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Showing posts with label voting alliances. Show all posts
Showing posts with label voting alliances. Show all posts
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! - The Clay Nation hopes to deliver a $50,000 Pepsi Refresh grant for the National Inclusion Project as a gift for Clay Aiken, the foundation's co-founder. Graphic by Fountaindawg.
#2 NIP in Line for $50k Grant
CA Fans Mark Birthday by Voting
Two important events headline the network of Clay Aiken message boards -- a continuous Cyber celebration of the singer's 33rd birthday and the final push to provide his foundation, the National Inclusion Project, a $50,000 Pepsi Refresh grant.
The latter would be one of the best birthday gifts fans could give Clay, whose commitment to connecting children with special needs to all life has to offer was his focus as a special education major prior to the American Idol step into fame. UPDATE: It's official! The National Inclusion Project will be awarded a $50,000 Pepsi Refesh grant from November's competition. The banner replica links to the NIP's finalist page at the Pepsi site:
In July 2003, during the American Idol 2 Tour, Clay and Diane Bubel of Charlotte co-founded the Bubel/Aiken Foundation, renamed the National Inclusion Project in 2009.
Amid the Clay Cyber cavalcade of birthday greetings with accompanying art work are reminders to pull out all the stops, vote with every available account, and recruit new supporters in the final hours of the grant campaign, which ironically ends at midnight on the singer's 32nd birthday.
Vote 3 ways to expand inclusive programs for all children.
New participants need to register at the Pepsi Refresh site (bottom left corner) and vote three ways: US-based email, Facebook, and by sending a mobile phone text: 109857 to 73774 (Pepsi).
The NIP Voting Widget in the sidebar includes links and text numbers for the Inclusion Project, as well as partner charities that have supported the foundation this past month.
National Inclusion Project supporters hope to mark the midnight hour of Clay's birthday with the close of a successful campaign for a $50k Pepsi grant for inclusion!
To help celebrate the day, here are clickable birthday wallpapers by graphic artists Fountaindawg, 1, 3, and AmazingCA, 2.
'In My Life' a Tribute to Teachers
As a music instructor from a long line of educators, I especially was touched that Clay performed John Lennon's "In My Life" as a tribute to the teachers in his life during the 2010 Tried & True Live! PBS Special.
On such an important day in his life, I think it appropriate that Clay sign off this blog entry with that exquisite rendition.
In My Life from Clay Aiken: Tried & True ~ LIVE! View video full screen at YouTube.
Happy Birthday, Clay! Have a wonderfully productive day, Clay Nation!
INCLUSION FOR ALL CHILDREN -Inclusion is giving people their rightful opportunity to participate. Through after-school programs and summer camps, the NIP seeks to ensure that no child sits on the sidelines.
For $50k Pepsi Grant
Info Fliers Boost NIP Voting Pool
With the aid of dedicated supporters and reciprocating charities, the National Inclusion Project continues to hold the #2 slot for a November Pepsi Refresh $50k grant.
A tour of Clay Aiken message boards, Facebook, and Twitter yields constant reminders to vote and expand the voting pool for the charity co-founded by the singer in 2003. After today, readers of this blog can add fliers to their list of tools.
In the three-pronged daily Pepsi Refresh voting process, the quickest methods are by Facebook and text. The Pepsi site requires more time and patience, but dedicated followers persevere in rendering five votes per registered ID -- one each for the National Inclusion Project plus four reciprocating causes.
Links/text numbers for the NIP's partners and allies are included on the voting widget in the Carolina sidebar. A crash course in the voting procedure with a suggested comment to leave at partner sites is provided in the VOTE panel.
Like the widget, the fliers were designed and produced by Scarlett.
Double clickable/printable NIP Pepsi fliers.
Fan Garners Votes with Fliers
One of the most creative supporters in spreading the Pepsi fliers throughout her community is queenmama247. The minute these were posted on message boards her printer went into overdrive.
The single fliers can be inserted or attached to emails to family, friends, and associates. Below are some of queenmama's uses for the fliers. Post yours in the comment section and I will add them to the blog proper.
1. Leave fliers at your hair salon, and ask if one can be posted in the window. 2. Take fliers to your local hardware store, paint store, flower shop, library, laundromat, and hospital cafeteria.
The big stores aren't too receptive, but the small neighborhood stores are so kind. Most of them will put the fliers by the register. - queenmama
3. If you are attending a wedding, baby shower, or other social gathering, have the guests text a vote together. Keep the volume turned up, and the return replies will be amazing! During last summer's Pepsi Refresh drive, queenmama secured 200 text votes at her niece's wedding reception.
B/W double clickable/printable fliers.
4. Enlist the aid of a high school student. In many schools, assisting with this project counts toward community service credit, a high school graduation requirement.
My high school neighbor plans to see how many people he can get to text at football games and other sports events. He likes challenges. With permission, he posted a flier on the high school bulletin board. - queenmama
5. Pass the fliers out at church on Sundays and Wednesdays. Don't forget to share the ways these fliers are helping you spread the word about the National Inclusion Project's Pepsi Refresh campaign.
Clay Aiken in New York City.- Clickable photo enhanced by Sally.
Those who are following the taping of a certain TV show in New York City will recognize the above photo of Clay as one that ran at Reality Aired on Nov. 11.
In a matter of minutes, CA fans cropped the singer and produced a profile that spread to the far reaches of Clay Cyberspace. The double clickable enhanced today by Sally is one you just might want to right-click and save.
Have an awesome week, Clay Nation!
Caro
For more information about the Inclusion Project's participation in the Pepsi Refresh, see the 11/4 blog: Clay Aiken Fans Champion Charities.
The 11/4 entry also contains previews and order info for the 2012 Clay Aiken Calendars. Order deadline is 11/22, so link to the 11/4 blog ... SOON!
National Inclusion Project - Inclusion is giving people their rightful opportunity to participate. The NIP works every day to ensure no child sits on the sidelines.
For Pepsi Refresh Challenge
Inclusion Project Sets $50K Goal
National Inclusion Project supporters stormed out of the gate the first of November and claimed the #2 position of this month's Pepsi Refresh campaign for a $50,000 grant for the charity.
The foundation, co-founded by singer Clay Aiken and Diane Bubel in July 2003, must finish in the top 10 to win a November grant.
Through a variety of programs, including the Let's All Play Camps, the National Inclusion Project seeks to ensure that no child sits on the sidelines. Read more about the NIP at the foundation's website.
Register for a daily voting reminder at the NIP website. If the Inclusion Project wins a November grant, your name will be in a raffle drawing for an Apple iPad2. The daily email is excellent for forwarding to friends, relatives, and associates who will help the charity attain its goal.
Vote 3 ways to expand inclusive programs for all children.
The rules have changed since friends of the foundation successfully secured a Pepsi grant in December 2010.
* The Inclusion Project must win in November as there is no rollover from month to month.
* Advocates can vote 3 ways: via a registered Pepsi account, Facebook, and a daily text of #109857 to Pepsi (73774).
* Supporters have 5 votes for each avenue everyday, but only one NIP vote per method. Distribute the other four votes to charities supporting the foundation. These are listed in the NIP Voting Widget in this blog's sidebar.
* After each Pepsi/Facebook vote for the foundation's partners and allies, click on the Back to the Idea Page tab (upper left corner) to leave a comment. Reciprocating charities will return votes to the NIP accordingly.
* Best of all, there are no Pepsi power codes in this month's competition.
On Nov. 30, there will be 10 winners in the $50k category, now the highest award possible. Longtime supporters know the early momentum must be maintained in order to secure the grant.
Widget Makes Voting a Snap
A tremendous tool for Project supporters is the voting widget created byScarlett with reciprocal info gathered by Royalle.
Jerry Aiken, executive director of the National Inclusion Project, not only approved the widget but also asked that supporters be reminded to vote all three ways. "We lose much-needed votes when people take the easiest route and text vote only."
Fresh off the press, the voting widget below links you directly to causes supporting the NIP. Create your own comment, but be sure to include the NIP Pepsi page address and text number. Here is a sample:
The National Inclusion Project just voted for you. Thank you for your return votes! http://www.refresheverything.com/includingchildren and Text 109857.
The widget will be available here and in the Carolina sidebar throughout November.
2012 Clay Aiken Calendars - Order by Nov. 22! Tried & True wall calendar cover is clickable.
2012 Calendar Deadline Approaches
The 2012 Clay Aiken Calendars are going back to the Gala as auction items. But before that, fans of the singer can order Tried & True wall or desk versions through the project's coordinator. Produced annually by Rosaratanawith photos by toni7babe,the 2012 calendar features images predominately from the 2011 Tried & True Tour and is again being published in desk and wall versions.
Hippoga, also part of the 2012 team, helped select the photos and coordinated the inclusion of 20 calendars in the silent auction for the Dec. 9-10 Champions Gala, annual event of the National Inclusion Project in Raleigh, NC.
Sample of monthly desk calendars. Double click to enlarge.
The calendars, printed on premium glossy card stock, can be ordered through Rosaratana between now and Nov. 22. Costs include $12 for the desk size (8.27" x 3.74") and $25 for the wall version (11" x 8.5").
To place calendar orders, Paypal or email Rosa at rosash@comcast.net by Nov. 22. Checks are accepted, and she will email you the address. Process time between orders received to calendars printed and shipped is approximately 3-4 weeks.
As in the past six years, all proceeds after costs will be donated to the National Inclusion Project. Thought not an official NIP fundraiser, this project is sponsored annually by the Together for Inclusion Alpha Chapter of Aiken 4Clay.
The 2011 calendars generated a foundation donation of $965.62 through sales plus an additional $650 in Gala auctions.
Completed orders will be mailed by the first week of December.
Clickables by dancerdad.
Celebrity Apprentice Sneak Peeks
If you are following Clay Aiken message boards, tweets, or Facebook posts, you are no doubt aware that our guy is involved in another NIP fundraiser through Celebrity Apprentice.
The clickable photos above by dancerdad were taken during filming of a Celebrity Apprentice task for the show's 2012 telecast. Thursday's sale of New York City guidebooks by the men's team was well-documented by dancerdad and other Big Apple residents.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! - The Clay Nation hopes to deliver a $50,000 Pepsi Refresh grant for the National Inclusion Project as a gift for Clay Aiken, the foundation's co-founder. Graphic by AmazingCA with photo by Kareneh.
#11 NIP Needs Surge for $50k Grant
CA Fans Mark Birthday by Voting
DECEMBER 1 UPDATE: The National Inclusion Project fell two spots short of securing the $50k Pepsi Refresh grant. However, we are off and running in the December campaign.
The voting widget has temporarily been updated and will receive further revisions tonight. Thank you to all who are working to make the grant for inclusion a reality this month!
Two important events headline the network of Clay Aiken message boards -- a continuous Cyber celebration of the singer's 32nd birthday and the final push to provide his foundation, the National Inclusion Project, a $50,000 Pepsi Refresh grant.
The latter would be one of the best birthday gifts fans could give Clay, whose commitment to connecting children with special needs to all life has to offer was his focus as a special education major prior to the American Idol step into fame.
In July 2003, during the American Idol 2 Tour, he and Diane Bubel of Charlotte co-founded the Bubel/Aiken Foundation, renamed the National Inclusion Project last year.
Amid the Clay Cyber cavalcade of birthday greetings with accompanying art work are reminders to pull out all the stops, vote with every available account, and recruit new supporters in the final hours of the grant campaign, which ironically ends at midnight on the singer's 32nd birthday.
Vote 3 ways to expand inclusive programs for all children.
Final hour voting from friends, relatives, associates could push the National Inclusion Project from #11 into the top 10 charities that will receive grant money.
New participants need to register at the Pepsi Refresh site (bottom left corner) and vote three ways: US-based email, Facebook, and by sending a mobile phone text: 102308 to 73774 (Pepsi).
The NIP Voting Widget includes links and text numbers for the Inclusion Project, as well as partner charities that have supported the foundation these past three months. The Pepsi emblem below links to the widget where one can vote for the NIP and and its alliances/partners.
Jerry Aiken, executive director of the National Inclusion Project, urged supporters to take these steps in the final hours of the campaign:
Today is the final day. Please would everyone take on the personal objective to get 5 new votes. Five new votes each could be the difference for success.
We have all worked so hard; let's make it happen. Your support of our partners is appreciated and likewise their support of us has helped us to be this close.
I hope tomorrow I can post - WE DID IT ... WE DID IT! Thank you so much!
Hopefully, National Inclusion Project supporters will be marking the midnight hour of Clay's birthday and the close of a long, three-month campaign with a $50k grant for inclusion!
Below are clickable birthday wallpapers by graphic artists AmazingCA, 1, 3, and Fountaindawg. Photographers include Kareneh, 1; Solitaire30 and dc4clay, 2; and Permaswooned, 3.
Entertainment Sites Send Greetings
Among the many celebrity websites sending birthday greetings Clay is Hollywood Gossip with this special post:
He's an American Idol finalist, a father, a former Broadway star and, now, a 32-year old man.
Indeed, Clay Aiken celebrates a birthday today, as Claymates around the world are likely sending their favorite artist a slew of best wishes as we type this. We encourage readers to do the same.
After all, we're talking about one of the most humble, charitable artists around, one who spent the summer promoting the release of his fifth studio album and touring with Ruben Studdard. Aiken seems like a very nice guy and we hope he's having a terrific day!
'In My Life' a Tribute to Teachers
As a music instructor from a long line of educators, I especially was touched that Clay performed John Lennon's "In My Life" as a tribute to the teachers in his life during the Tried & True Live! PBS Special, still airing on stations throughout the country.
On such an important day in his life, I think it appropriate that Clay sign off this blog entry with that exquisite rendition.
In My Life from Clay Aiken: Tried & True ~ LIVE! View full full screen at YouTube.
Happy Birthday, Clay! Have a wonderfully productive day, Clay Nation!
Clay Aiken performs 'Both Sides Now' at NIP Gala. Images from October Gala and Chicago Park West Concert. View montage by LovesClaysVoice YouTube.
Nation Plans Birthday 'Surprise'
NIP Nets $370k at Gala Benefit
Even in a recessed economy, supporters of the National Inclusion Project learned Monday they helped raise more than $370,000 at the Champions Gala Benefit in Raleigh last month.
The Oct. 16 event honored "champions" who have made a difference in their communities for inclusion. In addition to presentations to the honorees, the event featured addresses by Project co-founders Clay Aiken and Diane Bubel and concluded with a special concert by the singer and friends.
Funds raised at the annual Raleigh event will be used to open doors for all kids to experience life together. Attendees had the opportunity to participate in both silent and live auctions. Read Monday's release about the gala tally here.
2011 Clay Aiken Calendar Cover
2011 Calendars Contribute $665
Contributing to the funds raised at this year's gala were the 2011 Clay Aiken Calendars donated for auction. At the gala, 13 wall and desk calendars were sold for a total of $605, and one set was included in a fan basket that went for $60.
Produced annually by Rosaratana with photos by toni7babe, the 2011 calendars feature images predominately from this summer's popular Timeless Tour and for the first time is being published in both wall and desk sizes. Also assisting in the calendar project has been Hippoga.
Including the calendars donated for the gala, a total of 110 have been shipped to date.
Samples of desk calendar months. Double click to enlarge.
The calendars, printed on premium glossy card stock, can be ordered through Rosaratana between now and early January. Costs include $12 for the desk size (8.27" x 3.74") and $25 for the wall version (11" x 8.5").
Like the past five years, all proceeds after costs will be donated to the National Inclusion Project in February. To place a calendar order, Paypal or email Rosa at rosash@comcast.net by the first of January 2011. Checks are accepted, and she will email you the address.
Samples of wall calendar months. Double click to enlarge.
Rosa keeps 10 calendars on hand so she can ship them as orders arrive. Below are examples of fan mail from happy calendar customers:
The calendars came yesterday, and you did a wonderful job, as usual. I didn't realize you were going to feature Timeless photos - very good ones at that.
After seeing it, I'm thinking of buying another one for my mom. She's still a Clay fan at 90 and I think she'd enjoy looking at those photos every month. I will send another check off to you this week.
I got my calendar today, and I love it. It will sit on top of my computer at work next year. Thank you very much.
I received the calendar today! OMG, it is just awesome! Toni takes wonderful pictures. I can hardly wait until 1/1/11 until I can hang in on the wall!
Got my calendar yesterday. It's wonderful, and each picture made me smile. Thanks so much for doing this and for being so generous with you time and talents. Clay fans are the very, very best!
Clay Nation Sets $50k Goal The worst kept secret every November is the search by Clay Aiken fans for a meaningful way to honor the singer on his 11/30 birthday.
This year the Clay Nation plans to deliver the $50,000 Pepsi Refresh grant for the National Inclusion Project, the charity for children with disabilities that Clay co-founded in 2003 and about which he is very passionate.
To this end, VOTE, VOTE, VOTE-- not just in Tuesday's national mid-terms but every day this month. Having established voting partnerships with other charities during September and October, CA fans. spearheaded by SueReu and royalle, keep tabs on votes given and received by the reciprocating organizations.
Several charities that have already received a Pepsi grant are supporting the NIP because of the votes Clay fans gave them in September and October. This note from Saving Shelter Pets is an excellent example:
Saving Shelter Pets here and voting! Thank you so much for all your support in October! We couldn't have won without you. And to say thanks, we will be voting for you through November! Best of luck!
All Pepsi alliances and partners are listed on the NIP Voting Widget created and updated nightly by Scarlett. She was up at 5 a.m. Tuesday redoing groups according to overnight voting. The widget contains six groups of partners PLUS a "How To Vote" panel, as represented in the screen caps below.
Each screen cap links to the widget's home base where supporters utilize the voting links and secure codes to post on other blogs and websites. In addition to the Carolina blog's sidebar, the widget is located on the All That Is Clay Aiken site and regularly linked on Facebook.
Every eligible voter (US citizen 13 and older) is allowed 10 votes three ways: through the Pepsi site, a Facebook account, and via mobile phone texts. That's three votes for the NIP +27 for alliances and partners. International fans should ask US friends and relatives to vote for them.
Be sure to copy/paste a message similar to the one below so the organizations will know the Inclusion Project is supporting their cause:
National Inclusion Project just voted for you. http://www.refresheverything.com/nationalinclusionproject. Text 102308.
Voting will end at midnight on Clay Aiken's birthday. Let's help Singer Man celebrate with a $50k Pepsi Refresh grant for the National Inclusion Project!
IN CONCERT - Clay Aiken performs in a special Chicago concert Thursday and entertains at the Gala Benefit in Raleigh on Saturday. Graphic by AmazingCA, photos by Karen Eh.
NIP Aims for $50k Pepsi Grant
Chicago Sell-Out, Gala Fill Agenda
Clay Aiken and a huge contingent of fans are days away from a jam-packed weekend that opens with a sold-out Tried & True Concert at Park West in Chicago, IL, Thursday followed by the 2010 National Inclusion Project Champions Gala Benefit 862 miles away in Raleigh, NC, on Saturday.
Sponsored by WTTW, Chicago's PBS station, the exclusive one-night-only performance at the intimate Park West Theatre will feature the singer's chart-topping hits as well as tracks from his brand Decca release, Tried & True.The special 7:30 p.m. concert was declared a sell-out this week.
Clay Aiken: Tried & True ~ LIVE in Chicago! Double click to expand graphic by Fountaindawg.
While most fans will opt for a few hours in the air, some plan to drive the 800+ miles from Chicago to North Carolina for the Inclusion Project's annual Gala Benefit-Awards Dinner at the Raleigh Convention Center.
The Champions Gala annually celebrates individuals, corporations, and the National Inclusion Project’s impact on improving the lives of children and families across the country.
Saturday's event will include dinner, recognition of the honorees, silent and live auctions in support of the foundation's programs, and a special performance by Clay, who co-founded the organization with Diane Bubel of Charlotte, in 2003.
A VIP reception with the singer is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday. For additional information, see schedule and tickets and live/online auctionsat the NIP website.
Foundation To Honor Champions
Selected for their substantive efforts to ensure no child sits on the sidelines, the 2010 honorees include PepsiCo EnAble, I Am Norm, and 11 college friends, who took a school pal on the adventure of a lifetime in 2005.
They include Andrew Carson, Ben Smalley, Collin Shepley, Daniel Epting, Dylan Wilson, John Hadden, John Harmon, Jason Hees, Kevin Weir, Logan Smalley, and Sam Johnson.
Below are videos and capsules of the 2010 honorees. Extended bios of the 2010 champions are posted on the Inclusion Project website.
SUPER BOWL COMMERCIAL - Pepsi's 2008 Super Bowl ad, Bob's House, was a unique and hilarious commercial illustrating a popular joke in the deaf community. It was created and enacted by deaf members of the Pepsico workforce, EnAble.
PepsiCo EnAble Champions Inclusion
PepsiCo EnAblecreates an inclusive environment for people with different abilities. In line with PepsiCo’s values and talent-sustainability goals, EnAble seeks to promote physical, technological, and cultural opportunities to “EnAble” their people to realize their fullest potential.
With a global reach and partnerships such as those with Guiding Eyes for the Blind and Walgreens, as well as their own Accessible Technology initiative and Inclusive Advertising focus, PepsiCo EnAble is leading the way in real, measurable, and practical ways to make a difference for all people they touch.
I AM NORM - This brief documentary of the National Youth Inclusion Program's summit in January 2010 describes the group's goals. View full screen at YouTube.
20 Young People Form 'I Am Norm'
In January, 20 young people with and without disabilities flew from various locations across the United States to meet each other for the very first time in Washington, DC.
In just one weekend, the I Am Norm group designed a campaign in hopes of bringing about that change. Through this campaign, they hope to raise awareness about inclusion, provide opportunities for youth to share their ideas about inclusion, and promote inclusive practices in schools and communities.
ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME - The above trailer provides glimpses into this excursion with its goals. The entire video can be viewed at the Darius Goes West website.
'Roll of His Life' Builds Awareness
In 2005, eleven college friends -- Andrew Carson, Ben Smalley, Collin Shepley, Daniel Epting, Dylan Wilson, John Hadden, John Harmon, Jason Hees, Kevin Weir, Logan Smalley, and Sam Johnson -- decided to take their 15-year-old pal, Darius Weems, who had never left his hometown, on the adventure of a lifetime.
Cameras were rolling as they left Athens, GA, and headed west for Los Angeles, CA, with three goals in mind: to raise awareness of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), the disease Darius has; to test wheelchair accessibility across the country; and to convince MTV's popular show "Pimp My Ride" to customize Darius' wheelchair.
Despite their lack of movie-making experience, the resulting documentary, Darius Goes West: The Roll of His Life, has won 28 film festival awards, turned into a grassroots movement with a huge global fan base, and raised nearly $2 million for DMD research.
CAMP HOWE- Children with and without disabilities participate in a Let's ALL Play Camp. New camps will be funded with the $50,000 grant from Pepsi.
NIP Drops to #8 in Pepsi Refresh
"There are no words to explain what camp has meant for my son, who has never truly felt a sense of belonging to be recognized for who he is. What is the saddest thing is that he never expects to be recognized, because being overlooked is a way of life for him. I have never seen him look so sure of himself and so happy." - Mother of a son who benefited from an inclusion camp experience this summer.
Entering the second week of October, supporters of the National Inclusion Project are, hopefully, on the way to proving This.Is.The.Month for the foundation to land in the top 10 and secure a $50,000 grant in the Pepsi Refresh Challenge.
US citizens at least 13 years of age have a total of 30 daily votes to cast via text, Facebook, and through the Pepsi site. That's three votes a day for the National Inclusion Project from each eligible voter/account in a family. The remaining 27 should be spread among the charity's voting partners.
For supporters with limited time, the simplest way to vote is via text: #102308 to #73774 (Pepsi). Enlist texters singly and in groups (luncheons, dinner parties, school club meetings, etc.).
Imagine the immediate impact a fan-filled baseball park, football stadium, Chicago concert, or Champions Gala would have executing a group text for inclusion!
Register for Reminder, iPad Drawing
By registering at the National Inclusion Project home page, you will receive a daily voting reminder and be eligible for an iPad if the foundation wins the $50k grant this month.
In less than 10 minutes a day, early risers can easily vote through the National Inclusion Project's alliance list, as well as a second or third set of partnerships fans formed last month.
Just this week, new partners have been added to the NIP voting lists. In fact, charities have noted the faithful voting by NIP supporters and are requesting to be included in a group.
Thnx to Scarlett, fans can vote with the Carolina's new sidebar Pepsi Refresh widget or via the links below. Look for the widget at Facebook and in other Clay Aiken blogs.
Be sure to copy/paste a message similar to the one below so the organizations will know the Inclusion Project is supporting their cause:
National Inclusion Project just voted for you. http://www.refresheverything.com/nationalinclusionproject. Text 102308.
Throughout September, NIP supporters exchanged votes with other charities. Choose Group A, B, or C (extra accounts) for your second/third rounds of voting. Leave a message similar to the one above so a vote for the NIP will be returned.
Inclusion is giving everyone the opportunity to participate. View montage by SueReu full screen at YouTube. 'Open Arms' performed by Clay Aiken.
Kai Keeps Grandma in the Loop
I talked at length with grandson Kai Friday evening. Actually, I mostly listened and asked questions while he chatted away about cars, trucks, football, basketball, Hawaii, among other subjects. His mother is usually nearby to translate any words I don't catch, but she was busy in the kitchen.
Lia has progressed to "hey" when we talk. Turns out she was my mystery caller a couple of weeks ago while I was teaching an afternoon of lessons at the academy. When I returned home and checked phone messages, there was one of silence that gradually evolved into a distinctive nibbling of crackers.
I dialed my daughter to see if Kai had randomly called me again. Upon hearing the description of near silence, she said, "Oh no, Mom, that was Lia! Kai would have started talking to you the minute he heard your voice on the machine." Below is a clickable of the opening graphic by AmazingCA:
Happy Thanksgiving to the Canadians! Have an awesome new week, Clay Nation!
A Pepsi grant would fund five more Let's ALL Play Camps.
PEPSI REFRESH: This.Is.The.Month!
Inclusion Project Targets Top 10
While Clay Aiken fans are counting down to an exclusive one-night-only concert in Chicago on 10/14 and the 10/16 Champions Gala in Raleigh, they are also determined to make October the month the National Inclusion Project secures a $50,000 grant in the Pepsi Refresh Challenge.
The Inclusion Project was co-founded in 2003 by the North Carolina singer and Diane Bubel so that children with disabilities can experience life with their peers. During the September campaign, supporters learned much about partnerships, alliances, and recruitment and are this month putting into practice a variety of new strategies.
Below are suggestions for enlisting friends, relatives, associates, organizations, etc., to help the Inclusion Project's October cause:
1. Ask everyone who visits, stops by your desk, etc., to text in a phone vote. You can even do it for them. (queenmama247)
2. Having a birthday party, work, school, or family gathering? Group text the NIP number -- 102308 to 73774 (Pepsi) -- together. (queenmama247)
UPDATE: At Saturday's birthday party, queenmama247had 12 people text together for the NIP, four of whom added the Pepsi Challenge so they can text daily. In addition, she enlisted three people at church and will probably have more after today's doctor and hairdresser visits.
3. Offer to bake a cake for those in your office, circle, etc., if everyone will text votes for the National Inclusion Project. (ncgran4clay)
4. If someone doesn't know how to text, do it for them. (ncgran4clay)
5. On vacation? No problem, according to Beanblossom, currently at a knitting retreat where she has everyone texting daily NIP votes.
6. International fans, send the voting/texting information to eligible friends in the US so they can vote daily for you. If you own a US-based cellphone, you can text votes yourself. (FromClaygary)
7. Learn from September's very successful winner -- RETT Syndrome, #1 in last month's $250k category after failing to achieve the charity's goal in August.
Quite by accident, I discovered these next ideas when I noticed on Carolina's live feed that someone had arrived at this blog via a Google search for 100842 to 73774.
A curious creature anyway, I followed the link and was amazed at the vast number and variety of people/organizations contributing to RETT's September success. Page after page, the Google results reveal many facets of this organization's campaign, some of which NIP supporters might consider adopting:
*Facebook and Twitter: Constant reminders by individuals and organizations for "friends" to vote all three ways: text, Facebook, at the Pepsi site.
*Blog after blog by individuals and celebrities on MySpace, LiveJournal, Blogspot with the request to "take a second and send a text vote to Pepsi for RETT Syndrome." The Carolina blog appears multiple times because voting info for RETT, an NIP alliance in September, was listed in several entries.
*Daily voting reminder on a high school home page. Three girls in the community have the disease.
*Voting reminders from related organizations such as Carobell, a North Carolina-based non-profit providing care for developmentally disabled individuals.
*Celebrity, radio/TV station websites urging fans to vote. See WKRQ-FM in Cincinnati.
*Similar blog posts a voting reminders from a young man whose cousin has RETT Syndrome.
LET'S ALL PLAY - Children with and without disabilities participate in a variety of activities at Inclusion Project-sponsored camps.
Camps Impact Children Nationwide
In communiques with others, fans need to personalize the National Inclusion Project and sell the impact Let's ALL Play Camps have for children with and without disabilities nationwide.
At camp, my son does not have Down Syndrome, wear hearing aids, or have difficulty with his speech. He is simply a camper. - A mother
In reality, each person has 30 votes to use daily via text, Facebook, and through the Pepsi site. That's three votes a day for the National Inclusion Project.
By registering at the National Inclusion Project home page, you will receive a daily voting reminder and be eligible for an iPad if the foundation wins the $50k grant this month.
In less than 10 minutes a day, early risers can easily vote through the National Inclusion Project's alliance list, as well as a second or third set of partnerships fans formed in September.
Be sure to copy/paste a message similar to the one below so the organizations will know the Inclusion Project is supporting their cause:
National Inclusion Project just voted for you. http://www.refresheverything.com/nationalinclusionproject. Text 102308.
Throughout September, NIP supporters exchanged votes with other charities. Choose Group A, B, or C (extra accounts) for your second/third rounds of voting. Leave a message similar to the one above so a vote for the NIP will be returned. Group A
INCLUSION: Power of the Dream Montage by LovesClaysVoice, vocals by Celine Dion View full screen at YouTube
This.Is.The.Month
What are your suggestions for enlisting new daily voters for the National Inclusion Project? Those shared in the comments will be added to this blog entry.
In a Friday morning post on her Facebook wall, Scarlett included the phrase "This.Is.The.Month." What a perfect slogan for the NIP's October Pepsi Refresh campaign!
Thirty days remain to drum up the necessary votes for the foundation's $50k goal. Off to a great start, the Inclusion Project currently stands at #8.
Have an awesome -- and very productive -- weekend/new week, Clay Nation!
