AWARENESSMONTHS Blog

Think Ahead: International Surf Music Month

May 172012

Remember this episode of Family Guy that aired back in 2008?

The song that repeated for nearly 22 minutes straight is “Surfin’ Bird” by The Trashmen. The episode relaunched the song back on popular music charts both here in the United States and in the United Kingdom. Last time “Surfin’ Bird” had charted was back in 1963.

It’s an extreme example of how surf rock music is making a comeback in this day and age. Starting in the early 1960′s and only seeing a steady revival in the late 2000′s, Surf rock is a subgenre of music best known for 4/4′s time music in a medium or fast paced tempo, guitar/saxophone/melodies and heavy finger picking. The trend was made famous by groups such as The Beach Boys, The Trashmen, Dick Dale and The Surfaris. Recently, that same sound has been revived by artists such as The Drums, Surfer Blood, Wavves and Man or Astroman?

Whether you want your clients and employees to rediscover the classic surf music of the past or figure out how exactly Real Estate is a surf rock band, consider purchasing the custom imprinted Digital Media Card. This is the perfect item to make people aware of International Surf Music Month.

Slim Down for Summer During National Dairy Month

Awareness Event Ideas, Awareness National, Awareness Promotional Items No Responses »

May 172012

June is National Dairy Month, an initiative that began in 1937 as “National Milk Month.” Since then, the awareness campaign has expanded to include the many different dairy products that are available to Americans. But why do we need a whole month dedicated to dairy?

Dairy

The US government suggests consuming at least three servings of dairy products a day, and yet according to the American Heart Association (AHA), most of us fall short. Getting enough dairy, AHA reports, “contributes to bone health, helps prevent osteoporosis and may lower the risk of high blood pressure and other cardiovascular risk factors by helping to control body weight and fat.” Who knew there were so many benefits to eating more milk, cheese, and some of our other favorite foods?

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) asserts that June is the ideal time to celebrate National Dairy Month because it encourages Americans to kick off the summer right. Dairy products are made up of nine important nutrients proven to help you manage your weight, which is especially important to most during bathing suit season.

So get on board and start prepping for National Dairy Month today! And to make an even bigger difference, hand out dairy promotional items at work or school. Everybody could the reminder; we all need “3-A-Day” of these nutrient-rich foods.

Help Kick Off Women’s Health Week This Mother’s Day

Awareness Event Ideas, Awareness National, Awareness Promotional Items No Responses »

May 092012

Most Americans are well aware that Mother’s Day takes place this Sunday, May 13 (and if you weren’t before reading this, you’d better go pick up some flowers!). But did you know that another important event kicks off on that same day? That’s right; National Women’s Health Week is scheduled for Sunday, May 13 – Saturday, May 19.

According to the federal government’s Office on Women’s Health, the awareness initiative “brings together communities, businesses, government, health organizations, and other groups in an effort to promote women’s health.” This year’s theme, “It’s Your Time,” aims to encourage women to make their health a high priority in their lives.

Promotional Women's Health Organizer Better Book

The Office on Women’s Health recommends women take the following steps for their mental and physical health:

Receive regular checkups and screenings from a health care professional
Try to be more active
Eat well-balanced meals
Maintain good mental health by getting a full night of sleep and managing stress
Avoid risky behaviors like smoking and not wearing a seatbelt in the car

Celebrate the important women in your life during Women’s Health Week by handing out National Women’s Health Week promos. These giveaways will further encourage females all over the country to take care of themselves and their health.

Think Ahead: National Accordion Awareness Month

Awareness Event Ideas No Responses »

May 032012

Every awareness event we cover on the AWARENESSMONTHS Blog is hand selected by employees at Motivators. Each awareness event or awareness month covered is something we care deeply about. However, it is a rarity to find a fun, unique awareness month that fills us (or at least, Nick) with the anticipation and the excitement in the same way National Accordion Awareness Month does.

The accordion is one of my favorite instruments. Following in the vein of the piano, the accordion is one of the few instruments to not only transcend musical genres over the course of generations but is one of the few instruments that can be used in almost any genre today.

Invented in the 19th century, the accordion is comprised of keys, valves, reeds and a squeezebox. When the keys are pressed and the squeezebox is expanded or contrasted, it pushes air through reeds. To this day the accordion remains one of the most recognized instruments in both look and sound.

As mentioned above, there are more genres than polka that are using the accordion. Whether it is indie rock, (The Decemberists, Arcade Fire) various forms of punk, (Gogol Bordello, The Pogues) rock and roll, (John Cougar Mellencamp, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band) alternative rock, (Panic! At The Disco, They Might Be Giants) or even various forms of metal (Agalloch, Turisas) you’ve probably listened to accordion music without realizing it.

National Accordion Awareness Month is in June and is a great way to celebrate the instrument that has been so iconic. Celebrate with a custom imprinted USB flash drive of accordion music.

Skin Cancer Awareness: Prevention Means Everything

Awareness Event Ideas, Awareness National, Awareness Promotional Items No Responses »

May 022012

Sunbathers and beach goers might think May is way too early to be talking about skin cancer. Spring’s just started and there’s been hardly any time to even consider getting some sun. But the point of National Skin Cancer Awareness Month is to raise awareness about the risks of sun exposure before the summer gets into full swing. With the proper knowledge you can enjoy the warm months of June, July and August responsibly.

Skin Cancer Awareness: Prevention Means Everything

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, cancer of the skin is the most prevalent form of cancer in the US. In 2007, over 8,000 Americans passed away due to melanomas of the skin. Considering how preventable skin cancer is, these numbers are way too high.

Sun damage can be avoided in a number of ways. Always, always apply sunblock, even if it’s not hot or the sun doesn’t seem super-strong. Just because it doesn’t seem bad outside doesn’t mean the sun’s rays aren’t posing a threat. If you’re heading outdoors for an extended period of time, take some sunscreen with you and reapply throughout the day. Sweat, water and other factors can decrease the effectiveness of sunblock, so it’s important to keep some on-hand.

If you’re fair-skinned, you might even want to take along a long-sleeve shirt and a hat. These items will further protect you against harmful UV rays. A cap is especially great because it protects your scalp, your face, and sometimes even your neck and shoulders.

Again, it’s important to deliver this message to people before the summer kicks off. For example, the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) is offering free skin cancer screening in honor of National Skin Cancer Awareness Month. This is a great way to help people detect possible problems before they spend the entire summer in the sun. You can also consider distributing skin cancer awareness products at events or throughout outdoor areas in your community.

How will you help promote National Skin Cancer Awareness Month?

Happy Administrative Professionals’ Day

Awareness Event Ideas, Awareness National, Awareness Promotional Items No Responses »

Apr 252012

Did you know that today marks the 60th anniversary of Administrative Professionals’ Day? Throughout the decades, the roles and responsibilities assigned to administrative professionals have changed drastically, but one thing remains true: Admins are the heart of the office, ensuring work is done well and in a timely fashion.

Administrative Professionals' Day

Therefore, the theme of this year’s event is “Admins, the pulse of the office.” According to the International Association of Administrative Professionals, “In a world that demands the accurate and speedy movement of digital information, admins are masters of data. And they do this while maintaining their more traditional role as the gatekeepers for many customers, clients and employees.” Administrative assistants, secretaries, receptionists, and other admin support professionals keep the office pumping.

Administrative Professionals’ Day, which has been celebrated since 1952, has become one of the most popular workplace observances (other than birthdays and big holidays). It’s celebrated throughout the world and brings together millions of people. According to ABC News, in the U.S. alone there are 4.1 million secretaries and administrative assistants.

People worldwide are observing the day in many different ways. Here at Motivators, we’re celebrating with a few Administrative Professionals’ Day gifts: Employees were treated to a bagel breakfast, and our receptionists were each given a beautiful bouquet of flowers.

Administrative Professionals' Day

How will you honor all the hardworking administrative professionals at your office?

As Prevalence of Autism Grows, Awareness is More Important than Ever

Awareness Event Ideas, Awareness National, Awareness Promotional Items No Responses »

Apr 182012

A report released last month by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) finds that one in 88 children in the U.S. has autism, a statistic that indicates a 23 percent increase in autism diagnoses since 2002. And yet its causes are still relatively unknown. That’s what makes autism awareness so important, and that’s why April is Autism Awareness Month.

Autism Awareness Month

According to Discovery News, “The new estimates, based on data from 2008, show a 23 percent increase in autism diagnoses since the last report. In 2002, 1 in 150 kids were estimated to have autism and in 2006 the prevalence increased to 1 in 110.”

Mark Roithmayr, president of Autism Speaks, told Discovery News that the new data points to a need for a national plan to raise funds for research to understand exactly what causes autism.

One step in the right direction is diagnosing kids early. “Research shows the earlier children are diagnosed with autism and receive autism treatments, the more they benefit,” said Coleen Boyle, director of CDC’s National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities. But unless we share our knowledge via a number of channels, including autism awareness promotions, parents won’t know when or even how to get their children tested.

Discovery News reports that concerned parents can speak with a doctor, local school systems, or early intervention programs for a proper assessment.

Mathematics and Growing Amounts of Data

Awareness Event Ideas, Awareness National, Awareness Promotional Items No Responses »

Apr 112012

Since 1986, Americans have celebrated the importance of mathematics each April, highlighting how the application of math is indispensable in a variety of fields. At first, Mathematics Awareness Month was a smaller initiative — Mathematics Awareness Week — and was created by President Ronald Reagan. But by 1999, the week-long awareness campaign had been expanded to take place over the entire month of April.

Math Awareness

According to MathAware.org, “The American Mathematical Society, the American Statistical Association, the Mathematical Association of America, and the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics announce that the theme for Mathematics Awareness Month, April 2012, is Mathematics, Statistics, and the Data Deluge.” The theme serves as a reminder about the data we collect — including information from Google searches, Facebook activities, and credit card purchases – each day, and how it needs to be looked at and understood.

MathAware.org offers many ways to spread the word about Mathematics Awareness Month, from Liking its Facebook Page to sharing this year’s theme poster. You could even pass out Math Awareness Month giveaways at schools and offices to raise awareness about this important initiative.

In 1986, President Ronald Reagan said,

Despite the increasing importance of mathematics to the progress of our economy and society, enrollment in mathematics programs has been declining at all levels of the American educational system. Yet the application of mathematics is indispensable in such diverse fields as medicine, computer sciences, space exploration, the skilled trades, business, defense, and government. To help encourage the study and utilization of mathematics, it is appropriate that all Americans be reminded of the importance of this basic branch of science to our daily lives.

More than 25 years later, his statement is still true. Please do your part in reminding Americans about the importance of math!

Think Ahead: National Barbecue Month

Awareness Event Ideas No Responses »

Apr 052012

Inhale deeply. What do you smell? If you’re in the office, you probably smell nothing out of the ordinary – maybe the remnants of someone’s lunch or the faint burning smell of a copy machine churning out copies. Maybe you smell a mixtures of perfumes, gums/mints or deodorants. If you’re home, you may smell the remnants of dinner from the night before, laundry detergent in your washing machine or even the smell of springtime.

These smells tend to be very typical and almost rarely stir any emotion. But what if you suddenly began to smell barbecue? Ribs, steaks, hamburgers, hotdogs, barbecue sauce – all wafting in the air? It’s hard to concentrate on anything knowing that someone, somewhere is making a very delicious meal. Your mouth begins to water, you feel goosebumps and you start to daydream about food.

May is National Barbecue Month – a month long celebration of all the foods we enjoy – and the pastime of bringing people together to enjoy it all. To best celebrate it, consider hosting a barbecue of your own and handing out custom imprinted picnic & barbecue sets to your clients, customers, family and friends. Then show off your skills on the grill.

Think Ahead: National Card and Letter Writing Month

Awareness Event Ideas No Responses »

Mar 292012

Think back to the last time you wrote an e-mail? Probably today, during work. Or perhaps to let a friend in on plans.

Now think back to the last time you wrote a letter by hand. Was it a week ago? A month ago? A year ago? Perhaps it was college? Maybe earlier than that.

In a technology-based society, it is easy to forget how easy and satisfying it is to simply write a handwritten letter to someone. We also forget the joy we feel when receiving such a letter.

That’s why April is National Card and Letter Writing Month. A month where we think fondly of those we haven’t spoke to in ages and write handwritten letters to catch up. A handwritten letter to all of your clients (or even some of them) will surely increase customer satisfaction.

Help promote this great awareness month with promotional pens or promotional non-adhesive pads. These are the staples of any letter writing and can include your name/company logo for a guaranteed way of being remembered.

Older Entries

AWARENESSMONTHS Blog

Think Ahead: International Surf Music Month

Slim Down for Summer During National Dairy Month

Help Kick Off Women’s Health Week This Mother’s Day

Think Ahead: National Accordion Awareness Month

Skin Cancer Awareness: Prevention Means Everything

Happy Administrative Professionals’ Day

As Prevalence of Autism Grows, Awareness is More Important than Ever

Mathematics and Growing Amounts of Data

Think Ahead: National Barbecue Month

Think Ahead: National Card and Letter Writing Month

Categories

Archives

Links

Meta