Resting Place, Finally

Remember our reuse competition, and its top prize bench?

And that the winners, some local kids, had kindly donated it to Ross on Wye?

Well, after a wee bit of a saga it must be said, it is now in pride of place at a major junction at the top of the town, offering a welcome rest stop to young and old alike from various schools, nearby care homes and sports facilities.

Nice to see it at last doing what it was meant to, and in a way to make the community proud.

Watch this space as there may be a tad more PR yet to squeeze from this heart-warming epic, as local handy-whizzes 'The Can-do Crew!' (name and logo created chez Junkk:) kindly installed it securely, and there was a camera on hand to send to the local media, who have been very supportive of this whole story.

Bench Press - 3rd time lucky

START PRESS -

Well, it all worked out with some nice media sharing a nice story in a nice way.

Tx to Hereford Journal, Ross Gazette & Wyenot.com


Well, better late than never.

At long last we had our much postponed handover of the winning prize donated following the reuse competition.

The bench arrived by the skin of its teeth, and we duly set it up in the Market Square.

Then, at one stage we had press but no worthies, and then worthies but no press.

Anyway, one way or another we ended up with a bunch of shots of a bunch of folk and with luck this happy end to an epic competition will see a fair bit of PR, one hopes enough that the generous kids who made the donation will think it worthwhile and know how much it is appreciated.

With me are Stephen and Ian from sponsors BRP, flanked by Councillor Cutter from Hereford and Mayor Edwards of Ross.

Addendum:

After a chance conversation with a charming reporter from the Hereford Times, I have been forwarded the piece they carried, which I managed to miss:

Youngsters gift to town

A NEW bench made from
thousands of plastic bottles
has been donated to the
people of Ross.
It comes after local
teenagers won a national
newspaper competition in
association with Junkk.com,
a re-use ideas website.
Entries were invited to
suggest ways that plastic
items, usually thrown away,
might be diverted to
productive second uses.
"It turns out that a group of
teenagers had jointly come
up with the idea, and just
submitted it for fun," said
site owner Peter Martin.
"They frankly had no easy
use for such a thing, and
asked if they could donate it
to the community, to show,
paraphrasing their words
'that not all kids are all take
and no give, and we do care
about where we live'."
The seat was handed over to
councillors in a ceremony in
Market Square.

COMPETITION - 'Here's One I RE:made Earlier'

3rd TIME'S A CHARM?

Crossing everything, after almost a month of the 'wrong kind of snow' (ie: several feet deep either here or there, or on both) we hope at long last to soon be seeing the bench arrive in Ross On Wye.

As the last of the snow melts away, this Friday (30th Jan, 2010), there will be a lunchtime photocall for the press as BRP hands over the donated prize bench to local dignitaries/council representative.

STOP PRESS!

22/12/200

And then, as can so always be the way, it gets a little less better.

STOP PRESS is apt, as that is what I had to do in a mad-panic yesterday morning. Sadly our co-hero (the bench) was stuck in a snowdrift in Yorkshire, so we had to call off the photocall. And that was a lot of phoning around, as many folk were due to attend from far and wide as the story was one the media seemed to like the sound of.

Won't say it was not a big disappointment.

However, the good news is that all (bar one... apparently the big producer in Brum didn't think it a 'hot' enough story so they were not coming anyway, so muhr) I contacted were really great about it, very understanding and, best of all, keen to be invited back next year for what is still a great, heart warming story.

Just not one to op of the year, but now one to kick of 2010 in high spirits.

One door closes...:)

18/12/2009

It just gets better.

The council(s) (there are actually some details to iron out between town and county) are more than happy to accept the kind donation by these inspirational youngsters.

Better yet, the sponsors are so inspired that they are going to bring the bench down for a handover photocall in the town centre this Monday.... weather cooperating. They were going to come today but are snowed in! But they are confident they can get here in good time if they leave at crack of dawn for lunchtime.

The mayor, judges and other representatives (of council, kids, etc) will be there to receive it, and with luck it will be covered by local and possibly even regional media.

It is, after all, a very festive feelgood story of giving for this time of year.

It has certainly made my Christmas.

14/12/2009

WE HAVE OUR FINAL, AND GRAND... WINNER.... S!!!!!!!

Well, the weekend has at last seen the final winner presented.

However, there was a development.

I was contacted by the person who submitted the winning entry.

But, it's more of a 'they'.

Some students from a local (to Ross-on-Wye, who found out about the competition via all the PR I engaged in subsequently to drive awareness - even as an international media Junkk.com has a very high sign-up locally due to my efforts) school have got in touch to say it was actually a joint effort.

I had a few exchanges, and we've agreed that as the prize cannot be split, and in any case it's not really something they could use or want to have, they are happy to donate it to a good cause.

As it's all a bit unusual they want to remain anonymous but would like it to be a gift from the kids to the community to show they do care about the future and are not all hanging about at street corners doing nothing (actually not quite what they said, but I think this sums it up best).

The organisers and sponsors are all cool on the notion.

I have now contacted the town council to see if this is possible, and the signs are positive and wheels are in motion.

I think it is the best solution and reflects well all round, being a lovely way to round up the competition, and the year, at this festive time of giving.

As to the runner-up prizes, the organisers have now been provided with the addresses of these winners, and will be arranging delivery with the sponsors asap.

********* Previously********

This just in: Blog post from prize sponsor

Wow, is the internet quick or what?

We have already been contacted by all our runner up winners. Lovely ladies, too.

No word yet from our grand prize winner. Hope they are 'on line' over the next few days to learn the good news. One 'quirk' of our system is that it is difficult, if not impossible to actually trace folk, even from our admin system. All we have is usernames and they are kept in a separate log to actual names and emails. And if someone changes their e-mail... that's it:(

Latest In:

It took a while, but at long last the judges were convened recently to review the entries.

At least that gave me an opportunity to make some of the entries up to help 'visualise', especially for those where no pictures were provided.

I had to excuse myself as a judge, and was not present during the judging.

There were two who kindly offered their services.

Dennis Humble of EnviroAbility, both man and organisation highly awarded in the country in the field of just about re:verything

Neil Carroll is a renowned creative force locally, nationally and indeed internationally, having been chosen as the main visual artist to represent Wales at The Festival Interceltique

They were asked to consider the entries as follows:

Marks out of 10 for creativity (is this an inspired reuse of plastic?)

Marks out of 10 for consumer appeal (will the public go... yeah... I'd do that!)

Marks out of 10 for eco-impact (will it move stop some plastic hitting the bin and/or landfill)

Fortunately, there were no 'ties'. As no kids' entries were submitted we added another adult to the list.

Runners up (in no order) were:

Houseofstrauss - slug collar - http://www.junkk.com/junkkdetail.asp?slevel=0z622&parent_id=622&renleewtsapf=1931

swirlyarts - earrings - http://www.junkk.com/junkkdetail.asp?slevel=0z622&parent_id=622&renleewtsapf=1917

bveacoker - bathroom rubbish bin - http://www.junkk.com/junkkdetail.asp?slevel=0z622z1080&parent_id=1080&renleewtsapf=1919

And the grand prize winner was:

junkktween1 - cup stack - http://www.junkk.com/Editidea.asp?slevel=0&parent_id=0&EditID=1928

The judges were impressed with the standard of entries, especially appreciating how difficult it is to 'see' what can be done with 'junk' that most people see only as good for the bin... and landfill.

All were simple, but still effective. And, in a one case, very stylish.

The grand prize winner was chosen for its high marks across all the criteria. Said the judges: 'This is an idea we can see many people take advantage of, and benefiting from, especially where space is tight, for instance in flats, caravans or boats'.

Junkk.com will be contacting the winners directly to get addresses to send the prizes to, but also via here and the newsletter, as all we have is usernames and a data protected internal messaging system!

Hope no one has changed their emails in the interim.

*******

28/09 - LAST WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!

Had to arrive eventually. And it is time to reward the patience, and ideas of those who did enter.

11/08 - Final, that's it, there will be no more, no, I'm serious.... extension

Due to a confluence of circumstances, ranging from Junkk.com shutting down for summer break for a few weeks, to the fact that the UK has evidently been on holiday since June anyway, I am extending the deadline one last time to include September. Back to work, back to school, back in the shed. Plus a final month to really plug it all over the shop. There have been some goodies, but I know there are more! Get thinking... and applying.

24/07 - New Judges Please -

In addition, whilst staying on as organiser/Chairman of the judging committee, I am standing down as a judge. This is because, thanks to some promotions in our local media and via the Junkk.com newsletter, I may be familiar with the User Names some of the possible entrants inspired to take part, from such as the Forum, etc.

05/07

Due to ever popular demand (and the fact that, while there are a couple of nifty ideas in now, we really are still hoping to inspire a few more to justify those great prizes, especially as some great ones are still coming in. Plus, having promoted it, some media are only now mentioning it), with the agreement of the organisers and sponsors, the competition entry deadline has now been extended again to the end of Aug. This will also allow uploaders to use the new, easier upload features we have now active.

08/05

Superceding the PDF (which I'll leave here as an option for those so formatically disposed), I am happy to post here the URL to the online insert page turner. I am actually getting quite impressed with these. I am sure there are server farm 'leccy/heat consequences, but I presume there to be eco advantages too.

06/05

After a brief flurry sign-ups now quieter. May need to make it clearer that you don't need to submit an idea to sign up to the site and roam [Ed - Done - hope it's not too late!]

Here's a URL to the insert PDF. Link to online page-turner coming. Check out the smoothie on p12!

Previous Post (05/05 6.10am)

And today is the day.

Here's what it is all about.

Here's how we launched it with the latest newsletter.

BBC News doing a piece on social networking. By using it I don't have a good sense of my identity. Apparently:(

That's a pity, as I'm off now to add updates to FaceBook, twitter, etc. Which will add a lot more value I'd have thought.

Off soon to the newsagents to buy my first copy of the paper with the insert in.

[In a deep voice] 'Previously, on Junkk.com'
(pondering reversing updates newest at the top this way in future):

Sorry this is blank for now.

Next week all will be revealed.

Watch this space... seriously:)

Handling the competition

More of a Friday musing.

The competition has been extended a few times, and well worth it as a few new entries have been added.

Thanks to some site/RE:tie distractions I hope more will yet come as I promote a bit more and get the tardy next newsletter out.

But I have noticed that the world and his/her dog is on holiday. As we will be soon.

So I am pondering yet another extension, this time to take in September, and the return to school and work. Plus the splash page is disconnected as we try and solve the clash error.

Can't see why not, and at least I am letting folk know of progress. A few bigger, better funded, and higher profile efforts I have gone in for/shared here have simply evaporated... or done the same.

Quantum leaps

There's no feeling quite as satisfying.

You take an age shuffling the chequers around the board, and then with one final move... whammo... a veritable hop, skip and jump over a bunch of obstacles that propels you to the next level.

This is how I feel today... now... having spent a long, exhausting, but ultimately hugely rewarding day with IT specialist James from the West Midlands National B2B Centre initiative looking at every aspect of the Junkk.com site and this blog, with a view to not just improving each in its own right, but then integrating them to make more than a simple sum of the parts.

Yet even despite this marathon, we barely scratched much of what the agenda had planned, and so here's hoping for another, equally rewarding session soon.

So what did we achieve? Well, let me count the ways...

Oh, Blogger, How Art Thou?

With all due deference to Larry and Sergey, Google may have some nifty kit, but they don't make it easy to use it all. Especially for an IT padawan like me, so it was almost reassuring to find James struggling on occasion, too. It was almost ironic, if reassuring, that he had to use Google to find forums that explained stuff waaaay better than Google Help or Forums did.

Several Easy Pieces

But persevering was worth it, as we managed to effect several, and better yet automated links between this blog on Blogger, my new Twitter feed, and also FaceBook.

With luck, and a fair wind, posting this will result in a version on both.. no hands!

At the moment it looks like it might be going to my personal Facebook rather than the Group, but James is sussing out a fix on that.

Doing 'Da Biz

Of course we are not just looking at the civvy end of the street, but also the B2B one, too. So now we have also created a complementary Linkedin Group: 'Here's One I RE:made Earlier'. This I am hoping to complement the networking I need to do with the business community with Junkk.com and RE:tie, as the others serve the public audience. Top of the list for working on tomorrow!

And I am hoping it is a happy coincidence rather than potential for clashes, that another B2B network I'm on, Plaxo, has now hooked up with LinkedIn, too.

So in theory, so long as I keep the content useful, informative and entertaining, there is a good chance of reaching out, capturing and growing audiences via greater blog outreach too.

Direct To A Screen Near You

Speaking of which, it's now even easier to opt to get these various pearls of wisdom delivered fresh and toasty via either a feed or emails... your choice. Just check the new icons top right.

And, Finally, What A Site!

We even got cracking a bit on some additional functionality on the main Junkk.com site, too, though there's no way round what is a rather venerable, and hence creaking back-end system.

Most immediately, I have discovered how at least attach blog hyperlinks on some key areas, so readers who think that not much has happened since Emma sadly moved up in the world a few years ago might discover a veritable cornucopia of info has continued on since in complement here on Blogger ever since. And, with luck, the new activity this creates will help web crawlers log more activity. Try this. Mind you... memo to self... a link back to the site page!

And as computer guru David of sound-i, who inherited our system and keeps trying to coax another web 3.0 app out of a web 1.0 skeleton, has just failed to say no (though his 'Yeeeess' did seem to have a slightly furrowed brow attached), it seems there may also be functionality we can soon add to install better updated feeds, plus.... customisable ad management.

This latter will be a real plus if it can be done, enabling us to truly prove the flexibility of the ad system, especially in complement to the postcode location facility.

Hence we may soon realise my dream of being able to offer, say, an Autogas national brand ad on the LPG master category page, but then see individual postcode specific 'classifieds' for local converters appear as the viewer surfs on and is immersed in all the site can offer.

Exciting.

Green shoots. Local produce.

The 'Here's One I RE:made earlier' competition rumbles along.

One thing is for sure, I am pretty much going to have to extend the deadline.

Especially as I am seeing a measure of success drumming up more entries, after the brief flurry when it appeared.

Wracking brain cells, I have decided to punt out a PR to any place that might carry the story, from blogs to trades. In fact the only media sector I doubt will be much interested is the Guardian's direct competitors.

And I have even seeded them, at least via online opportunities.

We do need more entries to make this worthwhile for all concerned.

However, it was nice to see that it was considered worthy of note in our local papers, to whom I send my thanks. However, as a lesson in PR practice it was/is sobering, as to get these took two weeks and several reminder calls. Now, all I need to do is the same in several thousand more UK towns and I'm golden.