Reel Tributes is honored to be included among the Top 7 Personal History Blogs of 2012, as recnogized by noted personal historian and writer Dan Curtis. According to Dan, the Reel Tributes’ blog excelled by demonstrating:

• Frequent, consistent, and reliable posting.
• Personable and clear writing.
• Short scannable articles.
• Uncluttered pages.
• Use of graphics, photographs, and video.
• Intriguing and descriptive headlines.
• Useful content.

The Reel Tributes team is flattered by the recognition and will continue to provide valuable advice on personal history in 2013!

To learn more about the recognition, and Dan Curtis, visit http://dancurtis.ca/2012/12/12/the-top-personal-history-blogs-of-2012/

To all of our Jewish fans, we wish you a new year full of milk and honey, happiness and prosperity, and even stronger bonds with your loved ones. Rosh Hashanah is a time of reflecting on the past and and contemplating the future.  Take a few minutes to ask your family about their favorite memories, and what they wish for in the years to come.

Shana tova!

- The Reel Tributes team

Photo credit: http://blogcritics.org/

At the beginning of a project, we will give the client a printed copy of this Mission Statement. That way they know what to expect from us throughout our relationship.

Take a look at the document below, and let us know what you think! We’ll be evaluating it on a regular basis to make sure it still reflects the beliefs and culture of the company.

On behalf of Reel Tributes, the Alzheimer’s Association, and the contest sponsors, we would like to congratulate Carol Amos for winning the inaugural Your Favorite Memory contest. Her story, “The Dining Room”, was an emotional and beautifully-written tribute to her mother’s sense of fashion. Carol’s prize is a customized documentary film, produced by Reel Tributes, to celebrate her mother’s life.

Read Carol’s winning story below:

One of my earliest memories is participating in a fashion show with my mother at the YMCA when I was four or five years old. My mother made us matching poodle style dresses out of a white, blue, and black fabric with a poodle design. We were the hit of the fashion show.

My mother was an expert seamstress but mainly self-taught. She made all of our clothes and also my brother’s Easter suits with matching coats. She transformed our dining room into a sewing room and we spent countless hours together as she taught me to sew at an early age. She taught me the importance of perfection. Even if a mistake was not visible, my mother would say, “I will know that it is there.” So I learned how to remove stitches and took pride in wearing my well-made garment. My mother taught me about fabric, color, fashion, and how to modify a pattern to suit my own taste. I made some of the widest bell-bottom pants in high school. I continue to use my sewing skills today.

I learned to sew in the dining room but more importantly I learned life lessons. Some of the lessons were direct conversations with my mother about God, faith, achievement, honesty, time management, setting goals, and how to be a lady. My mother modeled some of the lessons as I watched her stop sewing to listen or give counsel to a friend on the telephone or to bake a cake for a bereaved friend. Other lessons such as commitment, service to others, and how to treat people, I overhead as she spoke on the telephone to friends. All of these lessons helped transform me as I developed from a girl into a woman.

When my mother began to lose her memory seven years ago, we moved her to an assisted living facility. Her sewing machine was placed in a prominent place in her suite but we soon realized that my mother lost her ability to sew. The sewing machine became just another piece of furniture. Now my mother resides in an Alzheimers facility and the sewing machine resides in my basement, both a reminder of what used to be.

After battling Alzheimers disease for over eight years, my mother still has a keen fashion sense. She sometimes compliments patients in the doctor’s office about their clothes, shoes, or purses. When my mother receives compliments about her outfit, she sometimes responds, “I made this outfit not long ago.” I smile because I know that I recently purchased her clothes and her statement confirms that she truly enjoys the outfit. On one occasion, my mother complimented me by saying, “I like your new suit.” I was shocked because it was a new suit. Glimpses of the mother I used to know are pleasant surprises and give me strength for the remainder of this Alzheimers journey.

Sometimes, you hear about a company doing amazing things and know right away you have to meet them. When we at Reel Tributes heard about TrustedFamily, that’s exactly what happened. Founded in 2007 by two young entrepreneurs- Edouard Thijssen and Edouard Janssen–  the company’s technology enables business families and family offices to manage their affairs more effectively and to keep the family together over the generations.

After talking with Edouard Thijssen, we quickly recognized the potential for collaboration. When you visit their website, www.trustedfamily.net, it’s easy to see why they’ve been so successful. Their platform is easy to use, well-designed, and brings together a wealth of resources (family, business, financial, and philanthropic) into one place. It’s no wonder they’ve grown their client base to 50 families spanning 15 countries.

We are excited for the amazing things to come from Reel Tributes’ new partnership with TrustedFamily! To learn more about the partnership, and how Reel Tributes’ clients can benefit from the TrustedFamily’s services, read our press release at http://www.reeltributes.com/view/news/trustedfamily/.

Have thoughts or questions? Let us know in the comments below, or send us an email at info@reeltributes.com.

The stories are in! The response to the Your Favorite Memory contest has been simply incredible. Each and every story is a powerful reminder of the ways Alzheimer’s Disease can impact an individual. Even more importantly, they showcase how brave and resiliant a family can be in caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s.

The stories are short, gripping, and inspiring. Click here to read about a mother with an impeccable sense of fashion, a daughter who called her dad Mr. Wonderful, and one woman’s journey that taught her how “Love will safely carry you through the roughest seas”.

And make sure to vote for the story you love. The winning family receives amazing prizes, including a Reel Tribute and gifts from Lacroix, Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons, and Massage Envy. Do them a favor by supporting the writers, and tell your friends about it too. Help us spread awareness for Alzheimer’s, one story at a time!

The website with the stories is www.reeltributes.com/vote. Learn more about Alzheimer’s Disease at www.alz.org/desjsepa/

Help us create a lasting Reel Tribute to a true visionary of our generation, Steve Jobs.
Click here for more information: www.reeltributes.com/stevejobs

Download (PDF, 2.07MB)

If you’re in the DC area, join us as Reel Tributes founder David Adelman presents the company to a group of business leaders. The breakfast event kicks off the Wharton Club of DC Entrepreneurship Forum, and will be held at 8:00 AM on Tuesday, August 23rd at the offices of Bernstein Global Wealth Management (800 Connecticut Ave NW).

More information about the presentation, and the Forum, can be found at http://www.whartondc.com/article.html?aid=2279.

We look forward to meeting you there!

• Personal history:  At Reel Tributes we believe in the importance of preserving family heirlooms, pictures, documents, and of course, stories. Every family has incredible stories. Trust us, some of the most fantastic stories come from  “regular” families. Mark Twain once said, “There was never yet an uninteresting life. Such a thing is an impossibility.” This blog will explain why preserving stories is important, how to do it, and how to share it with friends and family. And since we hear so many great stories, we’ll share them with you.
• Genealogy: Curious where your ancestors came from, but don’t know where to start? Eager to explore the newest tools for genealogists? We’ll tackle a range of issues related to genealogy research, for the expert and novice alike.
• Technology: Our team will cover the latest in video, film, and editing tips to help you understand and appreciate the world of film. You’ll see why we believe so strongly in the power of film to revolutionize family memories (and so much more!)

We’ll keep things fresh, fascinating, and most importantly, interactive. Tell us your stories. Share your ideas. Ask your questions. We want to hear from you and look forward to a great time blogging. Cheers!

- The Reel Tributes Team
David, Caleb, Lin, and Rebecca