Toms Blog
Weeks 2 to 4
Week three and I was invited to the think2Act day at the National College in the ISC to be part of a panel discussion in the afternoon.
Some 260 people attended and even though the event was oversubscribed some 40 people did not bother to turn up.
The day was free to attend which may have been some of the reason some people did not bother to attend.
TV3 and RTE covered the event and some interesting contacts were made there.
The Evening Echo in Cork rang me that week and asked me to write 800 to 1000 word on being unemployed for a series of articles they were publishing the following week
I had been thinking of having an official launch and my wish list would have been Roy Keane Michael O Leary or George Lee in any order although being a Corkman Roy would have to be 1st.
I read in the Saturday paper that Fine Gael were having a parliamentary meeting in the Burlington Hotel on the same day I was going to the Think2act day.
I was in the lobby of the Burlington at 7.15am waiting to way lay George Lee for the 8am meeting.
Lobbies are very interesting at that hour as all the coach parties who are on these Europe in ten days or less are checking out.
At least six people at any time seemed to the wandering around looking for their friends, their coach or their other half.
I could overhear the usual did you pack such a thing? Where’s my passport?
Of course there is always one person who decides ten minutes after their bag is on they really really need their book.
Ten to eight I saw George Lee enter the lobby and I approached him.
I had a letter written with some cards in it outlining the website and its aims asking him to consider officially launching the site.
He was a little taken aback for a second but listened politely as he read one of the cards.
He said he was interested in the site and would be in touch.
The next day his office rang with some general queries and rang again the day after.
They were able to accommodate a launch on the following Tuesday 7th in the morning.
With the help of some friends and Eoghan and Ger from the Communication Clinic it was all systems go.
I had met Eoghan at the Think2Act .
We booked a room in Buswells as it was near the Dail as well as a photographer
The launch went off without a hitch.
We got radio coverage from the two main Dublin stations along with INN
RTE sent a camera crew as he was over at the Dail
The Indo and the Irish Times sent reporters.
The photographer was very good and got some good angle shots in.
Keith Bohanna had suggested taking two half loaf of bread along as props and these were well used.
I also got three radio requests after the launch.
AS I write we are now starting a Tell 20 as part of our efforts to have 1000 members by the end of August.
I want all members to tell at least 20 people about the site and ask those 20 to tell 10 more.
We also have a facebook page halfaloaftomhalfaloaf if you are on facebook please tell your friends.
We also need more people posting on the site.