What a Night-Indy Zoobilation 2009-A Night on Dragon Island

If you've ever thought about attending Zoobilation at the Indianapolis Zoo, let me just say that you should definitely splurge and buy tickets when they go on sale next year in February. You don’t want to miss out.

What is Zoobilation?
It is Indiana's largest one-day fundraiser. Each year, over $1.2 Million is raised for the zoo. Other zoos have Zoobilation’s but Indy’s is the largest. Yay Indy! It is a black tie affair and everyone is fresh to death (a.k.a. gorgeous, beautiful, stunning)! If you’ve ever wanted to go to the zoo kid-free, and have a fun-filled, classy, night like no other, this is definitely the spot. Indy’s entertainment personalities, executives, and other local celebrities attend this event, so you just might run into that star that you see on tv or hear on the radio!

So, how did I get a ticket to the sold out, hottest spot in town? I’m a Twitterer. Yep, that’s right, I Tweet. I’m one of Indy’s top Twitterers too! (totally just tooted my own horn) I was accepted to join the first ever official Twitter Team that was put together by Indy Hub and the Indy Zoo! It was very, very exciting to hold this title. Thanks to Matt Holley and Karissa Rittmeyer for selecting me! Also, thanks to Chad Richards for being such an awesome Twitter partner. You guys rock!

So here’s a bit of the rundown of what we saw. With 4,200+ attendees and over 70 restaurants and 50+ bars, I didn’t get to see everything because of how amazing every step of the way was… Not to mention the time that we spent in the VIP lounge in the dolphin pavilion watching the beautiful and friendly dolphins. Seriously, a night that can’t be put into enough words. It was like prom for adults at the zoo with endless everything. Yeah, that sounds about right…

Entertainment consisted of Cook & Belle, DJ Slater Hogan, Gamelan Orchestra, Governor Davis & the Blues Ambassadors, Henle and the Loops, Housecats, Living Proof, Peace Train, Sarah Scharbrough, and Sizzlin Gregg Bacon. Arthur Murray had dancers giving dance lessons in the Indiana Live Casino tent. It was truly a happening place! Everywhere you looked, there was either music or dancing!

And the food… Oh. My. Goodness. I have never seen so much food. I’ve been to events that had 20-30 food vendors, but Indy Zoobilation had over 70 restaurants! These restaurants weren’t the average Joe Schmo restaurants either. These were Indy’s finest restaurants. Just to name a few-Ruth Chris, Oceanaire, McCormick & Schmicks, Fogo de Chao, Scholar’s Inn, PF Chang’s, and so many more…

Do you like to drink? Then you absolutely must go to Zoobilation. Olinger Distributing, Coca-Cola, and Miller-Coors donated ALL beverages. I’m talking mojitos, martinis, beer… About every fifth booth was a stand that was nearly a full bar. All the drinks you can drink for the whole evening!

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Get your own

Indy has some really great sponsors that make this event possible.
• Title sponsor-Indianapolis Power & Light
• VIP party sponsor-Indy’s own serial entrepreneur, Scott A Jones
• Stage sponsors-Ambrose Property Group
• Chairman’s hospitality suite-Indiana Live! Casino
• Restaurants coupon book sponsor-Barnes & Thornburg, LLP
• Limo wrap sponsors-Margaritaville Tequila, Bacardi, and Luxco Pearl Vodka
• Official hotel sponsor-Omni Severin-The after party was held here! (This hotel is absolutely beautiful and is located right smack in the center of beautiful Downtown Indy. Check them out!)
• Beverage sponsors-Coca-Cola, Coors Brewing, and Olinger Distributing
• Restaurant judging sponsor-Indianapolis DINE Magazine
• Zoobilation restaurants Day at the Zoo sponsor-Citizens Gas
• Zoobilation spa sponsor-Woodhouse Day Spa-They were there giving massages AT THE ZOO!
• Event décor-BMG, Eventfull Planning, and Detail & Design
• Event VIP transportation-Exclusive Limousine

We didn’t make it to the Woodhouse Day Spa nor did I ride the roller coaster-Oh yeah, this is the only fundraiser in town that has a roller coaster and a Sponge Bob Square Pants 3-D fun ride, but we did get to see the komodo dragons, which is where the title of the event came from. They are huge! We had so much fun taking it all in. I forgot my camera, but did have my phone to take pictures with, so above you will see some of my pics and below you'll see the live streaming videos that I got of the dolphins that were the highlight of my night, Arthur Murray dancers, and more. Enjoy!

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Indy Zoobilation 2009

I am happy to announce that I am a part of Indy Hub's first ever Twitter Team for Indy Zoobilation! Indy Zoobilation is one of Indianapolis' largest fundraisers, raising over $1 Million Dollars each year for the zoo!

For more info on the event, please visit the Indy Zoo website.

If you are a Twitter user, you can follow the action or even contribute by using the #IndyZoobilation hashtag, and checking out the Indy Zoobilation Twitter stream. Also, if you'd like to follow the official Twitter team for the event, here they are:
@chadrichards
@rachneely
@jhansondtindy
@careyhart
@mediakath
and me: @nickilaycoax

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2008 List of Indianapolis Area Networking Recommendations

As the marketer of a small business, I have found many ways this year to get my business known. To help those that may need some direction, or are just looking for something new, here are my recommendations:

Social Media:
~Blog. Don't know what to write? Set up Google Alerts and check your email outbox.
~Smaller Indiana and other Ning sites relative to your business. The interaction is priceless.
~Twitter. Twitter. Twitter. If you don't think you should do it... You're wrong.
~Facebook-It's not just for friends. You can also create fan pages for your business and charities.


Local Offline Networking:
~BNI-International Networking. Chapters meet weekly and pass referrals with each meeting.
~Rainmakers-Meetings around Indiana nearly every day of the month.
~NOWIB-For Women only, and has great special interest groups.
~Chambers of Commerce-Local businesses networking. Monthly meetings with other after hours events.


Service Groups and other groups that make our world a better place:
~Find events that are accepting of in-kind donations for sponsorships. If you don't have a large budget, offer your services or product in return for the level of sponsorship you desire.
~Kiwanis-Groups of business people that genuinely care about making a difference in children's lives. Host events and carry out service projects to raise money for children's needs and other family and community catastrophes. There are also branches of Kiwanis for the youth to join; Key Club, Builder's Club, and K Kids are a few.
~Boys & Girls Clubs-These clubs provide a safe place for children under the age of 18 to come after school and receive homework help, participate in sports, and to learn how to interact with other youth under the supervision of approved staff and volunteers.
~Girl Scouts-Everyone has heard of Girl Scouts. Most have eaten Girl Scout cookies. If you have been wanting to make a difference in a girl's life, Girl Scouts is the best way to have a direct effect on a group of girls. So many girls don't have positive influences in their lives, and if you can provide that for one to twelve girls, you will have a whole new outlook on life.
~Local Schools-So many parents are working full time jobs these days, which leaves the classrooms and PTO's short of volunteers. Contact a school near you today to see how you can help.

My biggest recommendation is to utilize social media in every way that you possibly can. Social media is the cheapest and most effective way to connect, stay connected, and stay on people's minds. You must put in the sweat equity to make it work for you. Just having a blog or just having a Twitter account won't cut it. You HAVE to work it.

After you attend events and get those business cards and exchange that first phone call or email, take it to the next level; connect via at least one social media platform. You will learn so much more about your network and their needs if you stay connected online.

If you have questions about anything written here, please contact me:
nicki at squishdesigns.com

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Blog Posting From MS Word 2007

Right now, I am creating a blog post using Microsoft Word 2007.

How is it done? When Word 2007 is opened and you click on the MS logo and select "New", you are presented with the option to create a new blank document or a new blog post. From this screen, click "New blog post".

The next screen you'll be presented with looks like this: My images did not transfer.

You can select your blogging platform from a list of blog platforms. You enter your user name and passwords, hit enter and you are ready to blog!

Other than the images not transferring, it worked pretty nicely!

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Chip In To Your Favorite Cause!

Recently, I was looking for a widget that would allow an entire online community to set a goal for pounds lost. The community is Twit2Fit, which by the way just hit over 260 members! What I had hoped for in this widget was that it would allow us all to set a goal for the site, say 300 pounds between the 260 + members, set a date for the weight to be lost, and show a graph or a meter that tracked the pounds lost.

What I found in my research was something close. Research will continue, but what I found is Chip In. This free widget creator can be used for any type of fundraising-non-profits, special causes, getting that new desk in your office, etc... Since I wanted to test it out, I tried to think of something that would be beneficial to my well-being; a VACATION!!! So, below, you'll see the widget raising funds for the vacation that I'm hoping to take in February!

If I've helped you in any way, or would just like to see some great pictures, videos, and blogging from a warm place, feel free to Chip In! :)

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