Super Heroes of PR

I'm a member and past President of the West Michigan Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America, and I'm currently on the board again.  On my wall are some of the direct mail pieces promoting the upcoming annual awards banquent, and the theme is all about "super heroes" which I think is totally appropriate. 

Public Relations can be a thankless job, although it has become better understood over the past few years, especially when Al and Laura Ries wrote their book "The Fall of Advertising and the Rise of PR" in 2002. Some still view PR as the "publicity office" with the pure function of getting news coverage. Others view it as the office of spin, where every phrase is turned and crafted until all of it is pretty meaningless. Others view PR as the "feel good" office where the philanthropy budgets are administered. We do that here, sure, but that's just a piece of our story.

In the end, there are elements of all those things in good PR (if you were to use the term "message development" rather than "spin").  In my opinion, PR is the story teller of an organization, with the idea that the story never ends but evolves and grows with the participation of its key audiences. At any given point we can tell the story as it is today, knowing that in a year or two what we say now is totally irrelevant. That's why it's frustrating sometimes when people hold you to a statement made seven years ago. Unless it was a statement made about some foundational pillar of your business, it was a statement that reflected the reality of your business that day.

So, for instance, today we can say we're the #1 online retailer in the Health and Beauty category (based on sales)because that's how Internet Retailer has ranked us (again!). That may not always be the truth, but today it is. Keeping abreast of an ever-evolving business (you have to evolve to survive) and continue to tell the story without taking a breath takes super heroic powers, possessed by our PR staff. 

As the PR lead, Anna is like the stretchy woman who has long arms and amazing flexibility. She has a great ability to juggle many things at once, and reach far back into her files to get the info we need to tell the story. Plus, she doesn't freak out. That's always a good thing when dealing with crisis situations.

As the lead for our corporate citizenship efforts, Leyla's superhero power is her huge heart (and the capacity to entertain children the world over). She oversees our One By One Campaign for Children, and you may have seen her in Los Angeles last weekend while running the donation desk at the Spotlight Event. She'll be at five or six of those incredible events this year, while overseeing our other sponsorships and affiliations as well. She's at the national Easter Seals convention this week, where IBOs Jim and Pam Pierce will be recognized for giving more than $1 million to Easter Seals over the past 20 years. WOW!  Hopefully IBOs attending upcoming Spotlight Events are inspired by the Pierce's leadership and generosity when considering donations to Easter Seals.

Which leads us to the final PR team staff member -- Katie Pearsall Syckle. Katie has been the Matrix-y person on our team, diving into our social media and web efforts. She's the main moderator and whip behind the Opportunity Zone, the monitor of the web conversation about our brands, the owner of the Quixtar Newsroom. She's also leaving us to rejoin the creative team as editor for the IBO Support team, which produces Achieve, the Welcome Kit, events materials, and more in support of IBOs across the U.S. and Canada. 

So, we're now looking for another Super Hero of PR.  Knowing the culture within Quixtar, I'm sure we'll find another hard working achiever who will take over where Katie left off and continue to drive us forward in this brave new world.

There are others on the team, including Intern Charlotte and Contractor Lindsay who also are amazing.  Elizabeth, meanwhile, is like Optimus Prime, transforming herself between advertising and sponsorships and events and other duties as the Lead for Advertising and Sponsorships. This week she was in Chicago for an ad shoot. While in Louisville for the Kentucky Derby she was nearly constant on the phone working with vendors and internal "clients" for whom she is the lynch pin. We're getting her a Super Hero sidekick soon. 

The team is small but powerful.  I'm glad they're on my side!  (And yours.)

Kia's Kia

So, my 15-year-old Saturn SC2 has finally been put out to pasture. Well, not quite. A friend is taking it off my hands (one much better at handling minor repairs) and will probably drive it another 100,000 miles. So, Kari and I took off shopping for another vehicle.

Let me start by saying that, following Dave Ramsay guidance, we don't really like buying new cars. Too much depreciation taken on by the first-time owner. Not only that, a new car would like mean taking one of our four children out of private school. (Trust me, we've considered that!)

Anyway, we went looking for a not-too-old and not-too-expensive car that would serve us well for a good period of time. I'm not very brand sensitive, but have typically trended American. We test drove a bunch of cars in our price range and finally settled on a Kia Optima from Fox Kia. (All the Fox dealerships here in West Michigan are owned by Dan DeVos, one of Rich's kids. Trivia: "Vos" in dutch means Fox.)

So far, aside from the pin stripe I want to remove, I'm very happy with the car.  It drives beautifully, looks classy (again, look past the pin stripe), and is very roomy. I have three sons and they all fit in the back.

So, although my blogging name of "Kia" had nothing to do with the car by the same name, I'm smiling a little bit on the inside that I ended up buying one. Not only is it a Kia, but it's an "Optima." Maybe I should have a blogger surname ... Kia Optima.  Sounds kind of like a character's name right out of Transformers.  Mmmm ... somehow the conversation keeps coming back to Transformation.

Twitter and Tumblr

In a meeting yesterday someone suggested that we start using Twitter more as a company. I explained that I still wasn't sure what the application would be. For instance, who is interested in me (as an example) that much that they would want to know where I'm at and what I'm doing at all times of the day (and night!). If I were a CEO or a rock star or Presidential candidate, maybe. Then again, maybe not. I really don't care where Bono is at all times of the day ... if it's important enough I'm sure I'll see it on the news or the next issue of People. 

I guess there are some social networks of people that truly become engrossed in each other to the extent that they always want to know what's on that person's mind. I'm thinking it's maybe a 20-something thing or maybe high schoolers, although my daughter's not into that. She does text message alot, however. But that's another story and that's direct one-to-one communication.

At some point the perfect consumer or business application for Twitter will come to my mind. Perhaps if we have a road tour of sorts sometime soon we can Twitter where it is so that IBOs can step out of their doorways and wave as it goes past. Or maybe a Team Nutrilite athlete could Twitter about what they're eating or doing to prepare for an event on the other side of the world later this summer, although I suspect that Twittering might get in the way of their success on the track.

As a parent, I guess it would be cool to be able to track my kids wherever they might be via something like Twitter. I just don't think they'd use it in that manner. Like we gave my son Conner a cool cell phone recently so "he could call us when he needed to be picked up" or other similar situations. I think he's done that about three times exactly.  Most of the time he's texting friends, shooting videos and snapping pictures with it. I know, cell phones have come a long way. Everything but calling mom and dad to pick him up. Sigh.

When I got home last night after having the conversation about Twitter, I found this LA Times column reprinted in our local paper and it made me giggle a little. It's all about Twitter and Tumblr, which I hadn't heard of. Apparently I'm not as up on social media as I thought. In any case, Mr. Stein seems to share some of my thoughts on these tiny snippets of thought shared broadly via these services.

There once was a time where correspondence ruled and the art of letter-writing was pursued. Presidents and important people published books containing just their correspondence. There also were (are) columnists who publish nice collections of their musings. I suppose this can happen with the better bloggers as well. I am waiting for someone to publish a book containing nothing but their twitters (and/or tumbls). I'm sure it will be a fascinating read.

Transitions and a Solid Base

I spent the morning on the campus of Grand Valley State University today with my daughter, Amanda, since that is where she's off to this fall. I had been to the campus a few times, but never had received the tour. Not only that, the college is constantly changing and growing since it is the fastest growing public university in Michigan, with some 25,000 students enrolled this year.

As a teen, Amanda is in a constant state of transition, of course. She's continually growing and expanding her horizons, and I'm excited for her and all the things she has yet to experience. It's also scary, since there are many unknowns as well. But I am confident in her and for her because of the solid base she already has in terms of her maturity, her relationships, and her faith. She has plenty of growth ahead of her, and I hope that GVSU is a great place for her to realize her full potential.

While driving back from the campus, we talked about what she'd like to do.  As I've mentioned before, she's considering communications as a career and that's pretty much the only brochure she picked up on the way out of the Student Services building. That said, she's going in "undecided," as I think she should, because until she is on campus and in classes and expanding her horizons a little, she won't know what she doesn't know. But when she does find something that excites her, watch out world!

Our business is in transformation, as has been blogged about countless times already. The reality is that our business has always been transitioning since it started, whether that be through new products or new people or new markets or new processes or new business systems and tools. I guess it would be more accurate to say that we are trying to create a broader business transformation that results in more people making more money sooner in our business. That transformation should not affect the solid base we're built upon. That base has been articulated over the years as the "Founders' Fundamentals." The way Amway does business was defined from the beginning by its founders, Rich DeVos and the late Jay Van Andel, and those ethical and operational standards continue to guide the second-generation of the Van Andel and DeVos families as they lead the business today.

If  you ever visit us in Ada, Mich., you would see the founding principles carved in stone outside Amway's World Headquarters. They say: Amway will always support the fundamental FREEDOM of people to determine their own future, allowing them the time and resources to protect and nurture their FAMILY. In addition, Amway will always offer HOPE to individuals and the opportunity to receive REWARD in proportion to their efforts.

Freedom, family, hope and reward are words that have been bandied about this company for decades. For some they have more meaning than others. They should be reviewed by all in our business on a fairly regular basis so that we can be reminded of what we're truly all about.

Blog Rankings

I was reading an article yesterday in the Wall Street Journal about Heather Armstrong, a blogger mom who has one of the top parenting blogs online.  Well, maybe not a parenting blog per se. A blog she writes, as a parent. I think her blog's success is more a tribute to her entertaining writing style than her sound parental advice. I checked it out and, as the article indicated, her blog is laced with language and topics that aren't necessarily full family fare. That said, she's developed such a large audience for a personal blog that was started as a hobby that it is now her family's sole source of income (her husband manages advertising for the site). It also is, according to the article, #59 on Technorati's list of top blogs. Experts estimated that, based on traffic, the site earns Heather some $40,000 per month.

This came to mind today because I got an email from Wikio to tell me that www.RealQuixtarBlog.com was #140 in their ranking of business blogs.  WOW!  I don't know what that gets me. Certainly not $40K per month. But it is in some small way a tribute to the community being built here in this blog and within the Opportunity Zone. There are people out there who recognize RQB as a blog worth voting for ... through their links to posts. Wikio bases their rankings based on inbound links to a blog created within the past 120 days. That means, if I write something here that you're talking about on your blogs and you link back, you're voting for RQB as a relevant source of information for whatever it is you're talking about.

Ways I can increase my ranking, then, would be to blog often about relevant topics. Sigh. I knew that already. But, unlike Heather Armstrong, this isn't my sole source of income. But I'll try. To be more frequent and more relevant. But I'm still going to blog about my wife and children and what I saw on the side of the road and the weather and my travels and whatever else I want to write about. Because that's who I am. Whether that's relevant or not!  :-)

Are You LinkedIn?

Sigh. I guess I'm a sucker for new(er) Social Media apps. A few weeks ago I created a profile at LinkedIn and did a little scouting to see who I knew.  I didn't spend too much time with it, but found a few people I knew and invited them to be "connections" (unlike Facebook's terminology "friends").  If MySpace is the trashy, glitzy, high school-dominated space and Facebook is the somewhat upgraded version dominated by college students, then LinkedIn is the professional space where there are very few kids. This is about professional networking, perhaps with a bent towards self-promotion (for that next new job, maybe?).

I went from two or three "connections" last week to nearly 100 today, mostly by inviting those I knew who were connected to people I was connected with. It seems to be the social media application that's currently exploding in growth, based on the number of new people I know who are joining en masse.

I'm not sure how I can use LinkedIn yet. I'm not looking for a job. I'm not looking to hire (at the moment). I'm always interested in reconnecting with people I haven't seen or heard from (and there have been a few happy online reunions already, so that's a plus). I guess we'll have to wait and see. My Facebook profile has pretty much become a place for me to play Scrabble (Scrabulous) with a couple of my Facebook (and real-life) friends.  I have a pretty good record so far ... 14 wins, 1 loss (ok, so a few of those victories were against my 14-year-old son ... they still count!). No such game-playing in LinkedIn. The big activity, maybe, are "recommendations" you can give and receive. Again, I'm assuming the recommendations are so that others will either hire you or use your services.

Maybe there are applications for IBOs? 

More than ads

Thanks to everyone who has commented on the ads discussed in the last post. The USA Today (plus Canadian counterparts) ad is really just the beginning, with much more coming on TV and elsewhere.

Beyond that, PR and Sponsorships also are going to create additional brand awareness for the company. This week I have to create some final presentations for senior management, but last week we essentially received approvals to move forward with a whole slate of programs. I'm not going to go into details (yet!) but it involves getting the Amway and key brand (Nutrilite and Artistry) names out in front of target audiences.  From a major partnership with an international organization that will help create national and local presence to sponsorship of events that allow us to provide brand experiences to consumers, there's a lot in the works!

I don't want to go into details because, while we have approvals to proceed, we need to actually pursue the specific partnerships and sponsorships, and I wouldn't want to announce any particular element prematurely.

The work on that front has been intense, which is one of the reasons I haven't created a post in some 10 days. After getting back from Prague it's been nonstop ... but exciting! Let's just say that in my 16+ years with the company, we've never had the resources to work with that we're looking at now. This year and next is going to be a lot of fun, and I sure hope you're all ready. Between the 15 regional spotlight events (U.S. and Canada) and the number of things we'll be doing through our PR/Sponsorships campaigns, we WILL be coming to a town near you SOON! 

Ok. Back to work for me.  Hope you're all doing well.  Spring has arrived in Michigan, so there's pretty much a collective sigh of relief here. Take care!

Ads Are Up!

The first ad speaking to the Quixtar -> Amway Global transformation went up today on the back page of USA Today's Sports Section.  This is the beginning of a campaign that will span various media types, including TV, sharing key messages about our international success, our innovation and leadership, our consumer protection and our One By One program.

The "Hello" campaign is intended to be a reintroduction to this business, since so many people don't even know that we're around anymore. Awareness of Quixtar was in the single digits, while Amway continued to be very high. The problem was that people hadn't heard from us in a long while. We needed to remind them of who we were again. Perhaps they didn't recognize us!

So, hello, my name is Robin Luymes. You may have known me as Kia. You can still call me Kia if you'd like. It is a nickname after all. Let me know what you think about the ads ... they're only a start and they're bound to evolve as our messaging needs change. But it is time for all of us to reintroduce ourselves.

Superdü

There are times that I prefer to express my viewpoints in writing than orally, simply because I can edit myself before I misspeak or, worse, lose focus.  When writing I can review what I meant to communicate and cut out extraneous content.  By the way, I rarely do that here in Real Quixtar Blog.  This is probably not too far from my conversational tone.

But in here I don't make some of the oral flubs I do in person. Like one time, during a staff meeting, I used a string of superlatives to describe the work they were producing. I caught myself in the middle of saying something as juvenile as "super duper" but my mouth beat my brain and what came out was "super du..."  Quizzical looks resulted, and being professional writers and editors, they immediately began to examine "superdu" as a word or expression. Quickly they came up with possible definitions and the alternate Germanic "superdü" spelling.

The term "superdü" has become an inside joke or perhaps will become a new coined word that basically means "awesome!" or "great news!" 

For my birthday, my staff had the above artwork created and put on a t-shirt. I love the image they created with my "love you" fingers flailing. By the way, the caricature in no way represents my actual fitness level.

In Prague, meanwhile, four out of five bloggers are able to also strike the "superdü" pose. Well, I think Tex could have too, except he wasn't there when the picture was taken.  I'd share the pic, but I think there are still some individuals who prefer to operate somewhat anonymously. Anyway, I laughed while taking the pic on three separate cameras. I'm sure at some point the pics will come out. I do have some Prague photos coming to me from Corp. Comm. friends and I'll try to include a few of them here!

Prague Blog IV

The PR/External Affairs conference has ended, with a dinner tonight for those who remain in Prague. I'm a little saddened that many of the Europeans at the conference have already left, taking advantage of their close proximity to their homes. I probably would have done the same in their situation.

Today we heard from the PR heads of China, Russia, and Indonesia, each sharing with the group their experiences of the past few years. The China affiliate in particular has a robust PR program to support their slightly different business model. The Russian affiliate, meanwhile, didn't exist a few years ago, so to hear about that market's quick growth to one of our top global affiliates and the communications issues that has caused was quite interesting.

Also presenting was Kate Makled of Corporate Communications, who discussed the ever-evolving nature of corporate PR, how it is regarded within the corporate structure, and where it belongs on the organizational chart. She talked about how PR's mission changes depending on which area it reports to, whether that be Marketing, a broader External Affairs division also tasked with government relations and legal issues, or directly to the executive office.

After bidding many colleagues farewell, I went to the Jewish quarter with a few friends from Access Business Group and Alticor, including a stop in one of the synagogues plus peeks into many souvenir shops. The Easter Fair also was a pleasant stop, with many booths featuring crafts and foods plus musical and dancing groups on a stage in the square. I was struck again on the walk back to the hotel about just how *old* everything here is!  No wonder Europeans coming to the States consider us somewhat bereft of culture. It's just that there's has so much history behind it.

Speaking of history, while at one of the synagogues in the Jewish quarter I saw the story of the Golem of Prague. I had never heard of a golem and it really is quite fascinating. Sorry, just a little aside.

I am looking forward to getting home tomorrow, although I'm not really thrilled with the long journey to get there. It will be a long day tomorrow. And after a short break over the weekend, I'm off again for a daytrip to Chicago to meet with a potential vendor. The fun just never ends!

I wish all of you a blessed Easter holiday.

Prague Blog III

Another day comes to an end in Prague and this one was quite rewarding actually. I will be the first to admit that I was very uncertain about unleashing on my communications peers from around the world a panel of IBO bloggers who have varied histories of critique. The PR and External Affairs had asked for a session so they could learn more about blogging, and I was afraid this might be more of a discussion about what these IBOs are critical of with the business and the company.

While each of the panelists did share a little about what changes they'd love to see in our business and their agendas to help make that happen, they also demonstrated to the group that they do care about this business and seek in their own ways to make it better. It should come as no surprise that Tex has issues with the tools businesses and the undue focus placed on this income stream by some. He refrained from dwelling on that issue during our session, however, to ensure that the communications professionals learned about blogging as an effective way to discuss our business issues.

IBO Fightback talked most knowledgably about the reputational issues we've suffered online and the ways he has tried to help ensure the myths are laid to rest and the truth comes out. That's not always a favorable truth, by the way, and he has his own issues with how we've communicated online. He pointed out our poor record in setting straight the record about the Quixtar and Amway businesses at Wikis and his efforts in those areas as well.

Dave Robison talked about his blogging as a Quixtar IBO for many years now, and his desire for a business based on authenticity. He brought his Alabama sensibilities to the table and talked about the history of blogging about Quixtar.

Big Apple talked about his independent business and focus on retailing. He became involved in the blog conversations about our business due to issues that surfaced last summer, and has kept coming back to weigh in on topics that he feels are important to the advancement of this business. Now he's even considering a blog of his own.

Bridgett, who also doesn't have a blog of her own, despite the encouragement of her panel mates, talked about what draws her into the conversations at the Opportunity Zone and the Alticor blogs. She was looking for info about the "new Amway" last summer and was brought to Beth Dornan's Inside Quixtar blog. She kept coming back after she left a long list of critical comments and Beth responded to her that she needed to keep coming back so that her voice was heard.

I also served on the panel to talk a little about the REAL Quixtar Blog and the Opportunity Zone and the opportunity blogs represent for Amway communications staff to engage key audiences in important and necessary dialogs about this business. But the focus truly was on what we could learn from the IBO bloggers who took time away from families and jobs to join us and share their experiences and motivations. And I think many in attendance were surprised.

They were surprised by how likeable these bloggers were. They were surprised that they weren't pasty white nerds with bulging eyes who spend too much time in their basements. They were surprised that each of these individuals truly appeared to love this business and what it could be, if whatever issues they perceive we have could just be addressed.

Meanwhile, I truly enjoyed getting to know these individuals better. Dino of Alticor Corporate Communications, who served as the panel moderator, toured some of the ancient sections of Prague with Tex this afternoon while I took the other panelists back to the castle. It was just as lovely the second time around, and the company of these different individuals only added to the enjoyment.

Before coming to my room minutes ago, I said my farewells to these bloggers since most are headed home tomorrow and it is unlikely I will see them again before they leave. The funny thing is that I had already said farewell to them more than an hour earlier, but when I came back past them again much later they were still standing there talking with each other, just as they had the night before when they went out together for a five-hour dinner. I think they were surprised to discover just how much they had in common even though they don't always agree in the comment sections of our blogs.

And most surprising of all might be the responses provided to the final question of our panel. To Dino's question of whether or not they believed the company is already being transformed, each replied with a strong "yes." Dino said I couldn't answer that question. Well, I will anyway. I too think we are going through a transformation. And I think today's blog session and the common ground found between such a disparate group is a very tangible proof of that. Thank you Big Apple, Bridgett, Dave, IBO Fightback and Tex. And safe travels home!

Prague Blog II

Maybe it's that I'm blogging from an Eastern European country, but for some reason my blog has been attacked by some Russian spammer! Today I had to delete no less than 70 identical spam comments attached to different posts within this blog, after deleting some 50 or so yesterday. Hey, IT, what's up?!

So, let's talk Prague. Today the conference kicked off in earnest with presentations about issues management, including presentations by my peers from the UK and India. I'm proud to be associated with the professional communications staff from around the world. By mid-afternoon we had earned a break and some of us took off for the Prague Castle.  Incredible!  It really is an awesome experience for North Americans to be in the middle of so much history!

I was delayed a little at the hotel, which meant I missed going with the group via tram to the castle. Instead, I took a taxi and beat them there. I arrived in a virtual blizzard, with snow coming down sideways. Finally, huddling in an archway, I viewed the VERY impressive St. Vitus Cathedral. I would have loved to go inside, but it was closed for a funeral. When it was over, hundreds of people poured out led by many priests in white robes with purple sashes. I was able to peek inside the doors after most had left, and that only whetted my appetite to see more. I hope to go back sometime ... maybe still this week!

It was as the funeral was discharging that my cohorts caught up with me.  Sri from Corporate Communications was taking plenty of pics, so I hope to share some of them here soon. After watching the changing of the guard and admiring the entrance gate with copies of I. Platzer the Elder's "The Fighting Giants" statues. WoW!

From near that gate is a beautiful panoramic view of the Prague skyline, including many of the embassies, ancient walls and buildings, and so much more. So hard to describe.  I hope to get many of Sri's pix to include at my Flickr site. Winding down the hill past (and through!) many shops, we made our way across the Charles Bridge, then down the Vltava River to where the Hamburg was docked -- our evening dinner cruise with the entire conference group.

A lovely cruise (but chilly, so we stayed indoors) and, of course, great conversation with peers from around the world about our business and its communication needs. After the cruise, another peer from Turkey who is quite familiar with Prague led some of us on a mini tour back to the hotel, pointing out many historical areas including the Jewish quarter. I hope to go back there tomorrow if possible.  But that's for another blog post!

So, what held me up at the hotel so I couldn't join the rest of the group when they left for the castle? Well, when the elevator doors opened to take me down, a man stepped out and said "Robin!"  Immediately after a woman hurriedly hopped off the same elevator with another "Robin!!" I had never met either of them, but immediately realized I was meeting IBO Fightback and Bridgett for the first time. Our exchanges were brief and I look forward to the session with them, Dave Robison, Big Apple and Tex tomorrow.  Big Apple and I had a looong conversation last night and I saw him briefly this morning as well. When talking to my wife today, however, her first question was, "Have you met Tex yet?"

About Tex for a sec, since Jeffrey asked about this in a comment. This panel represents IBOs with varied viewpoints about our business, invited by Alticor Corporate Communications to share with communications professionals what prompts them to blog or comment at blogs. Frankly, I had nothing to do with the invite list. I think it will be an interesting dialog and I will share more with all of you about how that goes tomorrow.

And, finally, back to my wife. Today is our 19th wedding anniversary. Happy Anniversary Kari!  I'm in love with you and I only wish you were here to experience Prague with me. It's another one for our bucket list, I guess. To everyone who is saying "awwwwwwww!" right now, I'm only just a little embarrassed by this PDoA (public display of affection). Frankly, I owe her MUCH more than that for putting up with me for 19 years!

I think I need to sleep. I'm sure there will be MUCH more tomorrow following the blog session! Good night and sweet dreams!

Prague Blog I

Arrived safe and sound, but tired. After more than 12 hours travel, we arrived this a.m. in Prague and, after checking in, I slept. I tried on the flight over, but it didn't work out too well for me. Oh well! 

The drive in from the airport was a little blurry to me, but I know that I'm excited to get out and see more of the city! But first the business at hand. The group of PR and External Affairs personnel from around the Amway world met for dinner and many old friendships were renewed, with a few new ones established.  The food and drink was great, but sharing experiences from around the globe was better!

I also met with one of the IBO bloggers who's already in town. He was able to go to the symphony tonight and had a fabulous time. Our discussions late this evening about the business were great, as he has many great perspectives to share. I'm looking forward to meeting IBOfightback, Bridgett, Tex and Dave (hopefully tomorrow!)

Now I'm very tired again. I hope to share more as the conference progresses!

Blog from Prague & More

I have to apologize for not staying current with all of you!  I have been racing around and finally have a moment to catch everyone up.

First, yesterday we announced some new responsibilities here ... responsibilities I've already been working on for some time. My title changes from Manager of PR & Editorial to PR & Advertising as responsibility for the editorial group shifts to an as-yet-unnamed person and I assume responsibility for our North American advertising and sponsorships. This is exciting and daunting, since there is SO MUCH to do!  But I'm thrilled with the new challenges and excited to work with our vendors and some new faces internally. 

Second, a cheer update. My daughter's team qualified for the State competition for the first time ever, and last weekend placed fifth out of the 10 teams in their division.  They did great, even though they didn't have a realistic shot at beating the teams ahead of them.  They did, however, beat their in-town rival (to whom they finished second the week before) so that was a small victory!  Congrats Eagles!!

Third, I leave tomorrow for Prague. The Alticor Corporate Communications group holds a bi-annual conference for the heads of PR and External Affairs at Amway affiliates around the world. This will be my first time to Europe since I was 14, so I'm excited about that. Also, the added spice will be the blog panel on which I'll participate, which includes a few IBO bloggers from the U.S. and abroad. Our Amway affiliates around the world are interested in blogging and none have developed anything like the Opportunity Zone, so there's high interest in what we're doing and the types of benefits it has provided to the company. I'm looking forward to the dialog this will spark and to meeting a few of the IBOs who have commented here at Real Quixtar Blog and within the Opportunity Zone for the past year.

Fourth, welcome to Cathy Lawrence here in the Zone!  Her blog, The Best of You, should provide another interesting viewpoint for all of you!  I know this, because I've worked with Cathy for a few years now and I think she's so incredibly smart and talented.  I can't wait to see what she has to share!

Fifth, it's the middle of birthday season at the Luymes household. My wife and I both celebrated our b-days this past week, and on Tuesday we celebrate (although apart) 19 years of marriage! I guess we'll have to celebrate that when I get back home.

Sixth, Conner is starring the school production of "Alice In Wonderland" this weekend.  We went to see him last night and he plays the Knave of Hearts, who doesn't have a lot of lines but is central to this production because the final scene is all about the court case surrounding him stealing the tart. In scenes and between scenes there were many humorous chases involving the Knave. The role is perfect for Conner, since it involved a lot of physical comedy. For those who know Conner, they'll know what I mean.

Ok.  That's an update from my busy busy life... More from Prague in the next few days, provided web access is good and I find a good power convertor ... I'm told electricity runs the other way there. Hope you all are having a great March!

A Five-Minute Mentor

When I went to Loyalist College in Canada back in the 1980s, it was to study Print Journalism.  We learned how to be two-way journalists (print and photo) and to do layout and more ... basically everything you'd need to know to do community journalism.  After I left Loyalist I went on to receive my B.A. from Calvin College here in Grand Rapids, which is why I'm here today and not back in Canada (where some of you might think I belong!).

I was surprised by an email the other day from a professor of PR at Loyalist. They didn't have a PR program when I went there. Of course, few colleges had PR programs back in the mid-'80s. Anyway, this PRofessor contacted me because she had discovered this blog. She asked if I'd be a "Five Minute Mentor" to her students by answering a few questions, which I did. I don't know how much mentoring you can do in five minutes, but I'm always interested in helping students interested in PR as a career.

My daughter, meanwhile, is graduating from high school this spring and will be attending Grand Valley State University this fall. I have secret (ok, so now they're not so secret since she reads this every once in awhile) hopes that she'll go into communications as I did. It's not because I just want her to do what I do. It's because I think she'd be good at it. It's because I love what I do! It's because I could help her!  Grand Valley is one of the fastest growing colleges in Michigan (if not the fastest) and is based just 20 minutes outside Grand Rapids, so she won't be too far from home (although she will be living on campus). GVSU also has a growing presence in downtown GR, where the DeVos Center is a hub for upper level classes for a number of majors, including business.

Anyway, that's what was on my mind today. Being a five-minute mentor for some kids back in Ontario, and hoping to be a bit more than that for (at least) one kid here in GR!  :-)