I read “Stop Hiring Based Only on Category Experience” today. It was refreshing to read after applying to several jobs over the last day.

While experience certainly plays a large role, I’ve always believed that the tangibles are key qualities. You can’t teach ethics, punctuality, passion for your work, etc. These will keep people around and allow them to adapt to new and unfamiliar situations.

Both in organizations and professionally I’ve worked with great and some not so great individuals. I did not let this hinder my responsibilities, I just learned the best way to adapt to working with the person.

I learned this from a very young age. I would often complain about guys on my baseball, basketball and football teams. Whether it was general dislike or I didn’t accept their poor work ethic, I would speak about this with my dad. He told me, “Son, don’t let it bother you. You’re not going to get along with everyone. You’re going to work with assholes one day so get used to it.” I’ve remembered these words of wisdom in each difficult situation I’ve run across with another person.

I’m really looking forward to my interview with McCann-Erickson Detroit tomorrow. This is a really great opportunity to get back in the industry and keep growing professionally.

I don’t believe Detroit is dead, there is still a lot to learn from this great creative city. I’m also a fan of the advertising community in Detroit, I’ve met a lot of great people by attending Adcraft Club events.

I’m certain I will have a great experience to write about after tomorrow and I’m betting there is also a great ending.

I find it best to take a step back and analyze the situation at hand. A job search can create quite the frustrations.

You’re thinking: I’m clearly qualified… don’t they like me? Then you see who they hired and are completely puzzled.

I started looking at some Jim Valvano (Jimmy V) quotes to remind myself to keep dreaming and keep fighting. Every email I get that begins “We regret to inform you…”, or of that nature is the driving force of my future success. I’d like to frame every rejection email, note, letter, etc. in the corner office someday. A personal tribute to say thank you.

After a brief Twitter poll, I’m off to write a cover letter. This is for an agency I’ve been interested in for a long time.

“To me, there are three things we all should do every day. We should do this every day of our lives. Number one is laugh. You should laugh every day. Number two is think. You should spend some time in thought. And number three is, you should have your emotions moved to tears, could be happiness or joy. But think about it. If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that’s a full day. That’s a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you’re going to have something special.” – Jimmy V

I’ve noticed some differences in being an undergrad and being an alumni. There were so many things I took for granted as an undergrad:

Seeing your friends everyday

The electricity of the city during football and basketball season

Sunday morning breakfast with everyone

Meeting great people everyday

Rick’s American Cafe… for better or worse

I enjoy heading to East Lansing for the home football games and just seeing everyone and simply just enjoying the day. A MSU win can usually help that out.

I read a hilarious article today titled “PepsiCo iPhone app draws fire for stereotyping“. The article is about an iPhone app from PepsiCo that assists you with pickup lines and allows you to track these conquests.

If you’re not laughing this post isn’t for you.

The article has some great quotes that made me laugh from start to finish. Of course there is criticism from the public. Don’t we all need a good laugh in awhile?

What makes it such a bad app? It is clearly a form of entertainment that engages the consumer (hmmm doing it’s job?). It isn’t meant to function as a tool such as a GPS. People need to stop being so negative, especially with advertising. Don’t take everything as a personal persecution, learn to laugh at yourself.

“He who never made a mistake never made a discovery.” – Samuel Smiles

I’ve decided to get back up on the horse and continue to produce blog posts. These posts will be a little different as there is no client news to report at the moment.

The posts will be shifting to a more personal feel, I promise to not pull at the heartstrings too much. I’ll be taking you through the day-to-day as I try to find an exciting opportunity in public relations, advertising and communications. I’m open to any ideas, opportunities, criticisms and general input.

I’m looking to keep up a writing strength and improve as well.

Hope everyone had a great day and make tomorrow count.

MEDIA ADVISORY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: May 8, 2009

For More Information:
Rebecca Martusewicz, 734-730-7359 or rmartusew@emich.edu

Detroit students teaming with homeless to turn old tires into new hope
Kids’ innovative ‘green’ project with Eastern Michigan University, Hope of Detroit Academy, Cass Community Social Services transforms scrap rubber into doormats

WHO: 22 seventh-grade students and teachers from Hope Detroit Academy are partnering with EMU educators, Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision, Cass Community Social Services staff and local homeless volunteers

WHAT: Collecting scrap tires from the neighborhood where the school is located in SW Detroit and taking them to Cass Community Social Services for conversion into new residential doormats (Cass provides training and jobs to homeless clients they serve by teaching them the conversion process)

WHY: The project is part of the Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative (www.glstewardshiporg) and Southeast Michigan Stewardship Coalition to improve K-12 education and protect the environment by having elementary, middle and high school students use “place-based learning” to study ecology and community issues

WHEN: 8:15 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (noon) Tuesday, May 12

WHERE: Intersection Hope Detroit Academy, 4443 N. Campbell, and east of Livernois Avenue

Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 24, 2009

Contact: Cathy Lazar,
The Country Club of Lansing
Phone: 517-318-5201
Mobile: 517-290-1007
Email: clazar@cclansing.org

The Country Club of Lansing Sponsors Fashion Show to benefit The Greater Lansing Food Bank

LANSING, Mich. — The Country Club of Lansing (CCL), one of Michigan’s most recognized and revered golf, dining and family clubs, today announced that it is sponsoring the first-ever Fashion for Food: a Fashion Show to Benefit The Greater Lansing Food Bank. The event on Thursday, April 30th begins at 5:30 p.m. at The Country Club of Lansing, 2200 Moores River Drive, in Lansing.

The event will preview the latest Spring and Summer fashions by Carlisle, Doncaster and Etcetera women’s fashion collections. The idea for the fundraiser was a collaborative effort by several local women business owners, Jane Bitsicus, Marian Boulus, Melinda Doyle, Vivian Dwyer, Pam Harden and Elizabeth Vanis, to create an exciting, upbeat event that would benefit a very worthy and relevant cause in our community. “In these increasingly difficult economic times, we are seeing a dramatic rise in the number of people accessing the food bank, in fact a startling 49% are children.” according to Cheryl Wald, Chair of the Board of Directors, of The Greater Lansing Food Bank. “As summer approaches we have an even bigger need to provide for kids, and we appreciate fundraising efforts such as the Fashions for Food event”, said Terry Link, the new Executive Director of The Greater Lansing Food Bank.

The community is invited to attend the fundraiser this Thursday, April 30th, at 5:30pm at The Country Club of Lansing , 2200 Moores River Drive, in Lansing. The cost is $50 per person to benefit The Greater Lansing Food Bank. Hors d’oeuvres will be served from 5:30-6:30 p.m. and the Fashion Show begins at 6:30 p.m. Attendees will be invited to stroll the collections following the show. There will be drawings for door prizes donated by the business owners of Carlisle, Doncaster and Etcetera. Bob Hoffman, Manager of Public Relations for the Wharton Center will emcee the fashion show and local models will model the collections. A number of local business owners have made donations to assist in the production of the fashion show on April 30 at The Country Club of Lansing.

To attend this event, please call (517) 484-4567 to make your reservation. In addition, please feel free to bring non-perishable items to fill the truck from The Greater Lansing Food Bank.

The CCL has long been known for delivering a first class dining experience, a premier clubhouse, beautiful and challenging 18-hole golf course, swimming pool and tennis courts and family-focused programs to enjoy all year long. Chris Freeman, General Manager, said,” We are pleased to provide a venue for such a worthy cause in our community.”

The CCL began on May 4, 1908 as the Lansing Golf Club. The organization incorporated and became the Country Club of Lansing in 1920. The CCL today continues to provide a traditional country club lifestyle for its members and their families and guests. Members enjoy personalized service, impeccable food and championship caliber golf.

For more information, please contact Cathy Lazar, CCL Marketing Director, at clazar@cclansing.org or 517-318-5201, or Chris Freeman, CCL General Manager, at 517-484-4567.

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Saving plans sound despite bad economy, leaders say

Michigan’s two college savings programs remain sound investments, despite the struggles with the stock market, leaders said Tuesday.

The Michigan Education Trust (MET) and the Michigan Education Savings Program (MESP) have seen modest growth in the economic downturn — up 1 percent and 10 percent from 2007, respectively, according to the state. And changes in the tax code, for this year only, may make MESP more inviting for families wanting to save early for college.

Families with questions about the Michigan plans are invited to talk with experts Wednesday in a live Web chat. Robin Lott, executive director of MET, and Renee Hill, program manager for MESP, will be available for a Web chats on WXYZ TV’s Web site from noon to 1 p.m. and again from 5- 6 p.m. today.

To participate, go to www.wxyz.com. The experts will provide verbal responses to questions typed into the chat window or called in to (248) 356-0077.

MET is a guaranteed tuition plan that allows parents to pre-purchase tuition at today’s rates for state universities and colleges. MESP is a 529 savings program that is investment-based and where money can be used to pay for tuition, as well as books, supplies, required fees and certain room and board costs at any qualified institution in the nation.

Parents and guardians should consider both when planning for a child’s future to reap the benefits of both, Hill and Lott say.

“With MET you are locking in the cost of tuition today and MESP can help you pay for all the other costs, (such as) room and board and fees and laptops,” Hill said. “There’s an opportunity for parents who have a long investment time frame. And for those who don’t, we still have very conservative options available.”

MET has sold 89,000 contracts; 35,000 have been paid out and a little over 15,000 are being paid out. On average, 3,500 contracts are sold a year, Lott said. The latest annual actuary review of the program in September found that program is sound, Lott said.

“It’s good to see the plan is adapting and responding to the economic crisis,” said Dennis Pace, 58, an advertising director from Dimondale who started an MESP account for his 3-year-old grandson two weeks after he was born.

Tuition on average among Michigan’s public universities increases 7.3 percent a year, Lott said. And if families can buy tuition contracts at today’s prices, the savings can be considerable, Lott said. “I think most folks have realized that tuition in Michigan doesn’t go down,” Lott said of the program’s growth.

For the MESP program, Michiganians have invested $1.65 billion in the program through more than 211,000 accounts, Hill said.

Due to changes in the tax code, investors in the MESP program will be allowed to change investment options two times in 2009, instead of once. This means families with students nearing college age, for example, can move into more conservative investments.

One MESP investment option guarantees the principal plus interest.

The latest investment options might be more helpful for parents of teens, Pace said, but “are great moves. That would make it more appealing for more parents. .. The longer you wait (to save), the more difficult it is.”

The IRS also has increased flexibility in the types of college-related purchases the money can be used for — laptops, most computer software and Internet service are now permissible.

Both plans provide a state tax deduction for Michigan residents and tax-free growth if used for qualified college expenses.

Michigan is encouraging families to consider investing at a time when other states’ 529 plans haven’t fared as well. Alabama’s prepaid tuition plan suffered significant losses and its board froze enrollment Tuesday over fears it wouldn’t be able to pay out tuition in the future.

Contact: Jon LaBossiere 734-426-4913
Agency: Natural Resources

March 24, 2009

Pinckney Recreation Area is announcing its spring “GO-Get Oudoors” recreational stimulus package with a “Paddle to Hell” on Wednesday, April 1, beginning at 10 a.m. at the Bruin Lake boat launch.

Under the best conditions, this is an easy four-mile paddle through Hell, Michigan. However, this early in the season the water is cold and the weather is unpredictable. This is an all-weather event and will be cancelled only if there is still ice on the lakes.

The cost of the paddle trip is free, but donations are being accepted for picnic table and grill replacements. Participants will need to register at (734) 426-4913. This event is limited to 20 boats, so participants are urged to register soon.

The Bruin Lake boat launch is located at 21237 Kaiser Rd. near Gregory, which is near Hell, Michigan. For more information about the park, this event, accessibility, or persons needing accommodations to attend this event, contact the park supervisor at (734) 426-4913 (or TTY/TDD 711 Michigan Relay Center for the hearing impaired), or visit the Web site at www.michigan.gov/pinckney.

All motor vehicles entering a state park or recreation area must display a Motor Vehicle Permit, available for purchase at the park entrance. Cost is $24 for a resident annual and $6 for a resident daily. A nonresident annual is $29 and a nonresident daily is $8.

Join the DNR in celebrating the 90th anniversary of Michigan State Parks this year. Activities are planned throughout the year. For more information, visit www.michigan.gov/dnr.

The DNR is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural resources for current and future generations.

Great Lakes, Great Times, Great Outdoors