ex(PR)essed

This morning, Messiah College held a chapel for employees which proved to be a time to settle before the Lord corporately as a community of believers…to focus on him in song, prayer, and liturgy. Given the uneasy state of our economy and the struggles that distract every company and organization these days, it was especially refreshing to be reminded that the Lord is our refuge and strength.

Our opening reading this morning:
Holy God — in this precious hour, we pause and gather to hear your word. To do so, we break from our work responsibilites and from our play fantasies; we move from our fears that overwhelm and from our ambitions that are too strong. Free us in these moments from every distraction, that we may focus to listen, that we may hear, that we may change. Amen.

Dear Josh Ritter: I barely know you, but you have restored my hope in the music industry by having one of the most helpful, comprehensive, easily accessible websites for promoters of your show to utilize. A downloadable photo prominently featured? Excellent! A bio and press release available for download into a Word document? Brilliant! A user-friendly menu of options? Fantastic.

I may not be at your concert at Messiah on March 27, but I will be thinking fondly of you and your management team while we work on the news release and other materials to promote your show.

All the best,
Beth

A large part of my responsibilities as assistant director of public relations at Messiah is coordinating our media relations efforts. A significant portion of that work is devoted to helping various groups on campus promote their events — lectures, concerts, performances, etc.

Messiah hosts a lot of concerts each semester: at least one a week and then two or three bigger name shows on select weekends. I am finding that it is getting more and more challenging to locate any meaningful information about the bands and performers.

I just got off the phone with a publicist who took exception to my frustration that the band she represents has very little useful information available online. Like no biography for instance. Or downloadable photo that I can include with the news release. But, they sure have a spiffy MySpace site where I can listen, listen, listen to their songs and read all their crazed teenage fans gushing about how “awesome” they are. Yippee.

A few weeks ago, I was working on text for a series of concerts, and the only thing I could find about a particular performer was a list of what foods he liked and didn’t liked. Helpful.

Why are these new artists desiring to live in obscurity? I mean, really. If you’re trying to break into the popular music scene, wouldn’t you want people (fans, publicists, journalists alike) to easily access everything they might want or need to know about you? Not too many of them truly care whether you like Twizzlers or not, but, if they’re like me, they would probably like to know the names of the people in your band, when and where you got started, how many albums you’ve released, what the critics are saying about you and your music, and where you get your inspiration.

Ok…that’s enough ranting for now. I do feel better though. And, while I was typing this, the publicist sent a photo I can use with my news release. Great. Back to work.

Today, in reply to an e-mail, I got to write a sentence that read, “Sorry for the extraneous plastic eyeballs in the CIVA news release.”

The curator of our on-campus art gallery brought to my attention that we mentioned in our news release that plastic eyes were one of the items on display in the presently-showing CIVA exhibit when, sadly, those gems were not part of the exhibit that we received for show at Messiah. Ooops.

The curator was gracious about the mistake, knowing, I suspect, that the mention of plastic eyeballs in the lead of a news release might be the necessary hook to get the journalist to keep on reading!

It’s a sad day for the squirrel community here in Grantham. This morning, around 8 a.m., a squirrel, probably over-anxious to stockpile his nest with delicious acorns, “investigated” a transformer and lost his life. How do I know this, you ask? Well, at 8 a.m., I was trudging up the stairs to my third floor office in Old Main. The lights went off. They flickered back on; they went off again. Then it was just dark, save for the emergency lights.

Turns out, the squirrel’s misfortune brought misfortune to the entire campus in the form of a campus-wide power outage. A little after 9 a.m., just when we were all anticipating an early dismissal, the electricity came back on and has stayed on ever since.

As my cute friend Kim said, “I had really hoped that no innocent animals had been harmed.” Me too, but, sadly, we were wrong.

The loss of a life has put my own disappointment about this morning into perspective. I was supposed to lead a mock news conference in a 10 a.m. newswriting class. Morning classes were cancelled, so obviously my plans got changed. Now, I’ve got to look my PR best on Monday too. But really, it’s a small price to pay. After all, some paid the ultimate price this morning.

RIP, Grantham Road squirrel, RIP.

This has been one of those weeks when I’ve been reminded why I love my job.

I work with talented, fun people, and I work for women of real integrity. And, I don’t ever dislike my job. But, yesterday, I experienced a surge of new energy and a valuable reminder of why I love Messiah College and am so grateful to work here.

Yesterday was move-in day for first-year students. Around 10:15 a.m., I scooted across campus to meet a Patriot-News photographer so that he could grab some photographs of the day. The campus center was packed with students and families checking mail, purchasing textbooks, filling out forms, grabbing cups of coffee. Plus, there was traffic everywhere! Minivans parked in every inch of space on campus. Bumper-to-bumper traffic as parents patiently waited to get within walking distance of their child’s residence. Scores of Messiah faculty, employees, and alums donned in awesome orange shirts (good job, Scott) helping families unload cars and carry belongings to rooms. It was so energizing to see the campus work together to welcome the newest members of the community to this place we each love so dearly.

I took my shift in an orange shirt at the end of the day. There wasn’t much to do by then, but I did help a few people find their way to Wal-Mart. But, even standing in the rain without much to do, I felt totally excited for the 700+ students who had taken the brave step of furthering their education at Messiah.

So, I hope they will come to love Messiah like I have. My prayer is that their faith will be stretched and shaped into something deeply meaningful and essential in their lives; that their minds will be challenged and expanded with new ideas; and that their hearts will be blessed with deep relationships and a better sense of self.

Random musings from yours truly on this, the 25th day of July, year of our Lord 2008:

All good things must come to an end — like this season of “The Deadliest Catch.” The show wrapped up without any assurances that Captain Phil Harris will be back next season. So, from now until April 2009, I am without a weekly dose of Sig, Johnathan, Phil, and, thankfully, Keith.

Some good things are nearing an end — like time spent with Amanda, one of my precious senior high girls from my small group who is headed to college in just three weeks. And time spent with Brenda, my scrapbooking friend who goes to college in northern California, which, if you’re wondering, is pretty stinking far from here.

Some things are just beginning – like the weekend! Hallelujah! The Lorows are looking ahead at two days of fun. A picnic with the Patton girls, a housewarming party for friends, and, hopefully, plenty of lounge-around-and-enjoy-the-summer time!

Beginning is sometimes the hardest part – this week Jeff and I tackled cleaning out our closet and drawers. Once we got started, it was a breeze, but, boy, was it hard to get started! I am now on an organizational binge…so I’m tidying up in the loft too.

Speaking of hard – one of the biggest challenges of my job is helping secular media better understand what type of institution Messiah really is. I get so tired of seeing us classified as ultra-conservative by people who don’t know anything about Messiah and don’t care to take the time to do any research. So, so frustrating.

But, to end on a happy note – it is Friday! Have a great weekend!

Change is hard. People say that all that time. And, I believe them. I know that the statement is about 90% true for me as well. Change is hard. I like routine and knowing what to expect. More black and white and less gray. So, these past few weeks have been hard.

The Tour de France, which, post-Lance and no-one-who-wins-the-Tour-is-clean, barely holds my attention anymore. What are they thinking this year? No prologue? No traditional Monday rest day? No time bonuses? No Johann Bruyneel at the wheel of a team car? It’s all just borderline ridiculous.

You know what else is changing? “The Deadliest Catch.” Captain Phil Harris has caused me a few gray hairs and much anxiety this season. Coughing up blood is never good, and last night, on “After the Catch,” he confirmed that he may not be able to return as captain of the Cornelia Marie next season; his fishing career may be over. I don’t care for this news one bit. If anyone leaves the fleet, I think it should be Keith. (Can I get an “amen?!”) As a matter of fact, I would like to start a campaign to vote Keith off the Bering Sea. Or at least off my favorite show. (Which ends for the season next week…more change to deal with.)

Speaking of leaving…two of my colleagues are doing just that tomorrow. This is where change hits a little too close to home, and I don’t like it one bit. Scott, graphic designer extraordinaire, has accepted a job at an advertising firm in Lancaster, and his departure leaves me not just with one less colleague, but specifically down a colleague with whom I could talk openly about my love of the Muppets and Coldplay. His departure is disheartening for me, one of his biggest Messiah fans, but I obviously wish him the best as he takes the advertising world by storm!

Then, as if that isn’t enough, my twin, my very own twin, has decided to leave her job as editor so that she spend more time with her new daughter — Clara.

Who can blame her? Not me. But, I will miss her dearly. Cute Becky was one of the first people on the third floor of Old Main that I truly connected with, so her departure is bittersweet both professionally and personally.

So, with all this change, what is staying the same? Good things like God’s faithfulness, Natalie and Emma’s complete adorableness, and the undisputable fact that Jim Henson was a genius. Right, Scott?

In these tough economic times when the word excess seems scarce, I have been plagued twice today by too much of something. It started with the refrigerator this morning. A flood within. I literally had about four inches of water in each of the crisper drawers. The water was drip, drip, dripping down the back of the fridge, and the freezer shelf was like a glacier (please say is “glass-ear” like Bear Grylls). So, I unexpectedly spent about 30 minutes mopping up water, emptying the freezer and fridge, and talking to my dad, who just happens to be the best appliance repairman (and dad) in Pennsylvania. (Well, maybe the whole East Coast.) He assures me that it’s probably just a minor problem with the ice maker — something he can order a part for and tell Jeff how to fix at a later time. You know, a time when I’m not seriously late for work. Anywho, I’ll be anxious to get home and (hopefully) find a dry, flood-free refrigerator.

In other excess news, please note the new situation in my office:

Yesterday, three boys (one from Messiah and two I didn’t know) installed a dish (of the satellite variety) on the roof of Old Main so that I could start digitally recording in my office. I now have two PVRs and one DVD/VHS burner combo; a 20-inch flat screen television is on the way. This system is no joke! Two gentlemen have made an attempt to teach me how to use all these devices, including the four remotes you see above, but I’m not convinced that I can even turn on the proper unit, let alone record something digitally and transfer it to a DVD. Yikes. Plus, the idea of turning on a television with umpteen-million channels on it in the middle of the work day seems a bit forbidden. I’ll keep you posted about my progress.

Finally, though the theme of this blog post is “too much,” you, sadly, will not have “too much” of me the next few days. I leave tomorrow morning for Palm Beach for a conference, so I will be away from my blog. I will definitely be sporting my brave girl Beth cape as I jet off to a conference where I don’t know anyone!

Ok…I can’t take it any more and I must make a confession. I’m saddened to share this news. I’m disappointed in myself. I’m questioning if I have failed English majors everywhere. Prepare thyself: the Lorows have abandoned “War and Peace.” I made it not quite halfway, and realized that book was slowly causing me to lose my love of reading. I was searching for other things to read at night (magazines, puzzle books) to avoid the book. I’m not sure why. I didn’t dislike reading it. Rather, I didn’t eagerly anticipate picking it up at night, and, therefore, I practically stopped reading it. I love to read too much, and there are too many good books out there to risk spending the next seven years plowing through “War and Peace.” Confession over.

I practically skipped to Murray Library here on campus last Friday to check out a few summer reading books. Since I’m flying to Florida next week, I was looking for a page turner, something that would help me pass the time during the flight. I got two books, and I’m just getting started with “The Emperor of Ocean Park.” I’ll keep you posted.

I’m reading a second book though now too (very much not my style, by the way, to date more than one book at a time). It’s a little page-turned called “Messiah College: A History.”

You see, the College is celebrating its Centennial in 2009-2010, and my colleague Christina and I are leading the communication committee for this event. My major responsibility this summer is to research, write, and populate the Centennial website. It’s a mammoth endeavor, but a fun project. And, it gives me reason to read at work!

Once you’ve read “Messiah College: A History,” you might be looking for some additional summer reading. Allow me to recommend “Peace Like a River” by Leif Enger; “Prodigal Summer” by Barbara Kingsolver; and both of Donna Tartt’s books.

Now, time for Chapter 5: “Grantham and a New Home.”