Thanks & Giving 2020

Dear friends, colleagues, and clients (especially those in the marketing and hospitality industries)

I don’t have time to be writing this blog. Because it’s that time of year – the BIG 4:

BLACK FRIDAY– SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY– CYBER MONDAY – GIVING TUESDAY

But it’s also the time of year when we express gratitude. It’s essential to pause and count our blessings in this insane year. In that spirit, I’m pausing to highlight some of the incredible gifts of content my beloved clients have donated to the world. I also am asking for support for some fantastic organizations and small businesses impacted by COVID closures.

Free Gifts of Content:

• Hospitality Resources: Free top hospitality industry expert advice for hotels in Dragonfly Insights video interview series: https://dragonflystr.com/dragonfly-videos
• Accounting Resources: CFO Services Group COVID-19 Free Small Business Accounting Resources & Courses Specializing in PPP and EIDL https://www.cfoservicesgroup.com/
• Teacher Resources: Golden Apple Foundation of New Mexico has fantastic free resources to help teachers who are so challenged and struggling with remote learning: https://goldenapplenm.org/
• Inspirational World Peace Offering: Eric Sirotkin’s Forgotten Faces of North Korea photo journalist book and world peace activism is a glimpse of a people in a place seldom seen in the West. https://ericsirotkin.com/peacebuilding/forgotten-faces/

After being laid off for the first time in my life this year because of how COVID devastated the hospitality industry, I have an intimate understanding of how difficult the pandemic is on small businesses. I could only bounce back because of my clients’ trust and faith in my ability to help them achieve their goals. I’m humbled that I’ve been able to donate my time and funds to help support so many different organizations today, and I couldn’t even imagine getting to this point earlier this year.

If you can, I ask that you consider supporting these worthy clients, non-profit organizations, and small businesses who need your support this year more than ever because COVID has dismantled their traditional revenue streams. They all have a very special place in my heart, and I’m grateful that I’ve been able to donate to each of these organizations in time or money this year.

Please Support these Organizations

Non-Profits

• St. Jude Children’s Hospital via Dragonfly Strategists: My mentor Caryl Helsel is not afraid to shed tears when displaying how passionate she is about helping children through St. Jude
• Golden Apple Foundation of New Mexico: They are providing critical community and resources for teachers and need to replace the funds generated at events (check out their brand new website) https://goldenapplenm.org/donate/
• Harwood Museum of Art in Taos: This treasure of an institution in Northern New Mexico is Taos’s cultural heart and needs help as their doors have remained closed most of this year.

Pro-Bono/Startup
I was so happy to be able to donate time to help these organizations get off the ground with their websites this summer and would love to see them grow:

• Burque Against Racism: Albuquerque’s Black Lives Matter https://burqueagainstracism.org/
• OpenMeal: Helping local restaurants and individuals hurt by COVID https://www.openmeal.org/

Just a Raving Fan

• HipHop University: Many artists from the Nativo Lodge Artist Rooms are involved in producing free courses and tutoring for youth https://www.instagram.com/hiphopuniversitynm/
• KUNM Radio: I rely on them to inform me locally and nationally. They have top journalists, and they’ve also suffered a terrible loss recently. https://www.kunm.org/

Small Business & Hospitality/Tourism Organizations:

• Heidi’s Raspberry Farm: Local New Mexico Red-Chile Raspberry Jam – Use code SAVE10 to get 10% off through 12/1/20 https://heidisraspberryfarm.com/
• Ojo Caliente & Ojo Spa Resorts: Gift cards and personal items for self-care available https://shop.ojosparesorts.com/
• Corkins Lodge: Check them out for a future New Mexico getaway in 2021 – it’s beyond gorgeous, and spending time in beautiful natural surroundings is so refreshing. https://www.corkinslodge.com/

Thank you to those of you who can give something to support any organizations or small businesses at this time. And if you are hurting right now, please contact me for support and resources. I’ll do what I can to help.

I, like almost every digital marketing person, just turned-on sprint mode. We see the end of the marathon as the virus creeps across the country at a staggering rate while we have a divided public from the last political election’s deep wounds still festering.

Giving back is one of the most important things we can do, and that’s why I paused to write this little blog to support those who have supported me. I also recently donated my time to the American Advertising Federation of Black Hills for this presentation: “Drowning in Data? How to Break Through the Clutter and Harness its Power.” For new and existing clients, I’m offering a free hour in 2021 to go over this presentation and how it relates to your data to formulate your marketing plans for 2021.

Maybe we’ll learn something from all of this. Perhaps we’ll all have more compassion. Someday this too shall pass. And I’m hopeful for the future. As I scroll through the incredible content produced in this challenging time and look at the faces from North Korea that I’ll never see in person, I’m reminded about our collective humanity and the beauty that can come from hardship.

I’ve never been more thankful to be crazy busy with work.

Now back now to the BIG 4 –AKA — THE VERY LAST CHANCE WE CAN SALVAGE ANY MONEY FROM THIS INSANE YEAR: #BlackFriday #SmallBusinessSaturday #CyberMonday #GivingTuesday #2020LastChance

Much love,
Maresa

Origninaly published on LinkedIn November 26, 2020 – I now have a blog – own your content and BACKUP YOUR FACEBOOK NOW!