Books for Inmates, Staff, and Volunteers – Christmas 2009
Attn: Chaplains, Counselors, Librarians, and Volunteers
Our sixth re-printing of “Serving Time, Serving Others” will be ready to ship in November.
Please share the following with anyone willing to help us fund and distribute more of our books to inmates, staff, and volunteers. These offers expire January 18, 2010.
Option A -- Order 18 “Serving Time, Serving Others” at $13 each = $234
With the above order, you will also receive for FREE:
18 books -- “Serving Time, Serving Others”
36 books = $234
For orders shipped to Canada, Hawaii, and Alaska, please add $50
Option B -- Order 36 “Serving Time, Serving Others” at $13 each = $468
With the above order, you will also receive for FREE:
24 books -- Chicken Soup for the Prisoner’s Soul
60 books = $468
For orders shipped to Canada, Hawaii, and Alaska, please add $100.
Option C -- Order 36 “Serving Time, Serving Others” at $13 each = $468
With the above order, you will also receive for FREE:
33 books – Serving Productive Time (new in 2009)
69 books = $468
For orders shipped to Canada, Hawaii, and Alaska, please add $100.
E-mail your request to: Tom@TomLagana.com
Note: If your needs or budgets do not fit within the parameters of the above offer, let us know what your working budget is, and we'll let you know what is possible. Thanks.
Continued Blessings,
Tom
Co-author "Chicken Soup for the Volunteer's Soul,"
"The Quick and Easy Guide to Project Management,"
"Chicken Soup for the Prisoner's Soul" and "Serving Time, Serving Others"
and now "Serving Productive Time”
Tom Lagana ~~ (302) 475-4825 -- PO Box 7816, Wilmington, DE 19803
Tom@TomLagana.com ~~ http://www.TomLagana.com
"Tom is a professional speaker, trainer, engineer, consultant, and author
. . . helping people become their best."
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Laganas Visit Nashville Jail -- Oct. 7, 2009
While in Nashville, Tennessee we presented two seminars (one in the morning on the 5th Floor for the General Population for about 40 men and one in the afternoon on the 3rd Floor for 10 men who are part of the Special Needs group) at the Davidson County Criminal Justice Center.
The entertainment and sites in Nashville are amazing. It's a must-see place.
The entertainment and sites in Nashville are amazing. It's a must-see place.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Seminar at Carroll County Jail -- New Hampshire
It's seldom we meet the administration of a correctional facility, let alone have them attend our seminar, but that’s what happened recently at Carroll County Jail in Ossipee, New Hampshire.
Although only 8 male inmates showed up, that’s 13 percent of their population, since there are only about 60 men and women at the jail. (None of the female inmates signed up to attend.) Five staff and administrators also attended our presentation. Many times, the presence of the administration would stifle the inmates’ participation, but that didn’t happen there.
Our contributing author, Lynn Durham, from New Hampshire also shared the presentation with us. The rapport and connection with the inmates was intense and heartfelt. That seldom happens at such a deep level. Perhaps it was because it was such a small group, and we had more than two hours together. After the seminar, the superintendent bought 36 of our books, which was totally unexpected. These included "Serving Time, Serving Others" and our newest book "Serving Productive Time."
The next day, we received messages from both the superintendent and captain with the following feedback:
“Again, thank you for contacting us and requesting this. I along with the Captain called the inmates that you met with back into the visiting room after dinner and spoke to them to get their thoughts. All the inmates thanked us for allowing this to happen and all had positive feedback.
I asked the inmates to put some of their thoughts on paper, to which they did. The Captain will be typing those comments up later today and sending them to you via e-mail so you can see how the inmates responded. All the inmates enjoyed receiving a copy of the book. I also informed them that we will be receiving 24 more.
I will be bringing the inmates' comments to the County Commissioner's Meeting with me next week so they can see how this impacted the inmates. As I said yesterday, if you are back in New Hampshire and wish to do this event again, please feel free to contact us.”
“Thanks again Tom, Lynn, Laura for what you do on a daily basis and including our facility in it. Below you will find comments made by the inmates you spoke to today.
John O.
“The class today was very informative. I left feeling lifted and ready to finish my bid on a positive note. If I apply what I learned today I more than likely will not return to prison.”
Ronald B.
“I really believe that the group meeting with Lynn, Tom Lagana and his wife Laura Lagana was very informative, uplifting and positive. It got me to look at myself in a much more positive way. They were very entertaining and I never lost interest at all. Could be a great inspiration for the younger inmates who have had a tougher time in life than I have.”
Phil B.
“I really enjoyed the seminar 'The Winning Recipe for Success.' They were wonderful speakers with an awesome and powerful message . . . a message that is of great importance to youth and adults serving sentences in the justice system. They were very motivational and made the experience extremely enjoyable. Thank you for allowing us to participate in this experience.”
Michael M.
“I really enjoyed listening to them speak. They definitely had some positive things to say that really gave me a better outlook on what I need to do while I am incarcerated and that is to use this time to really reflect on what I am going to do with my life.”
Louis D.
“Got a lot out of class. Came in with a lot of hate and negative attitude and learned how to focus energy in a positive way. Life is short to keep on going on mad and angry. Learned that I could get more out of life by learning not to have a negative outlook.”
Michael A.
“I think that the class was very helpful it gave me a positive outlook on the time I must serve, to keep a positive mood and to treat others with kindness and a good attitude. It was also encouraging. I would recommend this class for future inmates to consider.”
Eric B.
“I felt the seminar was very informative and very beneficial with a lot of useful life skills put into practice in daily life. I can make a positive change.”
Although only 8 male inmates showed up, that’s 13 percent of their population, since there are only about 60 men and women at the jail. (None of the female inmates signed up to attend.) Five staff and administrators also attended our presentation. Many times, the presence of the administration would stifle the inmates’ participation, but that didn’t happen there.
Our contributing author, Lynn Durham, from New Hampshire also shared the presentation with us. The rapport and connection with the inmates was intense and heartfelt. That seldom happens at such a deep level. Perhaps it was because it was such a small group, and we had more than two hours together. After the seminar, the superintendent bought 36 of our books, which was totally unexpected. These included "Serving Time, Serving Others" and our newest book "Serving Productive Time."
The next day, we received messages from both the superintendent and captain with the following feedback:
“Again, thank you for contacting us and requesting this. I along with the Captain called the inmates that you met with back into the visiting room after dinner and spoke to them to get their thoughts. All the inmates thanked us for allowing this to happen and all had positive feedback.
I asked the inmates to put some of their thoughts on paper, to which they did. The Captain will be typing those comments up later today and sending them to you via e-mail so you can see how the inmates responded. All the inmates enjoyed receiving a copy of the book. I also informed them that we will be receiving 24 more.
I will be bringing the inmates' comments to the County Commissioner's Meeting with me next week so they can see how this impacted the inmates. As I said yesterday, if you are back in New Hampshire and wish to do this event again, please feel free to contact us.”
“Thanks again Tom, Lynn, Laura for what you do on a daily basis and including our facility in it. Below you will find comments made by the inmates you spoke to today.
John O.
“The class today was very informative. I left feeling lifted and ready to finish my bid on a positive note. If I apply what I learned today I more than likely will not return to prison.”
Ronald B.
“I really believe that the group meeting with Lynn, Tom Lagana and his wife Laura Lagana was very informative, uplifting and positive. It got me to look at myself in a much more positive way. They were very entertaining and I never lost interest at all. Could be a great inspiration for the younger inmates who have had a tougher time in life than I have.”
Phil B.
“I really enjoyed the seminar 'The Winning Recipe for Success.' They were wonderful speakers with an awesome and powerful message . . . a message that is of great importance to youth and adults serving sentences in the justice system. They were very motivational and made the experience extremely enjoyable. Thank you for allowing us to participate in this experience.”
Michael M.
“I really enjoyed listening to them speak. They definitely had some positive things to say that really gave me a better outlook on what I need to do while I am incarcerated and that is to use this time to really reflect on what I am going to do with my life.”
Louis D.
“Got a lot out of class. Came in with a lot of hate and negative attitude and learned how to focus energy in a positive way. Life is short to keep on going on mad and angry. Learned that I could get more out of life by learning not to have a negative outlook.”
Michael A.
“I think that the class was very helpful it gave me a positive outlook on the time I must serve, to keep a positive mood and to treat others with kindness and a good attitude. It was also encouraging. I would recommend this class for future inmates to consider.”
Eric B.
“I felt the seminar was very informative and very beneficial with a lot of useful life skills put into practice in daily life. I can make a positive change.”
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Inside Out Review of
Serving Productive Time
Prison Fellowship's Inside Out has reviewed Serving Productive Time in their August 2009 on-line issue. Please see the link below:
http://www.prisonfellowship.org/inside-out/august-2009/12146-book-review-serving-productive-time?showall=1
Also see the pdf version at the link below:
http://www.angelfire.com/de/lagana/images/PFM-Review.pdf
Below is an excerpt from a recent letter we received:
“I was reading your book called Serving Productive Time, and let me tell you that I loved all the stories, especially about the little girl that made 31 handmade Christmas cards for inmates. I can’t believe that a nine-year-old could do something like that. I am so proud of that little girl.”
Sol, inmate
West County Detention Facility
Richmond, California
Recently, we presented seminars at three prisons near the Catskill Mountains of New York State on the same very long day. In all more than 200 men and staff attended our sessions at the following institutions:
- Green Correctional Facility (morning)
- Coxsackie Correctional Facility (afternoon)
- Hudson Correctional Facility (evening)
http://www.prisonfellowship.org/inside-out/august-2009/12146-book-review-serving-productive-time?showall=1
Also see the pdf version at the link below:
http://www.angelfire.com/de/lagana/images/PFM-Review.pdf
Below is an excerpt from a recent letter we received:
“I was reading your book called Serving Productive Time, and let me tell you that I loved all the stories, especially about the little girl that made 31 handmade Christmas cards for inmates. I can’t believe that a nine-year-old could do something like that. I am so proud of that little girl.”
Sol, inmate
West County Detention Facility
Richmond, California
Recently, we presented seminars at three prisons near the Catskill Mountains of New York State on the same very long day. In all more than 200 men and staff attended our sessions at the following institutions:
- Green Correctional Facility (morning)
- Coxsackie Correctional Facility (afternoon)
- Hudson Correctional Facility (evening)
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Seminars for Inmates at Greene, Coxsackie, and Hudson Correctional Facility
Please pray for the inmates that will attend our presentations on Wednesday, August 26, in New York State...that we will say the right words, and they will hear what they need to hear. In our experience, inmates have thanked us for saying something that we don't recall mentioning. I think it's a God thing.
If you know anyone willing to sponsor some of our books so that we can leave them for the prisoners' use, please ask them to e-mail: Tom@TomLagana.com
If you know anyone willing to sponsor some of our books so that we can leave them for the prisoners' use, please ask them to e-mail: Tom@TomLagana.com
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Sue Ellen Allen Wins PEN Dawson Award
Congratulations to Sue Ellen Allen who recently won the Dawson prize for memoir by PEN American Center Prison Writing Contest. PEN is a very prestigious organization of writers. They have a program that supports writers in prison, and they send out free handbooks to encourage writing.
To read her work entitled, FEAR, which is part of her prison journey, please see:
http://www.pen.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/3610/prmID/1622.
Sue Ellen Allen is a contributing author in our new book, "Serving Productive Time." Her story in our book is entitled "It’s Never Too Late."
Sue Ellen Allen is an author, speaker, and activist. Being in prison with stage 3B breast cancer was a strange blessing—the defining moment of her life. Despite the odds, she survived. Now her motto is, “Been there, done that. How can I help?” Contact her at sueellenallen@gmail.com
To read her work entitled, FEAR, which is part of her prison journey, please see:
http://www.pen.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/3610/prmID/1622.
Sue Ellen Allen is a contributing author in our new book, "Serving Productive Time." Her story in our book is entitled "It’s Never Too Late."
Sue Ellen Allen is an author, speaker, and activist. Being in prison with stage 3B breast cancer was a strange blessing—the defining moment of her life. Despite the odds, she survived. Now her motto is, “Been there, done that. How can I help?” Contact her at sueellenallen@gmail.com
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Barnes & Noble Book Event
The recent book event at Barnes & Noble was amazing. Four ex-inmates who are in our various books were there an each had a time to share with the audience of about 30 people.
No correctional staff showed up. We had some prison volunteers and many people who had loved ones behind bars. It was a very touching and emotionally charged evening.
Our associate pastor and our new pastor even showed up. After it was over, our pastor told me that our church will sponsor another box of books for the inmates in our area.
One of the ex-inmates who has a story in "Chicken Soup for the Prisoner's Soul" was there, and he sent a check a few days later to also sponsor a box of books for our local prisons. A woman in the audience, who I met by chance a few weeks before, sent a note after the event with a $50 bill and wrote, "Get as many of your books into the hands of those who need them." Funny that we didn't even ask for donations or sponsors at the event.
No correctional staff showed up. We had some prison volunteers and many people who had loved ones behind bars. It was a very touching and emotionally charged evening.
Our associate pastor and our new pastor even showed up. After it was over, our pastor told me that our church will sponsor another box of books for the inmates in our area.
One of the ex-inmates who has a story in "Chicken Soup for the Prisoner's Soul" was there, and he sent a check a few days later to also sponsor a box of books for our local prisons. A woman in the audience, who I met by chance a few weeks before, sent a note after the event with a $50 bill and wrote, "Get as many of your books into the hands of those who need them." Funny that we didn't even ask for donations or sponsors at the event.
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