Relay For Life Team Captains Wanted

For each day that is “just another day” for most, there are thousands who cherish that day as a gift, a chance to live life to the fullest while battling cancer.

Relay For Life of Baldwin County gives community members the chance to show their support and give strength to these people who are fighting bravely for their lives. This year’s Relay Kickoff will be held at Northside Baptist Church Tuesday, Nov. 17 at 6 p.m. and is open to all team captains and anyone who would like to become involved in the 2010 Relay For Life of Baldwin County.

In the U.S. alone, cancer claims more than 1,500 lives each day and is responsible for one in every four deaths.

The American Cancer Society is working to change these statistics with Relay For Life. It is a source of healing and comfort for those who have battled cancer or lost loved ones to the terrible disease, offering everyone the chance to work together to save lives, create awareness, and work towards finding a cure.

Relay is a life-changing event that allows thousands of people in over 20 countries to join together to celebrate, remember, and fight back against cancer, is not just about fund-raising; it’s about one person making a difference. It is a way for schools, churches, businesses, and civil organizations to join together and work toward a common goal: ending cancer within this lifetime.

“Our theme for Relay this year is ‘Celebrate a Memory’,” said Jan Nutt, Event Chair, Relay For Life of Baldwin County. “Memories of past Relays will be celebrated at as we create new memories and remember that the present is a wonderful gift.”

Despite current economic hardships, last year the Relay For Life of Baldwin County raised $174,860. This year, the organization intends to build on that success utilizing new volunteers from all over Baldwin.

“It would be fantastic if local churches, businesses and civic organizations who have not participated in Relay in the past would send representatives to the kickoff and find out what Relay is all about,” said Nutt. “I would like to see an even larger segment of Baldwin County join others around the globe to make a world with less cancer and more birthdays a reality.”

The Tipping Point

Malcolm Gladwell's The Tipping Point provides historical examples of how the smallest of changes can shatter an epidemic's equilibrium. The book proves that there is more than one way to "tip" an epidemic by discussing three laws and three types of people in society. The Law of the Few says that one rare and exceptional person can find out about a trend and spread the word through energetic and enthusiastic social connections. Within this Law of the Few, there are three types of people: connectors, mavens, and salesmen. The Stickiness Factor says that there are specific ways to make a message memorable, and that simple changes in presentation and information structure can make a big difference. The Power of Context simply states that people are a lot more sensitive to their environment than they may seem.

So how does this relate to my PR Journey? In the field of public relations, knowing how little things can make a big difference is vital. If you are promoting a new product or planning an event, knowing how to "tip" your campaign can change the outcome from ordinary to extraordinary. One little thing may make the difference in the amount of products you sell, the number of people who attend your event, or the number of people who choose your company over the competition. In reading this book, a PR professional can apply the three rules mentioned above as well as find their "type," learning to play off their strengths and weakness, and even team up with others of different types.

In reading The Tipping Point, I realized that I am Connector, an intensely social person who knows not only a LOT of people, but lots of DIFFERENT people. I, as the book says, occupy many different worlds, meaning I have a diverse group of friends and acquaintances. Growing up in the hospitality industry, I learned early that I had an interest in people...young, old, rich, poor, red, yellow, black, white...anyone and everyone. I wanted to meet people and learn things; I was and still am fascinated by new cultures and ideas. My grandparents used to joke that I never met a stranger, and in the rare event that I did, they didn't stay a stranger for long. The key to being a Connector in my opinion, is having the ability to bond with anyone. In my job with the GCSU Phonathon, I call complete strangers and talk with them on the phone. We talk about college, the weather, their grandkids, life in 1957, chicken biscuits, whatever, and by the end of the conversation these people feel as though we have known each other all our lives. The ability to connect is really as simple as finding common ground and building a relationship. Also, in today's world, things like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and blogging have made it so easy to get connected and stay connected. Its easy to check up on old friends by glancing at status updates or checking their latest blog entry. And who knows where maintaining these connections will take you. In my life, I have made connections with people everywhere I have traveled; I believe the more people you know, the better off you are. The world is as small as you make it, and you should never underestimate the power of "knowing someone who knows someone who knows someone." The hands you shake today may no doubt be the ones opening doors for you down the road.

My last thought when reading The Tipping Point was: How can I use what I learned to help "tip" our Relay for Life Kickoff. My answer to this comes from both the Law of the Few and the Stickiness Factor. As part of the media team, my job is to write a press release to promote the kickoff. With the Law of the Few, its as simple as just getting the word out...letting people know about the event: the simple who, what, when, where, why's. Getting the word out to local radio stations, newspapers, and community leaders will help spread the word, and by simple word-of-mouth publicity, help make the event a success. With the Stickiness Factor, its all about making the message memorable. This will be done through creative and enticing writing in the press release: a lead that will grab the reader's attention, and a well written story that will stick in readers minds long after they have finished their morning paper and put down their cup of joe.

Blog Action Day: Climate Change

The choices that humans make today no doubt have a profound affect on the world that future generations will live in. Today, we are dealing with the repercussions of years of pollution and mistreatment of Earth that occurred before Environmental Laws were passed. Things like smog, excessive waste in landfills, and global climate change are all outcomes of pollution, and sadly, many of these things would not be such big issues now had we all decided to "go green" sooner. I would like to think that in this day and age, people are more aware of the impact that one single person can have on the Earth, but this is not always the case. For this reason, I have chosen to participate in Blog Action Day 2009. Climate change in particular, is a direct result of human choices to our environment. Even things like travel, geography, business decisions, politics, and agriculture play a large part in climate change, and it is our duty to take responsibility and know how the choices we make can impact the future of the Earth and the future generations who live here. After doing some research about how climate change, I became inspired to find ways of reducing my own carbon footprint. Here are a few easy ones that I intend to do and encourage you to do also: 1) wash your clothes with cold water instead of warm...they won't mind :) 2) use the dishwasher because hand washing actually uses more hot water 3) unplug electronics and turn off lights and computers when they are not in use, even if you will be back soon. 4) regulate your home temperature, replace air filters often, and use compact florescent light bulbs to cut down on energy use These things all came from a list of over 50 ways to reduce your carbon footprint and there are numerous other websites devoted to making people aware of their impact on the world. If there is one thing I learned from reading them, it is that simple changes in daily routines can make a big difference in the future. For example, did you know that by turning off the water while you brush your teeth you can save up to 25 gallons a month?

The First of Many

Last week, my PR classmates and I conducted the first pitch of our PR careers. We were told to come up with a theme, logo, invitation, table centerpiece, and menu for the Baldwin County Relay for Life kickoff banquet to be held at Northside Baptist Church on November 4...and the real catch, we were given a budget of $0. Our class split up into five groups of three and competed against each other. In the end, ideas were taken from all of the pitches, and my classmates and I walked away with numerous lessons learned. Here are a few that really stuck with me:

1) Attention to detail is essential. With our menus, we were expected to include EVERY single item we wished to have, who would be donating it, the types and colors of dinnerware we would use, and even how our buffet line would be displayed. Also, we had to explain in detail why we chose the theme we chose, how our centerpieces would look, and what the photo area would encompass. Simple things like creating and sticking to a select color scheme, make a big difference in adding to the overall feel of the event.

2)In order to succeed, everyone must be on board. In the beginning, my team was unsure about the direction we wanted to go in. We were debating on doing a fiesta theme, or sticking to our original slogan "Every day is a gift. Celebrate the Present." Even as things were getting down to the wire, a few times we looked back and thought, oh no, maybe we should have done the other thing after all. This really showed me that team support is crucial. Diverse ideas are good, but after one thing is agreed upon, the support of all team members is key.

3) Confidence is everything. Since this was our first pitch, many of my classmates were nervous about what to expect. My teammates and I actually even practiced our pitch in front of my roommate so that we would be more comfortable when presenting the real thing. I have always thought that if you are nervous, people will know. Then, they are focused on the fact that you are nervous and therefore are not getting the most out of what you are saying. A confident speaking voice and a smile can go a long way.