Debra Madaris Efird is a new contributor to the Trail Tales column, and a hiking enthusiast. Her story, My Own Green Cathedral reminds readers that some of the best trails can be enjoyed right in their own back yard.

About Debra Madaris Efird- Debra is a member of the NC Writers' Network and author of Groups in Practice: A School Counselor's Collection (2012, Routledge).  She has had numerous articles published in professional counseling magazines as well as in saturdayeveningpost.com, livinglutheran.org, Savannah Anthology, Wake Living magazine, UNCG magazine, and others.  She has been a Finalist in numerous writing contests, including the Thomas Wolfe Fiction Prize, Doris Betts Fiction Prize, Press 53 Open Awards, NCSU Prize for Short Fiction, and others. You can reach Debra at email debramadarisefird@gmail.com , website: https://sites.google.com/site/debramadarisefird/home

Change Happens!   Hidden Treasure Novels, HTN reinforces that message in several social media outlets. If you follow us at Twitter or Facebook you will recognize this photo. Friends in New Jersey might remember a time when they had to deposit these tokens every few miles or so on their way to the shore.

In the debut award winning novel that launched this HTN enterprise, Jackson Badgenoone considers the High Water Markers of life. Jackson draws inspiration for the theme after observing the Dutch Buffalo Creek. On page 41 of that book, readers discover that, “High Water Markers provide tangible evidence of the advance and retreat of creeks, streams, rivers, and oceans. Metaphorically they also provide the measuring stick for citizens, nations, enterprise and empire… Civilian title after a name, the number of boxes under a box on an organization chart, a corporation balance sheet… A few are life-changing events, a birth, a spiritual epiphany, a wedding, a divorce, a death.” The Hidden Treasure of Dutch Buffalo Creek, page 41.

This blog entry considers High Water Markers that relate to society. We welcome readers to share their experience through the contact button on the connect page of this website. What was a high water marker that you observed during the seasons of your lifetime?

Readers of this blog know that novels aren’t the only place where written treasures are hidden in the narrative. Some are revealed in the chapters of a novella, the paragraphs of a short story, or the flow of a poem. My walking buddies and I decided to make a range of written material available to other hikers who frequent the Buffalo Creek Preserve and Trail.
The article posted this month was written by Barbara Baker. In her short story, "He was Supposed to Be a Robot" Barbara shares about a very special artifact that she treasures to this day.

About - Barbara Baker
Barbara Baker is a retired Kindergarten teacher, who has been writing poetry for over 50 years.  She was born on the US Naval Submarine Base in New London, CT, but grew up in south Central New York State.  After graduating high school Barb chose to explore life for a few years before entering college. Her journey is captured in her writing. She can be contacted at poemtree68@gmail.com.

Benny Moose is a long-time hiking buddy, enjoys the outdoors, and is now a second time contributor to Trail Tales. A Sunday School Picnic Fifty Years Ago recalls a story originally penned back in 1973 by Archie Evans Moose. It describes a special trip as seen through the eyes of a seven-year-old boy. This is the second part of the story.

About - Benny Moose
Benny is married to his high school sweetheart.They have 2 children and 5 grandchildren. Benny taught Physical Education and Health classes for 31 years in Newton-Conover City School System and Cabarrus County School System. Taught Driver Education for 45 years in both school systems.

In the debut award winning novel that launched this HTN enterprise, Jackson Badgenoone considers the High Water Markers of life. Jackson draws inspiration for the theme after observing the Dutch Buffalo Creek that appears on the cover of the book. On page 41 we read, “High Water Markers provide tangible evidence of the advance and retreat of creeks, streams, rivers, and oceans.

Metaphorically they also provide the measuring stick for citizens, nations, enterprise and empire… Civilian title after a name, the number of boxes under a box on an organization chart, a corporation balance sheet… A few are life-changing events, a birth, a spiritual epiphany, a wedding, a divorce, a death.” The Hidden Treasure of Dutch Buffalo Creek, page 41.
This blog entry considers High Water Markers that relate to career. We welcome readers to share their experience through the contact button on the connect page of this website.

          Preparing for your first job
          Your first job
          Developing a professional development path for yourself

Creating your business plan
Identifying your market
Forming your own business
Generating your product /service
Establishing a brand
Hiring your first employee
Developing a professional development path for your employees
Planning an exit strategy

 A colleague, good friend and fellow author, John Henry Weiss published books on job hunting and the workplace, and is the Founder/President of Weiss & Associates, Executive Recruiting. John is our featured guest today.

John offers his clients a unique collection of skills and experience in the education-focused executive search profession. Prior to founding Weiss & Associates, he held positions in educational publishing and technology with several companies including Harcourt, Apple Computer, Inc. and The Learning Company. With these organizations, his corporate executive management responsibilities encompassed domestic and international sales, marketing, editorial, and product development. His resume includes positions as an account executive, regional sales manager, international sales manager, vice president sales and marketing, and editor in chief. In addition, he was president and owner of EXTRA EDITIONS Publishing Company, a supplementary mathematics publisher. Also, he has logged time in the classroom, beginning his career as a teacher in public and private schools in Chicago and Northern Illinois.

John obtained undergraduate degrees in Sociology and Education from De Paul University in Chicago, and completed graduate work at De Paul, Loyola and St. Xavier University, all in Chicago, where his studies encompassed American Literature, Law, and Business.
 
He was a faculty member and presenter for the Pennsylvania Cable and Telecommunications Association at Penn State University, a member of the International Copyright Committee of AAP, and served with distinction in various professional organizations within the education industry.

His successful nationwide search and consulting assignments for employers in the education industry have resulted in the placement of presidents, executive vice presidents, editors, directors, managers, sales representatives and consultants. He maintains offices in Stockton, New Jersey, providing convenient access to Washington, Philadelphia, Princeton, New York City, Boston and other locations in the Northeast Corridor. A frequent speaker and presenter at industry conferences, John continues to be an active contributor to professional associations and organizations serving the educational publishing and technology sector.

Other writing experience includes numerous workplace blogs for www.federaljobs.net  the leading government jobs website, and Ms. Career Girl, www.mscareergirl.com a popular site targeting millennial women.   
 
John's  books have been cited in articles in the New York Post daily newspaper, Business News Daily and Federal Jobs.net. A review of OPERATION JOB SEARCH by Dennis Damp, author of 26 books on the government workplace including the best seller, The Book of U.S. Government Jobs (495,000 books sold) states that this book is the “Bible for anyone leaving the military.”  In addition, John has conducted numerous presentations and book signings at Barnes and Noble bookstores and he has conducted webinars for Talentmarks Career Speakers. To view the covers of his books and numerous reviews  Google, John Henry Weiss.
 
He has authored three books focused on the workplace, careers and job hunting. These books are perfectly aligned to the primary mission of Hidden Treasure Novels, HTN. They all deal with change, and are featured in the HTN bookstore. The books are available in paperback and eBook from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and independent book sellers.
 
 
WELCOME TO THE REAL WORLD: A Complete Guide to Job Hunting for the Recent College Grad. c2014, Skyhorse Publishing Inc. 
 
OPERATION JOB SEARCH: A Guide for Military Veterans Transitioning to Civilian Careers. c2016, Skyhorse Publishing Inc. 
 
MOVING FORWARD IN MID-CAREER: A Guide to Rebuilding Your Career after Being Fired or Laid Off.  c2018, Skyhorse Publishing Inc.
 
Contact John through this website or by using LinkedIn or his email address, www.Weiss4Jobs@aol.com.

There are a number of ways to show support for the Arts. We are blessed in this area by the Cabarrus Arts Council. This morning the organization hosted the 2019 Breakfast for the Arts. It is encouraging to see so many people from our county participating. You can learn more about the organization at #supportcabarts19 

Last month, I had an opportunity to reconnect with a former colleague. John Lowe and I worked at Apple Computer, Inc. through a vibrant decade. After 25 years of successful executive selling, John decided to share his expertise in developing and delivering compelling business presentations with the world. He also developed and taught courses on public speaking, is an Adjunct Faculty member with Ty Boyd Executive Learning Systems,and a Certified Vistage Speaker for Vistage International. He currently consults with businesses regarding their sales and marketing messaging, and coaching their teams and executives on developing and delivering differentiated value proposition messaging.

John published two books to help guide leaders in the private and public sectors.
Passion for Presenting and Remarkable Presentations reflect his belief that, "We all make presentations every day. Some are professional in nature, propelling our careers forward. Some are community-focused, helping to support cause and projects which we care about. Others are quite informal, more personal in nature, perhaps even one-on-one. What they all have in common is they represent an opportunity for us to represent ourselves and our ideas to someone."

John is truly a Renaissance Man. His writing includes a recently released book. Ramblings of a Common Man: Everyday Poetry is a collection of poetry reflecting on life. It was written by a traveler on the path of human existence, observing what came his way. It is offered with gratitude, respect, and honor, with the hope of providing a flicker in the imagination, a spark for the senses and a slight embrace to the heart.

John's body of work is aligned to our mission. He encourages everyone to discover their hidden treasure. He is also an accomplished artist, with displays in several Art Galleries; more about that in a future update.

I look forward to posting several of John's short stories in our monthly Trail Tales Column. He has created a new service designed to serve the Senior Savvy newspaper readership. For those trying to preserve family memories, visit John's site at http://senior-stories.com/