By: Rosita Carobelli-Zukowski

All in Place Communications and Event Planning

www.allinplace.ca

Happy New Year! 2012 brings a wealth of new opportunities and chances – it’s up to you on how you can or will seize them to your full advantage.

For those trying to find creative ways to engage your employees, why not try offering Corporate Acting Workshops. The November/December 2011 issue of Meetings + Incentive Travel (MeetingsCanada.com), mentions “the craft of acting requires skill sets that also apply to the business world.” Poise, communication, creative decision-making, concentration, single-mindedness are all attributes necessary in the acting and business worlds. When you spell it out like that, it makes for a great innovative way of enhancing employees’ overall skills and abilities.

Acting skills help you deal with how to react in crisis situations, better communicate with your coworkers and strengthen teambuilding practices; all leading to a better, overall work environment.

So why not offer an innovative alternative to the typical corporate meeting or retreat by offering acting workshops! This would be a great way to enhance employees’ abilities and skills in fun yet productive creative exercises.

Start organizing your acting workshops by contacting your city’s acting school or theatre organization. They can work with you to create corporate acting classes tailored to your specific business needs. Another resource would also be contacting comedy organizations. They often provide workshops, in improv or presentation skills (the two most crucial skills needed to thrive successfully within the corporate world) that can relate to corporate groups.

Not only is this a creative way to motivate a group, it’s a fun and different activity that will get employees excited to attend instead of their usual corporate meetings where sometimes what they look forward to the most is their snack breaks!

By: Rosita Carobelli-Zukowski

All in Place Communications and Event Planning

www.allinplace.ca

T’is the season of giving back and being grateful for all the blessings in our lives. Companies are busy sending Christmas cards and delivering corporate gifts to their customers and suppliers. Those are all important business functions, but, let’s not to forget to engage the employees and give back to the business community it operates in.

When planning your Holiday Party this year, why not incorporate giving back to your community somehow. You have all these guests in attendance; this is a great opportunity for them to contribute in some small shape or form. Encourage a toy and/or food drive – every guest that brings either or both will receive a draw ticket towards company swag. They’ll be giving to a worthy cause and in return be rewarded with something that proudly shows them where they work.

I know of a non-profit organization that does something year round to help a family in need at Christmas time. Casual Fridays are held year long where employees are encouraged to make a monetary donation (whatever they are comfortable with) and in turn, all the funds are collected at year-end to buy necessities and gifts for the entire family. What a smart team effort!

We all have closets of gently-used winter clothes, coats, mitts/gloves, hats and scarves that we have outgrown. Why not run a winter clothing drive in the months of November/December (even in January) and then donate as an organization to a shelter or family agency that will distribute to those who can benefit most from this generosity.

Finally, some offices run a Secret Santa exchange for gifts under a certain amount. Instead of getting stuck with another mug or gadget that will collect dust, collect $10 from each employee and make a donation to a reputable charity or hospital foundation. During your Christmas luncheon, invite a representative from that particular charity or foundation and present them with a company cheque. This will instill a sense of pride in your employees knowing they are helping those in their community.

There are so many creative ways to engage your employees and at the
same time, being socially responsible to the community it is surrounded by. Get out there this Holiday season and do your part to give back!

Happy Holidays Everyone!

By: Rosita Carobelli-Zukowski

All in Place Communications and Event Planning

www.allinplace.ca

So I took the summer off from blogging but now I`m back again. Hope you all had a great summer and are ready to embrace Fall; the crisp, cool air and wearing fuzzy sweaters again. Goodbye sweet summer, hello Autumn!

I recently participated in a Teambuliding Day full of activities that tested our teamwork attitudes and overall thinking abilities. I must say it made me face a few things about myself that I didn`t realize (or maybe did not want to realize).

One particular activity stuck with me. Our overall group consisted of 25 and each one of us were supposed to climb up a ladder tied to a tree. We had to walk up 5 steps, and with our backs turned, we had to fall back into the waiting arms and hands of our group members/teammates. First of all, I have a fear of heights. Second of all, it was hard for me to just to fall back despite their words of encouragement. Maybe, it is a control issue, maybe a trust issue, maybe a little of both. Some group members did the “Nestea plunge” flawlessly while others struggled a few seconds before they released themselves off the ladder (as I did). I was surprised at how emotional some became (including myself) from allowing themselves to fall back onto their teammates’ arms and hands. For some of us, our eyes glistened with relief and satisfaction that we were standing on the ground with our own two feet again.

But, this particular teambuilding activity bothered me for a few days. So I asked some of my closest friends on whether they had ever taken the backward plunge into their colleagues` arms. They had, but they too experienced hesitation and fear into “letting themselves go” into their awaiting arms. It is a difficult thing to do – relinquish complete trust and face fear.

In the end though, I was able to complete the plunge. We were given the option to opt out and I`m glad that I didn`t. Yes, it was an unnerving experience but it made me look at what I need to do to improve myself to keep growing as a professional and team player.

Do you think you could have done it without some hesitation? Have you ever done this teambuilding activity?

Comment below about your experiences; I’d love to hear about them.

By: Rosita Carobelli-Zukowski

All in Place Communications and Event Planning

www.allinplace.ca

Recently on Twitter, I came across a unique teambuilding experience, Yoga in the Vineyard (www.yogainthevineyard.ca).  A number of Yoga and Wine events have been held at local wineries within the Niagara region. What a great idea!

It may sound that it is geared mainly towards women; however, men are starting to take notice of the overall health benefits of practicing yoga too. Combine meditation and yoga with the indulgence of wine – sounds very relaxing!

What a great way to motivate a group – whether a girls’ outing or a sales team – it will help those individuals appreciate slowing down their everyday pace. Yoga is defined as ‘an integrated practice which brings all aspects of self – physical, mental, emotional and spiritual – into balance’.  More and more, it is important for us to tune into what our bodies are telling us (especially sneaking in a power weekend nap after a long work week); the power of yoga can help refresh those tired minds and make them productive once again. Introducing another de-stressor method such as yoga may help co-workers to sign-up or better yet, practice together.

Yoga is therapeutic, self-rewarding and helps ground you to free your mind from the “go-go-go” of it all.

Let’s make a toast to that!

You can follow me on Twitter, @AllinPlace_Comm as well as Yoga in the Vineyard, @Vineyard_Yoga

by Dave Lutz in Social Media at Velvet Chainsaw

I’ve been doing quite a bit of spying lately, in search of social media best practices among organizations.

While there’s some good stuff out there, the social landscape is littered with examples of what not to do.

If your social media initiatives are not yielding proof of engagement — sharing, comments, likes, and/or click-throughs — you’re probably not going about it in the right way.

Five Social Media Things You May Be Doing Wrong

Here are five things that you may be doing wrong. These points have been inspired from https://www.salesforce.com/blog/2019/07/leadership-traits.html which will also help you when you reach greater heights.

1. Clogging the stream.

Are you integrating your Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook posts so the exact same message appears on two or more platforms? Are your posts unscheduled or all within a matter of seconds? Those are two big no-no’s.

Each social media platform has different audiences, requiring individual engagement strategies. Take the time to make each post on each platform relevant or you will be hidden, ignored, disliked or simply not followed. If you are pushing out multiple posts, space them at least an hour apart.

2. Being self-centered.

If more than 25% of your posts promote your offerings and share content you’ve developed, you’re going to smell like spam. Instead, you should be curating lots of helpful content from other sources and having real conversations. If your community views you as being helpful and living your mission by providing educational value (regardless of the source), you’ll reap big-time benefits.

3. Hiding behind your logo.

In the social media space, people want to interact with people, not brands. This one’s tough. Most organizations use their logo, but that’s so 2007!

Make your social media platforms more human by including the people behind the logo. Feature their profiles. Have them participate in ongoing conversations. Some off-topic discussions that can be loosely tied to your industry also help humanize your social media efforts.

4. Not answering the social phone.

If a member of your community asks a question or posts helpful information, it’s your job to make sure that they get a timely answer or are thanked for contributing. It’s neighborly!

The same standard operating procedures you have in place for returning phone calls or emails should apply to your social media engagement. There’s no difference.

5. Over- or under-policing.

Most organizations are loosening the reigns and opening up their social media pages and groups to a wider audience. If you limit access, you run the risk of disenchanting future customers.

On the other hand, if you don’t make sure that your sites are sales-free zones, you’ll scare away the community members you want most. Your best play is to accept all, follow back on most, and establish posting guidelines that your members can help enforce.

A strong and open Facebook page or LinkedIn group has huge SEO (search engine optimization) value, typically because of exhibiting good SEO content through companies like Sirlinksalot.

Adapted from Dave’s People & Processes column in PCMA’s June edition of Convene. Reprinted with permission of Convene, the magazine of the Professional Convention Management Association. © 2011.

What other social media don’ts would you add to this list? What irks you the most that some organizations do in social media?

By: Rosita Carobelli-Zukowski
All in Place Communications and Event Planning
www.allinplace.ca

The recent Earth Hour and Earth Day inspired me to write this Blog entry about the importance of incorporating ‘green’ and sustainable solutions and alternatives into the event planning process.

The actions involved in preserving the environment are the essence of a team-building activity. Today, more and more companies are looking for ‘green’ initiatives to become more socially-responsible to the overall global environment.

Tim Hortons has encouraged its employees to give back to the business community by hosting an annual clean-up day. At Toronto’s KPMG LLP, volunteer employees have implemented recycling programs (including cellphones and eyeglasses), moved to fair-trade coffee and replaced bottle water with filtered water. The employees at Nature’s Path Food Inc., in Richmond, British Columbia maintain a large organic staff garden with composting bins and an outdoor eating area.

With summer around the corner, companies looking for new teambuilding ideas have many to choose from. Instead of the usual corporate summer picnic, why not embrace ‘mother nature’ and help clean-up the world we live in. Approach your local City Council or Charities to see what parks and facilities could use a ‘refreshing makeover’. Your employee group could help clean, build or landscape a local children’s playground or retirement living home. Or paint over graffiti covered walls with a coat of eco-friendly paint, or better yet an earth-inspired mural. And for their efforts, treat them to an all-organic, locally-grown lunch served with eco-friendly bamboo utensils and disposables. According to the Spring 2011 issue of BizBash Magazine, there are several outdoor-friendly items from seating to serving ware that may be rented or purchased for your socially-conscious event.

So, be kind to your team members and the Earth, every day. Get out there and enjoy the fresh air and team work! Earth Day is not just one day, it’s every day. All the while, recognizing you are doing your part to help make this world a better place – for future generations to come.

(Source: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/managing/top-employers/green-employers/canadas-top-50-greenest-employers/article1994680/)

By: Rosita Carobelli-Zukowski of All in Place Communications and Event Planning

www.allinplace.ca

Will you be watching the Royal Event of the Year?!!?  I’m anticipating the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. As an event planner, I will be paying close attention to the details that will make this fairy-tale wedding come true. I must admit that I’m both envious and nervous for the event planner(s) organizing this significant event on April 29th.

With every event, whether it’s corporate or social, all the details must be checked, double-checked and triple-checked to ensure a successful outcome. Plan A and B (even Plan C) must also be well-thought out in the case of last-minute changes beyond one’s control. Weather, sickness, and delays all must be taken into consideration.

The pressure of executing an everyday wedding, fundraiser or gala is already high, so you can imagine the responsibility of planning the Royal Wedding of England’s future King and Queen!  All the world’s eyes will be watching!

However, the same theory of event planning is needed in planning this upcoming historic day.

Ongoing communication is critical with the clients, all vendors and suppliers involved, and continually confirming and following-up on changes and last-minute details. It is also important to be working closely as a team, delegating tasks and responsibilities, and ensuring all payments are being handled appropriately.

Event planning is detail-oriented, it takes a keen, intuitive and creative eye – you have to love what you do! It’s more than a 9-5 job; you’re always “on” trying to be prepared for a worst-case scenario. Hours and hours go into planning which is not always evident to the intended audience.

All these crucial steps are involved in delivering a memorable event – even if you are not part of the Royal Family. In the end, each event is special and important in its own way. Especially to those attending, and of course, to those directly involved celebrating in their moment.

Congratulations Prince William and Kate!

By: Rosita Carobelli-Zukowski of All in Place Communications and Event Planning

www.allinplace.ca

I recently made a group presentation on personal branding and the influence of social media.

As a co-chair, I was responsible in leading the other committee members on deadlines and expectations. My co-chair and I were in constant communication with each other and with the others, making sure no information was left out.

The objective of the presentation was to educate the audience a little more on the importance of using social media tactics to effectively enhance one’s personal brand and reputation. We divided the presentation into various sections including a personal brand tool kit. We delegated sections of the presentation providing an outline of what each slide’s topic was to be highlighted. Each member had their own approach to researching their individual topic. Hours of preparation and dedication were evident from the start to the finished product.

When presentation day came, we all presented our individual parts, each one of us contributing to the overall flow of the presentation. Different speaking voices, stances and addresses all contributed to executing a well-put together presentation. This captured the audience’s attention as well as impressed them with some newfound knowledge they weren’t familiar with before they walked through the door.

Teambuilding is a synergy of minds and personalities that come together to collaborate on something whether it’s an event, presentation or project.

That’s what this group did!

Everyone knew the importance of this presentation and how their individual participation reflected back to each of their own personal brands. Everyone likes working with team players (makes life a lot easier!), and everyone would like to be considered as one in respect to their own individual personal brand.

It’s about attitude, commitment and collaboration.  Some people have it, some people strive for it, but no matter what, we all have control over our personal brand and reputation.  Your personal brand speaks in the actions you convey and the results that follow.

By Nate Baumgart: Production Coordinator At Corporate Event Interactive

Most people  here in Chicago probably vote January as their least favorite month. The days are at their shortest, it’s bitterly cold and the only holiday to look forward to is Groundhog Day.  But March is much worse. Not warm enough to be comfortable, not cold enough to bundle up, you feel like you should be outside, but everything is grey and dead.  The only thing March has going for it is that the summer’s adventure hunt calendar begins to take shape and I can spend my time imagining all the running, biking, mud crawling, wall climbing, puzzle solving and costuming I will be doing this summer.

A quick roundup of some of the region’s best races should help you (and me) decide what to take on as we inch into warmer weather.

The 24 Hour Film Race

If you have worked on a film set before you are well aware that it involves just as much problem solving frustration and exhausting exertion as an adventure race. Though the race is technically an international competition, Chicago is on the cities holding premiere screenings and its own local competition. Filmmakers and their teams will have 24 hours to write, film and edit a 4 minute (max) movie. Top 24 films based on regional competition go to New York in July to compete for prizes! Check out winners from 2010,2009, 2008 and 2007.

Who: Fledgling Fellinis, Junior Jarmuschs, Kiddy Kubricks

When: 10p Friday April 29th to 9:59p Saturday April 30th

Where: Anywhere!

How Much: $89 until March 31, 2011, then $99. To participate in the separate city of Chicago competition: $40 until March 31, 2011 then $50. Register here.

What you get: First Prize in NYC is $4,000 other prizes will be detailed at a later date.

Urban Assault Ride

As a year-round urban bicyclist, I must admit that there is no summer challenge race I look forward to more than the Urban Assault Ride. Hosted byNew Belgium Beer these events always sponsor a local charity. This year it’s “Break the Gridlock” a Chicago charity devoted to reducing car dependence. Teams of two receive packets of clues leading to various locations throughout the city. Each location has a separate challenge and the team to complete them all the fastest wins. Racers must bike and they must wear helmets the entire time. Previous years challenges have included: adult big wheels, bike jousting, mini bikes, BMX peg rides and inflatable slip-N-slides among others. Better yet, every part of the event is sustainably managed and New Belgium provides the after party.

Who: Earth Lovers, Beer Lovers, People Who Can’t Afford Gas

When: May 22, 2011

Where: Murphy’s Bleachers 3655 North Sheffield Chicago IL 60613

How Much: $45 a person until May 8, 2011, then $60 a person. Registerhere.

What You Get: a T-Shirt, a zip bag, snacks and refreshments, a beer, an Urban Assault sticker and raffel tickets for over $5000 in prizes.

Warrior Dash

The same folks behind The Great Urban Race put up this decidedly non-urban mud race complete with military-style obstacle challenges. This race is everyman (or woman) for themselves, but you are invited to compete with friends and costumes are encouraged. There are two in the Midwest this year but only one in Illinois. The race is 3.28 “Hellish” miles of trail running. Obstacles include: climbing hay bales, crawling through pitch black mud trenches, climbing cargo nets and leaping over flames among others. If you want more info about the obstacles, too bad. The info here is all you get till race day. (You can skip obstacles, but it makes you ineligible for prizes).

Who: Warriors (obviously)

When: June 18th 0r 19th

Where: Dollinger Farms 7502 East Hansel Road IL, 60410

How Much: $65 for Saturday $55 for Sunday until May 22, 2011 then $75 and $65. Final registration June 6, 2011. Register here.

What You Get: All competitors get: a beer, a fuzzy warrior helmet, a Warrior Dash T-shirt, a medal, a race bib, post race snacks and water. Top three finishers overall receive an engraved steel warrior helmet. Top three in each division receive steel warrior helmet trophy.

Great Urban Race

Great Urban Race is a half day race (a quarter day if you’re good) that promises to challenge you mentally, physically and mass transit-ically. The race typically takes about 3 hours (top finishers do it in half that time). Teams of two (or more in the Family Division) are given an envelope of 12 clues that lead to locations. Travel is by foot or transit only. Each location has a challenge; a maze, a game, a brain-teaser or a public challenge. Time penalties are given at the end for incorrect clues or incomplete challenges. Team theming and costuming is probably the most notable aspect of this hunt. Teams of pirates, Muppets, sci-fi characters and more are out in full force every year! Great Urban Race is put up by Red Frog Events the folks behind the Warrior Dash (detailed below).

Who: People who have always wanted to dress like Bert and Ernie/Abbot and Costello and ride the el.

When: July 23, 2011 12p-5p

Where: Joe’s on Weed: 1840 N. Clybourn Ave. Chicago IL 60614

How Much: $50 per person until June 27, 2011, then $60. Register here.

What You Get: All racers receive t-shirts and snacks, winners receive cash and free entry to the championship round in New Orleans in November.

Berryman Adventure Race

Details for this year’s race haven’t been set, but with 12 or 36 hour courses you can be sure that this is one serious challenge. This year’s course will be in the Mark Twain National Forest in the Ozarks. Last year the 12 hour course required 20-35 miles of mountain biking, 7-15 miles of running/bushwacking and 5-15 miles of paddling and close to three times that much for the 36. Teams are two to four people. Routes are not provided and teams are required to navigate on their own with map and compass. The race is part of the Checkpoint Tracker National Point Series and does attract professional competitors. Typically there’s a carb loading meal the night before, it’s highly recommended. The event is promoted by Bonk Hard Racing. Check their website for details later in the spring.

Who: Masochist Outdoorsmen, Eco-Challenge Amateurs,  People on First Dates (KIDDING!)

When: September 24-25, 2011

Where: TBD Missouri

How Much: Last year it was $100-120 for the 12 hour $160-200 for the 36 hour. Registration details for this year have not yet been posted.

What You Get: BRAGGING RIGHTS! Trophy, outdoor gear, points for the Checkpoint Tracker National Series.

Hope you enjoyed the round-up and hope to see you out there this summer!

by Rosita Carobelli-Zukowski, All in Place Communications and Event Planning

A new year brings new challenges. Now more than ever, it’s important to challenge oneself. Whether it’s on your own or in a team setting, pushing oneself is critical to self-development. The dictionary definition of motivation is ‘the desire to do; an interest or drive’. I don’t know why, but people tend to push themselves more within a team-setting and tend to have more fun as a result.

In one of my previous marketing and event planning work experiences, I was responsible for organizing an annual sales meeting for a sales force of 35+ salesmen, senior and middle management and corporate guests. Each year, as a team of 3-4, we would collaborate together in planning the logistics of the sales meeting, especially the fun part, evening activities. After full days of discussing important matters, it was just as important for all the attendees to unwind and socialize together. From bowling to go-karting, each team pulled together, with each team member contributing their own individual strengths. All done in fun, the element of friendly-competition brings out the best in everyone (most of the time!)

Other team-building activities that come to mind include paintball, dodge ball or basketball tournaments, chili or hot soup cook-offs, or even cooking classes – how does learning to marinate the best steak in town sound to you? Any one of these can bring team players together when working towards a final goal. It is just as important to stimulate any team out of the office as well as within the corporate boardroom.