On Law & Order or better still, Perry Mason (black and white version), jurors always look attentive and engaged – some even taking notes.  Do you think that they had to be dragged kicking and screaming, moaning and groaning into those courtrooms the way that thousands of other people are every day? 

And, while the US is experiencing a period of low crime rates (as is the case in NYC) there are still thousands and thousands of trials for crimes big and small that must be held year round to conduct the business of law and order and justice.  These very same trials need dedicated and engaged jurors and from my perspective that’s getting harder to accomplish.  

Why is it such a shock when we get that jury notification in the mail?  For most, it’s something akin to the draft (if it still existed) or an IRS audit. 

Why do we all (mostly) dread jury duty so much?  Certainly there’s the inconvenience (and it is inconvenient), the sitting around waiting for something to happen, the often inefficiency of the process and the disruption in the routine of our lives.  Is there more to it than that?

I’ve been called for jury duty six times in the 30 years that I’ve lived in New York

In this room of approximately 150 people there were several veterans, but mostly newbies.   We all seemed to have the same concerns:  what kind of case and how long will it take?

Most judges tell perspective jurors a little about the case before the voir dire jury selection process starts. This almost always triggers the first inkling of concern about sitting in judgement of someone else and making decisions based on “reasonable doubt”,  “circumstantial evidence” and credibility of witnesses.  It’s not a normal day at work and no one went to jury school to learn how to do this job.

Almost everyone who appears for jury duty comes with some scheme to get out of it.  Remarkably, the system is very fair to people who have legitimate reasons that they can’t serve.  I’m pained, however, when I hear people making stupid remarks or lying (stupidly) to get excused, which might get them out of a particular case but doesn’t get them off jury duty.  I’m especially appalled when people presume defendants are guilty because they wouldn’t be in the court room in the first place if they “hadn’t done it.” 

And yet, to be judged by our peers in a court of law is our best and only system for determining guilt or innocence.  How many times have you heard: “let the court decide”? 

As we were leaving the court house yesterday, one man who has sat on three trials said that he found these experiences interesting in that in each instance he had learned something about the law or human nature, that he was impressed with the seriousness of everyone involved in the trial no matter how small or minor the crime, that he was treated with respect by the judges and the lawyers and that the defendants, even if they were convicted, were well served. 

I don’t think that we can expect more than that from any system that has to serve the needs of millions of people on a daily basis.  To be judged by our peers means that we have to show up, put our prejudices aside, pay attention to the law and use some brain cells that we might not usually employ. 

So, suck it up and serve as a juror.  It’s often flawed and sometimes wrong but it mostly separates the bad guys from the good guys and that’s good enough for me. 

-Virginia Sheridan, President

Rodriguez, Francoeur and Pelfry joined the Humane Society’s volunteers and staff to walk and play with the shelter’s dogs. Rodriguez even came close to walking away with a new best friend—a dachshund puppy -- who he later discovered already had a future owner.

“Teammates in the Community Week” began on June 22^nd and will continue until June 27^th -- the eve of the National Conference on Volunteering and Community Service -- when the Mets will join Mayor Michael Bloomberg in a Service Day at Citi Field to highlight the power of volunteering.

At the beginning of the week, Mayor Bloomberg spoke about NYC Service pairing potential volunteers with projects that match their interests, which is how dog-lovers Rodriguez, Francoeur, and Pelfry came to work with the Mayor’s Alliance, a coalition of more than 160 animal-rescue groups and shelters working to end the killing of healthy and treatable animals in New York.

Pictured from left to right: Francisco Rodriguez, Jeff Francoeur, and Mike Pelfry with adorable adoptable dogs.

 
Francisco Rodriguez, Mike Pelfry, and Jeff Francoeur join Humane Society volunteers, and Mets fans, at the Humane Society shelter.

 
Pictured from left to right: Jeff Francoeur, Mike Pelfry, and Francisco Rodriguez with the Humane Society’s volunteers, staff, and adoptable little New Yorkers

Actor Zach Braff pets adoptable dog at Adoptapalooza in

Washington Square Park on May 22

On Saturday, May 22, dozens of adoptable dogs and cats took Washington Square by storm, winning the hearts of hundreds of animal loving New Yorkers eager to adopt, or just “dogle,” at the first annual Adoptapalooza. This exciting pet adoption event, orchestrated by M. Silver Associates for its client, the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals, was a huge success as over 50 lucky doggies and kitties from Sean Casey Animal Rescue, Animal Care & Control of NYC and the Picasso Fund of the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals, found new loving homes – making NYC one-step closer to their “no-kill” goal.

A number of celebs stopped by to show their love of animals including, actor Zach Braff, from the hit TV series “Scrubs;” Tinsley Mortimer, Manhattan socialite and star of CW’s “High Society;” LX-TV New York’s Maria Sansone, host of the weekly rescue segment, “Maria’s Pet Project;” Prince Lorenzo Borghese, a pet lover and founder of “Royal Treatment”-- a line of natural pet grooming products, who also starred on Season 9 of ABC’s hit show “The Bachelor;” Shallon Lester and Sarah "Klo" McLynn from MTV’s New Summer Show “Downtown Girls” (premieres June 1 at 11pm MTV) and indie-rock darlings, Care Bears on Fire.

Media highlights included: WNBC-TV/ LXTV Adoptapalooza segment with Tinsley Mortimer; an interview w/Jane Hoffman, president of the Mayor’s Alliance on WCBS-TV “News Saturday Morning;” and TV mentions on WNBC-TV “Saturday Today in New York,” WABC-TV “Eyewitness News 6:00PM” and WABC-TV “Eyewitness News This Morning.” Radio highlights include an interview w/Jane Hoffman on WINS-AM and WCBS-AM, as well as mentions on WWFS-FM. Print highlights include coverage in the New York Times, Time Out New York, am New York, and the New York Daily News, as well as over 90 additional hits in key online outlets including: www.DailyCandy.com, www.Gothamist.com, www.Style.com, www.Life.com, www.Examiner.com, www.NYDailyNews.com, www.JustJared.com, www.CNN.com, www.RadarOnline.com and many more!

It’s never too late to adopt or foster a pet, volunteer or donate to the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals! Please visit: http://www.animalalliancenyc.org for information about how you can get involved!

Fan Adoptapalooza on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#!/adoptapalooza?ref=ts

M. Silver was thrilled to have the always classy star Bebe Neuwirth, known for her roles on Cheers and Frasier and currently starring on the Broadway hit show, “The Addams Family”, accept our invitation to be part of the official opening celebration of Eventi, A Kimpton Hotel, Tuesday, June 8 in New York’s North Chelsea neighborhood.   Bebe helped Deputy Mayor Robert Lieber and top executives from Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants and the property’s ownership team  open the hotel with a special floral garland cutting ceremony on the new hotel’s spectacular fifth floor terrace on June 8, 2010.

The dedication ceremony paid tribute to the North Chelsea neighborhood, with a public Flower Market outside the hotel that brought together some of the most talented florists from New York's famous Flower Market district.   Homage to the neighborhood continued on Eventi’s fifth floor terrace, with a crowd-pleasing cultural performance including a ceremonial blessing from a Korean Buddhist nun of the Manhattan Chogyesa Temple and a traditional hour glass dance by the “little angels” of the Korean Traditional Performing Arts Association. 

Guests sipped floral infused cocktails and were invited on guided hotel tours with some LIVE surprises along the way including a Richard Simmons impersonator in the fitness center, a Joan Crawford impersonator in the boardroom and a video installation from artist Jennifer Steinkamp in the hotel’s Veranda suite. Tours also took a look at the hotel’s guest rooms and suites which showcased some of Kimpton’s signature amenities including a pet-friendly room featuring Peter the Poodle, a dog who is up for adoption from another client of M Silver, the NYC Mayors Alliance for Animals.

We wanted to share with you a photo of the ceremonial cutting of an intricate floral garland on the Eventi’s 5th Floor Terrace featuring Bebe with Kimpton Executives and NYC officials.

Hope to see you all soon at Eventi!

When our Aruba client told us that the country’s newly appointed Minister of Tourism, a very forward thinking person with big ideas, wanted to make a splash in New York City, we knew that we would have to follow Ed Sullivan’s advice and make it a “really big show!  And, by the way, we only had three weeks to make it all happen.  

Looking to build maximum excitement, the creative strategizing process at M. Silver went into full gear.  Aruba’s colorful Carnival had just ended and New York City was locked in the icy grip of freezing February temperatures and back- to-back blizzards.  What better way to bring a little sunshine to Manhattan than with dancing girls (and boys) adorned with magically elaborate costumes performing to the rhythms of Carnival music.

Thus M. Silver designed a two-day event in which the agency booked appearances on two morning television shows, held a Times Square dance exhibition and hosted a media luncheon with top-tier lifestyle and travel press.  

The events started off last Monday with an appearance on the CBS Early Show, including a special performance in the plaza by the Aruba Carnival Dancers who joined us straight from Aruba’s annual Carnival celebration.  This was followed by an exclusive appearance on NBC’s Today Show with Kathie Lee and Hoda (who joined in the dancing wearing Carnival head pieces) and an interview with the Minister of Tourism, Otmar Oduber, inviting New Yorkers to visit a sunny and fun Aruba, where “it’s always 82 degrees!” From the TV studio straight to Times Square, 10 of the most passionate Aruba Carnival dancers performed for two hours (in 30 degree weather) in one of the busiest area’s of New York, with Aruba ambassadors handing out t-shirts and Aruba-branded items to those stopping by to see the show.

The next day, MSA planned and coordinated a media luncheon in a hip NYC Chelsea location for editors and writers from Conde Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, Sherman’s Travel, Elite Traveler, Fodor’s, Bridesand InStyle, just to name a few. A signature “Aruba Ariba” cocktail was served along with a sumptuous seafood menu.  The room was decorated in a sophisticated beach theme with stunning visuals of Arubaprojected throughout the venue.  Following the Minister’s presentation, the Aruba Dancers were brought out for a special finale which turned into many encores and a spontaneous conga line, with the Minister himself joining the dance!

The next day, the Aruba press and television carried big colorful stories about the successful mission by the new Minister of Tourism and the Aruba Tourism Authority in New York and how “one happy island” took another island by storm.

Even with short notice and many challenges (snowstorms, cancelled flights, customs clearance issues), the success of this event once again proves that with creative thinking, lots of energy and great teamwork that anything is possible if there’s a good game plane and lots of passion and determination.