The Good Guy Handbook is about volunteerism. It begins as an invitation for the reader to become involved in some not for profit activity. It identifies numerous causes like feeding the needy, helping at-risk youth, protecting the environment, prison ministry, youth sports, etc. The book then describes what you can do individually or by hooking up with established organizations. The last section of the book gives specific ideas on how to improve a person's not for profit skills. Tips are given on public speaking, running a meeting, managing and motivating other volunteers and selecting the appropriate fundraising program. Detailed instructions are given on planning and conducting a fundraising dinner to include preparing your own food. A three page food safety class is included that should be given to anyone that even infrequently finds themselves in a kitchen. The book is a call for people to feel a need to help out with something. Once called the volunteer is encouraged make use of their skills as they accept responsibility to not only do something good, but to do it efficiently. In the process the Good Guy receives the "helper high" as they have fun providing a much needed service.
About the Author: Tim Lyons grew up in Buffalo, New York. While attending St. Bonaventure University he participated in the ROTC program. Upon graduation he was commissioned as an Officer in the Army and served four years in Germany. Upon leaving the service he utilized the GI Bill to attend the State University of New York at Buffalo to earn an MBA degree. Tim's primary career was as a commercial real estate salesman. He became the Director of Office Space Leasing and Development for Hunt Real Estate, the largest brokerage firm in Western New York. In this capacity he wrote and published two "how to" real estate books. As an adjunct to his real estate business Tim became involved in Development Finance, creating numerous start-up businesses. To stay close to kids and grandkids Tim and his wife Linda moved to San Diego in 1991. Shortly after moving to California, he became the Director of Marketing for a Seismic Retrofit Construction Company where he wrote his third book, "It's Not Your Fault, but Fix it Anyway." For the past ten years Tim has operated a catering company that serves between 1,200 and 1,500 meals per month. Tim and Linda have become avid volunteers. They have been extremely active in prison ministry, aftercare, feeding the needy, and support of active duty military as well as numerous activities that flow from their church, Elk's Lodge, and Rotary. Tim still enjoys writing. This is his fourth book. Additionally he has written and performed a musical to include 17 original songs. Twice a year Tim writes, produces, directs and stars in Murder Mystery Theatre productions as fundraisers for various causes. Tim has recently been honored as a recipient of the San Diego Channel 10 Leadership Award for providing a hot luncheon for the needy every Friday for the past nine years. He has been awarded other similar awards from organization he supports. Tim's background in sales, finance, management and service delivery proved helpful in occupying leadership positions in various not for profit organizations. His continued work in this area yielded many ideas he decided to share in The Good Guy Handbook. The writing has an easy to read conversational style with practical common sense suggestions for improving one's skills in the business of helping others.