NKU PRSSA

So today I can say that I had a pretty productive day - for a Saturday, at least. Usually it's one of those days where you have things planned out that you SHOULD do, usually including doing homework, working out, cleaning, and possibly getting to that one "thing" you should have done a long time ago (if only you could remember what that even was).

However, the first thing I did this morning was go to one of NKU's PRSSA events that went on all afternoon. Even though I missed the beautiful weather, it was a good experience - me and a friend went just to see what it was about and to find out if PRSSA could possibly aid in a student organization we are currently in. The event included a few speakers with networking opportunities. It's always neat to hear about real professionals' stories about how they obtained their job and why it is they do what they do.

I remember one of the PR ladies from Turfway Park saying how important it is to be accessible and honest - even though PR prof's tend to "spin" stories, it doesn't mean you are not being honest, of course. You are just stating the facts about the company you want to state in order to maintain its positive image. And, of course, you must know what to pitch to who. But, the speaker that really interested me, though, was a man by the name of Kevin who gave a presentation on social media - now that was definitely interesting. I have always been interested in how the evolving media outlets have affected general communication - it's neat stuff. It's just amazing how many of those social networking sites are actually out there. As for me, facebook is the only one that truly matters.

I am definitely learning a lot about the PR field, though, from working at a PR firm and from attending these events/reading up on them. And that is what I intend to do in my final year of college - learn as much as I can from marketing/PR professionals and learn what makes them tick; learn what makes them get up for work every day.

And some day, I'll be these people - teaching others about what makes me tick and why I love what I do. Until then, I'm learning away.

The "Art" of Dying

...or is there such a thing? Apparently artist Guillermo Vargas Habacuc thinks there most certainly is, and he is not afraid to showcase his "artwork" to Central America. This guy basically took an innocent dog off the streets and decided to tie it up and starve it - which eventually lead to its death (although some people claim the dog never died, so it's all ok). But whether the dog died or not is not really the point. The fact of the matter is, the guy STILL tied this innocent creature up and tortured it by letting it starve. Trust me, the pictures speak for themselves (although I would rather not post them... I looked at them enough).

I didn't realize something like this would upset me so much. Then again, why wouldn't it?

It is horrendous actions like this one which tells me how much we need places like Safe Haven (and Peppermint Pig) - one of our non-profit clients. We need them to keep people like Guillermo from abusing innocent animals for no good reason. We need places like that to take in these animals and find them a loving home. If you want to make a "statement," fine. You have every right to express yourself as I do. But to torture and kill an animal just to do that? The only statement you are making to me is that you have no heart... and I don't see why you would want to glorify that horrendous act.

Oh, and the whole argument about "well maybe the artist was trying to make people ban together for a common good"... yeah, well don't you think there are other ways for people to ban together for a common good? I don't buy that argument for one second.

I guess this is just one of those things I will never understand. It's one of those things you look at, shake your head, and wonder how people can so easily mistreat innocent beings.

Some things are a mystery.

Intellectual Property, Advertising, and Obscenity.. oh my!

These three topics are going to be on my law of mass communication test on Thursday... and yes, I am currently trying to cram for it at this moment. It's really too bad I don't sit down and read my law book way ahead of time - some of this stuff is actually interesting. I did say some. If I actually was motivated enough to start reading this material earlier, I probably would hold a deeper appreciation for the world of law. It's neat to read about how our court has changed and adapted to particular time periods. But, sometimes you can only take so much... our teacher is definietly cramming lots of material together!

Even though I won't be completely relieved until the semester comes to an end, I'll definitely be looking forward to this weekend. I'm going to a friend's birthday/graduation party on Friday, and then to The Blue Wisp jazz club on Saturday (which I have not been to). I'm always up for a new adventure; plus, jazz is pretty cool - it's the type of music that always seems to put me in a good mood. It will be featuring saxophone players and percussionists.. right up my alley. It should be fun.. it will be something new. I'm sure I'll post about my experience there, and how the group will probably ask me to help out with playing the drums.. (well, maybe not).

It's pretty much a fast-paced kind of world for me right now, with juggling many tasks at EMG (even though some are on the backburner because of waiting for people to get back to me) and trying to maintain my sanity with a million projects at school. But, as with everything, I can get through it. Time marches on, and I'll pull through the end of the semester. Now, back to studying what differentiates obscene from indecent material.... (how indecent of me to be reading all of these messed up cases...)

Customer Satisfaction and Empowerment

Over the past month or so, I seem to have mastered the art of passing out surveys to people.. if there is even an art to that. From roaming the steets of Mariemont to entertaining (maybe)customers at the Beechmont Izzy's, I definitely have had my share of passing out surveys. If anywhere else needs some surveys to be passed out... look no further - I'm equipped with the knowledge of utlizing this statistical analysis tool called SPSS as well. I know, I'm quite a force to be reckoned with.

Yesterday, though, required me to do a bit more with the data this time - unlike Bombay City's survey data, which I have not had to touch. But for our marketing research project on Izzy's current customers, each of us has the exciting task of entering all of the data from all seven store locations (we have 367 surveys) into the SPSS stats program. This clearly is the most exciting part of the project.

While it will be a very boring and long task, the end result will be interesting I'm sure.. or at least we hope. Either way, we have to analyze the data and make statistical and managerial recommendations from it. Call me crazy, but I am actually excited to start that whole process. Yes, I am excited about a group project. There is a first thing for everything.

So, while the school year winds down and tests become a normal part of my week, I must say there is still room for excitment about that. And not to mention excitment about my not-for-profit client, Dress for Success. Now here is an organization that I will support with no problem. An organization that focuses on empowering disadvantaged women by supplying them with the appropriate interview attire and career networking tools. An organization that encourages self-sufficiency and economic independence. An organization that will help women LIVE their life.

The overall idea of empowerment is a great one, too.. as I have learned through my fascinating management class. It is an emerging trend in businesses today, allowing lower-level employees to have more control over their work environment in general, since they are closer to potential problems/opportunites (i.e., customers). It empowers them to make their own choices and be accountable for their actions.

I realize this does not directly relate to Dress for Success, but the GENERAL idea of empowerment - giving people more freedom and control of their life, whether it be work or personal - is one we should all hold. If you really want something, go out and do it. Be empowered enough to make it happen.

Pizza: Meet Pasta

If these two italian foods were strangers somehow, let them be strangers no longer. In an attempt to create buzz about their new pasta dishes, Pizza Hut has launched a huge ad campaign in which the company will "change" its name to "Pasta Hut"... right around April Fools. Hmmm... coincidence? I think not.

Well... now I can say that I don't think it was a coincidence, as opposed to last night. I admit - I was trapped into thinking Pizza Hut will actually change its name for good to "Pasta Hut." Hey, the advertisement I saw in an e-mail looked pretty legit, and it came from my mom (the fact that it said April 1st on it did not seem to phase me... seemed like a minor detail at the time). Later on, however, I come to find out my mom actually thought it was real, as well... who received the e-mail from my dad, who thought it was also real. The e-mail forwarding of idiots at its best. Oh, the irony.

While Pizza Hut is embarking on a large-scale advertising campaign promoting this thing called "Pasta Hut," they are not actually changing their name for good - they are indeed changing signage and billboards, coupled with ad spots nation-wide. However, the campaign is intended to simply raise awareness of Pizza Hut's new pasta line (TWO different kinds of pastas... no wonder they needed something really clever). After about a month or so, the pasta hut signage should go away.. or so we think.

From a marketing standpoint, I thought it was a clever idea. Pizza sales have went down over the years, and Pizza Hut wants to promote themselves more as a fast-casual restaurant with more variety than ever. The only concern I have is how they will keep the pasta warm when delivering it to eager, hungry customers. Yes, they want to be the first pizza chain to deliver pasta. Warm, gooey mush. Yum.

Whether the whole pasta delivery routine works out or not isn't the point to all of this, though. The fact of the matter is, Pizza Hut wanted to catch peoples' attention - in a big way. I'm not so sure about other people, but I definitely know the planning of the campaign around April Fools made me that much more interested in Pizza Hut.

As a matter of fact, that might have been the first time I ever visted their web site. Did the pasta pictures look good? Kind of. Will I ever try it? Maybe. But the point is that it intrigued me enough to go look for the ever-elusive "Pasta Hut."

Never had I been so interested in pizza and pasta. Pizza has now officially met pasta.