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We are in the beginning stages of planning our first Annual Convention and we would appreciate your help! Please take a moment and fill out the survey below. We will use this information so that we are able to offer a convention with quality information to better educate you in the areas you are most interested in. If you have anything to add besides the survey please feel free to email us at: info@domesticmanagers.com.
In addition, stay tuned for a few more short surveys to help us serve the membership better and more efficiently in the coming weeks. We appreciate all your help in advance.
We would also like to thank all the members who have recently volunteered and taken a leadership role in the Association. Soon we will be announcing several new chapters! Our chapters are quickly becoming a great place to network with your peers and to learn about great Service Providers, vendors and products! |
Please take a few moments to complete
The 2011 DEMA Convention Survey!
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Chapter Meetings & Special Events
 March 23rd - Chicago, IL.... details coming soon!
Details for our next Florida Meeting Coming Soon...
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~ Featuring ~
Amy Graves
Q: How did you get started in the Industry?
A: I have been an Early Childhood Educator for 25 years. Recently, after teaching Parenting and Child Development to teen mothers within a public school setting for 15 years, I had decided that my gifts, knowledge, skills, as well as my management abilities would be utilized in a positive manner within the private home environment. Very shortly after "retiring" from the public school system I accepted a position with a family\principal as a live in Nanny (private educator) and House Manager. I teach their one child as well as fulfill all of the requirements of the Household Manager.
Q: Do you have any formal training or degrees for domestic management?
A: My training comes from life lessons as well as hands on approach. I was born and raised in Greenwich Connecticut and later moved to Ridgefield Connecticut. While living on the east coast there was a strong influence of excellence, etiquette, formal training, and a strong work ethic. Over the years I have held a variety of management\leadership positions both in and out of the classroom. Having this experience as well as possessing positive inter-personal skills has been an asset working as a House Manager. I have been able to transfer skills from my classroom to a home\estate such as multi-tasking, great attention to details as well as always having an organized manner. This in turn can ensure comfort, elegance, and time savings to a property.
Q: What have been some of the more difficult situations that you have run into on the job?
A: Honestly, I cannot recall a "difficult" situation within my current position. However, it did take some time in the beginning to learn the detailed needs as well as implement the desires not only as principals of a property but more importantly as working parents of a young child with the highest intention of a "private" early education.
Q: What type of principal or homeowner do you prefer to work for?
A: There are characteristics in which an employer and I possess that are imperative for a positive working relationship. They are, honesty, respectfulness, flexibility, professionalism, dependability, and have a strong work ethic. Having these qualities will in turn result in a positive open-minded working relationship.
Q: What direction would you like to see the domestic industry go in for the future?
A: After recently communicating with Mike and Matt the founders of DEMA, I am excited to see the passionate vision that these two men have for this industry which is truly an art and calling for a person. I would like to see more networking with other DEMA members\professionals both on a local as well as global level. Through networking more knowledge about this timeless industry can raise the standards professionalism. Consequently, House Managers and Estate Managers would have the support knowing that this is a career where one can truly make a difference.
Q: What are your goals for the future?
A: I would like to continue to gather as much information about this ever changing industry through networking, conferences, and classes. Teaching and learning on varies levels has always been an important part of my life. I hope to pursue more in this area in the future.
Q: What are your interests and hobbies?
A: In my spare time I enjoy traveling, spending time with friends and family, outdoor activities, collecting Early American antiques, and gardening.
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New Money and its Challenge to the Private Service Professional
By: Charles MacPherson
It's very easy to sit in judgment and disparage the "nouveau riche". It's done all the time. The media loves to make fun of the young and moneyed and the public loves even more to hear stories of their folly and wasteful extravagance. As they say in the newspaper business, "it makes good copy."
In my business, I hear over and over again from people looking for employment that they will not work for the "nouveau riche." They justify their position in any number of ways. For me, however, such declarations are always form of bigotry and tell me more about the snobbery of the individual making them than I'm sure they would like.
Admittedly, new money does bring its challenges not only to the lucky individuals who have it but also to those men and women who work for them. Matters can be further complicated by the combination of newfound money with youth. For example, Over-Stepping Boundaries (OSB) is an all too common error made by both employers and employees. When an employer does it it's often because they confuse a working relationship with a friendship. The bottom-line is that the running and organization of a newly constructed mega-mansion isn't done by instinct. It's a skill that is learned over time.
A House Manager has a critical and potentially very rewarding role in assisting a young family to navigate successfully through these choppy waters. The key to success is the following:
1. Remember that you are "assisting" and not "teaching". A House Manager is after all in service and the notion of being an "assistant" is more in line with that role than a "teacher".
2. Be Diplomatic. The language that you use when offering advice is as important as the advice itself.
3. Be Gracious even when your "assistance" is not well received.
4. Be Consistent so that operational procedures become standard and expected over time.
5. Give each other the benefit of the doubt and that no one ever wants to feel judged.
6. And finally, stay professional and you'll never go wrong
Remember, relationships always need time for healthy germination. While money might be earned overnight, building a successful household from the ground up will always take time.
For more information:
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Webinars Upcoming Webinars for Domestic Staff
Our next webinar will be with Michael Guidry of The Guidry Group.
 For more than two decades, the professionals at The Guidry Group have been assisting clients to respond swiftly, intelligently, and effectively to the complete spectrum of security concerns. The Guidry Group has established an impeccable reputation for providing consulting and training services throughout the United States and 103 countries abroad.More Details Coming Soon...
DEMA is currently organizing our webinars for the rest of the year. We have gathered many topics from the membership and are lining up our speakers and topics. If you have any suggestions on what you would like to see feel free to email us with your request.
All of our webinars are up to date in our archive on www.domesticwebinar.com. If you attended any of our past webinars you can view them in this archive. If you would like to view any in the archive you can sign up to view as well. |
Agency Connection
~Featuring~
Precise Home Management
DEMA is proud to announce our new affiliation with Precise Home Management headed up by Andrew Lowrey. Mr. Lowrey has the same beliefs and ethics as DEMA and is a ambassador for Domestic Staff rights! We are excited to have his support! We highly recommend reaching out to Mr. Lowrey at PHM@precisehome.com
(The following is taken from www.precisehome.com)
The founder and president of Precise Home Management, Andrew Lowrey, was formally trained as a British Butler and has held the positions of Butler and Estate Manager in homes and on private yachts throughout Europe and America for nearly two decades.
 Mr. Lowrey's service career began serving British Royalty at Buckingham Palace while training in the hotel business. A native Englishman, Andrew continued to work in four and five star hotels in Cambridge and London until his voyage took him aboard the prestigious P&O Cruise Line and the Cunard Line's QE2 as purser.
Upon Andrew's return from his deployment during the Falkland Conflict, he established and operated his own restaurant in Cambridgeshire, England. After completing and graduating from the prestigious Ivor Spencer International Butler School, Andrew was employed as Head Steward on the 345 ft private yacht of Saudi Royalty. Having traveled the Globe extensively during his career, Andrew relocated to the United States to accept the position of Butler and Estate Manager for one of Maryland's most prominent families in a 25,000 sq foot home built for a member of the Vanderbilt family.
In 1998, Andrew founded Precise Home Management. In addition to consulting, training and sourcing domestic staff and management for clients' homes worldwide, Andrew has advised and appeared as the Butler on the ABC Series "The Family." Other television appearances include "The ABC Evening News", UPN's "Life & Style", NBC's "Living It Up with Ali & Jack", and England's SKY "Jeeves & Wooster". Articles in major publications have included: Forbes, People, Town & Country, Robb Report, Millionaire, Style and Washington Life to name a few.
Andrew currently resides in Baltimore, Maryland and Cambridge, England. |
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World Class Service Providers
Welcome our newest providers to our member directory!
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New Membership Dues for Domestic Staff
Over the last two years DEMA has been offering complimentary trial memberships. We will continue to do so with different offerings, currently we have a three month complimentary trial to help new Members become more familiar with the DEMA movement. Once your trial expires you will receive an invoice with different options for Membership packages.
Our current Membership have been asking for three options when it comes to dues:
One Year - $49.95 Three Year - $119.95 Five Year - $199.95
DEMA will continue to keep our Membership pricing affordable so all staff in the industry can afford to participate in the Association! We are able to do so thanks to the support of our loyal Affiliates, Sponsors and Service Provider Members!
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Miss a Newsletter?
No Problem! Click Here to view past emails in our archive. | |
 To view the entire list of Service Providers and to find one in your area, become a DEMA member and click on the Member Directory tab on the website.
Do you know someone who would benefit from becoming a member of the Domestic Estate Managers Association? Please feel free to pass this newsletter on to them. We always welcome new members!
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February 26th - Detroit, MI....
March 19th - Beverly Hills, CA....
March 23rd - New York, NY....
