Why communities should not try to be like other communities

January 9, 2013

This morning I read an article about city beautification.  In it a local elected official said that his community should try to be like a certain other community. He pointed out that other communities were “jealous” of that certain community.

I understand what he was saying, but I hope he doesn’t try to copy or replicate what the other community has done.  While communities can learn from each other, it should be remembered that every community is unique and should capitalize on its owns strengths.  In other words, learn from others, but be yourself.

 

Top 10 Ways to Influence Negative Media

January 4, 2013

What do you do when your organization, or you for that matter, becomes the subject of negative news media reports?  There are many ways to counter negative media reports, including ignoring them.  Remember the old adage about never picking a fight with someone who buys ink by the barrel and paper by the ton?  That was probably good advice in the days when newspapers were the dominant media, but that is no longer the case.

Today’s updated advice comes from Sharyl Attkisson, a CBS News investigative correspondent based in Washington, who has an excellent blog post for anyone who desires to influence negative media.  Although there are pros and cons to each of her Top 10 Ways to Influence Negative Media, her blog is a worthy read for anyone who ever has occasion to deal with negative media.  Below is the abbreviated version of her list.  Each is explained in her blog.

 

1. Exploit Social Media

When news reporters publish factually correct but potentially damaging stories, use pseudonyms to set up accounts on social media such as Facebook and Twitter to promulgate your propaganda.

2. Attack the Messenger

When you’ve found it impossible to discredit the story because it’s accurate and fair, do “opposition research” on the reporter. Dig for professional and personal dirt.

3. Employ Third Parties

Don’t deny the facts yourself: People may disregard that. Instead, use trusted – paid – third parties to write letters to editors for newspapers, do TV interviews and offer up opinions without disclosing their conflicts of interest .

4. Appeal to the Fringe

Remember, with the web, anybody can publish. Exploit that!

5. Enter Wikiland

Because it has no oversight or appeal body, Wikipedia is a rich resource for your propaganda and spin. The beauty is, you can write false or skewed information and prevent others from changing it!

6. Label the “Mouthpiece”

When a reporter has found a solid source that you can’t seem to discredit or stop, one who’s providing truthful but harmful information about your agency or business, accuse the reporter of being a “mouthpiece” for the source.

7. FOI-fuscate

Turn Freedom of Information (FOI) law on its head and use it to help you hide information rather than disclose it. When a reporter asks for material under FOI, tell him he’s got to go to the end of a long, long line.

8. Open the Floodgates

When you don’t want to do an interview, but want to spin the reporter, flood him with reams of useless information, press releases, emails and articles.

9. Ignore

The flipside of “Opening the Floodgates”: When things look so bad that there’s nothing you can do to coat it with sugar, and you don’t want to talk to the reporter, just ignore his calls and requests.

10. Use Charities and Non-Profits to Disguise

The charity world is one of great potential for your PR propaganda because there’s relatively little disclosure and oversight.

Source:  http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57561913/the-pr-playbook-version-2.0

Sam Kaye was one of the most selfless people I have ever met.

Sam Kaye was one of the most selfless people I have ever met.  He was the epitome of one who “gives back” to a community.  Below is a partial tribute from the Mississippi Main Street Association. I could not have said it any better.  Click here to read the rest of it.  Rest in peace, Sam.

The Mississippi Main Street Association (MMSA) honors the life of longtime friend and architect Samuel “Sam” H. Kaye, AIA, who went home to be with the Lord on January 1, 2013.

Since 1994, Kaye served as Staff Consultant to the Mississippi Main Street Association, working with towns throughout Mississippi. He served as MMSA Director of Design Services until 2007—in addition to running his own architectural firm, Luke Peterson Kaye, Architects.

Kaye volunteered for civic groups and the Episcopal Church in Columbus and for the state. He was also the first president of the Columbus Main Street Association.

“Sam has been involved with Mississippi Main Street since its origin,” said Bob Wilson, MMSA Executive Director. “He was serving on the Board of Advisors for the National Trust for Historic Preservation when Mississippi was brought into the Main Street program in 1986.”

“From that day forward, even though he had his own successful architectural firm, Sam gave tirelessly of his time, energy and leadership to Mississippi Main Street and other preservation groups, including the Mississippi Heritage Trust, for which he was chairman of the Steering Committee and Charter President,” Wilson said.

Kaye’s involvement through his work with MMSA has enhanced many Mississippi communities and neighborhoods. His work with upper floor downtown housing has resulted in more than 30 buildings being recycled with new viability in more than a dozen communities throughout Mississippi. His involvement with the Cutrer Mansion in Clarksdale, Mississippi resulted in saving this building, which is associated with noted playwright Tennessee Williams.

We want it all – or cut your spending, but give me mine.

January 2, 2013

This morning Senator Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania appeared on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” He made some excellent points about what had happened with the so-call fiscal bill and passionately made the case that spending is the real problem to be dealt with.  I was so impressed with his points that I went to the “News” section of his website to sign up for his newsletter.  And it was there that I found these headlines:

Sen. Toomey Issues Statement On Fiscal Cliff;

Sen. Toomey Heralds $92,000 Grant For Lafayette Ambulance And Rescue Squad;

Sen Toomey Heralds $91,000 Grant for New Haven Hose Company.

I have no doubt that these grants are worthy, but it illustrates how cutting spending is such a dilemma for Congress – and for all of us.

Mississippi Business Journal’sTop Stories of 2012

Here are the Mississippi Business Journal‘s Top Stories of 2012 as published in the December 28, 2012 edition (subscription required):

Kemper County Coal Plant fights to survive;

Mississippi River levels plummet;

Republicans strengthen hold on state government;

GreenTech Automotive launches MyCar;

Hurricane Isaac lashes Gulf Coast;

Twin Creeks leaves state holding an empty bag; and

Bryant signs “high-gravity bill.”

This Little Dollar Stayed Home – 2012

NOTE: This is a column that I wrote several years ago and which was originally published in the Mississippi Business Journal. Permission to reprint with attribution to Mississippi Business Journal and Phil Hardwick.

THIS LITTLE DOLLAR STAYED HOME

This is a tale of two dollars. One stayed at home. One went to another town.

Once upon a time there were two dollars. They each lived with their owners in the small town of Make Believe in rural Mississippi. Make Believe was a nice little town. There was a Main Street that had lots of little shops that sold special items and arts and crafts and catered to people who drove through town. There was also a grocery store. There was even a doctor in Make Believe. It was a nice little town that was enjoyed by all its residents, none of whom wanted it to change.

This story of the first dollar is easy to tell. Its owner placed it snugly in her purse and drove 45 minutes to a nearby, larger town with a shopping mall. The owner stayed all day at the mall and spent the entire dollar on things bought in stores owned by big corporations in faraway states.

Part of the first little dollar stayed in that town and part of it went to the state government, but most of it went by electronic magic to another state. At the end of the day, the owner went back to Make Believe with all her treasures. Not one penny of the first dollar ever saw Make Believe, Miss., again.

The story of the second dollar is much different. The owner of the second dollar went to a little shop in downtown Make Believe. There the owner talked a long time to the shop owner about the beautiful merchandise in the store.

The shopkeeper told all about the things that were made right there in Make Believe. There were birdhouses built by Bob, beveled glass made by Beverly, blouses of silk designed by Betty, mocha chocolates by Missy, and even silverware crafted by Sam.

This owner of the dollar spent the entire dollar right there in the shop. The journey of the second dollar was much different from that of the first dollar. Yes, the first 7 cents arrived at the government in Jackson. One penny was sent back to the local town. So one penny of the sales tax came back to the Make Believe City Hall.

The owner of the shop took the next 50 cents and sent it to the manufacturers of the items that were bought. Because all of them lived right there in Make Believe, the 50 cents stayed there.

The next 16 cents went to the employee of the shop owner. Yes, you guessed it; the employee lived in Make Believe.

There was rent to pay on the shopkeeper’s retail space. It was paid to the owner of the building, who had lived in Make Believe all his life. The rent was 10 cents of the dollar.

There were operating expenses that the shopkeeper had to pay. Things such as utilities and maintenance and insurance. Sixteen cents of the dollar went to pay those expenses and some of the people that got paid lived in another town far away. Still, eight of those 16 cents was paid to people in Make Believe.

That left 8 cents. What would happen to it?

That’s right. Eight cents was the shopkeeper’s profit she got to keep. Of course, the shopkeeper lived in an apartment upstairs above the shop.

If we total where the second dollar went, we learn about 86 cents stayed in Make Believe.

I wonder what will happen to the 86 cents. Will the manufacturer, the employee, the real estate owner, the shopkeeper and the others spend the 86 cents in Make Believe? Or will they go somewhere else?

I wonder how much of the 86 cents will be spent in Make Believe. Because every time another penny is spent in Make Believe, the little town is better off because someone in Make Believe received it instead of another town.

Each person has a right to spend his or her money wherever and whenever he or she wishes. But when people spend their dollars in other towns, it does not help the economy of their hometowns.

The Tale of Two Dollars is told at this time every year because many people don’t know when they spend their money in their own hometown it helps their hometown.

Why does Mississippi have the fewest passport holders per capita?

Why does Mississippi have the fewest passport holders per capita?

Before getting into the possible answers to that question take a look at the map below, which can be found on the C.P. G. Gray website.

One answer is that Mississippi has the lowest per capita income so its residents have less money with which to travel. A second answer might be that Mississippians choose to stay at home. The Magnolia State has the 5th highest ratio of residents who were born in the state. Actually, combine both of these answers as contributing factors and it’s easier to understand why the rate of passport holders is the lowest in the country.

It has been said that travel is the best education. In view of the fact that Mississippi ranks so low in that category maybe it would help if we could figure out a way to have more international travel for Mississippi students.