A Busy Week - COMM314

Did you ever notice that you are either busy or bored?

This week I am busy…

This is my last week of a lot of things: my last week employment - my last week of my commitments as chair of a golf tournament for a non-profit agency - my last week of classes at VCSU and my last week in Florida.

There is so much happening right now that I am absolutely thankful for technology. I can multi-task using my iPhone – make appointments, call people, find stores on the internet and much more. In addition I have a good support system of friends that have stepped up to the plate to help me manage numerous projects that need to complete in the next three days.

My husband is already in our new home state working at his new job and helping the situation by exploring the areas to locate shops and services that we would need to use. Most importantly he is searching for those “oh so necessary dinner out” restaurants that we can go to once I hit the state. Last weekend he met and made friends with the owners of a local golf course within walking distance of the house. He has scoped out the area near the house, met new neighbors, etc…

What’ left for this crazy busy week…

First there is homework – gotta love those end of the year projects. I have two due this week and hope to get through them both unscathed. Next there are meetings to wrap up the end of my volunteer commitments and finally the big move itself. Saturday should be fun with the packing and loading of the truck.

Saturday evening my husband fly’s into town and then together we ride into the sunset heading of to our next adventure…

COMM344 - Beat Report Reflects on Mother's Day

What can I say I am human and have found out that the older I get the slower I get. One day you too will discover that you absolutely love the “oh so comfortable” bed and don’t need to stay up until the cows come home.

So this week instead of hitting the town I hit the house to prepare it for the move to Maryland, yes that’s right we’re leaving Florida to head to College Park, MD. “Fear the Turtle!”

I digress… Partyless, I thought what can Iblog about this week? Not about a party, place or thing how about a day of remembrance something that is dear to me. I got it lets blog about Mother’s Day!

This week I sent a card to my daughter – her first mother’s day card. For a moment I felt incredible old then a more positive emotion replaced that feeling, I felt blessed. I had watched this child grow up to become a mother a role she seems ready to tackle. Did I mention that I am going to be the cool glamma [check out these great glam-ma’s] that takes “Morgan Reese” to all the fun places?

Interesting that today my mother sent me the note below. I wondered, how did she feel when I became a mom? Did she go through the same emotions? Was she as excited to be able to once again relive the moments of laughter and awe that comes from a small child?

Am I ready? I wasn’t sure until last Sunday when my daughter guided my hand to her abdomen and I got to feel my soon-to-be granddaughter reach out and touch my hand. It was amazing - I remembered all those wonderful moments watching my child grow-up and I relished in the emotion of the moment. I am ready!

When You're the Mom of a Mother

By Beverly Beckham and Grandparents.com

When my older daughter became a mother nearly six years ago, I became a grandmother with a brand-new baby to love. But I also became a different kind of mother to my baby. I was useful again. I knew things. I understood. And the most important thing I understood was how much my daughter loved her child.Ten months later, my younger daughter gave birth to her firstborn. "Did you feel this way, Mom? Isn't it amazing? I never knew. Was I as cute?"Motherhood, part two.

That's what grandparenting really is. Your kids grow up, go off to school, move away. And they don't need you anymore. They don't call for advice. And you think, you're done. That's it. The job is finished. And then your kids become parents and you're suddenly back in the game. "Mom, can you?" "Dad, will you?

When a child is placed in a woman's arms — in a hospital, at an airport, in a lawyer's office, and whether the child is a newborn or a 10-year-old — a woman's life changes forever. And so does the life of her mother.I watch my daughters wipe noses and hands, buckle car seats, peel grapes, insist upon "please" and "thank you," wipe up spills, dry tears, read books, blow bubbles, monitor the TV, play games, and work outside their homes. And I am struck by the rigors of mothering — how hard it is and tiring and endless, and how amazing it is that anyone signs up for this job. And then I think, this was once my job. I did all this.

"How did you do it, Mom?" my daughters ask. And they listen to my answer because I've been down the road they're on now and they realize that maybe I know a few things they have yet to learn. The mother-child connection. It changes. It evolves. It grows.In the space between us now there is still no space. It is filled with children — theirs, but part mine. And on it goes. Mother to mother to child, this eternal bond that is recognized and honored on Mother's Day.

COMM314 - Jamestown Flood Research (2)

To assist me in my research on the flooding in Jamestown, North Dakota I have decide to find first-hand accounts of the flood from local citizens.

My friend Colleen was a former Valley City State University employee who still has many friends in the area. With her assistance we have reached out to several Jamestown residents to forward me their personal accounts of what took place prior to the floods, during the ordeal and what they see now. These first-hand accounts will supplement the data I have from federal and state officials and put a more personal spin on the research.

I am also interviewing Colleen and her husband for information on how the floods in Jamestown affected them and what they have done to assist the local North Dakota Community.

Another area where I am searching for data is the FEMA web site, this site will allow me to collect vital information on number of deaths, number of injuries, damage (estimates will come from federal and state officials), locations for the damage, names of dead and injured, etc. Although morbid, to me it seems like a deer in the headlights syndrome, people seem to want to know this information.

While I was surfing for information / research I came across Senator Kent’s web site. He had an interesting press release in which he stated “In North Dakota, we are facing an assault of flood waters unlike anything we have ever seen. From east to west, communities large and small have been battling record level flood waters. While the recovery has begun in some communities, others are continuing the flood fight,” Senator Conrad said. “The federal government has been a key player in the response from day one. It must be a vital player in the recovery as well.”

May have to add federal employees to my list of people to research...

COMM344 – The Baby Shower was a success!

The beat reported can proudly announce that the baby shower was wonderfully successful!

(We don’t use the words big or huge during the daughter’s pregnancy – if you know what I mean).

Over 40 women, plus 2 plesant husbands who carried supplies and countless gifts, met at the Moon Dancer Vineyard and Winery in Wrightsville PA on Saturday to lavish the lucky mom-to-be with gifts, dine on scrumptious food and drink the vineyards wine.

Although the rain forced us to move the event indoors the cozy room flanked by 2 fireplaces, local paintings and small round tables decorated with pastel floral centerpieces created a setting that welcomed all who attended.

The oldest daughter was our photographer for the event and took many wonderful pictures of the event – several you will see in this blog. My friend from Deb owner of DTK Designs did an absolutely wonderful job on the floral centerpieces, my mother created the beautiful watermelon baby carriage, my sister wrapped presents until the wee hours of the morning, the mom-to-be cut out the small paper dresses that we used for “advice messages” and wrapped silver wear and I was able to cook, pacify an entire family as well as create the event in the image that my daughter had dreamed.

Did I mention that we had a cake?

The games were simple and wonderful –we played the new version of dirty diaper, ribbons and ruffles and hot bottle (this winner got the centerpiece). The day was log yet wonderful and this beat reporter was thrilled that everything went so smoothly.

If I could be reflective for a moment I would have to say that events are like having children. They require more than one person, it takes planning and preparation, you think you are going to be on America’s Most Wanted for the thoughts you are having about your family, and yet when everything comes together you smile and realize that it was all worth it.

COMM314 – Research Report

For my crisis Crisis Communication Project on the flooding in North Dakota I have selected to cover the town of Jamestown. My decision was not based on any knowledge of the ND town / area only that I had previously visited a city in Virginia called Jamestown and had a very pleasant trip.

My research for the project began with visiting the local newspaper’s web site, The Jamestown Sun. The local coverage is quite extensive and the archive of articles will provide me with more than enough data for my report.

Another valuable source for my report will be the U.S. Geological Survey. They have accurate information about the geography of the area and statistical data on flood stages of the Jamestown River.

Another area for research is the town’s web site, jamestownnd.com. On this site I was able to find a listing of all the local officials, information on city meetings and crisis planning. Stutsman County web site also has information on road conditions, water levels, septic tanks assistance and images of the flood.

A very good source of information regarding disasters comes from a national non profit agency, The Red Cross. The agency is a leader in releasing information to the community and media and believes in complete transparency. I will be able to collect data that they have posted on their web site from all the steps that the organization has taken in assisting the flood ridden town and victims.

Other research will include information from news stations, national newspaper outlets, radio stations, and some historical data on the area regarding previous flooding. Other information comes fro Valley City State University where I have been receiving constant updates on the situation in ND and the Salvation Army who has been instrumental in organizing volunteers for the flood areas.

COMM344 - A Baby Shower Part 2

A lot has happened since the last time this beat reporter wrote about the upcoming “Diva Baby Shower.”

The mother-to-be has blossomed and everyday looks more like she is toting a bowling ball instead of a baby (she said it not me) and her hormones have gone from wind gust to full blown hurricanes that can appear in less than 60 seconds.

I have used all my training / skills at reporting in my conversations with my daughter the “almost” mom to be so that I can determine what exactly is wrong, how did this happen and who did it to her.

To all the men out there please note: comparing your very pregnant wife to a beach ball can be misconstrued and lead to a severe case of tears. You also may want to visit Being Dad USA. Anyway I digress…

This week the shower planning was set aside for a more urgent matter. Earlier this week I received a call from my daughter complaining of severe cramping that had her doubled over in pain. Living 1200 miles away this is not the phone call you want to receive at 9:00am in the morning. Using those reporter skills once again and ruling out anything that she had eaten, etc. it was determined that she should immediately go to the doctors.

One hour later, the doctor transfers her to the hospital for testing. All communication now ceases. In this world of being able to instantly reach a person and have access to unlimited data at the touch of your fingers I now was helpless and uniformed. I must say, this was disturbing.

BTW, should you need to contact the hospital to learn more information and they tell you your child isn’t registered or there do not panic - ask to speak to a supervisor.

Several hours later after locating the correct cell phone number and nurse I found out the gallstones mimic labor. She is okay and the baby is doing well too. She was sent home with a new diet, new exercises to do and full knowledge of what labor is going to fell like.

Next week I’ll provide an update on the food preparation day that I will have had with my “let me worry about everything” mother, my “damn I am glad to get out of the house” sister and my lovely yet persistent daughter. Hmmm I think a Mimosa may be needed.

COMM314 - Communication Crisis

This week our professor asked us to write about a communication crisis and how it pertained to our lives. I wondered what have I experienced that could constitute a communication crisis. I have lived in Florida and been through several hurricanes, I lived in Pennsylvania for over 18 years and went through several floods and blizzards yet these incidents did not leave me with an impression of communication crisis.

What story can I relate that would describe a communication crisis or preparation for a crisis? It would have to be something that dealt with my children or family. Several years back my husband and I were the caregivers of his mother Marcy. She had been living with us for many years and we could tell that her health was failing.

To prepare for a possible communication crisis in dealing with health care and family members we took several steps.

First we developed an emergency heath care plan:
We processed the paperwork for Marcy regarding for a DNR
Compiled a list of medications she could carry with her at all times
Contacted all medical professionals and provided them with an emergency contact list
Discussed medical treatment options with Marcy and how she would like them handled
We obtained a power of attorney to handle Marcy’s medical and financial affairs

Next we developed a communications plan:
How we would contact family members if her health would fail
Who would be the primary contact to relay information?
Who the hospital could contact to approve treatment, ect.

Lastly we organized a funeral:
We spoke with Marcy about how she envisioned the funeral
Who she would want to attend
Where she wanted her final resting place to be
What did she expect from us in handling the funeral?

Little did we know that we would need this sooner than later – Marcy developed cancer that spread from her lungs to her brain and within a 3 week period of being diagnosed she left us to be with her husband Earl.

Because we had taken the time to prepare, we were able to effective communicate with family and friends, dealt with the medical professionals quickly and efficiently and provided the type of funeral for Marcy that she had envisioned.

COMM314 - Concern

This week I though I would abandon the traditional PR format for my blog for one more appropriate.

Concern…

Even though I live in Boca Raton Florida where the weather is nice and the sun shines 300 days a year I am concerned about the residents of North Dakota.

For the last year I have attend Valley City State University in North Dakota. My classes are online and yet I still have a lot of interaction with students who live in Valley City and the surrounding areas.

Through my course work I have had a lot of interaction with students, professors and staff. These last weeks the emails, calls for help and personal note from professors regarding the flooding in the area have given me cause for alarm.

I was thankful when I heard the National Guard was being sent in to help with the community disaster and I must say I am quite impressed with the students who were lining up to volunteer to get on a bus and head out to help with sandbagging.

It was heartwarming to hear about the community pulling together!

I have been tracking the progress from the local paper (thank goodness for the internet) the Valley City Times Record. It has been distressing and informative and helps me to understand more about what my fellow students are going through.

I view the email traffic of the class, dance, and lecture cancellations. I see students organizing there own sandbagging sessions and I have seen a student body, faculty and staff pull together to do what is right during this natural disaster and I am impressed.

I wish a safe and happy holiday for everyone who resides in Valley City, ND and the surrounding areas this Easter (or Passover) and hope that soon this trying time will be behind you.

Happy Easter!

COMM344 - The Beat Report Books a Baby Shower

Chapter 1:

Wow, do I feel old! This week I am concentrating my efforts of creating and catering the perfect baby shower for our daughter.

My original thoughts were: I was in catering for 15 years and I’ve planned events for 25,000 people – what could be the harm in catering a small event.

Enter into the picture, Daughter number 2 with raging hormones and a family that requires careful handling and I now believe that I should never have given up wine for lent!

Thankfully I am not into self torture so I have decided to call in a few favors and am now outsourcing specific parts of the shower to people I trust and who know how particular I can be about the events / entertaining.

My friend Deb is making the centerpieces; since it’s at a Vineyard (thankfully this event takes place after Easter) we are going with a cottage baby theme and using all types of baby boxes, canning jars, etc that we will fill with baby items and fresh country flowers.

I am not sure if you call this crazy or courageous but I am bringing in my mother from Ohio to help me with the catering. She is a catering queen who makes the best food yet at times my sister and I think we should provide her with a Margareta IV.

I have sent the invitations, made all the lists, bought the items for the games, wrote the menu, ordered the cake and now await responses to see how many woman are going to attend and eventually have to do the “Waddle Relay.”

Feeling my age comes from the latest technology that the babies have these days. The bassinet our daughter has requested is from the Zen Collection from Fisher Price. This thing makes sounds, rocks the baby, has a canopy and is portable. WOW what a difference 26 years makes!

Well enough baby talk for now…

Next week in Chapter Two we’ll talk cakes, crazy relatives, less than polite coworkers and an attempt to ban alcohol.

Interestingly enough I live in Boca Raton Florida, not Ft. Lauderdale, not Palm Beach but Boca Raton and in my opinion a great place for a PR company to start a business.

Many think of Boca as a great place to vacation but the locals know it’s a PR Mecca of South Florida. With so many designated as wonderful, philanthropic and beautiful people you can’t tell me that the PR gurus aren’t doing a great job of promoting people /events in South Florida.

Now that we are in season the photos are flowing and the press releases are tearing up the fax lines of all the good things that are happening in the Boca Raton area. There are film festivals, art shows, black-tie fundraisers and countless balls.

The promotional season starts in September when the flock of snow birds descends on the area. The local PR professionals gear up for an incredible busy time – right now with everyone trying to add the last minute events before these snow birds leave I know that these seasoned professional are so busy that they are pulling 20 hour days – just hoping that they can make it till May when they can actually take a couple of days off.

I am sure that with the economic crisis PR Professionals are being asked to do more with less. Winslow Rubin Communications is based in Boca. They talk of ways that they can help a company maximize their visibility which usually leads to additional sales.

An interesting fact is the Top 5 PR Firms in Boca Raton are national / international companies. Nicolazzo & Associates is based in Boston Mass., fama PR based in Boston Mass., HiTechPR based in Rye NY, Fleishman-Hillard Inc. based in Saint Louis Missouri, and Hill & Knowlton Inc. based in New York. This is just another example of how Boca Raton is a PR Mecca.

COMM344 - Its time for more Tea Parties…

I am not sure if anyone has been tracking the current trends but a old fashion concept has been resurrected. Shades of the days of the excise taxes imposed by England when a Boston Mass group of concerned citizens dumped tea overboard. we now have the modern version of the TEA PARTY where they are asking Americans to mail tea bags to their House of Representatives (HOR) and State Senators (SS) in Washington DC.

This grass roots organization wants the governing parties in DC to know that they are fed up with the way they spend our tax dollars and that they should abide by the same rules as we do. Which I for one have thought should have been happening for a long time.

Did you know that HOR and SS do not pay social security tax yet can get social security? Even more frightening is that once these people have left office they receive an annual salary from the tax payers for the rest of their life. Wow, where can I sign up to get a job that pays me even after I stop working.

We The People Stimulus Package is a hot topic video on You Tube. A gentleman dressed as did our founding fathers explains why the people of America should be so upset with the stimulus package. He asks outraged citizens to mail tea bags to their representatives in congress.

I did some checking on my own and found a great article by Michelle Malkin. Her article, Tea Party U.S.A.: The movement grows lists the growing movement by concerned American citizens including CNBC host Rick Santelli’s who is calling for a Chicago Tea Party.

How exciting a time for America, this is another thing that makes this country great. We can rally our American citizens to stand up for their 1st amendment rights and protest against the over taxing and spending taking place in the nations capital.

This is what makes America great…Freedom

COMM344 - The Culture Reporter suffers from the “Homebound Bronchitis Blues”

10 days ago I found myself back in the Baltimore Washington Thurgood Marshall Airport returning from a short trip to Maryland, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Even though the weather was a little chilly (okay, so compared to Florida it was chilly) the sun was shinning and the shopping was fantastic!

If you have never been to Rockvale Square and Tanger Outlets in Lancaster PA – it is worth the trip.

Tanger Outlets are the “name brand” shops with deeply discounted designer items that range from shoes, shirts to sheets. Rockvale Outlets has just about every type of shop you could be looking for and the items are truly discounted. At one shop I found that I kept asking the girl to recheck the check – I couldn’t have possible spent so little!

My prized shopping item for the day would have to be the purchase for the soon to be granddaughter. She will make her appearance into this world in July and I can tell you she will be quite the little shopping diva if “glamma” has anything to say about it! I digress; my little diva to be now has a pair of

Ruby Red Slippers

That’s right this culture / entertainment beat reporter is going to have a lot of fun introducing the soon to be teeny tot socialite to the world of classic films, theater and discount shopping.

The trip was wonderful, the company of friends and family was delightful and then the plane ride back to Florida. Why is it people who have colds do not think they number one need to cover the mouths when the cough and number two that the air on the plane is recycled and they may just cause everyone to get sick?

Half way through my 2 hour flight the light reflected through the plane and I could actually see germs floating through the air heading my way from my flight companion who coughed, wheezed and hacker her way though the flight. Fast forward 3 days and this culture beat reporter had a terrific flu that turned into bronchitis and hasn’t seen the outside of the condo in a week.

Still - loved the shopping and seeing the family
Did I mention that we had to buy an extra suitcase to put all the lovely purchases in?

COMM314 Airlines need PR Guru – Combat the “pain in the backside opinion”

The last several weeks I have had the extreme pleasure of booking lots or airline travel for myself and my husband… Now some may not know me and you aren’t quite sure what I mean but the rest of you realize that I am being sarcastic, and you would be correct!

What an ordeal – the countless searches of all the “cheap flight” websites only to discover the “hidden costs” which has become my favorite term when it comes to booking flights.

For instance, I could book a round trip flight from Ft Lauderdale Florida to Philadelphia PA. The initial flight will cost me $98 per person, now add on airport taxes, convention taxes and fuel charges and my $98 flight now costs $135. Then comes the wonderful “hidden fees” – did I mention that if you want a seat on the plane its $6 each way, want extra leg room for an exit room make that an extra $20 each way. Check luggage? That will cost a cool $15 per bag each way.

Let’s recap – my 98 flight with all the additions in now will cost me at whopping $177
That’s if I only check one bag!

Here is my favorite part – several airline companies do not subscribe to mass airline and discount sites. They figure their fares are low enough people will find them – They are right! I spent the next hour finding a more reasonable flight that only cost me a total of $120 with up to 2 checked bags.

For my money, airline companies who have wonderful “hidden charges” need to spend some money trying to impress upon me why I should use their services and also desensitize me to the “extra charges” sticker shock because right I suffer from the pain in the backside opinion.

COMM314 - PR without money

Many of you know by now that I am chairing the JLBR Golf Classic. This week I was pondering the economy, and how PR could help spread the message about the upcoming event.

I sat for a moment and thought if I were a corporation what I would do. I would have staff put together a media campaign, invite in the press and take out ads. If I were a professional athlete I would hire a PR firm, reinvent myself with new clothing, do interviews and make rounds of apologies. What one thing do these scenarios have in common???

MONEY What is a non-profit to do when they are trying to raise money and not spend it? We have a media committee for the golf outing. They have written press releases, put up website, created post cards and rack cards. Yet is this enough during an economic downturn?

I sought advice via the internet where I found this article “How to Become a Household Name” One line in the story caught my attention

“Another important way to generate media interest in your business is by harnessing the power of your own personality.”

Interesting, what is it I can do to generate PR and get the message to the community that we have a great event, we are sponsoring a children’s golf clinic and that the funds will go towards helping women and children in our area….

Talk to People…

Lots of them…

Its time to start a grass roots effort to raise awareness – call media outlets, banks, major corporations and the entire membership to inform them about the Golf Classic and ask them to help and mostly ask them to provide us with referrals.

All this effort should draw attention to the outing which will in turn generate interest and that will lead to donations.

Wish us luck…

COMM344 - Passion with purpose

Passion to do what you believe in was the message in the posting from Professor Vanhorn this week. I agree, you need to have a passion for what you do and a desire to do it well.

I would add that Passion goes hand in hand with Purpose!

Not long ago Jay and I found a book called “The Passion Test” by Janet Bray and Chris Attwood. The premise behind the text is to motivate and inspire, to help others find the way to achieve their goals and find out what it is that is most important to the person and help to discover their passion in life.

The book itself is very long only 291 pages and easy to read yet the pages are filled with testimonials from average people that will inspire the reader.

My favorite section of the book is Chapter 8 “What You Think You Become.” I have always believed that if you are positive and strive for goals that you will achieve, I guess you can call me a believer. On the reverse, I also believe that those people who constantly mention how sick they are, that life is terrible and are filled with Doom and Gloom are believers too – they just choose to accept defeat.

“What you put your attention on grows stronger in life” is mentioned in the book and could also be heard in another novel “The Secret,” The bookie and video that spread the news that being positive and striving for what you want - “passion and purpose” help you achieve your goals.

Not long ago I was watching Joel Olsten with my husband and he mentioned the very same message, what you believe can happen. How interesting that a minister would spread positive news and the power for good, I like it!

Regardless of what you believe in I hope that everyone finds their passion and purpose that will help them find happiness.