Volunteering – Go to the Front of the Line!

I’ve done a lot of volunteer work in my day.  Most of it I was happy to do and had a good experience overall in doing it.  A lot of it involves counting names, people, money, and the like. If it’s an event, sometimes you get to bypass long lines and get to the main event up close and personal. Recently I did volunteer for a Tall Ships event in a seaside town and got to bypass that huge line in the picture above to see the cool Tall Ships (picture below) That can be fun! Sometimes volunteering can seem more like martyrdom and that is not okay.  In order to continue getting volunteers one must make the experience worthwhile, not only financially to the charity, organization, or cause but to the individual as well.  Many corporate events on some level use volunteers. If you work for a company and don’t have the access to overtime pay, then when you work on weekends and evenings – it’s extra for you and to the company.  Is it worth it for you?

If you are happy in your work and want to condone a good image to your work habits and character then it is worthwhile.  If the company is asking you to do it over and over and over again, with little acknowledgement than it may not be.

Charities frequently rely on volunteers to man the registration desk and silent and live auctions.  Many a fun night have I had doing the volunteer thing at such events.  The one time that stands out badly is when I had to single handily close out a silent auction – some 60 items in a room the size of a walk in closet! Guess what? I never worked for the charity again. Let’s face it – it is work.  Event planners, companies would get paid to do what most volunteers do willingly and freely.  Giving constructive feedback should always be welcome and most of the time it is.  So, go to the front of the line literally and figuratively when you volunteer – it has it’s perks indeed!

Earth Day Redux

It’s #Earth Day once again! Same day every year April 22.  The Nation adopted this day in the seventies to promote being green.  Now it’s hip to be a greener but in the 70′s the notion of hippies – long hair, free living and loving souls who ate organically and grew their own food and … Continue reading →

Which iPad Do You Have?

Okay Apple announced today it’s 3rd version of the iPad is now available.  Whoohoo! Yahoo! – the gregarious happy verbiage not the company.  I don’t have one version yet. I am waiting until they announce the LAST version, that is the BEST and GREATEST version that will make time stand still.  Or, at least make … Continue reading →

To Twitter or Not to Twitter that is the Question

When Twitter first came on the scene a few years ago I was hesitant.  I admit it.  I love following trends in communication and this was one so I did look at it.  I dismissed it as yet another attempt to capture the Americans time and look at me I’m an app mentality.  When I … Continue reading →

SCBWI What if? It was a Fairy Tale.

Once upon a time, in a large city a couple of hours away from your home there was a large gathering of people.  These were no ordinary people.  No.  These were writers and illustrators from across the U.S. and from around the globe.  Places as far away as Australia were represented  as  Los Angeles, Colorado, and even Utah! Oh my!  Brooklyn had many people represented, as did New York City itself. Smiles, greetings and invitations abound!

Visions of publishing,  danced in the attendees heads.  Oh, how they all wished for recognition and the magic road to fulfill their own dreams.  I want my stories published – shouted many! Others shyly said, I want to illustrate for all!

Many speakers whose own success had shown through brightly  spoke about their own path to the magical world of publishing.  They all wrote for children which how can you deny – is simply sweet and makes you sigh!  Some did revel in the new YA (young adult) and MG (middle grade) fiction that the leaders in publishing can’t seem to get enough of these days.

Soon, there was a break in the day.  Much money was needed to warm yourself in your own coat if you dared to venture outside. Then, you had to pay again, to leave your coat closeted correctly. Oh my!  After quick nourishment there were even more speakers, and more people to meet and greet.  Offers of reviews were offered by some, but not all were willing.

The evening ended with desserts of many!  Sugar, cupcakes, torts and sweets welcomed you to dine and drink in the Manhattan ballroom.  Mashed potatoes served in a martini glass, Why not!  Turkey with gravy to cut with a fork!  And, mean old ladies who will not let you leave your coat unaccompanied on the back of a chair were all part of the festivities.  So for one and all that dreamed the dream and participated too, may all your writings, drawings, and dreams come true!  For the cranky and the selfish who were too afraid to share, well, they say those who don’t learn from their mistakes are destined to repeat – destined to repeat, destined to repeat….

Happily Ever after to all the writing and illustrating alums I met and will meet in the future.

The Daily Dog – published my article on The Future of Communication

My 3rd article for the Daily Dog. The Future of Communication.  Searching For the Human Value |Check out the link!

 

Bulldog Reporter: http://bit.ly/xQjJIg

Clear the Clutter

Happy New Year Everyone! Isn’t that what you are supposed to say. Out with the old in with the new but what is really new so far, other than the year? Keeping up in the new year should follow keeping up with all that is important in your life.

Resolutions maybe passe but what is true is if you don’t take care of the basics in your life, much chaos can occur.  So here is a list of important things to remember to take care of as the new year progresses.  You can add some of your own if I missed any.

1) Health – keep up with your check-ups, body, mind, teeth so that your body can keep up with all you need and want to do in this new year.  Lots of medical tests (blood tests) look for hidden factors that may affect you down the line.  Keep up with your internist and other specialists so you aren’t sitting on the side lines when you want to be participating.

2) Car -Transportation – keep your car well cared for or you will not have any transportation.  Keeping up with scheduled maintanence checks means cutting big costs for repairs down the road.  Believe me, you don’t want to face costly repairs at any time.

3) Relationships. Whether personal or professional, it’s tough to mend broken  bridges so keep up the communication between you.  If you disagree, say so and work it out.  Keeping true to what’s important in life between the two of you is key in resolving disagreements and moving on.

4) Work.  Whether you work for yourself or someone else, stay on top of the trends in your industry. Knowing what is going on around you makes you better informed and more valuable than someone who doesn’t keep up with trends.

5) Take advantage of opportunities to grow!  Personally, professionally.  This is the year you should (if you haven’t already) look into broadening your horizons – hobby groups, seminars, Webinars, a continuing  ed class or even back to school for new training.  If you aren’t happy where you are, doing what you are doing, look around for new opportunities.

Forewarned is forearmed!  Now that  you are informed you have no where to go but ahead.   Staying positive and correcting your course when need to are also good rules to follow so you don’t get stuck on the side of life’s road while your friends and others pass you by.  Here’s to a happy, healthy, prosperous New Year for sure!

An Original 3rd Grade Tale – The Little Tree

The little tree

 

The Little Tree

One day, in early December a little girl set out to buy a Christmas tree.  She wanted her family to have it for Christmas night.  This was a special time in their home where they would decorate the tree together as a family.  This year her mom had become ill and the family was not doing all the things they normally did at this time of year including buying a live tree.  Sara, the little girl, went out to a few of the tree farms that set up shop during December to sell trees in her town.  Trees For U was her first stop.  Sara saw many trees but the price tags were expensive.  $30, $40, $50 for a tree!  Sara had only $10 to spend on this Christmas tree.   She walked onto the next tree farm.  XMAS TREES, said the next sign at the entrance. Sara saw some smaller trees but their prices were high too.  One of the workers on the tree farm came over to Sara to ask if she was lost.  “No”, said Sara, “I am looking to buy a tree.”  “Great”, said Greg whose name was sewn onto the front of his jacket.  “But, I only have ten dollars with me,” said Sara, “can I buy a tree for ten dollars?”  Greg said, “That’s going to be tough. Why are you alone here, doesn’t your family want a tree too?”  Sara looked down at the ground and began to feel sad.  She told Greg how her mom had been sick this year and the family, her Dad and older brother were not doing the things they normally did at Christmastime.  She wanted to make everyone happy by going out on her own to buy the Christmas tree. “It will be a nice surprise”, said Greg.  Sara smiled.  He took Sara over to what he called a special row of trees.  He said every tree in this row was $10.  There were signs here that said the trees were much more, in fact, one tree had a $40 sign.  “Oh that was yesterday, today is a sale so choose one, and I will help you bring it home,” he said.  Sara chose one quite a bit taller than herself but by adult standards it was still a small tree.  Greg got Sam, another worker to load the tree onto a truck and he took Sara back to her house with the tree.  “How old are you?” Greg asked.  “Eight”, said Sara.

When they arrived at her home her older brother Jim and mother were home and answered the door.  At first they did not know what to think. After all, no one had considered buying a tree this year. “Sara, what have you done?” asked her brother Jim who was quite surprised.  Her mother, who was wearing a bathrobe, looked pale, thanked Sam, and offered him some additional money for the tree.  “Oh no”, he said, “Sara paid for the tree.”

Sara’s mom helped her family  decorate the small tree.  It brought a smile to everyone to see her helping in the decorating. Sara’s dad and brother could not believe little Sara found a tree on her own.  “Sara, thank you for caring about everyone so much that you wanted to do this, but please promise me”, her father said, “that you will not go off alone again without me, your mother or brother.” Sara promised.  After Christmas, they planted the tree in yard.

The next year the tree was even bigger and they needed a tall ladder to put decorations and lights on.  People all over the neighborhood got to admire the little tree that Sara had gotten for her family just the year before.

The Future of Communication

What a big topic to take on.  But #BDI (Business Development Institute)  the social media communication conference center did just that.  At least I’ve attended 3 such social media focused communication conferences put on through them in the past year.  Recently to celebrate ten years of conference and thought making they put together five speakers who shared their ideas of what the future of communication will be.  There were touches on technology, trends and the human approach.  Five key speakers and five valuable views.  Take a look: Brian Kenny, Jenny Dervin, Ray Kerins, John Havens and Paul Hernacki were the keynote speakers.

1) The Future as Humanistic~ Brian Kenny of Harvard Business School said he hoped Powerpoint wasn’t the future. He was using a new presentation software and this Chief Communications Officer, the first at HBS, said the humanistic approach to communication is the future.  Actually responding to complaints, responding ethically to people whether they are clients, customers, students, or citizens at large.  This was seen largely as countering some of the bomb dropping, hands off approach of recent years that reported on the financial crises and corporate unraveling but didn’t account for many complaints before hand or after.

2) Jenny Dervin Director of Communications for JetBlue, analyzed old brick and mortar companies, Coca-Cola, Disney, even NASA compared to Starbucks, Walmart, today.  Contained communication, meaning within its own organization used to be the norm. Today they, JetBlue incorporate humanistic communication in their timely responses to customers complaints. They are frequently responding to Tweets, and allowing discounts, free tickets and the like to stranded passengers who are notified through social media outlets as well as the airport counter upon checkout or check-in.  She also said that everyday, the corporate leaders at her company are informed of social media hits, inquiries from the prior day.  Being informed of what people are saying outside is one way to stay on top of consumer trends, and spot areas that need improvement and track the improvements once they are made.

3)Ray Kerins of Pfizer the pharmaceutical giant spoke about improving their responses to consumers.  The social media landscape has made complaints and responses instantaneous and that has led to a whole new need to monitor and respond to such methods. He spoke of a recent flub up on their consumer advertising side where a Chapstick commercial ad was pulled after much  negative responses on Facebook and Twitter. They took the ad link down from FB but inadevertantly deleted all comments.  That caused more negativity. He was putting out responses about Pfizer committment to ethical treatment of all backgrounds and races, sexes, and that the commercial never should have been made.  Perhaps the future of communication is more integration of all corporate standards throughout the organization.

4) John Havens of Yoxi.com, who searches for social innovator rock-stars (SIR) spoke about how Facebook is the largest transactor of online sales in social media.  Over 9 million active users who buy credits for games, Zyinga and others.  Online or mobile app payments are the future of promotions, couponing, sales and the like.  Hitting someone with an ad or promotion in print, online or on TV will not be enough. He also said that the 4 most powerful words in business are “How can I help you.” Sounds humanistic to me.

5)Paul Hernacki of Definition6 spoke about how science fiction was the road map to some of today’s innovations.  Doors automatically opening such as at the grocery stores today and even upon entering some buildings were the imaginations of writers on Star Trek back in the sixties.    30 years ago what was unheard of is the norm now. QR codes, SIRI -voice activation, and mobile payments are the way to the future of communication according to this CTO.

There were some detractors in the audience who asked ” What if you are leading a company and can’t listen to all this feedback, sometimes you just have to lead.”  Well, needless to say this man didn’t get it.  Listening, responding in turn to questions and acknowledging one’s complaints, kudos, questions or concerns, is the way old brick and mortar companies from fifty years ago exist today.  Remember all those hot tech companies that came out and spent multimillion of dollars in TV ads – You know what’s its name who was big on belonging to online communities and special interest groups? If you don’t that’s because they don’t exist today and haven’t for close to ten years.

Here’s to the future -  if you listen, you just might find it.

Everyone’s Closet

(My second attempt at Poetry here in this Blog

As you approach the steps to go down to the beach you encounter everyone’s closet.  It’s 82 degrees in October.  Where else would I go?

You see shoes and sandals of all sizes, colors and shapes.  Many worn well, and some not at all.

Thoughts move to how long the owner may have had them.  Where else have all these shoes been?  What other closets have they sat in?

Polka dots on flip flops, white canvas sneakers, black high heeled sandals, sleek, shiny, so many to inspire.  Canvas, leather, plastic, they take all forms.

How comforting to know that while you walk, sit,  or swim below, your shoes are well put and safe.  You wouldn’t find this everywhere you go.  Everyone’s closet is somewhat an exclusive place.  Owners, renters, friends of, are all welcome.

Oh, how some people would be envious of this!  Not  just the ocean beach below and all it offers, but of the safety and comfort this make shift  open air closet avails.

The weather has turned and winter is definitely coming! I will have to wait until next spring to take advantage of this closet again. Yet I know it will be there.  Safely.