Lamar Morgan's work

Back in the 1990's while working as an institutional fixed income administrator for Bear Stearns in Atlanta, I used my free time to become head of Amiga Atlanta, Inc. This was the only computer user group in Georgia to be honored with a proclamation by a sitting governor upon its 10th anniversary. I had the privilege of not only orchestrating the event with Gov. Zell Miller's office, bringing PBS's Stewart Chiefet and CNN's Susan Rook on board as as co-hosts, but writing the proclamation regarding the envent for inclusion in the state archives.

During my tenure as president I was asked by the Special Olympics-Georgia organization if the computer user group could possibly replace IBM at Emory University for the Georgia Special Olympics Summer Games. The Special Olympics needed an entertainment pavillion in its entertainment showcase area known as "Olympic Town." Incredibly my little computer user group rose to meet the challenge. The Special Olympics provided the tent, electrical power, tables and chairs. The computer user group provided the computers and people to play computer games with the special athletes.

It was initially thought this was to be a one-time request and that IBM would return the following year. However, as fate would have it, the crowd which showed up from across Georgia was so enthusiastic regarding the club's effort that it's annual participation was continually sought-after for four straight years. The club actually closed out each year's Olympic Town event with a huge raffle event at McDonough Field on the Emory University campus. Contributors to the raffle included Bank of America, Clear Channel Communications, Atlanta Braves, Horizon Computer Centers and Saturn Car Company, among others.

I am most proud of my volunteer effort to assist high school students get community service credit town graduation by coordinating a successful marketing campaign for a high school that lacks a school newspaper. It took a letter-writing campaign by 30 high school students, a press kit from the Lake County Marketing Association, email and phone calls from Ryze Business Network members around the world. But, the effort worked. Fox News Correspondent Adam Housley came to Middletown, CA and address the parade crowd for the town's only annual western festival, Middletown Days. But, that is not all. He put the entire town on the news by getting the weather man to mention the town all day long on June 17, 2006. You can read more about the event by going to Middletown Days 2011.

I wrote Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger that Wi-Fi in cooperation with Wi-Fi digital frames could be of tremendous benefit the the State of California in terms of publicity as they are remotely programmable. It is not a tool that in and of itself can solve California's budget crisis. However, it is a cost-effective resource many small businesses in California can use to cost-effectively spread their business message.

In October of 2008, I coordinated a marketing effort for the Hardesters Shopping Center's Grand Opening. The event was so successful that the following May in 2009, a spring fling festival was planned.

One day before the first-ever Spring Fling Festival, I received the PDF above from Marty Keller, Small Business Advocate for the State of California. Word had apparently reached Gov. Schwarzenegger about what was taking place in Hidden Valley Lake and he thought this idea of mutual collaboration and support for local area businesses was a good idea. Apparently, he too is an advocate of the "better together" mentality. He believes in a "mutual uplift."

I was looking forward to assistsing Govenor Schwarzenegger with the promotion of his Second Annual Small Business and Entreprenuership Conference. Unfortunately, a situation arose wherein I had to suddenly relocate to be with family in South Florida.

It's not every day that you meet an attorney who is prolific at writing books about filing for bankruptcy and also has an interest in community radio. But, Steve Elias is just such a person. He is actually interested in doing some I think is quite extraordinary for Lake County. He is interested in putting to FREE technologies to work to strengthen enhance the reach of community radio station KPFZ - not just to all of Lake County - but around the world. I am excited for him. I hope I can be of service to him in helping this effort become successful.

It was both an honor and a privilege to have the opportunity in October of 2009 to spend time as a teaching assistant with Professor LaFaver's Cybercampus of students around the world. Anyone who thinks that the Internet has not had an impact on the world's educational system, need only spend some time on a cybercampus. While I text-chatted on the subject of Social Media, I could not help but be fascinated by the way in which students today use technological innovation. It really is amazing!

Jack Lair is the convenience store owner who decided to do something extraordinary. He decided to become a FREE Wi-Fi hot spot. But, he did not stop there. He expanded his convenience store to include a dining area. He hired a chef to create extraordinary meals. He put a 42-inch HDTV in the dining area and allowed me to attach a 16-foot VGA cable to it. Now, wht the dining area set for Wi-Fi use and the HDTV connected to a laptop computer, what we have is a small dining area that doubles as a small conference facility. I actually held Lake County, CA's first "hands-on" Social Media Workshop Meetup in that dining area. Folks brought their laptops and learned how Social Media tools work in real-time.

One of the most amazing designers and SEO experts I have had the pleasure working with is Eileen Brown of Derby, Kansas. This woman can transform the effectiveness of a display ad simply by drawing a line. She not only has the mechanical know-how, but a unique understanding of the impact of colors and words. When this woman paints on the canvas of a website, the message is not only beautiful, but understood and appreciated. I am truly honored to be associated with such a remarkable talent.

Operating as CDMM-Synergistic Business Marketing in collaboration with Creative Concepts & Design Marketing Group, a special to-do-list board was created showcasing Ryze network members across the United States and Canada as well as local merchants in Lake County, CA. The purpose was to demonstrate the power and economy of mutually collaborative efforts to Chamber of Commerce members in Northern California. Why? Because even in a recessionary financial landscape, the "better together" idea still works.

This is an article I wrote following Lake County, CA's first "hands-on" Social Media Workshop Meetup at the personal request of the Lake County Record-Bee. I actually set up the FREE Wi-Fi hot spot at the Hidden Valley Food Mart, where this event took place. Owners of the Food Mart, Jack and Karen Lair, were so impressed with the increase in foot traffic offering FREE Wi-Fi has brought them, they are in the process of opening up a restaurant inside the Kelseyville Lumber store in Kelseyville and have it be a Wi-Fi hot spot similar to what has already been accomplished with the Hidden Valley Food Mart in Hidden Valley Lake.

I have achieved Foursquare Super Mayor status. That means I have been able to hold down as many as 10 Mayorships at one time. As of January 2011, I have become the Foursquare Mayor of more than 80 different storefront/business venues. Those venues reside on opposite sides of the North American continent - in Northern California and Southern Florida. I have also officially become a Foursquare marketing manager for numerous venues. By being the marketing manager I am greatly empowered by Foursquare's crowd mechanics tools to deliver more customer traffic to a storefront venue.

Ting's Thai Kitchen in Hidden Valley Lake, CA is one of several venues I manage. Though my management, the restaurant has achieved considerable exposure through the local news media and social media - including Twitter, Facebook, Ryze, Merchantcircle, TeamCircle, San Francisco Examiner, Middletown News - in addition to the online and offline buzz created by Foursquare and Squidoo.

What a surprise it is to get an unexpected call from an old acquaintance who resides in Mainland China and works as a business attorney requesting PR assistance in the United States. This is a first for me.

C4 WorldWide provides services Beyond Venture Management (BVM) and is at work in more than 55 countries providing banking solutions, secure investments and consulting solutions. It is indeed an honor and a privilege to be associated with Mike Fesler, an internationally-known venture capitalist for C4 Worldwide. I look forward to being able to do some work with him.

Even in a recessionary economy, there is a lot that can be done to help people in career transition have a better future. The biggest mistake most people make is NOT to have a networking plan and other people to help carry it out. Thinking outside-the-box helps.

While seeking employment myself, I registered with my state's employment website as an employer. I was amazed at how complex the posting a simple job offering had become. Posting to Craigslist is a snap compared to what my state requires. From my vantage point, the all this complexity serves the needs of my state's infrastructure moreso than it does employers or job seekers. I decided right then and there to bring "crowd mechanics" into my plan for a better future. Rather than hire people to work for me, I would offer to barter with them - my time in exchange for theirs. This would be a win/win arrangement for a better future through collaboration online and with help from the local library. Here are some of my mentorship principles:

Top 3 priorities for a better future:

1) Be organized.

2) Be accountable (to someone).

3) Be uplifting.

Top 10 "things" for a better future (This leaves "people" and "places" to be discovered.):

1) Email program
(i.e. Gmail)

2) Linkedin.com
(Professional network for employers and people in career transition)

3) Jibber Jobber.com
(Career management database and infrastructure builder)

4) Manta.com
(NAISIC Code employer database)

5) Squidoo.com
(Multimedia online "prove it" showcase)

6) ReferralKey.com
(Referral network database)

7) Cardcloud.com
(Virtual business card tool with database)

8) Twitter.com
(Social capital resource)

9) Facebook.com
(Social capital resource)

10) Foursquare.com
(Social capital resource)

When people invest their time in other people with a mindset that demonstrates a "better together" attitude, amazing things can happen - even in a recessionary economy.