ARTICULATED

Kinkennon Communications, Inc. (KC) is delighted that the Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) is a new client. At 14 branch locations and more than 150 program centers on or near military installations around the country, ASYMCA makes military life easier by providing basic support and services – think food and clothing pantries, childcare and tutoring, etc. – to the nation’s junior enlisted troops and their families.

Most people don’t automatically think of junior enlisted military families as a “vulnerable population” (other than the obvious), but they are because they’re quite low paid, and they’re separated from each other as well as their networks of extended family and friends. Check out this great, brief 30-second spot to get a better sense of what ASYMCA does for those people.

ASYMCA was a client of mine years ago, in a previous life. I’m delighted to be back in that fold along with my regular partner who’s helping me, Scott Warner of Warner Strategies.

And you know I love being around nonprofits that generate lots of impact with a charitable dollar. ASYMCA is a great example of that:

• ASYMCA serves 455,000 junior enlisted troops and their families every year.
• The organization utilizes the help of more than 110,000 hours from 10,000 volunteers every year, drastically expanding its program reach and impact.
• ASYMCA convert 91 cents on every charitable dollar into food and clothing pantries, childcare and counseling, tutoring and other basic life services for those serving our country.

Yay! Good times.

This week Kinkennon Communications, Inc. (KC) was featured on MO.com, a news site for entrepreneurs. It turned out to be a pretty cool little feature story. Check it out.

Last summer, Kinkennon Communications was hired to develop and run marketing communications for four nonprofit organizations that were in the final stages of merging into one. I had to help them figure out the merged organization’s new name, logo, tagline, what to tell clients and funders, what to say to the news media, when and how, etc. It was three months of intensive, roll-up-the-sleeves work.

This week I received this lovely thank you note from the delightful woman who’s the organization’s CEO. How lucky am I that I get to work with people like this?

Now that Kinkennon Communications (KC) has been in Colorado for five years, and does an increasing amount of work for Colorado-based clients, I sometimes tell people that I’ve gotten away from the DC-style advocacy and public affairs work that has dominated a large portion of my career.

But then last month, when I looked at the “Top 10 lobbying victories of 2011” as published by a major Capitol Hill newspaper, I realized I was involved in three of them (in a media relations capacity) – including being on the winning side of the top one on the list.

So there’s my belief that the business is trending westward. And then there’s the facts, which sure seem to suggest KC is “Washington” as ever.

I saw this little sign in the home décor section of a Wal-Mart recently. (I shop big, I know.)  On a shelf in a big-box retail store, a surprising little reminder of what I think is the number one rule of communications:

If honesty is the best image, and I’m certain it is, it requires us to avoid doing things that we might not want to talk about. And it compels us to do things that bring proof to the things we want said about us.

What does that mean in English? If we’re a nonprofit engaged in some important philanthropic endeavor, for instance, it might mean generating measurable results in our chosen field of work while avoiding embarrassing little stumbles along the way (think lapses in financial stewardship). If I’m a celebrity who wants people to think I’m a stand-up family man, it might mean I’ve got to keep my pants on unless my spouse is in the room. Boring, but true.

Of course, we’re all human — and all humans goof up on occasion. Thankfully, Americans are a forgiving lot when mistakes are owned fully and forthrightly. But you can’t fess up to only half of what you did. And no matter what, you can’t then make the same mistake twice.

Years ago, I signed up a four-day bicycle ride to raise money for charity. At the new-rider orientation, I sat terrified as the organizers spelled out basic rules to minimize my chances of being splatted by a tractor-trailer before I made the first pit stop.

Yesterday on the bike, as I felt the windy wake of a passing 18-wheeler, I reflected back on those rules. It occurred to me that ever since that orientation, three of those rules have been shaping not only how I maneuver the open road on two wheels, but how I maneuver the roads and paths of work life:

1. When an 18-wheeler is about to pass, it can shove you aside without even touching you. Have you ever had someone do a maneuver around you at the office to get that cool project you wanted? Or earn that kudo? Or even secure that promotion? You may have felt like you were caught flat-footed, or even never saw them coming. But it’s possible you felt their maneuverings without knowing it. It’s even possible they blew you right out of the way. On a bicycle, when an 18-wheeler approaches from behind, you can detect the rush of wind preceding the truck long before it arrives. That rush of wind can push you off the road if you’re not alert. The learning? Someone is always approaching from behind. It’s up to us to detect it and make our own decisions about whether or not to let it move us.
2. When an 18-wheeler passes you, it’ll suck you into its wake. As air rushes to fill the vacuum created by a rapidly passing 18-wheeler, it will suck your bicycle from the shoulder out into the middle of the road unless you really hold your line. The learning? At the office, when someone blows past us, it’s easy to be drawn into their wake, whether or not that’s part of our plan. There’s lots to be learned from fast-trackers and their maneuverings. But we probably should do it without losing our own line.
3. Pass with courtesy, always. On a bicycle, sometimes you’re the passer, and sometimes you’re the person being passed. No one on a bicycle likes being surprised by another cyclist zooming past them without warning. A simple, courteous “On your left!” will do.  The learning? If you’re the fast mover at your office, you’re probably overtaking people. But you could be working with (or riding with!) them next year, or next month, or tomorrow. So be sure you’re treating them with courtesy along the way.

What other rules of the road for cyclists also apply in work environs?

(Photo courtesy of humbert15 via Flickr Creative Commons.)

As if Facebook and Twitter weren’t enough, should you be dabbling in Foursquare? In this blog post on SocialMediaToday, Rachel Strella makes the best case I’ve read to date for why “normal” people should dabble in the location-based social media service.

Foursquare is something of a darling among social media junkies. So I tried it a couple of years ago but deleted it from my phone almost immediately. At the time, there weren’t many users. I subconsciously feared being a hypocrite because I had long argued that I should never have to tell a boss or client where I am — I should only have to demonstrate that I’m delivering. And I generally didn’t get it and didn’t have the energy to try that hard because I was already approaching social-media overload.

Strella explains why Foursquare is a good marketing tool for local businesses. Indeed, If I ran a little stand that sold burritos as big as your head to drunk people in the wee hours, I’d be marketing via Foursquare like it was my job. Strella also makes a great case for why using Foursquare can be really good for finding good deals and good eats. Her simple argument is so compelling, in fact, that I’m considering trying it again.

But she doesn’t address my perpetual BIG QUESTION, one that I find so rarely addressed, because there really is no good answer. It applies not only to Foursquare, of course, but to Facebook mobile, Twitter apps, texting, work email, and our general obsession with our smartphones. What do you say when your friend, your colleague, your other half, or even your kid, asks, “Why are you playing with that phone again? I’m right here in front of you.”

As anyone who’s paid attention to this blog will know, I have opinions on resumes. The most read post ever on this blog ever is “Hey, smart P.R. pro, your resume stinks. Here’s 3 tips to fix it.” It’s not like I have any sort of human resources or other substantive hiring experience. It’s just the communications guy in me. I know what putting one’s best foot forward looks like, and there’s no better place to do that well (or, unfortunately, poorly) than a resume.

So check out this great infographic from big social-media news site Mashable on crafting the “perfect modern resume.” It must really be striking a chord – it’s been retweeted more than 2,500 times.

Check out this great piece on NetWitsThinkTank from @Blackbaud.  Nonprofit software company Idealware surveyed more than 500 nonprofit staff about their Facebook usage. The results give some guidance to nonprofit leaders about the areas in which spending time engaging with Facebook fans actually reaps dividends (such as generating event turnout and building stronger relationships with existing constituents). And the areas in which it does not (such as donor acquisition). It’s worth a read.

Even though you’re all grown up now, are you thinking about celebrating the arrival of summer by buying a shiny new bicycle? You know Kinkennon Communications LOOOOOOOVES bikes. So pretty regularly, requests come in from friends who are itching for a new ride.

Whether you’re considering a “casual” bicycle for health reasons, or because you’re going green, or because you don’t like paying $4 for a gallon of gas, you’re in luck. The relatively new category of “city bikes” and “urban bikes” and their various offshoots is suddenly rich with options. The industry has finally figured out that neither road bikes nor mountain bikes in their traditional forms serve a significant number of “regular” folks who just want something casual, low-cost, LOW MAINTENANCE, fun, speedy and stylish. Bye-bye, homely “hybrids.” Hello, sweet rides!!

Over the weekend, I compiled a list of some options in this category for friends who are shopping right now, priced from $500-$1200 or so. Then I thought, why not share this with others?  If you’re thinking about buying a casual bicycle to kick around town on the weekends, cruise to happy hour, or occasionally even commute to work, take a look at some of these fascinating options:

• Felt Verza City. This is sort of the perfect city bike. It’s an 8-speed (you can go fast!), but the gears are “internally hubbed” (meaning, the gears are INSIDE the rear hub, which is very low maintenance!). The fenders over the tires mean you can head to the bar even after a rainstorm and not get all wet. $1149 is not bad for all that you get. And it looks great.
• Trek 5th District. This bike is beautiful and extremely low-maintenance. That’s because it’s “belt-driven.” It doesn’t have a chain, but instead a carbon belt – way cool because belt drives were elite (meaning expensive) technology only a few years ago. The belt is quiet and way lower maintenance than a traditional chain. The downside of this bike is that it only has one gear. That’s great if you crave low maintenance and low weight, but climbing hills can be a workout. Of course, if you live in Denver or DC, where there aren’t many hills downtown, then no problem.
• Raleigh Alley Way. Here’s another option with a fancy carbon belt drive rather than a chain. The Alley Way is old school stylish with its funky and fun curved handlebar. Raleigh makes inexpensive bikes, so you get a lot for your money. Kinkennon Communications has had a Raleigh fixie for six years now. It’s bomb proof.
• Specialized “Globe” line. Along the same lines as the Alley Way above, this bike is also retro-cool, low-maintenance, and immensely functional. The fenders mean no wet backside. The disk brakes will stop on a dime and are much lower maintenance than traditional “V-brakes.” And check out that front basket – perfect to bring home a six-pack of Ranger IPA.
• Swobo Otis. In spirit of full disclosure, Kinkennon Communications owns an Otis and loves it. It’s my kick-around-town bike. It has a distinct look, inspired by the geometry of mountain bikes and little-kid bikes. The “SRAM 3-speed coaster-brake hub” is fantastic. Again, all three of the gears are INSIDE the hub. (Note that you see no derailleur in the picture.) That’s way lower maintenance, less messy, and less cluttered looking than a traditional derailleur. And there is a minimal guard around the front chain ring, so feel free to ride in your denims. Finally, coaster brakes rock – you can lay down a 10-foot skid mark on the pavement, just because you feel like it.
• Giant Simple Three. I love this thing. It’s styled based on beach cruisers, but it’s a modern commuter bike. Like the Swobo above, it has a 3-speed internal hub (very low maintenance), a guard covering the entire chain (no worries riding in jeans!), and fenders (so you can ride on wet roads within getting muddy water up your back). And it’s cheap. If you need to ride far and / or often, this is probably not the bike. But for short distances and traveling in style, you can’t beat it.
• Felt’s cruiser line. Want an unconventional option? Felt’s cruisers, inspired by the beach cruisers you’d see in La Jolla or Ft. Lauderdale, like the Giant above, are supremely stylish. You won’t go anywhere fast because of the heavy weight and upright riding position. So it’s not the best option if you want zip back and forth across town. But you’ll look oh-so-stylish when you get there.
• Bianchi Milano Parco. Yet another option with the wonderful 3-speed internal gearing. Typical of Bianchi, this bike wears its Italian heritage proudly – it’s a thing of beauty. It draws inspiration from the old school and extremely utilitarian rigs you see across Europe. But it’s a modern bike — the more aggressive geometry and thinner tires mean you can get there swiftly when you want to.
• Fuji Declaration. The Declaration is the ultimate in simplicity. It’s modeled in honor of the fixed-gear craze (you know, the one that got co-opted by hipsters). But unlike true fixies, it has brakes, so you don’t have to worry about losing your life in an intersection. It only has one gear, so no shifting or derailleurs – you might find it tough to pedal at first, but it’ll make your legs strong! And steel frames are fantastic when it comes to absorbing the little bumps in asphalt. By the way, Fuji is a discount brand – a great way to get on a functional rig for cheap.
• Redline Urbis. Do you prefer the look of mountain bikes? If so, this is a great option. Like the Swobo and Fuji above, it’s shaped to look like a mountain bike, yet it’s completely simple — only one gear, no suspension. Again, only one gear can be challenging at first, but it cuts your maintenance burden by like 75%. Steel frames are great at absorbing road shock. This bike would be indestructible. And you’d look way cool.

There’s many more where this came from. So pop into your local bike shop, tell them the brands and models you’re looking at, and why. Tell them you want low-maintenance, simple, and stylish – something to kick around town. And see the great options available. Have a blast.