Notes from 12/3/2010 - volunteering and alumni connections

At our 12/3 OCA meeting, we talked about volunteer opportunities that job seekers can take advantage of - to give back, to widen and sometimes deepen your experience, to network, and to pursue a particular passion - all while you have the time. Every city has a multitude of opportunities where you can provide time or expertise to help others. The city of Seattle's web site provides ideas for ways to contribute around town or in your community, and it also has a calendar of events which can be viewed to show only volunteer opportunities.(Under event types, click 'None', then click 'Volunteer'.)

At our meeting, we also talked about the importance of tapping into your alumni network(s). It's an easy connection to make with someone while networking if they went to the same college and rooted for the same team. As different as they may actually be from you, there's almost an instant connection where they can relate to you from the simple fact that you both chose to attend the same university.

In addition, schools brand themselves by the quality of the alumni they produce. Many companies tout the education of their management team, so why wouldn't a university want to help promote its "leaders of industry" who once walked their halls and campuses? Reach out to the career center of your school to see if they can offer any job search assistance or advice.

One Connection Away is taking a break

The School of Visual Concepts will be closed each Friday until mid-January, giving everyone the opportunity to spend time with their friends and family and maybe have a one-on-one coffee or two.

We'll be back on our regular schedule January 14th. See you then!

November Events

November doesn't just mean stuffing.

Prolango's last mixer of the year. (Tonight)

SMC Seattle (Social Media Club)

Linked:Seattle (A Linkedin Group)

the PSAMA (Puget Sound Chapter of American Marketing Association)

Eastside Networking Group

(Plus more events as I learn of them)


Check out the Calendar at the bottom of the page for area networking events. (you can subscribe to the calendar by clicking on the lower right corner)

Art and Copy hits PBS

I saw this documentary last summer when it played here in Seattle. That night I walked out of the theatre wishing anyone who wasn't sure why I love advertising and the power of brand and messaging could see this film.

Last night the movie showed on PBS' Independent Lens, and I got to enjoy it all over again. For anyone who hadn't caught it before, it's a well-crafted view into the world of advertising, as told by many of the greats who have worked in the field.

Below is a 2 minute trailer. Or watch the full version on the PBS video feed.

Career development from the employer perspective

Click and take a look.

Lemonade Detroit

He's at it again. Erik Proulx, creator of Lemonade, has turned his documentary cameras and thoughts to Detroit - looking to see how a city can pull itself up by the bootstraps and reinvent itself.

Lemonade: Detroit Trailer from Erik Proulx on Vimeo.

How about that, a book.

We had a brief discussion Friday about a number of things, this book among them. Marty Neumeier (Formerly of Neutron in San Francisco. Currently "Director of Transformation" at Liquid, Portland) has always had interesting things to say. His first book "the Brand Gap" (presentation is below) was a bit of a revolution for non-designers. He's subsequently written two more books: "Zag", and "The Designful Company". Both of which are well worth your time. (Do I sound like a fanboy?)

The Brand Gap

View more presentations from coolstuff.