What voice in your head usually wins?

I have a friend on the East Coast who does the video for his church's services. He posts them on Facebook when they’re live. I've surfed in. It’s pretty boring. 

I watched the worship video from my home church, and had multiple thoughts. Here's the first.

In my regular life, I work in the world of communications – business storytelling, advertising, public relations, and about six minutes in to this video appears a great storyteller, Nancy Gaston. She is fantastic, but her story is stuck six minutes into a boring video (from the eyes of a kid).

If the church is trying to reach kids, they're missing the mark.

Kids aren't going to sit through six minutes of boring to get to the good stuff. And no kid is going to surf into a video titled “Worship - August 2, 2020.” (The titles of church videos should be either the scripture, a title with keywords from the sermon, or anything but the date. Facebook already includes the date, and no one is searching Facebook for "August 2, 2020.")

Here’s what I'd recommend.

Pull out just the children’s message, post it as standalone video under a playlist on Youtube with a title like “news brief for kids” or “how to have more fun being a kid,” and the title of the video should NOT be the date, but something that corresponds with the message in the video, something that sounds interesting to kids, i.e., not a finger wagging from adults. For instance, use the title “Have you ever wrestled?” This might pull in a few curious adults as well. 

In the video info section of YouTube write: “Wrestling with tough choices? What voice in your head usually wins?” Use some key words from Nancy’s talk so someone searching might find this video.

Next, share the link of the video with the church’s preschool, Noah’s Ark Preschool to post on their Facebook page, email to their families.

And, email the link of the video to the parents of kids in the church, with a message, “Here is a five minute activity you can do with your kids: 3-4 minute video plus a question: “What do you think about what Nancy said?” (It doesn't have to be complicated).

What voice usually wins in your head?

Carol

What keeps Portland weird? A #happyday dance

Pharrell Williams an American singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer, musician partnered with the United Nations (UN) Foundation on the International Day of Happiness. It's a feel good moment to encourage a happier, healthier world by donating to support the UN's humanitarian efforts.

The event launched last year, but is gathering momentum in year two with the addition of Williams' support.

As part of today's celebration, people were encouraged to take creative license and post a video to YouTube demonstrating their happiness against the background of Pharrell Williams' top-selling song “Happy.” Participating videos were registered and submitted to the website: 24hoursofhappiness.com.

Once on the 24 Hours of Happiness site, visitors are encouraged to make a donation to the UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). The Fund was established to help the UN and its partners provide fast and reliable humanitarian assistance that directly supports critical aid operations for people affected by natural disasters and armed conflicts.

At noon, in time zones across the planet, 24hoursofhappiness.com will spotlight Pharrell Williams' top picks out of the massive list of submissions.

To promote the event and their own videos, producers, participants and friends are sharing their work across the web using the hashtag #HappyDay.

Expect to see #HappyDay a lot today, leading to videos spotlighting people acting happy, which means big smiles and jiggling all over the screen, i.e., goofy.

In our local area KGW Media Group produced this video showing news anchor Joe Donlon breakdancing as Tracy Barry cheers, Brenda Braxton showing us some very cool moves, Nick Allard photo bombing a very hip looking Russ Lewis, Stephanie Stricklen leading the crew at the KGW Square, Laurel Porter dancing down the hall and Drew Carney showing her how it should be done in his typical little-boy-joy mode only to be challenged in the goofball department by Matt Zaffino and his gold tie. Cameos by lesser known folks in the advertising department are interspersed with people on the street demonstrating what keeps Portland Portland, i.e., weird. 

Me? I'm #kgwhappy today.

Tall book critic prefers short novels

The Northwest is rife with readers, writers, and those of authority called published authors.

Besides the obvious college and adult education classes, there are more than a dozen organizations, clubs and bookstores with monthly events aimed at improving the craft of writing and getting that writer promoted to published status.

Being published is not the end of the journey, though. Before the book is hot off the press or fresh from the Internet, the job of marketing ensues. Blogging, social media forays, speaking engagements, workshops, and waiting with tying fingers crossed for the platinum review keeps the author on a virtual roller coaster.

A balding, unassuming, yet tall, man can make that roller coast ride worth it or almost worth it.

Jeff Baker, The Oregonian’s book editor, launched the fifth season of the Northwest Author Series hosted by the Wilsonville Public Library and The Friends of the Wilsonville Public Library. Baker told the audience, which consisted mostly of writers and subscribers to The Oregonian, that he weighs the merits of a bad review against the benefit of introducing Oregonian readers to a book they might actually buy. Baker believes there’s got to be a good reason for a bad review.

“Sometimes I pick up stuff I don’t like,” he said. When that happens, “Let ‘em have it, but don’t be mean.”

Baker writes the reviews, writes and features, assigns everything else, and edits while blogging and tweeting and juggling an ever constricting budget. If one reviews the comments left on the online site it would appear to be a thankless job.

The upside for Baker is that he gets to choose what he wants to read and farms out the rest to freelancers who write 500 word reviews for about 30 cents a word. When his budget is depleted (hello, December!) he pulls stuff off the wire.

Baker receives about 500 books a week. That equates to an hour a day of unpacking and organizing before one book spine gets cracked and perused for possible review. Those most likely to be chosen for one of the five weekly review slots include local authors, books that have a Northwest setting, or authors booked for a local appearance.

Baker offered his insight on how to write a review offering this short list:
1. What’s the book about
2. Do you like it
3. Why
4. Include a quote.
“You want to give people a feel of the writing style,” he said.

Currently, Baker is reading Hemmingway’s Boat, by Paul Hendrickson which he will review soon. Expect a very positive review. Other authors he mentioned included graphic novelist Craig Thompson, Karl Marlantes who wrote Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War, and Justin Torres with his 144 page book “We the Animals.”

You can judge a book by its cover, says Jeff Baker, and you can also judge it by its page count.

“250 pages is better than 500 anytime.”

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Upcoming events for the Northwest Author Series

The Northwest Author Series takes place at the Wilsonville Public Library once a month on these Sundays, 3:30 p.m. DIRECTIONS

October 23
Emily Chenoweth, Memoir or Fiction? Make The Most of Your Choice




December 4
Christina Katz, The Writer's Workout: Whip Your Literary Ambitions Into Shape




January 29
Karen Karbo, Passions Into Paychecks: Make A Living Without A Brand




February 26
Bill Johnson, A Story Is A Promise: The Essential Elements of Storytelling



March 18
Pamela Hill Smith, For The Love of Research: How To Write Biography




April 15
Kevin Sampsell, The Book World: From Reader To Published Author




May 6
Heather Vogel Frederick, Much Ado About Middle Grade: Mastering Setting, Character & Plot




The Northwest Author Series 
Wilsonville Public Library
8200 SW Wilsonville Road
Wilsonville, OR  97070
503-682-2744

Sundays 3:30 p.m.
DIRECTIONS

Tatoo artist accesses YouTube to 'game' job opportunity

Having been the interviewer for open positions too many times to count, I was always impressed with the candidate who did their research, knew what our company was about, and could offer compelling information that would illustrate whey they were the best candidate for the job.

Erin Michael Vondrak illustrated her desire for a job by really using illustrations.

Her YouTube account and website, www.erinvondrak.com, serve up highlights from her resume:

I was raised in southern California. In 2007, I graduated from the University of Redlands with honors in Photography and a Bachelor’s degree in Design in Various Platforms of Media. I have worked for Apple since 2007. I enjoy drawing, tattooing, doing stupid animations in Flash, and making people laugh. I love animals, computers, meeting new people, and exploring the world around me. I currently reside in Seattle.

The video tells us she is desperate to leave Apple and work for the Bellevue, Washington entertainment software and technology company Valve.

I hadn't heard of Valve before. They sound like they might be worth investing the time Vondrak has shouldered to compose an original song and create hundreds of illustrations to populate a YouTube job plea. According to Valve's website they have an incredible "98% retention rate." I'd like to know what makes it so high, and I'll confess, I'm a little curious about the two percent who don't make it.

If you're interested in a job at Valve, visit their jobs page, which states, "We're always hiring for all positions. Seriously."

Personally, I think Vondrak should be on their marketing team. Her video has been shown 89,401 times. That is an incredible amount of PR in three days

Uploaded by erinvondrak on Jul 27, 2011.

I learned about this first, on Geek Wire, "an independent technology news site and online community based in Seattle, Wash. — covering the people, companies and innovations emerging from and impacting the Pacific Northwest."

It's nice to know there are other people who love Washington State as much as I do.

What's the craziest thing you did to go after a new job?

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Dale Chumbley's 365 Days

Picture courtesy of
Pearl of Carol.com

A year is a long time when you’re a kid waiting for Christmas, but when you're an adult, 365 days can evaporate into the mist of a massive to-do list.

Not one day, however, has disappeared in the past 365 without a blog post from local realtor Dale Chumbley on his website, The Clark County Real Estate Guide.

In February 17, 2010, Chumbley strolled down Vancouver’s Renaissance Trail and introduced us to his project: 365 Things to do in Vancouver WA. 

Dale Chumbley discloses what comes next.

His post defined his intentions, “Today begins a new little project I’m going to attempt. I’ll be posting one new thing to do each day for the next year in Vancouver, WA.” He said a lot of people were waiting for him to fail, which turned into a personal mission to succeed.

He embarked on the project with the same passion and great enthusiasm we see in all Chumbley adventures. His hope that the project would be, “A great community resource from the perspective of a lifelong resident who loves his hometown,” proved true. The byproduct, that it also serve as a, “great resource for those looking to relocate to Vancouver,” is evidenced by the real estate transactions that came his way due to his new found celebrity and the opportunity to travel and speak about his venture across the United States.

Yesterday, he finished the project: Today Is… Day 365 of 365 Things To Do In Vancouver, WA. Many are trying to figure out how to emulate his success, and just as many are trying to figure out what Dale Chumbley is going to do for an encore.

Last week in my interview with Dale Chumbley, I asked him that question.

Watch the video above to hear the answer, in Dale’s own words.

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This post first appeared on USD Media's Facebook Page. To read more about Dale Chumbley's adventures see: Celebrities who've met ME! Hello, Dale Chumbley.

Carol Doane is the Partnership Manager at USD Media. If you are a blogger in Southwest Washington she is interested in connecting with you and discovering what you are passionate about.
Contact: carol at usdmedia dot com.

Social Media for Authors

Vancouver Writer's Mixer

Social Media for Authors

Saturday, December 4

5-6:30 pm

Featured Speaker: Carol Doane

Saturday Carol Doane speaks to the Vancouver Writer's Mixer. She's got the internet wired for fun, for feedback and success! She's the doyenne of Twitter, Facebook, Blogger, and many other virtual publicity websites.

Carol will be demonstrating the basics of navigating these treacherous technical waters. Find out why you should dabble, even just a little, on-line. By the time we're finished, you'll be amazed and eager to get out there and start networking!  It's so easy, even Smedley the bookstore cat tweets. Carol will touch on hot social media topics such as Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare, YouTube, Plancast and blogging.

Learn quick tips, easy to use shortcuts and what to do if you hate the idea of marketing yourself.

Carol was a top finalist in the 2010 SoMe Awards (Social Media Awards of the Pacific Northwest) for her volunteer campaign for the Southwest Washington Blood Program. Winning campaigns awarded to Air New Zealand, Travelocity, PAX East, Mio Gelato, Portland Fit, Hotel Max, Mio Gelato.

She is also a published writer (chapter in Laughing Nine to Five: The Quest for Humor in the Workplace) and she has two completed fiction manuscripts now in the hands of literary agents on both coasts.

Many, many thanks to Angst Gallery owner Leah Jackson for allowing Cover to Cover Books to hold their monthly mixer in the gallery. The bookstore remains closed due to smoke damage until renovations can be completed. Cover to Cover is taking special orders via email: mail@covertocoverbooks.net.

If you want to chat with Carol after the event we'll be taking over the couch in Niche Wine & Art next door.

Online event registration for Social Media for Writers powered by Eventbrite

Social Media Policy

In updating the company's online policy the following is being submitted for consideration. What do you think? Would you like this policy, or not? 

There is increasing interest at the company in using online communication as a means of both connecting with our community and for the dissemination of information, specifically using social media tools. These activities provide a number of benefits, and we understand our employees may want to participate both personally and professionally. This Social Media Online guide is created to state company policy and educate employees on best practices as they enter into both company and personal online communications.

Briefly, this guide will direct you to:

• Receive authorization per project before speaking online on behalf of the company


• Treat proprietary information with complete confidentiality


• If you plan to mention the company on your personal site, identify yourself as an employee and note the views expressed belong solely to you


• Do not use company logo without permission in writing


• Regard company online venues with the same respect as the physical workplace


• Use language that is respectful to the company, customers, competitors and employees


• Comply with all applicable laws and legal issues


• Ensure that your online activity does not interfere with your primary work responsibilities

The intention of this guide is not to prevent staff from conducting legitimate activities on the Internet, but to communicate those areas in which conflicts can arise. Employees are responsible for regularly reviewing the terms of this Online Policy.

Communication Formats
There are several types of online platforms that your department may want to engage in, including the following:

Blogs and discussion forums: sites maintained by businesses, community groups, non-profits, government, media entities, or private individuals to post information, ideas, suggestions or opinion on various issues. They may or may not be open for comments.

Video sharing: sites that allow organizations and individuals to distribute, share and stream video and other audio visual material online, an example is YouTube.

Wikis: online warehouses of information much like an encyclopedia, but where individuals and organizations contribute or edit the information. The most well-known is Wikipedia.

Social Networking: online directories or gathering sites that connect people through social, professional, or other networks. These often include a range of communication devices—blogs, instant messaging, picture sharing ( Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn).

Authorized communications & use of corporate email
Unless given permission by company leadership, you are not authorized to speak on behalf of the company, nor to imply or represent that you do so.

Should you receive authorization, our Information Technology department (IT) will create a user ID on the targeted social network using your corporate email address and will communicate the initial account password to you. Thereafter, you will receive an account activation e-mail directly from the social networking service.

Once your account is set up, downloading and installing plug-ins or helper applications such as those that try to access the company e-mail directory, or other proprietary property is prohibited.

Unless authorized by the company, you should not use your company email to connect to sites used as a private individual. In some instances, such as for professional sites (e.g., LinkedIN) your individual department may authorize use of your corporate email. Make sure you know what is acceptable before connecting.

Whether external or internal, such as our intranet site SharePoint®, company online venues are subject to the same standards that apply in a physical work environment as set out in the Employee Handbook. Your actions in both venues should reflect company core values.

Individual department use of online forums
Departments may desire to establish communication forums to support their division’s goals. These may be ongoing or they may be established for a specific time, limited proposal or initiative. They may be open to the public, or confined to a particular group of stakeholders, to disseminate information, clarify misinformation, to canvas or survey stakeholders, retain current subscribers or advertisers, or recruit new ones.

Forums might also be used to support product marketing (referral networks, advertising, testimonials, focus groups), create custom network applications (a.k.a. plugins) for product and brand promotion or integration with the company’s own online services, monitor public opinion about the company, its products and services, or its competitors.

In order not to duplicate efforts or service, departments are asked to provide an outline of their project to the Web Tactics Group (WTG) including:

• A clear statement of purpose
• Terms and conditions for staff participation
• Targets or goals and how they will be measured

Monitoring
When company equipment or sites are being used the company has an obligation to monitor such usage. The department or task force responsible for the online group agrees they will regularly moderate and monitor group and staff activity. They will also ensure that company use of the social network complies with the individual external social network’s Terms of Service (TOS) or Terms of Use (TOU), as applicable.

Departments may wish to establish internal collaboration systems (blogs, wikis, and social networks) to facilitate workplace communication, collaborate with or develop customers, or test ideas or venues. Safeguards need to be put in place to ensure that communication created solely for the use of employees including internal discussion and debate remain in-house.

Social networking activities are not to interfere with your primary job responsibilities.

Confidential Information
You may not share information that is confidential, proprietary or intended solely for company use. This includes information on finances, advertising or circulation revenues, company strategy, customers, employees, upcoming projects, products, and any other information that has not been publicly released by the company. These are given as examples only, and do not cover the range of what the company considers confidential and proprietary.

Care should be taken before disclosing anything that could potentially harm the company, or its current and potential employees, customers or products. If you have any question or uncertainty about whether information has been released to the public, or should be discussed by you, speak with your manager or director.

Respect the privacy rights of those currently or previously under our employ by seeking their permission before writing about or displaying internal company happenings that might be considered to be a breach of their privacy and confidentiality. Be considerate by removing information when asked to do so.

Under no circumstance should offensive comments be made about staff or colleagues. This may amount to cyber-bullying and could be deemed a disciplinary offence.

Common sense and courtesy
Common sense is the best guide should you decide to post information in any way relating to the company, its employees or competitors. If you are developing a Web-site or writing a blog that will mention these areas, identify that you are an employee of the company, that the views expressed on your site belong solely to you and do not necessarily represent the views of the company. If you need help crafting this statement please contact IT for examples.

As a courtesy to the company, when engaging in online activities that mention the company its employees, or competitors, please let your manager know and discuss any potential conflicts of interest.

Your manager may choose to visit your site from time to time to understand your point of view.

Use of company logos or links
Yes, you may provide a link from the company’s site to yours, but company logos and trademarks may not be used without explicit permission in writing from the company. This is to prevent the appearance that you officially speak for, or represent the company in venues where you do not.

CompanyWebsite.com
CompanyWebsite.com is an extension of our workplace. Each employee is provided with a log-in and profile page and is bound by the posted terms and conditions of use.

Because it is a public venue, care should be exercised by employees when contributing:

• Do post material to the site that is relevant to the issues being discussed
• Do represent your own views and not impersonate or falsely represent any other person
• Do protect your personal privacy, and that of others, by not including personal information or pictures you are not authorized to use
• Do not be abusive, harass or threaten others
• Do not make defamatory or libelous comments
• Do not use insulting, provocative or hateful language
• Do not use obscene or offensive language
• Do not post material that infringes the intellectual property rights of others

Contractors and Consultants
In addition to covering ongoing and intermittent employees, company guidelines also apply to consultants and contractors who may be engaged under administrative contract to assist in the management or operation of company communications. Departments initiating contracts should ensure that a requirement to comply with company guidelines is included in those contracts.

Applicable Law
This guide is meant to outline and communicate company policy and offer additional guidance. It is the duty of the individual to understand all applicable laws.

You are legally responsible for your postings, and therefore may be subject to liability if your posts are found defamatory, harassing, or in violation of any other applicable law. You may also be liable if you make postings which include confidential or copyrighted information (music, videos, text, etc.) belonging to third parties, all of which are prohibited under this online policy.

In your role as an employee you are prohibited from receiving remuneration for offering product opinions, and may also be liable on your personal blog should you receive remuneration for offering product opinions. For information from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on endorsements: http://www.ftc.gov/multimedia/video/business/endorsement-guides.shtm

Be informed, act wisely
Once information and views are released into the public domain, they can spread quickly, and can easily be subject to distortion and misrepresentation, and despite disclaimers, your online interaction can result in members of the public forming opinions about the company, employees, customers, and/or products. The company encourages you to write knowledgeably and accurately and to take care to in your communications to separate your individual opinions and postings from implications that could imply they reflect those of the company.

The online community is based on relationships and trust. the company asks you to demonstrate you value our relationship by acting professionally.

‘Social safely,’ and build a strong, vibrant community beginning in 98660.
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Weigh in in the comments section: would you like this policy, or not?