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Beating big PR in the publicity game

Big corporate PR staffs work like crazy to get even a little publicity about their companies. And that's all they get much of the time, little or nothing for their effort. Unless their company screws up...that's a different story, so to speak.

So when you see stories in the media about organizations or businesses that in all likelihood aren't staffed with an army of PR people, how cool is that? Like TV coverage of a school's unique yearbook. Kids on the yearbook staff added pictures of actors and animated characters, mixing them in among class pictures of the students. 

There was good news about a homeowners association saving "millions of gallons of water with native plants." A homeowner attending HOA meetings heard "that more than 40 percent of the budget went to water bills," according to an article in an Audubon publication. The homeowner researched native plants and engaged neighbors in a conservation effort. Irrigation systems were upgraded and people in the HOA community are taking other steps, as well, to save water. And the HOA now has "a community garden with vegetables and herbs."

All in all, the HOA saved 15 million gallons of water in one year. That's good news...and newsworthy!


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