Post # 135 - Helping A Friend Win A Home Renovation - 4/2/2010

A friend asked for some creative assistance. Over the past two years, she and her fiancé' have encountered a string of unfortunate events, including their newly purchased home burning down.

She discovered a contest in This Old House Magazine - A Photoshop Re-Do. $10K to renovate your house. Our challenge was to condense her story down to 200 words or less.

This is the essay that was submitted:
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A 1925 Arts and Crafts home built Ford tough that not even a fire could destroy!


In April 2009, my fiancé and I purchased a 1925 Craftsman bungalow in the Henry Ford Historical Home District in Dearborn, MI. We used all of our wedding funds for collateral in order to close on the house of our dreams and complete some renovations before moving in. On move-in day, May 30 2009, our house caught fire. Fortunately, the fire was swiftly contained and we thought the damage wasn’t bad at first. We spent the next six month dealing with legal fees, insurance adjusters, and city officials before restorations could begin - the second time. Unfortunately, the funds from the insurance settlement will not cover the cost of all the needed repairs. The last piece we need to polish is the home exterior.

Our dream is to have a simple, family-only wedding in the backyard of our newly refurbished home. We hope that the tears shed over the past year can be washed away with tears of joy on our wedding day. We still believe that we can make this house a home. Will you help us?

From http://thehermanletters.blogspot.com

Essay # 7 - Revisiting "Why" 3/7/2010

Every now and then, I need to do a reality check . Why do I do this?

When I first started writing letters, I was trying to “get free stuff”. If a watch broke, or sunglasses, I wanted to get them replaced for free. If someone wasn’t happy with something, I wanted to get it fixed. I found that wrapping the meat of the letter with whimsical characters and story development, made the process easier for all.

-I had fun creating something.

-The people around me laughed.

-People at companies who are paid to read letters seemed to respond better.

-The more I write, the faster and easier it becomes.

Soon, I found out that I really enjoyed putting the stories together, and sharing them, as I did getting the response. A friend suggested that I develop this into a blog, which I started last August. That has affected my writing in several ways:

1) It puts me on a schedule. Without writing letters, I have nothing to share with you all.

2) It gives me a “live” audience. People give me immediate feedback, and great ideas.

3) When I get nonperishable food coupons on behalf of you, we generally agree to donate the food to charity, which makes me feel like a little less of a jerk when I tear into a company.

4) It makes me think twice about what I say. I don’t like offending people.

5) I get to create my own little hokey illustrations, which may be my favorite part of all.

Several have suggested getting my letters published. I explored this several years ago, and didn’t get too far. I figure if I write enough, I’ll have a bigger pool from which to select. The support from you all has been great—both readers and fellow writers.

This is such a departure from my actual career, it serves as a great hobby and stress release. I feel that writing has improved my communication skills, and recharges my batteries.

Last week, I received a note from Google. The note contained my PIN for the ad account on my site. It seems that enough people have clicked on the Google Ads on my blog page to earn some money. This transaction would not pay for a movie and popcorn—more like one or the other. But I’m proud of it nonetheless. It’s something tangible, a result of people reading my letters. 

It's something that I owe to all of you,

Thanks for all of your support!

Jerry

From http://thehermanletters.blogspot.com

Essay #6: Letter to Faygo and Children's Hospital sent 12/3/2009

When the contest ended on 12/1, we were a few hundred votes ahead (we had almost 1700)--there shouldn't be any issue. The announcement comes on 12/15. Thanks again. Drink your Faygo!

I sent this note to Faygo tonight. I wanted to let Faygo know that they essentially have a free commercial here, if they want it.

I carbon copied my contact at Children's Hospital. This was my way of letting Ellen to know that we're coming. I always see people like Brandon Inge and Nick Lidstrom actually doing things with the kids. I'd prefer the "spend some time there" approach, versus "pass it over the counter" approach. Maybe giving some notice would help. We'll see.

Someone mentioned the idea of having a Wii Delivery Party ahead of time at one of the local establishments (Cheli's? Hockeytown?) on the day of delivery, for anyone interested. Count me in.

But first things first--they have to name the winners.
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Dear Faygo,

I am a big believer in random acts of kindness--I feel that it lifts the spirits of the giver, as well much as the recipient. I also believe in the strong bonds of family and friendship. Lastly, I believe in giving back.

I am a lifelong Michigan Resident who is blessed and fortunate to have a great job at Chrysler. I have a great family—a wife and two kids, eight and six. Faygo has been a part of my life, as long as I can remember. I feel strong ties, especially in these times, to a local company like Faygo that employs Michigan residents.

Eight years ago, my family and I spent some time at Children’s Hospital of Detroit. My daughter had some precautionary studies done, related to a heart murmur. I was always impressed with their care and support. Moreover, I felt great sympathy to those parents and children dealing with much more than a heart murmur.

Back in October, I sent separate notices to my friends, and to Ellen Burnett, Director of Major Gifts at Children’s Hospital of Michigan. I notified them that I had entered an essay contest through Faygo. I stated that if we won, I would donate the prize to Children’s Hospital. Ellen confirmed that the Child Life Division at Children’s Hospital could use the Nintendo Wii.

I saw this as a great opportunity to do something positive, and rally a great bunch of people together, during really hard times. Furthermore, I saw this as a great opportunity to reinforce the idea of “giving back” for my kids. The past seven weeks have been amazing—family, friends, and friends of friends from around the world rallied around this cause. People really wanted to see this through. .

Through all of this, there was a great feeling about Faygo. There are people all over the country and world, who grew up with Red Pop, Rock and Rye, and Faygo Root Beer, who absolutely love it. My essay practically wrote itself—it came so easily. I’ve essentially become a walking, talking Faygo advertisement.

When the voting closed on Tuesday, it appeared that our entry was in first place by a few hundred votes. I know the results come out on 12/15/09-- I just wanted to make you aware of my intentions, in case Faygo wants to be a further part of this. “Family, Friends, Faygo” has a nice ring to it.

I want to thank you for the opportunity, and for a lifetime of refreshment.

Sincerely,

Jerry Herman

cc: Ellen D. Burnett
Director, Major Gifts
Children's Hospital of Michigan


From http://thehermanletters.blogspot.com

Essay# 2 – Celebrities, Politicians, and the Almighty Autograph

When I was young, I was obsessed with autographs. My first autograph was Hank Aaron at a baseball card show, back in the mid-80’s. He seemed cordial enough—he thanked me for coming out. I missed a Boy Scout camping trip to wait in line for Ted Williams. Ted couldn’t be bothered to look up and say “hi” or “thanks”.

I decided to attack the baseball world via mail. I would pose as a six-year-old, writing letters to my favorite baseball players on that crazy lined paper that kids use. I would send two baseball cards and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Then I would wait.

Some days, I’d get three back in a day. Some came back signed, others stamped, and others unsigned. Many never came back. Some, like Mike Schmidt, came with a thank you note. Others never came back. Darrell Evans took ten years to send them back. I really respected him for not just throwing my letter and cards away.

Currently, there aren’t any autographs that I would want. I’ve decided that most celebrities are people I wouldn’t want to meet or know personally, with the exception of People like George Kell, Ernie Harwell, or Al Kaline. When I started writing to companies and public figures in the mid-90’s, I requested a few autographs. I don’t know why—maybe as a trophy of sorts. I’m not really sure why, but I have a picture of Dave Thomas hanging in my basement.

Last week, I finally found the three ring binder containing letters that I wrote to Bill Clinton. Back in 1996, he and I squared off—he as a political figure who is too busy to send an autograph, me as a six-year-old filled with back-handed compliments and innocent questions, eager to tell him everything going on in my life. The result was almost a diary of make-believe events in my life, characters, and subplots. It lasted 16 months. I will start sharing these letters here and there, shortly.

The Herman Letters isn’t meant to be a political sounding board. I would have handled Reagan, either Bush, or Obama in the same manner. I’ve written Engler, Granholm, Fred Thompson, and John Glenn, as well. I’m sure I would have written a doozie to #16, Abe Lincoln about that beard. But mainly out of jealousy—I could never grow one like that.

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From http://thehermanletters.blogspot.com/

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