Forum: Red Ribbon Pandemic Awareness Campaign

I think we need to ignite a wikian grass roots movement within our communities. If you tend the fire carefully, it will hopefully grow and catch the attention of many. I have given up trying to talk with those that do not or are not ready to hear about the pandemic. How do we foster awareness of issues including the possibility of a high CFR? How do we promote awareness and knowledge about prepping and SIP and a better understanding of the potential seriousness of this situation? My own simple step step toward this began early this summer in my own community. To begin, I made up several hundred small red ribbons and and a letter to go with it. I listed some questions in the letter ( things like What items should I prep? How do I store food? etc.). I then listed some websites to find answers. Fluwiki was at the top of my list. I included phone numbers and websites for State, County,City, Village and Town in my local community. People, out of curiousity, will visit these sites, I hope. At the wiki they will find information and opinion that is not always expressed in the MSM. In the process, they will learn and share with others. The red ribbons stand for Pandemic Awareness. I seeded these over a 30 mile area at places like garage sales, craft fairs, kids sporting events and any community events that I could find. So far I have noticed several women in different grocery stores wearing the ribbons. I am also thinking of holding a Q&A meeting at a local library to followup. Someone on another thread said that the wiki could act like a virus. How many of you would be willing to help spread this red ribbon ‘virus’ into our neighborhoods across the land and sea? Please add your ideas. Thanks! ST

Science Teacher - Thank you so much for posting this thread. Many of us have distributed information in various forms, but it is your red ribbon idea that has captured my imagination. I would appreciate your giving the reasons for it (attaching a red ribbon to the info). I have a pretty good idea why, but it is your fantastic idea, and I would like to hear your own explanation? I believe you may have the start of a national campaign.

I have some lovely white roosters. I will wear my red ribbon tied around one of their feathers.

Red ribbons are already used for drug abuse awareness. Children participate in Red Ribbon week at schools all over shortly before Halloween every year.

I like your idea. I just think your choice of ribbon color could cause some confusion, especially come October, thus diluting the message.

Maybe a green ribbon would be a better choice. As in green for “Go”, representing the bug out bags some people need for emergencies such as those living in hurricane prone areas. It would be a way to promote preparedness in general. Just a thought.

(just a note; red ribbons are already on use by other issues’ awareness campaigns, so, confusing?)

The letter sounds like a great thing you did, ST.

The handouts, from the Preparedness guides on the Wiki side, are good, too.

I keep thinking, a business-card-sized something, with the Flu Wiki address, and, whatever your government’s website is, with maybe the quote from US HHS Sec.Leavitt on the back, (“Any community that fails to prepare, with the expectataion that the federal government will come to the rescue, will be tragically worng”) would be handy to distribute.

(so far, my typing skills are tragically wrong… )

sigh

Science Teacher:

What a fantastic idea. I’d love to spark it here. If I remember, you’re in Lafayette. I’m in BR. If you’ll provide an e-mail, I’ll be in touch. I’ve been too lazy to create a profile and am busy the rest of the evening but please provide and I will contact!

Sorry about the choice of ribbon color. I chose red because it is a symbol for love (Red roses) and for ALERT. ALERT the ones you Love. If we want to share this venture then I am open to any colors. Let’s make it a wiki choice.

2Beans, thanks for “ signing up”. I am in the Capital Region, NYS. Anyone can reach me at atl12186@Yahoo.com

Great ideas everyone, keep em coming.

Science Teacher - I think I wasn’t clear in my post above. I understand that the ribbon stands for pandemic awareness and the concept of using ribbons. But we have people visiting Flu Wiki from other countries and some in the U.S. who may wonder about the advantage of the ribbon. The concept behind ribbon campaigns may be helpful and yours in particular.

Science Teacher – at 19:04 - Not criticizing your choice of ribbon color. I understand it. I just felt it could get confusing. The color of the ribbon does not matter as much as the message associated with it.

crfullmoon – at 18:34 I like the idea of using the quote from US HHS Sec.Leavitt. Business cards would be easy for anyone to do and plain ones are cheap enough to buy and print on our own PCs. Those in other countries could use quotes from their government leaders they might find helpful and everyone could tailor them to add local and state info.

Nightowl, thanks for the clarification.

I became aware of the concept of ribbon campaigns when 2 of my closest friends where diagnosed with breast cancer. I learned that the wearing of the pink breast cancer ribbons represented hope, support and solidarity. The wearing of the pink ribbons focused people’s attention on a disease, breast cancer. It personalized the disease for many of us who had been touched by it in some way. It helped us to feel how interconnected we all are. As the ribbons spread around the country, people grew in their awareness of the disease. The MSM began to pay attention to this and published many articles on things like self examination of breasts. The ribbons helped women remember to do this at least once a month. They shared the knowledge that began to build and build. The press increased their reporting of what became a national movement. Soon, people began to demand of their government more money for research and better treatments. The pink ribbon campaign had a successful impact on government funding. The wearing of the pink ribbon united people from all walks of life. They became a moving force in getting advanced treatments for breast cancer developed and shared. Although my 2 close friends eventually died of their disease, my pink ribbon will always remind me of them and of the many, many people who joined hands to help fight this disease. Hope, support and solidarity. Seems like a good platform to spring from on the fluwiki.

Sooo… What color ribbons that are not ‘taken’ can we choose from? I think a business card, as Crfullmoon suggested, would be a very good way to go. Anyone have a source for printing some?

Also, what about a multi-colored ribbon to represent the people of the world?

Science Teacher - I am so sorry for the loss of your friends. Your eloquent writing was very moving and brought tears to my eyes. You have provided a powerful incentive for others to act. Thank you.

See list of ribbon colors and their current associated campaigns here:
http://www.seiyaku.com/reference/ribbons.html

Red seems a great fit for pandemic awareness. If you look at the list, noted above, of other campaigns, a majority of those that use red are medical awareness issues. Great job everyone who is spreading the word. At a time when so many still laugh it off, or people are worrying about exposing their own preparedness for safety reasons, it is great to see banter about ways to spread the word.

There is color, and then there is shape. Easy to cut a shape of a different color and paste on to a red background. I’m thinking something like the old hurricane warning flags for ships (I think black square on red). Just an example.

Dennis, thanks for the link. I reviewed the ribbon color assignments and was disappointed to see that so many were taken (but happy for the people who have them).

Nightowl’s right; we do need something else to stand out, to make our message loud and clear. His hurricane flag would certainly help to do that. I also like the portent: a storm is coming, the seas are rising; and so they are.

Chicken turns blue if it dies of H5N1. Red & blue?

Could we use a card in the shape of a common flower - then we could use the flower when it is in season as well? In NZ we have daffodil day (tomorrow actually) for the Cancer Society - it has proved highly successful.

Perhaps we could choose the Bird of Paradise flower???

AnnieB, I love your creativity!

Red is also HIV/AIDs ribbon. I want people to ask me why/what, if I am wearing a ribbon. Or at least give me some sorta inquisitive look so I can initiate a conversation. Black or dark blue (with blood drops) would certainly be appropriate. then I could tell them about the coughing up blood, or blood ooozing from places like ears and eyeballs in maybe a few hours or days IF this flu hits anything remotely like it did in 1918. And how people turn blue, purple black and why. And about the death threat of this particular flu. And when they tell me it is just the flu… I can talk some more. But I want something they’ll ask me about or that I can get some sort of window-of-opportunity to get some message out.

EnoughAlready, You bring up a good point. It is hard for many of us to bring up the pandemic discussion. We have had the experience of ridicule, disbelief and the you are a kook look. It will be so much easier if someone asks us what the ribbon means. Then we have a captive audience for a short time. We can also pull an extra ribbon with attached wiki card out of our purse, pocket or wherever that we just happen to have on us for that purpose.

PS: your ‘conversation’ would scare the hell out of me! :0 Send them to the wiki: they will get scared enough just reading the truth.

Add a galloping white horse as in “Behold, A Pale Horse” thanks to Katherine Ann Porter. At least it would be something different and maybe get some attention.

How about white, red, black, and sickly green, for the four horseman of the appocalypse.

Revelation chapter 6, verse 8: These four were given authority over one quarter of the earth to kill with sword and famine and plague and the wild beasts of the earth.

One quarter of the earth is land, three quarters water. Revelation was written in the first century.

How about gold. The value of preperation.

How does everyone feel about a red ribbon with a shiny gold “P” on it? The gold letters are readily available (craft stores, office stores, stores that sell school supplies, etc.)

I hope we can decide a color today so we can brainstorm the next topic. Your ideas and input have been great!

I love the idea of a horse-pale horse pale rider thing, and I also love the reference to Revelation-that would go over very big here in the Bible Belt. However, I don’t think it would do so well in places like, oh say Indonesia, or India.

Somebody (I’m afaid I forgot who) posted a thing about Yale/New HAven Hospitals handing out business card size, well, cards about bird flu, that had a C.H.I.R.P slogan: C-cover your cough H-have healthy hands I-Isolate yourself RReduse germs P-Prepare yourself and your family

Kind of cutsy I know-but it does tie in with the Bird Flu.

There was also a “PEACE” of mind chart- P-prepare your plan E-Emergency Preparedness kit A Arrange for care of others C Contact numbers and locations E-Exercise and evaluate.

Maybe a red Ribbon with a shiny gold “C.H.I.R.P” on it?

I like the “C.H.I.R.P. slogan a lot, but I think we would need to get permission to use it. It would probably need to be printed professionally. I think we need to pick a ribbon that is readily avaiable in many areas, and a card we can printout at home of even handwrite I am going to a sewing supply store today and will check out the ribbons.

I have to admit that I am artistically impaired. I’d say, well, preschool level. I can cut and paste, maybe use a marker for letters or shapes we can’t paste. I really like Science Teacher’s idea of a letter on a ribbon because if it is easy, fast, and not expensive, I think I can do it. In other words, if a preshooler can do it, I think I can.

Plus, the letter “P” or its equivalent can be adapted by country. When I was a kid, my girl scout troop symbol had “Be Prepared” embroidered in Chinese characters because of the country I was living in at the time.

What ever happened to our fluwikie tee-shirts that were to serve approximatelt the same purpose??

I used to do crafts; when I had the time. There are also Gold ink pens in some office suppy stores.

I would also like to see some of those Red Cross Pandemic Flu cards with it.

I just got back from a local craft store, slainte. I purchased a gold paint marker with a fine tip and tried it out on my ribbon. It works great. I also purchased a “P” letter stamp and a gold inkpad. Thatwas even easier to use and can be done very quickly.

Let’s start with a basic card. On one side: “PANDEMIC AWARENESS” under that: “Any community that fails to prepare, with the expectation that the federal government will come to the rescue, will be tragically wrong” US HHS Sec. Leavitt On the other side: LEARN NOW WHAT YOU CAN DO below that: Fluwikie (which link?)

The ribbons will be a red crayon color with a bright gold “P” on them. The above is a suggested message for an attached card. If you are from another country just change the message to meet your needs, but please keep fluwiki website address on it. If you would like to add additional info. such as the Red Cross card, that is fine but please try to keep the basic information intact. We want to look united because we are united.

Grass roots campaigns begin with a few but spread like wildfire to thousands. We can and will save lives with these ribbons and cards.

Please brainstorm ideas for places to distribute these. I bet we can come with some unique ideas!

Science Teacher-that sounds great! Definatly Fluwiki link, but maybe one from Red Cross and one from Pandemic.Gov just to add a little more authority to it? Just a thought.

Maybe Sec. Leavitt home phone number so people can call him up and say “Why aren’t you doing more????” Just joking. Sort of.

(actually, I think Leavitt has already done more than any other official. At the very least he gave us a heads up that we’re on our own)

Science Teacher —

Is there anything else you are thinking of to put on these cards? I.e. FAQs etc., as you did on the flyers you handed out? Or just a link to the fluwikie and keep it simple?

Heres some places I would leave them-I go to Docs office once a week for allergy shot-I’d leave a big handful of them there, Teacher’s lounges at all the local schools, see if banks would let you leave them at the counters. Gas stations, convience stores, Mom and Pop stores-many of those places have little things by the cash register like, a jar for donations for Katrina Victims, or raising donations for local causes. Community bulletin boards at grocery stores, thrift stores etc. You could even put them under wiper blades of cars at parking lots.

Depending of the size of cards, I think questions are good because they will generate curiousity and that is what will make people want to look for answers on our fluwikie site. That is kind of ‘the hook’. If they come here, they will find links to government sites. Since I began doing this at the beginning of the summer I have had to rethink a few things. First of all, I do not want this card to send them to an ‘official government site’ where they may be told that they only need to stock food and supplies for a few days or a few weeks. They will read the other side of the coin if they come to our site. What they learn here in threads like the current one on CFR will help them decide for themselves how long to prep. for. Does this make sense to you?

S.T. at 16:10- yes it does make sense. I made flyers early spring and used Flu.gov info so people wouldn’t think I was a complete nut case and I was just trying to get the word out somehow. But you are right, the stakes are much higher than what the gov. is leading us to beleive. Besides I think the “government” word is out there. Just about everyone Ive talked to has heard about bird flu and knows “it would be a good idea” to have some supplies on hand. But I think people are unaware of how horrific the situation could be and arn’t bothering to find out unless you grab their attention.

Good ideas Green Mom, I like your list of places. I think the government has done a good job of covering the basics but most of us have been waiting for them to ramp up their level of risk communication. IMO people need to be told the truth of what may happen so they can get more involved in preparing for all possibilities. I am a liitle disappointed in our MSM that they have not taken it a step further with some good investigative reporting. There are a few exceptions like Helen Branswell. Her journalism gets an At from me.

We have identified the ribbon to use and a basic outline for card info. Now we need to get lots of folks from this site to sign up to help with the campaign. Any ideas how to get this part going?

ST

PANDEMIC AWARENESS

“Any community that fails to prepare, with the expectation that the federal government will come to the rescue, will be tragically wrong” US HHS Sec. Leavitt

Carry the ribbon idea on to the card with a graphic of the red ribbon with the gold P

Science Teacher, et al. This is coming together fast! I think I can do this. I’m with crfullmoon on the business card. So easy to transport on both my part and the recipient’s.

I agree about the government site not being good, but I’m afraid that if we don’t point out somehow that the wiki is not for profit, people might think we are peddling a commercial site. I’ve always included the gov sites for credibility, too. I don’t want to do that, so I am trying to think how to overcome this. Many people I’ve encountered think the fluwiki name is strange because they don’t know what a wiki is. I have to get them over the name part.

Can a template be put up on the wiki side, similar to the flyers that were created. People could print out, with a pic of the ribbon with ideas on where to get the material and where to place the ribbon and card at. A thread could be created asking for volunteers similar to asking for the release of the sequence and bumped frequently.

How about just add that fluwikie is a not for profit with a link and add a link to the doctors book about treating the bf, if it is still available as a download and we get his permission plus any other respected professional who has come out of the bird closet. A biz card is like a piece of real estate, make it work for you.

Nightowl, I think a card is the easiest to transport, too. People can always add a page of information with questions, etc, depending on the situation. I think that just by wearing the ribbon we will get lots of questions. It is important that we standardize this as well. Do you have any suggestions for the card? I agree that there needs to be clarification of the name. Something like an informational or educational nonprofit site with no advertising allowed.

ST

anonymous, you have provided some wonderful ideas. The template idea is great and I think we should move in that direction. I really like the idea of the small ribbon on the card, too. I purchased an inexpensive software program for my computer from an office supply store. It makes business cards and works quite well. I have been thinking about starting a volunteer thread to bump also. (Great minds think alike?) :) I want to wait on this until we have our plan in place.

We need to get a graphic artist or someone really good at wiki formatting willing to work on the template. I, alas, am not a candidate as I am still in the wiki sand box stage. Does anyone know someone on this site (or elsewhere) that they could ask to work on the template?

Those of you with MS Word, try the following: On a regular document, set your margins to Top=1.1″, Bottom=8.1″, Left=1.1″, Right=4.1″.
That gives you an area in which to type that is the size of a business card, with a 0.1″ margin on each side.
Set font to Arial, Bold, 14 point, red, and type:
Pandemic Influenza Preparedness
On my draft, that just fills the first line.
Change font to Arial, Regular, 8 point, black, hit <Enter> twice to leave one blank line, then type: “Any community that fails to prepare, with the expectation that the federal government will come to the rescue, will be tragically wrong.”
Michael Levitt, Secretary, US Dept. of Health & Human Services
Leave a blank line (still 8 point) and type:
“The worst thing we can do is not prepare and think it will not happen.”
Dr. Michael Osterholm, Director, Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, University of Minnesota
On my computer, that just fills a business card and, if the top line is printed in red and the two quotes is printed in black, appears to be an effective “first look.” The back of the card could have several website links, including one to fluwikie.
As an alternative, one could leave out one of the quotes, and print the website addresses on the front of the card, leaving the back blank (one-sided printing is much less expensive than two-sided printing).

Now, I hope my formatting with double backslashes works for this post…

Well, almost what I wanted … if you change “the two quotes is printed in black” to “the two quotes are printed in black.”

(I hate this forum infrastructure’s lack of user editing ability.)

Thanks, Dennis

Do you have the skills to put a sample Business card up on this page?

Something like: (side one)

PANDEMIC AWARENESS ( insert picture of red ribbon with gold P)

“Any community that fails to prepare, with the expectation that the federal government will come to the rescue, will be tragically wrong.” Michael Leavitt, Secretary, US Dept.of Health & Human Services

Side 2

LEARN WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW FOR YOUR FAMILY AND COMMUNITY

Visit us at : http://www.fluwikie.com A non-profit, advertisement free, educational site.

( PANDEMIC AWARENESS and fluwiki address in Red. All print in BOLD. “Now” and”educational” in blue, or gold?)

Is there anyone out there willing to give this a try? ST

Can anyone lend us technical assistance with the above?

Science Teacher – at 19:21 Do you have the skills to put a sample Business card up on this page?

Alas, I do not. I think your idea is a good one, though, to put an image of the red ribbon on the front of the card along with just the Levitt quote.

I would point out, though, that 3-color printing (red/gold/black or red/gold/blue on the front and 2-color (red/gold or red/blue) on the back) will be expensive, especially the gold. The only way to keep gold from looking like “yellow” is to use metallic gold-colored ink.

That was me. Have I mentioned recently how badly this forum software sucks?

Stick with just black print, with the red ribbon, will look more professional. To many colors will distact from the message. You could always use gold card stock, Studies were sone on colors and gold does grab attention

VistaPrint is pretty cheap for printing the cards.

I plan to use them for business card sized info cards.

I’m still working on the wording. Not quite right yet.

Dennis, LOL. I feel like such a “computer klutz” when I try to format something here. I can make up a card on my home computer but can’t transfer it here in the way I want it to look. By the way, I like your Osterholm quote better. Actually , “anonymous” contributed the idea of the ribbon on the card. Let me try again with re- reading the edit/ format rules. (I tried, still can’t figure out colors)

use 1 side ony of business card:

(Red print title>) Pandemic Awareness (<Larger letters then the rest)

“The worst thing we can do is not prepare and think it will not happen.” Michael T. Osterholm, Director, Center for Infectious Disease, Research and Policy

Fluwikie.com, an international, collaborative website for preparation information

Leaves back side open in case you want write more. Much cheaper to print. Only 1 color other then the black)

What do you think?

Science Teacher: Using just the two words “Pandemic Preparedness” will allow the font for that line to be larger, making it stand out even more.
I laid out that text here at home and found that 20 pt Arial (bold) works for the top line, and 10 pt Arial works for the Osterholm quote and the fluwikie reference. In fact, I put Dr. Osterholm’s words in 10 pt bold face and it looks even better (to me).

I know that others prefer the more conservative “Times New Roman” font. For many applications, I love “Bookman Old Style” but I tried it for this card and did not care for it. I also tried another favorite of mine, “Comic Sans Serif” but the inter-line spacing is too great for business card text.

Wow, great suggestions from everyone! Dennis, I wish we had a way of posting those fonts and card here. Does anyone know any wikiians that might help us out?

BG, here is the link for Vista Print. http://tinyurl.com/otvuf

They are cheap and will let you upload your own design. 250 cards for $15.99.

I wonder if they would keep your file open and let people order individually?

Or is it best if we each find our own place?

Thanks Dennis in Colorado for all your work. Science Teacher’s Pandemic Awareness provides the hook for the media and unity. The preparedness concept is in Osterholm’s quote and the fluwikie part. is there any way to make it work? Just a thought.

I sent the MS Word file to pogge with a request to post the image (if possible) to this topic.

Dennis in Colorado - You are so cool! I hope pogge can do it. (LOL on the S.G. on the other thread)

Hi all, just send the stuff to me as an attachment to an email dudeatsingtomeohmuse.com I have the large file communication project storage project under this site with an FTP ability for anyone to download files I post there. I have donated the space and my time for efforts such as this by fluwikie folks. The links are on thread “large file communication project” I have a computer graphic artist in my company who may want to tweak the design with your permission. Just do it in Word or Publisher and I will see if this person can donate some time. Here is the info for a download: FTP://www.singtomeohmuse.com Username wikimember Pass wiki123 Great idea! Thank you all. If the mods object to my doing any of this, let me know. I will just assume that I can go forward unless I hear you don’t want a project such as this with your web site on it. (Hey, they are really nice and good people, but I just think I should ask.)

File sent to Dude by email. Thanks, Dude.

Dennis, can you send the last card I tried to printout to Dude? Dude, you are fantastic for giving us this opportunity! Please tell your graphic artist that he can tweak away and maybe even get an image of a red ribbon on the card format, too. You just took a big load off of our collective minds, thank you!

Absolutely, the mods need to Ok this plan before we get too far along. Mods?

Where there is a will there is a way. Congratulations everyone for the great work you have all done on this campaign so far.

Yes, ST, what I sent to Dude was the last version you suggested … except that I inadvertently substituted “Pandemic Preparedness” for your “Pandemic Awareness.” Everything else in the MS Word file I sent to him was as you suggested at 12:01.

<sigh> me again…

Dennis, I have the card. Thanks. Will post it over the weekend. Does anyone have a ribbon design for me?

Hi all! Browsing this site, this morning and am very interested in your ribbon/card idea. I have also been designing a Community Awareness logo, using the Red & Yellow colors (the colors of the ‘Quarantine’ sign. I have a small home business where I print graphics of all kinds on personal items (shirts, mugs, mousepads, etc.) I played around with your idea on a business card and have a ribbon idea to share. Red ribbon with a black ‘P’ in the middle. Would have liked to use gold/deep yellow (like the sign) but it won’t show up well, and I like the idea of the yellow/gold card stock. (Not many business cards are that color, either, if you think about it!)Let me know if you are interested in the ribbon. -RM

Thanks for your input, anonymous. Sounds like you have an interesting project going yourself and a creative mind.

Do you have a graphic of a red ribbon that you would be able to donate to this campaign? I am having trouble finding one to send to Dude who has so generously offered his services. His web address is listed above.

The development of Pandemic Awareness is a shared goal for all of us. This wiki soaks up creativity and reflects it back in the excellent posts that so many have provided on this thread. Thanks to all!

No problem … I can send in Adobe or in word … let me know which. I’ll send the whole bsns. card I was working on, based on yours above, as well as just the ribbon w/ the ‘P’. I was thinking that on the back, you could bullet steps of preparation Suggestions ie:

• Water: (amt. you want to suggest)
• Food: (Amt. you want to suggest-ie

miniumun 6 week supply) “Stock what you eat, eat what you stock!”

• Prescriptions/Emergency First Aide
• Alterate Lighting:

Batteries,Flashlights,etc Regards -k/RM

Thanks Anon! you can send it in word or publisher as per Dude’s instructions above.

It looks like we may have to change some wording on the card to meet the fluwiki’s guidelines.

Mailed, this evening. Hope it helps! -k

Having a file that’s formatted for upload to VistaPrint would be helpful.

Then we could just upload and do a print run.

Got it.

Approval of the project has been addressed on the ‘ask the mods’ thread. We will need to change a few of our ideas to fit the wiki guidelines on this type of campaign. They have valid concerns about legal issues, etc. I think this will still be very workable. So, back to the drawing board.

Michael Osterholms quote referenced above: “The worst thing we can do is not prepare and think it will not happen.” Michael T. Osterholm, Director, Center for Infectious Disease, Research and Policy

Does anyone know him or could write to ask permission for us to use his quote on our informational card? We also need to brainstorm other quotes to use on the front of the card if we do not get permission to use his. Any ideas?

We also need to reference maybe 2 or 3 sites besides wiki and will need to check with those sites also for permission to use them on the back of our informational card.

BG made a good point on the ask the mods thread. We are using the term ‘business card’ to reference the size we visualize it to be. In essence, it will be a reference or informational card.

Science Teacher - If you cite the source of the quotation for Osterholm’s words, it should be all right to use this quote in your campaign. Once something has been printed in a newspaper or media source, it is part of the public domain. You just have to give credit to the author of the quote and the publication. IMO it would be nice if you contacted him anyway to let him know what you are doing. He may have some ideas for you.

Thanks for the explanation History Lover. That information will make things a lot easier. I will try to get in touch with Michael Osterholm. If we list other sites and their web address, do you feel that we need to get permission to use those links on our information card? I take it you have a legal background? I really appreciate your participation.

No, my background is in history, and I’ve written a fair number of footnotes. I’m not sure about the permission to use weblinks on the information card, but I would also think that they are part of the public domain. I forgot to mention that when you write the source for Dr. Osterholm’s article you should include the date. I think that what you are doing is terrific, and I’m going to pass along this information to my son’s Special Education classroom professionals.

Can any of you lawyers out there advise us on the legal issues of the posts above?

History Lover makes sense to me but we need confirmation as it applies to an informational card listing quotes and website addresses.

Thanks!

ST

Science Teacher, I’m going over to the wiki side of Flu Wiki and read Osterhom’s testimony to Congress (house committee). It would be helpful if we could reference something people know about. I hope his quote or something similar is there. Link

Well, I can’t even spell Osterholm’s name right. My mistakes have been chronic lately!

OK, I don’t want to lead this thread astray, but I went to the administration’s website to look at their congressional testimony list, and they didn’t list Osterholm’s testimony, though they did list others on the same day. Incompetence or deliberate?

My favorite Osterholm statement in the testimony is:

“Unfortunately there are many ominous signs that make this risk something that only a fool would dismiss.”

Need Legal Advice Here @ 15:26 - Good idea to check this with lawyers.

I should have provided a link to the gov site to support my statement above. Testimony is under the browse by date section. Link

Nightowl, I like Osterholms’s quotes, too. The PTB do seem to leave his large puzzle piece out of the communications messages at a national level. I can’t figure this out as what he says is always so relevant and true. Tomorrow let’s all working on getting the card set.

We need to: decide on a quote and determine if we need to get permission from the source. I wish some of the lawyers on this site would give us information on this.

Pick at least 2 other websites as references along with the fluwiki. Determine if legally we need their permission to use their site as a resource.

Ask Dude, Dennis, BG to help do a workup on the card and display it here.

Ask mods for final OK.

Do you have anything to add, Nightowl, or others?

Thanks again to everyone. We are moving closer to task completion.!

Thanks, ST, for keeping us on track.

Dennis IC, do you have the source for “The worst thing…” quote?

I think CIDRAP would be a good website to list.

I think that National Emergency Preparedness Week is September 11–17, 2006. Would later that week be a good time for a blitz?

Nightowl: CIDRAP.. yes! Good one especially if we are using an Osterholm quote. probably on the front side of the card under his name?

Sthrn, Thanks for that information. It would be a perfect time to “launch” this campaign. :) Good thinking.

Science Teacher, et. al. - Here’s a link to Trust for America’s Health website. It is a non-profit, non-partisan organization. When you get there, use the link they provide to their Pandemic Flu and You site. I am just in the process of reviewing TFAH as a website reference. More eyes the better.

Trust for America’s Health

I have quite a file full of publications that I have been mailed to folks. Here’s a quote you may be interested in from Osterholm: … “the same thing’s going to happen here in every city, town, and village in this country as well. We’re all going to need things at the same time, and there won’t be any products….” (http://citypages.com/databank/27/1320/article14219.asp) ANOTHER: ‘This is the one topic that keeps me up at night.” (http://www.waukonstandard.com/) ANOTHER: “The issue is not if, it’s when, so we have to prepare,” Osterholm said. “The worst thing we can do is not prepare and think it will not happen.” (http://www.sci-tech-today.com/story.xhtml?story_id=111002CIZMJO) ANOTHER: “…It’s not a theory or a worst-case scenario. It is a sure thing. …” Hope these help!-k

ooops … forgot the link to that last quote … sorry! It’s (http://www.sci-tech-today.com/story.xhtml?story_id=111002CIZMJO) -k

I am wondering if we would have room to list a couple of books that people could get in the library? The Great Influenza, The Monster at the Door, The China Syndrome, etc.

How big is that business card? :-}

Anonymous - please pick a handle (we have several anonymous). It would be nice to thank you properly. Wow, your files are really helpful.

sure … how about CAPmom … since I’m working on Community Awareness and Preparation in my county. Good luck on the bsns. card. I would keep it simple on the front … that’s the attention grabber part and maybe bullet highlights on the back. I had suggested earlier to highlight prep ideas (food,water,meds, etc.) or use the websites like mentioned just above. I can’t imagine you’re not being able to refer to the national Pandemicflu.gov site w/ out a problem, as well as cidrap. Since I’m new here, will I have to enter my CAPmom every time I post? I couldn’t find the answer to that on the home page. Thanks … and good luck. -k

I think that once something is in the public record, for example, “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.” it can be quoted without the original source (newspaper or TV or even the speakers permission). I don’t think that anyone can stop a person from offering a public web site up for reference. If people try to trade on that name to make money in their endeavor, then that is another story. People acting in the public interest with no money changing hands, then you are pretty much home free. I think we are OK to list web sites. It is a matter of professional courtesy to keep people informed of your idea. I think if you all want to use Osterholm, then he deserves a courtesy heads up. I am not offering this as legal advice, but just as life experience of someone who has done many things that are law related. If someone wants to have the private nonprofit that fluwiki has become trademark the final design as a way to make money for the site, then do so. Maybe the final design can be sold here on the site as “ribbons” ready made for you to wear. I have no financial interest in this site, but I would like to see them benefit in some way for what they do. I would like to know where someone gets the idea that freedom of speech can be curtailed in any manner just because they have registered a domain name. Nothing protects you from being referenced in any publication…a card, a letter, a speech, a power point presentation etc. Sure would like to talk to that legal mind! Just for the record, I have created State and Federal Laws. I edited Chapter 93A The Consumer Protection Act for Mass. etc. I do not hold a law degree. I will post my comments on this threads and the ask the moderators thread as a courtesy.

CAPmom - Thank you so much for choosing a handle and a great one at that. Now I can thank you properly for all your helpful posts. Yes, each time you post, it is helpful to use your handle, CAPmom. That way the conversation flows. This is the first forum I have ever posted on, and I have seen the value of everyone using their same handle across threads. It is really hard to say “anonymous just had a great idea on the X thread,” and prople go to it and find there are three different anonymous posters with three different ideas. (just one example)

Anyway, so glad you’re here. You’re posts are so helpful. Thank you and welcome.

prople? LOL - I better proof better.

Dude - you are so appreciated.

You’re for your? I am hopeless! I do wish we could edit our posts.

Nightowl- I wish we could edit our posts also because I make some whopper typos! Maybe we could just declare general amnesty in terms of spelling/typos/grammer for all Fluwikians?

Nightowl: at 21:16

I checked the Trust for America website you linked to — did you see that they have 4 different brochures aimed at different groups (HCW, businesses, faith-based communities, and individuals?) Supposedly they are printable but I doubt my printer would carry the graphics. Anyhow, if I am able to print some out, I imagine they would be great resources to hand out, maybe with a business card. I find the advice in them pretty much the same as on www.pandemicflu.gov, but I might just highlight the phrases referring to 2 to 3 months of disruption and the ones mentioning stock[piling up “some supplies” with an asterisk “suggested minimul of 6 weeks) to ahre with my friends and neighbors (neighbors anonymously!)

Hi, everyone,

CAPmom, welcome on board. Thanks for your ideas and help. You can change names each time you post on any thread as it stands now but this has been scheduled to change in the future from what I have read here, but I really like your new handle. I agree that “keeping it simple on the front” will grab attention. Thanks for your input and please keep writing.

Nightowl, excellent links above, I perused them thoroughly and they are chock full of ideas and the links from CAPmom and ACM as well. It is so much easier to find good research when you folks are so good at contributing your informative links. It is greatly appreciated.

ACM, your handout idea is great. There are other sites for brochures, too. I will put some links up for sources after we get the card done. I don’t think I have found any yet, though, that recommend a realistic amount of weeks to prep for. The PTB so far have failed to address this issue in a meaningful way, IMHO. We may be better off in creating our own additional handout for the project because we want the readers to get some new sources for their pandemic flu information. Does this make sense?

For Historylover, Dennis, BG and Dude who have worked on the print and legal issues a big thanks!

Dude, your statement was powerful and heartfelt. Thanks for outlining our basic rights to reproduce materials. Dem and I have been discussing the issues involved through Emails. It will be fine to list wiki’s website with a few other references on the back of the card. This will be enough to meet our needs taken aside from the legal issues you addressed above. I think that for this project we may need to view ourselves as “friends of the wiki” much in the same way as individual library volunteers who run a booksale to collect the funds for the library itself. I think we can meet our goals within this framework. Any funds that we collect as individuals should be sent back to this site as we are a non-profit now. Are you OK with this approach?

I am fine with whatever the folk on and about this site want to do. I personally don’t like the idea of anyone off site trading on the name or efforts of others to make money. A simple copyright on the card/ribbon in the name of the nonprofit would make me happy. As long and they are displayed and dated, I am good. That would discourage anyone from just taking the idea and selling the ribbons for their own personal gain. I have not talked with anyone on this site besides my posts here, so I have no feeling or direction from anyone on this. It is just my innate sense of fairness that reflects this opinion. I can trust people to send back funds if you want to do that for simplicity sake. Overall, I am most about getting the word out…so whatever you decide to do in that vein I am willing to support with my small part in this.

Hi! I also browse the AFT forum and they have just created such a pamphlet for distribution. You are both on the same road with ideas. Might want to check it out to see what they have done. I know that this is a ‘rival’ site [wink-wink], but when it comes to community awareness for BF … I think working for the goal of getting people into the prep mode is the most important task, at this time. You can use your ribbon on the front and coordinate it with the business card idea, so that folks have a pocket version to keep handy (bsns card) and the pamphlet with expanded info to read and quickly refer to or share. I have been emailing my ENTIRE address book with a cover letter and several attached publications (like the ones referenced above) and am now currently volunteering with our County Emergency Services Agency in their Community Awareness campaign. It’s just getting started and there’s a loooong road ahead. I had NO idea how involved it is, just to get the word out to the general public. Biggest concern is the phone calls that will be generated looking for additonal info, after initially telling folks what BF is and what they need to start doing. I thought we just get started by telling them and get them started shopping. But not ot all communities have the resources to accomodate the after-effect of the public’s awareness. And not everyone has/uses internet access. The Red Ribbon campaign is a great one for the folks that do have that access. I have a home-based business where I print (via sublimation process) gift items and have access to graphic program. Let me know if I can help with anything, using that Photoshop program. -k

Re offer of help …. I meant with using the photo program for setting up graphics for your letter, card … NOT gift items! Didn’t want to you to think I came on board to generate bsns!!! Geeeze, that sounded bad in my last post, after I read it over! Sorry! :{ -k

Thanks for your offer of help, CAPmom!

I think the more sites that deal getting the issue of Pandemic Awareness out to the public in a meaningful way is very helpful. Many prongs to the ‘attack’, each doing different things. :)

Hi All, Flu Wiki sure has some artistic and creative folks on it!

Dude, your points are well taken. However, even with a copyright symbol there is no way we can enforce that. We just have to hope for the best, I think.

I may have misunderstood, but I thought the original idea was to keep it simple so anyone could make ribbons and distribute cards. If we have to order them, or have special software, etc. I think we will be limiting participation. I pretty much saw myself and child making ribbons, me running to the print shop for an inexpensive run of cards or doing it on my limited computer, put them together, and voila, we start distributing! Tons of them. When Dennis posted how to do the fonts and all, I was in business. And when Dude offered to get it on the site, I thought cool, we can see it.

But basically, I saw keeping it as simple as possible so more people can participate.

CAPmom and others have raised good points about access to computers and distributing other info. The wiki side of Flu Wiki has a brochure, and other info.

But for now, I am hoping we can get the ribbon and card off the ground - in as simple a way as possible. Further, time may be of the essence. Just some thoughts.

Excellent points, Nightowl.

Keep it simple and it will spread to more people. The ribbons are so easy to make at home: you don’t even have to tie a bow. Just take a couple of inches of ribbon, make a simple loop with 2 tails. Secure with pin or a drop of glue. (I purchased something called ‘silk pins’ at a fabric store. They are thinner and won’t damage clothes as much.) I use a gold paint pen or wooden letter ‘p’ with a gold stamp inkpad to place the initial on the ribbon. Easy to do.

Nightowl, I agree, time is of the essence. Sthrn at 20:50 said that Pandemic Awareness week runs 9/11 through 9/17. It would be a great time to lauch the campaign. Everyone, please begin your ribbon making now, if that is what you plan to do.

I will put another sample card up (to the best of my ability) for final dicussion tomorrow. Please list here your 2 top choices for favorite websites for references with their links other then the wiki). Please post here your #1 choice for a quote and provide the website. This should help us narrow the list. It will be hard to chose one quote as there have been so many excellent ones presented here. I will volunteer to do this unless someone else wants the job. :)

If Dude will post the final downloadable version of the card once he has done his magic with it we will be able to roll.

from ST

Picks for quotes are: 1)“…It’s not a theory or a worst-case scenario. It is a sure thing. …” (http://www.sci-tech-today.com/story.xhtml?story_id=111002CIZMJO) 2) “The issue is not if, it’s when, so we have to prepare,” Osterholm said. “The worst thing we can do is not prepare and think it will not happen.” (http://www.sci-tech-today.com/story.xhtml?story_id=111002CIZMJO)

Thanks!

I had an idea about making the ribbons at home and keeping them uniform for easy recognizion. Why not put a black circle in the middle (where the ribbon overlaps) and then print a yellow/gold ‘P’ in the middle with what ever method you desire. (in keeping with the colors of the ‘quarentine’ sign logo). I’m sending Dude a sample graphic file under separate cover to review. -k

CAPmom, would you be able to paste a picture here? If it is possible to get the photo link to appear, that is.

ST

Everyone, please read post at 16:09 Thanks!

Hi! Sure … here’s the photobucket link where you can view sample. I had an idea to make it easier for design: making a yellow center circle and then it will be easy to add a black ‘P’. It still keeps in line w/ the official ‘quarantine’ signs I’ve seen on the web. -k Go here:

Hmmmm … have NO idea how that happened!!! But guess that’s what you want!!! LOL! -k

CAPmom, that is really an efficient link … I can almost visualize the ribbon, just from your photobucket link. <grin>

It does look VERY nice. Are you suggesting the use of a ~1″ yellow sticker, stamped with the black “P”?

I’m thinking a red craft ribbon … no more than 1/2″ wide … with firm yellow center (yellow craft foam or cardboard/scrapbooking cardstock, maybe)to fit and glued in place. Not sure what that dimension would be. Then handprint, stamp, whatever each person/family can do. (If you don’t mind the bows looking similar and not exact, since you want this to be an individual project and not a mass produced project. That’s up to this board to decide. Just ideas. -k

Wow, CAPmom!!! Beautiful. Thanks! I can see it! And Dennis in C, I love how you translate for us (me LOL, because I need it). I can relate to sticker and stamp!!! I guess you can tell how excited I am.

bump

Thank you, CAPmom

I wish I had your computer skills!

Sorry, that was me at 11:29

ST

Hi All,

I’m going on the mod’s thread to see if they can close this thread and start part two. This one is getting long.

CAPMom, After this thread is closed, would it be possible to post the ribbon with the gold P in the center of the ribbon (no disc) on the new thread? Also a ribbon with a P and an A on the two strands. I know I am asking a lot. I hope it is not too hard. The reason I am asking is because of cost (disc, etc. is starting to add up when thinking in the thousands).

New thread opened.

Closing this.