Funny How Some Things Seem to Pop Up

Have even noticed how you can seemingly go your entire life and never hear a particular word or see a symbol until one day sometime happens and BAMM! you notice it everywhere after that.

Well that recently happened to me. A client, Cork Supply, recently received FSC certification for their wine corks. Ever hear of FSC? Probably not. It stands for the Forest Stewardship Council. In short, FSC certified wood products ensure that the wood used in the product was harvested in a environmentally sound and sustainable manner that was fair to the people doing the work. You can read more about it here. FSC

Anyway – after writing up the release I started seeing the FSC logo everywhere. On the bottom of furniture, on wooden yard sticks in the hardware check-out line, on paper products. It seems the darn thing is everywhere – if you look for it.

So where am I going with this. Well... now you've seen it and you can look for the FSC logo on the wood or paper products you intend to buy. You won’t have to settle for less or pay more, but you’ll be helping the world be a better place to live.

Ken

Why wouldn't the president have a Web site?

I just learned today that President-elect Obama is keeping the public apprised of his transition into office via the Web at www.change.gov.

I find this particulary interesting from a communications perspective. Ninety percent of Fortune 500 companies can't decide whether or not to have a corporate blog, but the 44th President of the United States has already launched a site dedicated to keeping his "customers" informed. Not only are most people not surprised that Obama launched this site, but many are taking it for granted that he would have this kind of Web presence.

I'm curious to see how and to what level Obama will incorporate this new style of communication between president and public into his administration.

~ Nicole

Cardiologists need to unite

If you ever doubted that we need restaurant menu labeling, the Heart Attack Grill makes our case. The Arizona restaurant claims to serve "food worth dying for." And you just may if you finish one of their Quadruple Bypass burgers. Each one has a whopping 8,000 calories.
I hope Heart Attack Grill doesn't expand to my neighborhood. What do you think?








~ Paula

It's Voting Time

Seeing that Election Day is 7 days away, it might serve us well to familiarize ourselves with the propositions that will shape California. Thanks to the Sacramento Bee, they have listed California's ten largest papers' complete list of editorial endorsements with links that work so you can read the propositions. This is where they stand but what's important is that you educate yourself on the issues and vote! See you at the polls.

(Published online as SacBee Webblog on Oct. 28, 2008)

All the newspaper editorials fit to link

Los Angeles Times editorial page endorsements

Proposition 1A
Yes
Proposition 2
No
Proposition 3
Yes
Proposition 4
No
Proposition 5
No
Proposition 6
No
Proposition 7
No
Proposition 8
No
Proposition 9
No
Proposition 10
No
Proposition 11
Yes
Proposition 12
Yes

San Francisco Chronicle editorial page endorsements
Proposition 1A
Yes
Proposition 2
No
Proposition 3
Yes
Proposition 4
No
Proposition 5
No
Proposition 6
No
Proposition 7
No
Proposition 8
No
Proposition 9
No
Proposition 10
No
Proposition 11
Yes
Proposition 12
Yes

The San Diego Union-Tribune editorial page endorsements
Proposition 1A
No
Proposition 2
Yes
Proposition 3
No
Proposition 4
Yes
Proposition 5
No
Proposition 6
No
Proposition 7
No
Proposition 8
No
Proposition 9
No
Proposition 10
No
Proposition 11
Yes
Proposition 12
No

The Sacramento Bee editorial page endorsements

The Bee took the unusual step of announcing its opposition to all the ballot measures - save one - in a single full-page editorial. Read all the endorsements there.

Proposition 1A
No
Proposition 2
No
Proposition 3
No
Proposition 4
No
Proposition 5
No
Proposition 6
No
Proposition 7
No
Proposition 8
No
Proposition 9
No
Proposition 10
No
Proposition 11
Yes
Proposition 12
No

Orange County Register editorial page endorsements

Proposition 1A
No
Proposition 2
No
Proposition 3
No
Proposition 4
Yes
Proposition 5
Yes
Proposition 6
No
Proposition 7
No
Proposition 8
No
Proposition 9
No
Proposition 10
No
Proposition 11
Yes
Proposition 12
No

The (San Jose) Mercury News editorial page endorsements
Proposition 1A
Yes
Proposition 2
Yes
Proposition 3
Yes
Proposition 4
No
Proposition 5
No
Proposition 6
No
Proposition 7
No
Proposition 8
No
Proposition 9
No
Proposition 10
No
Proposition 11
Yes
Proposition 12
Yes

The (Riverside) Press-Enterprise editorial page endorsements
Proposition 1A
No
Proposition 2
No
Proposition 3
No
Proposition 4
No
Proposition 5
No
Proposition 6
No
Proposition 7
No
Proposition 8
No
Proposition 9
No
Proposition 10
No
Proposition 11
Yes
Proposition 12
Yes

Bay Area MediaNews (Contra Costa Times and Oakland Tribune, among others) editorial page endorsements
Proposition 1A
No
Proposition 2
Yes
Proposition 3
Yes
Proposition 4
No
Proposition 5
No
Proposition 6
No
Proposition 7
No
Proposition 8
No
Proposition 9
No
Proposition 10
No
Proposition 11
Yes
Proposition 12
Yes

The Fresno Bee editorial page endorsements
Proposition 1A
Yes
Proposition 2
No
Proposition 3
Yes
Proposition 4
No editorial found
Proposition 5
No
Proposition 6
No
Proposition 7
No
Proposition 8
No
Proposition 9
No
Proposition 10
No
Proposition 11
Yes
Proposition 12
Yes

Los Angeles Daily News
Proposition 1A
No
Proposition 2
Yes
Proposition 3
No
Proposition 4
No
Proposition 5
No
Proposition 6
No
Proposition 7
No
Proposition 8
No
Proposition 9
No
Proposition 10
No
Proposition 11
Yes
Proposition 12
Yes

~ Muriel

What consumers really think of green

(Reposted from Catching Flack)

Here’s a quiz for anyone interested in environmental issues:

Which of the following environmental terms resonates most strongly with consumers?
a) Conservation
b) Green
c) Energy Efficiency
d) Sustainable

If you said "b) Green" are you surprised to learn that you're wrong? The right answer is "c) Energy Efficiency," according to

Suzanne Shelton of Shelton Group, who conducts annual surveys of consumer attitudes toward environmental issues.

Shelton’s research indicates that only 61.5 percent of consumers have a positive association with the word “green,” 63.5 percent feel positively about “sustainable,” 74 percent feel positively about “conservation” and a whopping 88.2 percent feel positively about “energy efficiency.”

Why is "energy efficiency" more popular among consumers than "green?" Turns out "energy efficiency" is a term people can understand. To consumers, "energy efficienty" means turning off the lights, lowering the thermostat, buying a hybrid car, planting a tree and so on — things consumers can actually do. But what does “green” mean? It can be all things to all people, Shelton says, and consumers already see through the hype — that “green” is mostly a marketing buzzword designed to boost sales.

This should remind all of us that just because a word or phrase appears to be popular, we should really take a moment to consider if it communicates effectively with the audience we are trying to reach rather than leaping onto the buzzword bandwagon without a second thought.

~ Nicole

Voter Empowerment - What Would you do if you Were Turned Away?

I've been seeing report after report online where voters are getting turned away from polling places or receiving mysterious letters saying they aren't eligible to vote. This kind of stuff is really starting to freak me out. My worst fear is showing up at my polling place next week and being told, "Sorry, you can't vote." I did a little digging and found a Voter Empowerment Card put together by the ACLU.

Here are your rights as a California voter:

PROBLEMS AT THE POLLS

What if I go to the wrong polling place?
Go to the right polling place. You can ask a poll worker to help you find the polling place where you’re registered, or you can call 1-866-OUR-VOTE for assistance. If you can’t figure out where you’re registered, go to the polling place that you think is most likely to be the right one, and if you’re not on the registration rolls at that polling place, ask for a provisional ballot. You have the right to cast a provisional ballot even if you’re not at the right polling place.

What if someone challenges my right to vote?
A poll worker will ask you some questions and rule on the challenge. Cal. Elec. Code §§14243-14247.

What if someone tries to intimidate or harass me?
Tell a poll worker right away. If the poll worker is the problem, tell a poll watcher, call your county elections office, call one of the election hotline numbers listed at the end of this card, or make a complaint online at http://www.votingrights.org/.

What if I’m not on the voter list?
First, ask a pollworker to check the list again and to confirm that you’re at the right polling place. If you’re at the right polling place but your name isn’t on the voter list, ask for a provisional ballot. You have the right to cast a provisional ballot even if your name isn’t on the voter list, as long as you’re willing to swear that you believe you’re registered to vote. Cal. Elec. Code §14310.

What if I make a mistake on my ballot or the voting machine malfunctions?
Tell a poll worker before you cast your vote. If you spoil a paper ballot, you have the right to up to two replacement ballots as long as you catch your mistake before you cast your ballot. If your voting machine malfunctions, you can request a different machine. Cal. Elec. Code §14288.

How do I make a complaint?
First, ask for an election supervisor at your polling place. He or she can handle most routine complaints that arise on Election Day. Candidates, political parties, and nonprofit groups may also have poll watchers at your polling place who might be able to assist you. In the alternative, you can call 1-866-OURVOTE to report any problems you encountered. If any of those people ask you who you voted for, or if they can’t resolve your complaint, call your county elections office or the California Secretary of State.

TIPS FOR AVOIDING PROBLEMS

• Check your voter registration status at least 15 days before the election.


• Vote before Election Day, using a vote-by-mail ballot.


• If you plan to vote at the polls, locate your polling place at least 15 days before the election.


• Vote early in the day to avoid the last-minute rush.


• Bring some form of identification even if it’s not required.


• Read all instructions carefully.


• Ask for help if you need it.


• Take your time. You have up to ten minutes to complete your ballot.

What ever your political leanings, everyone should go vote and no one should be turned away!

~ Nicole

Food for thought . . .

"In every crisis there is a message. Crises are nature's way of forcing change - breaking down old structures, shaking loose negative habits so that something new and better can take their place."

- Susan L. Taylor, Essence editor

An interesting perspective to keep in mind when dealing with any crisis, especially one in business.

~ Nicole