The Morlock Foundation was inspired by a miracle child by the name of Donovan who required three heart surgeries to survive. These procedures were going to be expensive and pose a difficult financial impact on the family. Donovan’s mother, Carmaletta Zandi, understood that other families identified with her suffering and financial dilemma. She decided that something had to be done.
The mission of the Morlock Foundation is to “help families receive resources, support, love, hope, education, respect, healthcare, respite, and other services needed to strengthen families and educate the community”. On Wednesday, February 14, 2007 Meg O’Dwyer and I were able to meet with Carmaletta Zandi, who founded this organization.
The organization is located in an old building in downtown Buffalo. We met upstairs in a small board room. Caramaletta was very relaxed and began to tell us a little bit about herself. We discussed our reasons for choosing this organization. After we became familiar with Carmaletta and her organization, she discussed her expectations for the following semester. Most of the work was similar to the work we would be doing in COM 308. However, she had some additional projects for us work on together. One of the projects which interested me greatly was redoing the volunteer packs which they distribute to people who are interested in gaining more information about the volunteer services which the organization offers. Carmaletta expressed a desire to reach out and appeal to younger or a more collegiate population. The project has inspired and motivated me. I have a working knowledge about young people’s ideas which could ultimately help to attract interest in this important organization.
What I liked the best about Carmaletta and the Morlock Foundation is that they are very flexible and personable. Caramaletta was interested in developing a plan around our schedule and was open to our ideas. The only difficulty I foresee is transportation to and from the Morlock Foundation. However, Caramaletta suggested that we communicate through email which would ease many of our concerns.
This will be a great learning experience because I am excited about working with an organization that has a positive impact on the Buffalo community. I am looking forward to making a difference in people’s lives. I believe my participation in the Morlock Foundation will help to further their mission and principles. I am hopeful that my participation will provide an opportunity to assist in the day to day operation and at the same time, help to encourage others to participate in this wonderful organization. I hope that by the end of the semester I will have made a difference in the Morlock Foundation.

until next time!!!!!!

This semester has brought on a lot of work, but I think it has really paid off in the end. I now I have a full portfolio that I can actually use in a real life situation. I enjoyed this project because it gave me the hands-on experience that I need for when I graduate.


I didn’t encounter any problems with Jericho Road Ministries. Matt was nothing but nice and gave constructive feedback on my work. He was flexible with my schedule and vice versa. I really like how the brochure turned out.


I didn’t realize the amount of writing that is involved in day-to-day activities, or how much PR practitioners really do write for an organization. It is a lot. But I enjoyed it. One thing I do not like, are formal planning sheets. I think they are really annoying. I would rather jot some things down on paper and work from that.


I am very pleased with how everything turned out this semester! I even received an award for all my hard work. I am very honored to be nominated and recognized. I really appreciate it.


I think more classes should do hands on projects like service learning. It gives students a chance to take what they have learned and give back to the community. It is a good way to gain experience and build a resume. Because I know, I need to build mine up some more!


I really can’t complain about this project. I was also very fortunate that I had a community partner that was easy to contact. I know some of the students in class felt like they were hassling their contact, or that their contact didn’t provide enough information. Matt and Jericho Road Ministries was the total opposite. We remained in contact throughout the semester and I went there I think 3 or 4 times. If I needed information I knew where to find it.


This class there was a lot of work involved, but because it was broken down accordingly, it wasn’t overbearing. It felt it was very manageable. I guess I am just rambling now, but everything this semester went very smooth for me! It was a great learning experience! I guess it’s a good thing I never did get in touch with PUSH Buffalo…..

I hope every one had a nice Turkey Day! If i didnt eat again for about a week, I think i would be all set. really. Going to Texas this year to visit my family, also kept me out of trouble this past Thanksgiving Eve! ha.

It was really nice seeing my family though. My youngest brother is such a firecracker. He's the funniest 6 year old i've ever met. he wants a gorilla for christmas. He tried to moon my Mom. No joke. But when I got back in Tuesday night, it was back the grind. Well, I went out on Tuesday with my freinds, so really the grind became Wednesday morning.

I was up until 4AM. I am currently running on three hours of sleep. I was finishing my final portfolio for my COM 308 class. This is what I get for procrastinating! I dont think I will ever learn! However, I presented all of my materials to Matt and the rest of my class this morning! Everything went extremely well! And he told me they used my brochure again at another meeting for Grant Funding for The Priscilla Project! It was recieved very well, and the organization really likes the final product. It's a good feeling!

Speaking of good feelings, I was also nominated for my work this semester for my Service Learning Project! I am extremely honored and it was a nice surprise to end the semester! So that luncheon is on Tuesday @ the Burchfield-Penney Art Gallery! My old man is so proud! hehehe (And I have another date with Tom, even better!)

There are officially 3 days of school left. This is a fantastic feeling! Im going to buckle down this weekend (I swear) and write my papers. I really mean it. By the way, if you have never read The Onion, you should really check it out. This is a fine peice of Journalism meat.

http://www.theonion.com/content/node/55694

**Kelly

I’m just throwing it out there that there is exactly one month until my 21st birthday. I think that is a good way to start this blog. So I’m counting down the days…..That also means there is one month left in the semester too! And I really have my work cut out for me.


I have to start making revisions for my final portfolio for COM 308. I keep a copy, and Jericho Road Ministries also receives a copy. Along with that means I have to redo my resume, because that is part of my portfolio too. I haven’t updated that since my sophomore year of college back at ECC. So there are some definite changes! I have a paper to start writing for COM 307, and another for COM 408. FUN. I think there is more, but I can’t think of what is right now.


I am still working on the new layout for the brochure. I hope to have it done by this weekend. Because it is going to be a 4-fold instead of a 3-fold, the entire layout has changed. I has left me with a lot more room to work with. I haven’t been to Jericho Road Ministries in a while, but I have been keeping email contact with Matt.


Thanksgiving is coming up! This year, I am going to Texas. My mom, stepdad and other brother and sister live down there. As well as some Aunts and Uncles and cousins. So I am looking forward to seeing everyone, and being able to go swimming! Its still warm in Dallas where the rest of my family lives! Unlike here, but that’s just Buffalo. Oh, and by the way, it is raining today. Why? Because it’s Thursday. So, like the rest of America, I will have to arrive at the airport about 3 hours before my flight leaves, and stand in line for security checks. (People are going to be cranky too) And take off my shoes. I wonder if I am allowed to bring a water bottle this time around? Because when I went in August, that was not allowed. Really, what has this world come to? There’s so much hate. It’s ridiculous, and kind of sad. Maybe with the recent elections, some changes will come around. I hope everyone went out there and voted! (That was my semi-political rant for today)


Well, I have some research to do. For the final project in Bryski’s class, we are to do a Standard Agenda Presentation. Our group is researching pollution on and around campus. The causes and ways to prevent it. I think it’s a pretty good idea, and it affects everyone.

Until next time……

HAVE A HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Dr. Silverman

Reflection Paper #2

It took me a little while this semester to get started with a client, but once I did, I really got the ball rolling. I am currently writing for Jericho Road Ministries, in particular, The Priscilla Project. I have met with Matt Tice several times so far. And each meeting has been beneficial to the both of us. I am doing the writing that will be sent out to volunteers for The Priscilla Project. So my key public is mature, nurturing women. They are most likely middle-aged with families of their own. We are going to eventually send the brochure that I have been working on to local Women’s Bible Study groups and churches.


I have met with Elaine Smyth-Bogumil as well. I really appreciated her input for the brochure, because the volunteers will be in direct contact with her for their orientations. She also asked me to give her an example of a news release so that she can use for JERS. Which reminds that I should do that. My experience so far has been positive. Because Matt isn’t all that familiar with PR, he let me really use what I have learned and my creativity for the project. This was good because I was not sure what he was expecting. And he is very easy to work with and appreciates my time and effort in the project.


I have learned that a lot goes into PR writing. I spend a lot of time staring at my computer screen until I finish brainstorming what I want to say on paper. Sometimes it is frustrating, but I think I am getting better. Hopefully that shows in my writing.


I really do like the idea of Service Learning because this is what I will actually be doing when I graduate. I will retain so much more of this, rather than sitting in a class and listening to theories. I’m really glad I can take what I have learned and put it to good use already.


This project has also allowed me another opportunity to better my writing. I am currently blogging for the Career Development Center. They have set up a blog for the VSL project. I think that are actually going to get it up and running this week! So far, so good.

This week I really have my work cut out for me. I have to start to organize my layout for my brochure for The Priscilla Project, because I meet with Elaine and Matt next week. My panel discussion for COM 308 is on Thursday, and I have to start writing a paper for COM 408. Oh yeah, and I have to study for my ANT 101 exam which is tomorrow. On top of all that, work has been super crazy! If I have to develop one more picture of the “October Surprise,” I might scream. However, seeing all of the devastation in the photos makes me realize how lucky we were.


So far for my brochure, I have started to write down the content that will go inside the brochure. I am trying to make it the most informative and appealing to my key public. In case you were wondering what a key public is, it’s a group of people you are trying to reach with your message. My key public for this brochure is middle-aged women, who are nurturing, dedicated and patient. These will be the mentors to the women in this project. My brochure will be a 4-page foldout. Well, that’s the plan, lets see if I can get it to work on a computer screen! Like I said, that is the hard part. I am currently waiting for Matt to send me pictures to include in the brochure too.


Another big win for the Sabres tonight! We are on fire this season! I am going to try and get an internship with them hopefully next semester or in the summer. My manager at Wegman’s used to do Community Relations for them, so he said he would help try to set something up. So I’m hoping that works out…..


As I procrastinate on doing my homework some more, I might as well keep blogging! If I had a dollar for every time I did this, I would be one rich lady. One of my worst habits is definitely procrastination. I need to work on that. But I feel it’s a problem a lot of college students have. So at least its not just me.

I
’m really looking forward to this weekend. It’s Halloween weekend, and there are plenty of parties going on, and one of my friends turns 21! It’s shaping up to be a pretty good weekend, and the Bills have a bye week, so we don’t have to watch them lose again either!


Well, I think I’m going to get back to my homework. Or I’ll just be on myspace…….try and find me!