The day flies as I whirl between working on DNS servers, cleaning up code, creating new pages, new designs and writing up scopes for software. I forget from time to time what I'm really good at - Community Public Relations. I don't mean PR for communities, I mean PR at the local level - where small businesses live.
Many years ago (1996) I had two fantastic mentors in this arena, Greg Smith of Greg Smith Communications and Wing Lam of Wahoo's Fish Taco. They both came into my life about the same time I began my non-profit, Binky Patrol.
Greg's expertise was at media training by teaching those who will be before the camera or at the opposite end of a reporters questions how to answer. The biggest lesson - NEVER say, "no comment." One of our biggest clients was Leisure World in what is now, the city of Laguna Woods, CA. 18,000 residents with a lot of time on their hands to stir it up in the media. Can I just say two words, "Hemlock Society". We had a lot of fires to put out and a lot of amazing people to share with the world. We still help them, after all these years, with regards to their online presence and marketing.
Wing Lam is a genius as putting companies and causes together for the good of everyone. He showed me how, by taking my dare, extreme sports guys, fish tacos and a charity making blankets for children in need can generate a ton of publicity for everyone without a lot of effort. Wahoo's is a tremendous example of being a part of the community AND making a profit AND having a lot of fun.
In continuing the lessons taught by both of them I've been having fun creating online and community events for my clients that benefit everyone. I wake up in the middle of the night with another IDEA.
Thank you, Greg and Wing!
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