Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Draft Proposal Letter



USU Health Services Hosts

The 35th Great American Smokeout


Table of Contents

I –

II –


November 17 & 18, 2010

10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.


Supported by the American Cancer Society



Dear Nicorette,
Utah State University Student Health Services is hosting a chapter of the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout. As a student wellness center, we value the health of our students and we want to provide them with every tool necessary in becoming tobacco free. We need the best quality of product to help our students quit, and we are extremely confident your company offers what we are looking for. Sponsors like you help us to give our students the materials they need to succeed. By donating your products and services, students can become tobacco free and will continue to use your product on their road to success. We anticipate attendance from 100 students, and we would appreciate lozenges, mini lozenges, and gum to accommodate all attendees. We have had great success in the past and expect this year to be no different, but we need your help. By promoting your company products your logo will not only be seen by the attendees, but by students and faculty through our advertisements for the event. By contributing to this event you can help improve the lives of young people.

Nicorette is a strong company that values helping people stop smoking. We love how you say, “to be successful, you need to overcome both your physical addiction to nicotine and your psychological addiction.” Because you understand this so well, you offer a reliable product that will help stop peoples physical cravings, and help them understand quitting and offer a quitting plan which adheres to their psychological needs. We feel proud to say that you would include our national organization, The American Cancer Society, as a resource people can trust to gain quit-smoking support. Other companies ,like yourself, donate roughly $4,000 annually to more than three different events, like the one we are holding. Donating to our project would be a portion of your annual amount of planned donations. Please keep in mind that this is a non-profit event, so all donations are tax deductible.

According to a report done by the Center for Disease Control, “Tobacco use is the single most preventable cause of death and disease in the United States. An estimated 46 million American adults currently smoke cigarettes and annually cigarette smoking causes approximately 443,000 deaths. For every person who dies from tobacco use, another 20 suffer with at least one serious tobacco-related illness. In 2004, this addiction cost the nation more than $96 billion per year in direct medical expenses as well as more than $97 billion annually in lost productivity1.” Among these smokers 70 percent want to quit and millions have tried but only a few were successful2. We believe these smokers would quit if they had the resources available to them. That is the main reason we established the The Great American Smokeout, we want to see an increase in the percentage of smokers that successful quit.

As mentioned before, Nicorette is known for giving people a doable option for quitting. We are confident that if you can offer each visitor a Nicorette product, either gum, lozenge, or mini lozenge, they will be able to see the difference of having another option rather than smoking. By doing this, it will most importantly motivate the smokers to quit and it will help you generate more sales because the quitters will most likely continue to buy your product until they are clean. You could also include hand outs talking about your “my quit plan” that you offer. This would increase people’s visit to your website, generating you more online hits, and eventually more sales. To go even further, we think it would be advantageous to both you and the smokers looking to quit if you could do a half an hour presentation about how your products work, the statistics of their effectiveness, and the other resources you have available such as “understanding quitting,” and “my quit plan.” With a powerful selling presentation, and the easiness of us gathering an active audience for you, it is a winning situation for both.

The Great American Smokeout is an annual event that is held at various locations in every state. Nationally, the Great American Smokeout has helped over 500 people quit each year. Locally, we had over 100 people attend the event, and ten have reported being smoke-free since our last smokeout. Our objective is to have more people attend the event each year and have more quitting success stories.With the right tools to success, we believe more people will attend the event, which in turn will cause more people to be smoke-free. We plan to hold the event on campus and offers students informational handouts; quit-kits that will include Nicorette products, tooth brush, tooth paste, suckers, gum, stress sticks, and more. We also plan to have a thirty minute presentation offered by one of Nicorette’s personnel. In order to succeed in our campaign for tobacco prevention, we will focus our message toward key audiences. It has been determined that the following populations are more susceptible to tobacco use: first year students, fraternity and sorority members, men’s athletic teams, art students, GLBT students, and women3. By tailoring our message to attract members of these groups, we can help them understand the benefits of quitting. Once their decision to quit has been made, they will be encouraged to use Nicorette’s products and services to help them succeed and meet their goal.

Utah State University is home to over 25,000 students from all 50 states and 82 international
countries4. Their events have the ability to capture attention from a variety of people. This year is the 35th Great American Smokeout, meaning this event has succeed for 35 years. The American Cancer Society, an organization that has been around for almost 100 years, believes that the USU Student Health Services will portray the ideals of their organization. That is why they have put James W. Davis, a honored USU faculty member, to head this project. They have teamed up with the same goal in mind, helping smokers quit. Research has shown that strong support networks increase the chance of quitting smoking. This fact will allow us to reach out to those willing to quit and be their strong support team. It is essential that they know they are not alone. With the assistance and support of USU Student Health Services, the American Cancer Society, and Nicorette, students will gain the strength and determination it takes to quit smoking.

At the 2010 Great American Smokeout, we anticipate no fewer than 100 people at the event, but would like to be prepared for at least 200. Therefore, we will have at least 200 pamphlets and 200 quit-kits. To effectively help the smokers quit, we feel that a sample of each Nicorette product is necessary in the quit-kit. On average your products cost 50 cents each and you offer them through sample kits. Each sample kits includes 10 pieces of gum, 5 lozenges, and 5 mini lozenges. This would cost $10 per kit, meaning $2,000 to donate 200 kits. To send a national Nicorette representative from Massachusetts to Utah airfare cost $500 round trip. The representative will have to rent a car or take a taxi to Logan and back to the airport. This will cost roughly $200. Hampton Suites in Logan is donating a room for two nights and that includes a continental breakfast. Your representative however would have to pay for lunch and dinner for their intended stay, and plan to spend roughly $20 per meal. On the day he/she presents, lunch will be on us. Your donation will total $2,800. This is less than the average company donates to each project per year and would have a large impact.

We know that by donating to the Great American Smokeout, the Utah State University Health and Wellness Center and The American Cancer Society will benefit greatly. Along with Nicorette, both parties will receive publicity for their organization, and be able to help smokers quit all around Cache Valley. Though this event does not reach millions of people, it will make a difference in the lives of many people. We appreciate your generosity, and are excited to work with you. Please send the 200 kits and the pamphlets in them mail by November 10 to 1200 North 850 East, Logan, UT 84322. As soon as you confirm this arrangement please notify us with the name and title of your representative, along with the details of their arrival. If you have questions, please contact Erika Rasmussen at erika.ras@aggiemail.usu.edu.

Best regards,

James W. Davis

End Matter:
http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/state_data/state_highlights/2010/pdfs/highlights2010.pdf
http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/cessation/quitting/
www.usu.edu/health/
www.usu.edu




Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Draft Speech/Presentation Assignment

Outline:

Beginning emotionally charging video

Kayla opens talking about sponsor appeal and problem

Erika talks about solution and capabilties

Tessa will close talking about budget and conclusion

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Online JCOM: Twitter Readings

After reading ...
www.hubspot.com/Default.aspxapp=LeadgenDownload&shortpath=docs/HowToUseTwitterForBusiness.pdf
I feel like I can take on the world of twitter! I have always heard that twitter can help companies and improve your job opportunities but as I used it (incorrectly) I was not seeing how that would be possible. After reading this PDF I have discovered the proper use of Twitter. The first mistake I made was not establishing my profile before I added people as friends. If I would have filled out the profile information then I would be added to the twitter location search and people who I follow would be able to see my interests and decide to add me or not.

I never knew I could send a direct message to people just by writing D KaylaEntLLC (the twitter handle, aka username). I never know it didn’t look good if you were following TONS of people and a lot of people aren’t following you.

The best way to increase your followers is to Tweet things people are interested in. “You are what you tweet.”

Use hashtags to help start and follow a particular topic.

I recommend everyone interested in Twitter read this. Thanks Shane!

Kayla

Monday, November 8, 2010

Draft Position Paper

Tessa Karrington
Erika Rasmussen
Kayla Hall
Position Paper


As leader of the Quick-Service Restaurant industry, Burger Planet has served 52 billion customers and counting. Burger Planet has almost 9,000 franchises in every state and 17 countries. At the same time, in the past two years research has shown that sales to Burger Planet’s base customer, women in their 30s and 40s, have decreased.

Today more than ever, women are more conscious of their body image. In order to do maintain a healthy lifestyle and satisfy this desire, women often seek a healthier diet. According to helpguide.org, living a healthy lifestyle depends on eating plant-based foods and whole grains, while cutting back on protein and caffeine. Burger Planet’s current menu items do not meet these standards. In a Pew Research Center study, only 35 percent of women eat fast food weekly compared to 47 percent of men.

To affect women, we researched to find who influences women and how we can use that person to our advantage. We found that Opal Whitcomb, the talk show hostess of Opal Speaks, is known for her immense credibility with middle-aged women who followed her personal travails of striving to lose weight. With the help of Jayne Petersen, a fitness guru, Whitcomb was able to lose 75 pound. This was an accomplishment no other fitness guru was able to achieve with Whitcomb. Because Petersen’s success, women around the world now look to Petersen as a credible health icon. We believe that an affordable, but highly esteemed person like Petersen, or someone similar to Petersen, would be an ideal Burger Planets spokesperson.


According to this research, it is evident that we must appeal to middle-aged women. Incorporating a new line of healthy food and a trusted fitness icon as our spokesperson would be beneficial to Burger Planet. Doing this would increase sales and improve our image as a better option for eating out. Not only will this increase sales to our clientele of women, but it will also encourage women to bring their families to our restaurants.

We believe that our goal to become a healthy food option can be accomplished in two years. First, we need to establish a credible line of healthy food, followed by a trustworthy spokesperson. After applying these output objectives, the impact objectives that will follow include: increase awareness of our healthy menu and new spokesperson to 60 percent of women, cause 40 percent of women to view it as a healthy-option restaurant, and gain a 30 percent increase in women customers ages 30 to 50.

It is essential for Burger Planet to attract women. Besides the fact that women want healthy food for themselves, they also want healthy food for their families. If Burger Planet offers a new line of food including items with fewer calories and low-carb options, as well as utilizes a positive fitness icon as our spokesperson, we can improve our image as a healthy quick-service restaurant. Doing so will allow us to gain back our base customer and enhance our company as a whole.

Monday, November 1, 2010

Online JCOM Photoshop Assignment 5

This is an engagement picture of my husband and I. Although the colors are already really bright, I wanted to make the colors even brighter.




Final picture (above)

1. I used hue/saturation to make the blues in our shirts and the greens in the tree come out. I raised the saturation a little on both.
2. The wood piece we are sitting on had green that was brought out when I did the green saturation so I erased the top layer so that the orignial layer would show through the true brown color.
3. I used the clone stamp to make Tyson's sun glasses disapear.
4. I used the burn tool to make the outside of the picture have a darker hue.


Original picture (above)


Final Picture
Necklace I put around my neck

Origninal picture




This photo is of my dear friend Buck Dopp, (Buck judged me when I won Miss Utah) my lovely hubsand Tyson, and myself.

1. I didn’t like how red my face was so that was and I wanted to do other touches to make the photo look better. In photoshop I went to image, adjustments, hue/saturation. I clicked on red and then lowered the saturation to -21.

2. I wanted to make the three of us stick out above the crowd so I made two layers of the picture. On the top layer I went to fliter, blur, gaussian blur and I chose 2.0 pixels of blur. On that same layer I esrased us three so that the original image would show through.

3. I wanted to fill my hair in because it looked too thin so I used the clone tool. I went to clon stamp and then filled in my hair.

4. I wanted to be wearing a necklace so I googled a necklace image. The necklace had a black background so I used the magic wand and selected the balck areas and erased them. I then click Control T and held down the shift button to make the image smaller. I tilted the image to fit around my neck and then I erased the parts that were supposed to be behind my hair.

Online JCOM Photoshop Assignment 4




Thursday, October 28, 2010

Final Press Release Assignment 4

Press Release
11-08-10

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Spirit Ridge Rifle Golf
9846 N. Highway 38
Deweyville, UT 84309
Contact: Misty Petersen
435-764-6980
www.spiritridgeriflegolf.com


Long-Range Shooting Company Hosts an African Safari Tournament
Spirit Ridge Rifle Golf is offering tournament winner an $8,000 African hunt


WHITES VALLEY, Utah -- Spirit Ridge Rifle Golf (SRRG) and Africa Sport Hunting Safari are hosting an African Safari Tournament Nov. 12 and 13,. The winner of the tournament receives a seven-day African Safari hunt with lodging, food, laundry, and a professional guide included. The winner can also bring a companion of choice. The prize includes three different hunting tags for an impala, warthog, and steenbuck or duiker. This hunt is worth $8,000. The purchase of more animal hunting tags is permitted.

Africa has over 167 different species ... and a lucky Spirit Ridge Rifle Golfer is going to have the chance to hunt there! Spirit Ridge Rifle Golf’s Director of Marketing understands the enormity of the tournament.

"There is a ton of excitement surrounding this tournament,” Peterson said. “The stakes are high, the competition is first rate and a trip to Africa is on the line!"

At the tournament, shooters will be taking aim at African animal targets. Half of the course’s targets will feature African safari animals, like lions and cheetahs, while the other half will still include bears, elk and buffalo. For lunch, shooters will feast upon an authentic African meal and will conclude the tournament with a raffle and the announcement of the grand-prize winner.

The tournament is $150 per person, which includes lunch. Viewers, spotters and friends are welcome for free and can call ahead to purchase lunch for $10.

The course is laid out with four stations, three holes at each station. Each hole has two different life-size animal targets ranging from 200 yards to 1000 yards. Although the targets are life-size, each target has a metal plate, no more than 12 inches in circumference, that must be hit to score points. Once the metal gong is hit, everyone will first see it swing and then hear the glorifying sound of a ping.

Rifle golf is scored almost identical to regular golf. If the shooter hits the target on the first try he gets an eagle, two points below par. If he hits the target on his second try he gets a birdie, one point below par. If he cannot hit it on his first two tries he then moves down to a closer target and shoots for par. If he misses that target he gets a boogie, one point above par, and is finished with that hole.

Golfers bring their own equipment, ammunition and ATV. ATV’s can also be rented at the course.

If you love the thrill of competition, want to improve your shot for the hunting season, or want to win amazing prizes, SRRG is the where you belong. SRRG can help you improve confidence in your shot by the first visit.

Eddy Crookston has shot the Spirit Ridge Rifle Golf course at least seven different times and has won over four different prizes, including a prize for hitting the 1,000-yard-shot.

“Each time I come to Spirit Ridge I improve my shot,” Crookston said. “It is impossible to come here and not leave being a more advanced shooter.”

Spirit Ridge Rifle Golf started as only a dream shared by brothers: Stewart, Jeff, and Kameron Petersen. It became reality when one of the brothers married into a family with 10,000 acres of land and an open mind for business. Stewart Petersen, and his wife Misty Goring Petersen, took a mere fantasy and made it a reality by developing the Goring ranch into a rifle golf course. With the help of Mrs. Petersen’s father, Jr. Goring, and all three of Mr. Petersen’s brothers, SRRG became outdoorsmen’s ultimate playground. Spirit Ridge Rifle Golf is becoming national by sharing a partnership with Sportsman Warehouse, Vortex, and Wasatch Precision. Spirit Ridge Rifle Golf is located just 12 miles southwest of Tremonton, Utah, and sits on 10,000 acres of land.

One will not want to miss out on such incredible prizes. Call today to register for the African Safari Tournament, 435-764-6980. For more information visit www.spiritridgeriflegolf.com, or visit the blog at www.spiritridgeriflegolf.com. SRRG can also be found on Facebook.

-END-

Media Contact: Kayla Hall spiritridgepr@gmail.com 435-232-0130