Friday, June 11, 2010

I hear some buzzing?


So fun. This year, we (KLRN) with the help of Rackspace, are taking our Blazing Gavels auction waaaay into Social Media. Rackspace loaned us their fantastic employee, Fran Stephenson, to help us, essentially, make time for Social Media in our plans for Blazing Gavels. While we as a business have done what we can to build and maintain a presence in Facebook,Twitter, YouTube, etc, the auction is a beast all it's own that takes many people and many hours. Sometimes trying to find a time to "stop" and try something different will keep you from doing what is already on your to-do list. Insert Fran and all of the sudden we have someone to be held accountable to---she kept us in check (with a good old-fashioned checklist), helped us to expand our minds and ideas, and gave us insight into what auction appears like to folks outside of our building. One of the ideas that we came up with is inviting a Social Media Reporter to come into the studio each night to "report" on what is happening. Who is in the studio? What is being auctioned off next? What is the environment like? What is different than what they expected to see? What is their "wow" moment?
It is terribly exciting for us to see what is unfolding, and most importantly it is so helpful to have someone "speaking" for us. Answering tweets and FB questions, promoting items, engaging in discussion, creating buzz, and helping us to be out there. Nora Frost was our first guest tweeter and her energy was awesome. 9pm struck and I said, "Nora, if you need to go, feel free...you have done wonderfully, but I know that you have other obligations." Her response, "Are you kicking me out? I'm having a ball and the only question I have is where can I plug in to get more power?" She made her exit after 11p. Thanks Nora.
I can't wait to engage 9 other folks from our San Antonio Social Media community into our efforts and a day later, read about their comments, experiences and insight.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

It really does take a village...

As we approach the 44th Annual Blazing Gavels auction, there is a buzz in the building, on the streets, and throughout the community and we all hear over and over again... donate, donate, donate! The energy is fantastic. And while it is very easy to get lost in the donations that make the auction what it is, it is the energy that so many of us use to make it all happen that is the key. I have to stop for a moment and thank all of the restaurants who have committed hundreds of meals over the 10 days of the auction to feed our volunteers. These restaurants (some of them have even promised more than one day!) make sure that the over 1,500 volunteers that set up fort in the KLRN studio for the auction are well fed.
It does take a village, a whole village, to make this event happen. We recognize, salute and applaud everyone who is providing a lunch, dinner or snack to our amazing volunteers. If you want to get involved, please give us a ring--- 270.9000, ask for Sharon or e-mail ssutton@klrn.org ---I would be delighted to add your name to the list below.

Chipotle
Sugar Hill Bakery
Cabot Cheese
Mission Foods
Sugarbakers
Spaghetti Warehouse
Deananns Gourmet Popcorn
WD Deli
FattysBurgers
Goombas Pizza
Le Cake
Black Eyed Pea
R&S Dairy Queen
Taco Taco
Picante Grill
Cheesy Jane’s
Fourth Street Inn
Earl Abels
Burger King
Sol Y Luna
Green Restaurant
Good Time Charlies
Michelino’s
Rudy’s Deli
Domino’s Pizza
Butterfly Cake Bites