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| Mutual Collaboration For The Holidays - What Are You Doing? | Views: 84 |
| Nov 06, 2009 11:54 am | | Mutual Collaboration For The Holidays - What Are You Doing? | # |
Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Next Saturday my church is having a Women's Boutique Sale. It's not just for the members of my church. It's for the community. People in the community can be vendors and of course. People in the community are encouraged to come and purchase the goods for sale. On Dec. 12th, Middletown has its annual Christmas festival, which it cleverly calls "Christmas in Middletown." This is a boutique-type thing with Christmas decorations up and down the main drag through town and at the local high school's Multi-Purpose Facility.
But, here's the problem in both cases. There is no REAL DESIGN to either of these events. Everything is done in a hap-hazard fashion. Both of these events take place annually. Yet, no vendor knows where they will be able to set up until the last minute. There is no real organized promotion. It's all high-pressure at the last minute.
This is not something that is unique to my community. I see it statewide. Gov. Schwarzenegger still does not know where his Second Small Business & Entrepreneurship Conference is going to be held. It was initially supposed to take place this month. Now, I understand it is going to take place either in February or March of next year. But, they still do not know whether it will be held in San Jose or Oakland. And, they have not even decided on the agenda. All they can confirm for me is that the event will last one day.
Do you remember America's "Bicentennial Celebration?" If you do, you know it was awesome. And, you know why it was awesome? Because people planned for it a significant time in advance.
What's happening where you live in terms of mutual collaboration for the holidays? I hope it's nicely organized and not a last-minute, haphazard affair.
Lamar Morgan
CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing
(707)709-8605
Need PR?...Call Lamar!
Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 |
| Nov 06, 2009 12:10 pm | | re: Mutual Collaboration For The Holidays - What Are You Doing? | # |
John Snyder | | Lamar,
Why not offer to Co-ordinate these affairs yourself. You could also write an invitational to your Gov. to host his Events there. In other words, kill two birds with the same stone. A "Chistmas Winter Carnival" is also a good idea and sure to draw people Downtown.
John
Prof Wordsearch
Private Reply to John Snyder |
| Nov 06, 2009 12:50 pm | | re: re: Mutual Collaboration For The Holidays - What Are You Doing? | # |
Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | John,
In a previous year, I went to a planning meeting for "Christmas in Middletown." I offered to create "buzz" for the event in terms of press releases. I was supposedly granted permission to do that. But, guess what? My press releases never made it into the paper. But, I was thanked by the person in charge repeatedly for all my hard work. What happened (I think) was the person heading up the event prevented the paper from printing the releases. Here she tells me to go ahead and "go for it." But, she purposefully sabotages my effort to help. Now, weekly meetings were scheduled for this event beginning in August. At the SECOND MEETING this woman tells me I no longer have to attend weekly meetings - just do the publicity (which I believe she made sure did not get printed).
Would you like to see what the extent of publicity is for "Christmas in Middletown?" Visit Christmas in Middletown. That's it. That's the mentality here in rural Northern California.
Lamar Morgan
CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing
(707)709-8605
Need PR?...Call Lamar!
Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 |
| Nov 06, 2009 1:03 pm | | re: re: re: Mutual Collaboration For The Holidays - What Are You Doing? | # |
John Snyder | | Lamar,
You have to go above and beyond, simply mailing Letters to the Editor and Press Releases is only half the battle. You have to insure your efforts are responded to. Think outside the box, What else could you have done? Most Politicians are just Talk but a few get out and "Get their hands dirty" (I mean that in a good way). They are the ones that get the Job done. I jnow it can be sometimes frustrating but if you are going to start making Sounds like a Leader, you have to step up to the plate and be a Leader. That means you have to take action, even if means you have to do everything yourself. You set the examples, others will follow. If people get in your way, go around them, or find other Avenues to Travel.
John
Prof Wordsearch
Private Reply to John Snyder |
| Nov 06, 2009 2:29 pm | | re: re: re: Mutual Collaboration For The Holidays - What Are You Doing? | # |
Scott Wolpow | | I am curous, who is paying for the Christmas in Middletown? Public or Private funds?
Private Reply to Scott Wolpow |
| Nov 06, 2009 4:57 pm | | re: re: re: re: Mutual Collaboration For The Holidays - What Are You Doing? | # |
Bobbi Jo Woods | | Whatever you do, don't call up a newspaper after you send them a press release, and say, "Did you get my release? Are you going to publish my piece? When are you going to publish it?"
In fact, don't call them at all. Nothing will get your piece crumpled up and slam-dunked into the circular file faster.
I know because it happened to me way back when I was starting out my business (1998).
Obviously, whoever is heading this committee is seeming to sabotage you, or they just plain don't care enough about the event to get it publicized in that manner. Maybe they're embarrassed about it.
I sure would be, if my event had an atrocious website, like this one does.
Bobbi Jo Woods, Owner, B. Woods Design
Professional Websites for Small Business
877-996-9932 Toll-free
http://www.bwoodsdesign.com
Private Reply to Bobbi Jo Woods |
| Nov 06, 2009 5:21 pm | | re: re: re: re: re: Mutual Collaboration For The Holidays - What Are You Doing? | # |
Bobbi Jo Woods | | One of the local chapters of the Jaycees groups I belong to, is thinking of planning a "progressive" Thanksgiving, which will likely NOT take place on the actual holiday. But I digress.
This is something where a few members (who all live in the same neighborhood as the fire station where our member meetings are held) have signed up to provide one part of "Thanksgiving dinner", and we would travel to each in one night.
For example, as a group, we all start out visiting member Cindi's house, where we learn how to truss the turkey after stuffing it, and how long it should bake for. After or during the lesson, we might enjoy an appetizer or two. Then, we'd go to the next participating member's house, to enjoy cranberry sauce and string popcorn for the tree. We move to the next house and repeat the process, until we complete the dinner.
We will probably all park at the fire station and walk to the houses nearby, or travel in one or two cars (if it's cold).
We don't have it all ironed out yet, nor do we know if there is enough interest and/or volunteers to host.
Private Reply to Bobbi Jo Woods |
| Nov 06, 2009 6:15 pm | | re: re: re: re: Mutual Collaboration For The Holidays - What Are You Doing? | # |
Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | John,
The problem was not that I did not do anything creative for the Christmas event. The problem was that the person in charge was purposefully sabotaging everything I was doing and then thanking me for all my hard work.
Bobbi Jo, I don't normally call up the newspaper and ask if my press releases are being published. But, when you spend three months submitting press release to a newspaper that usually prints everything you write - and all of a sudden is not printing anything you write about a specific subject - Christmas in Middletown - you know something is wrong. Now, information about "Christmas in Middletown" did make the papers. But, it was very interesting to me that it was never my information. Coincidence? I don't think so.
Scott, this holiday event is a public event. It's a boutique/flea market/trade show kind-of-thing with Christmas caroling thrown in. It could be a lot better than it is. But, when people do not know how to do things - and seem to have no desire to learn to do things better - things do not change.
Lamar Morgan
CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing
(707)709-8605
Need PR?...Call Lamar!
Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 |
| Nov 06, 2009 6:20 pm | | re: re: re: re: re: Mutual Collaboration For The Holidays - What Are You Doing? | # |
Scott Wolpow | | How do they incorporate other religions or people who do not celebrate Xmas, which also includes some devout Christians.
Private Reply to Scott Wolpow |
| Nov 06, 2009 7:04 pm | | re: re: re: re: re: re: Mutual Collaboration For The Holidays - What Are You Doing? | # |
Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Scott,
I am not in charge of "Christmas in Middletown." I have no clue as to how they do anything. I have simply been a vendor for this event twice - once outside the other inside. Both times I did not know whether I would be a vendor inside or outside until I showed up to set up my booth space. That's how disorganized this annual event is. They spend months planning this thing. What on Earth are they doing all this time? I have no idea.
Lamar Morgan
CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing
(707)709-8605
Need PR?...Call Lamar!
Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 |
| Nov 06, 2009 7:14 pm | | Mutual Collaboration For The Holidays - What Are You Doing? | # |
Scott Wolpow | | I bet the ACLU would love to know about public funds being spent for religious events.
Private Reply to Scott Wolpow |
| Nov 06, 2009 9:19 pm | | re: Mutual Collaboration For The Holidays - What Are You Doing? | # |
Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Scott,
I doubt anyone who participates in "Christmas in Middletown" sees it as a religious event. Do you think something as innocent as the singing of a Christmas carol qualifies something as a "religious" event? This is not about religion. This is about commerce and the pushing of merchandise. One of the biggest sellers is "chili in a bread bowl." Does that sound Christmasy to you?
Lamar Morgan
CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing
(707)709-8605
Need PR?...Call Lamar!
Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 |
| Nov 06, 2009 9:36 pm | | re: re: Mutual Collaboration For The Holidays - What Are You Doing? | # |
Scott Wolpow | | Of course Christmas Carols are religious. What did you think they are? This is why you have to have sepparation of Church and State. You think that O Come all ye faithful is secular?
Private Reply to Scott Wolpow |
| Nov 06, 2009 9:58 pm | | re: re: re: Mutual Collaboration For The Holidays - What Are You Doing? | # |
John Snyder | | Scott & Lamar,
Are we going to quivel over something that used to be a standard practise in America? What is wrong with this picture? Scott, you may be Jewish, or whatever but if you want to Celebrate Pubically, I will certainly not object. The Public Display of Christmas Traditions is a long standard practise in this Country. A great many of us American's consider it Second to the Fourth of July. Christmas has two sides, the Religious One and the One designed for Kids. Both are equally important. BTW, the cause you are Championing has already been persued in Real Life and on the Silver Screen, "Miracle on 34th St". It was soundly DEFEATED.
BTW, Can you prove to everyone's satisfaction, that GOD does not exist?
John
Prof Wordsearch
Private Reply to John Snyder |
| Nov 06, 2009 10:13 pm | | re: re: re: re: Mutual Collaboration For The Holidays - What Are You Doing? | # |
Scott Wolpow | | John,
No one says not to celebrate what you want. As to it being an American Tradition, so was slavery, and that was wrong.
Once peopel of two colors could not marry and taht was wrong.
Anything that creates a state sponsored religion is 100% wrong. Would you sing the same tune if it was Islam, or Hinduism?
Do you think when I was a kid I celebrated Xmass [the proper spelling BTW, if you know latin]
And you prove god exists and which version?
Private Reply to Scott Wolpow |
| Nov 06, 2009 10:27 pm | | re: re: re: re: re: Mutual Collaboration For The Holidays - What Are You Doing? | # |
John Snyder | | That's fine Scott, when I go to Heaven, I will be sure to look him up, take a picture and send it to you.
John
Prof Wordsearch
Private Reply to John Snyder |
| Nov 06, 2009 10:39 pm | | re: re: re: re: re: re: Mutual Collaboration For The Holidays - What Are You Doing? | # |
Scott Wolpow | | Except you will breaking a commandmant.
Private Reply to Scott Wolpow |
| Nov 06, 2009 11:09 pm | | re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Mutual Collaboration For The Holidays - What Are You Doing? | # |
John Snyder | | LOL!
Private Reply to John Snyder |
| Nov 06, 2009 11:45 pm | | re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Mutual Collaboration For The Holidays - What Are You Doing? | # |
Bobbi Jo Woods | | Fellas-
Enough!
Back on topic, please.
Bobbi Jo Woods, Owner, B. Woods Design
Professional Websites for Small Business
877-996-9932 Toll-free
http://www.bwoodsdesign.com
Private Reply to Bobbi Jo Woods |
| Nov 07, 2009 3:28 pm | | Re: Mutual Collaboration For The Holidays - What Are You Doing? | # |
Teddy Towncrier | |
We now have showcases for two events on the table. .... An event on each coast. .... and one that I may be inclined to attend.
Both are community functions but are presented entirely differently.
As an Ontario Canuck we sometimes have a different perspective than friends in other countries and even from friends in other provinces.
@Bobbi Jo and @Lamar. ... Can we do our own mini "Mutual uplift" process and tell us what your objectives were by showcasing your events in the style you chose?
Bestest.
Teddy Towncrier CPP Towncrier-Media.com Supercharging Your Visions.
 
Private Reply to Teddy Towncrier |
| Nov 07, 2009 6:36 pm | | re: Re: Mutual Collaboration For The Holidays - What Are You Doing? | # |
Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 | | Teddy,
This may sound hard to believe, but out where I live it takes about 3 months to entice an audience when you have almost no advertising budget. I would never have thought this, but I have lived in this area since 2001 and have learned it the hard way.
My Social Media Workshop tomorrow is a follow-up to the one I did on October 4th. The reason I put this one together is because the audience at the first one requested it. Well, with one possible exception, all those in attendance will be first-timers. And, the number in attendance will be about half of the first workshop. Had I not done this second workshop with a partner, I think there would be even less in attendance. But, all things considered, it's a minor miracle this workshop is taking place at all. So, I am indeed grateful for the opportunity. I am actually expecting great things to get birthed in Lake County from this small turnout.
As far as the "Christmas in Middletown" event is concerned, I doubt I will even be attending - let alone a vendor. It is simply too pathetic in terms of organization. And, since any help I have attempted to provide seems to get purposefully sabotaged, I think it is best that I simply pass on the activity altogether.
Lamar Morgan
CDMM - Synergistic Business Marketing
(707)709-8605
Need PR?...Call Lamar!
Private Reply to Lamar Morgan 707-709-8605 |
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