Having just returned from speaking at this morning's seminar, Building an Effective Public Relations Plan, sponsored by the Highland Street Foundation for non-profit organizations, I am filled with good feelings the variety of which I have not felt for quite a while. First, the sponsoring foundation is amazing in and of itself. Not only does it serve the community with its programs and grants ...but then to expand its mission to include providing non-profit organizations with access to professional resources that they may not be able to afford on their own budget, they provide a multiplier effect to their efforts.
Most impressive was the 8:00 AM turnout of formidable people associated with impressive non-profit organizations - large and small - all of which are committed to serving people who need in one way or another. You would expect to find a group of down trodden folks, beleaguered by the obstacles to accomplishing mission: a recession that at least theoretically adversely impacts donations; a growing population of people in need or who could benefit from their organizations mission; and a government - federal, state and local - with good intentions but the overwhelming challenge of growing deficits and the resultant diminished ability to assist and support those organizations.
Instead, the audience was comprised of smiling, bright, energetic individuals with incredible commitment to making the world a better place and the resolve to learn more about "What constitutes an effective public relations plan" - the topic Susan Ryan-Vollmar and I had been asked to discuss. Their appetite to walk away with practical advice far surpassed their interest in the incredible looking breakfast pastries hospitably offered by the event's host.
As I spoke with many of them after the formal part of the presentations, I was equally struck by the sense of urgency they possessed to get sophisticated answers to their particular challenges and their creativity and respective skill levels. Most of these professionals wear many hats in their organizations - some of which are too fledgling to host a traditional organizational structure.
When a supportive colleague of mine stopped by a few minutes ago and asked if my presentation "wowed them," my spontaneous and enthusiastic response was, "no - actually, they wowed me."
So when I watch the Dow likely perform another day of its recent repetitive gyrations, and seek to manage the pressure that comes from balancing the needs of multiple clients who have provided me and our firm with the privilege and trust of serving them, hear the latest unemployment numbers and consider just how much my tax bill is going to go up next year, I will also recall the positive energy in that room - the absence of dialogue about how hard their work is and their resolve to work harder and smarter at what they do because it really matters.
*Seminar materials including my presentation and leave-behind: Elements of a Media Plan, are available on the Highland Street Foundation's website.
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