Update...Sort of

Hello all. I wanted to get this post out before we left for our vacation later this week. I know it sounds like I am constantly bitching and moaning, but, well, I am. I have a major presentation to make to this manufacturer and if I cannot manage to garner even a hundred supporters for the cause, and we're not even asking for a penny, then what kind of believability will I bring to the presentation, other than being a laughing stock.

For the last couple of weeks, I have really put a great deal of energy into promoting our cause on Facebook. From just my own creation of the interest group, "Help Save Chimp Eden From Fire," we've gained 45 members.

Now as good as that sounds, honestly, it sucks! The "cause" has been posted on Animal Planet's Facebook "wall" and I have even become friends with Philip. In my message asking him to add me as a friend, I explained what we are trying to do and why. While he did add me to his friend's list, there was no additional message of any kind.

The other problem is that there few if any emails or comments on the blog. So perhaps, on a good day, if the wind is blowing the right way, we may, may...have close to 100 "sponsors," people that actually give a damn about the jobs that the great Jane Goodall, Philip, Eugene, and all the crew of Chimp Eden, do. For to me, if you follow this blog, or read about our cause on Facebook and do nothing, you're no different than the poachers, the bush-meat hunters, and the enablers and abusers of chimps and other animals. And I'll bet that many of you, who read this blog or have read our cause on Facebook, have a dog or cat, a bird or a boa.

I'm not asking you for money. This isn't a telethon to raise money for Stevie's kids (although...nevermind...a different time and place). This is a crusade to help you understand what fire can do. And I'll wager that many of you have personally experienced the effects of a fire, either personally or through a family member or acquaintance. I was a firefighter for eight years. Believe me, I don't have to be on a preserve in South Africa to know about fire, what it does and its after effects. Add to that the human toll that fire takes, whether on the fireground itself, after the fight, or even in practice, as so terribly happened to Johann at Chimp Eden, there is no reason why hundreds, if not thousands or even tens of thousands of signs of support (SOS) are not coming in right now.

Listen, we both know that I could have set up both this blog and the Facebook cause to collect money and tell you that you can "trust me" to bring this money to the meeting. But you don't know me from Adam! Why then, would you even consider making a cash contribution to someone you do not know?

I mentioned on my recent post on the Facebook "cause wall" that perhaps some of you, the reader, know a better way or a different way, to advertise this blog or our Facebook cause. You don't need to ask me for permission, just POST IT!!!!! All I ask is you let us ALL know what you have done and where. This way, we can all share in the experience as we nurture and "grow" our cause. Remember, this is a free and simple way for you to help make this world a better place.

I'm off on vacation for a couple of weeks. I'll be trying to check in as we find Internet cafes and the like. So remain vigilant and dedicated to our goal. Light a candle in memory of Johann and in your prayers, tell him we are trying very hard to honor his work, his dedication, and his ultimate sacrifice to Chimp Eden.

Till next time...

Mixed Messages

I must admit that I am less sure about this effort, or at least, anyone else's effort, than ever before. Now it
may well be my own fault for dropping the ball last summer. I worked up a frenzy
for this cause and then, for lack of a better phrase, walked away from it. With
that in mind, I've tried to re-energize the campaign and made a new commitment, publicly, to make a
stronger effort and hopefully, see it through its success.

So why am I
down? Because for whatever reason, the message is falling, for the most part, on
deaf ears. There are but a couple of comments on this blog. I've become more
involved with Facebook, not only
by posting our information in my own profile, but by creating a Facebook "cause," of the same title as
this blog. No, I still refuse to ask for donations. All I do ask for is pubic
support. That support can be in the form of emails to me directly, comments on
the blog or on the "cause" wall and people who are recruited and "join" the
cause.

Beyond that, all I ask is to talk it up with your own friends, be
they on Facebook, MySpace, or even on a poster on the wall
of the Post Office. But understand, without the ability to demonstrate to a
manufacturer, massive public and fan support for the issue, they'll will simply
say, "No thanks, Steve," and we're dead in the water. Why should they care, if
the public doesn't?

Add to the new commitment mentioned above is the fact that
this September, I have learned that I will have the definite opportunity to meet with one of the U.S.'s
premier fire apparatus manufacturers. But what good will if do if the interest
and support isn't there?

As computer-familiar as I am, able to build one
from scratch, update, memory, processor chips, install or remove components, and
use almost any software off the shelf, I know little of marketing a "cause" to
the public, especially to a very narrowly focused target audience. Thus if you
are more experienced, please feel free to assist and provide me with directions,
instructions, and advice.

We also need to reach the viewers and fans of
Animal Planet's "Escape to Chimp Eden." So if any of you have connections there
or are well versed in posting to the fan boards and/or discussions, again, I'll
bow to your prowess. Feel free to get our message out there, where I believe, it
will do the most good.

Let's be frank, without "all 'youse' guys," this effort will be a
flop. And as a former firefighter, I'm having a tough time accepting that
Johann's passing will have been in vain.

Thank you.

Till next
time...

Wisconsin is a go!

I received an email from my client in Wisconsin that has confirmed my trip there in September and will allow me to stay the twelve days between the two holidays. This extra time off will allow me the opportunity to meet with one, if not two major manufacturers of fire apparatus during the week that I'm relaxing.

So now, more than ever, we need the grass roots support that I can show to them the interest we have managed to create to support the concept of providing professional firefighting apparatus to Chimp Eden.

I nominate Cozi for Honorary Chief!

Till next time....

Expanding Our Effort

Recently, I have begun using "Facebook" more and more. The primary reason is that I have been able to find numerous friends and associates from college, hobbies, and past employment. So I thought, where better to create a "cause" that could be seen by the whole wide world. Thus was created the, "Help Save "Chimp Eden" From Fire," official cause on Facebook.

To find it and join up, just search causes on Facebook for the name, or send me a note with your email and I'll send you an invitation to join. The goal, of course, is to bring this cause to as many people as possible and rally their support through emails and postings. The more we have, the more "ammunition" I will have for a meeting that is planned for this September with a major apparatus manufacturer.

So c'mon aboard!

SteveG