Ice Bucket Challenge

As someone who stays up to date with social media trends I was blown away by the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.  Nothing about it made sense to me yet I couldn’t help but applaud the person who thought it up.  Over 100 million dollars donated!  That’s a huge jump in comparison to the 2.8 million raised last year.   Yet I can’t help but be disappointed with the lack of understanding of what the fundraising campaign was truly about. 

I’m a newbie to the fundraising industry so I don’t claim to be all knowing on the subject however of aspects regarding the campaign left me feeling unsettled.  The majority of the individuals who completed the Ice Bucket Challenge did so in response to their friends without realizing that by doing so the campaign benefited very little.  Very few made a donation, even those that were “challenged” and did not accept which was the whole point by the way, to donate or accept.

Those who did donate a large amount were celebrities and they probably did so as a publicity stunt which honestly it worked!  If it weren’t for the large celebrity donations and the attention it brought to the campaign I do not believe it would have been as successful as it was. 

The goal of the campaign was to raise funds for ALS and that goal was accomplished however the longevity of the campaign was short.  Most likely if they try again next year they will see a significant drop in donations.  Additionally do any of us feel like this campaign brought attention to the cause?  How many of us know what ALS actually stands for? 

I personally didn’t know anything about ALS until the Ice Bucky Challenge and the only reason I did my research is because of the significant number of people who had no clue.  I can’t tell you how many videos I watched that consisted of “I’m doing the Ice Bucket Challenge for ummm”.  That is not what fundraising is about!  Fundraising is about understanding the cause and providing support.  For those of you like me who are under informed and lack understanding: What is ALS?

Powerhouse Networking and Informational Interviews

On November 13, 2013 I attended a networking event at the Hudson in downtown Milwaukee sponsored by Big Shoes Network, Hudson Business Lounge and PRSA.  The event consisted of two mock interviews and one information interview.  I was very happy with my experience overall.  I had never participated in a mock interview before and I found it to be very helpful.  I’m also glad the majority of the professionals that were involved were UW-Whitewater graduates; it gave us an element in common and allowed for me to be more open to their criticism.  There are a lot of aspects of my current job search that I plan on changing including but not limited to my resume and extracurricular activities.  I know that the information I gained from this experience will help me in the future.  The only aspect of the event I would change would be to set aside more time for additional interviews; three just didn’t feel like enough.

Jeff Carrigan with Big Shoes Network spoke before the mock interviews.  He gave us insight into the world of communications and what makes individuals stand out to employers.  Jeff stressed the importance of going the extra mile by doing research about the company and potentially for their clients.  In many ways interactions with professionals are a stepping stone to a potential job opportunity and it’s important to make an impression.  This presentation helped set a mood for the interviews to follow.  As students this gave us the extra motivation to try our best and make an impression.  With the hope of making some lasting connections I began my interviews.

The three professionals I interviewed with: Kirsten Kozik, Anguil; Allison Kubacki, Lightburn Designs; Alyssa Hintzen, Kohl’s. 

The first interview went really well.  Kirsten was friendly and easy to talk to.  I appreciated her willingness to go outside of the box.  Instead of going off the sheet she asked me what how she could help me.  This gave me the opportunity to ask advice regarding interview questions I have had difficulty with in the past.  She also aided me in coming up with a new objective for my resume.  I had expressed my concern with my previous objective and thought it might be helpful to get some professional insight.  She told me to focus on what I could do for a potential employer not what I’m looking for in a job.  These are things that I believe were personal affecting my ability to get a job and I am very glad she was willing to help me.  Out of all of the interviews I felt that Kirsten’s was the most helpful. Perhaps this is because she was the first or because she recently graduated and I felt I had more in common with her.

The third interview was with Alyssa and it was an informal interview.  I asked her questions regarding her current position at Kohl’s, what a typically day is like, the types of problems she has to deal with on a regular basis and how she deals with them.  I wanted to focus of the negatives of the job so that I can better be prepared in the future.  It’s important to be able to work under pressure and in conditions that are often unfamiliar. Alyssa explained that she is an Account Coordinator at Kohl’s and she oversees the production of the catalog.  Her day to day work life is never the same, it’s always changing.  As a result there are many problems that arise.  One issue that she focused on was her inability to work with her boss directly.  According to Alyssa she has to go through a series of people to speak with her boss and this makes for a lag in response time and often an extension of the already pressing deadline. 

-Alycia Richburg 

Badger Honor Flight

The purpose of the Badger Honor Flight is to ensure that veterans have the opportunity to see the nation’s memorials that have been erected in their honor. All amenities are provided for the veterans during this flight, including all transportation, meals and lodging. Since their first flight in 2010 Badger Honor Flight has continued to make available a life changing experience to those who have survived their country; in WWII and Vietnam.  In addition these veterans are encouraged to bring family members to share in the experience. Those family members who are not part of the flight itself are invited to a welcoming ceremony upon the return of the flight. 

During this ceremony thousands of supporters rally together to welcome veterans and to thank them for their service.  I was personally able to attend the ceremony and was blown away by the emotional reaction of not only the family but the veterans themselves. For many this was the first time they were able to talk about their experience and to receive the thank you they deserved.  Despite the government shutdown that began weeks before hand the flight scheduled on October 19, 2013 went as planned.  The turnout was the largest volunteers had seen in years.  Definitely a humbling experience for outsiders and one that I recommend to others, especially those whose loved ones have served or a serving.

-Alycia Richburg

 

My Continuing Journey in PR

For those of you who haven’t read my blog before, my name is Alycia Richburg.  It’s been over a year since my last post and a lot has changed.  This is officially my last semester at UW-Whitewater and I have completed all but two of my course requirements which means this semester is mostly elective classes.  I chose to sign up for classes that meet on Tuesday and Thursday specifically so I could have time for an internship.  As of right now I’m doing freelance PR for a salon in Madison and have yet to find a full time internship for the fall.  Later this month I have two interviews with local businesses and I am very hopeful that one of them will have a positive outcome. 

In the last year my PR skills have increased dramatically.  Tactics II really helped improve my writing skills and PR strategies taught me to think in terms of crisis communication.  Both classes have given me a better understanding of what to expect when dealing with clients; particularly when it comes to creating and executing effective PR campaigns.  I am confident that these skills will not only help me obtain and internship but also improve my chances of getting “the perfect job” after graduation.  For me the perfect job would be in event planning. 

Event planning has always been an interest of mine because of my obsessive need to organize anything and everything.  It’s a blessing and a curse all at the same time.  It’s also a quality I like to mention in an interview.  I say this because that quality is the reason I obtained my current job at Salon KB.  My hair stylist need help with her social media and wanted to create a marketing campaign; when she told me that I immediately offered my services.  So far it has been a very rewarding experience just like all the opportunities that have come my way.  I’m excited to see what the future holds for me and my career in event planning.

Life after College: UW-Whitewater Alumni

Every college student’s biggest fear is not being able to find a job (that and spending a few extra years in their parent’s basement).  Don’t worry though, there is hope!  Especially for those students who are graduating from the University of Wisconsin Whitewater.  Why?  Because UW-Whitewater prepares students for the real world by giving them real world experience.  Don’t believe me.  Here are some examples of UW-Whitewater’s success:

Melissa DiMotto who is a Communications and Public Relations Specialist at Wheaton Franciscan Health Care stated that she was grateful for the opportunity to attend UW-Whitewater and that it prepared her for “the practical part of the job” and many types of PR positions.  I have only been attending UW-Whitewater for less than a year but I can easily understand what she means by practical.  I’ve noticed that there is never busy work only work that matters and prepares us for the future.

Rick Daniels is the current UW-Whitewater Greek Leadership Advisor.  UW-Whitewater taught him that it is vital to stay current and up to date on news.  He believes that being aggressive is an important aspect of succeeding in the PR industry.  His advice to current students is to never take anything for granted, something small can turn into something big.  Meaning one job may not be what you’re looking for but it may lead you to something better.  I agree completely.  Many of the jobs I have had over the past few years haven’t been very enjoyable but they have taught me things that I know have made me a better employee.

Katie Monfre is the corporate relations director at MGIC.  She felt that her experience at UW-Whitewater was improved by the professors.  She stated in her interview that although the course work was useful the teachers were even more so.  Their knowledge and skills made learning easier.  Also the push for experience and internships that UW-Whitewater made were what helped her get to her current position. So far I have only had one internship and I can already tell that it has improved my chances of getting other internships.  The experience it gave me in the PR industry is something I know I need to succeed and I am grateful for that.

After watching a great number of interviews of UW-Whitewater Alumni it is obvious that the education that UW-Whitewater provides is one that stands out from other universities.  I feel confident in being able to find a job after college because I know that UW-Whitewater has prepared me for the real world by giving me real world experience. 

-Alycia Richburg

Social Media

It is important to keep in mind that “social media is not about technology, it is about relationships”.  Social media has changed the way we communicate.  Building and maintaining relationships has become as simple as checking e-mail or surfing the web.  With one click of a button one person can be connected with hundreds of thousands of people.  In a YouTube video based on Erik Qualman’s Socialnomics he presents shocking Facebook statistics.  For example “if Facebook where a country it’d be the world’s 3^rd largest” and “Facebook tops Google for weekly internet traffic in the US”.  A PR professional would be crazy to ignore statistics like that.  It is important for PR professionals to stay current on trends and use all available means of communication.  

Being update with social media gives PR professionals a sense of control.   Before social media it was more difficult for PR professionals to receive feedback and improve on imperfections.  Now with social media PR professionals can monitor feedback and improve in the areas that are problematic to their business.  In an article posted by Circus Strategic Communications on Public Relations they bring light to that fact by stating that “social media provides a better understanding of customers needs and wants which allows you to help meet their needs”. Everyone knows that giving the customer what they need in turn leads to more business.  Who doesn’t want more business?  No one that’s who.

Last but certainly not least social media has helped improve employee relations.  Kyle Lacy stated in his article 5 Ways to Engage Employees that Facebook Groups can be a cost effective way to improve employee collaboration.  Without positive employee relations it is near impossible for a business to succeed.  Facebook isn’t going out of style any time soon so use it to your advantage!  I know I am.