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Thrivent Builds Publicity Newsletter Archive
October 2008
- Politics, politics, politics. We could all use a little relief!
- Mark your calendars for Thrivent Builds Homes national media announcement training Dec. 3
- September Media Watch
- What's new on www.thriventbuilds.com: 2009 Thrivent Builds Worldwide program information now available!
- Feedback
- Newsletter Archive
Politics, politics, politics. We could all use a little relief!
This year we all seem to be inundated with political ads when watching TV or opening our mail. Wouldn’t it be a relief to instead find a feel-good story about a Habitat partner family that will be purchasing and moving into their new home? You can help offer that relief to members of your community by reaching out to the media with a news release about your upcoming Thrivent Builds dedication.
Tools make it easy
We’ve tried to make it as easy as possible for you with tools and templates—even media lists—that make it possible for anyone to do it.
There is a dedication news release template (Word, 43K) to give you a jumpstart with your media outreach effort. You may also find our 18-minute online training called Making the Most of Your Dedications (Windows Media, 2.4MB) to be very helpful in planning for your event. It offers some great tips and unique ideas to make your dedications special.
As we’re sure you know, these and many other tools for media outreach and promotion are available on our Resources site at http://www.thriventbuilds.com/resources. We hope you will be able to take full advantage of them even as your build comes to a close.
Additional media tips
- If you don’t have a complete list of contacts for the media outlets in your area, check out the statewide media lists on the resources site. These are arranged by county so you can simply use the contacts from the counties your affiliate serves. If you still need further assistance, contact Cheryl Winget or Kelsey Midthun.
- Don't forget to share your media successes with us. The tools we use to collect media hits from across the country pick up many news stories, but certainly not all of them—and we don't want to miss seeing yours!
Mark your calendars for Thrivent Builds Homes national media announcement training Dec. 3
Teleconference/ Webinar times are setWe know many of you have turned in your 2009 Thrivent Builds Homes applications and are eagerly waiting for final decisions. In the meantime, we encourage you to mark your calendars now in hopes that your affiliate will be a part of the Thrivent Builds Homes program again next year.
The 2009 Thrivent Builds Homes national media announcement training will be held Wednesday, December 3:
- For those who are new to the program in 2009: join the teleconference/Webinar from 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Central time.
- For those who participated in Thrivent Builds Homes in past years: join the teleconference/Webinar from 10:45 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Central time.
During the Dec. 3 training, we will ask affiliates to begin reaching out to their local media in December, if possible, with the announcement of their participation in Thrivent Builds and we will also share the 2009 announcement tools that will be available on the Thrivent Builds resources site. Each Thrivent Builds LCSS-TB will help coordinate all affiliates in their area. We look forward to working with many of you again for another year of great media outreach!
September Media Watch
You all are making such a difference in the lives and hearts of people across the United States! Once again, there were many articles in the news in September about the Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity alliance, but we noticed something special about many of these articles. Rather than simply mentioning the necessary details about a home dedication or a garage sale fundraiser, many of these stories mentioned how a new home is providing hope and fulfilling dreams.
One such article was titled "Building Hope" in the Holmes, Pennsylvania, Town Talk Community Newspaper, and a similar article was an editorial in the Green Bay Press Gazette, titled, A new home and new hope.
In the Lancaster Sunday News, a homeowner was quoted, saying "It's more than a house, it's a dream come true." Please continue sharing stories like this that include not only the details about this alliance and the home that was built, but also the impact on partner families and volunteers alike.
Just a reminder!
Be sure to let us know whenever your affiliate or RFO receives media attention for your Thrivent Builds projects. You can alert your LCSS-TB to your media successes or send them directly to Kelsey Midthun.
What's new on www.thriventbuilds.com: 2009 Thrivent Builds Worldwide Programs now available
Thrivent Builds Worldwide
Start planning your 2009 Thrivent Builds Worldwide trip now! Whether you want to help build an entire community in the Gulf Coast or El Salvador, or you want to take advantage of our pre-packaged, ready-to-lead trips, there are options available for you to help change lives - even your own. New this year, team leader trip costs are covered, including airfare up to the average flight cost for that area of the world.
Feedback
Is this newsletter helpful to you? Do you have additional ideas for articles you'd find helpful? Please send your feedback to Nicole Doebert.
Newsletter Archive
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