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February 2004 - Victoria Carpenter

Well 2004 has been 10 weeks of momentous changes so far, and I have a sneaking suspicion that that there are 42 more of them to come. This rapid change takes a bit of getting used to, its "Goodbye consistency-hello challenges".

I have only been at Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) for 8 days! It started with technology training the day after I got back from my honeymoon and the following day I went straight into my first full day of work.

MDA is a well-established charity and was set up in the 1950s to support affected individuals and their families. Today MDA provides information, physiotherapy review, assessment service, camps, workshops, quarterly magazine and a 3 yearly conference.

What the organisation lacks however is a strong public profile and strong public recognition, decent brand awareness if you like! …and this is where I come in. My first week was busily spent trying to collate promotion ideas and bounce them off people to see what would work and what wouldn't.

My first port of call was other MDA's in our region, looking at their websites and talking to them about what they are doing to increase their profiles. The MDA in NSW have a really strong brand and considerable corporate support, I got in touch with them and I am going to go and see them, pick their brains and see what of their initiatives can be utilized over here.

My first working week has also coincided with Bowtie week, which is MDA’s annual appeal. Head office has been a buzz organizing a street appeal campaign and sending out bowtie display packs to sponsors.

Another event from which the MDA will receive proceeds is a Truck Show at Motat (Auckland) – this was meant to occur in tandem with the launch of Bowtie week but due to the inclement weather the show has had to be postponed till April 4. It’s a shame but when it does take place it will hopefully raise some much-needed awareness.

Finally, we have just had a "bodyboard" built in our Neuromuscular Physio's office enabling MDA members to literally Velcro themselves to the wall. They will be able to stretch out their limbs, in many cases where there is no muscle to support an extension legs arms hands etc will not have been stretched for ages. Funny how a little thing like stretching can become a luxury, something you can only do if someone takes your limb and stretches it out for you, hard for most of us to imagine.

So this has been a busy one and a half weeks, lots to do and lots to organize. Onto the MDA public relations (PR) plan next and my intensive PR course not to mention the rescheduled Truck show and meeting with the MDA in Australia. See you next month!

Victoria

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