Comments on: The Column That Will Not Appear in Today’s Paper

By: Secondhand Karl

Secondhand Karl — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 23:32:07 +0000

Phil, great to see you here. Ha, certainly didn’t expect that. I’m going to e-mail you here shortly.

Belinda – I’m trying not to have any hard feelings about it, and I pretty much don’t. I’m more surprised than anything.

By: Belinda

Belinda — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 23:16:19 +0000

Yeah, I don’t get it. Really. And MY state daily is one of the freakiest of all ego-driven, right-wing, editorially facist publications out there. You want we should carpet-bomb them with emails?

By: Phil Attinger, PR Director

Phil Attinger, PR Director — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 11:34:37 +0000

I should also add that the American Red Cross is very thankful for the partnerships we’ve been able to build with local media in Highlands County, not just the newspapers, but including Cohan Radio Group and WFHT Radio, both of which were sponsors of the event and were represented there Saturday night.
These partnerships help us to get out vital preparedness information to the public, especially in those crucial few weeks before a disaster strikes.
Hurricanes and approaching storm fronts are about the only disasters for which we have a warning. Tornadoes, floods, fires, earthquakes, tsunamis and other disasters don’t give much of a warning. Being prepared ahead of time makes all the difference, not just in being physically prepared, but also mentally and emotionally prepared for what may happen.
If you need more perparedness information, contact the Highlands Red Cross office at (863) 386-4440 or via e-mail at hcarc@vistanet.net.
Thanks again for supporting your local American Red Cross.

By: Phil Attinger, PR Director

Phil Attinger, PR Director — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 11:11:04 +0000

It was great to talk with Karl at the Red and White Ball and I can’t thank him enough for writing up a column about our event. Before I took the job with the American Red Cross, I covered the event each year for the News-Sun. Even though I was still shooting photos for this event this year, it was great to have someone else writing it up.
Now, to be fair to all local papers, I checked with them the day before the event, and they were not able to send any editorial staff because of tight schedules and skeleton staff. I always plan on writing these events up since I have that background.
I spent Monday editing my photos, composing a press release, and sending both to the papers. Given the varied production schedules, the first opportunity for any of them to publish the photos will probably be Wednesday, April 9.
Local papers did represent themselves well at the event with several advertising staff and associates on hand, and we are always thankful for their support, much of which comes from donations of advertising for the event itself.
Would I have liked to leave the camera at home? Sure, but I couldn’t have. I need photos for our web site and newsletters. I only wish I hadn’t dropped the camera on its lens in the middle of the dance floor. What you’ll see is what I got before that happened.
Oh, and just a clarification — we don’t actually get rental cars for our clients. There is a mechanism in place to assist them with getting into a new apartment when a disaster displaces them.
As for rental cars, when a local chapter brings in volunteers from out of the area to help with a big disaster, the Red Cross has agreements to get rental cars from local agencies to help volunteers get to the clients. On smaller local disasters, the Red Cross office uses its own vehicle(s).
Since we have had a lot of home fires lately, we’ve been using the office vehicle a lot.
Oh, and like Karl, I used to grab a lot of silent auction items when I worked as a reporter. I’m married now and we have a budget, so I tend to get outbid more often. That, and the fact that Ramen noodles don’t make as good of a romantic dinner as they used to,… for some reason.

By: Secondhand Karl

Secondhand Karl — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 21:30:22 +0000

Hurrah, Gravatars are working!

Hilly, it IS a conspiracy!

BBM, yeah, I agree. Not my call, though. Let’s just sweep it under the carpet, rather than acknowledge our goof.

By: Black Belt Mama

Black Belt Mama — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 20:42:42 +0000

I think it's ridiculous they wouldn't run it. Why wouldn't they? You were there; you covered it and you gave much needed attention to an important organization. I think that's pathetic. Black Belt Mama's last blog post..Designed to Hurt

By: Hilly

Hilly — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 20:24:44 +0000

It’s sure seems like a cover-up to me. I scream CONSPIRACY THEORY!

Ahem, way too much coffee at work today

Hilly’s last blog post..Returning To Blog Life, Peace by Peace….

By: Secondhand Karl

Secondhand Karl — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 18:45:20 +0000

Yeah, I’m pretty stoked, even if I didn’t expect to win six items…WAY over budget. But hey, it’s for a good cause. So what if I live on Ramen noodles for a few months.

By: Avitable

Avitable — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 18:39:52 +0000

That's pretty awesome! Avitable's last blog post..Vaginas abound

By: Secondhand Karl

Secondhand Karl — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 18:32:36 +0000

Avitable – well, I won SIX things.

- Sea World tickets for 4
- Busch Gardens tickets for 4
- Jamaican foods and coffee basket
- a basket with free movie tickets and free movie rentals from Blockbuster (along with movie stuff like popcorn and Goobers and free ice cream sundaes at the local ice cream parlor). Um, that’s four.
- Oh, a really nice painting (print, really).
- And $65 worth of acupuncture treatments. Never had that done.