HOME-MADE HAUNTED HOUSE

(This article was written by Lacy Boggs for the Yellow Scene-October 2010 issue. It features my suggestions for creating your own neighborhood haunted house-Happy Haunts)

On an unassuming street in the subdivision of Erie Village sits the Halloween House. Most of the year, it’s just a normal house, but the kids around this neighborhood all know that as soon as the air turns cooler and the leaves begin to change, the Halloween House also begins to transform into a scary, hand-made haunted house. Brad Beck has been converting his garage into a full-blown haunted house since he moved to Erie Village in 2002, and his attraction’s popularity speaks for itself. Every year, he scares the giggles out of more than 500 kids, and he agreed to share some of his tips for those wishing to create their own house of horrors.

Plan Ahead

Beck starts planning the theme of his haunted house nearly 12 months in advance, so he can be on the lookout for inexpensive props year-round. Closer to October, he meticulously plans out what the maze inside his garage will look like, so he has a clear vision when it comes time to build.

Have a Theme

A theme helps give the experience cohesion. He often goes with whatever’s hot that year, be it pirates, zombies or classic Halloween monsters. He also suggests carrying the theme out into the front yard, the house decorations and even the costumes you wear to welcome visitors.

Create Vignettes

Beck’s haunted house doesn’t employ actors to scream and jump out at the kiddies, but rather relies on little vignettes of props to create scary scenes in unexpected places. Anything can become a prop with a new coat of paint or a little imagination.
Incorporate MovementSince his scares are technically inanimate, Beck uses anything he can find to incorporate movement or changes in light to make his vignettes appear to move. An old oscillating fan with the fan part removed makes a scary doll look your way, while a strobe light or puff of air can make ghosties flutter and come alive.

Use Misdirection

The key to Beck’s “maze” through his home is misdirection. As he designs it, he tries to imagine where people will expect the next scare to be—and then places the actual scare in the opposite direction. Keeping things dark and unexpected creates anticipation and makes everything more scary. The less people actually see, the better.

Be Safe and Have Fun

Beck tests all of his walls, vignettes and pathways thoroughly before the first trick-or-treater ever gets a glimpse. It’s important to keep pathways clear and keep walls or drapes stable so that scared kiddos don’t trip or knock things over. He also builds barricades around his vignettes so that curious fingers can’t reach the props

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90 days and counting

To paraphrase Paul Revere, “the mid-term elections are coming, the mid-term elections are coming.” Before we know it, November 2 will be here. Yet, by then most of us will have mailed in our ballots and cast our votes for the next group folks that promise to deliver the moon, the stars and the heavens and then only deliver voids of empty space or worse, fill the voids with programs and entitlements.

You can do something to make sure that does not happen. Get involved in a campaign. I have been since last November for my friend Don Beezley. I wish there were more candidates like Don who is running for Colorado’s House District 33. Most politicians and those running for office will tell you what they will promise. Don’s different. Don will tell you what he will protect.

Don will protect the Constitution of the United States and the State of Colorado.
Don will protect our three basic rights: the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Don will protect the taxpayer by not spending money the government has no right to take.

Protect these rights and jobs will be created.

Protect these rights and schools will be funded.

Protect these rights and prosperity will return.

I have the privilege of working on Don’s campaign. I say privilege because I believe I am fortunate to live in a nation that gives each individual the opportunity to live with the blessings of liberty. I have walked countless hours in precincts talking and listening to voters. I have made phone calls and attended rally’s and fundraisers. Why? Because I believe, it is my civic duty to make sure our county has an active citizenry. I want to be a part of the solution and not part of the problem. I want to make sure our Constitutional Republic is preserved and protected. We don’t need leaders that promise. We need protectors who are patriots, willing fight to preserve our nation.

Get involved and help protect this great county. Volunteer for a candidate who is willing to protect liberty. Walk, call, write and become active. America is a better place for it. http://www.donbeezley.com/

Promising Myself

As a member of the Optimist Club of Erie, I just attended the 92nd Optimist International Convention held July 8-10, 2010 in Denver, Colorado http://www.optimist.org/. Optimist International is an association of more than 2,900 Optimist Clubs around the world dedicated to "Bringing Out the Best in Kids." Adult volunteers join Optimist Clubs to conduct positive service projects in their communities aimed at providing a helping hand to youth.

My Optimist Club shares their positive message at each meeting which begins with our Creed

The Optimist Creed

Promise Yourself

To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.

To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.

To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future

To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.


In one of the many educational sessions I attended, I had the privilege of listening to James Rankin, the author of the “Power of the Creed”. In one of the exercises Mr. Rankin requested the audience to say the Creed with one difference. He asked that the audience say the Creed aloud and change the wording to first person. Read the below aloud to hear what it sounded like.

I Promise Myself

I will be so strong that nothing can disturb my peace of mind.

I will talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person I meet.

I will make all my friends feel that there is something in them.

I will look at the sunny side of everything and make my optimism come true.

I will think only of the best, I will work only for the best, and I will expect only the best.

I will be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as I am about my own.

I will forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

I will wear a cheerful countenance at all times and I will give every living creature I meet a smile.

I will give so much time to the improvement of myself that I will have no time to criticize others.

I will be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

WOW! It is amazing how a few changed words can enhance this positive message and make it an even more powerful statement. The first person of “I” gives the reader a greater commitment to really strive to live these ideals and work on implementing them in their daily life.
If you did read it out-loud, did you feel the difference?

I recite the Optimist Creed at least twice a day. Once when I rise and once before I fall asleep. It keeps me positive, focused and reminds me to be grateful for all that I have and what I can strive to be. Reciting the Optimist Creed helps me improve my outlook each day.
What are you promising yourself to improve?

My Annual Dose of Hope

For the past three of four years I have attended, learned and provided my time as a Facilitator for the Colorado Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Program. I am also a Member at Large on their Board of Directors. Known as HOBY, this two and a half day conference revolves around teaching 15 and 16 year old sophomores who are going into their junior year of high school, “how to think, not what to think”. These Ambassadors, as they are referred to, are selected by their high school councilors to represent their school, yet more importantly there are selected for their current leadership activities or potential for leadership.

There were over 140 young people from all over Colorado that attended this years event. I was again fortunate to have brilliant Ambassadors, Alyssa, Ashton, Brenna, Jordy. Maggie, Raina, Ryan and Will, along with a vibrant, energetic and enthusiastic Assistant Facilitator, Louisa. Together these eight young women and men recharged my belief that the future will be in good hands as these Ambassadors take their learned skills, information and use their new network of HOBY friends back to their home schools to volunteer and make a difference in their communities.

Attending panel discussions on Business, Media, Volunteering, Education, the Environment and addressing personal prejudice, these HOBY Ambassadors interact, discuss and think about how leadership is critical to successfully addressing the problems and issues that face leaders. Learning development activities also create opportunities for team building and introspective thought.

In addition to creating new friendships, having fun and learning HOBY cheers, there is a challenge of following up this event with 100 hours of community service in any activities the Ambassadors feel they can contribute to. The whole program is maintained and financially supported with all volunteer help who contribute their time, energy and money to ensure continued opportunities for future leaders. Donations by local businesses and service clubs like the Kiwanis and the Optimist help with their financial investment in tomorrow.

This years closing keynote speaker was former Denver Bronco, media commentator and author, Reggie Rivers. Mr. Rivers connected with the HOBY Ambassadors by sharing his heartfelt message of attaining success and creating better behaviors to achieve one’s goals. Mr. Rivers humor, stories and wit were a fitting close to this years theme of Faces of Leadership.

You can contribute to HOBY and to the building of future leaders by donating at; http://www.hobycolorado.com/

A THANK YOU worth sharing

It was a cool, crisp, clear Monday morning along the front range of Colorado. I was flying from Denver to Sacramento, California on four-day business trip. My carrier of choice, has larger than life photographs of wild animals on their tail and has a reputation as the “hometown” airline with great commercials. In the era of low fares and no service, flying has become like riding on a crowed bus in some banana republic. Crowded and no fun.

As a frequent flyer, I appreciate the little things that occasional flyers do not. Boarding the plane first, so I can stow my carry-on luggage. Extended seating, giving me a few more inches of leg-room. Free TV to check the news when I am not reading a report or a book. Little, “creature comforts” that I look forward to as a premium, “summit” member. Because my carrier of choice does not fly everywhere I have to travel, I sometimes fly on others, like the –“un-friendly skies”. I hate those trips.

My flight was two hours of uneventful bliss. We were actually arriving a few minutes early on a clear, central California dawn. As we made our descent, one of the flight attendants handed me a business card. On the front, in contrasting dark and light gray hues was printed the words, Frontier Airlines. Handwritten in freshly penned, dark blue ink, was the following. “Thank you for flying on Frontier Airlines. We appreciate your business and we look forward to you flying with us again.”

There in my hand I held the first, heartfelt, handwritten “thank you” I had ever received form any airline in twenty-six years of flying. I could not make out the name clearly, yet it was signed by the person who wrote it. The plane made a picture, perfect landing and we taxied to the gate. I gathered my belongings and was about to disembark from the plane when I thanked the flight attendant for the note. She gave me a pleasant smile and said, “Oh I wish I had written it, the captain wrote it”. I was shocked. The cockpit door was open and the captain and co-pilot waved as I left.

WOW! The power of this small gesture has me writing here to you today. While others talk about service and what they do for their customers, Frontier Airlines actually walks the walk. What one thing do you or can you do for your customers to say, “Thank You"?

Facebook | Bradley Craig Beck

Facebook Bradley Craig Beck

What have you done for your customers lately?

I recently had the opportunity to invest in the education of a customer’s sales team. An industry audio conference was offered by one of the trade organizations my company belongs to. The topic was on new trends in the industry. I paid the $60 dollar fee to receive a call-in number to listen to the conference.

Then, it dawned on me. Why not share this presentation with one of my local distributors? I called the buyer and general manager and asked if they would be interested in learning about new industry trends in a audio conference presented by one of the leading authorities in the business. Best of all, it would be my dime. They accepted my offer and the next day we listened to the audio-conference together in their conference room. The customer chose one of their managers and four of their sales team to listen in. The audio conference lasted about 45 minutes with 15 minutes for Q and A.

The discussion after the audio conference was awesome. There was exciting conversation on how to grow the business and implement the information. The benefit for the sales team was they shared the information with their customers. This opportunity strengthened my relationship with these folks and I helped invest in their future success. A minor cost with a major benefit. I cannot wait until the next event to do this for another customer.