Author Archive
So Where Does the Name ‘Sawmill’ Come From?
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One of the most oft-asked question of us is, “where does the name “Sawmill” come from?” I wish there was a more exotic answer than the one I am about to offer.
The “Sawmill” in our name comes from the gentle, beautiful and meandering Sawmill Creek (left) that winds its way from northern Baltimore County, including where I live, through Anne Arundel County until it flows into the Patapsco River.
Sometimes we wish we had a more interesting answer. But in the more than 17 years that Sawmill Marketing Public Relations has been in business the “where does ‘Sawmill’ come from” question is a good reminder that it’s your definition of interesting that matters.
We’re all for continuing to answer “where does the name ‘Sawmill’ come from?” for at least the next 17 years!
Helping ‘Mother Made’ Helps Us All
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Our attraction to Mother Made was instant and compelling: helping single mothers to become entrepreneurs while also protecting our environment. The organization was created and is led by smart, creative, committed entrepreneurs — accessible, caring role models for the people they serve.
Their mission is to promote the financial independence and job training of low-income mothers/women in Baltimore by creating and selling products that reduce the impact of consumers on the environment.
We are looking forward to conducting social media workshops early next month — part of the job training curriculum the organization conducts for the women.
We eagerly anticipate lending our expertise in ways we hope will help the organization to grow, which in turn will help more single mothers in Baltimore to grow as well.
In the meantime, we hope our readers will also help by donating whatever is possible to help fund critical job training activities.
Crisis Communications Tip #4: Now is Not the Time to Be Insular
Posted by: | CommentsThere is an excellent article in the current issue of The Public Relations Strategist about the Penn State child-abuse scandal an
d the role their “we are the school” attitude played in the mishandling of the crisis and the resulting price it will be paying.
In our experience this attitude is prevalent when a crisis hits — regardless of the type of entity trying to deal with it. This includes a client that, just a few months into it, believes it has successfully weathered an ugly headline-generating situation. However, we’ve counseled them that they are instead at the beginning of it. We hope our prediction is wrong, but that sound you hear are their wagons circling.
Media Training Tip #8: Watch ‘Meet the Press’
Posted by: | CommentsNBC’s Sunday morning ‘Meet the Press’ is among our favorite media training tips because of its nearly unfailing showcasing of basic but key interview tips including bridging, flagging and counting. David Gregory asks questions while the guest then acknowledges them before offering information about topics/issues that s/he prefers get aired.
In our opinion, taking control of a media interview, as guests routinely do to one extent or another on such interview shows, 
should always be the goal. A media interview is your opportunity to communicate your messages using tips and techniques designed, crafted and time-tested to help you do so clearly, concisely, consistently.
On an upcoming Sunday, view “Meet the Press” or similar programs with an educated eye and ear towards the guests and their skill with taking control of the interview. You’ll see the results of media training at its best, happening right in front of you.
Crisis Plans Need to be Continually Refined
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Our client AHC, Inc., a developer of affordable housing communities in the Mid-Atlantic region, just completed a revise of its crisis communications plan that focused on streamlining the notification process in the event that a crisis situation occurs.
AHC, Inc. reviews and revises as needed its crisis communications plan on a semi-annual basis to ensure its plan is up to date, relevant and reflects best practices.
However, this review has the added benefit of keeping the plan and the important role it plays in front of its leadership on a regular basis. Is it time to take a look at your company’s plan?
Kudos to Pro Bono Client The Stoop Storytelling Series
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We’re proud of our long standing commitment to gladly providing services pro bono to a select number of nonprofit organizations that we fully believe offer the community the elusive “something special.” The Stoop Storytelling Series is one such organization.
They will be part of WOW and we urge anyone who has yet to see a Stoop show (they are almost always sold out) to see them at the Meyerhoff in early March. We bet you’ll become a devoted fan as we are.
1st Mariner Bank News Raises Question of ‘New’ Best Time to Go Unnoticed
Posted by: | CommentsIt used to be that when an organization released news they hoped would go unnoticed they did so on a Friday and/or the day before a holiday such as the just released announcement of the retirement of 1st Mariner Bank’s founder and CEO Edwin Hale. However, it was posted/Tweeted
/blogged immediately to a large, interested, engaged community of readers and followers.
So what’s the new strategy for releasing news/information companies hope will go unnoticed? Or is that time gone forever?
Media Tip #16: Your Comments Can Take on a Life of Their Own
Posted by: | CommentsI sent an email thanking people at the MAC 
only to have it appear front and center of this flyer promoting the program. Imagine my surprise when I saw my words staring at me from this poster while I did sit ups.
A reminder to each of us that our comments oftentimes take on a life of their own. Now give me 20 more push ups!
Effective Community Relations Programs Should Always Reflect Company Passions
Posted by: | CommentsWe like to believe that our community relations program is a model that other companies should follow in designing their own programs: support community efforts that reflect your own passions and do so with time, expertise and, of course, money.
For example, at Sawmill we have a passion for the area’s creative endeavors including The Creative Alliance, The Stoop Storytelling Series and the
Single Carrot Theatre. We willingly support them in every way possible and are enriched as a result which is an added bonus to any organization’s community relations program.
How is your passion reflected in your community relations program?
