Announcing New Launch of iHEARTplymouth and Co-Editor

With the recent launch of iHEARTplymouth.com, there is a growing need for extra hands to promote our mission: helping businesses and organizations succeed in the marketplace. We are pleased to announce Cam Robertson, as our co-editor to iHEARTplymouth.com.

Cam is a Plymouth High School senior, soon to be graduate upon Friday evening's commencement program. As the president of student council, vice-president of Key Club, nationally recognized speech club leader and recipient of several awards dedicated to student excellence in the community, we are honored to have Cam play an important role in the early phases of iHEARTplymouth.com.

"Community is a huge value to me, and I love to call Plymouth, Indiana my home. At the same time, however, Plymouth is falling behind in this ever growing technological world. I feel like The Midas Center's new media program is just what this community needs to put Plymouth back on the map! And I would be thrilled to be a part of it!" Cam shares about his interest in the new position.

Cam's passion for community and media is evident as he will continue in pursuit of this interest as a student in the public relations program at DePaul University, Chicago this fall. Andrea Cook, The Midas Center owner and editor of iHEARTplymouth.com shares, "One of the most rewarding parts of my career has been getting projects and opportunities that provide jobs and empower other creative professionals. Cam is an emerging leader with many talents and a big future ahead of him. I am confident he will make us all proud!"

In the next several weeks, Cam will be out and about town offering businesses and organizations free advertising and member pages. He will also be popping up throughout town snapping photos and seeking human interest features.

If your business or organization is interested in learning about the summer launch specials including free ad spaces and membership profile services, feel free to contact him by email, coeditor@iheartplymouth.com. You may also send him information, announcements or press releases and he will be sure to help get the word out through iheartplymouth and beyond for you. And, of course, feel free to send just a simple "Kudos to Cam" for his new co-editor position, graduation, upcoming speech tournament or just because youHEARTcam!




About iHEARTplymouth
iHEARTplymouth.com is a fresh and free online media resource for everything you love about Plymouth, Indiana. With community added photos, events, feature stories, reviews and other fun tid- bits like daily fortune cookies and trivial quizes, this social media program is available for everyone: individuals, businesses, nonprofits and any other person or group who wants to get the word out to the community. With eleven targeted groups, readers and advertisers alike can focus their viewership to specific interests such as "good eats," "business to business," "arts and culture," and "sports, fitness and health" to name a few.

Since its summer 2010 launch, the site has received up to 800 visits in one day and over 10,000 pages have been visited in one month. With a variety of advertising options, it is the most affordable and effective advertising opportunity to reach a local viewership.

iHEARTplymouth.com is published by Go Green Media, a subsidiary of The Midas Center. Go Green Media is a grass roots publishing service dedicated to help local communities grow and thrive. Based on eco-friendly practices, Go Green Media provides publications that are paper- and ink-free, reducing waste materials. All of Go Green Media publications are proudly hosted by a service that is 100% WIND POWERED, another earth-friendly practice. Go Green Media creates the opportunities for small businesses and organizations to promote their unique products and services to local communities. For more information on how Go Green Media can help your community grow and thrive, contact Andrea Cook, Go Green Media owner at info@iheartplymouth.com.

EXTRA EXTRA: iHEARTplymouth.com Read it. Write it. Share it. Live it. Love it.

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Indy Green Fest and More

Andrea Cook, Indiana’s Green Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist, business owner and community enthusiast demonstrates a passion for eco-friendly activities spanning from her company's strong portfolio of green clients, her love of re-purposed creative furnishings, special mom-n-daughter time growing worm farms and her latest entrepreneurial endeavor that she hopes will paint the town green: Project Green Building.

Learn more about this green-venture at this weekend's Indy Green Fest. Event will kick off with the Indiana Green Awards Gala Dinner at the Hilton Gardens in Indianapolis on Thursday evening. Indy Green Fest will take place at the Indiana State Fair Grounds, March 26th - 28th. For more information on this green-filled event, visit http://greenfestindy.com.


Presenting, “A Girl and Her Green Dream”
Indy Green Fest, Seminar Room
11:30 a.m., Sunday, March 28th
A small town girl with a big vision called Project Green Building shares her dream of taking green mainstream. Join her in the journey as she shares her plan to purchase a distressed downtown property and renovate it into a green building for the sake of awareness. Hear more about the obstacles and her plan to spread the words "reduce, reuse and recycle" through living, working, building and learning in her community.

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Culver Wesley United Methodist Church, Latest Client to Go Live!

The Midas Center is pleased to announce the most recently launched web site created for Culver Wesley United Methodist Church. This site was created to give the church an online presence so that they may provide information about their programs and ministries throughout the community including the church's preschool, Kid's Club and Thrift Store.

Pastor Larry Saunders was interested in a site that was budget-friendly and had the functionality for updates and content changes while maintaining a striking and sophisticated image of the church's personality online. Pastor Saunders is leading the communication efforts in social media with a recently created facebook site for Culver Wesley Methodist Church. Interested in being a fan? Check them out >>

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Kudos to Small Businesses!

An article published in Tribune Business Weekly salutes small businesses and their investments in the community that help not only fuel the economy, but also stabilize it in economic downturns. The entire article makes bold remarks in support of the small business. Some of the stated statistics made us feel proud as a small business owner, and we'd like to pass it along to you in hopes that you may also find them interesting and encouraging.

- "The backbone of the U.S. economy is not made up of stocks and bonds and large employers. The vital component that supports our economic health is small business."

- "According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, small businesses have accounted for 64 percent of new employment since the mid-1990s. They employ more than half of all private sector employees and pay 44 percent of total U.S. private payroll."

- Small businesses are "innovators, producing 13 times more patents per employee than large employers do."

- Phil D'Amico, director of business growth for St. Joseph County Chamber of Commerce claims, “Small business really is, especially in our region's case, the driving force of our economy.”

- D'Amico also states, "not only do small businesses strengthen the local economy, they also contribute significantly to the strength of the community as a whole."

- Small businesses create 80% of the jobs in St. Joseph County, with the exception of government and schools.

Congratulations to you small business owners!

For the complete article, you may visit >>

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"The eighties called, they want their logo back"

Do people make these comments about your business in the market place? Maybe you haven't heard them say it out loud, but perhaps you know what they are thinking. If your business practices were cool back when the Bee Gees went plantium with their highest sales of 8 track cassettes, then maybe it is time for you to take notes. If you want to succeed into the next decade, let's stop blaming the economy and position your business for the current times. Buyers and decision makers have changed the way they communicate, buy and make decisions. The Midas Center understands the current marketplace, its trends and habits and we want to recommend two quick tips for you to do this week so you can go from being so last year to "IN" by this Friday!

1. Get Linked In.
Out with the big bulky Rolodex, in with the online social networking tools. LinkedIn is an online service that allows business-minded professionals a piece of the online presence pie. Consider this a mySpace or Facebook utility for professionals only. It is easy to register and there is no fee to use this online networking service. LinkedIn allows you to connect or "link" to the business world. You may provide resume-like information about your current business as well as your past experience and education. LinkedIn reconnects you with colleagues, classmates and friends. Below is a quick overview on how LinkedIn can help you turn your vision into results.


2. Grow Your Networth with Your Network.
If your current networking activities bore you, then you are probably boring everyone around you too. Do you think already you know everyone there is to know and have little, to no interest meeting new professionals? When you meet someone new, do you instantly classify him or her into one of two columns, a potential client or useless? If your networking activities are as dull as your spreadsheets and data bases, then it is time for you to readjust your outlook on networking. Look for one event this week that interests you personally and make plans to attend. For example, if you enjoy the arts, you may be interested in attending Plymouth's art galleries, both hosting open house receptions this Friday, October 9th at 6 p.m. It just so happens that one of the art galleries is called, "IN." For more information, you may visit them online here >> in Gallery. They happen to be one of our clients, so our apologies for the shameless plug. It is what we do though, look for ways to build awareness for our clients!

Moving onward... By attending an event that might not be riddled with business networking labels, you open the door to a new outlet of mixing with like-minded individuals. You will find more opportunities where people may have left their salesmen repellent spray back at the office. Instead of networking to build business, increase your possible leads, make plans to go to places where you will enjoy your life and meet other interesting people. This is the true value of networking. Increase your personal networth by reaching out to more worthy networking events.

How are your buiness practices stacking up? The Midas Center Can Help You

There you have it, two quick tips to update your business. You can have the best product or service but without some marketing savvy that communicates with the today's language and tools, all you have is products and services. The Midas Center urges you to put some marketing muscle behind you and turn your vision into results.

We hope you will take these two easy steps towards success. And, we'd love to invite you to stop by this Friday at our new office open house. We have a wealth of resources, ideas, solutions, tools, tips and just friendly handshakes to share. Oh, we'll also have some cake and Golden Midas Punch to serve. The Midas Center, 203 N. Michigan St, downtown Plymouth; Friday, October 9th at 6 - 8 p.m. Bring your colleagues and your business cards, it's time to enjoy networking. Get linked. Be in.

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