Square Peg....

We’re Four Days Into This Lovefest. And They’re Not OURS.

Meet Addi. She’s a Lab/Heinz 57 mix. Barely 2 months old and from the local Humane Society. You probably ought to meet her brother, Gabe, but, he’s sleeping.

In our household, we have a dog “limit”. That means our “permanent” dog count is two: a 15-year-old Fox Terrier, and a 7-year-old Pom Poo.

But, for good reason, we’ve decided to stretch that limit temporarily by becoming Foster Parents at the Humane Society.

The Humane Society is a no-kill shelter, so that means they need help to place pets in a good home. The fact is that many of the pets aren’t quite ready to be adopted when they come to the shelter. That’s where good foster parenting is needed.

Our current guests, Addi and Gabe, are with us for ten days while we help them get over their kennel cough. The best thing we can do for them is to get them ready for adoption. In the meantime, a little good lovin’, some time outside their crate….anything to make them more “marketable”.

The folks at the Humane Society are no Dummies….this is really just marketing with the cutest product available. Sooner or later, one of the foster kids will end up never going back to the shelter! (I know they’ll get us, and it will be a pleasure to be “gotten”).

How does it work? From the Greenville, SC, website 

http://www.greenvillehumane.com/foster-program:

Animals are placed in foster care for a set period of time and later returned to the Greenville Humane Society for adoption. For the duration of foster care, the Greenville Humane Society provides food, any necessary medications, training for the volunteer, a collar (for dogs), a pet carrier (for cats) and leash (if needed). All the foster needs to provide are love, attention and proper care for the pet.

There are many reasons why the Greenville Humane Society must rely on foster care. A lack of available space in our shelter or minor health issues that the animal may have are a couple of those reasons. By opening up your home to these animals, you’re saving their life.

Addi would like to make one final comment. Oh wait..

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Here’s the national site:

http://www.humanesociety.org/

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A Vendor That Cares.

You don’t always get to pick vendors because they are interested in the right causes. It sure helps when they are.

PHOTO CREDIT: deems.wordpress.com

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This week we’re in Seattle with our preferred merchandise vendor, BDA (http://www.bdainc.com/) for what they call their “Supplier Alliance Fair”. (Read on, this is NOT about a trade show for SWAG).

BDA recently formed the BDA Cares Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, to manage all of their philanthropic giving. The driving force behind the BDA Cares Foundation will be Susan’s Rock, named in honor of a longtime BDA family member, who unfortunately was a fatal victim of domestic violence.

I’ve got to hand it to BDA: faced with a huge tragedy (they are still privately held and promote a “family feel”)- they decided to do something about it. The message of Susan’s Rock is to be strong, to be there for someone and to save lives. Standing strong together against domestic violence is a cause BDA will be firmly committed to on an ongoing basis as a company.

PHOTO CREDIT: trailchatter.com

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So, as a show of strength, BDA is going to “Rock the Needle” the morning of Thursday, Jan. 19.

• More than 80 employees will be given the rare opportunity to climb the Space Needle staircase—all 832 steps.
• Another 160 employees will walk laps around the observation deck.
• In total, BDA will climb and walk 1,000 miles in the name of domestic violence awareness and prevention. 

PHOTO CREDIT: pddnet.com

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Since we’re here, it’s a good week to be asking vendors and clients for donations. For me, it’s a good week to agree to do it. Here’s what Susan’s Rock will help with:

• Stronger Education of Young Men – Domestic violence awareness and prevention programs aimed at coaching young boys what it means to be a real man and not commit these crimes.
• Stronger Empowerment and Networks for Women – Improve the resources and services that provide domestic violence survivors options for safety, healing and hope for themselves and their families.
• Stronger Legislation & Enforcement of our Protective Laws – Strengthening and improving the criminal justice system/laws (state and federal) that deal with domestic violence criminals.

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It’s a good cause, and from a vendor that makes me feel good to buy from. Because they care. I’m sure they wouldn’t turn down a donation from you.

New Year. Same Old You. So What?

Thought I’d let a week or so into 2012 lapse before I posted this.

It’s not:

• A Best-of List
• A Worst-of List
• Comment on Resolutions
• Diet Advice
• Motivational Suggestions
• A Moment of A-Ha
• Key to Self-Awareness

IMAGE CREDIT: inspirationline.com

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There, did I pretty much cover everything else written that you really didn’t care to read? Well, I covered most of my list. Please feel free to add.

Fact is, today, and you, pretty much look like any other day. These changes that are only made with the convenience of a calendar change always seem to end badly.

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We’re not simply all shiny and new like the New Year’s Baby’s butt, with all of our concerns, crises, and challenges simply wiped clean. We’ll hold the Baby’s Butt analogy right there.

How many days make a Fad, how many days make a Habit of any resolution to change? What, we’re at the 10th Day of the Year and I have missed the gym all 10 of them?

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I have a great idea, and it’s not that hard. Might make for a great resolution to form a few days late. Definitely is a habit that it won’t hurt to pick up.

Starting NOW…..OK, at least by tomorrow….how about spending a few minutes each day just doing something nice for yourself? You KNOW there are precious few others who will do it for you.

A few minutes of solitude, your favorite music, positive reflection or projection.

Don’t over-eat, don’t over-sleep, don’t over-indulge. This is a positive declaration of moderation. Try it, you might like it.

There, I feel better already.

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Secret Santa… at a KMart Near You.

Perhaps you have heard about this groundswell of goodwill. Folks walking into mass merchants- the most frequency seems to be at KMart- and anonymously paying off Layaway accounts.

Have to admit, I liked the idea so well, I did it myself yesterday.

I liked it even better AFTER I did it. In case you are considering it, here’s how smoothly it worked for me:

I went to a local Big KMart, and back to the Layaway Desk. I had actually thought about what I would need to explain to the clerk, just in case they weren’t aware of what was going on in Nebraska, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan and elsewhere. No need for that- as soon as I said, “I want to pay off an account, I just don’t know which one…”, the clerk was on the phone to Security. 

“I’ve got a Secret Santa”.

From there, it was easy. The security person relayed accounts about to default. Without disclosing the account holder’s names, the clerk and I looked at the account detail and selected ones with primarily toys, and at an amount I wanted to spend. KMart then calls the account holder with their “new” balance. EZ PZ.

I was frankly relieved that I didn’t have to explain what I wanted to do, and THAT turned out to be the best part- “Oh no, sir, LOTS of people are doing it”. Take that, Mr. Scrooge!

Now, I have heard the cynics suggesting that KMart is somehow gaining itself from all this generosity. A quick check of both the KMart layaway website (www.kmart.com/Holiday-2011) and their Twitter account, http://twitter.com/Kmart have no mention of Secret Santas. Probably a miss in the PR realm, but save that for another post.

There is, of course, the reality that any retailer offering layaway does stand to gain if the account defaults- merchandise is returned to stock and down payments and service fees are forfeited.

While perhaps a slightly unfortunate part of the retailer’ business plan, by being a Secret Santa, you can avoid that happening, too.

Double Bonus. Take my word for it. Double, at least. 

How about you, it there a little “Secret Santa” in you somewhere?

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How Dallas Cowboys lose at Social Media. While Not Playing.

You may have seen South Carolina native Melissa Kellerman and the beginning of her 15 minutes of fame during Thursday’s Cowboys-Dolphins game. 

It was a harmless incident, and Kellerman, in her fourth year with the team, was a really good sport about it. TE Jason Witten was a gentleman in helping her up and making sure she was OK. A great opportunity for a feel-good Social Media opportunity was born. On Kellerman’s Twitter account Friday:

Harmless. All in good fun, and you would think “America’s Team” would have been all smiles for this great PR opportunity to drop in their lap. This is the team that allows a “reality show” on CMT with the cheerleaders. The “official” Facebook page refers to the cheerleaders as “America’s Sweethearts”. Great opportunity, right?

Yep. Great opportunity for the Cowboys… to TOTALLY BLOW IT.

According to reports in Yahoo! Sports, the Hollywood Reporter and FOX Sports Southwest, the NFL franchise has now kicked Kellerman off Twitter for her Tweets. 

According to CNBC, the Cowboys will not allow Kellerman to speak to the media about the incident. Really?

For their part, the Cowpokes have released no statement on the incident. They clearly don’t approve of non-corporately approved cheerleader Twitter activity.

So now, with Social Media, the Cowboys have performed as they have many times on the field.

Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

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UPDATE: Finally, an official response from the Cowboys. No comment on the opportunity, no positioning of the response. Just a simple denial of responsibility.

Following a request for comment from CNET, the team’s director of public relations, Rich Dalrymple, wrote in an email, “The organization doesn’t get [into] administering the Twitter accounts of players or cheerleaders. Melissa made her own decisions regarding her account over the weekend.”

Oh, and one other little twist to the story. Kellerman’s account is back on Twitter, but her tweets are now private. Her bio reads, “22-ish. Wears white cowboy boots and stars to work. Bridesmaid x2. Chapstick addict. Enjoys romantic walks to the fridge.”

Looks a little sanitized from the weekend to me.

The Cowboys. Still. Don’t. Get. It.

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PHOTO Credits: Getty Images, The Hollywood Reporter

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Black Friday. Self-named Line Monitors and Non-Working Coupons

Neither Jeanette nor I had ever done the shop-in-the-middle of the night Black Friday thing before, so, last night/this morning, we tried it. For “the experience”. 

We stopped at the closest watering hole to the Mall first. I’d suggest that. Just to, you know, get ready. We were apparently going to save MILLIONS.

Either the Beatles had a reunion tour scheduled in the Jewelry department, or Macy’s was handing out $500 bills just inside the door at Midnight. This now seemed like a good idea. Strategy developed at the bar was already required- a single line at one door, this disorganized entry point, or the main Mall entrance and head for the upstairs entrance.

Since the first target was a $99 tree, and we had only 8 minutes (Jeanette had timing duties), the entry point was decided. This was it, we were going in.

Alas, the search for the tree was short. There was a reason it was $99.

From there, we did snatch a half-price deal on some Holiday plates, tried on some clothes and then moved on to the key opportunities for “experience”- the Line Monitors and the Coupons-That-Never-Work.

I am reasonably sure that Macy’s had met with their retailing friends at the Mall, and laid out the strategy of rolling openings throughout the night. Over coffee, they did rock/paper/scissors and Toys “R” Us got first shot, then Macy’s at midnight, Jacque Penne at 3, etc., etc.,- just to keep us excited for a new door to open. Wal-Mart didn’t go along, or missed the memo. They opened at 9, right after “Charlie Brown Thanksgiving”. We watched Charlie, we skipped Wally World.

It seemed almost from the moment we surged through the door at Macy’s, people had stacks of crock pots and comforter bags and were looking to descend on a defenseless checkout associate. Because I mistakenly looked at other items before deciding on my purchase of a Martha Stewart retail-pricing strategy bed sheet set, I was destined to meet my first Self-named Line Monitor.

When Macy’s decided to open at midnight, they didn’t do anything to establish where to STAND in the lines in the aisles waiting for the defenseless checkout person. Enter the Monitor:

HER: “The Line starts OVER THERE behind (a different) HER.”

ME: “Oh”.

Heck, I didn’t know any different, so I moved over one of the tiny little aisles of stuff they have there and got in line behind the designated “HER”.

That’s when four of the Self-named Monitor’s friends and their 3 crock pots and 5 comforter bags EACH sidled into another little side row next to the Monitor. 

THEM: “Did you get the free pillows?” “Can you believe this line???”

THAT was when I realized the Self-Named Monitor had moved me over behind “HER” to facilitate the 3 crock pots and 5 comforter bags folks to CUT IN LINE.

Uh-huh.

ME: “Excuse me, Ms. Self-named Line Monitor, but since you were kind enough to point out to ME where the line started, I suppose you’ll do the same for your friends and their 3 crock pots and 5 comforter bags.”

ALL OF THEM: (Glare).

But they moved. Sweet. Victory.

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So, after we got our little line differences worked out it was time to use the Coupon-That-Never-Works.

You see, I had selected the retail-pricing strategy Martha Stewart sheets. That’s ridiculously-priced at $160, but just for you RIGHT NOW, $80. Since I had so much time on my hands in line with the crockpots-and-comforters crowd breathing down the back of my neck from BEHIND ME, I used the price scanner we glided by to confirm. See, I told the Self-named Monitor’s friends, $80!

(Glare).

By now, I had reached the defenseless checkout person, and of course, the Coupon-That-Never-Works did its magic. It, um, didn’t work. Because I was getting SUCH a great deal, exception number 34 on the coupon (out of 200) kicked in. It is explained clearly on the coupon as “you’re already getting a good deal”.

Oh.

But then, thanks to the coupon-cutting queen Jeanette is, I had the crock pots-and-comforters crowd totally wowed with my coupon prowess. I had just waved the Coupon-That-Never-Works for show, because I KNEW it NEVER WORKS. What, you didn’t know that??

Out of my pocket came the coupon that DID work, $10 off my purchase.

To end the evening on a high note, the defenseless checkout person explained to me that “looked like the best deal”. To reassure me.

Thank goodness that $10 off of $80 is better than 15% off of $80.

I knew that. Not sure whether the glaring crock pots-and-comforters Self-named Monitor’s friends got that good a deal. I didn’t wait to find out.

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PHOTO CREDIT: thegreenhead.com

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The Rescued Dogs at RUFF Need Help. Like Now.

Twitter can help you find almost anything. Today it helped me find some rescued dogs that need your attention. Today. Their shelter is doing everything it can to expand and get up to snuff to avoid these dogs- many of them more than 5 years old- facing certain death at Animal Control.

Janice Brooks is the Director of RUFF (Rescue Unwanted Furry Friends) in Fort Walton Beach, FL. She reached out with a desperate plea that their funding has run out and they cannot afford to complete the current needed renovations to a new facility, or provide salaries for their 4 employees.

Since the Gulf spill, Janice has been barely getting by. RUFF is a non-profit, non-kill shelter and has adopted down from a high of 149 dogs to just 48. But her building is currently only big enough for 26. She found a new one, and was in the process of fixing it up to save all 48 until they can be adopted.

Fencing has been donated, doggie doors are being cut, but they face a serious crisis TODAY.

Janice wrote me: “Please sir, please help me save these dogs. We need donations badly to continue on.” How could I not?

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I sent a donation today, and I hope you will, too:

http://www.911ruff.org/

 janice@911ruff.org

RUFF

850-796-3647

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