2008 - Nielsen Year in Review

2008 - Year in Review

Dear Friends and Family:

2008 has been mostly about Donna’s long anticipated return to work.

Throughout the year, I continued to volunteer with the Atlanta Red Cross, working on a partnership project with Delta Airlines, and finishing my Disaster Services Technology certification.

In January I joined a national volunteer organization, Community Consulting Teams which provides volunteer professional services to non-profits such as executive management, marketing and financial planning.

In the spring I made a trip to Cape Cod, and my sister, Debbie, and brother-in-law Don stopped to visit us in Atlanta in February and August.

Probably the most exciting news of 2008 was my month long trip to Shanghai, China in May to visit with Malay and Phil Wu, and their newborn son, Winston. During my visit a terrible earthquake struck in Sichuan province and killed more than 60,000 people. The Chinese are a proud and resilient people who continued to prepare to receive the world to Beijing for the 2008 Summer Olympics.

During most of 2008, I was working with a career coach and by September, I had interviewed with several companies and accepted a full time position with SunTrust bank. Imagine - September 2008 - everywhere banks are closing or going bankrupt - and I get a job with an Atlanta based bank as manager of outsourcing services for information technology? Crazy!

The year had it’s share of sadness and loss. In February, after months of treatment for kidney failure, our cat, Misha, ended a long and pampered life. In April, my Thai Mom, Keune Taysavang, left her large and loving family after a terrible illness. In June my Aunt, Joan Crosby, passed after many months in poor health.

The year 2008 is ending, along with our 17 year marriage. Rene and I have decided to get divorced. For the near future, we will continue to share the house in Roswell, so both our contact information remains the same.

You can find lot’s more details about 2008 – and some great photos on my web site:

www.Nielsenhome.com or www.GlobalABC.com

Wishing You and Yours – Peace, Love and Laughter in 2009.

Donna
10070 Kinross Rd, Roswell, GA 30076
(770)663-8600 Donna@GlobalABC.com Rene@Nielsenhome.com

December 2007

Donna was selected to attend the Red Cross International Services Basic Training - Washington DC
We had the entire house upgraded with home automation light switches

January

I met a man who had recently left being a Buddhist Monk for most of his life, to start living outside of the temple, Soumedha Champaouthoum
I joined Community Consulting Teams and took on a 6 month project volunteer project
- Community Consulting Teams (CCT)-Atlanta is an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization whose mission is to make a positive contribution to the community by helping non-profit and public sector organizations address strategic management challenges. The organization is composed of experienced business professionals committed to using their expertise to make a meaningful contribution to their local communities. In the past, typical projects have included providing assistance with growth or marketing strategies, operational planning, feasibility studies and business plan development.
I volunteered with Refugee Family Services (CCT) in Atlanta to assist them in establishing an income funding business
- Our Mission: To support the efforts of refugee women and children to achieve self-sufficiency in the United States by providing education and economic opportunity. We serve refugees in the metro Atlanta area, focusing on the women and children who are often left behind by other programs.
I started a new consulting company, Gemstone Consulting, and began working in Greenville, SC

February

Misha passes away from Kidney failure
Don & Debbie stop in Atlanta on way to Texas
My Cousin Carolyn returns from Iraq and stops to visit us in Atlanta

March

Donna goes to Cape Cod to visit
Donna enter's the Anthony Bourdain "Fan-Tastic" competition

April

Donna signs new client for web hosting: Kasserole King
Mom Taysavang passes away

May

Donna goes to Shanghai, China for 3 weeks
China earthquake strikes while Donna is visiting

June

Aunt Joan passed away in Nebo NC
Donna visited with Uncle Walter
Donna works on Red Cross / Delta partnership project

July

Friends Alan and Suzanne are married
Suzanne and Alan come for a visit in Atlanta
My Cousin Ann Marie is hospitalized after a critical health emergency
Donna Completes Red Cross Disaster Services Technology training

August

Debbie & Don visit on the way back to Boston
Donna gets a new server - Hope and new domain www.HostMySpace.com
We decide to get divorced
Donna creates www.ManyThingsForSale.com my online yard sale and downsizing shop

September

Debbie comes to visit
Donna interviews at SunTrust Bank
Debbie & Donna earn $$$ in Huge Yard Sale
Donna goes to Maryland to visit cousins Angela and Ann Marie
Bounnong becomes Abbot of Wat Lao Buddha Khanti temple

October

Donna starts a full-time job at SunTrust Bank as Manager of Vendor Relations
My Cousin Angela gets married on Halloween

November

Cousin Carolyn visits us during a business trip to Atlanta
Debbie and Don celebrate their 20th anniversary
Clare turns 93 years old

December

Donna and Rene get divorced

China May 2008
The MagLev Train in Shanghai	The MagLev Train in Shanghai
Dinner at restaurant in Shanghai	Dinner at restaurant in Shanghai
Xintiandi shopping and tourist district	Xintiandi shopping and tourist district
Me in Old Town
Malay, Winston and Me in Old Town	Malay, Winston and Me in Old Town
Old Town	Old Town



Cultural Performance
Cultural Performance	Cultural Performance
Shopping	Shopping
Shopping	Shopping

Abbot Bounnong

I started my new job - Enterprise Technology Infrastructure, Vendor Management, Software Distribution – Monday October 6.

My office is SunTrust, 250 Piedmont Ave, Atlanta – 12th floor, facing West. See pictures below of my office and the view from the windows.

Phone: (404)581-1690 Cell: (404)561-8204 Email: Donna.R.Nielsen@SunTrust.com

Me and Rene in June	Virginia Fisher with me at her daughter's wedding

The exploding oven door - glass everywhere	The exploding oven door - glass everywhere
The Red Cross & Delta Airlines joint project