The Masters 2009 April 28, 2009

This year I was able to attend a day at the Masters Golf Tournament in Augusta, Georgia. I went on Thursday, April 9, 2009, which was opening day of the actual tournament. I am not much of a golfer, but I got the tickets for my boyfriend’s birthday because he loves golf. Another friend of mine also got a ticket for that day. I had never even been to the Masters and was overwelmed with the beauty of the lawn. The flowers were all in bloom and it seemed as if every blade of grass was in perfect place. I was amazed at the fact that it was so quiet for the amount of people that were on the course. We walked around to the different holes, watching the players tee off. Hole 6 was my favorite hole because the audience could actually sit on the green while the players hit the ball. The players, including Tiger Woods walked two feet away from us. We spent some of our time going through the gift shops where I bought a hat for myself and brother, and my boyfriend bought a polo golf shirt and a couple of souvenirs for his family. We also toured the room where they hold the trophies and plaques of the winners. There were also small TVs that told interesting facts about past Masters.

If I had another opportunity to go back to the Masters, I would take it in a hearbeat. I suggest that you go if you ever have a chance. It was defiantly a great experience that I will never forget.

Elvis Presley

He is known as the “King of Rock N’ Roll.’ He is a cultural icon. He was a great actor, musician, and singer. Today, there are thousands of people in the United States impersonating him. Today, his songs are still played on the radio, and his movies have been turned into musicals. Today, he holds a spot in four music halls of fame, and during his time, he set records for highest concert attendance and record sales. Elvis Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi on January 8, 1935. Elvis was the man who integrated different forms of music, bringing all races together. Elvis’ concerts cannot be compared to others because of their originality. He influenced people during his glory days, and he is still influencing music today.

Elvis integrated different kinds of music within the songs he performed. He took jazz, blues, gospel, and country, and mixed them together. He came upon the music scene in 1957. This new version of music was popular with every race, which was uncommon during this time period. In the beginning of his career, many news papers called him a racist because they thought he was making fun of blues and jazz singers. They soon saw that his music was liked by all because of its mixture. His songs were catchy and easy to dance to. Presley’s music began the phenomenon of rock and roll. His music was like wild fire spreading across the entire country.

Elvis performed on stage like no other singer had before. His moves were very dramatic and inappropriate for this time period. Many believed that his moves were too suggestive, such as his first TV appearance, where he was only shown from the waist up because of these moves. He soon became known as a sex symbol for his era. Elvis could always be spotted in a leathered, jeweled outfit while performing, and he would often pull girls from the audience up on stage to sing with him. He had jet black locks and long side burns. His deep and distinctive voice made his song easily recognizable. His good looks and tan, fit body made him any girl’s “dream boy.”

Elvis never performed outside of the United States, yet he influenced the entire world. Elvis proved that it was possible for anyone to be successful. He was an average man. He came from a working-class family; he was drafted into the army and held odd jobs as a young man, yet he still managed to fulfill his dream. He is still influencing the world today with his movies and music. His songs are used for commercials and his famous quotes like “Thankyouverymuch” are used throughout conversations in movies and everyday life.

Although he continued to perform, the last years of his life were full of drugs and depression. Elvis and his wife of 6 years divorced in 1973, and he died on August 16, 1977 from an alleged accidental overdose. People still say that he is alive; he is alive through his music. Elvis changed the face of music by bringing people of different races together. In a time of segregation, he connected them. Pictures and songs of his are instantly recognizable. Elvis Presley will never be forgotten, not just because of his dress appearance and exceptional performances, but because of the impact he still has on the music society today.

Smoke Out for Lung Cancer April 27, 2009

(After learning about broadcasting in my Public relations course, I decided to try to write one myself. I am a member of the sorority, Alpha Delta Pi, and we were part of a fundraiser to help find a cure for lung cancer. )

Third Annual Smoke Out for Lung Cancer

Fraternity, Delta Tau Delta and sorority, Alpha Delta Pi hosted the third annual Smoke Out for Lung Cancer BBQ dinner. The $4,600 proceeds of the tickets sold went towards research for lung cancer.

The dinner was held between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Recreation Center at Georgia Southern University.

Philanthropy Chair for Alpha Delta Pi, Jessie Joiner, was in charge of advertising the event around Statesboro. She hung flyers throughout Georgia Southern’s campus and set up times for groups to hand out pamphlets.

Joiner described the event, “Smoke Out will hopefully show people that philanthropy events are more than trying to take people’s money, but an easy, fun and delicious way for college students to impact other’s lives in huge ways.”

Members of the sorority and fraternity sold tickets to the Statesboro community. BBQ, coleslaw, baked beans, and a drink were included in the $5 meal ticket. Everyone who purchased a meal ticket was also entered in a raffle for gift cards to stores in the Statesboro area. 

 Delta Tau Delta prepared the meal. “We took turns staying up all night, stirring the BBQ and baked beans,” Delta Tau Delta sophomore David Rojas said. “It was awesome to have such a large hand in such a great event that helps spread information on lung cancer.”

 “I think it is a great event that will help out with lung cancer research,” Rojas said. “The event grows every year and by that we will be donating more and more money each year.”

 “Our goal is to not only raise money for research, but to also spread information on preventing lung cancer,” said Alpha Delta Pi President, Sarah Kammer, who has participated in the event all three years. 

 Smoke Out for Lung Cancer was started by a member of Delta Tau Delta named Paul Tenzel, in honor of his father, who was diagnosed with lung cancer three years ago.

Emergency Alert System April 26, 2009

Yesterday, the 25th of April,  professor George Zinkhan, at the University of Georgia shot and killed three people outside a theatre. She killed his wife and two other men, who were all a part of a play at the theatre.  Zinkhan has not been seen since he dropped his children off at a neighbors after the shooting.

The police are continuing the search for Zinkhan. Since the theatre is so close to campus, the students have been alerted. I think that it is a fantastic idea to have students sign their cell phone numbers up to an alert system. This way, the campus/police can spread information quickly during an emergency.

While attending Georgia Southern University, I have received, e-mails, phone calls, and text messages from the campus reporting serious weather reports. If anything was to happen on the campus, we could also be notified quickly. With today’s fast growing technology, sending messages is a great idea. Almost everyone has a phone, and if you have not noticed, students around school are constantly looking at their phones. Lives can be saved with this idea. If you have not already signed your phone number/e-mail up for the emergency alert system, you should!

Chatper 8- Evaluation

This chapter can be found in “Public Relations Strategies and Tactic,” the ninth edition, written by Dennis L. Wilcox and Glen T. Cameron.

To evaluate means to break something down piece by piece in order to understand. Evaluating plays a major role while dealing with public relations. Professionals like to evaluate events in order to understand what the viewer thought of it.

• In order to evaluate properly, you first must establish what you want to learn about.
• Evaluating throughout the entire process with help find any errors or things that could have been done better. You will also learn subjects that worked well for the program.
• A group can evaluate by just looking at how the news reacts. Determine how many news releases were printed and what the anchors are actually saying.
• In today’s time, you can also learn opinions through the internet. Blogs, Twitter, and just plain googling can help the evaluator learn how the public feels.
• If people want more information after the event has taken place, then it shows that they are interested. If people appreciated the program enough to request  more information, then it proves that they enjoyed it.
• The book states that another way to evaluate is by “Return of Investment.” This means that  the cost of reaching each member of the audience will determine if the exposure was proper. The example they gave, makes this definition more clear. The book reads, “Although a 30-second commercial during the 2007 Super Bowl telecast cost $2.6 million, advertisers believed it was well worth the price because an audience of more than 150 million would be reached for less than a half-cent each.” (page 203). This example proves that spending a lot of money is the right choice if it is reaching millions of viewers.
• The simple way of evaluating are also listed in the chapter. The professionals may pass out a written survey or to simply pay attention to the audience during the planned event. Even with today’s technology, I feel like these ways might still be the best when it comes to evaluating.

Chapter 6-Program Planning

The information from this can be found in “Public Relations Strategies and Tactics” ninth edition written by Dennis L. Wilcox and Glen T. Cameron.

Here some important points that are explained throughout chapter 6.

• Planning is key when it comes to Public Relations. Organizing and strategizing will make things easier and more successful.
• Prepare the facts. Set goals and target your audience.
• Plan a budget and stick to it.
• When planning a program, set a date in enough time to advertise.

Planning for an event or program takes time and effort. A team of people can work together to spread the word and make it the best it can be. Public relations is about the people. No matter what the program is, it can be the best with hard work and perfect planning.

In Repsonse to Study Tips April 25, 2009

I read “How To Study for Final Exams,” and found it very useful.

As a sophomore at Georgia Souther University, I still find not only finals week, but the weeks prior to finals extremely stressful. I spend many sleepless night, either studying for a quiz, preparing for a speech, or just plain worrying over how much work I have to do the next day. These tips helped me to form a plan to stress less in these next few weeks.

I found some of these tips I found most useful. I have also added some of my own.

• Write out the day and time of each final. This way you will know when you will have time to study for that final and how much time you will have after to study for the following final.
• Always go to final review sessions that professor have outside of class. This is a grea time to ask questions and get more information on the topics that will be questioned during the exam.
• If you have a final online, I suggest you use a computer on campus. It is rare for computers to lose internet connection or crash while on campus. There have been numerous times when my own computer has shut off or lost connection while I was typing a paper or taking an online quiz. Taking the exam on a campus computer will also ensure that you will have less distractions, like a tv or food in the kitchen.
• Do not stay up all night studying the night before the exam. There are hundreds of horror stories of students pulling an all nighter and then passing out right before the exam, thus missing it. Some professors might understand, but others will not see this as an excuse. It would be terrible to receive a zero on the final exam after you spent hours studying for it.
• On the day of the exam, make sure you eat breakfast. Do not drink too much coffee or coke because this could cause you to not be able to concentrate.

Good luck to all of you these next few weeks. Work hard because these last papers and quizzes could make all the difference!

Where I Stand

My English professor, Dr. Martwiz, read us something she created. It was a description of her likes, dislikes, and beliefs. The sentence of each paragraph started with the same words. After class, I wrote my own.  I think that expressing yourself on paper, helps you to realize things that you never knew.

 

I am a girl. I am emotional and want to be loved. I am a student who is willing to work hard as long as there is a reward. I am a “people person,” meaning that I do not like being alone. I am nineteen years old and have finally realized that contrary to my previous beliefs, I do not know everything about life. I am a good listener, even though I love talking more. I am open to new things and people.

 

I like to eat popcorn when I watch movies and blueberry bagels for breakfast. I like walking in the rain and playing in the snow. I like the color pink and sitting on the back porch swing with my dad. I like sunflowers. I like to sleep way past noon and I like driving with the windows down. I like taking long showers and getting respect. I like feeling secure and I like anything that contains chocolate. 

 

I believe in God and that he is a part of everything in life. I believe that absence does make the heart grow fonder and that sunglasses were one of the greatest inventions. I believe in living in the moment and that everyone needs a best friend. I believe that a chick flick and a tub of ice cream will solve any problem. I believe that everything happens for a reason and I believe that exercise is extremely important. I believe in myself.

 

I do not care for mustard or sweet tea. I do not care for bikes, math problems, cold weather, being told what to do, or immaturity. I do not care for laziness or lies. I do not care for horses, roaches, Mondays, tennis, disorganization, or mowing the grass.

 

I am tired of self- pettiness and people worrying about what others think. I am tired of going to bed too late and waking up too early. I am tired of hearing about my family arguments; I went to school to get away from this. I am tired of hearing about the guys new video games next door and how slow my computer is running. I am tired of hearing about how all I have to eat are frozen dinners and cereal.

 

I favor summer over any other season. I favor gossiping with my roommates over studying. I favor honest opinions over white lies and chocolate chip cookies over sugar ones. I favor college over high school. I favor tanning out by the pool, sleepovers, movie nights, surfing llthe internet, and shopping. I favor Target over Wal-mart. I favor pet fish and frogs. I favor steak over any meal and I favor my dad’s theories. I favor baseball over basketball and blue jeans instead of khakis. I favor the beach and my mom’s spaghetti.

 

My Dad

This blog is dedicated to someone who has shaped my life to the fullest extent.

Standing at an even 6 feet, my daddy has crystal clear blue eyes; exactly like the ocean, which happens to be his favorite place.  He has soft, thin once-brown- now- gray hair. He is extremely athletic, but has recently gained weight since he has stopped smoking. He wears collared shirts with khaki shorts and tennis shoes to work. After a long day he can be found in his worn down easy chair with a hat over his eyes, sleeping. He is an extremely hard worker and says that you “should never half ass anything.”  I have never met someone who my dad could not make laugh with either one of his corny jokes that he received in his latest email or just by the random things he says.

            I have lost track on the amounts of times that people have told me how strangely alike I am to my dad. We have the same oddly shaped nose and a kind of finger nails that nail artists cringe at the sight of. My father and I are impatient, loud, and easily angered; but we are also honest and caring.  My daddy has been through a lot; losing both parents and a brother along with struggles to keep his business running. He has taught me to never quit something I started and to not let others bring me down.

 

Wedding Planning

If you have read the “About” section of my blog, you will find that I hope to one day become a wedding planner. On my blog titled, “Another Shot at Twitter,” you will also find that I wrote about an event planning group, “BelleWedding.”

I began interested in wedding planning a couple years ago when I started watching “Whose Wedding is it Anyway?” on TV. I think it is so cool how creative these planners are and how they make everything flow together. I realize that it is a lot a work, but I want to be a part of a bride’s “big day.” Some of the shows prove that brides can be rude and snappy, but I know I can handle it. I work well under pressure, and I am extremely organized.

I recently subscribed to a wedding magazine in Charleston, South Carolina. It not only advertises for event companies, bridal shops, and floral shops, but it also gives tips to wedding planners. The most interesting thing I read about was in an article on what to do when a problem arises. One wedding planner keeps an “emergecy kit” with her at all times. The kit has things such as safety pins, glue, and extra bobbypins in case any hairs fly loose. This magazine also shows what flowers bloom in what season and also gives tips on how to save money on decorations.

I feel that I would be qualified for this field because I work well in groups and I love romantic settings. I like to please others, which works well for this setting because it is what it’s all about!

You can learn more about this magazine at www.Charlestonweddingsmag.com