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!

The event is hosted by the Baltimore Business Journal, which says, “This morning event will leave you with the information you need to take your social media marketing to the next level. Hear some of Baltimore’s top social media experts as they give you insights on how to take full advantage of today’s social media.”

For additional information and to register, follow this link.

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.

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.

SMPR will develop corporate messaging and corporate communications strategies and programs targeted to  current and prospective ARDMS members, the healthcare industry, as well as consumers. The ARDMS corporate communications program elements include traditional as well as social media tactics.

About ARDMS
Founded in 1975, ARDMS is an independent, nonprofit organization that administers examinations and awards credentials in the areas of diagnostic medical sonography, diagnostic cardiac sonography, vascular technology and physician vascular interpretation. Its credentialing programs are accredited by ANSI-ISO 17024 and the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NACCA). With more than 70,000 certified individuals in the U.S., Canada and throughout the world, ARDMS is the recognized international standard in sonography credentialing. For more information, visit www.ardms.org.

About Sawmill Marketing Public Relations
Sawmill Marketing Public Relations is a Baltimore PR firm and social media marketing communications agency established in 1995 specializing in the development and execution of marketing public relations programs as business development strategies for business-to-business, business-to-consumer and professional services clients. The Maryland public relations company specializes in social media, traditional media relations, media training, and crisis communications. For additional information, visit www.sawmillmarketing.com.

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.

While votes are being counted, what about the still relatively new social media? Here’s a definition I like, from communications pro Shel Holtz, co-host with Neville Hobson of my not-to-be-missed podcast “For Immediate Release: The Hobson & Holtz Report”:

“The simple, easy-to-use online technologies and practices that people use to share opinions, insights, passions, experiences and perspectives and to collaborate with each other.”

I also like this one from Joe Thornley, CEO of Thornley Fallis and co-host of the other PR podcast that I never miss, “Inside PR” with Gini Dietrich and Martin Waxman:

“Social media are online communications in which we shift instantly and easily between the role of audience and creator – without needing to know how to code. We do this by using social software that incorporates functions like publishing, sharing, friending, commenting, linking and tagging.”

What do you think? Have you come across a better definition? Please share!

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?

To “make lemonade of it,” the Parks & People Board of Directors (I am one of the members) moved quickly to organize a “Fill Sally’s Purse” fund-raiser for Feb 28 when Petit Louis has generously offered to donate 20 percent of proceeds that evening to the Foundation. It also happens to be Sally’s birthday!

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.