Interview with @MelanieMinnaar the lady behind Twitter Blanket Drive #TBDZA

This week we interview @MelanieMinnaar the driving force behind Twitter Blanket Drive #TBDZA

                                              Follow Her On Twitter @MelanieMinnaar

Where were we born?

I WAS BORN IN EAST LONDON, EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE, SOUTH AFRICA – PROUDLY A BORDER GIRL :-) AND I MISS THE COAST A GREAT DEAL


Where do you work?  What does your company do?


I AM THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF HALO, A DYNAMIC AND YOUNG-SPIRITED INTEGRATED BRAND COMMUNICATIONS AGENCY, BASED IN THE SANDTON CBD IN THE GAUTENG PROVINCE.  THE AGENCY IS AMBITIOUS BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, COMMITTED TO FULFILLING OUR COLLECTIVE VISION OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A NEW AGE AGENCY.


Tell us about a day in the life of Melanie Minnaar?


I WAKE UP (NOT VOLUNTARILY) AT ABOUT 5AM SANDWICHED BETWEEN MY 2 STIRRING CHILDREN AND OUR CAT. I IMMEDIATELY CHECK MY BBM'S, WHATS APP AND SMS'S ON MY BLACKBERRY – THEN I CHECK MY SMS'S ON MY NOKIA – THEN I CHECK ALL EMAILS AND SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS ON MY IPAD. MY HUSBAND DELIVERS A MUG OF GOOD COFFEE TO THE BEDROOM AT ABOUT 6AM AS HE KNOWS THAT NO GOOD WILL COME OF MY DAY UNTIL I'VE GOT COFFEE IN MY BLOODSTREAM. AFTER COFFEE I HEAD TO THE KITCHEN TO PREPARE BREAKFAST FOR THE KIDS.  THE NANNY JOINS US JUST IN TIME TO GET THE CHILDREN READY AND DRESSED FOR SCHOOL. WITH MY ESCAPE PLAN HATCHED I RETREAT TO MY BEDROOM AND CONTINUE WORKING ON A DOCUMENT/PRESENTATION/PROPOSAL THAT WAS NOT COMPLETED THE NIGHT BEFORE. ONCE MY HUBBY LEAVES FOR THE SCHOOL RUN I HEAD FOR MY RUN/WALK FOR LIFE SESSION. AFTER A GOOD WORKOUT I HEAD HOME TO GET CLEANED UP AND POLISHED FOR MY WORK DAY AHEAD. 

MY WORK DAY VARIES FROM DAY TO DAY WHICH I LIKE; USUALLY SOME MEETINGS, PRESENTATIONS, PREPARATION OF CLIENT PROPOSALS, HARASSING OF THE CREATIVE TEAM, DRIVING THE ADMIN TEAM NUTS – ALL PAR FOR THE COURSE…

I GET HOME BETWEEN 5PM-6PM IN TIME TO HAVE DINNER WITH THE FAMILY. THE EARLY EVENING IS SPENT REVISING SCHOOL HOMEWORK AND ALSO BUILDING PUZZLES, DRAWING OR PLAYING A GAME WITH THE KIDS BEFORE THEIR BEDTIME AT 7PM. 

IN BETWEEN, I DRINK A LOT OF COFFEE AND TWEET A LOT…

You started Twitter Blanket Drive #TBDZA how did that all start and what's it all about?

IT'S SIMPLY A BUNCH OF LIKE-MINDED INDIVIDUALS COMING TOGETHER TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE THROUGH RELATIONSHIPS FORMED AND BUILT ON TWITTER.

#TBDZA IS NOT AN ORGANISATION, NOR IS IT A FUNDRAISING PROJECT, IT IS A "MOVEMENT" (AS IT WAS FIRST DESCRIBED BY BARRY BRAMLEY) THAT MOBILISES PEOPLE TO DO SOMETHING – WHATEVER THEY CAN – WHERE THEY ARE – RIGHT NOW.

THE HISTORY OF THE PROJECT IS ON THE WEBSITE SO I'M NOT GOING TO REPEAT IT ALL HERE :-) WWW.TWITTERBLANKETDRIVE.CO.ZA

What date is #TBDZA and what time do all these events begin?

ALL EVENTS TAKE PLACE ON THE SAME DAY, 26 MAY 2012 AT 6PM.  SOME EVENTS WILL HAVE ACTIVITIES EARLIER IN THE DAY BUT THE CRITICAL TIME IS 6-8PM WHEN THE VIRTUAL COLLECTIVE OF TWEEPS AT ALL #TBDZA EVENTS COME ONLINE FOR THE LARGEST TWEETUP FOR GOOD (THAT'S OFFICIAL – I'VE CHECKED THAT NO RECORD OFFICIAL EXISTS WITH GUINESS WORLD RECORDS)

How can all the Tweeps on Twitter help?

THERE ARE SO MANY WAYS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EVERYONE TO GET INVOLVED IN #TBDZA:

1.  TWEET YOUR SUPPORT AND SPREAD AWARENESS OF THE EVENT

2.  RT NEWS OF OTHER EVENTS AND SUPPORT THEM TOO

3.  HOST AN EVENT IN YOUR AREA

4.  ATTEND AN EVENT IN YOUR AREA

5.  DONATE A BLANKET AT ANY DROPOFF POINT BEFORE 25 MAY IF YOU CAN'T MAKE IT TO ANY EVENT

6.  GET YOUR COMPANY INVOLVED WITH A STAFF BLANKET DRIVE OR BULK BLANKET DONATION

7.  ASSIST WITH AN EVENT BY SUPPLYING EQUIPMENT SUCH AS A/V SCREENS, CATERING, PHOTOGRAPHY, MUSIC, HELP WITH REGISTRATION, HELP WITH COUNTING BLANKETS

8.  VOLUNTEER TO DO A MORE FORMAL HANDOVER OF BLANKETS TO CHARITIES BY ARRANGING A GROUP TO ATTEND THE HANDOVER, PHOTOGRAPHER, ETC

9.  WE ARE DESPERATELY LOOKING FOR A SPONSOR OF PACKING BOXES FOR DROP OFF POINTS, AND THE PRINTING OF THE LABELS FOR THE BOXES

10.  TURN YOUR OWN EVENT INTO A FEEDER EVENT FOR #TBDZA 

ETC, ETC, ETC…

Your favourite motivational quote?

I HAVE SO MANY… IT IS DIFFICULT TO CHOOSE JUST ONE… PERHAPS:

"JUST PUT ON YOUR BIG GIRL PANTIES AND GO GET IT DONE" :-)

What book are you currently reading?

"WHY YOUR WORLD IS ABOUT TO GET A WHOLE LOT SMALLER – OIL AND THE END OF GLOBALISATION" - JEFF RUBIN, VIRGIN BOOKS

Favourite Holiday Destination? 

IF I TRAVEL ALONE IT WOULD HAVE TO BE NEW YORK.

FOR FAMILY HOLIDAYS THE BEST PLACE IS MPUMALANGA, SOUTH AFRICA – ANYWHERE AROUND KAAPSEHOOP OR HAZYVIEW. WE LOVE THE DINOSAUR PARK NEAR THE SUDWALA CAVES, AND OUR FAVOURITE 'CHILL' DESTINATION IS THE KAAPSEHOOP RIDING CAMP WITH ACCOMMODATION WHICH MY KIDS LOVE BECAUSE IT'S FULL OF REAL COWBOYS!  THERE IS SO MUCH MORE TO MPUMALANGA THAN KNP :-) - WE NEED TO EXPLORE OUR OWN COUNTRY MORE.

Well she certainly is a very interesting person and you can see why she is in charge of this wonderful event.

Here are some useful images you can download and put on your website or blog or facebook page to create awareness of this wonderful event.

This year #FollowSA is partnering with #TBDZA and follow the tweets to see all they and @Jodenecoza are doing.

Some useful links for Twitter Blanket Drive

Please use the hashtag #TBDZA when you tweet about it.

Join their Facebook Page - http://www.facebook.com/TBDZA

In Durban North @Livingstons_DBN will be hosting a event on 6th May at 4pm.  Bring a Blanket.  Meet some Tweeps.   They will also have an event on 26th May.

If you are in the area pop by -  http://www.facebook.com/events/226985800740157/

You can also find the invite on Twitter -  http://tweetvite.com/event/tbdzafollowsadurban

There will also be an event at Olive and Oil Hillcrest 6th May 4pm.  Tweet @MsBehavinB for details 

We are also pleased to say that Spiga D'Oro in Floriday Road is also a official drop off point as from Sunday.
They will be having a chilled event from 5 - 7 pm and a big event on the 26th.
So pop by on Sunday have a drink and drop off some blankets.
You can find Spiga on Twitter at @spiga_durban
You can also follow them on Facebook -
 http://www.facebook.com/pages/Spiga-dOro-Florida-Road/110321135661734


If you can't make these events you can drop by anytime in May at Livingstons Durban
or Spiga D'Oro in Florida Road to drop off a blanket.

We would also like to thank Fiona Jane Photography for helping out with the Photography at these events.
You can follow her on Twitter - @FionaJanePhotos
Join her Facebook Page - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fiona-Jane-Photography/310784055645291

When you come to the event please tweet as much as you can using the hashtag #TBDZA

Check in using Foursquare and above all have fun.