The Rundown

It's amazing what you can accomplish in one week. Including, but not limited to:

• Playing in four states (MA, RI, CT, NY)
• Bringing joy to all grandparents (and one aunt)
• Witnessing your brother win third and first place in a big tournament in a casino
• Making new friends and connections
• Sleeping in no less than four different locations
• Mastering two new CDs during travel
• Visiting many (but not all) friends from college and work
• Verbally assaulting friends who have failed to keep in contact
• Swimming in a pool for the first time in two years (and having diving and splashing wars with your brother for the first time in a looong time)
• Observing the zoo that is Long Island and Jones Beach
• Celebrating a holiday
• Jamming to a live band
• Devouring some Dunkin and Uburger
• Staying out past midnight

... and more. Good times! Steve was a fantastic host. Heading for my last night in Boston then early to the airport for a long day of travel back to D-town.

I hope the airports have free WIFI like the commuter rail!

Bitchin Beard: Championship Edition

I've almost recovered from the Bruins' loss to the Hurricanes. It helps that the Hurricanes just got swept out of the Playoffs. About time too. I don't think I could handle one more bad weather metaphor in a blog post.

There is one thing that the Bruins are still kicking ass in. And that's the BEARD-A-THON!!! WOO!!! The spirit of the fans can not be broken. The Beard-a-thon is a way for each of the eight playoff teams to raise money for a cause of their choice.

The Boston Bruins Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation whose mission is to assist charitable organizations that demonstrate a strong commitment to enhancing the quality of life for children throughout New England. ... The Foundation, which provides grants to organizations that meet the standards of its mission, concentrates on athletics, academics, health, and community outreach programs that assist in helping enrich the lives of children throughout New England.

At $93,564, Bruins fans have raised more money than each of the eight other fan bases. 

Let's go $100,000!!! Go donate to someone. 

The lead profit generator is Bob Sweeny, who has raised $21,000 so far.

The final four teams have raised as follows:

Red Wings: $12,874

Blackhawks: $20,002

Hurricanes: $53,680

Penguins: $82,784

Red Wings fans need to step up. A championship means nothing without some sweet playoff beards.

Maybe they should take a hint from this guy.

David Traver recently won the World Beard and Moustache Championship. I wish I knew this was happening! Traver spent 2 1/2 years growing this 20.5 inch beard. Now THAT's dedication.

I want to be on the judge's panel next year, Alaska.

When words aren't enough...

... share a photo album!

(if the slideshow isn't working, go here)

It's Coming: Graduation '09

E-mail at the internship...

MARIA:

Good morning everyone,

I can't believe April is almost over! 

Finals period and graduation are speeding toward me so Wednesday will be my last day in the office. I will be here today until 5 and Wednesday 9-5 if you have any work or wrap-up you would like me to do! 

Otherwise, I will see you Wednesday.

Thanks,
Maria

JESS:

:(
wahhhhhhhhh
wahhhhhhhhh

It's going to be a long Wednesday.

Networking for College Seniors

It has been a very productive week for week for Maria.

Saturday I went to a PRSSA conference, Innovation Through Leadership, and this evening I went to a COM networking event, which included a lesson on networking etiquette.

Free pens = 2
Sweet nametags = 2
Job offers (so far) = 0

HEY! It's only March.

Here were some of the takeaways from each event:

PR Advanced: Innovation Through Leadership

[From Mike Volpe, Vice President of Marketing at HubSpot]

• Leveraging inbound marketing tools changes tactics from interruption based to attraction based
• Create a large digital footprint so people can find you on a variety of platforms
• Measurement of PR is changing; it is easier to track the progress and success of campaigns
• The shift of focus from budget to creativity gives smaller clients a greater chance to be awarded accounts
  
• MARKET YOURSELF

[From Gary Sheffer, Executive Director of Corporate Communication and Public Affairs at General Electric]

• A good reputation is your license to do business
• Public relations must reset tactics and channels of communication to succeed
• News is now a river running past us instead of a train making stops; anyone can throw anything into the river
• Crisis communication and management are increasingly vital

• There are three ways to win in a post-crisis world

1. Social responsibility
2. Transparency and authenticity
3. Engaging communities personally and digitally
   

• The role of communicators

1. Help define a company, not just describe it
2. Develop channels for messaging AND networks
3. Shift perceptions
   

• Gary's Tips For Finding a Job

1. Start right now
2. Every experience is good
3. Do something. Show results.
4. Read the Economist. Then Gawker.
5. Careers are built, not made
   

• It is essential for PR professionals to be news junkies; you have to know what's going on in the world if you want to tell people how to present themselves in the world
• The most important thing you have is your integrity. Never compromise that. I mean never.

COM Networking at the Castle

[From Jodi Smith, founder of Mannersmith Consulting]

• Etiquette is culturally and situationally specific; since corporate cultural differences exist everywhere, there are etiquette guildelines, not rules.
• You have 5-7 seconds to make an impression on someone you're meeting for the first time
• People like to be right; If you make a bad impression, it takes about 14 positive encounters to change their perception.
• Networking, by definition, is strange and awkward. You are going to an event and engaging with a room full of strangers.
  
• Save elevator speeches for the elevator
• People like you better when they can talk to you.
• Asking about business opportunities before engaging in small talk is like asking a stranger to marry you without asking them on a date.
  
• Small talk leads to big talk.
• It is better to be over dressed than under dressed.
• Never go hungry
• Networking: You are a lion in the Serengeti. The others are wildabeast at the watering hole. Find the watering hole and attack.
  

In Conclusion:

The economy sucks. Almost no one is hiring.

BUT.

Market your inner lion, find the watering hole and make the kill! Market yourself. Go to networking events. Leave nothing but a bare carcass.

Valentine's Weekend: The Breakdown

Valentine's Day 2009

(I guess I should have sent this to Ali BEFORE she purchased a dozen eggs for our first romantic event of the weekend: chucking eggs and happy couples.)

Dates: Ali, Michelle, Katie

Locations: Pour House, our apartment, Green Dragon, Big City

Memories:
(at Pour House) 

Strange Man: (consoling his friend who just faced rejection) Dude, it's ok. You know one thing about tonight. If they're out, they're single.

Maria: I wanna wake up where you are.
Ali: You do. Every day.

(at Green Dragon) 

Bouncer: (to Ali) That's a lot of singles. I know 

what you do for a living.

(a 75 year old man tries to pass us)
Ali: Sorry
Old Man: For what?
Ali: For being in your way.

(old man starts stroking Ali's torso)
Old Man: You'll never be in my way.

(an ex-convict takes a stool next to Ali)
Ex-con: I just got kicked out of Sissy K's for being in a bar fight.
EC's Scrawny Friend: Stop scaring the girl!

Two nights of dance parties to oldies in our apartment.

OJ: Tip your bartenders! Two dollars, not one. For giving you the nectar of life!

(at Big City)
Hot Bartender: You girls are nursing those beers. Do you need a shot to get you going?
Ali: We've been drinking for six days straight...
(bartender snaps around and begins pouring shots.)
Ali: I'm going to leave him your number.

Michelle: Ugh! The pole is in the way. DAMN YOU POLE!
(puches pole)

Pictures to show you how crazy the year was.*

*The links have more juicy details.

New Year's Eve 2008.


The room situation in 2008.


Boogying.


Valentines 2008 at the Slackers concert.


Spring Break Two Thousand Great: London.


At Archangel in London. Yes. My tights tore while I was out.


With Chrissy Poo, our host, at Imperial.


...and then we had a pillow fight.


On the London Eye. I told her to stay away from the window.


Spring Break London.


Some crazy fool in London.


Birthday dance with Zachary.


Birthday dinner. Happy 21st to me!


On a roof for Marathon Monday.


Semi-Annual End Of Semester binge.


Last day at COM Student Services.


Stanley Cup.


Ann Arbor. New friends, new experiences.


The Infamous Wednesday.


Nichole was such a slave driver. Look how she's forcing me to hold the monkey.

Emily's birthday. This was before she started rapping.


Going Away Luau.


The Semi-Annual Back To School Binge.


Many action shots were taken this year.


Parents Weekend and a visit from the family.


The hottest costume this Halloween.


Sometimes these things happen.


Being attacked.


Attacking Brian with my weapon. (I was the girl from Kill Bill, obviously.)


Christina H at An Tua Nua!


The typical scene at An Tua Nua.


Senior Hard Hat Party.


Dancing and singing at Com Prom.


Noelle's famous Pirate Eye.


Our first Thanksgiving feast.


Chi Phi formal: Reunion with Meaghan, our old roommate.


Thanksgiving with the cousins.


Chrissy Poo and the end of 20 Wads.


Secret Santa and holiday dinner.


Ice skating with cousin Anna.


Dancing our way into 2009.


New Year's Eve 2009: Ann Arbor.


It's going to be a good one. I can feel it.