entered that code after a couple of weeks. That idea shouldn’t take too much time to arrange, and it’s quite useful. However, feel free to think outside of the box and develop a new concept. Just make sure that you have a way of working out how many attendees bothered to research your brand and spend money after the event. That way, it’s easy to perform a calculation and determine if the exhibition assisted your company in making a profit.

Now you know how to win at trade shows, nothing should stand in your way of success. Just remember the first point mentioned on this page before you rush into anything this year. If you fail to identify the most suitable events, you will always struggle to achieve the best results. In most instances, everything else relates to common sense and trial and error. So, now is the time to start the ball rolling and improve your business’s prospects in time for 2018. Good luck!

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The Big Cosmic Show – Total Eclipse 2017

Hi everyone! On August 21st, the solar eclipse took place and what a show it was. The path of totality, where one would see a total eclipse, crossed the U.S.A. from Oregon to South Carolina. I had heard the reports that there would be tremendous traffic in the areas around the path of totality, but, being within 100 miles of a total eclipse for the first time in my life, I decided to go for it. I’d never seen a total solar eclipse and felt it would be almost criminal for me to miss this one because of fears of heavy traffic. And, to get an idea of what to look for during a total eclipse, and also ways of making pinhole viewers, I checked out YouTube, which can be very helpful in finding out about lot’s of things.

The Trip There

I was prepared. Totality in Salem, Oregon would take place around 10:17am local time, so, I got up around 4am and left about 5:15am. I mapped out a back road route in advance and armed with my maps, gps, and a packed lunch, eclipse glasses, a home-made pinhole viewer, and my camera, I set out. Traffic going to Salem was much better than I expected and I arrived there in about an hour and 15 minutes, which is near normal. I realized, people had been arriving over the previous 4 to 5 days, so the influx was more gradual, and I figured this might be the case, but, being a possible once-in-a-lifetime event, I wasn’t taking any chances.

My Viewing Site

I didn’t go to one of the advertised venues, but instead opted for a supermarket parking lot on the east side of Salem. I found easy, and free, parking. The beautiful thing about an event like this is, you can view it from anywhere, it’s not like a greatly anticipated movie, rock concert, or sports event where you have to go to a specific place, this is visible across a wide path from anywhere in town or between towns for that matter.

There were a few others there, including someone with a telescope, using it to project an image of the sun and eclipse on a large white sheet of paper, and this was actually more effective and safer than the glasses, and more detailed than the pinhole viewer, though the pinhole viewer was definitely effective in showing the advancing eclipse.

Total Solar Eclipse 2017. Man with telescope using it to project image of eclipse on large white paper. Looks great! – 8/21/2017

Remember! – Never look at the sun without certified eclipse glasses or filters! Best and safest is to look indirectly using a projection on a surface or a pinhole viewer! Otherwise your eyes can be damaged instantly! Only during totality in an eclipse is it safe to look with the naked eye!

What I Saw

At first, when the eclipse started, you didn’t notice much darkening or lessening of the amount of light. What you could notice, as I had learned from YouTube, is that, the light coming through the leaves of a tree will actually show the crescent sun as the eclipse advances! I saw this for myself! And, this effect is visible whether or not the eclipse itself is total, partial, or annular. (Where the moon doesn’t quite cover the sun but leaves a full circle of light instead of totality.)

Total Solar Eclipse 2017. Crescent suns on the ground after totality as seen through the tree leaves. – 8/21/2017

There is another effect which is sometimes happens just before and after totality, called “shadow snakes”, in which these shimmering shadowy lines appear, but this is somewhat rare and I didn’t see this, but, in retrospect, I could see where it may have been close to happening.

As the light dims, which you do start to notice at around 85-90 percent totality, it looks different from the dimming of light when the sun sets normally or when clouds move in. And, you can “See” the moon’s shadow coming, as a darkening of the sky. It also looked to be changing to a darker blue, again, different from a normal sunset. And, the street and parking lot lights come on as well! Then, totality hits and it gets almost as dark as night much quicker than it would in a normal sunset. At this point, you can look at the sun without protection, with the naked ye, safely. And what a sight!

Total Solar Eclipse 2017. Sun in totality. Light from corona makes sun look like it is shining but in actuality, it is dark as it is covered by the moon, which one would see in person or with a better camera. – 8/21/2017

You do see the sun’s corona from behind the moon, which is a pitch black circle in the sky. You can also see stars and planets. I saw Venus, which, where it was, would be completely obscured by the sun’s light before and after totality. In the photo I took, the light of the corona does overwhelm the dark circle of the moon, and no photo does it justice.

The temperature does drop, though I was too engrossed in the eclipse to really notice it myself. Also, all along the horizon, you see distant light as in a sunset, but overhead and nearly to the horizon, it’s a night sky! They refer to this as a “360 degree sunset or sunrise” And it is really different and worth seeing.

Where I was, totality lasted about a minute and 56 seconds roughly. When the sun starts reappearing, there’s a sort of flash at one end of the moon’s rim making it look like a diamond ring. At this time it is no longer safe to look at the sun with the naked eye!

And, the light again looks different from normal sunlight. It first looks like the light is coming from a very powerful electric spotlight from far away, like standing in a big football or athletic field at night with only one light on, shining down on the filed. Then, still slowly but seemingly faster than before totality, the light starts coming back, still with that strange dimness, but then returns to normal. And, on the projection of the sun or through a pinhole viewer, you see a now reappearing and growing crescent sun, the crescent appearing on the opposite side.

Though the totality only lasts a very short time, the partial eclipse usually lasts about two hours, so you can still use the pinhole viewer to view the remaining partial eclipse.

In Conclusion – My Thoughts

Total Solar Eclipse 2017. Me just after the totality phase of the eclipse, as shown on the projection in the background. – 8/21/2017

I had considered staying where I lived to view the eclipse, where it would be 99.2 percent totality, but everything I’d read from those who had seen a total eclipse said that there was a huge difference, like the difference between “going to the prom vs actually getting married”, or “hitting 5 numbers in the lottery vs hitting 5 plus the mega or power number for the top jackpot”, so I went and it was worth it! It did take me 2 1/2 hours to get home using back roads, but I’d do it again even if it took me twice as long to get home! I found that the comparisons that I read about are true and I’m glad I went down to Salem to see my first total solar eclipse! It was quite a show and not one to be missed!

Here’s  the video I took during the eclipse. Enjoy!

Happy Observing!

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