New Youth Etiquette Classes for March!

Etiquette Classes at Graber Olive House

Team games, role playing and  prizes are used to develop vital social skills to fit into the world of today and tomorrow.

Our newest, ongoing etiquette courses, are starting again at the historic Graber Olive House

on February 12th!

Mixed-age, youth classes, ages 7 and up are from 12:30 to 2:30

Teen etiquette classes for ages 13 and up, are  from 3:00 to 5:00  

An $85.00 student fee will include foods to practice the dining skills taught each week, along with all necessary learning materials.

 Pre-registration is a must! 

Call 800 891-RSVP or 909 923-5650 

for registration and payment information.

We are pleased to introduce our new instructor, Barbara Becka

Our 3, two-hour session etiquette courses cover...
• Basic Manners
• Introductions & Responses
• Dining Skills and
   Table Manners with Foods to Practice 
• Manners for Home & Abroad 

• Cultural Diversity
• Respect for Others

• Deflecting Peer Pressure
• Writing Notes of Thanks
• Making Eye Contact
• Developing Great Posture
• Good Grooming
• Tech and Social Media Etiquette
• Texts & Cell Phone Etiquette
• Video Gaming Manners & More! 

The Graber Olive House is located at 315 East Fourth Street, Ontario, California 909 983-1761

New Youth Etiquette Classes for 2016

Etiquette Classes in the Inland Empire

Start Sunday, February 28th!

The RSVP Institute of Etiquette continues to

offer ongoing, coed etiquette classes, at the

historic Graber Olive House in Ontario, 

with new courses starting February 28th! 

Every student is encouraged to develop the social skills vitally needed for smooth sailing throughout life... 

The 6 hour total, youth courses for ages 6 to 16, 

will be held every Sunday afternoon, 

from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., for 3 weeks. 

The $75.00 per student fee, includes foods to practice dining skills with and all necessary learning materials! 

Now in our 26th year, we are always adding new subjects and great foods to practice dining skills that are taught!

                                                                       

Each student receives weekly session handouts in order to practice lessons they are taught in our classes, when they are at home and at school. Role modeling, games and foods all help to practice the skills and lessons taught. The three, 2-hour session, courses cover:
• Basic Social Graces, Introductions and Greetings
• Dining Skills and Table Manners
• Manners for Home and Abroad
• Respect for Self and Others,
• Deflecting Peer Pressure
• Responding to RSVPs
• Notes of Thanks
• Social Media Manners and Digital Manners
• Making Eye Contact, Great Posture and Grooming 

Fun games and prizes help reinforce skills taught!

The Graber Olive House is located at 315 East Fourth Street, Ontario, CA 91764 

Phone–909 983-1761 

Questions? Contact
Maura J. Graber at rsvpinstitute@gmail.com for a registration form, or call The RSVP Institute of Etiquette at 909 923-5650 or Outside 909 800-891-RSVP Check, Cash or PayPal accepted

New Etiquette Classes in So. California

Etiquette Classes in the Inland Empire Start September 20th!

The RSVP Institute of Etiquette continues to offer ongoing, coed etiquette classes, at the historic Graber Olive House in Ontario, with new classes starting September 20th!
Every student is encouraged to develop the social skills vitally needed for smooth sailing throughout life.

The youth classes for ages 6 to 16, will be held every Sunday afternoon, 
from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. 

Teen and kid approved foods are served to help with utensil manners!

The $75.00 per student fee, includes foods to practice dining skills with and all necessary learning materials! Now in our 26th year, we are always adding new  subjects and foods to practice dining skills  that are taught. 

Each student receives weekly session handouts in order to practice the lessons they are taught in our classes, when they are at home and at school. 

Role modeling, games and foods all help to practice the skills and lessons taught

The three, 2-hour session, courses cover: 

• Basic Social Graces 
• Introductions and Greetings
• Dining Skills
• Table Manners  
• Manners for Home and Abroad
• Cultural Diversity
• Respect for Others, 
• Deflecting Peer Pressure
• Responding to RSVPs
• Notes of Thanks
• Social Media Manners
• Digital Manners
• Making Eye Contact 
• Developing Great Posture
• Good Grooming 

We love getting thanked by our students!

The Graber Olive House is located at 

315 East Fourth Street, Ontario, CA 91764

909 983-1761

Questions? Contact Maura J. Graber at

rsvpinstitute@gmail.com for a registration form, 

or call The RSVP Institute of Etiquette 

at 

800-891-RSVP or 909 923-5650

Payments by Check, Cash or PayPal are accepted

Maura J. Graber – Teaching etiquette since 1990

Youth Etiquette Classes at the Historic Graber Olive House in Ontario

The RSVP Institute of Etiquette is now offering ongoing coed classes at the historic Graber Olive House in Ontario

Every student is encouraged to develop the social skills needed for smooth sailing throughout life!

The youth classes for ages 6 and up through the teens, are held every Sunday, 

from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. 

The $75.00 per student fee, includes foods to practice dining skills with and all necessary learning materials

           

Each student receives weekly session handouts to practice lessons taught when at home

The three, 2-hour session Etiquette Courses will cover: 

• Basic Manners 
• Introductions & Responses 
• Dining Skills & Table Manners (w/foods to practice dining skills) 
• Manners; Home & Abroad, Cultural Diversity, Respect for Others 
• Deflecting Peer Pressure, Tech Etiquette, “Thank you” notes 
• Social Media Manners, Cell Phone Manners, Text Manners, etc... 
• Making Eye Contact, Developing Great Posture & Good Grooming  

The Graber Olive House is located at
315 East Fourth Street, Ontario, CA 91764
909 983-1761

Hands-on training for utensil use with difficult foods is given weekly

       Questions? 
Email rsvpinstitute@gmail.com for a registration form. 
Or call The RSVP Institute of Etiquette 
at 

800-891-RSVP or 909 923-5650 

Payment by Check, Cash or PayPal is accepted

New Etiquette Classes at the Graber Olive House in Ontario

The RSVP Institute of Etiquette’s new coed courses at the historic Graber Olive House in Ontario are scheduled for your choice of days, beginning Saturday August 10th and Sunday August 11th

      

      Our students have fun and learn to make smart choices by playing team games...

The courses focus on:

• Key Skills~ Basic Manners, incl. Introductions and Responses

• Dining Skills ~ Table Manners (with foods to practice dining skills) 

• Manners for Home or Abroad~ Cultural Diversity, Respect for Others 

• Deflecting Peer Pressure~ Manners at School, the Mall, Movie Theatre, etc... 

• Social Media Manners~ Online, Twitter, Cell Manners, Text Manners, YouTube, etc...

• Personal Development~ Eye contact, Great Posture, Grooming and Much More!

                                                                          

Students learn to use utensils properly

   Each course is three, 2-hour classes;

Youth classes ages 5 & up are 12:30 to 2:30

Teen classes are from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.

    The $70.00 fee covers all classes, foods & handouts
        

Questions? Email mannersclass@gmail.com
            Ask about our family discount!
 

Teens vie for gift cards in a class game

Payment and completed forms are due by Friday August 9th

 
Call RSVP at: 909 923-5650      
Outside 909 Area Code: 800-891-RSVP  

The Graber Olive House is located at: 315 E. Fourth Street,  Ontario 91764   Phone  909-983-1761     

On Rituals, Initiatives, Politely Living Green and What I Learned From a Seventeen Year Old

Ritual n. Established procedure or routine.
Initiative n. The power or ability to begin or to follow through energetically with a plan or task.

When my son was 17 years old, we had a weekly ritual.  Every Thursday evening, I would politely ask him to take the garbage out to the curb for removal on Friday morning.  My son would then tell me he was busy.  I would persist.  I would tell him that I wanted it taken out “right now” as he would forget to do it later.  He then would usually give his most valid excuse.  He was "doing his homework" and asked if I wanted him to get good grades or not.  I ended this ritual each week by taking the garbage out myself. This ritual, which had gone on since he was 15, taught me three important things. 

 

1. I added many more clicks on my pedometer when I took the garbage out, which was a good thing.  I could use the exercise. 

 

2. Even though I tried to cut back on what I was adding to the local landfills, I noticed I was still throwing away more "stuff" each week. That was not so good. 

 

3. Trying to persuade a 17 year old to do anything he or she does not want to do, is as pointless as trying to teach my cat how to reply to my texts, or to tweet for me.  If I had the power to do that, I would be thrilled!  My cat’s paws are much smaller than mine.
 

Now, I knew #1 and #3 weren’t worth me stressing over.  It was #2 that had me bothered.  I had to wonder, in such a small household; How did we accumulate so much.... well, garbage?  I have long been a "recycler". When I was a child, my mom was the only parent I knew who talked about the environment and what we needed to do to stop polluting it and changing things. As time and technology marched on however, we seemed to accumulate more “stuff”.  It was bulging out all over the place, so I started selling a lot of things on Ebay.  I felt like I was making a difference, and in the 4 years since my son was 17, I do feel a bit less overwhelmed.  I would also, in an odd way, feel more polite.

Why are so many garbage containers green?

In a 2009 company post by news organization "Asia One", the author stated, "I believe we should inculcate that its almost mandatory, natural and being good manners to be green in our processes." Later in the post, the author suggested that companies who go green with their practices will become more popular.  Now, I agree with the part on manners.  We are sharing the planet here.  It is polite to share, and polite to take care of something someone else is sharing with you.  So I do agree with that part of the company letter.  It is exhibiting good manners to live more green.  I have a problem with the idea that I should do it to be popular though.

I never enter popularity contests.

I have never really worried about being popular.  When people join a new movement or cause, simply because it is popular, it often leaves a bad taste in my mouth.  Popular people, causes, things... they usually fall out of popularity quickly.  Popular restaurants are hard to get tables at.  Popular rides at amusement parks have the longest lines.  Popular people usually fall victim to ego inflation and trends, and the people who made them popular in the first place are thrilled to see them knocked off of their pedestals and replaced by the newly crowned "popular person." Popular songs are played to death on the radio and commercials. No... I am more of an underdog lover.

I'm an Underdog fan!

I like to see the overlooked and well-deserving people get their due.  Not that I consider myself an underdog either.  No.  I am the "people watcher" who is soaking it all in as others pass by my life.  I am the one who hears a song I like, finds out who sings it, then clicks through other songs of theirs on iTunes and get a couple of them.  I avoid trends.  I look for the gems, and sometimes they appear to be junk to others.  I am totally okay with that.  So I do not like the whole "Green Movement" as a popular bandwagon to jump onto, simply because it is "the thing to do right now!" Those bandwagons run out of steam quickly.

Everything imaginable for jumping onto the Queen's Jubilee bandwagon!

I liken trying to "live green" to having a host or hostess offer me an unusual or exotic food.  I should treat them the same.  As new environmental initiatives and laws come along, I feel I should at least be polite and try them out (Explains all of those canvas and fabric reusable bags I bought from Target and Ralph's stores) If don't care for it, then I'll be graciously civil about the matter, and politely decline the offer of more.  I do not want to be hit over the head by environmentalists though, screaming loudly and claiming they know what is best for everyone.  If there are proven facts, remain civil and polite.  Please give the facts to me.  Then I can make the informed decision and not be angry about the whole matter.

I never throw cans or bottles away. They are recycled.

Like I said, I have been aware of the environment all my life.  I have always recycled.  I used a lot of simple household trash to make crafts with my grandmother, or my mom when I was young.  I was always turning in cans and bottles I found, or that we had used at home.  My mother was way ahead of things compared to friends' parents.  She used to say things like, "You can't just bring non-native plants, swimming pools and irrigation to a dry place, and not expect some changes to occur!  Bugs and birds follow those plants and trees, changing the whole landscape and weather." or "You don't need all of this new junk! The old ones work just fine.  All of this new stuff is unnecessary!" 

Palm Springs in its beautiful and unnatural state.

When I was pregnant with my daughter, a friend was shocked that I was going to use disposable diapers. When I replied to her shock with, "Well, all of that washing and sanitizing of cloth diapers will ruin our water, not to mention the electricity and natural gas I will be using to wash and dry them.  All that energy used wouldn't be good." she was suddenly speechless. I even get bonus points for still having, and using, my original iPod mini and I still have a VCR.  Mom was right.  They work fine!  I have not needed another iPod and if I want to watch something I have on VHS tape, I can.  Yes.  I remember a lot from growing up.

The original iPod Mini

 

One thing I recall however, that in the 1970s we were being told that the earth was headed toward another "Ice Age".  (I guess this current "Global Warming" stuff sure showed Mother Nature she can't mess with us!) The one thing I am having the hardest time with though, is my daughter's continual nagging about my use of plastic bottles, flatware and bags.  I need them, and I use them!  Then I re-use them, over and over again.  (Well, except for the flatware.  Plastic flatware used by my etiquette class students cannot be "washed and re-used" as my daughter suggested.)  

Looks like Bella forgot proper knife and fork technique!

I refuse to give up plastic bags and it drives my daughter nuts.  I have politely explained to her that if I do not use the free ones from the market, or the local Target store, or wherever, I will have to buy them just so that I can have some to use.  I politely repeat that to her, every time she cringes when I come home with a plastic bag or two, or when she makes a snide comment. I do have lots of reusable canvas bags, mind you. I use those too.  My biggest problem with the canvas and cloth bags however, is the weight of them.  

And more popular, too?

  Those bags can hold a lot of goods, and I simply cannot carry them at times, due to physical disabilities I fight daily.  So when I do use them, it is usually to carry napkins or other lightweight items from my car to my classes.  Or boxes of tissues, etc... from the store.  If my daughter wants to not-so-politely tell me how to live my life with regard to plastic bags ("Someday there will be a landfill named after you!"), then she can do all of the shopping.  I'll still be okay.  I save all of the plastic bags that my son and his girlfriend graciously bring in from the store when they shop for themselves anyway.

This bag is more polite as some people I meet! This bag is thanking me.

Now I am not going to hold my breath, but if my daughter does truly get fed up and decides to do all of my shopping for me, I’ll have that free time I need to start teaching my cat to text and tweet for me.  I can just see the fur flying now.  After all, it took forever to teach him how to work my son's old Game Boy!

 

"Okay, I got it turned on, now what? I can't get past 'LOL', then it's all gibberish!"

New Holiday Co-Ed, Youth Classes in Etiquette, Manners and Social Skills, at the Graber Olive House.

Ashley learns how to twirl her spaghetti

 

The RSVP Institute is pleased to now offer special holiday co-ed,  youth classes in etiquette, manners and social skills, at the Graber Olive House.  The special course of 3, two-hour classes will be held the week after Christmas, on December 27th, 28th & 29th.  The $65.00 per student fee covers all foods & handouts. The mixed age classes (ages 5 and up to teen) 

are from 11:30 to 1:30 p.m. 

The 3 classes will focus on:

• The keys to making your parents smile.
• Basic Social Graces, Posture and Image
• Dining Skills & Table Manners (with foods to practice the dining skills taught)
• Respect for Others
• Deflecting Peer Pressure Gracefully
• Phone, Text Manners & Web @ttitude© & Other E-Manners
• Manners for Home and Abroad
• Gero-dynamics©, “Thank you" notes & RSVPs
• “Yes please”, “Thank you”, “Excuse Me”, & other verbal cues that open doors, build friendships, make parents & teachers smile!

Register by Dec. 26th to secure your son’s or daughter’s enrollment!

Open to ages 5 to 17. We will be offering a “teen specific” class starting on Sundays in January. Call 909 923-5650 or email for more information: mannersclass@gmail.com

Please Print Information Below 

Checks can be mailed to: RSVP, 301 East Fourth Street, Ontario 91764    

 ----------------------------------------------Clip-Here---------------------------------                     
Student’s Name___________________________Age______Grade__

Parent’sName_________________________Phone_________

Email ________________Emergency Contact__________________

Food Allergies or Restrictions___________________

Please Circle Method of Payment: check cash  card Visa/MC/AX

Paypal now accepted! Email for Paypal instructions!

Signature of Cardholder:________________________

Card Number:_________________________  Exp. Date:_______