I write many parodies for guest speakers and colleagues at Rotary but this time I wrote one for myself. It is to the tune of "That's Entertainment" (from the MGM musical The Band Wagon and later used in MGM's 1970s compilation of its great musicals from the 30s ,40s and 50s).


A Salute to Public Relations The Tune: That’s Entertainment

I have the most wonderful job Stand above all the rest of the mob How to help the most ne’er do well slob? Public Relations!



Your firm could be right on the brink Your own mom comes and tells you: You stink! What to do? That’s the time you should think: Public Relations!



You stand all alone with your back to the wall. You’re low as can be. You got nowhere to fall. Get up! Start running! Don’t crawl In the worst kind of snafu It’s me who can help you.



The spin, not the shape you are in Helps you win friends so time to begin I’ll treat you like the dearest of kin If you’re up a tree Call Tom Hogarty Public Relations!
 
 
     It's a corollary to the parable of the shoemaker's family being the last to have decent footwear. Public Relations people often take a back seat at noting their own accomplishments.

     Six years ago I conducted a Roundtable Forum on behalf of the Escondido Chamber of Commerce to focus on what additional programs the Chamber could institute to better serve it members. The consensus: while the Business After 5 monthly mixers were a good networking tool, members wanted a more one-on-one program. The result: Business Before 9, a morning networking breakfast. I volunteered to be the master of ceremonies. That was in November 2004.
Typically limited to a reservations-required gathering of 30 Chamber members per meeting, the event's popularity was established from the get-go. Next event is Friday Jan 22 at Romano's Macaroni Grill. Thanks to Romano's for hosting and for the co-chair efforts of realtor Judy Jessup and insurance specialist Paul Smith--plus for the early efforts of Nick Macias.

Publicity anyone? Latest results:San Diego Business Journal's Newsmakers report on CPA Scott Peck, who recently formed his own CPA firm.

Plus..I don't want to brag *but *take a look at the website just created for IGN Corporation. It's at http://corp.ign.com by my son-in-law Nicholas Ryan Macias. Yeah, he's the son of the Macias mentioned above. Truly creative stuff!

Happy 2010. My New Year's Resolution as immediate past board chair of the Escondido Chamber of Commerce is to continue to be a recovering volunteer and to continue to serve my clients by keeping the focus on results instead of the process.

Tom