Tortus October Newsletter

October 14, 2009

Going Bananas, Part Two

Last month's newsletter was dedicated to the history and plight of the banana, our largest and favorite herb. Today, as promised, we bring you Part Two: the true story of one banana baron who changed the world. We promise-- no more bananas after this story. Remember the song lyrics "Yes, we have no bananas, we have no bananas today"? Well, tomorrow we will have no more bananas (or banana barons) in our newsletters.

Do you recall the 1994 movie Forrest Gump in which Tom Hanks portrayed the fictitious title character? This epic story was about an individual who influenced popular culture (remember the smiley face tee shirt!), met many famous figures, and was present at various historic events. Our real life banana baron isn't fictional, and he really did influence the Western hemisphere and make history during his lifetime. To the general public, he may be unknown, but in deed and fact, he was legendary--especially in the world of bananas. You just can't make this stuff up!

Our banana baron was born Schmuel Zmurri in Kishivev, Russia in 1877. He and his family immigrated to the United States in 1892, settling in Selma, Alabama. Upon arrival in his new country, he Americanized his name, as many naturalized citizens did at the time, to Samuel Zemurray. Here is Sam's story and it's, well, pretty amazing! Read more

Tortus Talk

In the Tortus Spotlight: New Stephen A. Roberts Landscaping Website Launches!

Tortus is proud to announce that Stephen A. Roberts' new website has been published and is live on the web. The site features a custom gallery showcase with searches by element (such as water, walls, stone, etc.) or by complete property renovations. An online design survey allows customers to quickly and easily provide extensive information regarding their landscaping needs. We hope you'll visit the site and view Roberts' amazing and inspiring work!

Upcoming Seminars

At Tortus, we have free monthly seminars to educate our clients and prospective clients on how to utilize technology to improve their organizations. Sign up today!

Effective E-newsletters

Wednesday, November 18th from 9 - 10:30 a.m.

E-newsletters can be a successful and cost-effective way to build relationships with your clients and drive traffic to your website. A newsletter is an indirect marketing tool that can inform, educate, and entertain--while strengthening brand awareness and letting people know who you are and at what you excel. Join us for the seminar and we will take you through the steps of developing an e-newsletter strategy, from creating content to deciding when to send.

This seminar will be held at the offices of Tortus Technologies in West Springfield, Massachusetts. Seating is limited (15 per seminar) and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Email us today to sign up.

October Seminar: E-Mail Marketing: Basics and Beyond

There are still a few seats left in our  seminar next Wednesday, October 21 from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Join us to learn about e-mail marketing, which can help your organization reach hundreds or thousands of potential customers with just one click. We'll discuss broadcast e-mail best practices and learn how to create a marketing e-mail that will get noticed. Topics will include subject lines, avoiding spam filters, timing, list segmentation, and more!

Are You Smarter Than a Tortus?

Every month, we're asking readers to test their wits and try their hand at answering a question posed by one of our Torti. October's question: what language is spoken by up to 2 million people worldwide, but as few as 200 native speakers? Read the answer here!