Call Sheilah! - Call Sheilah! News

Plan Professional Retreats with Call Sheilah!

10/10/2019

Did you know Call Sheilah! can help plan and execute professional retreats? When our client Bonny reached out to us to help with a couple of events for local chapters of the Women Presidents’ Organization (WPO) we were thrilled to take on the challenge. Helping contribute to a group focused on lifting up and supporting women in leadership roles? Sign us up!

Call Sheilah! was there to help Bonny with a recruiting event for the local chapters of the WPO that she leads by handling the registration/welcome table for their cocktail party. Bonny said that when she was considering who to bring on to help, her first priority was to hire someone that could effortlessly make her attendees feel welcomed and she knew Call Sheilah! could deliver on that front. Bonny told us Sheilah “did just a great job welcoming everyone. She had supported our group before and it’s just always great to have her presence in the room.”

We were happy to help the WPO again when Bonny was putting together a retreat for 45 women from three local chapters to attend a speaking event in Syracuse. Realizing that there were a lot of logistics and moving pieces involved with planning and executing this retreat, Bonny came to Call Sheilah!to oversee those details. Call Sheilah! handled the scheduling, travel arrangements and payment from attendees and outside vendors, and was available throughout the trip, electronically, to troubleshoot any issues as they arose.

“Sheilah took care of all the details before, during and after the event,” Bonny told us of her experience. We love that clients like Bonny can use our services so that they can actually participate fully and enjoy their retreats instead of dealing with all the logistics. When an issue arose with the bus used for the trip, Call Sheilah! took care of it without having to pull Bonny away to handle it.

It’s been such a pleasure working with and getting to know the folks at the Women Presidents’ Organization, and we’re so happy the feeling is mutual. “Sheilah has good energy. She’s responsive, and always gets back to you quickly. She’s really someone who cares about other people, which you don’t always find.” We’re honored by Bonny’s kind words and are always working to live up to our mission of person-centered service. Make sure to take a look at the WPO website to see how you can join and/or support their mission, and call us the next time you need to plan a retreat!

Breathe a Sigh of Relief with Call Sheilah

9/25/2019

Some of our customers come to us with one specific task in mind, while others have a long list of short and long-term projects for us to consider. Our longtime client Chris has been one of our most creative clients, using our services from soup to nuts for both personal and professional projects. We love that Chris has found so many ways to work with us, and we had a great chat with her about her experience with Call Sheilah! over the years.

“Sheilah walks in and you just breathe a sigh of relief! Like- ‘Thank God Sheilah is here!’” Chris told us when describing her working relationship with us. Chris and Sheilah Sable met several years ago through the Capital Region Chamber of Commerce's Entrepreneur Bootcamp, and Sheilah was one of the first people Chris went to when getting her own small business off the ground. Chris was in the process of developing a revolutionary device and has used Call Sheilah! services for clerical support, marketing, setup at events and even helping to implement computer programs for business support and organization. Chris has had us be her “extra set of hands” at workshops, so that she can focus on building positive relationships with new investors and consumers and not have to sweat all the logistical details.

Over the years, Chris has also asked us to help with personal and professional event preparation and execution. When Chris’ family was planning an important memorial service, she relied upon Call Sheilah! to help with all levels of event coordination. She told us pulling this event together so successfully would have been “impossible without the team at Call Sheilah!” This was an extremely meaningful event to Chris and her family and she noted that, “When you spend that kind of time, resources and love on an event you don’t want any mistakes. Team Call Sheilah! gave us top-notch help. Words can’t describe what she’s done for us!”

In day-to-day life, Chris and her husband have found myriad uses for our customizable services. We’ve been there to assist with holiday card labeling, rides to and from the airport, grocery shopping and dry cleaning pickup as their needs dictated. We've shopped at the Co-Op, staffed parties and arranged for cleaning services and other vendor needs. We’ve been honored to be a part of some of the biggest projects in Chris’ personal and professional life, as well as being able to support her and her family with everyday tasks that took some stress off their shoulders.

Chris told us that she feels “the missing ingredient in so many businesses is listening- and Sheilah does that so supportively. She doesn’t judge, she’s always respectful.” The Call Sheilah! team is always striving to bring this level of service to all our customers and every project we take on. Be our next “soup to nuts” customer and give us a call whenever you have a project that needs supportive, professional and reliable support.

(L) Guests gathering for the Memorial Service we helped organjze (and staff) last August, and ready for anything the Call Sheilah! vehicle (R) at the Memorial Service in Berne, last August.

Here for You During Life Transitions

6/30/2019

Are you one of those folks that knows Call Sheilah! from the work we do helping people to downsize, organize or plan events? While those are all pieces of our work that we love- our personal concierge division strives to help people with all kinds of needs, including those needs that come up during challenging life circumstances. Our client Dave was one of those people who called on us when he found himself at a turning point in his life and needed someone to help him sort through it and identify his next steps.

When Dave was in the midst of a divorce and becoming the primary caregiver for his six children, a friend of his recommended he connect with Call Sheilah! to talk about the situation and try to sort out immediate priorities and tasks. Even though Sheilah was a complete stranger to him at the time, Dave said, “She’s very disarming. She set me immediately at ease.” Following their first meeting, Sheilah was able to help Dave with the process of researching, interviewing and ultimately hiring a nanny. Dave told us he could sense right away that Call Sheilah! was “totally capable” and he felt completely comfortable in having the help navigating this sensitive, and at times stressful, set of tasks.

Throughout the process, Dave wanted Call Sheilah! to help coordinate all the logistics and details of researching and selecting a nanny and to be plugged in at the key points of the process to make final decisions. He was relieved that Call Sheilah! could provide that level of service impeccably. “Sheilah has a good intuitive sense and capability to do whatever it is she’s tackling- from the minutia, to the profound,” he told us when chatting about his experience. He said he really appreciated not having to micromanage the process, and that facilitation of the new hire was able to happen in a tight timeframe.

While Dave was impressed with the level of professional service Call Sheilah! was able to provide, he said what really has stayed with him is how Sheilah helped him take an objective look at his situation and pinpoint what he needed. He told us that, “she captured the spirit of what we were trying to do and helped me frame in my mind what I needed to do. She told me, ‘What you’re trying to do is make sure that when you’re home you’re spending that time being the best father you can.’ Words like that really hang with you.”

We couldn’t be happier that Dave was referred to us at a time when he wasn’t sure where to turn or what exactly he needed and that we could provide a service that felt positive, professional and affirming for him. Dave told us he has referred others to use Call Sheilah! and even bought a co-worker a gift card when she needed some assistance planning her wedding. It’s these types of stories and relationships that we think set Call Sheilah! apart- at the core of everything we do, we care tremendously about making life more manageable for people. We hope you’ll give us a call if there’s ever anything we can provide as you go through changes, no matter how big or small.

Give us a call, even if you aren't sure if your project or challenge is in our wheelhouse. Chances are, it is!

One-Stop Shopping with Call Sheilah

5/28/2019

Perhaps you didn't know that our number one priority is to meet the needs of our customers with tasks, big and small. If you come to Call Sheilah! we want to find a way to solve whatever issue that needs handling, and give you service that is friendly, efficient and worry-free. When speaking recently to our long-time client Casey, it was great to hear that she has found working with us to be a convenient “one-stop shopping” experience where we can help coordinate multiple aspects of a project, and take on a range of tasks.

When Casey’s client, whom she acts as a guardian for, needed to move under a tight timeline to an assisted-living facility she thought immediately of Call Sheilah! to help facilitate the process. This move happened to take place around the holidays, and Casey said she was impressed with how efficiently everything from packing to coordinating with vendors to pick up donated items was done with no need for her to step in or provide reminders. Her client was able to get back their security deposit on their apartment and move seamlessly into their assisted-living facility all under the timeframes and budget Casey had provided. Casey felt that the team at Call Sheilah! did a “wonderful job” from start to finish and was relieved to have these services available with this time-sensitive move.

We love that Casey has thought of so many different ways to use Call Sheilah! services, including buying a gift card for her own mom when she needed help with the finishing touches of cleaning out a family estate. She’s also referred our team to colleagues who work in estate planning/probate to assist clients who may be overwhelmed with the process of organizing or cleaning out an estate, and to colleagues who deal with divorce proceedings whose clients need help distributing/packing/selling personal property items. These are areas that we are so glad to provide assistance with while focusing on making clients feel at ease, respected and heard during what can be difficult life transitions.

Casey has even called on us to assist with personal shopping for a disabled client whose regular aide had to take some time off. We picked up groceries for her client, and unpacked and organized their pantry. It means a lot to us that customers like Casey trust us to work closely with their family, colleagues and clients. Casey told us she loves working with us because we “spend the time coordinating multiple aspects of a given project” so that she doesn’t have to.

When asked about her experience working with Call Sheilah!, Casey said that she really appreciates that she can go to us for any project and know that we’ll carefully consider it- that “no project is too small or too much of a pain to take on. The fees are reasonable, and Sheilah is always willing to jump in and take on a project.” If that doesn’t summarize our mission, we don’t know what does! So, keep us in mind for those nagging little tasks you just never seem to have time for, or to tackle big multi-tiered projects that you can’t manage alone. We’re here for you whenever you need us!

And by the way, we feel the same way about Casey and her law firm. They are competent, efficient, smart, compassionate, available, accessible and will answer any question. If you have legal issues, estate planning needs, a closing or a contract, check out Copps, Dipaola, Silverman, PLLC.

This empty space was Casey's client's living room. It was filled with a lifetime of memories and belongings. When Casey decided to Call Sheilah!, we were at the ready to sort, donate and remove everything, after the client was relocated for health reasons. We prefer to show the after pictures only, to ensure the privacy of our clients.

Event Planning that Exceeds Expectations

5/3/2019

Call Sheilah! offers a wide range of personal concierge services, and one of our specialties is high-quality event planning and facilitation. We’ve planned and executed events from weddings, large corporate events, lobby days and small, intimate gatherings. Call Sheilah! has provided registration table coverage, event logistics, vendor coordination and troubleshooting to anticipate and solve any issues and ensure your event runs seamlessly.

Our long-time client Sabrina thought of us first when she needed support for fundraising events for her family foundation- the wonderful Let’s Be Superheroes- and we were happy to answer the call. When chatting with Sabrina about her experience using Call Sheilah! event planning services, she told us that her decision to bring Call Sheilah! aboard to help with logistics was based on Sheilah Sable's “genuine heart." Sabrina needed someone to help as the foundation honorees, individuals living with cancer, were prepped and transported to a photo shoot. Reliability, professionalism and warmth were absolutely necessary for anyone Sabrina hired to help facilitate the day.

“Sheilah outshone my expectations. She set our honorees at ease, which isn’t easy to do when you might be nervous being on camera. She just made people feel really good about themselves.”

For the photo shoot Sheilah helped get the honorees to and from the prep are to the shoot, and coordinated with the onsite vendors to ensure things were running on time and the honorees were comfortable throughout the day. At the foundation’s evening event Sheilah also helped coordinate with Sabrina’s team to ensure no details were overlooked and any issues that cropped up were dealt with quickly. “She is anticipatory… People are shuttling back and forth, sweating getting everything moved from A to B, and she’s the first to show up with a case of water.”

Sabrina told us she really appreciates Sheilah’s ability to both look at the big picture, and also have her boots on the ground executing the smallest of details. “I’ll never not use her! …She listens carefully and responds thoughtfully. That’s why she’s able to not just meet but exceed the needs of customers she serves.” Sabrina said when asked about her experience and future event planning needs. We love having this great working relationship with a terrific local foundation that’s doing so much to support cancer patients and help support their needs for integrative care, and being able to help ensure their events are as successful as possible.

Our mission here at Call Sheilah! is to fulfill your event planning needs so that you can relax and trust that your event is in experienced hands, and you can hopefully enjoy yourself and let us sweat the details. Give us a call (or shoot us an email) the next time you need help with event planning, and make sure to take a look at the Let’s Be Superheroes website to learn more about their next Visions of Strength gala planned for October 17th.

An Extra Set of Hands for AirBnB Hosting

3/20/2019

I recently returned from an AirBnB weekend and was quite pleased with the hosting and how lovely the space was.

The popularity of home rental via sites like AirBnB continues to grow even outside of major cities, including in and around our own Capital Region.

Being a host is a great way to earn some extra money while providing space to travelers looking for options outside of standard hotel stays. We know there are challenges to being a rental host that can make listing your space difficult- and Call Sheilah! is here to help. We make it happen.

Whether you’ll be out of town while renting your space or just too busy with your everyday responsibilities to get all your hosting needs taken care of, we can handle those tasks for you. Call Sheilah! can provide the full range of host management services to ensure your vacation renters step into a comfortable, welcoming space and are provided with all the necessities to make their stay a great and productive one.

Our vacation rental hosting services are extensive. Call Sheilah! will manage and assist with: communication with and vetting of potential guests; transfer of keys; ensuring guests step into a clean space with all of the amenities offered; replenishing soaps and other consumable goods, and responding to guest needs for the duration of their stay. Guest ratings are the primary way to make sure your listing gets rebooked, and Call Sheilah! will make it our mission as your host manager is to ensure a 5-star quality stay for all of your guests.

Email or give us a call anytime to discuss your host management needs, and get to renting your space without any of the stress! We work anytime, but not ALL the time.

We look forward to hearing from you soon.

The Gift of Long Term Clients

9/1/2018

I never know where a new client referral will lead, and what new doors it will open. Three months into the launch of Call Sheilah! a mentor sent me a referral with a message I’ve gotten used to hearing- “This person really needs you.” With every new connection I see the potential for something meaningful to develop either personally or professionally. Sometimes these connections lead to a great conversation, sometimes they lead to long-term client relationships, and every now and then they introduce me to zany, super-fun and interesting people who have intricate challenges that need innovative and efficient solutions. This was one such case.

The client initially needed assistance with getting their own small business in order- from administrative tasks, organizing paperwork and reporting, convening focus groups and setting up an office space, this client needed it all. Call Sheilah! was there every step of the way to get things organized, while also to providing personal concierge services to handle the client’s errands (picking up dry cleaning and shopping for vegan items at the Co Op) as well as downsizing tasks related to a local relocation. In the midst of a miserably cold week in December ’17 we helped get this client ready move into their lovely new apartment where they are now happily settled. We hosted three garage sales during that week. You may recall, that week was often 4 degrees below zero. Not exactly garage sale weather, but super fun and unique and we got the job done.

Since then I’ve been fortunate to be brought in regularly, providing support for an ever-changing range of needs- from staffing a table at the Altamont Fair, supporting a unique arts and crafts venture, and most recently organizing a memorial event for a dearly departed loved one. We helped the client focus their energies elsewhere while we planned logistics, parking, staffing, vendors and all the little details necessary to create a loving and warm memorial service.

I’ve had the honor and pleasure of working with this client for over two years, and it’s a relationship that’s helped me grow not just my business, but my own approach to business, the mission of Call Sheilah! and new understanding of my personal mission in taking care of myself in a myriad of ways. This client, and her husband, are truly a gift in my life, and I love owning a business that allows me to meet, work with and support wonderful people all around the region.

School Is Just Around The Corner

7/1/2018

Good day,

It's hard for some of us to believe, but the school year is almost here already. While you take some time to soak in the sun, enjoy end-of-summer vacations and get in those last few BBQ's, Call Sheilah! is here, as always, to help get your Back to School errands list taken care of with time to spare!

Call Sheilah! will take your K-12 school supplies list off your hands and make sure your burgeoning scholars are ready for the year. That means no rushed trips for you, searching for that last pair of scissors or the "right" green highlighter, or worse, a piece of tech equipment that is not familiar to you and will require technology conversations at Best Buy, that make you feel inadequate.

Have college age kids getting ready to head to the dorms or their off-campus apartments? Call Sheilah! can handle picking up all your college living needs- from bedding and shower caddies to snacks and cleaning supplies. We've got you covered, while you deal with your emotions around the inevitability of how difficult it will be when they leave. Your college kid a little disorganized? Of course they are. We can help de-clutter, organize and get your students packed and ready for a new year, while you are still surviving your emotions.

Relax and enjoy the last few weeks of summer and Call Sheilah! today to get Back to School stress-free and unscathed!

Fall Events Coming Up?

Back to School tends to coincide with a rush of events- not just for school-related activities, but for fundraising, supporting nonprofits, legislative campaign work, and charitable causes. Need help organizing, running or staffing your fall event, lobby day, or meet and greet? Call Sheilah! and we can run the show.

We promise, and always deliver, efficient, professional, thorough and friendly service from start-to-finish for all of your event planning needs. Call Sheilah!can procure space, organize materials, manage decor, handle registration, and be on-site the day of your event for any assistance you need and much more. Give us a call today to bring your event to the next level, and let you focus on the mission driven, important aspects of your work.

Call Sheilah! is honored to call the Albany Damien Center Walk to End AIDS a client. We recently partnered with them and dozens of other non-profits, activists, Albany and Damien Center residents as well as hundreds of red balloons to raise funds to END THE AIDS EPIDEMIC in New York, once and for all.

Whether we help plan the parking logistics at your wedding, orchestrate the details for your table at the Altamont Fair, stage your home for a party or for sale, or some other errand, project or task we are in the business of "we got this" if you ask for help. Our Call Sheilah! mobile makes most things possible!

In case you missed it: What's new with Call Sheilah!

6/6/2017

Are you subscribed to the Call Sheilah! newsletter? If not, click below to sign up -- and then come back to finish reading all about what we've been up to lately!

Have future news delivered straight to your mailbox!

Did you know you can work with Call Sheilah! remotely? We posted feedback from our client Janet, who, with the help of the team's phone support, was able to get her 92 year old grandmother's house in order -- despite that house being a long way from Janet's home (we do say to Call! after all).
At CS! we build long term relationships with our clients. Check out the pictures of the 4th legislative advocacy day that Sheilah has organized for Compassion & Choices New York on our Facebook page!
We hate a cliche, but one person's trash is another's treasure. When you think about investing in help from Call Sheilah! to get your physical stuff under control, remember that just because you don't need it doesn't mean someone else won't. This week we featured two great ways of getting your discarded things into the hands of those who want/need them:

. . .
We all know life’s many tasks and projects can be overwhelming. At Call Sheilah! we believe suffering because of them is truly optional.

Let us help bring balance to your life, and manage those errands, projects and tasks that require support and a second set of hands. Seriously, don't wait, Call Sheilah!

Where did the summer go?

7/13/2016

Dear Friends,
Why would you want to spend the last of your lazy days of summer vacay on line at Staples or Office Depot buying binders and calculators and pens?

BACK TO SCHOOL!
Purchasing school supplies for the kiddos has never been easier! All you need to do is Call Sheilah! Spend five minutes sharing your child’s back to school supply list with us and then resume your position at the beach, pool, lake or planning your trip. Or perhaps you need to get back to work, but in any case, Call Sheilah!

We will take that chore off your plate and make sure your child has everything on the school supply list. We will purchase the supplies, label and deliver them to you, in plenty of time before the first day of school, and before you can say "Where DID summer go?"

If you want to coordinate with other parents in your neighborhood or social network and send us out to purchase supplies for the entire neighborhood, don’t hesitate to pool your resources and be efficient. We love efficiency at Call Sheilah!

BACK TO COLLEGE!
For those of you whose kids are off to college, Call Sheilah! to arrange for back to dorm shopping or the selection and delivery of study Care Packages, get well, holiday, and other themed packages, personalized birthday goodies, and more!

HAVE AN IMPACT!
Also, please note, for every ten school supply orders completed, we will donate the supplies to a family that cannot afford them, so gather your friends and parent network connections, save yourself some time and have an impact on a family in need.

Please be sure to check our website regularly for updates and upcoming suggestions about how you can use our services.

Call Sheilah! can help you if you are de-cluttering or downsizing to move, especially if you are or know someone who has just made the decision to stay in their home or move into an assisted living or senior facility. Call Sheilah! is ready to help with the all the logistics. I hope to hear from you soon.