Read All About The wonderful #ecrwinterwarmth Campaign by @ecr9495

This Week I was invited to the Media Launch of the ECR Winter Warmth Campaign.

MC ECR DJ @GabrielSithole started the launch by telling us all about the Campaign.
It is a 6 week campaign during which blankets or cash is used to buy blankets and are
collected for the less fortunate in our province.

The blankets are distributed across the province, with major emphasis on outer lying areas
where it is coldest, like Newcastle, Kokstad, Underberg and Eshowe.  These are distributed
by Rotary to old age homes, orphanages, creches and households in rural communities.

                        East Coast Radio General Manager Trish Taylor

Trish Taylor showed us how this project has grown significantly.  Around a quarter of a million blankets have been distributed across the province.  More than 40 000 blankets were distributed last year.
ECR hopes their listeners give heartedly this year.  Many people living in rural communities have no electricity and feel the full brunt of winter.  They're literally left out in the cold without the assistance of generous corporates and individuals.

                                       The Hub's Group Marketing Executive, Val Ives

Val Ives from The Hub says, ' We can't turn a blind eye to those who go cold. The Hub has chosen to focus our attention on making sure that many of these people will be warm this winter.  We hope that all the station's listeners will support the campaign to make sure that we can make a difference thousands of times over.'

Blankets can be purchased anywhere but they are available at The Hub at a cost of just R40 each.  They can be dropped off at any one of the more than 20 Hub Stores dotted throughout the province.
You can also make cash donations via the following means:

Donations Can be made to

• East Coast Radio Charitable Association
• Bank:  First National Bank Commercial
• Branch: Gateway
• Branch number: 25 01 08
• Account number: 622 224 283 37
• Reference: Your name

Online donations can be made here: www.ecr.co.za

Cash Donations can be made at till points in Hub stores.

For those of you on Twitter you can also create awareness of this campaign by using 

the hashtag #ecrwinterwarmth  

Source: East Coast Radio

Story by @fredfelton

Photography by @FionaJanePhotos

IHG Leading The Hotel Industry Worldwide

This Month I was invited to the IHG Media Briefing at The Holiday Inn Express Umhlanga Ridge.

Director of Sales and Marketing in Africa Michael Opondo - one of the Speakers at the briefing.


IHG was here at Tourism Indaba and they proved to be gracious hosts.  In case you don't know it
IHG stands for InterContinental Hotels Group.  They are the leading Hotel Group in the World and
represent a number of leading brands in the Industry.

They are present in 11 Countries and have 9 Franchises in SA.

At the Briefing we were informed on all the latest trends in the Hotel Industry and IHG has
all the latest trends ready for you.

Here are some of the latest trends in the World and in Hotels.

• iPhone booking apps
• The Aerotropolis  - mini cites that grow up around Airports these include hotels, retail malls, offices, business centres, logistics centres and warehouses.  
• Brain Spa's - Lectures, courses, TED Talks
• Ambient Shopping - eg Apple Stores
• In Store Cafe's 
• Performance Sleeping - $70 Billion Dollars Are Lost In Productivity
• Urban Farm Restaurants - Restaurants that farm for themselves
• People will be able to rent their own clothing at Hotels or Shops so you can travel baggage free

IHG also has the following initiatives:

• Green Engage - Online Hotel Design
• IHG Academy - A Global Talent Pool of people that train and work in the Hotels
• IHG Shelter in the Storm - Helps with Natural Disasters
• IHG Innovation

The IHG Brand Includes

• Intercontinental
• Crowne Plaza
• Hotel Indigo
• Holiday Inn
• Holiday Inn Express
• Candlewood Suites

After the Media Briefing we were given a short tour of the Holiday Inn Express.

It really is a wonderful Hotel with some lovely rooms, wonderful sea views and they also offer

Free Wi-Fi options for Clients.   

                  One of the Wonderful rooms at the Holiday Inn Express - Umhlanga Ridge

The Hotel has wonderful attention to detail so much so that you can choose from 3 types of pillows 

for your Bed.

Useful Website Link for IHG

http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/ihg/hotels/us/en/reservation

(Story and Pictures by @fredfelton) 

                                                            Picture Of The Week

Umhlanga Pier Like You Have Never Seen It Before 

Picture by @fredfelton

This picture is getting a great deal of RT's and Shares all over.  

Breakfast on the banks of the Zambezi, Society Page, Movie Review and more

Breakfast on the banks of the Zambezi!

This May East Coast Radio will be broadcasting live from the Victoria Falls in Zambia, as part of the African Renaissance Festival. The 14th annual African Renaissance Festival is being held in Durban this week and aims to connect Africa to secure the continent’s future. 

As part of the celebration East Coast Radio presenter Darren Maule will be strengthening ties beyond our borders when he broadcasts live from the Royal Livingstone Hotel in Zambia on the 24th and 25th of May. Darren and the Breakfast Stack producer George Thorne will connect with another part of Africa by sampling some of the local cuisine, soaking up the culture and relishing in new experiences. Amongst other things they will mingle with the locals, experience an elephant back safari and get to witness Victoria Falls in all its glory.

The people of Zambia have been warned; Darren will no doubt also get up to his usual mischief and has packed his unique sense humour in with the rest of his luggage. Listen out to the Breakfast Stack between 06h00 and 09h00 on Thursday and Friday this week to hear more about their Zambian adventure!

(Source:  East Coast Radio)

Seen Around Town

@Jodenecoza was in town for #Howzit031 a wonderful event at News Cafe Umhlanga Rocks

Drop off your blankets for #TBDZA at Spiga D'Oro, Florida Road, one of the official drop off points.

Rajesh Gopie popped by @mondaystclement to perform some of Out of Bounds 

Movie Review - The Avengers

Popped over to Ster Kinekor Gateway to view this movie.   Based on the Comic Book series

from Marvel Comics this features a team of superheroes who band together to fight 

a bigger evil that none of them can handle on their own.  However together they form

a formidable team.  What a team it is.   We have Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr) 

The Incredible Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Captain America (Chris Evans),

Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow) and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) together they have to 

fight the evil Loki (Tom Hiddleston).  Along the way you will find many characters that have popped up in other Marvel movies.  Look out for a great cameo by the legendary actor Harry Dean Stanton.  The team are led by Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson).  Can they defeat the evil Loki?

To find that out you will have to see the movie.  There are some wonderful special effects in this movie and one can see why it is still sitting on top at the box office.

Rating 10/10 

Review by @fredfelton 

Bennie Naude Inspirational Speaker & Trainer

This week we have an exclusive interview with Inspirational Speaker & Trainer Bennie Naude

                                   Find out more about Bennie on Twitter - @DeepLiving

10 Questions with Bennie Naude

1.  Where were you born?


Riversdal, South Africa

2. You are in South Africa to do EFT Training, what exactly is EFT and what training will you be doing? 


EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) is also sometimes called 'tapping' because it activates your body's natural ability to heal itself and relieves physical and emotional pain and stress it helps you on a range of everyday issues like:

• Overcome overwhelm and feel more relaxed and in control of your life (rather than it being in control of you)
• Reduces stress and anxiety by reducing your adrenaline and cortisol (stress hormone) levels
• Eliminate food cravings and enable weight-loss
• Relieve headaches, migraines, backaches, painful PMS, side-effects of chemo-therapy and even help your body heal quicker after accidents or surgery.
• Relieve depression, overwhelm fears and phobias (like the fear of public speaking, heights or spiders) and has been clinically proven to be very effective for overcoming even extreme trauma like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) 
• Shift negative beliefs which hold you back like 'I'm not good enough' or 'I'll never be successful ' so that you can move forward in life.
• Overcome Relationship tension and difficulties

It's really for people who are ready and willing to take responsibility for their emotional, physical and spiritual  wellbeing.

I'm hosting a 4-day 'EFT Practitioner' training in Cape Town which includes both the so-called EFT Level 1 (or Foundation) and Level 2 trainings.  Doing it back-to-back means you get to learn the technique step-by-step and get to practice it in the classroom so that not only will you experience the benefits right here but by the time you leave you'll be confident in applying the technique to yourself, to those you love and with clients if you wish.

3.  What advice do you have for Speakers and Trainers

Be YOU.  Think out of the box and say what you think.

Love what you do or do something else.

Connect with the people right in front of you - they are human beings just like you.

Be prepared well enough and know your material well enough so that you can have a conversation rather than 'present' or worse read from the notes!

Never, ever, ever (ever) read from the PowerPoint slides - it's an insult to our audience (most of them can read just fine by themselves).

Speak from your own experience, tell stories from your life,be vulnerable, be human.

Whatever anyone in your audience or classroom says, always see through their apparent dilemma or block and see their magnificence, their beauty.  

Remain open to feedback and to learning from your audience; if you find yourself defending or justifying your own position, take a breath.  If you need to, take time out.  You are right and so are they.  An untold number of different perspectives, all correct.

Engage your audience.  Ask questions, inquire, be curious about and interested in them.  Be honest - people smell BS a mile off even if they don't know it. 

Inspire them, love them and above all never buy into their self-imposed limitations;  lovingly, kindly and compassionately challenge them into their greatness.

Be friends with yourself first, love yourself first accept yourself first.  That makes everything possible.

For want to be speakers and trainers - don't wait until you're perfect; do it NOW.  Go out and teach people NOW.  Like them, you also have everything inside of you right NOW to be successful!

4.  Where is home for Bennie?

That's a great question!  I've lived all around the world and love travelling;  I have British and South African citizenship, am now based in the UK and spending a few months in South Africa.

5.  What do you do to relax?

Swiim, read and go to the movies.

6.  What are you reading at the moment?

For inspiration I'm currently reading through 221 of Neville Goddard's presentations.

For fun I love Janet Evanovich and just finished her 'Seven up' 

7.  What motivates you every day?

I am very clear on the 'big picture' of where my life is heading and because it's quite big it's one of my biggest motivators.  Also, doing what I love and am passionate about for a living is one of the best motivators I know.

8.  How do you use Social Media?

I am on Facebook a few times a week, mainly to catch up with the latest events and news.

9.  What advice do you have for people who want to make a success of their lives?

Get 100% clear on what you want - that has to be the first step else you'll never get there.  Forget about 'how' you're going to get there (that's the universe's job)  and just focus on the 'what' instead and imagine it in the greatest detail.  Then start taking action - any action because imperfect action trumps perfect inaction every single time.  

You already have everything it takes to be successful right now.  The universe only wants for you what you want for you and no-one is coming to rescue you;  it's up to you, 100% you and only you.  You are as free to choose poverty and struggle as you are to choose success so choose wisely;  choose your thoughts with care and use your imagination with care because you are much more powerful than you realise!  

10.  How can people book for your EFT Training Workshop?

They can book online by following this link http://www.deepliving.com/eft-training/

Contact Details For Bennie Naude

Website -  http://www.deepliving.com/

Email - bennie@deepliving.com

Cell: 079 343 9935 

Social Media Highlights From #Indaba2012 and Pansa News

Social Media Highlights from Indaba 2012

This year Indaba was full of social media news and had many angles to it.
At the media centre they even had a Twitter Wall which kept you updated with all the
news using the hashtag #Indaba2012

                      The Twitter Wall at The Media Centre at #Indaba2012

They even had their own paper, Indaba Daily News which was full of useful quotes
from people who had Tweeted or put messages on the Indaba Facebook Page.

They also had some very interesting speakers on Social Media and Marketing
including Damian Cook who showed Tourism companies how to leverage social media
and gave them marketing tips and a wonderful book.

After that we heard from Rodney Payne who showed the delegates all the wonders
you can do with Social Media and how to build campaigns and use Social Media
to build your Tourism business.

   
                                                       Rodney Payne - @rodneyp

Here are some useful People and Organisation who were at the convention
who you can follow on Twitter:

• Rodney Payne - @rodneyp
• Damian Cook - @damiancook
• Indaba Daily News - @IndabaDailyNews
• South African Tourism - @GoToSouthAfrica
• Mariette dT-Helmbold - CEO Cape Town Tourism
• Cape Town - @CapeTown
• @SurenNaidoo - his live tweets helped a lot
• @jo_annstrauss - This wonderful MC was there 
• @ihotelschool - their students were involved with a flash mob at Indaba nice one
• Martin Hatchuel - @martinhatchuel - wonderful tweets from this man.
• @bruceybld - one of those behind the scenes of Indaba 2012

(Article and Photography by @fredfelton )


The Pansa AGM is Coming up.

Invitation to all performing arts practitioners and interested parties.
Notice of
PANSA National AGM
Saturday 2 June 2012
to be held in Durban on Saturday 2 June 2012, 10:00
At
The Catalina Theatre, Wilson Wharf, 18 Boatmans Road

As mandated at the National AGM 2011, the National Steering Committee has reviewed and recommended changes to the current constitution. All members are invited to give comment on the proposed Amended Constitution 2012 by email to Brian Heydenrych, brian@pansa.org.za by 25 May 2012 to be collated and ensure inclusion in the discussion at the National AGM 2012. Further comments can be made on the day.
Any members with items that they want included on the agenda should forward these to Mandisa Tshiqi at the PANSA KZN Office: 031 201 4750, mandisa@pansa.org.za by 25 May 2012
This timing is in conjunction with the final weekend of PANSA/NLDTF Festival of Reading of New Writing 2012.


For any questions, please contact Mandisa Tshiqi at the PANSA KZN Office: 031 201 4750,mandisa@pansa.org.za

(Source: Pansa)

In this issue - Happy Mother's Day Mom's and read about Tourism #Indaba2012

Happy Mother's Day Mom's From Umhlanga Life :)

East Coast Radio personalities salute moms.

Mothers are the glue that holds families together. They’re nurturers and leaders. They’re the source of strength in trying times. Their role is the single most important role in society. These are the words that sprang to mind for East Coast Radio’s on-air personalities when thinking about just how vital moms are.

A few of our presenters have shared their personal feelings and fondest memories of their moms, this Mother’s Day. The Workzone’s Makhosi Khozasays, “I once told my mom I was bored, expecting a suggestion of what I could do, she said, ‘It's ok, sometimes there's nothing to do. Just savour and embrace it.’ It made no sense whatsoever at the time but now I'm great with my own company and downtime!”

Abi Ray reminisces fondly, “When I was growing up, Wednesdays used to be house cleaning day; we used to listen to Queen and dance around while cleaning!” Sportswave presenter Dumi Kunene also has warm childhood memories, “I remember my mother getting us ready for church on Sunday mornings, then after church a full-on Sunday lunch was standard!” Damon Beard says there are so many characteristics about his mom that he cherished, “Her head full of knowledge, her heart full of love, ears ready to listen and her hands always willing to help.”

Weekend Breakfast presenter Jane Linley-Thomas who has a close bond with her mom says motherhood has taught her so much about herself. “Only once you have had a child does your heart love to its full capacity. My love tank overflows daily; my heart could not sing any louder” says Jane proudly. She is mom to toddler Cooper and recently found out she is expecting twins in September/October!  So what has her mom taught her that she will be passing on to her children? “That love, loyalty and passionate dedication are a given!”

East Coast Radio wishes the mom’s in KwaZulu-Natal a wonderful Mother’s Day. We salute you ladies!

(Source:  East Coast Radio) 

Indaba is in Town

There are so many stories happening around town all about Tourism Indaba.

We just heard that Tshwane recently became the only city in the world with a big five game reserve
within city boundaries.  The Dinokeng Big 5 Game Reserve was officially opened last year as part
of the Gauteng Provincial Government's investment initiative and is about 60 minutes drive from
Johannesburg and 30 minutes drive from Pretoria

For further enquiries about what the City of Tshwane has to offer
Contact Ms Dikelede Phiri on 082-386-5743

(Source:  City of Tshwane)

Time for Tourism Indaba 2012

It's almost time for Tourism Indaba 2012 and there will be so many events coming up.

Buyers at this year’s INDABA won’t have to walk the exhibition flat to get an excellent sense of the extent and variety of excellent tourism experiences on offer in South Africa. For the first time ever, a series of speed marketing sessions will give product owners, specialising in adventure, responsible tourism and culture and heritage, a unique platform to interact with interested buyers.

During INDABA 2012 South African Tourism’s global product team will host a series of speed marketing sessions enabling 25 product owners in each of the following categories: adventure, responsible tourism, and culture and heritage, to showcase their offerings to more than 200 interested buyers.

“Our research tells us that the global traveller is looking for more variety in their travel experience, something that South Africa is certainly not lacking. However, with a busy INDABA schedule and more than 2000 exhibitors to see, it is not always easy for buyers to track down the best of what South Africa has to offer. The themes have been chosen based on solid consumer research in key markets,” says Chief Marketing Officer Roshene Singh.

“To make it easier we have identified three areas at this year’s INDABA where South Africa really sets itself apart – adventure, responsible tourism and culture and heritage. We have set up speed marketing sessions to, in a short time, give buyers the chance to get to know the people behind South Africa’s tourism industry and be introduced to some of the products that can make a trip to South Africa truly extraordinary,” explains Singh.

Named the Shongololo Sessions, because they have been designed to give local businesses legs (something that the shongololo is literally in no short supply of), they provide the perfect opportunity for partnerships to begin and for working relationships to form.

Speakers will each be given five minutes to address more than 200 buyers about the journey their business has taken, its unique components that make it distinctive and how these will add value to packages and itineraries.

Each session will begin with a short overview by an industry expert, responsible tourism by Fair Trade in Tourism’s Katarina Mancama, adventure by Dirty Boots’ Johan Radcliff, and a special not to be missed session on culture and heritage by South African musical legend Johhny Clegg.

“While speed marketing may be new at Indaba it is not new for South African Tourism. We have used it successfully over the last couple of years to give inbound tour operators the opportunity to learn more about what lesser visited areas in the country have to offer,” explains Singh.

Last year South Africa hosted seven speed marketing sessions in the Western Cape, Kwa-Zulu Natal, North West, Gauteng, Free State and Limpopo, attracting a total of 102 tour operators and 280 South African products.

Event Facts

When:

12 May 2012, Saturday - 12h30 to 14h00
Responsible Tourism in partnership with Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa
www.fairtourismsa.org.za

13 May 2012, Sunday - 12h30 to 14h00
Adventure Tourism in partnership with Dirty Boots
www.dirtyboots.co.za

14 May 2012, Monday - 12h30 to 15h00
Culture and Heritage Tourism in partnership with the National Department of Tourism and Moja Media
www.tourism.gov.za / www.mojamedia.com

Where:

Venue: Room 22, Durban International Convention Centre

Useful Contact Details For The Indaba Team.

The INDABA Team
Tel: +27 (0)11 467 5011 / 5024
Fax: +27 (0)11 467 5350
E-mail: indabavisitor@indaba-southafrica.co.za

(Source:  The Indaba Team)  

                                                                Seen Around Town

South African Speaker Claire Newton and Canadian Speaker Charles Marcus 

at the @psasouthafrica National Convention 2012 #vocalislekker