Is It Time?

Some time ago President Steve Jackson suggested that maybe it was time to think about a change in our name and logo. Now, I know that logo changes have caused civil unrest in many organization, our beloved Society included. However, with the new focus on new methods of reaching people, most of which involve electronic media, is it now time to investigate a completely new name and logo?

If not, how do we talk about our web page presence and our blog? How do entice the younger generation into the folds of PROBE when they are communicating with Facebook, blogs, YouTube and Twitter, to name just a few?

Is there a way that we can maintain our ties to the old while embracing the new as we necessarily re-brand ourselves? If we don’t do something soon, we will be a former figment of our memory and not a vibrant, thriving member of the present.

Our new Web VP Patrick Thomas has suggested that we need a new, more modern logo to display. This comes about as he is actively re-tooling our website into a more modern site that will be much easier to move around in and manipulate. It will also be more modern in its look and be able to attract more of the 20-35 year age bracket.

Maybe we should hold a contest for a new logo. That’s how we got the present one. We have been fortunate to be able to attach it to the new round Society logo, but it still shows only bulletin editors, really. We need to make it say something about Marketing and Public Relations, Bulletin Editors and Electronic Media Gurus.

Please let us know your thoughts. We’ll be waiting impatiently for any and all ideas. Let the fun begin!

GREAT News About Steve Jackson

In an email from his good friend and former quartet mate, Tony Pranaitis:

There’s some good news to share regarding Steve Jackson.

He’s been moved from the Acute ICU hospital to a REHAB facility, has his permanent tracheotomy functioning, and his voice is almost normal. He is delighted with his new “digs” and hopefully will be able to set up his computer there and resume online communication.

He will probably be in the rehab facility until January, but he is regaining mobility and I’m (Tony Pranaitis) looking forward to the day I can pick him up and take him to a chapter meeting or performance.

I don’t know if he’ll be singing in public again anytime soon, but we’re going to try to get a quartet down to his place and let him harmonize with us.

It’s truly amazing. You can talk to him by calling 303-761-3603….rings right in his room.

Please spread the word and give him a call when you can.

What’s New with PROBE?

When invited to take part in the Marketing and PR Mini-Forum I didn’t know that we would be given a slot to tell what’s new and exciting about PROBE. There are things happening out there that the rest of the Barbershop world should know about.

One of the primary jobs of we PROBErs is to spread the word about Barbershop and all that is happening locally, district wide within the United States and Canada, and internationally.

With respect to that, how can we, as members of PROBE, help the Society in new, innovative ways in marketing this great “hobby” of ours?

How can we most effectively help publicize what is happening in our local chapters, in our districts, within the Society and the international Barbershop community? Lorin May, Danielle Cole,Eddie Holt, and the entire editorial board do a great job within their limited domains, but they can’t do it on a local or even district level. It’s not their job.

So — how can we take up the slack and do the job we as the PROBE organization were originally designed to do?

All suggestions from you the members of PROBE are worth discussing. This is not a one or two, or even a dozen person discussion. Input is needed from ALL members of PROBE. Please let us know how we can help you be more effective in your jobs, whether as bulletin editors or M&PR VPs, and in turn help the Society at large.

The forum is open for your additions and ideas. Let the fun begin!

PROBE now included in Society’s M & PR Committee

The following excerpt of an email is from Philip Maxfield, chair of the Society Marketing and Public Relations Committee.

“I’m proud to announce that PROBE has been given the green light to have a seat on the Society’s M & PR Committee.  Although this will be advisory position, the collaboration between the two entities will be an asset to us both and to the hundreds of Chapter M & PR Officers.”

Philip Maxfield
Society’s Marketing & PR Committee Chairman

Steve Jackson in Hospital

Just thought you would like to know that our PROBE president, Steve Jackson is in the hospital and has been for quite a while. He had to have his tracheotomy tube replaced and is unable to communicate (talk, write, anything). He is expected to pull through, but apparently it is quite serious. Let’s keep our prayers and good thoughts for Steve and his recovery coming. When I find out how we can send him cards and well wishes, I will let post that information here. I will also keep you posted as I find out more. Thanks for caring.

WEB Contest – Inquiries for Board of Review

I am looking to put together a Board of Review that will assist in determining final criteria for our website contest and will be assisting in evaluating sites once our contest criteria is in place.  I am planning on including any and all District Webmasters that are willing to serve, but I thought you may know of others within our society who have the knowledge to give input and would be willing to serve.  If you have any recommendations on possible untapped talent or you yourself would like to participate, please e-mail me at isingbass@charter.net and I will follow up ASAP.

Inquiring Minds Want to Know

If you were to put together a class for Leadership Academy, say a class on Outside Communication, what would you include in it? To put the foot in the other shoe, if you were to attend such a class, what would you like to have presented?

Let me define, sort of, Outside Communication. It is using all means to communicate with the outside world, including family, friends and even strangers who aren’t looking specifically for news concerning our chapters. It would include all forms of communication: print media and electronic, including websites, blogs, social sites, emails, plus some I’m sure that aren’t mentioned.

Let us know your thoughts.

IBC Bulletin Contest Winners

Winners of the International Bulletin Contest (IBC) were announced today at the annual PROBE meeting. The Electronic contest winners are:

1. First place: Ken Steffen, editor of the Ft. Wayne, Indiana chapter “The Score” of the Cardinal District.
2. Second place: Karen Nanninga, editor of the Manhattan, Kansas chapter “InCider” of the Central States District.
3. Third place: Bruce Smith, editor of the Hemet, California chapter “UPBEAT” of the Far Western District.

The Hardcopy contest winners are:

1. First place: Linda Williams, editor of the Hunterdon, New Jersey chapter “In Tune” of the Mid-Atlantic District.
2. Second place: Bob Miller, editor of the Mansfield, Ohio chapter “Chordsman Chronicle” of the Johnny Appleseed District.
3. Third place: Jerry Troxel, editor of the Greater Indianapolis, Indiana chapter “The Beat” of the Cardinal District.

John Alexander, editor of the Jacksonville, Florida chapter “The Orange Spiel” is the recipient of the Dick Girvin Most Improved Bulletin Award.

The “New” Bulletin Editor Mentor Program

On behalf of Milt Weisman who sent me this note.

“It is time to announce the “resuscitation” of the Bulletin Editor Mentor program, and to ask for both experienced editor-mentees as well as editors who would like a mentor, to get in touch with me (noonmark@cstone.net).”

This is a great opportunity for anyone wanting to improve what they do as a bulletin editor, whether they publish hardcopy editions or electronic versions of their communications. There are presently five (count the, 5) pretty fair editors and judges eagerly waiting to give good solid instruction and help bring your newletters to the next level.

What would you like to see happen in the mentor program? Is there some specific thing you would like help with? This is the way to do it. Many of us mentor each other, but this is a way to really have your bulletin judged all year long instead of just once a year.

A Bigger Role for PROBE?

In reading through the recent posts and comments on the barbershopHQ.com blog, I came across the following comments. It all had to do with the recent restructuring and lay-offs at Society headquarters as outlined there by CEO Ed Watson. They gave me some real food for thought. The first comment is from our head of the bulletin exchange program Alexander Edwards:

1. comment number 52 by: Alexander Edwards

   May 21st, 2009 at 5:38 pm
   Reorganization can be a good thing–to grow means change–but not change for the sake of change or holding onto something simply because “it’s always been done that way.”
   Perhaps this is the place and time to suggest what I’ve often said–let’s make PROBE the Society’s official PR arm and not hire marketing “experts”;
   we are essentially a volunteer organization and it’s great to see many who are able contributing so much in time, talent, and other ways. It would also be more in keeping with the Society’s original vision–the “perservation and encouragment of barbershop quartet singing”–if medalist quartets and choruses would be willing to perform for their fellow barbershoppers w/o fees, just help w/ such expenses as transportation and laundry/cleaning,
   where possible accepting housing and meals in the homes of the chapter members for whom they are performing. Would airlines be able and willing to allow quartets to be “singing flight attendants” in return for free or much-reduced air fare?

The second is from our member Bob Burns:

• Please go to barbershop HQ to read this comment

Any comments, thoughts, ideas? All of this could be in discussion with Society headquarters if enough of us would raise the banner. Of course, it would take a lot more participation in PROBE than what we have had in recent years. Maybe that’s a way to kill two stones with one bird — PROBE membership and Society PR & Marketing. What say you?