What a difference a day makes. One day I'm part of an amazing community effort of volunteers and providers that helped more than 200 homeless people or people at risk of homelessness. The next day I'm calming my nerves about my 30th high school reunion by treating my family to my favorite dessert of all time - the Charcoal Pit's crushed cherry sundae! Mmmm,mmmm, mmmmm - nothing like it anywhere but Delaware. Gotta go a long way to get this tasty treat.
The day before people had to wait in long lines to even get in the door of Middlesex Community College where we hosted our first Project Homeless Connect. Those who came looking for assistance essentially got what they came for - help with legal and housing issues, to learn about educational opportunities, veteran benefits, health screenings, dental care and even a hair cut if they were lucky.
My reunion was pretty cool in that I got to connect with some great people I hadn't been in touch with. Funny how with all this technology it still comes down to taking the time to stay in touch.
Project Homeless Connect was way cooler in that we got to connect people with the services they needed to survive and thrive. Kinda puts the top on my crushed cherry sundae.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
Yes We Can!
OK I'm a bit biased in my assessment of our campaign film each year due to my involvement with its creation, but really...truly, I love the 2009/10 video. Taylor Warren at Sunrise Pictures has again done a fantastic job bringing my ideas to reality. And Jeff Hoyt is a master with lighting and camera work.
Not only will you see familiar settings and landmarks throughout Middlesex County in the film, but also the faces of many of our wonderful United Way friends. They may only appear for a moment on camera but believe me, they spent hours patiently waiting for just the right shot to be set up before filming even began. They willingly recited lines over and over again and responded to bizarre commands such as, "look to the right and smile like someone just told you a funny joke." And the strongly-scented markers made us all a touch lightheaded at times. Thank you to those volunteers who participated in the filming, and did so with such grace and good spirit. They all look great in their snappy Live United t-shirts, don't they?
Being in marketing and communications I'd be remiss if I didn't get in one shameless plug about messaging. I love how positive the film is. It shows what we can accomplish as a community when we all work together. Instead of dwelling on what's wrong, ask yourself what you can do to help. Because when we all give, advocate, and volunteer for what we believe in, it adds up to more than any single person or organization can accomplish alone.
By all means, keep wearing those Live United t-shirts! I've seen so many people wearing them out and about (including several on the AirLine Trail, you know who you are) and it absolutely makes my day. We just got a fresh batch of t-shirts in the office today - if anyone would like a squeaky clean one give us a call or stop by.
So please take a look at the film and let us know what you think!
And by the way, Kevin is in heaven that he finally has a 2-minute film. It's been a lifelong dream of his. It's good to have dreams.
Not only will you see familiar settings and landmarks throughout Middlesex County in the film, but also the faces of many of our wonderful United Way friends. They may only appear for a moment on camera but believe me, they spent hours patiently waiting for just the right shot to be set up before filming even began. They willingly recited lines over and over again and responded to bizarre commands such as, "look to the right and smile like someone just told you a funny joke." And the strongly-scented markers made us all a touch lightheaded at times. Thank you to those volunteers who participated in the filming, and did so with such grace and good spirit. They all look great in their snappy Live United t-shirts, don't they?
Being in marketing and communications I'd be remiss if I didn't get in one shameless plug about messaging. I love how positive the film is. It shows what we can accomplish as a community when we all work together. Instead of dwelling on what's wrong, ask yourself what you can do to help. Because when we all give, advocate, and volunteer for what we believe in, it adds up to more than any single person or organization can accomplish alone.
By all means, keep wearing those Live United t-shirts! I've seen so many people wearing them out and about (including several on the AirLine Trail, you know who you are) and it absolutely makes my day. We just got a fresh batch of t-shirts in the office today - if anyone would like a squeaky clean one give us a call or stop by.
So please take a look at the film and let us know what you think!
And by the way, Kevin is in heaven that he finally has a 2-minute film. It's been a lifelong dream of his. It's good to have dreams.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
gardening, women and food
Gardening, women and food - yes I love all three although not necessarily in that order. Combine these three and what do you get? You get an amazing Women's Networking Breakfast. I keep hearing great things about our Women's Initiative breakfasts. Emphasis on the word, "hearing", since I haven't been encouraged to attend. Something about the wrong chromosome I suppose.
I think I'll just have to sneak in to the next one set for Wednesday, September 30 @ 8:00 a.m. at the Village at South Farms. I'm an avid garderner with at least a greenish thumb, maybe not Green Giant green but at least iceberg lettuce green. I love listening to "The English Lady", otherwise known in real life as Maureen Haseley-Jones, on the radio. Her advice is helpful and her accent delightful. Even when she scolds would be garderners it's with a certain dash of can do spirit and humor.
She will be the featured speaker at the breakfast (incredible food I'm told) and plans to share her one-day plan for winterizing your garden. I just may see you there ... if I have the nerve.
I think I'll just have to sneak in to the next one set for Wednesday, September 30 @ 8:00 a.m. at the Village at South Farms. I'm an avid garderner with at least a greenish thumb, maybe not Green Giant green but at least iceberg lettuce green. I love listening to "The English Lady", otherwise known in real life as Maureen Haseley-Jones, on the radio. Her advice is helpful and her accent delightful. Even when she scolds would be garderners it's with a certain dash of can do spirit and humor.
She will be the featured speaker at the breakfast (incredible food I'm told) and plans to share her one-day plan for winterizing your garden. I just may see you there ... if I have the nerve.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Oversharing is the new reality
Someone is chugging fake drinks, someone else invited me to their kickboxing class and yet another person invited me to join them in "mafia wars". Is this really what social media is supposed to be - oversharing about silly stuff like this??? These are facebook postings from my "friends" in just a few hours recently. Additional comments include announcing a wedding, going shopping at IKEA, a cat jumping on someone's head and many reflections on the passing of Ted Kennedy, a huge influence on modern day America regardless irrespective of your political views. I can see the latest promo for True Blood (my personal favorite tv show) over and over again as many times as I want.
I'm glad Middlesex United Way is on the social media bandwagon but does anyone care about real stuff or just the superficial stuff that gets posted? Facebook has added 100 millions users in the past 9 months. If Facebook were a country it would be the world's fourth largest behind China, India and the US. 80% of companies are using LinkedIn as the primary vehicle to find new employees.
Facebook and other social media are powerful tools and here to stay. It's fun learning about what people are up to, but when is enough enough? I worry that I'm on Facebook. I'd also worry if I weren't on it - how else would I keep up with people today? I worry that Middlesex United Way is on Facebook, YOUTUBE and Flickr. I'd also worry that we're not on them.
I can't envision what the next forms of mass communication will be like, but we better keep up or risk slowly becoming irrelevant. Maybe even quickly becoming irrelevant. Kids don't even know what a land line is and think e mail is passe. I must say that personal mail is still so unusual that my kids love receiving that. A lesson to be learned perhaps?
Gotta go - I just received a new notification on Facebook and can't wait to read it!
I'm glad Middlesex United Way is on the social media bandwagon but does anyone care about real stuff or just the superficial stuff that gets posted? Facebook has added 100 millions users in the past 9 months. If Facebook were a country it would be the world's fourth largest behind China, India and the US. 80% of companies are using LinkedIn as the primary vehicle to find new employees.
Facebook and other social media are powerful tools and here to stay. It's fun learning about what people are up to, but when is enough enough? I worry that I'm on Facebook. I'd also worry if I weren't on it - how else would I keep up with people today? I worry that Middlesex United Way is on Facebook, YOUTUBE and Flickr. I'd also worry that we're not on them.
I can't envision what the next forms of mass communication will be like, but we better keep up or risk slowly becoming irrelevant. Maybe even quickly becoming irrelevant. Kids don't even know what a land line is and think e mail is passe. I must say that personal mail is still so unusual that my kids love receiving that. A lesson to be learned perhaps?
Gotta go - I just received a new notification on Facebook and can't wait to read it!
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Thoughts from a grateful American
Who is more worthy of support than veterans who have served our country so well throughout our proud history? Who in their right mind thinks any veteran should be homeless? The recently completed 2009 Veterans Needs Assessment for Middlesex County notes that there are about 3,000 homeless veterans in Connecticut. Estimates for Middlesex County range from 29 - 38 homeless veterans.
Ironically we were able to find the dollars necessary to fund the assessment making the case for the needs of homeless veterans but we have yet to be successful in finding the dollars to actually house homeless veterans in our region. Several times we were close to securing properties to house homeless veterans and everytime we ran into issues of both funding and NIMBY. I'd be proud to have a veteran as a neighbor and would do what I could to assist them to get back on their feet. If the government alone can't take care of them we as grateful citizens should.
In the end it's not the value of our house that will be remembered rather it's the lives that we touch.
Ironically we were able to find the dollars necessary to fund the assessment making the case for the needs of homeless veterans but we have yet to be successful in finding the dollars to actually house homeless veterans in our region. Several times we were close to securing properties to house homeless veterans and everytime we ran into issues of both funding and NIMBY. I'd be proud to have a veteran as a neighbor and would do what I could to assist them to get back on their feet. If the government alone can't take care of them we as grateful citizens should.
In the end it's not the value of our house that will be remembered rather it's the lives that we touch.
Friday, July 31, 2009
A cheerful start to yet another rainy day!
Rain, rain go away come again another day (like in a few weeks - give us a break please!).
It's raining again today, but this rainy summer has brought out the best in some generous companies. Even in these difficult times the following have stepped up their efforts to support our effective work in the areas of health, education, income and housing.
Unilever has made a $25,000 corporate gift. Zygo agreed to match employee gifts dollar for dollar. Jarvis, the Corporate Spirit Award recipient at our awards breakfast in April, has increased its corporate gift from $8,000 to $10,000 and its sponsorship commitment from $2,000 to $5,000. Aetna has increased its sponsorship commitment from $5,000 to $7,500 and is again donating $10,000 to match any new and increased gifts throughout the county. Aetna, Liberty Bank, Middlesex Hospital and Pratt & Whitney are sponsoring Loaned Executives. We are incredibly grateful to these companies for providing a great boost to our early fund raising efforts.
We also continue to receive positive results from last year's campaign. Pratt & Whitney’s 2008 leadership pool gift was $58,000 – higher than expected! The current 2008 campaign is now at $2,090,000 and we are projecting a total of $2,113,000 once NU's corporate gift is confirmed. This updated projection represents only a 3.5% decline over the previous year. I consider this excellent news given the economic challenges companies and individuals are facing.
Let the generosity of many continue to rain down on United Way.
It's raining again today, but this rainy summer has brought out the best in some generous companies. Even in these difficult times the following have stepped up their efforts to support our effective work in the areas of health, education, income and housing.
Unilever has made a $25,000 corporate gift. Zygo agreed to match employee gifts dollar for dollar. Jarvis, the Corporate Spirit Award recipient at our awards breakfast in April, has increased its corporate gift from $8,000 to $10,000 and its sponsorship commitment from $2,000 to $5,000. Aetna has increased its sponsorship commitment from $5,000 to $7,500 and is again donating $10,000 to match any new and increased gifts throughout the county. Aetna, Liberty Bank, Middlesex Hospital and Pratt & Whitney are sponsoring Loaned Executives. We are incredibly grateful to these companies for providing a great boost to our early fund raising efforts.
We also continue to receive positive results from last year's campaign. Pratt & Whitney’s 2008 leadership pool gift was $58,000 – higher than expected! The current 2008 campaign is now at $2,090,000 and we are projecting a total of $2,113,000 once NU's corporate gift is confirmed. This updated projection represents only a 3.5% decline over the previous year. I consider this excellent news given the economic challenges companies and individuals are facing.
Let the generosity of many continue to rain down on United Way.
A virtual shirt
I was on Facebook recently and was excited to receive a virtual LIVE UNITED t-shirt. So I promptly accepted the application and forwarded the "shirt" to 24 of my favorite Facebook friends. So in addition to wearing the actual shirt in public I can also wear it in my online world! Pretty cool. (Be sure to find us on facebook, too.)
The LIVE UNITED campaign has really taken hold here and throughout the world. Check out our website for great photos of people in their shirts including me and Spiderman! Please send us your photos in the shirt and we'd be happy to post it on our site. A recent survey showed that almost 35% of Americans know about the campaign and connect it to United Way making it one of the most successful marketing campaigns in recent memory.
Better yet is the invitation: "Don't just wear the shirt - Live it." Love this new message. Last year it was all about getting the word out about LIVE UNITED and the call to Give, Advocate, and Volunteer. Now it's about taking action and doing something to make the world a better place. Advocate for an issue you are passionate about, discover the rewards of volunteering and, of course, give to your local United Way!
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