One of My Favorites!

The Campus YMCA's are across the country. We all offer something different, but we all have one program in common. Alternative Spring Break (ASB).

ASB, is when a group of students go to a place where there is need in some way. We don't have a particular place that we go every year. When LU's Campus YMCA first started their trip for several years was going to Mississippi and working doing hurricane Katrina relief. For two years the Campus Y went not during Spring Break but during J-term.


In the spring of 2008 LU's Campus Y took 10 volunteers to the Lake of the Ozarks, right here in Missouri. Many people don't think of the lake as being a place in need, but when it is not a tourist season the city is really different.


The volunteers slept on the floor of a local church that hosted them during their week stay. The group worked doing lake clean up, trash clean up in local areas, and also did yard work for some elderly members of the church. When the group wasn't cleaning, they helped with youth activities at the church as a mentoring program.

In the Spring of 2009, LU will take six volunteers to Cincinnati, OH for spring break. While there the group will work with an organization that helps with poverty and homelessness in the Cincinnati area.

The YMCA tries to make these trips affordable to all students. A majority of the Campus YMCA fundraisers go toward the ASB. This helps pay for fees, gas, insurance, etc.

The next LU Campus YMCA fundraiser, will be on Wednesday December 17th. The Campus YMCA will provide a lunch of donated foods from local restaurants for the LU staff since the cafe will be closed.

Where it all started....

Since I am doing my blog about the YMCA I think I will start with why it has been so important to me. I joined Lindenwood Campus YMCA immediately when I transferred to Lindenwood my sophomore year of college. I had met this girl named Jessica over the summer before I transferred to LU and she told me about the YMCA. She told me it was a service organization on campus that was completely student run. I was looking for a way to meet people and it was a bonus that in the midst of that I had an opportunity to help others.

So, it began. I joined the Campus YMCA work and learn and slowly but surely got to know everyone. The Campus YMCA is different then your local YMCA. Our motto on our shirt is "No Pool, No Gym, Just Service" because that is what we are about. The Campus Y is new to Lindenwood, this only being its 5th year in operation.

LU Campus YMCA and Washington University Campus YMCA are often paired together, because we are run by the same director. In many ways the Wash U Campus Y is a brother/sister relationship for us. We invite each other to events and if we need advice we call on one another. We are a family. Not just our different branches, but the YMCA in general.

We all have the same passion in life. Helping others. Through the YMCA I have been able to develop, not only in leadership abilities and learning how to work as a non-profit organization, but as a person. The YMCA instills strong values and have helped me with my own character development.

Everyday with the YMCA is a learning experience. I meet people in all walks of life somehow involved, that inspire me. I know the YMCA impacts me, but I am not alone...Campus YMCA's affect us...Gen Y.

YMCA Love

Pepsi or Coke?

 Product: Pepsi

 Year: 2002
 BBDO-Barton, Durstine & Osborn.

I remember when this ad came out and just stopping and watching the television. I think the reason why I liked it was because it was selling a product, but it really gave me something to watch. It is almost like watching a music video. It gets my attention because of the singing and dancing but also because of Britney Spears. I remember at the time of the ad she was huge and it seemed like she was everywhere. The puffery I noticed is in the lyrics of the song. “The joy of Pepsi” is actually a statement that isn’t really logical or true because I don’t think just by drinking Pepsi it will bring joy to your life. Maybe your life will be better for a second and you will be joyous because you are no longer thirsty.
The ad I think is not only selling Pepsi products, but also Britney Spears. If you watch it they do play off of her sex appeal. There is a close up of her abs. Also, I think the way she is dressed and her make up is done gives the impression that she is a form of perfection so drinking Pepsi will help you to be like her.
The ad I think was first shown during the super bowl. If the appeal was to target a diverse group I think they succeeded, because even people that never watch football will watch the Super Bowl. I also think that the ad was later shown during television shows that targeted teens. I remember seeing the ad on MTV, so I do think they had a specific age group to target and probably specific girls like me.
I don’t think I gave in and bought the product because I have always loved coke. However, I did love the commercials and I always thought Pepsi was pretty creative with their advertising.

Rift

Rift Fournier
Lindenwood has the pleasure of having an amazing professor, and story teller right here on it’s main campus. A man by the name of Rift Fournier a professor in the Communications department is charming, insightful, and full of personality. Rift told our class he got his name as a result of a fight between his parents. Just like his name Rift is unique in many ways.
He talked to our class about the importance of reading in life and in the media profession. Rift also mentioned to our class that because of technological advances he would not be surprised if the book industry eventually is completely electronic.


Rift talked to us about having original ideas when writing and he made the comment “The best creative people know how to steal.” He made it clear he was not talking about plagiarism but realizing that you gather ideas from what you read and what you are exposed to. He also mentioned how he believes life in the Mid West is very beneficial because you are surrounded by the world and different life styles.
Rift shared with our class his past and what lead him to where he is now. He told us about when he first went to college he was majoring in pre-medicine and by the end of the first year reconsidered. He also told us about how he tried law school and was of the top students in his class and then during his junior year decided it was not for him.
Aside from interesting education changes Rift also told us about working as a deputy and working in the city morgue. Both jobs I am sure inspired some stories in his writing.


When Rift went to New York and wrote comedy he learned that if you want the job, you need to be creative. In his own words “Impress the hell outta somebody.” When we talked about television and the changes that have occurred that are in the process of changing Rift noted the obvious changes in content of television but he also mentioned the idea of no longer having local television. We are such a internet age that television is bound to change. When offering advice about writing for television Rift said, “Make stuff audiences like and you will do well.”
“The biggest secret to being successful is being open” said Rift. I could not agree with this statement more and I think it is a big part of what we are learning as college students. Be open.

Election Video----YOUR VOTE COUNTS

Hey Guys,
Well, we will see if anyone reads this but I thought it was hilarious.
My sister sent me this video...Basically you can add what ever name you want and then e-mail to that person.

Sorry this is political............
Enjoy it.

What is your favorite BLOG?

A blog that I have only recently started to visit called Daily AgencySpy Feed and is through Media Bistro. It is sad to say this but I feel like I like visiting it because in a sense it reminds me of a gossip blog. The blog I ready most recently is called “The Double Standard of USA Today” This blog was really short and to the point. It talked about USA today not running a Candie’s Foundation add that talks about the problem of teen pregnancy. The reason being that they did not want to offend their readers.
However, the blogger argues that the PSA’s will be aired during the CW’s Gossip Girl, which is known for scandalous teen sex. USA today does not have a problem with offending anyone and buying ad time (supporting) this show.
Since I have only recently followed this blog I would say that I was attracted to it because it seems like it is honest. It is also written in a sarcastic tone which I also think is able to draw people back especially young people. The reason I think this way of writing works is because the audience is left with the feeling “I wonder what they will write next?”

Below is the PSA they didn't want to run because of fear of offending people.