Little Red's Big Ideas

You say recreation, I say re-creation

I came across an article in The Minneapolis Star-Tribunee, my home town paper (I'm a Minnesota girl at heart -- transplanted to the better weather of San Diego) which took a look at the two pronunciations of the word "recreation." 

The older original definition;
rec⋅re⋅a⋅tion  [rek-ree-ey-shuhn]
–noun
1.    refreshment by means of some pastime, agreeable exercise, or the like.
2.    a pastime, diversion, exercise, or other resource affording relaxation and enjoyment.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME recreacioun (< MF recreation) < L recreātiōn- (s. of recreātiō) restoration, recovery, equiv. to recreāt(us) (see recreate ) + -iōn- -ion

re-cre⋅a⋅tion  [ree-kree-ey-shuhn]
–noun
1.    the act of creating anew.
2.    something created anew.
Origin:
1515–25; re- + creation

The article's author, Heath Sershen, explains that a slight shift in emphasis transforms this word into distinct definitions; however says Sershen, the best way to define recreation might be to blend the two definitions into one: something created anew by means of some pastime, agreeable exercise, or the like.

In other words, recreation is what you do  and re-creation is why you do it. So however you say it -- make sure you take the time to do it!

More applicants than jobs? Here's an idea

I recent discussion on LinkedIn gave me an idea that I thought I'd share.  The economy has created a glut of people applying for jobs that previously attracted young, entry-level students or young adults.  Now, however, layed-off professionals, un-retirees and other candidates are surprisingly lining up to become camp counselors, maintenance workers and clerical staff.  All this is may be happening at the same time your budget and staff are being cut.  So, is there anyway to make lemonade out of these economically sour lemons?  Here's one ideas...

I suggest offering volunteer (unpaid) positions to qualified applicants who aren't offered paid positions.  As most people know, the longer one is out of a job the harder it seems to be to find one.  So offering people the chance to "work" even without a salary may be a win-win-win situation.  You get good help to supplement your dwindling staff hours, your customers are better served AND "volunteers" can fill avoid holes in employment history times-lines and beef up their resume with new experiences gained at your agency. 

Maybe you're already creatively recruiting volunteers at your agency.  Share your story below. 

Best Quote on Advertising I've Heard All Year

During the Amazon.com annual meeting last month in Seattle, CEO Jeff Bezos said:

"Advertising is the price you pay for having an unremarkable product or service."

In this era where word-of-mouth reigns supreme, this says it all!  What's your favorite business quote?

25 Media Experts to Follow on Twitter

If you're looking to following some really smart media experts to follow Twitter but can't seem to separate the savvy from the silly, then check out this fantastic list of the 25 Media People recently posted on the on-line version of Ad Age Magazine. Use the comments to add your favorite tweeters.. And if you'd like to follow me on Twitter: @jodirudick.  Here are three of my favorites from the list... 

Pete Cashmore, founder-CEO of Mashable, the social-media blog
Follow: @mashable
Tweet: "Reading: 'The Problem with Social Media in the Office' -http://bit.ly/DkZE5"

Jennifer Preston, just named the first social-media editor at The New York Times
Follow: @NYT_JenPreston
Tweet:"Hi, I'm the NYT's new social media editor. More details later. How should @nytimes be using Twitter?"

Sree Sreenivasan, Columbia Journalism School professor and "technology evangelist/skeptic"
Follow: @sreenet
Tweet: "was offline for 5 days (most in 15 years). some of you spotted my tweets, which I post-dated to appear automagically via @hootsuite."