Yesterday’s topic of the day was sure clear if you spent any time on a few of the top internet destinations. Many of the heaviest trafficked websites such as Google, Wikipedia, Reddit, Craigslist and Wired shared with the world exactly how they feel about two pieces of legislation working their way through congress, the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA, H.R. 3261) and Protect Intellectual Property Act (PIPA, S. 968). In case you missed it yesterday, here’s the link that Google’s blacked-out logo led to.
Both bills are aimed at changing the way our government enforces copyright laws by putting the burden of proof on the host of the content, not the owner. For a great (mostly unbiased) summary on what the bills say and how they might affect business and daily life for the average internet user, take a look here.
Like many issues that lead to such heated rhetoric, this isn’t a two sided issue in the sense that the opposing side believes copyright laws shouldn’t be enforced. And like them, we feel strongly that the rights of created content ought to belong to the person or organization that created it. Artists, directors, musicians and writers invest heavily into the works they produce, and their right to ownership of it as well as the law’s role to protect it from theft and misuse is valid and seems to be relatively undisputed by the opponents of SOPA and PIPA (despite what the lobbyists who pushed the bills might say).
There is good reason for the law to protect owners’ rights to their created works. However, protection at the expense of constitutional rights isn’t really protection at all. (For a historical perspective on the lobbying efforts of the MPAA and RIAA and how SOPA and PIPA would violate some key constitutional rights, take a look at this insightful TED video.)
Today, as much of the tumult of conversation has blown over, we want to take a moment to commend the congressmen and senators who have pulled their support of SOPA and PIPA:
• Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.)
• Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.)
• Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.)
• Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.)
• Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah)
• Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa)
• Rep. Lee Terry (R-Neb.)
• Rep. Ben Quayle (R-Ariz.)
• Rep. Dennis Ross (R-Fla.)
What has been incredible the last few days is the solidarity of the opposition to these bills. Regardless of left, right or center leanings, protecting the rights of the people has been at the top of the list for many of our lawmakers.
Perhaps this is the main thing we can take away from all of it. With the people as the focus of the government, not special interest groups or careers, all sides of the political spectrum have come together. As we move into the heat of the 2012 elections, our hope is that constitutional convictions would remain steadfast and that more examples of bi-partisan cooperation would make an appearance.
As the New Year begins, we’re excited to start it off with a great cause! Each year, Childhelp hosts a Celebrity Golf Invitational to give golf enthusiasts a chance to do what they love, with great company, and all for a worthy cause. Take a look:
For more information about this year’s Childhelp Celebrity Golf Invitational and how you can support Childhelp, click here.
The Fall is always a busy time around the GCJPR offices. It is the time of year when several of our longstanding clients hold their annual fundraising dinners and luncheons. Assisting our clients with event logistics and in turn raising much needed funding, provides for those who are in need.
For photos from these great events visit our blog or like us on Facebook.
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Veteran’s Medical Leadership Council 9th Annual
“Heroes One and All” Luncheon
Patriotism abounds at the VMLC’s annual luncheon as it raises funds for programs through the VA Hospital, Wounded Warriors and many other programs that benefit our nation’s veterans.
With the help of emcee, Mike Broomhead, and keynote speaker Ronald Blanck, former
Surgeon General of the U.S. Army and commander of the U.S. Army Medical Command, the event was again successful in raising awareness in the community of the rising needs of our veterans and the funding needed to take care of those who have fought for our freedom.
Gordon and his son, Graham, fulfilled a lifelong dream of running in the New York City Marathon this November.
Each year the city holds a lottery to choose which runners will be able to participate. This year, Gordon and Graham were able to bypass the lottery and join the Boomer Esiason Foundation‘s team, which supports research to find a cure for Cystic Fibrosis, a disease that has directly affected the James family. Both father and son were proud to participate in the foundation’s effort and can be seen celebrating finishing the race in the photo above with Graham’s children.
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Mallory Joins Team Childhelp for the Toronto Marathon
Mallory stands between Jordan Rodriguez (left) and “The Turbaned Tornado,” 100-year-old runner Fauja Singh.
Mallory also ran a race this Fall. She completed her second half marathon as a sight-guide for 17-year-old Jordan Rodriguez. The pair ran with Team Childhelp to raise money for the prevention and treatment of child abuse across the United States.
For more information about Childhelp, please visit www.Childhelp.org or like them on Facebook.
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Dear Friends,
From the desert of Arizona, to the snow in Iowa, to the streets our founders walked in Washington, 2011 has been a busy year for GCJPR for which we are thankful.
We value your friendship, your business, and your support and we wish you the best this holiday season. Our wish for you includes a time of reflection and rest as we bid farewell to this year as well as a prosperous and healthy 2012.
Hacienda HealthCare Holding Holiday Drive for Snuggies
Have you ever received a Snuggie as a Holiday White Elephant gift? If you have a Snuggie that you don’t care for, Hacienda HealthCare wants it!
Snuggies, the blankets with arms, are a perfect gift for patients that live at Hacienda’s Intermediate Care Facility and Pediatric Skilled Nursing Facility in South Phoenix. The health care provider is asking residents of the Greater Phoenix area to donate Snuggies for its patients’ use during and after the Holiday season.
The Snuggies will be used by the patients while in the facilities as well as when they participate in Holiday events throughout the Valley. On a daily basis Hacienda HealthCare touches over 1,000 lives, the health care provider hopes to receive that many Snuggies.
Snuggies may be dropped off at the following locations:
As Arizona’s leading provider of specialized services for medically fragile and chronically ill infants, children, teens and young adults, Hacienda’s objective is to make its facilities a home away from home whether for a short duration or a long period.
Hacienda HealthCare, through its affiliates, Hacienda, Inc., Los Niños Hospital, Inc., Hacienda Skilled Nursing Facility, Inc. and South Mountain Health Supply, Inc. is the leading provider of specialized services for medically fragile and chronically ill infants, children, teens and young adults in Arizona. Their patients receive a wide range of services including 24-hour nursing, 24-hour respiratory care, physician services, speech, physical and occupational therapy, education and recreation/socialization. Hacienda HealthCare also provides training and education to families to assist them in caring for their loved one after the transition is made back to the family home. In addition, respite care services are provided to give families the opportunity to have their family member cared for in a safe, loving environment while they attend to other important family matters.
Maricopa Health Foundation throws 8th Annual CopaBall
Focusing a “Ray of Light” on the community was the underlying theme of the 8th Annual CopaBall put on by the Maricopa Health Foundation.
Money raised at this year’s dinner was earmarked for new equipment for the Arizona Children’s Center (AZCC) at Maricopa Medical Center, but also to benefit the entire Maricopa Integrated Health System. In highlighting the AZCC, we were pleased to host many past and current patients of the Children’s Center as the dinner highlighted the fantastic work that the doctors and nurses do.
For more information on the Maricopa Health Foundation and its mission, please visit www.mihs.org/foundation.
GRAND OPENING: DOXA and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Open New Facility
In November, GCJPR worked on behalf of DOXA South LLC with U.S. Citizenship and Services(USCIS) to offer a unique behind the scenes look at the local immigration benefits office in Phoenix.
Arizona Secretary of State, Ken Bennett addresses crowd at DOXA/USCIS Ribbon Cutting, Nov. 18, 2011.
This fall marked the beginning of USCIS offering all of its immigration services in its new facility in south Phoenix, operated by DOXA. Outdoor festivities at the ribbon cutting ceremony included music by the Panther band and 4th grade choir of neighboring Silvestre Herrera Elementary and the unveiling of Lady Liberty. Fabricated from a 6′x20′ one piece aluminum panel, cut with computer driven waterjet locally in Phoenix, she is quite the sight to see.
The local neighborhood is currently undergoing revitalization, supported by the City of Phoenix, and thanks to the new USCIS building, the area expects to see over 72,000 additional people per year. We look forward to seeing the modernization and renewal of this important area in the coming years.
SHEA HOMES: Expanding On- and Off-line
This fall has been full of activity for Shea Homes Arizona which recently announced the opening of Vista Montaña, a new community located in Peoria. Shea’s family division will offer a new luxury product line on these one-acre lots, including customizable add-ons such as RV garages and pool cabanas. Be sure to visit www.SheaHomes.com after the New Year for more information about the community.
That’s not the only way that Shea Homes is expanding! As the company’s national leader in social media, the homebuilder has also launched its new online show, Shea Today, which dives into building science, energy efficiency and all of the intricacies of building a high performance home. Check out their YouTube Channel to see what goes on behind the scenes during construction, quality testing and more. You can also find Shea Homes on Facebook, follow them on Twitter at @SheaHomesAZ, and add them to your circles on Google+.
SHEA HOMES IN The NEWS: Ken Peterson, VP of Sales and Marketing for Shea Homes, was featured in the Phoenix Business Journal this month. Check it out his executive profile here.
The Crossroads ‘roads of Hope Dinner
One lucky raffle winner took home this 1954 Lincoln Continental with suicide doors.
For over 50 years, Crossroads Inc. has been a beacon of light in the Phoenix Metro area for those affected by alcohol and drug addiction by providing them with a healthy transitional living environment. With over 7 facilities in the Valley serving men and women, this organization continues to help people on the path to recovery.
This year’s ‘roads of Hope fundraising dinner highlighted Crossroads successes in the community and its future goals to extend its reach into the Valley’s communities. The evening was not all business though as comedian Dick Kendall had the crowd rolling with laughter during his set.
For more information on the Crossroads, please visit www.thecrossroadsinc.com or like them on Facebook.
With many of our staff members back on the road frequently, we thought it would be fun to update the blog with a few photos from the campaign trail.
Gordon and Lisa with Newt at an Arizona fundraiser hosted at GCJPR.
Brian O’Malley behind the lens at the Union League Club in NYC for a Newt book signing.
Brian behind the lens again with Newt at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics.
Callista Gingrich, center, wife of Republican presidential candidate and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, looks towards her husband as they walk to a book signing in the Staten Island borough of New York, Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
Did you know that you can give to many organizations without it costing you a dime? The State of Arizona offers a dollar for dollar tax credit for donations made to charitable organizations that benefit the working poor. This allows you to redirect your tax dollars to the qualifying charity of your choice.
We hope you will take advantage of this opportunity to help those in need this holiday season. Here are a few great organizations that are eligible for this type of donation:
In order to take advantage of this opportunity to direct your tax dollars you must:
• Give $400 ($200 if single/head of household) to a qualifying 501(c)(3) organization of your choice
• Ensure the organization has your name, address & telephone number for a written receipt of your gift for tax records
• Itemize your charitable contribution on your Arizona return and claim the credit
For more details and instructions on how to take advantage of this tax credit and a complete list of eligible organizations, please visit the Arizona Department of Revenue
Twenty-one years ago, Gordon C. James Public Relations had one employee…
..we had one computer—with no internet connection…
..we had one fax machine that earned its keep…
..we had worked for one president…
..we could count our clients on one hand…
..it was a good start, but we were just beginning.
Since then, GCJPR has grown quite a bit…
..we exchange hundreds of emails each week…
..we’ve worked for over 100 clients…
..we send press releases with just the click of a button…
..our digital advocacy consulting work has grown exponentially…
..we’ve worked for two presidents- and we’re hoping for a third in 2012!
Today, as we celebrate the last twenty-one years of GCJPR, it seems appropriate to say that the more things change, the more things stay the same. Many, if not most, of the tools we use on a daily basis have changed, but how we do business will continue to be the same.
Though we may exchange several emails and even Facebook messages each day with a client, we still make time to meet regularly face-to-face. We still meet with reporters for coffee. We still spend time getting to know the real goals of everyone we work with. The bottom line is that nothing of value gets done without a great working relationship. Since the beginning, we have taken it upon ourselves to initiate and pursue those great relationships.
Thank you to everyone who has been a part of GCJPR over the last twenty-one years. You’ve truly helped build it up to what it is today.
Have you ever received a Snuggie as a Holiday White Elephant gift? If you have a Snuggie that you don’t care for, Hacienda HealthCare wants it!
