It has taken me about four days to write this post.  I start.  I stop.  My eyes well up.  Then I start again.  Please read the whole thing.

And yes, I will end up asking you to make a contribution to help fund research to beat childhood cancer.

About Lauren

Lauren is 10 years old.  I have never met her, but outside of my own daughter, I think that she is the prettiest little girl in the world.  On March 4, 2005, this beautiful little girl was diagnosed with Langerhan’s Cell Histiocytosis/Ensophillic granuloma.  It is every parent’s worst nightmare to have a sick child, but when you hear scary words like “chemotherapy” and “survival rates” as a parent, it is beyond my ability to process.  My own story is not important, but I spent plenty a day in the waiting area of the Lombardi Cancer Institute in Washington, DC watching the looks of anguished parents as they carried in their children whose withered bodies were unable to move themselves.

Lauren’s mom and dad joined the CarePages site (an online support group – you have to join the site) in 2005, and as of this writing, there are 609 postings – chronicling disagnoses, treatments, illnesses, operations, WAY too much time spent in hospitals.  And unspoken anguish.  Ten year-old children (like my own son) should be out playing, running, jumping, giggling.  Skinning their knees.  NOT being hooked up to machines, poked with needles and spending hours in the car going to and from doctor’s appointments. IT JUST IS NOT RIGHT.

I “met” Lauren’s mom, Heather, online more than two years ago when I decided to join a St. Baldrick’s Team.  I chose to sponsor Lauren at random, since she and my son are about the same age. The premise of St Baldrick’s is simple:  I raise money that goes to “…most brilliant childhood cancer research experts in the world to find cures and improve the quality of life for patients and survivors.” I raise money, show up in an Irish pub in DC and get my head shaved.  I am almost ashamed at how little I do compared to the enormity of that parents of childhood cancer victims – and the children themselves – face every day.

The Unspeakable

It is hard to find words to describe her, but Lauren’s mom, Heather, is strong and determined – but in ways that someone should never be tested. On December 13, 2007, Heather’s husband – and Danielle and Lauren’s daddy – George – was killed in an automobile accident.  Imagine police knocking on the door.  Having to tell two little girls that their daddy has gone to heaven -  right before Christmas.  Heather has endured the loss of her husband and partner in Lauren’s care while managing her daughter’s illness and attempting to provide a sense of normalcy both for Lauren and Danielle.  From everything that Heather has told me, George was a strong man, and one who would always know what to do.  Two years ago, when I did St. Baldrick’s, I held a picture of the family in lap because I wanted to honor all of them, but also wanted George to be there in spirit.

My Pitch

A child’s life should carefree, fully of laughing and playing, but Lauren’s short life has also been full of ER visits, chemo and the loss of her daddy – things that many people could not endure in a lifetime, let alone ten short years.  I wish — more than just about anything — that I could bring back George, Heather’s husband and Lauren and Danielle’s daddy.  I wish that I could take away Lauren’s illness and that of any other childhood cancer victim.  I can’t.

What I can do is to use my own skill sets and determination to raise money to fight this.  To hopefully add to the cadre of online supporters that  the family has.

So for those of you who follow this, I am literally begging you:  please consider giving a donation to St. Baldrick’s.  If you are not in a position to donate, then please share post this with your friends or re-tweet it.  I have set a pretty aggressive fund raising goal based upon my own passion.

None of us can change the past, but with a few tears, determination, courage, and yes, funding, we can change the future.

Please give.

Mark

Dear readers,

Since I talk a lot about finding jobs, I thought that a a Q&A with someone who does the actual screenings and meetings that help get you in the door would benefit a lot of folks.

So I asked my friend and former colleague, Brian Batchelder, to answer some questions that give you the recruiter’s perspective – the person sitting across the desk from you when you are wondering “what is this person thinking?”.  His very good answers are below.  And not that I need this disclaimer, but this is WTF to the FTC (sounds like rap, doesn’t it?): I was a Senior Vice President as Fleishman-Hillard.  And here’s Brian’s disclaimer: “The following is my personal opinion and does not necessarily represent the views of my employer or its clients.“

From Today’s Washington Post headline.  This makes #snowmageddon #1 look like child’s play.

And have I mentioned how much I hate snow? We could get up to FIVE FEET.

Ok.  I am not going to win any sartorial challenges in the coming months, but my choice of headwear has drawn both interest and mockery – globally.  In my contribution to last week’s “For Immediate Release,” my friend Shel likened my hat to one that a paperboy in the 1930’s would wear – the little kid hawking papers on the street.

Not to be outdone, my friend Dave in Germany decided that it was not just enough to TALK about the hat – it has to be celebrated.  So in the spirit of poking fun at myself, here goes.  And Dave – just remember that your ass is grass and I have the lawnmower.

The original profile pic:

“Extra”-terrestrial interest in the hat:

My hat is famous:

My hat is MORE famous:

So, I’ll will leave it to others to describe the “HAT INCIDENT.”  Lill?  Kristen?  Megan?

Please comment.

Mark

I have been mulling over this post for some time, but yesterday, crystallized it finally in my mind.  I think there are many who believe that if you are on Twitter, Facebook or [insert social media tool here] that somehow, you live in your Mom’s basement with the curtains drawn and screech like a ferret when someone introduces light into the room. Not true. I am lucky to have integrated social media into my life.  In so many ways.

So I have compiled a list below of how social media, in one form or another, has impacted my life.  Sorry for the long, post, but if you get tired of reading it, you can always click here to read about SEC Interim Temporary Final Rules.

You’re back?  Good. Here’s my list:

Friends Whom I Have Not Yet Met

Ike Pigott really got me thinking a couple of weeks ago when he CALLED me.  How about that?  As usual, Ike is smart and funny, but he has this great idea.  How about, once in a while, we take the online world over to Ma Bell and call each other?  Ike, as usual, you are dead on, so you highlight this list.

Matthew, who, despite being a Yankee fan, you are an ok guy – and responded to a then desperate blog post from me about recurring pneumonia with sound advice about taking some herbal medication.  And in that year or so, I may have had one cold.  What a difference.

Thanks Jonathan, for the wonderful comment you made on my blog last year about my children. Thanks. Julia, you noticed my posts and offered immediately to donate to my little girl’s campaign to raise money for the children of Haiti.  We share a lot in common on parenting, and I can’t wait to meet you one of these years. Tim, we’ve done a Media Bullseye Radio Roundtable together and tweeted, but your posts and tweets and both funny and insightful.  I love reading your stuff. Neville, I feel like I already know you and am certain that in 2010, we’ll finally get to meet in person.  And I am grateful for the opportunity to be whom David Wescott calls “FIR Boy.”  And Shel, in my mind, you literally wrote the book on online public relations and I am so grateful to be part of the FIR community.

Kami, we too have done a Media Bullseye Radio Roundtable together, I feel like I know you and am 100% sure that you are going to kick ass in your new venture with Geoff.

And speaking of Geoff, I can’t leave out our recent Twitter conversation about the fun night you, me, Larissa, Mark and Shel had, celebrating his birthday.  And Mark – it was so awesome catching up between speeches at the PRSA event yesterday.

Friends I Have Met Because of Social Media

Jason, you top this list.  Not only are you smart as hell, you are funny as hell and I am lucky to call you a friend.  So I’ll start with a “BlogWorldExpo 2009 list” and mention how much fun I had connecting with Shauna, Tac, Eric, Shannon, Ed, Jen and many, many others last October.  I think that it was a contact high just meeting each other. I was in the speaker ready room with Guy Kawasaki, for Christ’s sake.  And as I was doing the Garth and Wayne “I’m Not Worthy,” Brian Solis took a few moments to chat – and was funny and down to earth. And Dave – I’ll be getting that speaker proposal in soon.  2009 was one hell of a good time.

Kate, you too are special, not only for the “Keep Austin Weird” person you are, but also for the kindness you displayed when you responded to my daughter’s Haiti drive -and emailed her.

And special shout-out to Doug, who is not only funny and smart, but did the Pan Mass Bike Challenge to raise money for the Dana Farber Institute – and mailed me (old school) a handwritten thank you for my little donation.

Eric – meeting you last week was a blast.  And I am beyond psyched to be working on stuff in the future.

You are a real friend. Shonali, although we are geographically close, we don’t get together enough.  That needs to change in 2010 as well.  You are smart, funny and one hell of a networker.

Academic Mentions

Robert, you have set the academic social media standard for others to follow.  But what is so clear is that you care enough about your students to push them to have REAL LIFE experience with it.  To dare to try while they learn.  PROpenMic is brilliant and I constantly see you pushing for job opportunities for your students.  As an instructor myself, I can tell you that that particular part of teaching is not in your job description;  it’s in your character. Barbara, I am dying to meet you via Skype video or however I can learn more about what you teach.  And (Robert, too) count me in for a guest appearance at computer screen near you.

Really Special Academic Mentions

This is for my Georgetown peeps.  Not only was teaching seriously one of the greatest joys in my life, the fact that so many of you have kept in touch me with me, asking advice (educational of life advice) is just plain flattering – and humbling.  And as we have transitioned from professor/student to friends, I am so grateful to know you, Lill, Megan, Anne, Kristen, Shannon, Jessica, Claudia, Mike, Sunaina, Georgi, Raquel, Laura, Sherice, Jolie, Joe, Shilpika, Alma, Tarun, Anca, Aimee, Becky, Catherine, and Josie (please move back – mid term elections are soon – heh).  A couple of you have moved out of the country since you finished, but still keep in touch,  It means a lot.  And what was even more meaningful was watching several of you walk across that stage and get your diplomas.  I was like a proud pappa.  And I know that I suck because I know that I have left someone out completely by mistake, but that’s why they have the “edit” button on blog posts.  And yes, I could have died a happy man after that picture.

People From the Past

Most of this comes from former employers (I have a lot of them).  I firmly believe that if you are real friends, the friendship transcends the term of employment.  So David, I have watched you go from an agency newbie to someone who has completely mastered the art of social media – and regularly kicks my ass in the stuff you write.  Hillary, I will never forget that you were there for me when my mom was dying. Never.  Same for you, Maura, Jess and Layle.  Spencer, it’s great that I still get to see you from time to time.   I love reading about your life, too, Oona.  Jaselle – I miss our completely off-colour (with a nod to the British spelling) jokes and still remember our pub night out in London (BC for you;  Before Children).   All of you remind me of the times when APCO was a FAMILY – not a soulless corporation.

Cheryl, you and I are polar opposites in just about everything in life, but still good friends. And that is so awesome.  Monica, I so love that we can still keep in touch – and now that you have climbed the corporate ladder of success, you have not forgotten this little person.  And since it’s just the two of us reading this, how about getting me a corporate gig in Miami?  Winter sucks.

And Tom – we pretty much started in the whole “Internet thing” together in the late 90’s.  Fun times, those.  And yes, it was randomly generated.

What Got Me Hooked

Chip, the friendship that we developed over the years and has grown was the spark that helped ignite my passion for social media.  And Jen, it’s been zillion years since I last saw you, but I have loved working with you on articles or podcasts and you always have smart and funny things to say either on my blog or my Facebook page.  And you are real friend – a Prince says “ruff” to Ralph.  Sarah, we both suck for never meeting face-to-face now that we live 10 miles apart.  I would really like to correct that in 2010 as well.

And thank you to Lourdes and Laurie for finding me after all those years.

This post is too long, but, for a long time, I have been thinking that when I tweet something like “I’m sick,” or “at the vet,” or “today blows,” I will, at some point hear from one of my social media/online/offline friends.  And I have never really said “thank you,” because when I get that little Facebook message back, or that tweet saying “What’s going on?” it makes all of the difference in the world.

Thanks, social media.

Mark

P.S. – As a demonstration of my thankfulness and devotion, I got carpal tunnel syndrome inserting all of these links.

P.P.S. – For those of you who know my, um “irascible” personality, NO this post does not mean that I am dying and this is my epitaph.

P.P.P.S. – There are so many outbound links in this post that I fear that I will disappear from Google all together, bleeding links.  Linkey love, anyone?