Fast Company: "Three Ways Google Predicts Your Smartphone Will Change The Future Of Work'

Quoting from yesterday's posting on Fast Company by Google's Rich Rao:

"When people imagine machine learning, they tend to think about talking cars or humanoid robots—the stuff of sci-fi fantasy, or else dystopian fiction. But machine learning is neither, and it's already changing what computers can do. In the near future anyway, it's going to transform the way we work—starting with that smartphone in your pocket."

Link to read the full posting (Five Minute Read/The Future of Work)

Media Relations Case Study: Community Build Day/Denver

From the Saturday, August 5, 2006, Media Advisory for this Countrywide Home Loans, Financial Services Roundtable and Rebuilding Together Metro Denver community project:

What: Repair and fix-up of the home of a disabled resident in Metro Denver occurs 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. by volunteers from Countrywide Home Loans (a national co-sponsor of Community Build Day); Congressman Bob Beauprez will be on site at 10 a.m. to celebrate Community Build Day’s 5th anniversary year and thank local volunteers. Since inception, the national CBD effort has brought 6,300 volunteers in 61 cities together to help more than 275 families. On the August 5 Community Build Day, there will be 64 builds going on in 45 states concurrently.

When: Saturday, August 5, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Where: 520 South Clarkson Denver, Colorado 80209

Schedule: Two house captains arrive at 7:30 am, volunteers at 8am, lunch at 12 noon and day to end around 5pm (media coverage best before 3 p.m.)

Volunteer Appreciation: 10 a.m. Congressman Bob Beauprez Family/Project Profile: The homeowner is disabled and lives alone. He is unable to lift, bend, or twist due to a back injury from his work as a machinist. The scope of work includes: weatherizing windows, tile replacement in bath, replacement of rear entry door, painting, installation of smoke detectors, and repairs to 2 exterior porch pillars. 

Number of Volunteers: 30, supplied by Countrywide Home Loans, Metro Denver team

Media Response: We had media coverage from La Voz Nueva, Denver Post YourHub (Denver section), Denver Business Journal Good Works, 850 KOA (phone interview with the volunteer captain) and KCNC CBS4 6 pm news. Photos by Steve Groer.

Link to the Facebook Album

HubSpot Blog/Excellent Information: "When Do People Unsubscribe From Email Marketing Campaigns? [Infographic]"

Quoting from HubSpot's March 25th posting:

"...an unsubscribe isn’t the end of the world. In fact, it can actually serve as a helpful signal. For example, if you notice that your unsubscribe rate is starting to climb, it might mean that you're overloading your audience or failing to target them with sufficiently relevant content."

Link to the full HubSpot posting by Mike Donnelly

USA Today: "Hospitals texting to calm nerves' [video]

Quoting from the March 8th USA Today posting:

"Some hospitals are now using texts to communicate with patients and families before, during and after some surgeries to help alleviate anxiety."

Link to USAToday.com to view the video

Adweek Great Read: "Inside the Relentless Marketing Push Behind Every Oscar Winner"

Quoting from the Feb. 21 Adweek.com posting by Terry Stanley:

"In this eventful and entertaining election year, the campaigning is not limited to Hillary and Bernie and Marco and Trump. Also out there stumping—for another high-profile and much-coveted albeit very different kind of prize—were Leo and Brie and Saoirse and Sly. And Spielberg and Pitt. And Paramount and Fox and Disney."

Link to the full article

Good Read From PRNews: "The 4 C’s of an Insightful PR Dashboard"

Quoting Mark Renfree in the PRNews online posting from February 1:

"But the PR dashboard should not be thought of as just another reporting document to be shuffled out during meetings. Instead, this valuable tool should be used as a crucial learning device that senior leaders want to see early and often so it can be used to inform business decisions."

Link to read the article at PRNewsonline.com

Observer: '5 Big Changes Coming to Social Media in 2016'

Quoting the January 20th Observer.com opinion piece by Ryan Holmes:

"Expect to see new technologies fundamentally change how we interact with social media, opening up new options like shopping and enabling us to share ever-more vivid, real-time experiences. But new functionality and the widening universe of social options also threaten to leave some users in the dust."

Link to Observer.com read the full article.

Social Savvy from Digiday: "How Tiffany found its Twitter voice"

Quoting Digiday's Jan. 7th posting:

"According to a December Engagement Labs ranking, Tiffany’s Twitter game has made it the top luxury brand on the platform. The study, which used Engagement Labs’ eValue social metrics system to compare competitors, found that Tiffany’s Twitter sees high engagement from followers, and the account is the most responsive, replying to customers’ questions and complaints. The ranking also cited Tiffany’s #WillYou hashtag, used in reference to its engagement rings, as representative of the brand’s most engaging tweets."

Link to Digiday.com

Pew Research Features Denver Data: "Around half of newspaper readers rely only on print edition"

Quoting the January 6th overview, which includes Denver statistics:

"Data from Pew Research Center and other sources show that around half of newspaper readers consume newspapers only in their printed form. In our study of the local news environments in three markedly different U.S. metropolitan areas, nearly or about half of readers of the local daily paper in Denver (46%), Macon, Ga. (48%), and Sioux City, Iowa (53%) did not access the paper online."

Further, the data shows that print readers are "news enthusiasts," and are also more likely to watch television news broadcasts.
 
Link to PewResearch.org

Heather Allen Named Executive Director of Cat Care Society Effective January 5, 2016

The Cat Care Society (CCS) Board of Directors selected CCS Shelter Manager Heather Allen as Executive Director of the Society, effective January 5, 2016. The announcement is made by Board President Gail Tinianow, who says Allen will be in charge of the entire organization, including the shelter, adoption center and clinic, as well as financial and administrative operations, fundraising, marketing and communications, and the CCS volunteer program.

Allen joined CCS as Shelter Manager in June 2015, and quickly oversaw an expansion of the rescue capabilities of the shelter's receiving and isolation rooms after successfully launching a crowdfunding campaign. In addition she has revamped and expanded the Society's Kitten Foster program to help save more cats through the CCS volunteer network.

Allen has been involved in the animal rescue and shelter industry for more than 20 years. She started her career as a volunteer in adoptions, fundraising, and foster care. She then worked in full-time staff positions in the shelter community, rising through the ranks as a kennel technician, veterinary technician, intake manager, and executive director. Throughout her animal welfare career, Allen has had a particular passion for cats.

Prior to joining CCS, Allen was the Resort Manager at the Paradise 4 Paws, the luxury pet boarding facility located near DIA. Previously she served as Executive Director of Rocky Mountain Feline Rescue and Intake Manager at Angels with Paws. Allen has also worked in the sporting goods industry and with the General Services Administration. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from University of Phoenix.

Cat Care Society is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for homeless, injured and abused cats in the Denver metropolitan area. In an effort to prevent animal neglect and abuse, CCS offers educational programs that promote responsible pet ownership and humane treatment of all animals; provides shelter for cats in a healthy, cage-free environment; and works to find compatible families for every feline that comes into the facility. The shelter provides a loving, temporary refuge for more than 50 cats at any given time, affordable veterinary services to the general public and a free food and litter bank for cat owners experiencing temporary financial challenges. For more information, please visit www.catcaresociety.org.

Feasting For Felines: Cat Care Society Thanks Its 2015 Partner Restaurants!

As we end 2015...one of the most successful fundraising years in the history of Cat Care Society...we want to take time to thank those partner restaurants that sponsored Feasting For Felines events: 

January 2015: Stella Trattoria

February 2015: La Dolce Vita

March 2015: California Pizza Kitchen

April 2015: Mellow Mushroom

May 2015: 730 South

June 2015: ModMarket

July 2015: Native Foods Cafe

August 2015: Jose O'Shea's

September 2015: Piatti Ristorante

November 2015: Beau Jo's

Our appreciation to these restaurants for sponsoring Feasting For Felines in 2015.

Link to our Feasting For Felines Facebook Album.

Cat Care Society’s Year-End Appeal Shares Bella’s Story, Ending In Finding Her Forever Home

The Society’s Expanding Foster Care Program Gives A Young Tabby A Second Chance

“Our latest second-chance story is about a young tabby named Bella,” Cat Care Society (CCS) Board President Gail Tinianow says. Bella’s story is being showcased as the CCS 2015 year-end appeal for both direct mail and online fundraising campaigns.

“Bella came to CCS in June 2015, when her human died suddenly. We examined and spayed her, and after a few days of recovery we moved her into the general shelter population. She was ill at ease at first, and spent extra time in the "stress kennel" (a sort of safe room where cats can be alone while they adjust),” Tinianow recalls.

The CCS team noticed that Bella’s personality was erratic.

“One moment she was happy and cuddly; the next she was acting aggressively toward the other cats. Clearly Bella was mourning the loss of her human; and we thought she was probably hormonal, as a result of being spayed as an adult, and over time her moods would balance out. But after several weeks she was still picking fights. We put her on a mood-stabilizing medication. But she kept fighting, with every cat that came near her,” Tinianow explains.

Bella’s story was full of twists and turns, but CCS had a workable solution: the CCS Foster Care Program.

“The foster home made all the difference for Bella. In the shelter, she had been on a downward spiral, getting more and more aggressive. In one month of foster care, she adjusted fully to living with multiple cats. And, almost three months to the day after Bella first came to CCS, a visitor came in looking for a younger cat. When she met Bella and heard her story, she was sold: Bella was adopted,” Tinianow recounts.

Bella lives with her new “Mom” now, and they have formed a strong bond. Affectionate once more, Bella loves being held, eats heartily and enjoys exploring her new home. Because of the persistent Cat Care Society team, Bella was given a second chance at life in a forever home.

Bella's story shows the lengths CCS goes to, in giving cats second-or third or fourth-chances. The expanding CCS Foster Care Program is an extension of the in-shelter team, which works so hard to achieve positive outcomes like Bella's. Link to read the full appeal: http://bit.ly/1NS91ox.

With just a few more days left in 2015, there is still time to make a tax-deductible, year-end gift to Cat Care Society. Donors may drop off contributions at the CCS shelter, 5787 W. Sixth Avenue, during business hours or handle the process online at: http://bit.ly/1vxKNa6.

For more information about Cat Care Society, visit: http://www.CatCareSociety.org.

Cat Care Society: Santa Paws Festival is Saturday and Sunday, December 5 and 6, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Santa Paws Festival is moving to Saturday and Sunday this year.... December 5 & 6, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day at the Cat Care Society shelter, 5787 W. Sixth Avenue in Lakewood.

Here's the rundown of Santa Paws Festival fun:

FREE! Photos with the Jolly Old Elf Himself, Santa Paws (Adoption Assistant Dave)! With the permission of those being photographed, photos will be posted online in a Cat Care Society Facebook album for downloading and/or tagging to your own Facebook page.

FREE! Refreshments, including cookies, other holiday treats and our famous Cat House Punch (a secret mixture of ginger ale, Hawaiian punch and such...it's simply irresistible and helps you to stay hydrated for the festival!).

FREE! Cat Petting, neck rubbing, tummy patting and head butting. The shelter cats love all the attention during the Santa Paws Festival excitement.

BAKE SALE! Don't miss the awesome annual Santa Paws Festival Bake Sale created by the dedicated CCS volunteers... favorites include fudge, nuts (including yummy Chex Mix blends and more), holiday cookies, pies, cakes and cupcakes. The volunteer "elves" have been baking for months now.

RAFFLE! Tickets will be $10 each this year, up from $5 the past two years, in an effort to raise more money for the cats. Each prize has a bag by it and you put your ticket in the bag of the prize you want to win. You can buy multiple tickets. Drawing is at the end of the day on Sunday -- winners need not be present. Link to look over the prizes.

SHOPPING! Meow Mart store, new stuff for your cats, including:

Cat Mats by Kathy, Cat Beds by Marlene, Lavender Cats by Linda, Knit Mice by Amy, and Wool Loops by Anonymous -- all made in Colorado.

From the Field cat toys, Go Cat, Hot Sox, Yeowwww Bananas, Beastie Band collars by Twin Cat, and Cat Dancer toys, all USA made.

Card board scratchers, litter mats and cat nip toys by Imperial Cat made in the USA. Neko Flies pole toys, Pioneer Pet ceramic & stainless steel fountains, Naturals Miracle high sided litter box, (NOTE: Neko Flies will be demo'd in the Meow Mart by a CCS volunteer)

MORE SHOPPING! Santa Paws Festival Bazaar -- gently used stuff. Lots of Christmasy Cat things and more: This year there's an extensive collection of Lilliput Lane Village collectibles. These are cute little English cottages and such.

The Festival will also have a nice selection of framed cat wall art.

Plus, there will be bookstand books (and more books). The back office at the shelter is being turned into a "Book Nook."

DEBUTING! The Christmas Ornament Donation Drive. Check out all the ornaments crafted by the CCS volunteers.

Link to learn more about the Ornament Drive.

Sponsor Ornaments Online.

Santa Paws Festival...spreading the word:

Link to the Santa Paws Festival Blog Post

Link to the Lakewood Pet Examiner Posting 

Link to the Denver Post YourHub Posting

Link to the Lakewood Sentinel Posting


Link to the Cat Care Society website

Cat Care Society Volunteers To Wrap Gifts At LoDo Tattered Cover Dec. 13-19

Dec. 13-19, Cat Care Society volunteers will again be wrapping gifts 10AM to 4PM at the LoDo location of Denver's Tattered Cover Book Store, 1628 16th Street.

Gift wrapping is free but tips are greatly appreciated and will be donated to the Cat Care Society shelter.

Dec 1-31: Cat Care Society's First Ever Christmas Ornament Donation Drive!

Oh the Weather outside is frightful, but the Ornaments are so Delightful! Good you can sponsor ornaments online or at the shelter! Or both!

Cat Care Society is holding a Christmas Ornament Donation Drive this year. Select a picture-themed CCS Cat Ornament for $5.00. Your ornament sponsorship donation goes toward the care of the cats in our shelter!

The ornament you select will have your name on the back and be displayed in the CCS lobby for the entire month of December. Our goal is to have all of the cats currently in our care with Christmas ornaments this December!

In addition to the shelter cat ornaments, our volunteer elves created these "Golden Circle" ornaments for those who want to make a larger year-end donation to the ornament drive:

Shelter Ornament - $2,500 donation
The Cat Clinic Ornament - $2,000 donation
Kitten Room Ornament - $1,500 donation
Meow Mart Ornament - $1,000 donation
Grand Hall Ornament - $500 donation
Nibbles 'n Kibbles Food Bank Ornament - $250 donation
Cat Room Ornaments (Blue, Orange, Gold, Red, Purple or Green Rooms) - $100 donation each

You can arrange your ornament sponsorship at the front desk of the shelter or you can sponsor ornaments online!

Link to the flyer
Link to sponsor ornaments online
Link to the Facebook album to view ornaments 

Thank you for your support!!

Cat Care Society: October Adoption Tales by Karlyn Mendez, CCS Adoption Assistant

Feather (pictured) - “Molly” fit right in. She is described as affectionate and friendly and resides with a small dog.

Parker - likes to crawl on laps and snuggles between the owners on the bed. Parker shares his home with 2 other older cats and they all tolerate each other.

Elvira “Middie” - went home with an older woman. She snooped into everything and likes mellow music. She also likes to play with the crinkle ball and catnip carrot.

Maggie “Miss Sasha”- loves tummy rubs and wants attention on her terms and is nocturnal.  She doesn’t mind the dog.

Buddy - shares his home with an elderly couple and 2 dogs. He likes the husband and is affectionate and delightful. He enjoys his homemade wand toys.

Bella - gradually warmed up and is getting used to being held and gives love. She lives with a single young woman.

Xena - is healthy and happy. She enjoys pets and rubs behind the ears. A married couple with pre-teen daughters took her home.

Beverly “Alluka”- is confident and adjusted quickly. She likes having lots of attention and went home with a single young man.

Link to view other 'Alumni' stories on the CCS website 

Cat Care Society Santa Paws Festival 2015 Moves To Saturday & Sunday

Santa Paws Festival, one of Colorado’s most beloved feline fundraisers, returns for two days only this December: Saturday, Dec. 5, and Sunday, Dec. 6.

Featuring delicious baked goods, handcrafted items, cat toys and much more available for purchase at the CCS Meow Mart, all proceeds from the Santa Paws Festival benefit cats in need. In addition to scoring holiday treats and unique gifts for that special cat lady in their lives, festival-goers can enter a raffle for donated prizes from retailers such as Pandora, Woodhouse Day Spa, area restaurants and more. There will be “Spin The Wheel for Cat Prizes” with every Meow Mart purchase, plus photos with that jolly old elf himself, Santa Paws.

“The Santa Paws Festival is a treasured holiday tradition at our cat shelter,” said Jane Dorsey, Cat Care Society Volunteer Coordinator. “We’re proud to showcase the baking and crafting skills of our amazing volunteer corps, while welcoming the community into our facility to see the important work we’re doing to care for cats in need. Bringing the public into our shelter also helps to encourage cat and kitten adoptions into forever homes, which is our number-one goal at CCS.”

Link to the Santa Paws Festival 2015 News Release

Link to the 2015 Santa Paws Festival Flyer

Cat Care Society: Feasting For Felines Returns to Beau Jo's Nov. 18th

Support Cat Care Society at Beau Jo's (All Five Denver Area Locations) for Feasting For Felines! 

Enjoy lunch, dinner or take out Wednesday, November 18th, and 20% of the proceeds benefit Cat Care Society. This offer is also good for gift card purchases. 

An annual favorite, this promotion is again valid at all Denver area Beau Jo's locations: Arvada, Boulder, Evergreen, Idaho Springs and University Hills. Simply download this flyer and bring to Beau Jo's with you on 11/18.  

Link to view the menu.  Thank you, Beau Jo's!

Cat Care Society Santa Paws Festival 2015 Moves To Saturday & Sunday

Santa Paws Festival, one of Colorado’s most beloved feline fundraisers, returns for two days only this December: Saturday, Dec. 5, and Sunday, Dec. 6.

Featuring delicious baked goods, handcrafted items, cat toys and much more available for purchase at the CCS Meow Mart, all proceeds from the Santa Paws Festival benefit cats in need. In addition to scoring holiday treats and unique gifts for that special cat lady in their lives, festival-goers can enter a raffle for donated prizes from retailers such as Pandora, Woodhouse Day Spa, area restaurants and more. There will be “Spin The Wheel for Cat Prizes” with every Meow Mart purchase, plus photos with that jolly old elf himself, Santa Paws.

“The Santa Paws Festival is a treasured holiday tradition at our cat shelter,” said Jane Dorsey, Cat Care Society Volunteer Coordinator. “We’re proud to showcase the baking and crafting skills of our amazing volunteer corps, while welcoming the community into our facility to see the important work we’re doing to care for cats in need. Bringing the public into our shelter also helps to encourage cat and kitten adoptions into forever homes, which is our number-one goal at CCS.”

Link to the Santa Paws Festival 2015 News Release

Link to the 2015 Santa Paws Festival Flyer

Cat Care Society: Feasting For Felines Returns to Beau Jo's Nov. 18th

Support Cat Care Society at Beau Jo's (All Five Denver Area Locations) for Feasting For Felines! 

Enjoy lunch, dinner or take out Wednesday, November 18th, and 20% of the proceeds benefit Cat Care Society. This offer is also good for gift card purchases. 

An annual favorite, this promotion is again valid at all Denver area Beau Jo's locations: Arvada, Boulder, Evergreen, Idaho Springs and University Hills. Simply download this flyer and bring to Beau Jo's with you on 11/18.  

Link to view the menu.  Thank you, Beau Jo's!