Cash (Not Goods) is King When it Comes to Supporting Relief Efforts

Yesterday I wrote about an idea that encouraged Super Bowl attendees to bring relief items with them to Miami in hopes that this could assist in providing aid to the Haiti relief effort. However, after reading this post (Haiti:Help With Money Not Stuff) it became apparent that donating cash, and not goods, is the best way to help.

The most popular and perhaps the easiest way to do this is to donate funds via a mobile phone by texting "Yele" to the number 501501

(Wyclef Jean's Yele Haiti Foundation)or the word "Haiti" to 90999 (Red Cross).

Super Bowl Challenge and Haiti

Earlier today a friend of mine posted the following message on his Facebook page

"ATTENTION MIAMI PEOPLE: Large truck that will be on the corner of 1st & Alton beginning at 6:00 pm today and will be there 24/7 until it is filled. Items most needed: blankets, tents, batteries, candles, clothing, medicine and canned food. PLEASE REPOST!!!!!!!!!!"

In a few short weeks the city of Miami will play host to the NFL Pro Bowl and then the Super Bowl. By then the relief effort will be well into its third and fourth week and although the needs of the victims, families, relief workers, and others will have changed they will have in no way disappeared.

So if you or someone you know is one of the 76,500 people planning to attend one of these events please check the Internet or with the Red Cross prior to heading to Miami to see what items may still be needed for the relief effort. Or simply pack an extra pair of socks, toothpaste, toothbrush, blankets, or a pair of shorts in anticipation that you'll run across a receptacle like the truck parked on 1st & Alton.

By carrying a few extra items to Miami we will relieve some of the burden on organizations like the Red Cross and extend the life of our own efforts to help those in need. And who knows perhaps the airlines will waive the extra bag fee for travelers headed that way, a cruise line will deliver the goods, and everyone attending the games will play an integral role in helping our neighbor through this difficult time. This is, after all, what community is all about.

God bless the victims and the families of victims in Haiti.

Facilitating in the Age of Motion

Although I have participated in many strategic planning sessions I was recently tapped to facilitate a an internal departments session at Association Headquarters (where I work). I'm excited by the opportunity and know enough about the planning process to pull it off but I want to bring some fresh ideas to the experience. More specifically I'm seeking engagement tactics that will force participants to look at themselves, their responsibilities and their respective departments in a new light.

One sentence comments, references to sources, or thoughtful recommendations are all appreciated.

Thank you in advance for your help and all comments will be added to a follow-up blog on new ideas for strategic planning.

Brian