Attention: Parents of College Bound Students

My friend, Dave Schecter, CNN Senior National Editor, forwarded me his post from Anderson Cooper 360.

Dave wanted to enlighten my husband and I as we deliver 17-yr-old daughter on Thursday morning to St. Michael's College in Colchester, VT.

What ideas do you have on how to instill the importance of studing in our kids. I would hope their desire to earn a good wage a motivating factor, but perhaps I'm naive. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Dave Schecter
CNN Senior National Editor

'Students appear to be studying less in order to have more leisure time,' a report by a conservative think tank observes.
Warning to parents of college students: what follows may be disturbing and cause you to clutch your wallet.

As the parent of a daughter whose college semester began today my attention was drawn to research that found students today crack the books about 14 hours a week, down from 24 in the early 1960s.

Click here for Dave's full post.

Love Catalogs Mentioned in the Daily Comics

One of the best parts of our local newspaper, The Record, is the wry humor found in the daily comics. I'm more delighted when some of my favorite multi-channel merchants are mentioned. You may recall that fun is poked at my profession often in Dilbert (as it was this week.)

In today's Non Sequitur a spy says he'll get a flannel trenchcoat to blend in, in Maine. You guessed it, everyone's favorite. L.L. Bean.

While you are shopping online or in their flagship store, jump in the car and check out my friend's great down-east inn and restaurant, The Sudbury Inn in Bethel, Maine (close to NH border). Tell the owner, Scott Davis, you are a friend. He may buy you a beer!

What's your most memorable comic?

Gearing Up for Announcement in NYC

We are working with a well-estabished multi-channel merchant on an announcement of particular interest to consumers in Manhattan and the tri-state area. I felt it might be helpful to cite a few steps that any business needs to consider when faced with a major announcement -- be it positive or on a corporate challenge. Here are a few things to keep in mind.

1. Get the facts. Many business owners want to only put positive statements out, however, NYC media can be the toughest in the world. Businesses must have confidence in their PR firm, and share a variety of facts so we can advise on who to present the news and respond to questions.

2. Develop 3 Key Message Points -- The most important document to have on hand are key message points. The messages will help the company present their news, offer interesting and factual information that illustrates each point. Be sure you work with your spokespeople on absorbing the message points so it comes naturally.

3. Prepare a Q&A. Make sure all departments and spokespeople are speaking with one voice How to accomplish that? Prepare a Q&A sheet and include all the tough questions you hope will never be asked, along with Q&As that present the basic facts. But be sure you answer questions, reporters will smell a "dodge" fast and zero in on you.

4. Dealing with Propritary Info. While maintaining confidential business information, prepare the spokesperson on ways to answer questions that will statisfy a reporter's needs regarding scope or financial impact related to the corporate announcement. Privately held businesses won't give sales figures, but can provide examples of positive impact such as % growth or popularity of some products.

These are just a few of many points to keep in mind when preparing for a major announcement.

If you have specific questions or dealing with a dicey issue, get in touch. I'm happy to help!

Life Shared Life Saved

Life Shared Life Saved. This simple, direct phrase tells the story of how 1 person could save the lives of 3 people.

One blood donor can provide whole blood, platelets and plasma to be used by people throughout New Jersey, Manhattan and lower NY State. However, donations made through Community Blood Services can have an impact on lives worldwide. Someone who has registered with the HLA Registry may be saving a life in Italy. One famiy's donation of cord blood could save a leukemia patient somewhere else in the United States or in another country.

Less than 5% of the US population donates blood. Yet, 80% of the population needs blood.

The message is simple. Life Shared. Life Saved.

New Jersey needs donors. Won't you help? Contact www.communitybloodservices.com. If you are unable to make a blood donation, please consider making a cash donation.

Life Shared Life Saved

Eleanor's Journal (Nov '07)

Eleanor's Journal (Nov '07)

Everyone knows someone who has been affected by cancer. This video clip -- Eleanor's Journal (November 2007)-- was created to tell the beginning of one young lady's journey. At age 15, my daughter, Eleanor, was diagnosed with osteo sarcoma, otherwise known as bone cancer.

We knew without a doubt that the suburb treatment received at Tomorrows Children's Institute, headed by Dr. Michael Harris and with the exceptional support of Carlie Cord, APN, and others on the team -- along with her surgeon, Dr. James Wittig, Eleanor would survive this ordeal.

This little video is to give support to other young teens afflicted with cancer. Despite the grueling treatments, you are always surrounded by people who are there to ease your journey. Doctors, nurses, technicians, family, friends, teachers, ministers, and countless others offer smiles, spicy foods, teddy bears, and gentle hugs. You are enveloped with prayers.

We hope that all teens will remember the positives and let all the negatives float away. Eleanor is a survivor. The cancer did leave its mark, but she doesn't allow cancer to define who she is. We hope the same is so for others.


Tomorrows Children's Institute is a part of Hackensack (NJ) University Medical Center. The children's oncology floor is in the Joseph M. Sanzari Children's Hospital, www.humed.com and www.tcikids.org
Dr. James Wittig is Chief, Orthopedic Oncology at Mt. Sinai Medical Center

Stained Glass by Lisa Hahn

The other side of the professional Lisa Hahn...the artistic side. I love nature, painting, drawing, and now stained art works. I hope they are pleasing to you, too. Stained Glass by Lisa Hahn

Eleanor's Senior Prom 2010

Enjoy! Eleanor's Senior Prom 2010

News from CHC

Lisa Hahn, president of NJ-based public relations agency Caugherty Hahn Communications, Inc. was honored by Assemblywoman Nellie Pou during American Women Celebration Month. Lisa's husband and business partner, John, joined her at the celebration along with colleagues from Community Blood Services Foundation, and former Glen Rock, NJ Councilman Mark McCullough. Lisa is a member of the Board of Trustees at the Foundation.

They discussed with Assemblywoman Pou the current impact NJ taxes have on small businesses and residents, in addition to the current attack on school budgets by Gov. Christie. They also talked Community Blood Services' efforts to expand awareness and involvement by the community to ensure an adequate supply of blood products to residents of NJ, Manhattan, and lower NJ State.

Share Your Earth Day Efforts with Power of Public Relations

How did your company acknowledge your ecological stance this Earth Day? 40 years ago, Earth Day was launched and over 4 decades activists and concerned people around teh globe have raised our collective awareness on how we have damaged the earth.
How did you share your company's stance with your audiences? Let us know.

NY Times Getting the Most Out of Twitter

I thought this article, by a Weber Shandwick blogger, a good recap of the original NY Times feature. Here it is.

Who's the Blogger?

When a company is considering establishment of a blog, ask these questions:
Is the voice authentic?
Is the blogger transparent? Believable?

Companies should first consider internal experts. If you have a comprehensive public relations campaign, you likely have a series of press releases and by-lined articles. Those items can be reedited as a blog post.

Consider a gardening expert from Breck's or Spring Hill Nurseries. The by-lined articles we crafted in concert with the product experts could easily be refashioned into a product-focused press release and as a blog.

Value of Key Message Points

Why should any organization provide key talking or message points to their top management? What's the benefit?

By defining what the business does and why is one of the first steps in any communication campaign. Having all key players within the company speak with one voice is critically important. You want to provide one voice as you raise awareness of your company, its products and services.

Want to see this in action? Just tune in to the Daily Show with John Stewart www.thedailyshow.com and watch the video clips of Fox News commentators going after anything anti-Democratic party. The commentators and Republican Party guests will use the same phrasing over and over to get their message across.