Wickham's World

Flower fun!

2013-05-09T19:12:00.001-07:00

Just having fun with flowers and Photoshop Elements.

Of trees, auto factories and environmental responsibility

2013-05-03T19:00:00.001-07:00

On Friday, I witnessed the passing of a $10,000 check from General Motors to the mayor of Flint to purchase trees for the phytoremediation project on the former Chevy in the Hole industrial site.

Flint Engine Operations Plant Manager Terri Burden (left)
presents a $10,000 check to Flint Mayor Dayne Walling
(center) and U.S. Representative Daniel Kildee

Granted, $10,000 won't buy a lot of trees, especially the number needed to help absorb and break down pollutants left in the soil after more than 100 years of industrial use. Still, the genesis of this gift is worth noting.

About a week ago, I was approached by Flint Mayor Dayne Walling and the organizers of the Free City art festival to see if GM would like to attend the opening of the Free City art festival that opened today (May 3) and runs through the weekend.

The request for involvement in the kickoff
came with no strings, which left me asking the plant managers of GM's manufacturing facilities in the Flint area what they would like to do

It didn't take long for the managers (Jim Scrimger, Terri Burden and Amy Farmer) to settle on donating $10,000 to purchase trees for the phytoremediation project, which has been funded to date with federal dollars.

Young trees, planted using federal funds, will help remove
contaminants from the Chevy in the Hole soil as part of the
city's phytoremediation project. GM's Flint - North American
Tool Center is in the background.

All three plant managers, who are fond of supporting local charities, quickly pulled the funds together to ensure that our presence at the Free City art festival kickoff was meaningful, even if it was just a token of support.

I know there are cynics and skeptics out there already sharpening their pens to say that $10,000 does not erase more than 100 years of industrial waste. But that was never the intent of the donation.

Rather, I see the donation as a measure of goodwill that is coupled with GM's purchase the Durant-Dort Carriage Company "Factory One". It also comes on the heels of a $215-million investment in Flint Engine Operations, bringing GM's total investment in the Flint area to more than $1 billion in the last four years.

Additionally, the GM Foundation has made available more than $400,000 in grants that these same plant managers and other GM officials in the area have doled out to charities that are feeding the poor, helping the unemployed and providing critical services to children and seniors.

Many of these grants have been for less than $10,000, but no matter the amount they help an organization reach more people, even if it's just 10, 20 or 50 souls who otherwise might go without aid and support.

I never measure or judge someone or an organization on the size or scale of what they do. I measure it on the heart and conviction of the people who scrape together what they can to help others. That's what the manufacturing plant managers did this week for the city.

So, I eagerly look forward to seeing the trees that will be purchased with the GM gift grow and help transform a barren industrial parcel into a lush landscape where families can gather for picnics, river kayaking or many other outdoor activities.

Who knows, maybe others - individuals and organizations - will step up and offer to purchase or sponsor trees. Wouldn't it be nice to walk through the park in a few years and point to your child or grandchild the tree you donated?

United Way of Genesee County reaches 2012 campaign goal of $2.9 million

2013-05-01T19:57:00.002-07:00

GM Foundation donation of $81,200 pushes total GM/UAW support near $600,000

Funded partners will receive at least an 8 percent increase in their allocations in 2013

FLINT – The United Way of Genesee County reached its 2012 campaign goal of $2.9 million, ensuring that the agency’s funded partners will receive an increase in funds to support programs for people in need.

United Way officials announced the goal was reached shortly after receiving a check for $81,200 from the GM Foundation during the agency’s annual celebration Wednesday night at the Flint Institute of Arts.

“I am honored and humbled by the support of our donors,” said Jamie Gaskin, who assumed the CEO role at the United Way of Genesee County in January. “Anytime you reach a goal it is something to be proud of, but it means even more to our team because our partners will be able to reach more people who are in need.”

Gaskin said that by reaching the $2.9 million goal, an increase from the $2.8 million donated a year ago, funded partners should receive at least an 8 percent increase in their allocations this year. United Way-funded programs currently reach more than 34,000 Genesee County residents.

“The United Way, whether in Flint, Detroit or any other part of the country, plays an important role in communities where children, adults and seniors need help,” GM North America President Mark Reuss, who is also vice chairman of the GM Foundation, said during the United Way celebration in Flint. “But the United Way can only be successful if donors, volunteers and civic leaders champion the programs and services needed in each community.”

To show support for the United Way of Genesee County, Reuss and Lori Wingerter, vice president of the GM Foundation, presented a check for $81,200 to Gaskin. With the GM Foundation check, total donations by GM and its UAW-represented workforce reached close to $600,000 for the second year in a row.

“Thanks to the GM Foundation and other donors – both named and anonymous – we are able to fulfill our pledge to support our residents,” Gaskin said. “However, the need is greater than the resources we have and we will endeavor to increase donations in the coming years.”

Gaskin said a goal for the 2013 campaign will be revealed at a later date.

“Our immediate goal is to look at how will we share the funds we raise, so we will be asking people in the community how we can better serve the residents of Genesee County,” Gaskin added. “The process begins by identifying the priorities using the United Way investment model of Education, Health, Income and Basic Needs.”

###

A Scandal in the Media (With apologies to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

2013-04-25T20:26:00.004-07:00

"I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts." - Sherlock Holmes, A Scandal in Bohemia

I am a big fan of Sherlock Holmes. I should say, I am a big fan of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

While reading A Scandal in Bohemia last night I read the passage that serves as the opening for my missive to you, my faithful reader.

I have long admired how Sherlock Holmes uses deduction to solve a crime or perfectly vex his companion, the affable Dr. Watson.

It’s a trait I sometimes wish I had honed more as a journalist, but I won’t trifle with regrets in this article. Rather, I want to make my own observations about the state of journalism or citizen journalism, as it has been commonly referred to by purveyors of news.

First and foremost, I am sure some former college or professional newspaper colleagues will take exception to my criticisms, but I know I will find some camaraderie among some current and many former scribes and editors who hewed closely to the tenets of getting the facts first and then writing a story.

Frankly, I miss the exchanges I had with some of my favorite copy editors, whose disposition reminded me of Mad Dog Moody in the Harry Potter films. You lived in fear of these off-kilter creatures but admired their tenacity and dedication to the craft of writing.

Copy editors of old – pre Internet in my opinion – were the gatekeepers in the newsroom, guarding the readers from editors who were pre-disposed to re-write a story without actually understanding the context of the article.

I cannot recall how many times a copy editor saved me from my verbose self by growling that it was past deadline and I needed to drop the infatuation with my Page 1 story. Any bit hubris on my part was quickly dashed when a copy editor snarled that I had mixed my infinitives or – Heaven forbid – misspelled a source’s name.

Dear reader, you may think my description of copy editors as unflattering and disingenuous. The opposite is true. I have and always will consider copy editors to be the ultimate occupation to hold within a newspaper.

And while I can wax on about their abilities to turn a phrase, squeeze life out of a bland police blotter item or coax a green reporter to dig deeper into the story, I need to focus on the Holmes’ quote that got this article started.

You see, the problem, as I see it, is we have a proliferation of journalists and citizen journalists who feel they don’t need a copy editor – real or internal. (By internal, I am referring to the fact good journalists always check their facts before writing or submitting a story.)

It is a sad state when supposedly well-trained reporters and their lapdog pundits state they don’t want to speculate about a tragedy or some other news because it wouldn’t be fair to the reader, viewer or listener and then proceed to speculate about that very issue.

Maybe it’s the demands that news organizations need to fill every waking moment with something that we – the news consumer – believe is news. But at what cost?

I listened to the media coverage of the Boston Marathon bombings. At first, I was pleased to hear journalists couching their comments, acting like Holmes and gathering data before making deductions.

Sadly, though, it didn’t take too long before the speculation settled in and reports from trained journalists and citizen journalists were barely filtered before being aired.

Don’t get me wrong. I am not so far removed from my journalist days to appreciate the “live” aspects of a story unfolding. Who doesn’t remember the recording of the Hindenberg tragedy.

That bit of reporting – though decades before I was born – will rank as one of the greatest news reports ever. (A close second is WKRP in Cincinnati’s television episode about the turkeys. Search online for it and you will know what I mean.)

I have refused to watch most television news and I have taken to reading newspaper articles with greater skepticism. I find myself flitting to and fro on the Web, searching for reports on various issues and then using my best Sherlockian skills to deduce what is true and what is not.

I know I have already carried on longer than intended and probably have induced some poor readers to sleep so I will close with the following observations, based in part on an exchange between Holmes and Watson.

Upon rushing to Holmes’ flat, Watson is grilled by the great detective about the number of steps from street level to the door of Holmes’ residence. Watson is flummoxed because he cannot recall and Holmes berates him for “seeing” but not “observing”. (By the way, there are 17 steps.)

And that, my friends, is the problem and the solution all wrapped up in a neat package.

Too many journalists are pressed for time to do a complete job of reporting and writing. They “see” the facts but don’t “observe” what makes them facts. That observation would naturally lead to context and help the readers, listeners and viewers reach their own conclusions.

As for citizen journalists, they typically have a problem delineating between fact and fiction. There are no copy editors for them to learn from and guide them to craft balanced reports.

That’s not to say they cannot provide value to a news report; we just have to accept the fact they are one element that needs to be weighed against other facts and observations.

Maybe, in the end, we are seeing the demise of the Sherlockian reporter whose credibility was based on getting the facts straight and we are seeing the rise of readers, listeners and viewers who are honing their deductive skills to make sense of the purported facts being conveyed to them.

Breaking news: Crows and cars study.

2013-04-25T06:45:00.001-07:00

Editor's Note: The following was sent to me by a friend who collects cars and likes to share offbeat items from time to time. I am sure this has been circulating on the web for some time but it is definitely worth a chuckle or groan, if you are so inclined.

Photo from www.interestingtopics.net

There is a new very important government study
on just how intelligent crows are.

The state of California found about 200 dead crows on its highways, and there was concern that they may have died from Avian Flu. They had a Bird Pathologist examine the remains of
all the crows, and he confirmed the problem was definitely NOT Avian Flu, to everyone's relief.
However, he determined that 98% of the crows had been killed by impact with trucks, and only 2% were killed by car impact.

The State of California then hired an Ornithological Behaviorist to determine the disproportionate percentages for truck versus car kill. The Ornithological Behaviorist determined the cause in short order.

When crows eat road kill, they always set-up a look-out Crow in a nearby tree to warn of impending danger. His conclusion was that the lookout crow could say "Cah," but he could not say "Truck."

Just chillin'

2013-04-24T12:58:00.001-07:00

My wife, Rebecca, snapped this photo on Tuesday. The squirrel was so relaxed, probably after pigging out on bird seed that is flopped on the railing to rest.

Earth Day media event at General Motors Flint Assembly plant

2013-04-22T12:01:00.001-07:00

Earth Day media event video

GM celebrates Earth Day by increasing energy efficiency - ABC 12 – WJRT – Flint, MI

2013-04-22T10:18:00.001-07:00

GM celebrates Earth Day by increasing energy efficiency - ABC 12 – WJRT – Flint, MI

GM Flint celebrates Earth Day with positive environmental news

2013-04-22T08:18:00.002-07:00

Dan Malone, Senior VP Distribution & Customer Operations
with Consumers Energy

Green initiatives at GM Flint plants net savings, rebate from Consumers Energy

New Flint Assembly, Metal Center energy reduction efforts top $900,000 annually

Flint – New energy reduction efforts – ranging from installing more efficient lighting to eliminating steam heat – are saving General Motors Flint Assembly and Metal Center more than $900,000 a year.

As the result, each facility has been honored with the GM North America 2012 Energy Award and rebate checks totaling $183,000 from Consumers Energy.

“The Flint Assembly and Metal Center teams have demonstrated that their facilities – among the oldest in GM – can serve as leaders in the energy conservation business within GM,” said Al Hildreth, GM Company Energy Manager, during a ceremony at Flint Assembly.

Flint Assembly and Metal Center completed several new projects to reduce energy consumption in the plants:

Flint Assembly will save $620,000 a year after installing more efficient lighting, eliminating steam heat in the locker rooms and adding water booster pumps and paint department chillers

The plant received the maximum $150,000 rebate check from Consumers Energy
Since 2008, these and other energy projects have reduced the plant’s cost to assemble a truck by $55 a vehicle

Flint Metal Center will save $306,000 a year after installing more efficient lighting and eliminating steam heat

The plant received a $33,000 rebate check from Consumers Energy
Since 2008, Flint Metal Center has reduced the cost to ship a ton of metal by $35

Together, the plants have saved enough electricity to power nearly 700 homes a year and saved enough gas to heat 540 homes a year
Last year, Flint Assembly, the Flint Metal Center and Flint Engine Operations were among 54 GM facilities to meet a voluntary energy-reduction challenge set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, cutting energy intensity to meet the EPA’s ENERGY STAR^® Challenge for Industry.

“The GM Flint team recognizes the importance of being environmental stewards and we are willing to share our learnings and experiences with individuals and groups trying to reduce their carbon footprint,” said Amy Farmer, complex director for the site that includes the assembly and stamping plants.

For instance, earlier this year the GM’s Professional Managers Network at the Flint complex, installed new energy efficient lighting at the YWCA in downtown Flint. This initiative is expected to save the YWCA $9,000 in annual energy costs.

Worldwide, GM is dedicated to energy efficiency and is working toward a goal to reduce energy intensity from its facilities 20 percent by 2020. The company is the No. 1 automotive user of solar power in the United States and earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 2013 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year—Sustained Excellence Award for its energy management.

General Motors Co. (NYSE:GM, TSX: GMM) and its partners produce vehicles in 30 countries, and the company has leadership positions in the world's largest and fastest-growing automotive markets. GM, its subsidiaries and joint venture entities sell vehicles under the Chevrolet, Cadillac, Baojun, Buick, GMC, Holden, Isuzu, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling brands. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety, security and information services, can be found at http://www.gm.com.

CONTACT:

Tom Wickham, GM Manufacturing Communications

248-707-9064

tom.wickham@gm.com

Facts about the May 7 Carman-Ainsworth millage proposals

2013-04-22T06:09:00.001-07:00

This video provides some insight into the May 7 millage proposals in the Carman-Ainsworth Community Schools.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=497071297008483

GM Recognized by United Way for Education Efforts

2013-04-19T10:01:00.001-07:00

GM Recognized by United Way for Education Efforts

Like a bad penny I have turned up once again to blog!

2013-04-19T04:54:00.000-07:00

Yes, I am making another feeble attempt at blogging.

Come on, I'm a writer, this should be easy. Well, the one thing I have learned in the last year or so is that I am not the writer I used to be, at least in the sense of having time to actually write.

I still love writing, but my time has been stretched beyond the point where my brain is willing to make sense of my thoughts so my fingers can tirelessly tap out a story that makes sense to anyone.

That said, I decided to jump back into blogging only because a colleague stumbled upon my posts and offered some very kind words of encouragement. Needless to say, I was embarrassed to note that my last blog post was in February 2012.

So, without any fanfare or boastful proclamations I will take another stab at blogging. I do love to write and some people have professed to like to read what I write so I will endeavor to entertain, educate and elucidate from time to time.

Maybe if I approach it as a therapeutic way to address the stress and strain of work, volunteerism and other pursuits I will be able to stick with it for the long haul. One can hope.

As I finish this missive an idea has popped into my head for blog topic. It's title is Just Say No! Hmm, I wonder where that topic will take me?

Stay tuned.

Respectfully yours,

Tom

Genesee County UAW-GM contributions push United Way close to $2.9 million goal

2012-02-21T10:00:00.001-08:00

For Release: Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012

Genesee County UAW-GM contributions push United Way close to $2.9 million goal

Agency on track to surpass amount raised in 2010-11 campaign

Flint, MI – The United Way of Genesee County, led by a boost in funding from UAW members and General Motors, is closing in on its goal to raise $2.9 million during its 90^th anniversary year.

With a donation of nearly $93,000 from the GM Foundation and nearly $500,000 raised at GM operations in the Flint area, the United Way of Genesee County now sits at more than 80 percent of its stretch goal to raise $2.9 million in the 2011-12 campaign. At this point the United Way campaign is on track to surpass the amount raised in the 2010-11 campaign.

“We are grateful to the men and women of GM and the UAW for their generous donations year after year,” said Jerry Leman, interim executive director of the United Way of Genesee County. “Without their support many of the programs funded by the United Way would either reduce the number of people helped or disappear altogether.”

“The General Motors Foundation, along with our plant cities, is committed to giving back to the communities that are home to General Motors facilities and its employees,” said Vivian Pickard, President, GM Foundation. “The work of United Way makes a positive impact on these communities daily, and we are pleased to support their efforts again this year.”

Funds raised in the annual campaign provide services to more than 35,000 Genesee County residents.

· All money collected in Genesee County stays in Genesee County.

· United Way-funded programs can match these funds through state, federal, corporation or foundation grants to provide more dollars for the community.

· Decisions for community investment of United Way dollars are driven by volunteers with first-hand knowledge of community needs.

· United Way focuses its dollars on Child/Youth Development, Older Adults and Basic Needs /Strengthening Families.

Christopher P. Wise, vice president of the Randy Wise Automotive Team and chairman of the 2011-12 United Way campaign, is confident the agency will meet its goal, which was originally set at $2.8 million by the United Way board of directors.

“Our volunteers wanted to set the bar higher because of the incredible need in our communities,” Wise said. “Through their tireless efforts and the generous donations made by countless individuals, companies and organizations we have a good chance to not only reach the board goal but also our stretch target of $2.9 million.”

In the coming weeks, Genesee County residents will get a chance to help their fellow residents as the United Way embarks on its final phase of the 2011-12 campaign. Wise said the agency will contact potential donors through phone calls, direct mail and other media.

“The need in our communities continues to be great, exceeded only by the generosity of the people of Genesee County to make this a better place to live,” Wise said.

Donations to the United Way of Genesee County can be made in three ways:

Mobile: Text UWGC to 27722 to donate $10. Carrier fees and other charges may apply.

Online: Click the DONATE button in the upper left corner on http://www.unitedwaygenesee.org/

Mail: Send checks to the United Way of Genesee County, P.O. Box 949, Flint, MI 48501

Contact:

Tom Wickham

United Way of Genesee County Marketing Chairman

248-707-9064

Tebowmania, Linsanity and the American Autoworker

2012-02-15T10:35:00.000-08:00

What’s not to love about an underdog coming off the bench and leading a team to victory, not just once but multiple times?

We saw that during the recent NFL season when Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow made improbable win after improbable win and led the team to the playoffs.

We are witnessing it as New York Knicks Jeremy Lin leads his hapless basketball team to an improbable 6-game winning streak. It’s too early to say if he will “save” the season and lead the Knicks to the NBA playoffs.

What’s special about Tebow and Lin is that no one really expected them to excel. Tebow, despite his stellar college career, has not been given much of a chance to succeed in the NFL. Lin’s background is even less impressive than Tebow’s; Lin played for Harvard and has bounced around the NBA in his short basketball career.

But their feats have captivated the nation as people debate how Tebow and Lin can succeed against such staggering odds.

Lin’s recent exploits got me thinking about how we, as a society, attach significance to the underdog. Frankly, we love to see the underdog win. We love to see David and Goliath battles with the underdog vanquishing a more powerful force.

That said, do we always have to ascribe these comparisons to sports?

Why can’t we look at the underdogs in everyday life and talk about how they accomplish Tebow- or Lin-inspired feats and go unnoticed?

For the purpose of this article, let me talk about the American Autoworker as the underdog.

Yes, the American Autoworker.

By this point, the critics of the American Autoworker are sharpening their virtual pens and are ready to pounce, extolling to all how the American Autoworker was to blame for the near collapse of the domestic auto industry. After all, they will argue, the UAW and automakers brought this disaster upon themselves and did not deserve to be bailed out by two presidents (a Republican and a Democrat).

These same critics may argue that I am too close to the situation, being 12 years removed from a journalism career. My view, as a PR professional, is surely slanted to spin the story for the benefit of the company and the union.

My response?

If you don’t believe me, just talk to someone who works for GM or even Chrysler, our brethren (and competitor) down the road who also benefited from taxpayer support.

Underdog stories abound in our companies, from the shop floor to the executive suites. People who spent years – decades in some cases – toiling in less ideal conditions are stepping up and contributing to their company’s success like never before.

At GM, I just need to look at 7,000 people who work for GM in the Flint area to see that these underdogs are out-Tebowing Tebow and out-Linning Lin each and every day.

They are a smart, caring and humble group of people, so let me share some insight into why they are succeeding against the odds.

Family. Community. Customers.

Family: Going through bankruptcy and making personal and professional sacrifices served as a wake-up call for everyone. We don’t take our fortunes – having a job with pay and benefits – for granted. We have been given a second chance and we don’t intend to blow it by slacking off. After all, we have families, too, and our success is important for our spouses and children.

Community: As grateful as we are to have our jobs, we are also very aware many more people are not as fortunate. Our underdogs give generously of their time and money to help people in their communities. To put a finer point on it, our Flint-area UAW-GM team raises well over a half million dollars a year through employee contributions to help the United Way and countless other charities.

Customers: We are quite aware that we are in business to make our customers happy. Yes, I know, the old maxim is to sell vehicles, but we are not going to sell vehicles to unhappy customers. So, our autoworker underdogs are even more diligent in identifying and correcting problems that could lead to an unpleasant customer experience.

I have been fortunate for almost three years to witness the perseverance and resolve of the American Autoworker up close. It has been a rough road, one with plenty of obstacles and opportunities, but the American Autoworkers I know continue to tough it out, elevating their level of play.

The effect has been profound. At GM our products are better, customers are happier and sales and profits are improving.

But we cannot and should not claim victory. The underdog, despite his or her best efforts, cannot guarantee victory. Tebow knew and accepted that reality. His team lost in the playoffs. Lin’s winning streak will come to an end and the Knicks may not make the playoffs, but I am sure Lin will keep playing “lights out” basketball.

We, in the auto industry, have good days and bad days, too. And like Tebow and Lin, we’ll shrug off the bad days, redouble our efforts and prove to the critics and doubters that we are here to stay.

I'm still here...

2012-01-06T06:23:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year and all that good stuff.

I'll return with something pithy to say when my mind is not occupied with work, a new puppy, skiing (actually praying for snow), Scouts and coaching FIRST LEGO League robotics.

Until the writing muse strikes, have a great day, week, month and year.

And now back to work.

Cheers.

Tom

The problem with panic-inducing posts

2011-12-16T08:17:00.000-08:00

"My life sucks."

"I don't know how I can continue living."

"So and so deserves a whack in the head."

First and foremost, don't worry, I am OK; these are not my sentiments. Second, I just shared these posts to help make a point. A clear and concise point. Not one of those annoying, cryptic posts that many people seem to dangle out there on Facebook, Twitter and other sites.

The genesis for this column was the posting of similar vague, panic-inducing posts made by people on Facebook and Twitter. For any of my friends reading this column, don't overreact and think I am going to publicly rebuke you for causing my heart to skip a beat, though, the temptation is there.

The purpose of this writing is to offer some advice to people who feel inclined to write cliffhangers without telling anyone about the plot of the story.

I've noticed a lot of people - and I have been guilty of this, too - who like to post short and sweet updates about how they feel at a given time. Usually, these posts are self-explanatory. It doesn't take much time for the reader to make the connection between the cause and effect. The weather is bad and someone feels crappy. A dog dies and the owner is sad.

What gets my dander up is when someone posts something that induces near panic among coworkers, friends and relatives. A good example is a post made by a former colleague a few years ago. The colleague in question posted something vague but clearly disturbing about something that had happened. I don't remember the exact wording but the post was alarming to the point that those of us close to the person sprung into action to find out what happened. The post was quickly pulled with no explanaton given,

To say I was miffed was an understatement. To this day I don't know what the deal was and I gave up caring long ago, but I was not happy a friend and coworker made such a blatantly disconcerting comment and never followed up with a statement like "Everything is OK now."

As humans, we thrive on interaction and acknowledgement. When we communicate with one another, we expect a response. In a face-to-face encounter, we rely on physical cues to help us interpret what the other person on saying. Even the inflection a person uses when talking triggers how we react.

In our digital interactions people have taken to using emoticons to express their emotions. That's fine, but often the communication is missing the context needed to fully understand why a person feels sad, happy or pissed off.

And that's what is happening with considerable frequency on Facebook and Twitter, where people assume their multitude of friends and followers are in the know and can interpret what is happening. I must have missed out and forgot to load the Facebook ESP ap because I really feel clueless more often than not when I am trying to decipher a cryptic posting. I will spend time I don't really have looking at the poster's previous posts or posts made by others to piece together the facts, if there are any to be found.

So, what I propose is this:

Short and clear messages are great, but make sure you set the stage first. Think back to your days in elementary school when you first learned to write a story. What is the subject?

Using Who, What, Why. Where, When and How are great prompts for crafting posts that allow people to build on the subject and express their feelings while giving the reader greater context and meaning.

Think of the people who will see your post. Be respectful. So, you want to rant and rave about something. That's fine. It's a free country but think about your audience. Whether it is a short post or a long missive words can have a great impact on the reader's emotions and reactions.

If you are looking for sympathy or support, you stand a greater chance if people know what the heck you are talking about.

NOTE: If you are on Facebook, you may want to join this site for people annoyed with cryptic postings: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cryptic-posts-are-annoying-spit-it-out-or-keep-it-to-yourself/331158968842?sk=wall

Dirty laundry

2011-12-13T04:31:00.000-08:00

"I have no respect for companies who use Social Networks to air their dirty laundry."

That quote is from a fairly anonymous person named Kathleen who posted a comment on a web site reporting about the Lowe's handling of its ad removal from the All-American Muslim show.

What I find interesting about this quote is not so much the fact Lowe's used Facebook to offer an apology but the fact that Kathleen chose to chide Lowe's about how they are using social media to reach their customers.

The problem I have with Kathleen's comment is her reference to Lowe's airing its dirty laundry. I could write thousands of words about why Lowe's and other companies - even my employer General Motors - need to be engaged with people on social media experts. Rather I want to address a more troubling aspect of social media - and I would love to see or hear what Kathleen thinks of this - and that is the fact that many individuals use social media to air their own dirty laundry.

By dirty laundry I am referring to what individuals post on their sites - be it Facebook, Twitter and personal blogs - that would cause one's mother to cringe and say "Oh my!".

OK, I'm not tryiong to be too self righteous here. I am all for freedom of speech, expression and a person's desire to make a fool of himself or herself. However, I fear some people lack the common sense to self-police their own "dirty laundry" before airing it for the world to see.

Just think about the news reports on people who lost their jobs because they ranted on their personal Faebook pages and a "friend" shared the post with the subject of the attack. How about the times people miss out on a job because they thought it was funny to post photos of themselves getting hammered at a party attended by underage drinkers?

I know of one instance where a young lady was denied a job because she wasn't pious enough on social media. One might assume she was posting naughty material but the opposite is true. Her posts were actually tame and professional but still not good enough for the religious organization she was courting for a job. I guess dirty laundry truly is in the eye of the beholder.

I have some acquantances who - despite having hundreds of friends or followers on various sites - insist their posts are private so they are free to post what they want, even if it is self-incriminating and harmful. My admonitions that they are playing with fire go unheeded and I doubt they will say "I wish I listened to you" after they are fired from their jobs.

The thing I fear the most is that Kathleen's ire is directed at Lowe's for trying to handle a controversy by using social media to explain its actions. Her perception of dirty laundry is skewed, in my view to not take into account that the issue was already public and Lowe's deemed it necessary to use social media platforms to address its critics.

So, what is Kathleen's attitude toward her peers who post their dirty laundry on social media sites? Or is she like many other people who are oblivious or numb to the fact that individuals are risking their careers and reputations with foolhardy posts?

The takeaway for me is this: Social media sites are great tools for building on reputations individuals and organizations have established with others. They are also sites that can lead to one's undoing if they are treated in a cavalier manner.

Post carefully because your reputation may depend on it.

Come one, come all to see comic book artists draw on a Sonic

2011-12-07T07:40:00.001-08:00

UAW Local 598 collects toys for tots

2011-12-05T08:39:00.001-08:00

This is a nice segment about my colleagues at Flint Assembly, where UAW Local 598 collected more than $5,000 and purchases toys for the Annual Toys for Tots program.

http://www.abc12.com/story/16185215/uaw-local-598-gives-big-boost-to-toys-for-tots

Chevy Volt wows teacher and students

2011-12-01T07:18:00.001-08:00

What would you do if you had a Volt for two weeks? If you're Don Hammond and the Chevrolet GREEN Educator of the Year you take the car to school.

That's what Don did in late October and early November. A biology teacher at Beecher High School near Flint, Don wanted to show his students how a vehicle like the Volt can be an environmental gamechanger. Check out his story and that of a special guest who surprised students at his old school.

(Special thanks to my colleague, Todd Monty, for doing his editing magic, pulling together my video and interviews with stock GM/Volt footage to make this clip possible.)

LEGO Mindstorn NXT solves Rubik's Cube

2011-11-30T08:29:00.001-08:00

This is not new news but I still find it interesting. Some people might quibble that it is a waste of time to program a robot to solve a puzzle, but I disagree, Having participated as a FIRST coach the last two years I marvel at the ability of elementary school children to build and program robots to do different tasks. Granted, my kids aren't at the level to get their robot to solve a Rubik's Cube, but they are getting more and more comfortable building and programming.

http://whatsnext.blogs.cnn.com/2011/11/28/lego-smartphone-robot-solves-rubiks-cube-in-a-flash/?hpt=hp_bn6

How Honest Abe can make you a better speaker

2011-11-28T11:06:00.001-08:00

I really like this column published by Ragan.com. It's simple and effective advice for crafting powerful speeches. Too often we try to cram too much into our remarks, muddling the message and boring the listener.

http://www.ragan.com/Main/Articles/43996.aspx

A winning combination

2011-11-20T19:29:00.001-08:00

Three weeks ago, my oldest son Ian uttered these words: "We didn't win a trophy but that's OK. We had fun."

These words came just a short time after Ian's FIRST LEGO League team, the Banana Bricks, competed in their first state competition. The team did not fare well that day, scoring poorly in their interviews and being vexed by robot probems in their four matches.

At one point, I offered a challenge to shave my head if they could get the robot to complete aseries of missions. They did and I have since been true to my word.

This past Saturday, the Banana Bricks competed in the state qualifier against nearly 50 teams from around the state of Michigan. Their mood was upbeat and the nervousness that affected all of us three weeks ago was absent.

Only 13 teams would advance to the state championship next month and one team would emerge from that tournament to compete for the world championship in St. Louis next year. To think the Banana Bricks could end up among the elite FLL teams was pretty exciting, but deep down I knew reality would come into play and my young team would need more time to grow and mature before they could compete with the best in the state, country and world.

That said, I witnessed a desire among the Banana Bricks team members I did not see three weeks ago. There was a determination to succeed and it was evident in the valiant efforts to get the robot to run some tough missions.

It was also evident during the interviews, in which the team talked about the FLL core values, how and why they built and programmed their robot to run certain missions and how they researched and resolved a challenge based on the FLL theme of the year.

At the practice tournament last month, the team members were trying to find their footing, battling nerves and absorbing the craziness known as FLL. It was a desire to make it through the day that motivated the team, along with a desire to see their coach shave his head.

In just three weeks, the team had matured to a point where they could have fun while staying focused on the tasks at hand. I was able to relax, confident they would do their best, no matter what challenges awaited them during the robot missions and interviews.

I would like to report that the robot performed better than three weeks ago, but that would not be the case. Despite some creative approaches to completing missions, too many problems cropped up, limiting the number of points the team received.

It was a different story in the interviews, where the team members improved their scores in all three areas. From core values, where the team talked about how they enjoyed working with other teams, to the technical review, where they demonstrated their robot, to the project, where the discussed their research on the meat industry, the team impressed the judges.

While their final scores were not enough to move then into contention for a spot in the state championship tournament that didn't seem to sap the team's excitement. In fact, the team members, while tired after 8 hours at the event, were just happy to be there.

The mood changed dramatically at the end of the day as the Banana Bricks sat on the gym floor to high five teams that won various tournament categories. I stood near a wall, talking with a coach from a Flint school that was competing in the event.

Suddenly, the Banana Bricks jumped to their feet, screaming and running toward the center of the gym. The tournament director had just announced the Banana Bricks and three other teams that shared a "pod" in the pit area where they practiced and worked on their robots had beaten all the other teams in a pod challenge.

The Flint coach and I screamed and hugged each other before dashing to join the kids as they circled around the gym, getting high fives from the volunteers who made the event possible.

I had to fight back tears as I ran around the gym. I'm not prone to crying but I was so happy for the kids. Moments before they claimed what appeared to be the largest and heaviest trophy of the tournament they appeared content with their performance that day.

Winning the pod challenge put them over the top.

For Ian the moment was thrilling, but as we drove home, he reiterated what he said three weeks ago. In short, he said winning a trophy was not that important. It was about having fun with your team and demonstrating gracious professionalis toward your opponents.

I couldn't agree more.

53rd wedding anniversary turns into quite a surprise

2011-11-15T07:08:00.001-08:00

Imagine getting a phone call from a stranger, stating you just won a Corvette. If you're Sally Layman of Davison, who might have some serious doubts. Sally answered just such a call recently. Watch the video to find out if it was a prank or a special surprise on her 53rd wedding anniversary.

Politics according to Dilbert (well, his creator)

2011-11-08T08:16:00.001-08:00

On election day, this is just the right bit of commentary I needed ...

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203716204577014262225551278.html?grcc=a85155ffa0c3a394003db29e39e17c05Z3&mod=WSJ_hpp_sections_lifestyle#articleTabs%3Darticle