Annie Haarmann

I'm Annie.

2011-11-15T22:00:00.003-06:00

Social media enthusiast.

Copywriter.

Sharer of stories.

Networker.

Creative thinker.

Work: Marketing Communications at Reliv International.

Play: volunteering, freelancing and writing stories.

Reliv Articles

2011-09-14T21:56:00.004-05:00

While the majority of my articles are in print, some are also in the process of being posted online. Here are a few samples:

(All stories are Copyrighted by Reliv International and MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED without permission from Reliv.)

Viral Marketing

2011-09-14T21:45:00.000-05:00

Every communications professional finds herself in a situation where she manages to suggest an idea for a viral social media campaign and inadvertently ends up smack in the middle of it. Wait. That happens to every communications professional, right?

A social media campaign was created surrounding the launch. Each week, fans were treated to "clues" about what the new product would be. The campaign needed something. Annileaks was born.

Annileaks was an employee at Reliv International. She did her best to leak the secret of Reliv's newest product, healthy energy shot 24K before it was launched. She called her mission Annileaks. She used Facebook and YouTube to leak the information.

It didn't go very well.

At every turn, her investigations were foiled. She was not very good at corporate espionage.

Reliv Stories

2011-09-14T21:11:00.002-05:00

Here are a few success stories I wrote for Reliv. You can read them through Reliv International, Inc. (All stories are Copyrighted by Reliv International and MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED without permission from Reliv.)

Product Review Stories

Business Success Stories

Reggie's Story

2011-03-31T08:17:00.002-05:00

When Reggie Taylor lost his job, he chose not to let it get him down, instead using the opportunity to pursue his lifelong dream.

“I worked for Chrysler, and when I lost my job, it was upsetting. But I took some time and the more I thought about it, the more I realized this was my chance to do something I really love,” he says. “We only get a very small window of opportunity. I knew I had to take my huge dream and somehow squeeze it into that little window.”

Growing up in the Florissant area, Taylor always loved cooking. “When I was a kid, I always watched my mother cook,” he says.

At the age of 40, after a career in corporate America, he took a leap of faith and enrolled at L’ecole Culinaire culinary arts school. When he finished training, he knew he wanted more than just a job. He wanted to share his passion with others.

As it turned out, his window of opportunity opened to the Pallottine Renewal Center, a retreat destination in Florissant run by the Pallottine Missionary Sisters. The center was searching not just for a cook, but for a professional chef who would build on its reputation as an outstanding retreat locale.

Grown Locally, Served with Love
With Taylor on board, Pallottine is now taking a new approach to hosting retreats. Instead of serving cafeteria-style fare, they have adopted a fresh, seasonal approach to food.

“I only use the freshest vegetables, fruits and herbs – no green beans out of a can! Our guests get a superior food experience,” the new chef says. “All of my soups are handmade. I make a broccoli cheddar soup that’s better than anything you’ve tried at a café.”

Instead of serving the same fare all year long, Taylor is taking a fresh approach. “In spring and summer, I’m making my signature four-berry spring mix. I toast the pecans and make the vinaigrette by hand. I even make a mango salad dressing. I’m all about the ‘wow’ factor. The guests don’t expect the presentation to look so beautiful on the plate.”

For years, the Pallottine Missionary Sisters have tended a garden of fresh vegetables and herbs on the sprawling 80-acre property of the retreat center. “When I told them I wanted to continue to use their herbs and vegetables, they were so happy. I plan to incorporate everything they can grow into my recipes,” Taylor says.

Director Beth Moritz says the improvement has been astounding. “People have always left Pallottine retreats with a sense of renewal. And now they also leave with memories of the way the food tasted, the beautiful presentation and the phenomenal five-star service,” she says.

Sharing His Passion
Taylor is most excited about the opportunity to share what he has learned with others, so he’ll be teaching children’s cooking classes along with the array of kids’ classes Pallottine already offers. In the meantime, he’s busy serving up fresh salads, savory dishes and delightful desserts to the retreat center’s guests.

“Pallottine absolutely blows my mind,” Taylor says. “I just love being here, working with these people and being part of this place.”

So with everything he knows about fine cuisine, what are some of Taylor’s personal favorite dishes? “I’m a classic kind of eater. I love pastas with my own special cream sauce made from scratch. And you can’t go wrong with my baby back ribs!”

If you’d like to try one of Chef Taylor’s delicious dishes, visit the Pallottine Renewal Center website to see the upcoming retreat schedule or book an event for your organization. The center is located at 15270 Old Halls Ferry Road in Florissant.

NOCO Review: Andrea's Boutique

2011-01-10T20:33:00.003-06:00

This is a piece I recently wrote for NOCO, an online magazine for North St. Louis County....

Glamorous and Florissant are two words I wouldn’t normally use together, but that’s before Andrea’s Boutique opened its doors. NOCO contributor Annie Haarmann has the full scoop on this fabulous new retailer…

North County now has a taste of high-end fashion thanks to Andrea D’Angelo, 26, owner of the new Andrea’s Boutique in Florissant. A lifelong resident of the area, D’Angelo attended Hazelwood Central High School and Florissant Valley Community College before moving to Los Angeles not long ago. On the west coast she found a world of creative opportunities, but St. Louis still called to her.

“I enjoyed my time in L.A., but it is really good to be back home,” she says. “Several of my family members own businesses in North County, so it is great to have support from all of them as I start a business for the first time.”

D’Angelo’s motivation for opening a boutique in Florissant was that there aren’t any others like it in the area. “I was sick of having to drive a long distance to other parts of the St. Louis area just to find a unique accessory,” she says. Her boutique offers an array of new and gently used items, including beautiful purses and jewelry. The store also sells quality vintage clothing, artwork and home décor.

“The biggest difference between running a boutique in L.A. and running one in Florissant is that instead of vendors coming to me, I have to seek them out,” D’Angelo explains. But North County teens will be thrilled to learn that Andrea’s is expecting some beautiful formal dresses just in time for prom. With its impressive selection of new purses and jewelry, the boutique is a one stop shop for that unique prom style.

“Our jewelry is very popular,” D’Angelo says. “These aren’t the kind of items you find at a discount store that stocks tons of the same piece. They’re really high quality and often there is only one available so you can be sure that you aren’t going to see it anywhere else.” But despite the high quality and uniqueness of the items, Andrea’s keeps prices reasonable, ranging between $4 and $40.

Each room of the boutique is devoted to clothing and accessories, vintage décor or art. One of the most vibrant areas is D’Angelo’s gallery, where she displays her beautiful abstract paintings.

“I’ve always had a wide variety of interests like music, fashion and art,”she says. “When I came home from L.A., I knew I wanted to do something I really loved, so this store was a way for me to mix my passions together.”

The location – a cute little bungalow on N. Lafayette – affords D’Angelo plenty of extra space to grow in the future. She has plans to renovate the attic for additional retail space someday, and would like to hold an outdoor sale in the parking lot when the weather warms up. Of course, as a boutique owner, the stylish brunette says she now faces an interesting challenge: “It is so hard for me not to buy everything myself!”

Andrea’s Boutique is located at 1145 N. Lafayette, Florissant, MO 63031. Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Phone: (314)831-7500. You can read more about the shop’s ever-changing inventory on Facebook.

NOCO Review: Generations Antiques

2010-12-01T10:54:00.004-06:00

This is a piece I recently wrote for NOCO, an online magazine for North St. Louis County....

Why buy typical chain-store gifts when you can shop local and find something unique? NOCO contributor Annie Haarmann says one of the best places to shop this holiday season is right here in NoCo – at the newly relocated Generations Antique Mall in Old Town Florissant:

Stepping into Generations Antique Mall in Florissant transports you to a different era, or rather, several different eras. Whether you’re looking for a unique item to enhance your home or a special gift to spread the Christmas cheer this year, you can find it here.

Store owner Laura Schulze and her family, lifelong Florissant residents, have been antiquing for more than 18 years. They decided three years ago to open an antique mall in Old Town Florissant, choosing a small storefront on rue St. Francois, but they recently moved into the Henry Albers house, a charming, 1860s dwelling on St. Catherine that formerly housed the Fleur De Lis Tea House.

“The 150-year-old house has a lot of character and serves as the perfect place to showcase beautiful antiques,” Schulze says. “And the former owner, Kitty Smith, still maintains the gorgeous gardens outside.”

Schulze recommends instead of standing in line at the big box stores or fighting for a parking spot at the mall, shop locally and pick up a truly unique vintage gift. “Most of the time, items made in the 1960s and older are better quality, will last longer and are more valuable,” she explains. “Vintage gifts are the best way to go for Christmas, weddings and birthdays. Antiques tend to hold their value.”

Her mall features 35 different merchants who display their own pieces. “Because we have so many different vendors, there is a wide variety of items and you can see a lot in one location,” explains Schulze. Most of the exhibitors are local to the area.

“Shopping here isn’t like running into the store for something you have to buy like shampoo. It’s more of a fun, feel-good experience. There is something for everybody,” says Schulze.

With so many antique stores in the St. Louis area, what keeps people coming back to this gem in North County? “One thing we offer that people really like is our ‘Wish List’ of items people want. Someone will say, ‘My grandma had such and such when I was a kid and I’d love to get a hold of one.’ If they’re looking for something in particular, we keep an eye out for it and when we find it, we let them know we have one.”

And of course, there’s the shop’s co-manager, Daisy, a four-year-old Boston Terrier. “A lot of people come just to see Daisy,” says Schulze. Daisy makes sure the shop runs smoothly and takes care of day-to-day operations such as inventory, bookkeeping and being adorable.

So this year, before you study the Thanksgiving ads or stand in line at 5 a.m. waiting for the stores to open, why not check out Generations Antique Mall? The antiques passed on from one generation to the next are truly the gifts that keep on giving.

Generations Antique Mall is located at 250 rue St. Catherine, 63031. Phone: (314) 831-6070 Hours: Monday-Saturday, 10-5

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Annie Haarmann is a writer, marketing guru and aspiring farmer who lives in Old Town Florissant and writes one very funny blog. She also photographed all of the images for this story.

Sharing Ebony's Story

2010-03-30T09:25:00.004-05:00

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing an impressive young woman for a newsletter article I'm writing for a client. I was so impressed by her story that I wanted to share it here. If she inspires you too, you can make a donation to Covenant House by clicking here.

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In just four months, 19-year-old Ebony’s life has changed in ways she never could have imagined.

“If you want to get somewhere in life, you just have to go for it. I took a chance. I just put God on my side,” said Ebony. With an attitude like this, it is hard to believe that just four months ago, Ebony was homeless and without hope.

Prior to being homeless, Ebony lived in New Orleans, Louisiana with her mother, who was in an abusive relationship. Ebony knew she needed to get away, but she didn’t know where to turn. She saved as much money as she could to buy a ticket on the bus out of town.

“I didn’t really know where to go so I just decided to go to somewhere far away,” she said. Upon arriving in Memphis, Tennessee, Ebony decided to get back on the road again, purchasing a ticket to St. Louis. When she arrived in St. Louis, she was surprised by the cold weather.

“I had never experienced cold like this before,” she explained. So she continued travelling by bus until she knew she only had enough money for one more ticket. In her heart, she felt she needed to go back to St. Louis.

When she arrived in St. Louis the second time, she met and befriended a Samaritan who allowed Ebony to stay in her home for a night. The next day, Ebony met another woman, told the woman about her situation, and the woman called the police.

“They took me to this shelter, but it just didn’t look right. I was really glad when I didn’t have to stay there,” she said. Fortunately, the police were able to get in touch with the staff at Covenant House Missouri, and they were able to welcome Ebony into their emergency crisis program. Ebony’s biggest surprise when she arrived at Covenant House was how nice the living space was. She says, “It was not what I thought a shelter would be.”

Eventually, Ebony made the next step into the Transitional Living program. Ebony has been living at Covenant House for about four months now, and she has accomplished more in that time than she could have dreamed.

“I’ve been working hard on my GED. I just have one more test to see if I get it, but I’ve taken the practice test,” she said. “I am also working with the Garden Rangers as my job.” Ebony now has goals for her future that include continuing to work toward her GED, keep her part time job, attending college and eventually becoming a registered nurse.

“I just keep setting goals for myself. I feel like now I really have potential,” she says. “I’ve had a lot of down times in my life, and since I’ve been here at Covenant House, things are coming around.”

Restoring Smiles, Restoring Hope

2010-01-27T20:27:00.002-06:00

Written by Annie Haarmann for PRIMO Newsletter published in January, 2010

Many people take good dental health for granted, but for those who are underinsured or uninsured, dental services are not easily available. As a result, many of these people live with chronic dental problems that can affect their overall health and well-being. In addition to the health problems it can cause, poor dental care can also be a source of social embarrassment for those with visible problems.

PRIMO helps Crider Health Center provide much needed dental services to the underinsured, uninsured and those on Medicaid. One family who recently relocated to St. Charles County from Texas has had hope restored because of dental services provided to them by Crider.

“We had just moved up from Texas, and we didn’t have any insurance,” said Christina. “My kids needed dental work done. I needed teeth pulled.”

Dr. Dustin Mace, a dentist at Crider Health Center, extracted several of Christina’s teeth at a reduced cost. He then referred her to a specialist who could complete upper and lower dentures for her, restoring her chewing function as well as her smile.

“My daughter had braces for two and a half years that had not been taken care of,” said Christina. As a result of the lack of orthodontic maintenance, her daughter, Talisha was in a great deal of pain from having brackets left on her teeth. Crider was able to refer her to a local orthodontist who was able to remove the brackets at no charge to the family. Later, Dr. Mace was able to restore parts of her teeth that had decayed, increasing Talisha’s self-esteem by giving her the ability to smile without being embarrassed.

“I had been to other dentists before and they were always really rough with my teeth. But Dr. Mace is not just here to do his job. He actually cares about his patients and their teeth,” explained Talisha.

Because of PRIMO, Crider was able to employ Dr. Mace while a base of dental patients was established. With the help of PRIMO funding, the dental program at Crider Health Center was able to treat 1,210 patients last year, including 505 adults and 705 children. These individuals would not otherwise have access to dental services because of their financial situation.

In addition, PRIMO funding has helped Crider provide a dental sealant program in Franklin County. Crider Health Center developed a school-based dental sealant program to present to large numbers of high-risk children with susceptible permanent molar teeth. The program intends to treat more than 4,750 children in all 10 Franklin County school districts. In addition to the dental sealant, the children participate in an educational program to learn skills for better oral health. The benefit of treating children within the schools is that there is no risk of appointment cancellation and no additional transportation or expense required of the parents. So far, the program has treated students in five of the school districts, and plans to treat additional school districts this spring.

Bridging Dependence

2010-01-20T08:23:00.002-06:00

Written by Annie Haarmann for the Suburban Journal of St. Charles County and StlToday.com, published in January, 2010

Many St. Charles, Mo. residents have probably passed the historic brick house at 322 McDonough Street in old town St. Charles and wondered about its history. However, the real story of Headway Clubhouse is not its building, but the people who make up its membership.

Gabriel Koch and Dave Greenwalt are members of Headway, and they each have come a long way since joining. Koch is a 33-year-old who has been clubhouse member for 10 years, Greenwalt, 55, has been a member for 20 years.

Before he found Headway, Koch says he associated with people who had negative influences on him.

“I ended up on the streets collecting beer cans for my next meal,” he remembers. Koch describes Headway as a place where he can meet friends who will be a positive part of his life now. “It’s really hard for me to make friends,” says Koch. “Being a clubhouse member has increased my chances of making friends and it means having somewhere to go with friends who are a good influence.”

Headway, a program of Crider Health Center, is one of more than 300 worldwide clubhouses accredited by the International Center for Clubhouse Development with the goal of helping people with mental illness live better lives. Crider Health Center operates two ICCD accredited clubhouse programs: Headway Clubhouse in St. Charles, Mo. and Harmony Clubhouse in Washington, Mo. Some components of the program include work teams, social activities and transitional employment training. Members also benefit from wellness classes, housing assistance and advocacy.

Program manager, Jennifer Nord, describes Koch as having come out of his shell in recent years. “Gabe used to be quiet and reserved, but over time, he started participating and becoming more social.” Koch, who used to have a beard, came in one day clean-shaven to everyone’s surprise at the clubhouse. “He shaved off his entire beard to look more professional. The whole clubhouse was so proud of him and impressed with this change that we just started screaming and clapping when he came in after his first day of work.”

In addition to the benefits of clubhouse membership, Koch also appreciates the network of Crider Health Center services available to help him with all of his health care needs. “I used to have a CSW (Community Support Worker) and then I also found out about the pharmacy and the doctors.”

Too often, people with mental illness are treated differently because of the negative stigma associated with their illness. Glenn Close, who founded BringChange2Mind.org, says that while society is able to speak openly about once taboo issues such as cancer and AIDS, the stigma of mental illness still prevents its open discussion.

“Illnesses that were once discussed only in hushed tones are now part of healthy conversation and activism. Yet when it comes to (mental illnesses) we marginalize the people who most need our acceptance,” she explained in a recent editorial in the Huffington Post.

Since being a member of Headway, Greenwalt says he has been trying to get over the stigma of mental illness and likes being around people who have been through similar circumstances. He has also been able to get along better with his family and follow a 12-step recovery program.

“I don’t drink anymore and the people here don’t encourage drinking,” he explains, “So, I’ve been able to make several friends here. I also have some contacts with other people in recovery.”

In the clubhouse setting, members are not treated like patients. Members and staff work together as colleagues to make decisions and perform tasks.

As Nord explained, “Some members have never been given the chance to show their abilities, so the most rewarding part for me is seeing the members succeed at achieving their goals.”

Members can choose from three work teams at Headway, called units: The Business Unit oversees the accounting, paperwork, filing, clubhouse newsletter and membership hours. The Career Development Unit provides tours, arranges transportation and works to promote the employment program. The Kitchen Unit runs the snack bar and cooks the daily meal, which members are able to purchase for $1.00. Each unit gives members some experience to learn the skills that will be necessary for them to find employment.

Koch and Greenwalt have found employment at Gordman’s in St. Charles through Headway’s Transitional Employment program. In the program, clubhouse staff learn a job and then train a clubhouse member how to do that job. The members, some of whom have difficulty finding and keeping employment because of their mental illness, get the benefit of having a part-time job with a steady paycheck. Because transportation is often an issue, the clubhouse arranges rides to and from the jobs.

The program is mutually beneficial to the businesses because Headway guarantees that someone will always show up for the scheduled shift. Employers do not have to worry about unexpected absences or turnover because the Headway staff can always take over a shift, or train a new member to do that position. In addition, employers can benefit from tax credits available through the Work Opportunity Tax Act.

Koch and Greenwalt have been working part-time as merchandise processors at Gordman’s since September and have found the work to be a fulfilling part of their lives.

“It gets me out of the house so I’m not so isolated. It keeps me active,” says Greenwalt.

Members also participate in social activities such as seeing a show at the Muny in Forest Park. The idea behind the activities is to give members a chance to socialize with each other in a comfortable environment where they do not feel isolated because of their mental illness.

“Headway really takes your fears and just gets them out of the way,” says Koch. “You’re always greeted at the door, and someone always has time for you.”

The spirit of giving is alive and well among the children in the Archdiocese of St. Louis. Recently, an eight-year old girl was inspired to make an impact on homelessness in St. Louis in her own unique way.

Eight-Year-Old Makes a Difference at Covenant House Missouri

2010-01-15T20:24:00.002-06:00

written by Annie Haarmann as a Press Release for Covenant House Missouri published January, 2010

When Ashley Hagan, a third grader at St. Clement of Rome Catholic School in Des Peres heard about Covenant House Missouri, an organization that helps homeless youth, she was inspired to use her creative talents to make a difference.

“Well, sometimes I just think that kids can make a difference,” Ashley explained. “I like helping people with things that we have that they need. Some things they might need are coats so they don’t freeze in the winter.”

On the day before Thanksgiving, Ashley and her mother, Tricia Hagan went to Covenant House to help serve lunch and decorate a Christmas tree for the residents. The experience touched Ashley and she decided to raise money for Covenant House.

“After we helped that day, she came straight home and started working on a raffle box,” said Tricia. “She did all of the work herself and sold the raffle tickets on Thanksgiving Day to our family and friends for 25 cents each.” Ashley also sold raffle tickets to her father’s co-workers.

Ashley made Christmas ornaments and drew Christmas pictures to use as prizes in the raffle. Ashley’s raffle for Covenant House even inspired her five-year-old sister, Lauren to donate $2 of her own allowance to the cause.

“It was very important to Ashley that she gave them the money before Christmas because she wanted to make sure that the kids there could get presents,” said Tricia.

In the end, Ashley’s raffle raised $54.77 for Covenant House, which she presented to Beth Moritz, Director of Development, on December 22, 2009.

“We were very impressed that one girl took it upon herself to make a difference in the lives of the youth here at Covenant House. Every donation makes a difference, and in Ashley’s case, she gave us some inspiration too,” said Sue Wagener, Executive Director.

About Covenant House Missouri:

Covenant House Missouri was established in 1998. It provides services to homeless, runaway and at-risk youth between the ages of 16-21 with open hearts and open doors. Without a stable home or support system, young people drop out of school and end up totally unprepared for the workplace. Homelessness can lead to poverty, crime and drug abuse. Covenant House Missouri provides hope to homeless teens.

Helping Bobby

2009-10-11T17:26:00.002-05:00

Written by Annie Haarmann for the Lincoln County Journal published in October, 2009

As a parent, it can be overwhelming to respond to some of the difficult emotions that a child must experience. In the case of Janet and her 11-year-old son, Bobby, the family needed help dealing with the loss of a close friend. Crider Health Center’s School-Based Mental Health Program, which is funded in part by the Lincoln County Resource Board, was there to help Janet and Bobby to overcome grief and its accompanying problems.

When Bobby's best friend died suddenly of an illness, Bobby was inconsolable. At 11 years old, it is difficult to comprehend the loss of a friend. He was unable to attend school because of his anxiety. He began to fear that he might lose other loved ones as well. Janet did not know where to turn.

“He was completely beside himself. I didn’t know how to work with him to help him deal with the loss,” says Janet. Crider Health Center’s School Based Mental Health Program was there to help. After being connected to School Based Mental Health Specialist, the family began working on goals to get Thomas back to being a happy, healthy child.

“Each week (Thomas) and I would discuss his thoughts, feelings and behaviors,” says the therapist. “As the weeks went on, he was able to see the connection between these things. He was then able to develop strategies to assist him in changing the sad thoughts of his friend to happy memories.”

The family worked with their therapist to set goals such as getting back into the routine of attending school regularly.

“He has actually gotten to the point that he is enjoying school this year,” says Janet.

Thomas has also started to write about his experience, and was able to share some of his writing with his family recently. He can also talk about the good experiences he had with his friend without feeling as much anxiety as before.

“It is wonderful that he can get up every day and live his life instead of locking himself away afraid of being hurt,” says Janet. “Everyone (at Crider) has been very caring and understanding. They get down with the child and work with them on their own level.”

When his great-grandmother passed away this summer, Janet worried that Bobby might have difficulty dealing with the grief of losing another close person in his life. Instead, she says Bobby was able to use some of the steps he had learned through the program to cope with the loss.

“This program is an absolute necessity because during the school year, children spend more time at school than at home. There are so many parents out there who don’t know where to start when their child has a mental health issue,” says Janet. Thanks to Crider’s School-Based Mental Health Program and the Lincoln County Resource Board, families have a place to turn for help.