May the CC'd be with you.

Hi All,

Last week I discovered a very powerful button that exists in the email world. If used properly this button has the potential to apply high amounts of FORCE and LIGHT on issues that were previously in the DARK. I did know of this email option previous to this internship, however it capacity and strength I knew little of.

This powerful button is commonly known as the CC'd option on your email application that allows emails to be adressed to one person....but viewed by many.

The beauty of this button is that it has the potential to show senior management in your organisation that you are carrying out

When used efficiently and in the right way this button can speed up the process of getting jobs done in the corporate world; as it allows all managers to be on the same page and, can subsequently, cut through the bureaucracy at the workplace.

Just like the mastering of the light saber the CC'd button requires skill to use. If used incorrectly the use of this email phenomenon can back fire and could end up shining the bring light on your personal short falls.

With great power comes great responsibility, and on this note the CC'd button should be not be treated lightly. 

May the CC's be with you and good luck erveryone for the rest of their interships.

Till next time.

Jamie Lobo

Keep your finger on the pulse.........

Hi All,

If I had to value all the lessons I have learned in my placement so far, one of the most valuable would be the importance of always keeping your "finger on the pulse". This lesson is all about energy, motivation and personal drive.

My boss and mentor, Lisa Garside, six months ago on my first day at St Pat's stressed the importance of always keeping your "finger on the pulse". When I first started, back then, I did not really understand the importance of this. To keep your finger on the pulse, simply, means to keep up to date and stay in tune with everything that is going on; professionally and personally, as once you lose touch of what is happening projects begin to fail.

The reason I speak of  this 'pulse' phenomenon is because yesterday night was a prime example of what could go wrong if you lose touch. Last night was St Pat's Rack,  second ever,  'Jazz Themed Sales Night' and, as our team has been very stretched with commitments, very little time was placed into marketing and organizing the event.

As a result of the little energy we placed into the event, we expected, that very few people would show up to the event and it would be a non-event....... Surprise!!!!! It was busy as hell and turned out to be incredibly hectic and one of our biggest sales days;  raising over $1500. As we did not have our finger on the pulse we were shocked and for the whole night we were running around like headless chooks; making sales and organising food and drinks for our guests. It was extremely lucky that we had an extremely dedicated team of volunteers to assist us in all our matters.

In the end the night did run smoothly, however  it was a reality check for me which taught me the importance if keeping the finger on the pulse for all projects; not just the big ones, as it can be the small events that pull you apart.

Anyone have any similar experiences?

Peace

Jamie Lobo

"Fremantle's Got Talent"

Hi Guys,

St Patrick's Community Support Centre offers a wide array of services and programs to the local and surrounding community. One of the unique programs that we run at the centre is the choir. The choir is made up of the community centres clients and is called the " Starlight Hotel Choir".

Recently the choir auditioned for Australia's Got Talent and their performance blew the judges away. The executive producer of the show advised us that our choir was one of the top contenders from the Western Australian auditions. It may  have not been the quality of the choir that blew the judges away, although they are amazing, but instead the potential emotional appeal this choir could have of national television audiences.

As a result the public relations team at St Pat's has gone into overdrive, preparing for the national publicity that would come if the choir was to make it onto national television. If the homeless choir was to make it through the rounds of the competition, then we will have a great opportunity to raise awareness of our organization and also the issue of homelessness.

We are frantically organizing merchandise for the choir, to sell, along with preparing press releases, individual choir member profiles and news stories that can run alongside the choir's performances.

It's an exciting opportunity to be involved in and I wish the Starlight Hotel Choir the best.

Hopefully we can raise awareness on the issues of homelessness and vital funds for the homeless centre.

Chat Soon

Jamie Lobo

What a relief!!!!!!!

As I continued to progress through my public relations degree, at Curtin University, I had pieced together a mental picture of the professional lifestyle that awaited me as a PR graduate . I was not to excited. I had envisioned a job that was full of media releases, pr plans and more media releases. As an individual that thrived on energy, creativity and unpredictability , the thought of a simply structure, 9-5, office job scared me.

I had come to the conclusion that if the abnormally high levels of caffeine wouldn't force me out of university through sickness than repetition that came through the public relations coursework syllables most probably would.

I was half way through my second last semester of university ( October 2012) when I  decided that I wanted  to get involved in volunteering. I contacted multiple non-for-profit organizations and was knocked back by majority. One of the last organizations that I contacted was St Patrick's Community Support Centre. This non-for profit was an organization that offered services and housing for the homeless community of Fremantle and the surrounding southern suburbs.

I spoke to the manager of the Public Realtions team Lisa Garside and told her that I was university student looking to volunteer at the centre. After a set of meetings I was brought on as a volunteer public relations officer.

Ever since my first day in that office my negative view towards the public relations profession has changed.

Our team at the organization is responsible for pr, marketing, advertising, event management,  aspects of finance and hr, along with logistics and brand development. The energy and vibes that are created in the office promote and foster creative and out-of-the-box thinking, whilst also adopting traditional PR approaches.

Since October I have been promoted from a volunteer to a part-time team member and as a team of four we have accomplished many things including:

• Designing, setting up and managing a vintage clothing store, St Pat's Rack ( Check on Facebook)
• Promoting and building the brand of  the "Starlight Hotel Choir"
• Hosting Federal Minsters and other V.I.P's at our organizational HQ's
• Providing marketing and PR support for the entire organiastion

Although I found the PR elements of my double major at times laborious and utterly boring I can now appreciate the importance that they play in your development as a PR professional.  Not only did these PR units teach me and ingrain in my mind essential PR skills, but they also taught me the essential skills of professional communication.

This is all for now.

Till next time.

Jamie Lobo